The Throne

Revision as of 00:06, 17 March 2015

A bleeding pox take your manners. Having a beard doesn't make you wise. We could put a pig in that chair and put a crown on it - it would still be a ruddy pig. She can have my respect when she earns it.

Walter Brewer, Senator for Upwold

Overview

The Throne is the most powerful political position in the Empire. It is the formal title for the position of the head of the Imperial state, be they emperor or empress. The occupant heads the Imperial Senate, the Imperial Synod and the Imperial Military Council and serves as a rallying figure for the entire Empire.

Duties

The Throne holds a unique power: as a head of state, an Emperor or Empress is the only person who can have simultaneous influence in the Senate, the Synod and the Military Council. This gives them a signature ability to help provide unity of vision to the entire Empire and to guide it towards its manifest destiny.

Limitations

No Proxy

The Throne is not entitled to appoint a proxy. This restriction presents any potential for fraud by a claimant as well as avoiding any possibility of two participants acting as The Throne simultaneously (the incumbent and a proxy). Ultimately though this limitation was imposed by the founders to limit the powers of The Throne - the powers of an Empress are potent, but she must be physically present to utilize them.

Senate Support

The Throne may use the legal powers granted to them without approval of the Senate, but they cannot propose a Senate motion. The Throne does not even receive a vote in the Senate, as they are expected to remain above the natural politics of the chamber.

Constitution

Although The Throne is needed to ratify amendments to the Imperial Constitution which have been passed by the Senate, they cannot approve an unconstitutional motion. A motion that has been struck down by the constitutional court because it is considered to violate the spirit of the Constitution cannot be ratified by an Empress.

Powers

Powers of State

Member of the Senate

The Throne is a member of the Senate. They are entitled to enter the Senate chamber at the start of a Senate session and participate in the debates.

Right of Address

The Throne has the right to make a Senate address once per summit. As a member of the Senate, The Throne is able to participate freely in the debates there, but this power allows them to deliver an impassioned speech on a subject of their choice. To make an address, The Throne must add the address to the agenda for the next Senate session.

The Hand of the Chancellor

Up to one third of the residual income to the Imperial Treasury each season can be disbursed by The Throne without approval by the Senate. They may take these funds and dispose of them as they choose. To use this power, The Throne must make an appropriate announcement in the next Senate session.

The maximum that The Throne may disburse in this way during a summit is equal to a third of the Senate's income for that summit, after all upkeep has been paid. The Imperial Treasury cannot go into debt, so no motion or announcement may disburse more thrones than remain in the Treasury.

Ratification

If a constitutional vote in the Senate is successful, then the motion is passed but does not become law until it is ratified by signature by The Throne. This means that it is not possible to make any alterations to the constitution unless they are ratified by The Throne. The Throne may choose whether to ratify constitutional changes or not. Any constitutional changes which are not ratified remain in suspension and may be ratified by a future occupant of The Throne. One of the first jobs of a new Emperor or Empress is often to ratify several outstanding constitutional changes.

Power of Veto

The Throne may veto any motion that has been passed by the Imperial Senate. Unlike the power of veto exercised by the Synod, this power can be used any number of times without limitation. To veto legislation, The Throne must be present when the vote is taken and must exercise the veto immediately after the vote.

Exclusion from the Senate

The Throne may order a single senator removed from the Senate for the duration of a vote. They are not required to present a justification for this action. Unlike the Speaker for the Senate, they may only remove a single senator during a session and only for the duration of a single motion. Traditionally the Speaker uses their power to exclude senators whose behaviour is disorderly while The Throne acts to remove senators whose behaviour is considered to go against the best interests of the Empire.

Powers of Virtue

Custodian of Virtue

The Throne may intercede in the creation of any judgement that requires a lesser majority of the Imperial Synod. This intercession causes the judgement to require the greater majority to pass. To use this power, The Throne must intercede before the judgement is complete; they cannot use this power after a judgement has been rendered.

The Mercy of the Empress

The Throne may present an appeal for clemency on behalf of any Imperial Citizen who is being sentenced. The citizen must have pleaded guilty during their trial and The Throne must present the appeal on Virtuous grounds.

The Gift of Liao

The first portion of pure liao that is produced by the Synod in each season is given to The Throne. The Throne may dispense this portion of liao as they choose.

Powers of Magic

Master of Magic

The Throne may dissolve the Imperial Conclave once a season. If this occurs then all the positions of the Imperial Conclave become vacant and must be refilled as soon as possible. The Throne cannot remove individual citizens from their position in the Imperial Conclave, they can only dissolve the entire Conclave. To use this power, The Throne must make an appropriate announcement in the next Senate session.

Order of The Throne

The Throne may nominate any citizen, including themselves, to speak during a Conclave session. To use this power, The Throne must be present during the Conclave Session. If The Throne is present during a session, then they are always asked to nominate first on any declaration, address, or gambit being discussed. Unlike the grandmaster of a Conclave order, The Throne's first nomination is not free - everyone who is nominated by The Throne must pay the Conclave one mana crystal for each minute they wish to speak.

Powers of War

Defender of the Empire

The Throne may remove any general from their position on the Imperial Military Council. The occupant of The Throne automatically assumes responsibility for and control of the Imperial army and all associated legal rights accorded to that general, until a new general is appointed. While holding the responsibilities of the removed general, The Throne cannot remove any further generals from their position.

Declaration of War

The Throne can declare war on any foreign power. Unlike the Senate, they are not able to end a state of war with another nation. To use this power, The Throne must make an appropriate announcement in the next Senate session.

Creation of an Imperial Favour

The Throne has the right to award a chosen citizen with an Imperial Favour. A Favour can be presented at any time, and allows the bearer to perform a single act with the full power of The Throne. E.g. A citizen may claim the first portion of pure liao that is produced that season or they may issue a declaration of war. The Favour must be physically presented to the relevant body to be used. It is possible for The Throne to create an Imperial Favour whose remit is more limited.

An Imperial Favour is a physical document describing the specific power that can be used, created with the assistance of a Magistrate. An individual occupant of The Throne may only have one favour in existence at any one time. They may not award an additional favour until their current favour has been presented and fulfilled. Any favour not presented by the time of the death of an Empress or Emperor remains valid until it is used. An Imperial favour is transferable and may be passed to another if the current owner desires.

To use this power, The Throne must make an appropriate announcement in the next Senate session.

Using an Imperial Favour

In legal terms, when an Imperial Favour is used, it counts as if it were being used by the Throne. For example, an Imperial Favour that was used to replace an Imperial general would count as if it were used by the Throne. Any existing general's position occupied by the Throne would be vacated; the new occupant would carry out the duties of the title only until the Throne used the same power again.

Selection

Any Imperial citizen may seek election to The Throne but appointment requires a constitutional vote by the Imperial Senate. If successful, the individual becomes emperor or empress at the start of the next Senate session once their coronation is complete.

Although many occupants of the Throne have been senators before their accession, there is no requirement to be so. The Senate may choose any Imperial citizen.

Removal

The Throne serves until they die, step down or are revoked.

The Throne can only be revoked by the General Assembly of the Synod.

History

The powers of The Throne were codified when the Empire was first created and have remained largely unchanged since then. There have been nineteen Emperors and Empresses since the Empire was created.