Auction of the Seats

Latest revision as of 21:42, 24 May 2024

The Senate will be paupers only so long as honest merchants can grow rich.

Emperor Giovanni

Overview

At each summit the Bourse selects citizens to fill all Imperial positions that are vacant through an open auction called the Auction of the Seats. The name derives from the tradition of referring to major Bourse titles as "Bourse seats". The Auction applies to the Bourse titles that are Imperial positions as well as specific League national titles; all other seats that are vacant are elected by Tally of the Votes.

Participation in the Auction of the Seats is open to all Imperial citizens. Successful bidders claim their chosen title, while all funds raised go to the Imperial treasury

Schedule

Under normal circumstances, the Auction will takes place on Saturday afternoon, at 2pm, from the Senate building. If circumstances force a change in timing or location, then the civil service update the event schedule published before the summit begins.

The major Bourse seats operate to a schedule dictated by the materials produced. For example, all titles associated with the production of white granite are elected at the same summit each year

Weirwood seats are re-elected at the Winter Solstice.
Ilium seats and the Master of the Imperial Mint are re-elected at the Spring Equinox.
White granite seats are re-elected at the Summer Solstice.
Mithril seats are re-elected at the Autumn Equinox.

A list of seats to be appointed at the upcoming event can be found on the recent history page and on notices around Anvil. Once appointed, the new seat holders are announced via the Bourse noticeboard in the Hub.

Selection

Any Imperial citizen may hold an Imperial position, provided it is the only Imperial title they control.

All Imperial titles that are auctioned through the bourse are re-elected annually. If the title is elected at the normal summit each year then the chosen citizen serves for one year until the start of the equivalent summit one year later.

If an Imperial Bourse seat becomes vacant outside the normal election cycle (due to death, resignation, or excommunication of the title holder) then the seat is auctioned at the following summit. In this case, the winning bidder will only serve for the remaining term. The title becomes vacant again at the normal point in the election cycle.

Bidding is in thrones and the payment for each seat is required before bidding for the next begins to prevent interested citizens bidding on seats they cannot afford.

The person bidding on the seat need not be the person who takes the Imperial title if successful, but they must be present during the auction to indicate that they accept the title. It is not possible for a proxy to accept a title on another citizen's behalf, not to collect the production on a Bourse seat for them.

Production

For the majority of Imperial Bourse seats that produce large amounts of mithril, white granite, weirwood or ilium, the most recent season's production can be immediately claimed from the Agent of the Bourse by the winning candidate, if they are present. Any production that is not claimed is added to their inventory. Subsequent production in later seasons is added to to the title holder's inventory before each summit until the last one. The title holder does not receive any production on the run-up to the summit where the title is due to be re-elected - that is reserved for whoever wins the auction for the title at the summit.

For other titles that do not produce large amounts of mithril, white granite, weirwood or ilium, the winning candidate receives whatever production or access to a minstry the title provides in the following downtime, until the title is elected again.

Removal

The Bourse is explicitly protected from interference from the Imperial Synod in the Imperial Constitution. Because of this, it is not possible to revoke a Bourse seat holder to remove them from their position. They serve until the title is reelected or until they die or step down.

If a Bourse seat holder dies, is excommunicated, or the seat is overrun by barbarians, then the title holder receives back any money they paid for the seat - in proportion to the number of seasons of production remaining. If there are two seasons production left, they get half their money back. The seat is auctioned off again - and the refund is paid to the seat holder or their estate after the auction is concluded. Any shortfall is taken from the Imperial treasury, any excess is added to it. Bourse seat holders are well-advised to leave a clear will so that Agent of the Bourse can swiftly and correctly identify who these funds should be paid to.

There is no refund payable if a title is resigned.

Term

All Imperial Bourse seats must be re-elected at the specified summit each year. It is unconstitutional to create an Imperial position with tenure that is auctioned through the Bourse (the same restriction does not apply to national Bourse positions).

