Democracy
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Democracy is a form of rule characterized by political power resting in the hands of the population, rather than its rulers. It has convergently developed across the islands of the Attu Archipelago at various points in time, mostly prior to the Grand Calming. Although exact forms of democratic governments vary from island to island, they are all characterized by having certain and significant positions of power being elected through direct votes of the people. Depending on a nation's political structure, other positions may still be appointed through other methods. In democratic societies, the powers of government may additionally be limited through various means in order to prevent abuse of power, although such legal mechanisms are not present in all democratic countries.
Despite their similar meanings, the term should not be confused with "republic", which refers to governments in which the legislature, the head of government and the head of state are elected directly or indirectly by the people (though the roles may oftentime overlap). In the Attu Archipelago, several nations that can be classified as democracies have positions of significant power appointed through other methods, such as the hereditary rule of the Tieteran Royal Family, which formally holds significant influence over the national government.
Parliamentary Democracy
A parliamentary democracy is a type of government in which a democratically elected assembly or parliament acts as the main legislative power within the nation. Instead of lying in one ruler, the power of changing laws is based on majority consensus. Parliamentary democracies often see a distinct separation of powers, with governments divided between a legislature or lawmakers, an executive that enforces the law, and a judiciary, which interprets it. Such separations tend to serve keeping a balance of powers to prevent unjust or undesired abuses of political positions. As a result, the power of the legislature does not extend past its lawmaking capacities, although it may be involved in appointing figures to the other branches of government. Offices other than the parliament can also be, but do not have to be, democratically elected. It is the most common form of democratic government across the Attu Archipelago. It is currently practiced in the Kingdom of Tietero, the Federative Republic of Okrit and the Republic of Utlia.
- See also: Government of the Kingdom of Tietero
In the Kingdom of Tietero, the Tieteran Parliament (which acts as the national legislature) is divided into two chambers, the Senate (appointed by cantonal governments) and the House of Commons (elected cantonally on a proportional basis). The executive branch is headed by the current monarch, a position that is passed down in a hereditary fashion. The monarch appoints an advisory cabinet of secretaries, each responsible for their own department of the executive. All appointees to the advisory cabinet have to be approved by parliament, which may also act to impeach them. The cabinet also includes the First Secretary, a nationally elected figure who serves as the head of cabinet and the second-highest officer of the executive, after the monarch.
In Okrit, the Dakma serves as the national legislature. It is composed of 30 provincial governors, who may propose bills to be voted on and sent to the president for approval. A bill may only reach the president should it pass the Dakma, though the president reserves the right to veto it. Laws which pass apply nationally. The president also holds the power to expel a governor from the Dakma, leading to their replacement. Provincial elections for the governors of the Dakma are held separately, and are always held in the absence of an office holder. A call for a presidential election may be passed at any point by the majority of the Dakma, after which it reaches the public as a poll. Only members of the Dakma may stand for presidential election, and all candidates require the approval of at least a third of all governors.
- See also: Government of the Republic of Utlia
In Utlia, citizens vote for parliaments on all levels of government, including the Sumaasyl, Yymaasyl and Maasyl, which handle municipal, regional and national governance respectively. Unlike in other democracies, all politicians in Utlia belong to the same political party, the Coalition of Utlian Radicals. The Maasyl, or the Lower Cabinet, is composed of 32 representatives elected in their respective districts, and stands as the primary national legislative power. The president is not democratically elected, but is rather voted in by the heads of the COUR. The Maasyl handles the vast majority of Greater Utlia lawmaking duties while the federal government and president handle foreign affairs and diplomatic agreements.
Advisory Democracy
- See also: Government of the Republic of La Rossa
An advisory democracy is a type of democratic government originating in the Republic of La Rossa. It sees near-absolute power concentrated in a single elected leader, namely the Dux, who has nearly unlimited and unrestricted power to act in order to impose a national agenda, ruling by decree. Barring the elected nature of the position, an Advisory democracy functions similarly to an absolute monarchy. Despite having little to no constitutional limits on power, balance is kept through a handful of mechanisms. Regular elections every two years and a democratically-inclined populace make it difficult for Duxes to radically restrict liberties or to abolish elections altogether. In addition, an Advisory Council composed of regionally elected representatives has the power to veto the implementation of any proposal, should the vast majority oppose it. Taking the opposite approach of most other democracies, the power of legislating is vested in a single national leader, while the place of a traditional legislature is instead taken by a council that can only prevent laws from passing, without being able to pass their own. Advisors may help in the formulation of the Dux's decrees, as their official role is to advise and lobby the Dux with solutions to local issues.
The Faltiran Senate is the main legislative body in the Empire of Faltir, established in 21 PC as an advisory entity to the Shakrot, the Faltiran emperor. It is composed of 300 elected members and a single hereditary one, the Shakrot. Although its authority has been expanded to allow for the writing of legislation, giving Faltir the structure of a parliamentary democracy, it has been described as a largely advisory democracy in practice. As the Faltiran emperor holds significant sway over the Senate and a permanent seat on it, he single-handedly holds great influence over which laws may pass. Although democratic elements may exist, the monarchical nature of the Faltiran state makes categorization difficult.
Council Democracy
Council democracy refers to a form of government where the majority of its power is concentrated within a body of multiple elected rulers. Similar to both parliamentary and advisory democracies, its main differentiator is the lack of external checks on power, with balance being ensured through pluralism within the ruling body itself.
In the Nation of T'vaqi, exactly three rulers (known as Grand Magisters individually, or the Grand Council as a group) hold almost absolute power over the nation. Grand Magisters can be influenced by Senior Magisters, direct subordinates who act as advisors. The initial draft of Magisterial Democracy outlined by the Unification Committee specified that one new Grand Magister would be elected once every three years, replacing the Grand Magister that had held their position for the longest. However, this has since been abolished by the Death Decree of 53 PC, such that a Grand Magister is only replaced via democratic process in the event of their death or retirement. In effect, this has transformed the Nation of T'vaqi into a democratic oligarchy.
The Oceanic Council of the Weer Nation (formerly the Weer Kadrike) in Akaria follows the structure of a government of experts, similar to T'vaqi. Whereas most democracies tend to have representatives tied to an area of land, the Weer do not, but rather have representatives elected based on working occupation, with each member of the council elected by the people holding such working positions. As such, power is heavily concentrated in the people on the Council, who hold both the traditional positions of the legislature and the executive.
- See also: Caseic Federal Council
The current and former member nations of the Caseic Federation have diverse and highly regional forms of government. As a result, the Federation, which rules over large parts of the Caseic archipelago, accommodates different ways of appointing representatives to the 266-member Caseic Federal Council, whether they be local elections or appointments by state monarchs or leaders. As a whole, the Council exercises both legislative and executive power, as the Council is accountable only to itself, ruling by majority consensus. The Greater Nayela Union, a former member of the Federation, proclaimed independence in 27 PC, leaving as a pentarchy of five nations itself. It holds a similar internal situation, with monarchies and democracies both existing under the same union.