Proxy

Overview

A character who holds an Imperial position - such as a senator, general, cardinal, or archmage may appoint another character to act as their proxy in their absence. Proxies are not uncommon as those with influence and power in the Empire are often absent due to being called away to war or unable to attend Anvil due to matters at home. The role of proxies has been codified under Imperial law and follows simple rules.

Appointing a Proxy

There is no required process for appointing a proxy - the most common method is to provide a proxy with a document signed by the character that explicitly grants the named bearer the power of proxy, but this is not obligatory. Some prefer to introduce their proxy in person to their peers and personally vouch for their status. Most Imperial generals appoint an adjutant which is a proxy who is able to assume the powers of the general if the general dies. Most Imperial citizens expect someone who is acting as a proxy to be able to produce a signed statement of their authority, but this is only relevant if they are challenged.

Restrictions

A proxy must be an eligible candidate for the position they are assuming - a Dawnish senator can only appoint a Dawnish citizen to act as their proxy. A proxy is considered to be an Imperial title in its own right, one that is conferred at the point where you accept the position. This means that you cannot stand as proxy for an Imperial title if you already hold another title - a Dawnish senator could not accept a position as proxy for a member of the Bourse; not without first resigning their position as senator.

It is uncommon but not illegal to appoint more than one proxy, but only one character can act as your proxy at a given time - the power cannot be shared. In addition it is illegal for them to act as your proxy at the same time that you are exercising the legal authority of your office. In practice this situation is rare, but can arise with titles such as the Warmage that grant legal rights in more than one political chamber.

A senator who appoints a proxy is still forbidden from entering the Military Council.

Only the holder of an Imperial title may appoint a proxy, members of representative bodies like the Synod and the Conclave who do not hold an Imperial title cannot appoint a proxy to vote. The Throne is prohibited from appointing a proxy - the powers of the Empress may only be wielded when the occupant of the Throne is personally present.

Powers of a Proxy

A proxy has the full legal power of the office they have assumed. It is not possible to limit the power of a proxy, you cannot restrict the powers available to them nor direct the way they must act or vote. A proxy who bears a document granting them power of authority for a senator but only if they vote for a given motion will be reminded by the Speaker that they have the full powers of their senator and that the restriction has no legal standing of any kind. The only limitation is that a proxy may not appoint another citizen to act as their proxy.

The proxy is treated exactly as if they were the citizen for whom they stand. This may have legal consequences - for instance if a proxy for a senator raises a motion in the Senate - then that senator is considered to have raised that motion and they may not then raise another motion that weekend.

A proxy is only legally valid in the chamber associated with their position - the proxy for a Dawnish Senator can only act in their stead in the Senate. Many Imperial citizens will acknowledge the status of a proxy at other times but the proxy has no legal powers outside the chamber. It is not possible for a cardinal to send a proxy to plead for clemency in their stead, as the proxy holds no power outside the Synod.

Although a citizen may not legally constrain or direct the actions of their proxy it is still customary to hold them responsible for the consequences of their proxy's decisions - after all they chose the proxy.

Challenging a Proxy

Any citizen may challenge a proxy at the point where they attempt to wield the power of their office in the chamber If the authority of an individual is challenged, then the civil service will investigate the matter. If the challenged citizen is not the office-holder but is acting as a proxy, then they are entitled to make a short presentation of the evidence of their appointment. After the evidence is considered then a vote is taken by those present in the chamber who are eligible to vote whether or not to recognize the proxy. It is publicly considered unvirtuous to vote on political lines rather than on the basis of the evidence presented.

Assuming the powers of a proxy without the authorization of the title holder is illegal - the individual is usually guilty of impersonating an official of the state and subverting the processes of the agencies of the state. Punishment is usually assessed against the degree of self-interest demonstrated by the proxy and the damage incurred by the state as a result.

Surely the most infamous rejection of a proxy took place in the Imperial Senate during the reign of Empress Giselle in 343YE. Ymma Eyebiter, senator for Hahnmark successfully challenged the power of a young woman standing as proxy for Alvaro i Guerra, senator for Madruga despite the fact that Alvaro was present in the chamber to testify for his paramour during the challenge. Alvaro's testimony was garbled and he struggled to stand to deliver it due to his intoxication, allowing Ymma to convince the chamber that his evidence could not be taken at face value due to inebriation. Ymma was widely reviled for her actions, but in the resulting disgruntlement, the Wintermark senators were able to push through several unpopular motions limiting the power of the Bourse.

Removing a Proxy

The only sure-fire way to remove your proxy is to attend a session in person. A letter to indicate the removal of authority can easily receive short shrift - especially if the proxy retains their own physical statement of power signed by you. The proxy may still be challenged, and countervailing letters will undermine their authority; but many chambers would rather retain the abilities of a useful member who has proven their wisdom and worth than accept an unknown proxy from an individual who cannot put their affairs in order. Only the physical presence of the actual incumbent ensures the automatic removal of a proxy.

Proxies in Play

Proxies are intended to reflect the fact that many players are not able to attend every Empire event. We don't want players to be excluded from holding positions of authority in the game simply because they cannot guarantee to be present at every event for real world reasons. To this end the rules presented here are intended to be flexible and allow for the broadest possible access to the game.

The rules are also intended to allow players to perpetrate a range of political actions and responses using the legal status of proxies. To this end it is not acceptable for a player to try to communicate out-of-character information to indicate that they are a genuine proxy. Any attempt to do so will result in the civil servants refusing to accept that player as proxy, as their mental state makes them unfit to hold the office. Establishing or undermining the authority of a proxy is left entirely in the hands of the players to be established by their roleplaying.

Proxies in Downtime

• It is not possible to appoint a proxy to operate in your place in downtime.

A proxy exists to give a player who cannot attend an event a chance to allow another character to act in their steed, as well as to present various opportunities for political conflict. If your character has a campaign position that grants them some additional powers or abilities in downtime, then you can still make use of these, regardless of whether you attended the event.