Additional Titles

There are four national League positions that are elected via Auction of the Seats rather than Tally of the Votes. These seats are auctioned just like any Imperial title, but only League citizens may bid on them. In theory it is possible for the Imperial Senate to create new national League titles elected via auction rather than by votes cast by business owners, but such titles are often subject to extended scrutiny.

In addition, there are two identical Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave titles, the Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration title, and the Citizens' Voice title which are also auctioned. These unusual titles are re-elected each season.

Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration

The Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration is elected to serve for a single season each summit. The Arbiter is able to raise a single Declaration to the Conclave during the Saturday session. The title is open to any Imperial citizen and is auctioned in only mana crystals.

Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave

There are two identical titles, each Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave is elected to serve for a single season each summit. Each Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave is able to announce the construction of a single sinecure, ministry, or great work in the Senate. The titles are open to any Imperial citizen and elected by auction to the highest bidder.

Citizens' Voice

The Citizens' Voice is elected to serve for a single season each summit. The Citizens' Voice is able to propose a single motion to the Imperial Senate without the need for a second. The titles are open to any Imperial citizen and elected by auction to the highest bidder.

The Legacy

The Legacy provides 22 wains of mithril each season. It is open to League citizens and elected by auction to the highest bidder.

The Master of The Imperial Mint

The Master of the Imperial Mint is a Bourse Seat open to League citizens and elected by auction to the highest bidder. The Master does not receive an income of Bourse resources, but is privy to privileged information about the Imperial economy and has powers to speak and address the Imperial Senate.

The Red-Eyed Reaper

The Flaxen Pillars provides 22 wains of weirwood to the Red-Eyed Reaper each season. It is open to League citizens and elected by auction to the highest bidder.

