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{{Sidebar with collapsible lists
{{Politics of Freice}}
| name = Politics of Freice
The '''politics of Freice''' takes place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy with aspects of mixed government. The head of state of Freice is Queen Diana II in right of the Riamese Federation. Domestically the [[Maaita of Freice|Maaita]] is the local ruler and de facto head of state, serving at the apex of the indigenous government. Both are hereditary positions.
| bodyclass = vcard
| headingstyle = text-align:left;padding-bottom:0.5em;
| liststyle = padding-top:0;text-align:left;


| title = {{Politics sidebar title |country=Freice|image=File:Coat of Arms of Freice.png|size=200px|title= Freice}}
Freice's government consists of a number of committees through which decisions are made. Executive power is exercised by all elected representatives through these committees. The Policy Development Committee is the senior committee and is responsible for the overall direction of government policy; the president of the committee serves as de facto head of government. The council consists of the chairs of each committee and the district mayors.


|list1title = [[Freice|Constitution]]
The constitution vests executive and legislative power in the Representative Council, a unicameral body consisting of twenty elected representatives. Prior to 2009, the Maaita chaired its sessions, but now one of its members is elected president. The Council is elected every three years via universal suffrage. When convened as the executive branch, it is called the "Committees of the Representative Council."
|list1 =
* WIP


|list2title = [[Freice#Common_Wealth_Party|Common Wealth Party]]
== Executive branch ==
|list2 =
=== Maaita ===
* Congress
{{main|Maaita of Freice}}
** wip
The Maaita of Freice is the local head of Freice, fulfilling most of the duties of head of state. Until 2009, the Maaita was the head of government and was required to preside over legislative sessions, but these powers were diluted following constitutional amendments. The Maaita is the most senior position amongst the local institutions, and arose from an agreement between three chiefs that the role should rotate amongst them. The descendants of these chiefs continue to hold the office on rotation.
* Organising Committee
** First Secretary: [[Rarje Nemjiesa]]


|list3title = [[Freice#Politics_and_Government|Executive]]
The current Maaita, since 30 January 2023, is [[Kaana Tenkel]], who is the sole inheritor of Tuaa Savou's share of the office. Since 22 December 2023, his wife [[Makeeia Taaguvigi]] serves as regent.
|list3 =
* [[Politics of Freice#Leader of the Senior Council|Leader of the Senior Council]]
** [[Rarje Nemjiesa]]
* [[Politics of Freice#Senior Council|Senior Council]]


|list4title = [[Freice#Politics_and_Government|Legislature]]
=== Policy Development Committee ===
|list4 =
The Policy Development Committee is the senior committee within the Freician system of government. The committee is responsible for the broad development of policies and programmes and for coordinating the work of the other committees. It's main functions are the co-ordination of the work of committees; fiscal, economic, and financial matters; external relations and constitutional affairs; and any other matters not explicitly vested in another committee.
* [[Nuejel]]


|list5title = [[Freice#Politics_and_Government|Judiciary]]
The committee is presided over by a president, who is elected by the Representative Council. The president of the committee serves as the de facto head of government as the most powerful single political figure. However, unlike in most parliamentary systems, power is decentralised; as such, the president's power is largely determined by their individual relations with other figures and committees. Other members include the chairs of the other committees and the mayors of each district.
|list5 =
* [[Politics of Freice|High Court]]
* [[Police of Freice]]


|list6title = [[Freice#Administrative_Divisions|Administrative divisions]]
=== Council Committees ===
|list6 =
Decision-making in Freice's government is undertaken by committees. Instead of government departments or ministries, power is delegated to a number of committees made up of councillors. These committees are tasked with a specific policy area, with a chair elected amongst them to guide its activities and to represent the committee to the wider Council. Each committee has between four and six councillors, with councillors permitted to sit on (but not chair) multiple committees.
* wip
* wip


|list7title = [[Freice#Foreign_Relations|Foreign policy]]
The current committees are as follows:
|list7 =
* Finance and Economy Committee
* Department of Neighbourhoods, Strategic Relationships and Cultural Services
* Social Affairs and Culture Committee
** Councillor: Gera Ieja Yurjal
* Federation and External Affairs Committee
* [[Politics of Freice#Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations]]
* Education and Families Committee
* Health and Social Services Committee
* Home Affairs and Justice Committee


| list8title = [[Freice#Elections|Elections]]
==Legislature==
| list8 =
The legislative branch of the Freician government is the Representative Council, which is elected every three years with a universal franchise. Until 2009, senior landowners and district leaders also held seats in the council with voting powers, but constitutional changes removed this automatic right and extended the franchise so that all women, rather than just married women, could vote. The amendments also removed the requirement for the Maaita's presence, with the role of presiding officer now undertaken by the President of the Council in the Maaita's absence.


