Chapter 2: Governance
A/N: I've had a PM and a review regarding the English nobility and England being referred to in the singular rather than as the United Kingdom. This is deliberate, as in the history of the SA in my AU the United Kingdom was dissolved during the Days of Iron.
Considering that roughly half the countries forming the Commonwealth (including Ireland and much of Scotland) were completely obliterated during those times, the use of the name in the future is considered mocking.
Updated March 2020
THE SYSTEMS ALLIANCE ORDER OF BATTLE
With Addenda Regarding Citizenship Tiers and Your Government
Prepared by the Systems Alliance Commissariat
Distribution limited by the Manswell State Security Act
OFFICER EDITION : DO NOT DISTRIBUTE TO NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OR ENLISTED PERSONNEL
Section A: The Government itself : The President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the Parliament, and the Court of Justice. Legal Organs of the State that may impact your orders: The Court of Lords, the Corporate Court, and the Court of independent Colonial Affairs
"DH Lawrence said, 'a small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself'. Mankind's own self-absorption has resulted in a populace that cares nothing but for its own entertainment, fears nothing but what it cannot understand, thinks of nothing but it's own problems, and accomplishes nothing but empower a class of parasitical elites whose only contribution is the continuation of the cycle. A new time comes upon us all, one we must all rise to meet, lest we fall into the morass of self-destruction...or worse, feeling sorry for ourselves." – Reflections on Society, Lord Victor Manswell
The Systems Alliance Government is comprised of four branches: The executive branch, the ministerial branch, the legislative branch, and the judiciary branch. These branches are orbited by the Three Courts.
As an officer of the SA, and an honorary class IV citizen, it is both your civic and military duty to understand the design and function of your government.
Although certainly based on concepts of a democratic republic, the Twentieth and Twenty-first centuries taught us all too well that democracies end up only representative of the lower denominator in society. Overrun by crime, crippled with debt, racism, and too corrupt and large to react, the governments of the time before the Days of Iron lacked three things that make the Systems Alliance successful : Resolve, Responsibility, and Respect.
Our government is Resolved in that every aspect of it is designed to reduce the gridlock that destroyed older political systems. The Minsters propose, the Legislature votes, the Executives approve, and the Judiciary oversees. The Three Courts watch our heritage, our business, and our colonies. Our Districts divide the entire working whole on a level that allows smaller government to deal with smaller issues, and everyone has a voice in their own Divisional Townhall and Domain Agora Gathering.
Our government is Responsible in that it combines the best of the American model of governance with the European model, while incorporating older systems of governance and new methods devised by social scientists after the Days of Iron. The result is a government where the people have a voice, but that voice is not required to pick the lesser of two evils, nor slaved to political machinery run by the corrupt. The SA has strict term limits on all elected officials, and mandatory separation of the government departments answering to those officials. It has multiple interlocking checks, balances, supports and points of natural conflict, to ensure that it remains vital and not tied to one particular political outlook.
Our government is Respectful in that it recognizes that the past and those not usually given power over government have a role to play in successfully negotiating the future. The resurrection of the nobility as a class and power drew strong criticism at first, but as the past century has proven, they have shown that there is a reason they were called 'nobility' in the first place, putting the needs of the people and our race as a whole before their own, and sacrificing money, blood, and effort to ensure the SA continues to shine for many centuries to come. And the Court of Corporations has shown that even businessmen concerned with profit can get the Job Done Right if they have a stake in the outcome. Above all else, we are the only species to respect our alien citizens enough to let them have a stake and hold positions in our government.
Government's Branches Upon the Tree of Human Might
The EXECUTIVE branch is composed of the President, the Vice President, and the Senate President. The president is elected by general vote of all Class III, Class IV and Class V citizens in Member Colonies and Nations only. He picks a pair of running mates, the Vice President and the Senate President. The executive branch coordinates top-level decision making, has veto power over any bill, and is the primary interface between the MINISTERIAL and LEGISLATIVE branches of government.
A president can serve up to three five year terms, but no more than that. Upon his death in office, the Vice President takes his place. Otherwise, the Vice President acts as the primary communications facilitator between the Ministerial Board and the President, while the Senate President does the same for the President and Parliament.
The President is the final arbiter of decisions made for the Systems Alliance, but always represents the core interests of Earth and the member colonies first. His ability to finalize laws or veto them is balanced by the ministers proposing the laws he can adjust, the legislature voting for or against said proposals and overturning his veto, and the judiciary striking down his decisions. The President must be natural Sol-born HUMAN (no asari at this time), Class IV or V, and at least 40 years of age with absolutely no restrictions on their citizenship.