The Regario Dossier

The Regario Dossier provides 4 rings of ilium each season, along with an annual report describing the activities of foreign powers. It is open to League citizens and elected by auction to the highest bidder.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==Entry requirements==
+<quote by="Emperor Giovanni">The Senate will be paupers only so long as honest merchants can grow rich.</quote>
-There are over a score of different Bourse positions, the majority of which are auctioned off once a year. Although a citizen may bid for as many positions as they choose, an individual can only hold one [[Imperial title]]. The auction itself uses an open bidding system and payments must be made immediately.
-There are a handful of Bourse positions which are not auctioned off. These positions reflect the relative economic wealth and priorities of nations like Varushka. As a result, these resources are controlled by vote of members of that nation based on what resources they control. These positions are identified separately below.
+==Overview==
+At each summit the Bourse selects citizens to fill all Imperial positions that are vacant through an open auction called the Auction of the Seats. The name derives from the tradition of referring to major Bourse titles as "Bourse seats". The Auction applies to the Bourse titles that are Imperial positions as well as specific League national titles; all other seats that are vacant are elected by [[Tally of the Votes]].
-You can find details of who holds which seat [[Recent_history|here]].
+Participation in the Auction of the Seats is open to all Imperial citizens. Successful bidders claim their chosen title, while all funds raised go to the [[Imperial treasury]]
-==Elections and Appointments==
+==Schedule==
-During each season, all the Bourse Seats (both Imperial and National) that produce a single material are re-elected or re-appointed. During the event that a seat is due to be re-elected, the current holder does not receive any materials. Once the seat has been re-elected, the new holder receives that season's production, and secures the production until the next time the seat is due to be re-elected.
+Under normal circumstances, the Auction will takes place on Saturday afternoon, at 2pm, from the Senate building. If circumstances force a change in timing or location, then the civil service update the [[event schedule]] published before the summit begins.
-* Weirwood seats are re-elected at the Winter Solstice.
+The major Bourse seats operate to a schedule dictated by the materials produced. For example, all titles associated with the production of white granite are elected at the same summit each year
+* [[Weirwood]] seats are re-elected at the Winter Solstice.
 * [[Ilium]] seats and the [[Master of the Imperial Mint]] are re-elected at the Spring Equinox.
-* White granite seats are re-elected at the Summer Solstice.
+* [[White granite]] seats are re-elected at the Summer Solstice.
-* Mithril seats are re-elected at the Autumn Equinox.
+* [[Mithril]] seats are re-elected at the Autumn Equinox.
 A list of seats to be appointed at the upcoming event can be found on the [[Recent history|recent history]] page and on notices around Anvil. Once appointed, the new seat holders are announced via the Bourse noticeboard in the Hub.
-===Imperial Seats===
+==Selection==
-Imperial Bourse seats are appointed by open auction. In Anvil this takes place as detailed in the [[Event schedule|event schedule]].
+Any Imperial citizen may hold an Imperial position, provided it is the only Imperial title they control.
+All Imperial titles that are auctioned through the bourse are re-elected annually. If the title is elected at the normal summit each year then the chosen citizen serves for one year until the start of the equivalent summit one year later.
+If an Imperial Bourse seat becomes vacant outside the normal election cycle (due to death, resignation, or excommunication of the title holder) then the seat is auctioned at the following summit. In this case, the winning bidder will only serve for the remaining term. The title becomes vacant again at the normal point in the election cycle.
+Bidding is in [[Currency|thrones]] and the payment for each seat is required before bidding for the next begins to prevent interested citizens bidding on seats they cannot afford.
+The person bidding on the seat need not be the person who takes the Imperial title if successful, but they must be present during the auction to indicate that they accept the title. It is not possible for a proxy to accept a title on another citizen's behalf, not to collect the production on a Bourse seat for them.
+==Production==
+For the majority of Imperial Bourse seats that produce large amounts of mithril, white granite, weirwood or ilium, the most recent season's production can be immediately claimed from the Agent of the Bourse by the winning candidate, if they are present. Any production that is not claimed is added to their inventory. Subsequent production in later seasons is added to to the title holder's inventory before each summit until the last one. The title holder does not receive any production on the run-up to the summit where the title is due to be re-elected - that is reserved for whoever wins the auction for the title at the summit.
+For other titles that do not produce large amounts of mithril, white granite, weirwood or ilium, the winning candidate receives whatever production or access to a minstry the title provides in the following downtime, until the title is elected again.
+==Removal==
+The Bourse is explicitly protected from interference from the [[Imperial Synod]] in the [[Imperial Constitution]]. Because of this, it is not possible to revoke a Bourse seat holder to remove them from their position. They serve until the title is reelected or until they die or step down.
+If a Bourse seat holder dies, is excommunicated, or the seat is overrun by barbarians, then the title holder receives back any money they paid for the seat - in proportion to the number of seasons of production remaining. If there are two seasons production left, they get half their money back. The seat is auctioned off again - and the refund is paid to the seat holder or their estate ''after'' the auction is concluded. Any shortfall is taken from the Imperial treasury, any excess is added to it. Bourse seat holders are well-advised to leave a clear will so that Agent of the Bourse can swiftly and correctly identify who these funds should be paid to.