</div>
The Representative Council consists of 20 members, including a president who serves as its presiding officer. The council meets for three sessions per year, with each session lasting a minimum of 7 working days. The Representative Council is responsible for passing laws, levying taxes, and maintaining the "peace, order, and good government of Freice."
}}
Since the 2021 Freician coup d'état, the politics of the [[Freice|Country of Freice]] (commonly known as Freice) takes place in the framework of a single-party socialist republic. Under the interim constitution of 2021, the sole legal party is the Common Wealth Party of Freice (Kpp), which is described as the 'preeminent movement for political, social, and cultural activities' in Freice. As a consequence of the Kpp's constitutional position, the party's leadership and the national leadership largely overlap. The incumbent First Secretary of the Kpp, Rarje Nemjiesa, is the current Leader of the Senior Council - the head of state and government in Freice.


Executive power is exercised by the government of Freice - the Senior Council - whilst legislative power is exercised by the Nuejel, elected every three years. The Senior Council is headed by a Leader, who serves as 'first amongst equals' alongside the heads of the individual government departments. Because the Leader is always the Kpp's First Secretary, in reality, the Leader is superior and not equal to other members of the Council, enjoying the power to appoint and dismiss members at his discretion. The judiciary is officially independent of the executive and legislative branches, but falls under the influence of the Kpp, rendering it de facto under state control.
Riamese federal law does not automatically apply to Freice except from in a small number of cases provided for in constitutional law or in bilateral agreements. No law passed in the Riamese federal parliament has ever been extended to Freice without its consent, with a total of 29 laws having been agreed on since 1972.
 
Freice's political system is widely regarded by outside observers as undemocratic and authoritarian; political opposition to the authority of the Kpp is prohibited, and censorship is widespread. Freedom of the media is largely curtailed, with the media largely adopting and promoting the interests of the party. Elections are held in Freice, but candidates must be approved by the Kpp, with no real choice for voters.
 
==Executive==
[[File:Rarje Nemjiesa in 2021.png|230px|thumb|Rarje Nemjiesa is the current First Secretary of the Common Wealth Party and Leader of the Senior Council.]]
The Leader of the Senior Council (Freician: Uenejal gi gura derjadia rajia) is the head of state and head of government, elected by the Nuejel every three years. In reality, the Leader, as First Secretary of the Kpp's Organising Committee, is elected by the Congress of the Kpp and approved by the Nuejel. This approval is largely symbolic. The Leader appoints and dismisses members of the Senior Council, and nominates candidates for the judiciary for the Nuejel's approval. The Leader has significant influence over both foreign and domestic policy, enjoying the right to declare war and peace and a state of emergency.
 
The Senior Council (Freician: Derjadia rajia) is the executive arm of the Nuejel, headed by the Leader and consists of a Deputy Leader and Councillors, who work for the implementation of the political, economic, social, cultural, and other such activities of the state. It directs the activities of the state, overseas the management of the country's finances, and ensures the effectiveness of the administrative structure and bureaucracy. The Senior Council is appointed by the Leader and can only be removed by the Leader.
 