The Vice President is the primary conduit for discussions of the executive branch with exterior aspects of government, such as the various colonial boards, foriegn dignitaries in an ambassadorial function, and the like. The Vice President is also in charge of financial matters of the executive branch as well as security.
The Senate President is in charge of organization of the Senate, as well as the person to introduce Bills of Suggestion and Red Notes from the High Lords of Sol and submissive bills on behalf of the President.
The vice president and senate president must be a class IV or class V human or asari citizen of at least thirty years of age (400 for asari). No lesser citizens or anyone with a restriction on their citizenship at any time in the past can apply.
The MINISTERIAL branch is composed of the Prime Minister and his cabinet. The Prime Minister and his cabinet are elected by the House and voted upon by the Senate. Each minister must secure his or her own election, and combined they form what is commonly termed "the administration".
While the president holds decision-making power, and he can suggest laws, he cannot write laws or bring legislation into being, that is the purview of the ministers.
Ministers do not have term limits, but of course, as the House and Senate compositions change, so do the ministers. They must be reappointed each year.
The ministers will coordinate their various efforts and propose laws and acts that are approved or disapproved by the President. Once approved, the Legislature votes on them. This means that the ministers are the primary drivers of the direction of SA law and progress, rather than the president or congress.
Ministers must hold at least class III citizenship (although most hold class V), be human or asari (class IV only), and at least twenty five (or three hundred for asari). There is currently legislation pending to allow asari class III citizens to hold a post.
Prime Minister: oversees the other ministers. Responsible for all bills involving the treasury or taxation. Directly oversees the budget, allocation spending, and conversations with the Citadel financial aspects in terms of taxes and funding the Fifth Fleet. The Prime Minister also works with the other ministers - with State on diplomatic relations, with Defense on the military budget, with Development on new colony establishment, and with the Judiciary on any impeachment hearings.
Minister of State: Directly oversees diplomatic relations and supervises the Citadel Ambassador. Responsible for all bills touching on alien relations, including changes to alien citizenship quotas. Maintains control over all embassies to other alien nations, as well as working with the Xenology teams of the Commissariat.
Minister of Defense: Oversees the High Command, the Fleet Master, and defense operations. Responsible for all military budgets, bills related to the military, and the rate of reprieve offered by the Penal Legions.
Minister of Development: Oversees colonial development, promotion of colonies from one Class to another, and responsible for bills involving admissions of colonies to the SA. Interacts with and usually provides funding guidance to all new colonial programs, as well as oversight of the Colonial boards.
Minister of Public Health: Oversees medical programs, colony clearance rights, and the SACDC. Responsible for all regulations and laws covering bionetics, cyberware and the general health, as well as oversight of the Biotic committee for Trans-Human Genetics.
Minister of Information: Oversees information services and communications chains. Indirect oversight of the AIS and the Commissariat. Responsible for laws regarding public speech, the media, and public education. This post is somewhat unique in that it has been held for the past forty-seven years (through nine administrations) by Prince Aloxius Manswell, Knight Ultimate of the Royal Order of Grace.
Minster of the Interior: Responsible for most of the public works, the arts, power generation, transportation, industrial regulation and the laws that cover them. Also oversees the powers of the Court of Corporations.
The LEGISLATIVE branch of the government is Parliament, which is bicameral. The two houses are composed of representatives that are elected by their constituents.
The lower house, called the House of Congress, is mostly occupied with legal issues – changes to the SA charter and constitution, general laws, admission to the SA, and most of the ministerial actions taken. Members of the House are selected every four years by general elections on all colony worlds and Earth. A representative can serve up to five terms. The size of the House varies with population and arcane vote-measuring tactics, and currently seats seven hundred and eighty three representatives.
The upper house, called the Senate of Lords, is occupied with funding and diplomatic issues. Taxes and duties, declarations of war, diplomatic stances, Council interactions and determination of binding laws on SA organs are decided upon by the Senate. The senate is voted on from a slate of candidates by the Court of Lords, but it's members are not noble themselves. The seats in the senate are strictly limited. Each nation and colony gets one seat, period. In this, Earth has outsized influence, as it possesses almost twenty seats. Each senate seat undergoes elections once a decade, and a senator can only serve three terms.