+There is no refund payable if a title is resigned.
+==Term==
+All Imperial Bourse seats must be re-elected at the specified summit each year. It is unconstitutional to create an Imperial position with tenure that is auctioned through the Bourse (the same restriction does not apply to national Bourse positions).
+==Additional Titles==
+There are four national League positions that are elected via Auction of the Seats rather than Tally of the Votes. These seats are auctioned just like any Imperial title, but only League citizens may bid on them. In theory it is possible for the Imperial Senate to create new national League titles elected via auction rather than by votes cast by business owners, but such titles are often subject to extended [[scrutiny]].
+In addition, there are two identical [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave]] titles, the [[Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration]] title, and the [[Citizens' Voice]] title which are also auctioned. These unusual titles are re-elected each season.
-Bidding is in [[Currency|thrones]] and the payment for each seat is completed before bidding for the next begins to prevent interested citizens bidding on seats they cannot afford. The person bidding on the seat need not be the person who takes the Imperial Title if successful, however the prospective title holder must be present during the auction.
+===Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration===
+The [[Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration]] is elected to serve for a single season each summit. The Arbiter is able to raise a single [[Declaration]] to the Conclave during the Saturday session. The title is open to any Imperial citizen and is auctioned in only [[Game_items#Mana_Crystals|mana crystals]].
-===National Seats===
+===Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave===
-National Bourse seats are appointed by election with votes cast by certain [[New_Imperial_titles#The_Imperial_Bourse|personal resource holders in each Nation]]. The exceptions to this are the League positions of [[Regario Dossier]] and Master of the Imperial Mint which are appointed by closed auction to members of The League only. In Anvil this takes place as detailed in the Event Schedule.
+There are two identical titles, each [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave]] is elected to serve for a single season each summit. Each Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave is able to announce the construction of a single [[sinecure]], [[ministry]], or [[great work]] in the Senate. The titles are open to any Imperial citizen and elected by auction to the highest bidder.
-<!--Each citizen with the relevant personal resource has a voting strength determined by the current base production, including upgrades and reduction for being out of Imperial hands, but excluding enchantments, curses etc.-->
+===Citizens' Voice===
-Votes are cast in the Hub with the Civil Service who have a list of all relevant resource holders in each Nation. Each citizen may vote for anyone in their Nation, however some Nations prefer to agree candidates in advance so it may be wise to discuss with other compatriots before voting. A citizen may change their vote at any time until the vote closes.
+The [[Citizens' Voice]] is elected to serve for a single season each summit. The Citizens' Voice is able to propose a single [[Senate motion|motion]] to the [[Imperial Senate]] without the need for a second. The titles are open to any Imperial citizen and elected by auction to the highest bidder.
-If the winning citizen already holds an Imperial Title they must either resign their current title to take up the seat, or if they wish to forfeit the seat it will pass instead to the person with the next highest number of votes.
+===The Legacy===
+The [[Legacy]] provides 22 wains of mithril each season. It is open to League citizens and elected by auction to the highest bidder.
-If you would have difficulty accessing the Hub and have already [[Accessibility#Getting_Help_Accessing_GOD|arranged for another player]] to be able complete GOD admin on your behalf, this person can also bring your vote to the Hub if required.
+===The Master of The Imperial Mint===
+The [[Master of the Imperial Mint]] is a Bourse Seat open to League citizens and elected by auction to the highest bidder. The Master does not receive an income of Bourse resources, but is privy to privileged information about the Imperial economy and has powers to speak and address the [[Imperial Senate]].
-===Losing the title===
+===The Red-Eyed Reaper===
-When a Bourse seat holder dies or loses their title for any other reason, then they receive back any money they paid for the seat - in proportion to the number of seasons of production remaining. If there are two seasons production left, they get half their money back.
+The [[Flaxen Pillars]] provides 22 wains of weirwood to the Red-Eyed Reaper each season. It is open to League citizens and elected by auction to the highest bidder.
-The seat is auctioned off again - and the refund is paid to the seat holder or their estate ''after'' the auction is concluded. Any shortfall is taken from the Imperial treasury, any excess is added to it. There is no refund payable if a title is resigned.
+===The Regario Dossier===
+The [[Regario Dossier]] provides 4 rings of ilium each season, along with an annual report describing the activities of foreign powers. It is open to League citizens and elected by auction to the highest bidder.
-===Proxies===
+{{Bourse Further Reading}}
-<!--The only powers a Bourse title holder has at a summit is attendance at the Private Auction, however they may appoint a [[proxy]] to attend.-->
-The wains (or rings of Ilium) are distributed directly to title holders each season and once received function as personal property which must be transferred between individuals like any other item. If a title holder will not be present at a summit, they may not appoint a proxy to collect Bourse resources at Anvil.