===Cabinet===
As of July 2021, the makeup of the Senior Council (cabinet) is as follows:
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" width=750
| colspan="5" bgcolor="#F2F2F2" align="center" | '''Cabinet of Rarje Nemjiesa (2021-present)'''
|- bgcolor="EFEFEF"
|-
|-
| Leader of the Senior Council
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| Rarje Nemjiesa
| 2021-present
|-
| Deputy Leader of the Senior Council
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| Tuse Gajal
| 2021-present
|-
| Councillor for Neighbourhoods, Strategic Relationships
and Cultural Services
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| Gera Ieja Yurjal
| 2021-present
|-
| Councillor for Communities, Planning and the Economy
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| Amje Naqesal
| 2021-present
|-
| Councillor for Families, Education and Skills
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| Jeke Qaga
| 2021-present
|-
| Councillor for Public Health, Social Care and Wellbeing
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| Dr. Kuta Nedja
| 2021-present
|-
| Councillor for Conservation, Land Protection and Resources
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| Ina Qiguqu
| 2021-present
|-
|}
 
==Legislative branch==
Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Nuejel of Freice (literally 'Meeting'), which is composed of 13 members (or 'delegates') elected every three years via popular vote. All members of the Nuejel are members of the Kpp and need to be approved by the party leadership in order to stand as candidates. The Nuejel is headed by a Presiding Officer, who manages the business of the legislature and oversees its sessions.
 
Delegates are elected from one nation-wide multi-member constituency. Under the first-past-the-post system, voters can choose one candidate; the thirteen candidates who receive the most votes are elected. If a delegate is removed, dies or resigns, then the candidate with the most votes who was not elected is elected to fill the vacancy. Delegates can be recalled at any time if ten percent of the electorate signs a recall petition calling for the recall of one or a number of delegates. If more than four or more delegates are recalled, then a fresh general election is held automatically.
 
The Nuejel is where discussion of all proposed legislation is held. Both delegates to the Nuejel and members of the Senior Council can propose legislation, although it is only through a vote in the Nuejel that any piece of legislation is adopted. In most cases, a simple majority (50%+1) is required, although amendments to the constitution require a two-thirds majority (66.6%+1) to pass. In 7 members (excluding the Presiding Officer) are required in order for a quorum to be reached and for business to be conducted. The Nuejel can also review the actions of the Senior Council, including interrogating councillors and calling for a formal statement from the Council on its actions.
 
The Nuejel approves all nominations for courts put forward by the Leader of the Senior Council.
 
===Composition===
The current membership of the Nuejel is as follows:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| Imje Inigi Baji
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Arjal Baju
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Kane Bijona
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Pijal Biraqu
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Kemue Bosa
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Timi Enquja
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Tenel Iedel <small>(Presiding Officer)</small>
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Pete Kiarja
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Barjia Odiege
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Siegi Pogikna
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Sone Tiekie <small>(Deputy Presiding Officer)</small>
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Bojida Tiqeqal
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|-
| Iqe Tunia
| width="1" style="background-color:#bb2e2e" |
| Common Wealth Party
| 2021-present
|}


==Judiciary==
==Judiciary==
The judicial branch is composed of the courts, which administer Freician law. The Chief Advocate advises the government on all legal matters and the constitutionality and legality of its actions. The Principle Law Officer is the chief legal officer in both civil and criminal matters. They also serve as the chief public prosecutor; it is in their name that all prosecutions are made.
The constitution of Freice provides for an independent judiciary subject only to the law. The island's legal system consists of traditional Freician customary law overlaid with principles and practices taken from federal and statute law. The courts of Freice are responsible for the administration of justice.
 
The High Court of Freice is the highest court in the Freician court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in all cases. It has both original (hearing the case for the first time) and appellate (hearing cases heard by lower courts) jurisdiction, and interprets the constitution of Freice. The High Court was established through the High Court Legal Order in 2021, which reconstituted the old Supreme Court following the 2021 coup d'état. The High Court is composed of four judges, including one Judge President, who is appointed by the Leader of the Senior Council.
 
As all courts, including the High Court, are founded based on parliamentary legislation, they only have the powers that legislation has granted to them. Only the High Court has the power to strike down legislation; all other courts can only interpret laws.
 
==Elections==
Suffrage in Freice is extended to all persons who have reached the age of seventeen years, and who are not incarcerated or on probation or severely mentally disabled. Suffrage is also granted to all persons who have resided on the island for at least three years. Suffrage is granted equally to men and women.
 
Elections are held every three years to the Nuejel. No political party is allowed to put forward candidates apart from the Common Wealth Party. Elections take place at three levels of government - the tekbo, the regional, and the national level. In each election, a set of candidates approved by the Kpp, but not necessarily being campaigned for by them, is put forward; voters choose one candidate and, depending on the number of seats in a constituency, the relevant number of candidates with the most votes are elected.
 
