Proxy

Overview

A character who holds an Imperial position - such as a senator, general, cardinal, or archmage may appoint another character to act as his or her 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 and many do so with the implicit assumption that such an individual will act as their proxy in their absence. 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.

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. They cannot stand as proxy in an Imperial title if they already hold another title - the Dawnish Senator could not appoint a member of the Bourse to act as their proxy. 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.

A citizen who appoints a proxy to act in their stead remains bound by the restrictions of their post. They cannot be granted another Imperial position, even though they have appointed a proxy. A senator who appoints a proxy is still forbidden from entering the Military Council.

Only the holder of an Imperial position may appoint a proxy, members of representative bodies like the Synod and the Conclave who do not hold an official Imperial position 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. The proxy for the Warmage is only relevant in the Military Council. 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.

A proxy is bound by the same restrictions as the office they hold. It is not possible to be the proxy for two different Imperial positions as this flouts the constitutional limitations on the powers of any citizen. Any citizen who believes they hold the power of proxy to act in the place of a senator is forbidden to enter the Military Council.

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 girl 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.