The House has two Boards it compromises: the Board of Review, which is responsible for starting the process to amend the Constitution, and the Board of Acknowledgement, which is directly responsible for filing and ensuring that all Red Notes issued by the High Lords of Sol are followed.
The Senate also has three Boards that it comprises : the Armed Forces Committee, which seats the military high command. The Board of Commissariat Inquiry, the only check on the Commissariat's actions aside from the Court of Lords, and only when there is a full vote taken to do so. Finally, the Board of Finance, which analyzes all tax laws and spending bills prior to votes.
House members must be class II citizens in good standing. They can be human or asari, but no other races. Senators require class III citizenship and must be human or asari. There is no age limit for humans or asari aside from being a legal adult (21 for humans, 95 for asari)
The Legislative Branch is riven by political parties, but party membership is not a requirement to get on any ballot or to be elected. Party politics affects only campaign funds for re-election – first time candidates are sponsored by the Court of Lords. A review of political parties is both unnecessary and inappropriate for this guide. Remember: as an officer, while you can hold office in the Ministerial Board, you CANNOT hold office in the Legislative Branch!
The JUDICIARY branch is composed of the System's Alliance Court of Justice, the five District Appellate Courts, the Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Divisional High Courts. Judges are elected locally at the Divisional and District Level. The President appoints all members of the Circuit Court of Appeals and the SA Court of Justice, with Commissariat oversight.
Judges can be of any race as long as they hold at least a Class II citizenship. Justices of the Court of Justice must be human, hold Class IV citizenship, and possess a doctorate of SA Law.
The Court of Justice hears challenges to laws and Presidential actions, while the other courts handle business or criminal cases. Canon law in regards to common English law was mostly abandoned in the wake of the Days of Iron – legal precedent, while still binding on most lesser courts, is disregarded by the Court of Justice.
JAG officers interested with dual-role positions in the Judiciary should contact their Divisional CoJ recruiters, or your commissariat branch.
The Court of Lords, tireless defenders and visionaries
During the end of the Days of Iron, the Solar System Alliance was unable to form a cohesive government that did not draw on the corrupt government figures who had led to such dark times. Manswell's own background of royalty led him to resurrect the concept of nobility. Additionally, he wanted to reward those leaders who had backed his audacious scheme to help rescue humanity from the dark ages it had fallen into with the destruction of Ardiente's mad schemes.
Thus, the basis of the authority of the Court of Lords comes from two major sources. The first is that the Lords were the only groups with enough power and money to aid in the early Solar System Alliance, that eventually evolved into the Systems Alliance of today. In a very real way, the families that comprise the Court have invested more and risked more for the SA's success than any others. This, along with their own importance in the governments of the world prior to the Days of Iron, earns them our respect.
The second source of their authority is that they are independently wealthy and immune to corruption or bribery. The honor-based system of noble grants ensures that their power is not tied to any one governmental branch or even nation or colony. This wealth ties into the political system, as members of the Legislature are sponsored by members of the Court of Lords, ensuring anyone with the skills to represent humanity need not be beholden to political parties.
A noble family must have been knighted for actions made or sacrifices given in the name of Humanity in the years prior to the formal establishment of the SA, or have been approved by the current Court to join their ranks. To serve on the Court itself, a noble representative must be voted upon by the current Court members when a member dies. Each member of the Court serves for life.
Currently, there are seventy-four noble families. The Court of Lords is composed of fifteen seats from these families, selected by their peers. The usual seating is in order of standing, which means the composition of the families making up the court has not changed in over twenty years. Obviously all members must be class V citizens.
The Court has three legal duties. First, it reviews and approves or denies land grants given by the SA in order to make a new noble lineage. Second, it suggests, reviews, and approves all knighthoods to the United Knights of Earth and to the Knights of Grace, the two military knighthoods that allow ascent to the highest ranks of the military. Finally, the court of Lords is the only body in the Systems Alliance with the ability to chastise or discipline the Commissariat, and its ranks are the only group with some level of immunity to summary execution by the Commissariat.
As an officer, it is possible you will be knighted. If you wish to ascend to high rank, such a knighthood is required. Even if you are not knighted, the Court is involved with and interacts with all levels of both the government and the military. A working understanding of the Noble Families and their agendas has been deemed Required Knowledge by the Commissariat, and as such, this booklet will cover such in a non-political and factual light.