In tekbo elections, voting is conducted in public by a show of hands. In these elections, the Kpp does not play a significant role, although its approval is still required to stand. Tekbo Meetings of the Kpp are an important source of influence in the results of elections, and it is often from the members of these meetings that candidates are drawn.
 
==Ideology==
Officially governed by a communist party, Freice combines various aspects of left-wing political thought with traditional Freician culture and practices. The official governing ideology is 'The Freician Path to Socialism', which is a broadly evolutionary form of socialism that emphasises the gradual development of a socialist economy. The Common Wealth Party combines various socialist ideologies, but has emphasised the importance of adapting socialism to the conditions of Freice.
 
The Freician Path to Socialism follows three key beliefs: that Freice is a unique and its cultural way of life needs to be protected; that socialism can only be adopted through a process of development corresponding with the decline of capitalism; and that socialism cannot come at the expense of the environment. Alongside these values, a strong anti-imperialist and broadly anti-western approach is taken, although the latter's application is not always imposed.


==Foreign policy==
The court structure is composed of four types of court. The highest is the Island Court, which exercises unlimited jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, although its work is primarily limited to hearing appeals. The President of the Island Court acts as the island's chief justice and is the most senior member of the judiciary. The President is usually a Riamese jurist, although the Deputy President is legally required to be an islander. The District Court acts as a criminal court and also hears serious civil matters. Summary Courts are local courts which deal with minor civil cases and some less-serious criminal matters. Land Courts are ad-hoc bodies organised to hear disputes over land.
Foreign policy in Freice is directed through the Department for Neighbourhoods, Strategic Relationships and Cultural Services. Freice's foreign policy is largely determined by its membership of the Saltstil Pact. It aligns itself with the decisions made by the organisation and maintains support for the decisions made by it. As an anti-imperialist party, the Kpp has supported increased integration of the Saltstil Pact and the adoption of a more firmly anti-imperialist and broadly socialist ideology.


Outside the Saltstil Pact, Freice maintains a cordial relationship with former colonial master Maricoen. Economic and cultural interactions have continued after independence and, although somewhat disrupted, beyond the socialist coup. Trade has remained stable and, with 4.6% of the population being of Maricoenian descent, the country remains an important part of Freician foreign policy.
The senior Riamese courts have jurisdiction in a limited number of cases. The Federal High Court and the Federal Supreme Court hear cases relating to good government and human rights, matters agreed through bilateral treaties, and constitutional matters reserved for the federal government.
 
==Local government==
Freice is a unitary state, with the central government being ultimately supreme over all other authorities. The only local government bodies are the Tekbo Community Meetings; these are comparable to local parish councils and mostly serve communities with a population of below 300. These meetings are held in the open, and consist of a panel of four leaders, who hear public concerns, propose solutions, and hold votes amongst those people in attendance. The powers of the Tekbo Community Meetings are of a local nature: they:
* maintain buildings for community use
* manage recreational facilities such as parks and playing fields
* manage cemeteries and other burial sites
* oversee waste disposal
* manage lighting of roads and other public places
* hear planning applications for small proposals
 
Before the 2021 coup, there were five local government areas, corresponding with the four regions in addition to Freice City. However, following the coup, these councils were abolished and most of their powers were transferred to the national government.


==See also==
==See also==
* TBD
* [[Freice]]


==References==
==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{notelist}}


==Further reading==
==External links==
* TBD
* [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Official website of the Government]


==External links==
* TBD
{{Template:Anteria info pages}}
{{Template:Anteria info pages}}
{{Template:Freice topics}}
[[Category:Freice]]
[[Category:Freice]]
[[Category:Politics of Freice]]
[[Category:Anteria]]
[[Category:Anteria]]

Latest revision as of 21:46, 22 December 2023

The politics of Freice takes place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy with aspects of mixed government. The head of state of Freice is Queen Diana II in right of the Riamese Federation. Domestically the Maaita is the local ruler and de facto head of state, serving at the apex of the indigenous government. Both are hereditary positions.

Freice's government consists of a number of committees through which decisions are made. Executive power is exercised by all elected representatives through these committees. The Policy Development Committee is the senior committee and is responsible for the overall direction of government policy; the president of the committee serves as de facto head of government. The council consists of the chairs of each committee and the district mayors.

The constitution vests executive and legislative power in the Representative Council, a unicameral body consisting of twenty elected representatives. Prior to 2009, the Maaita chaired its sessions, but now one of its members is elected president. The Council is elected every three years via universal suffrage. When convened as the executive branch, it is called the "Committees of the Representative Council."

Executive branch

Maaita

The Maaita of Freice is the local head of Freice, fulfilling most of the duties of head of state. Until 2009, the Maaita was the head of government and was required to preside over legislative sessions, but these powers were diluted following constitutional amendments. The Maaita is the most senior position amongst the local institutions, and arose from an agreement between three chiefs that the role should rotate amongst them. The descendants of these chiefs continue to hold the office on rotation.

The current Maaita, since 30 January 2023, is Kaana Tenkel, who is the sole inheritor of Tuaa Savou's share of the office. Since 22 December 2023, his wife Makeeia Taaguvigi serves as regent.

Policy Development Committee

The Policy Development Committee is the senior committee within the Freician system of government. The committee is responsible for the broad development of policies and programmes and for coordinating the work of the other committees. It's main functions are the co-ordination of the work of committees; fiscal, economic, and financial matters; external relations and constitutional affairs; and any other matters not explicitly vested in another committee.

The committee is presided over by a president, who is elected by the Representative Council. The president of the committee serves as the de facto head of government as the most powerful single political figure. However, unlike in most parliamentary systems, power is decentralised; as such, the president's power is largely determined by their individual relations with other figures and committees. Other members include the chairs of the other committees and the mayors of each district.

Council Committees

Decision-making in Freice's government is undertaken by committees. Instead of government departments or ministries, power is delegated to a number of committees made up of councillors. These committees are tasked with a specific policy area, with a chair elected amongst them to guide its activities and to represent the committee to the wider Council. Each committee has between four and six councillors, with councillors permitted to sit on (but not chair) multiple committees.

The current committees are as follows:

  • Finance and Economy Committee
  • Social Affairs and Culture Committee
  • Federation and External Affairs Committee
  • Education and Families Committee
  • Health and Social Services Committee
  • Home Affairs and Justice Committee

Legislature

The legislative branch of the Freician government is the Representative Council, which is elected every three years with a universal franchise. Until 2009, senior landowners and district leaders also held seats in the council with voting powers, but constitutional changes removed this automatic right and extended the franchise so that all women, rather than just married women, could vote. The amendments also removed the requirement for the Maaita's presence, with the role of presiding officer now undertaken by the President of the Council in the Maaita's absence.

The Representative Council consists of 20 members, including a president who serves as its presiding officer. The council meets for three sessions per year, with each session lasting a minimum of 7 working days. The Representative Council is responsible for passing laws, levying taxes, and maintaining the "peace, order, and good government of Freice."

Riamese federal law does not automatically apply to Freice except from in a small number of cases provided for in constitutional law or in bilateral agreements. No law passed in the Riamese federal parliament has ever been extended to Freice without its consent, with a total of 29 laws having been agreed on since 1972.

Judiciary

The constitution of Freice provides for an independent judiciary subject only to the law. The island's legal system consists of traditional Freician customary law overlaid with principles and practices taken from federal and statute law. The courts of Freice are responsible for the administration of justice.

The court structure is composed of four types of court. The highest is the Island Court, which exercises unlimited jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, although its work is primarily limited to hearing appeals. The President of the Island Court acts as the island's chief justice and is the most senior member of the judiciary. The President is usually a Riamese jurist, although the Deputy President is legally required to be an islander. The District Court acts as a criminal court and also hears serious civil matters. Summary Courts are local courts which deal with minor civil cases and some less-serious criminal matters. Land Courts are ad-hoc bodies organised to hear disputes over land.

The senior Riamese courts have jurisdiction in a limited number of cases. The Federal High Court and the Federal Supreme Court hear cases relating to good government and human rights, matters agreed through bilateral treaties, and constitutional matters reserved for the federal government.

See also

Notes

External links