The High Court of Lords current seats the following noble families, in order of social rank:
The House of Manswell (descendants of the Manswell family, German royalty from the Hohenzollern family): Headed by Prince Maxwell Manswell.
The House of Windsor (English royal family, first ally of the Manswells) Headed by Prince Regent Charles Windsor III
The House of Chu (Chinese communist party descendants) : Headed by Duke Si Yon Chu
The House of Eldfell (French business mogul and ally of the Manswells) : Headed by Prince Reginald Eldfell
The House of Ashland (Canadian business mogul and ally of the Manswells): Headed by Lord Baron Jonah Ashland.
The House of Yamato (Japanese imperial family) : Headed by Emperor Nikoru Hirohito Yamato
The House of Coleman (American presidential family related to the Kennedy and Bush families) : headed by Lord Jason Prescott Coleman
The House of Maxima (Argentine / Dutch royalty) : Headed by Duc Viellieve Maxima
The House of Dragunov (Russian royalty, descended from the Vladimirovichi) : Headed by Prince Turchenko Dragunov
The House of Setras (Italian Catholic colonist factional leaders, second ally of the Manswells): Headed by Sir John Setras, Knight Resplendent of United Earth
The House of de la Camara (Mexican and Terra Novan royalty, third ally and founding members) : Headed by Don Marquis Hernando de la Cámara
The House of Simons (Terra Novan knights of long service, replaced the House of Williams) : Headed by Baron Enrique Cortandez-Simons
The House of Ngubane (South African royalty, colonial) : Headed by Prince Mufune Ngubane
The House of Bekenstein (Israeli and Bekenstein royalty and founding members) : Headed by Duke Richard Bekenstein
The House of al Saud (Royal family of Saudi Arabia and ally of the Windsors) : Headed by Sheik Abzrad al Saud
Houses of the Second Rank include noble houses of more recent origin, and those who have slowly lost power over the years. A few such Houses are von Khar, Dularis, von Grath, Hahne, and Kyle.
Of the houses of the Court or Lords, the only one ever stripped of their powers and rights was the House of Williams, after the First Contact War, for conduct unbecoming and cowardice. Ensure that you do not follow their poor example.
While there are no laws against who can be knighted or even made nobility, only humans and technically, members of the Asari Thirty Families can serve upon the Court of Lords. Asari members of the Thirty are allowed entrance into the Chamber of Lords with the rough rank of Duke, and in the order of seniority are only below Manswell and Windsor. There are no traditions permitting other alien nobility being allowed into the ranks of the Lords.
The Court of Corporate Affairs for the Systems Alliance, mankind's ingenuity and vigor at work in the galactic economy
The Court of Corporate Affairs, normally just called the SA Corporate Court, comprises some forty-three AAA mega-corporations that, in one fashion or another, were instrumental in the formation and development of the Systems Alliance.
While many worlds have their own Corporate Court, the SA Corporate Court is unique in that it actually has a function in the government at large, rather than merely restraining and disciplining it's own membership. The Court is allowed to review, comment and revise all corporate tax law, laws affecting import / export duties, food and drug restrictions, and is responsible for conducting financial audits of all branches of the government.
Member corporations in the Court pay higher tax rates than other businesses in the SA, and are also required to employ at least 85% human workers. (Current legislation in the legal pipeline would allow asari to count as humans for the purpose of this limit). Court companies must also fully divulge their financial records to the SA Commissariat upon request and offer discounts to SA military personnel if applicable.
The Court takes its duties very seriously, and has proven in the past it will give up present profit for a better security for human interests. The Court is represented by the Court Selection Board, composed of ten CEOs from various companies that form the Court's membership. Each CEO serves a two year term and is selected by random, VI-overseen choice. Each CEO can only serve twice in a ten year span.
In return for their service and paying higher taxes to be a part of the Court, the SA government and military must source 75% of all contracted disbursements and no-bid military contracts to members of the Court.
The Court often acts as an economic buffer, absorbing large tax increases when the government must spend more than it takes in, and reaping fat profits for their sacrifices once such times of fiscal leanness have passed. While this has raised concerns of corruption, the complete transparency of their financial records ensures this does not come to pass.
Members of the Court are unique in that they have no citizenship restrictions other than possession of a Class I citizenship. Three asari, one salarian and one volus have served on the Court in the past.
The current court roster is as follows: Nova Logistics, Eldfell-Ashland Energy, Hahne-Kedar Manufacturing, Jormungand Technologies, Lawson Technologies, Cord-Hislop Aerospace, Sirta Foundation, Manswell Foundation, Mimetic Entertainment.
The Court of Independent Colonial Affairs : Mankind's free-range spirit supported across the stars
As mentioned in earlier segments, while the SA is certainly recognized as the only voice that can claim to speak for most of humanity, it's control over human space is neither absolute nor dictatorial. Our government leaders, in their wisdom, long ago concluded that if people long for freedom, the only cure is to give them the freedom they wish for.
Of course, in the darkness of this galaxy, such freedom often comes with a stark price, that of pirates, criminals, corrupt corporate entities, fluctuating HE3 prices, and random disasters. In the face of such stark dangers, some colonies decide that sticking it out on their own is not the best course of action.
The SA Court of Independent Colonial Affairs, or CICA, is the solution to these issues. It is composed of representative members of any colony or world with human inhabitants. The CICA is the link between those colonies who refuse the SA's laws and requirements but still wish good relations with the Mother Country.
While the SA will not provide financial help to such colonies, nor spill the blood of our brave marines and sailors on those who will not stand with us, the SA does offer a set of tools and services to ease colonial concerns. Legal assistance, including aid in dealing with alien laws, is always available. Medical databases and formularies of drugs and treatments are made available at no charge. News services, financial banking links, and secure communications with SA colonies are provided with minimal cost. During disasters, emergency relief supplies, including food, purified water, medical supplies, and emergency shelter and power systems, will be provided.
The CICA also works hard with those planning colonies or those who have established them to get them to a state where they qualify as a Class I colony.
The CICA is made up of ten members selected by the four oldest and most established independent human colonies: Freedom's Progress, New America, Nova Brazil, and Tombstone. These colonies (roughly Class III in size and power) each send four members every year to make up the Court structure. Additionally, three members come from the Ministry of Development and two from the Ministry of the Interior. CICA votes up or down on new initiatives to aid colonies as well as on recommendations for laws that are submitted to the Legislation for voting.
Given the nature of colonial life and the fact that many of the participants are NOT SA citizens, the only restriction is that each member must be a citizen on the world they represent, and at least six of the group sent by the colonies must be human or asari.
The Organization of the Systems Alliance : Districts, Divisions, Domains, and the Arcology Network of Earth's Nations.
The Systems Alliance is divided into five Governmental Divisions: Sol/Arcturus, Citadel/Bekenstein, Terra Nova/Mindoir, Watson/Benning, and the Verge. Each Division is comprised of many class I, II, and III colonies.
If the SA is a planet, think of Districts as nations. District level governance is conducted by Governors, who are elected every four years in general open elections. A governor can only serve four terms. The Governor executes the laws passed by the District Congress, which is elected every two years in open elections, with a five term limit. Both Governors and Congressmen must be at least Class II citizens in good standing, thirty years old, with Governors also required to be human or asari.
Districts are split into Divisions. For example, the Citadel/Bekenstein District has the Citadel Division, the Bekenstein Division, the Maasai Division, and the Serai Division. A division is controlled by a Divisional Council, made up of ten elected representatives and led by a Speaker. Each one is elected once every five years and can serve up to four terms. A Speaker is elected once a decade, and can serve only two terms, and must have been a Council member first. All divisional representation must be class I citizens of at least twenty five years of age.
Finally, domains are local governance groups on individual colony worlds. A domain is run by a mayor, and domains usually conduct their own electoral rules and requirements.
Earth's nations are a special case. The Earth is divided into three governmental types. The first are the Member Nations, who run their own affairs without SA interference. The second is the Associated Nations, such as Jordan, Switzerland, and Greece, who function semi-autonomously from the SA but still have SA oversight. Finally there are the Incorporated Territories, for such areas as Spain and Nigeria that did not survive the Days of Iron. Brazil is a special case, directly governed by the SA and denied self-rule or any self-direction for all time as punishment for their role in the atrocities perpetrated by Emperor Ardiente.
Earth's biosphere remains heavily poisoned by the warfare that lead up to the Days of Iron. All cities are therefore enclosed in either bioprotective shields (such as Vancouver) or, for larger cities, huge arcologies. The maintenance cost of these measures, and of supporting the biodomes, agri-arcologies, and atmospheric treatment stations, requires staggering amounts of capital, most of which is supplied by the Member Nations, the Court of Lords, and the Manswell Foundation.