Politics of Mava

The politics of Mava (officially the Republic of Mava; Mavean: Maava Yakiinaigaalu) takes place within the framework of a confederal constitutional republic, in which sovereign political entitites are united by common political institutions capable of making and enforcing law. The Constitution of the Republic of Mava, which establishes the general structure of the confederal system, political power between a central legislature, executive, and judiciary, and enshrines their role in relation to the sovereign jurisdictions.

The four jurisdictions of the Republic of Mava are the principal political units and which voluntarily pool sovereignty to central political institutions. These jurisdictions (North Mava, South Mava, Tokuksiagak, and Taak) agree to grant these institutions the right to make laws in certain areas, and which are supreme over their own laws. These laws are limited to those required for the "equal application of relevant law and the equal application of the rights, privileges, and duties pertaining to them." The jurisdictions maintain their own legislatures elected according to their own rules and practices, their own governments and judicial systems, and may pursue their own external representation in areas not exclusive to central authority.

The common institutions (officially "Organs of the Confederation") consist of the Assembly of the Islands, the Government Council, the Presidency, and the confederal courts (the Court of Justice and the Court of Arbitration). The Assembly forms the legislative arm, consisting of 61 delegates elected to make laws that apply across the confederation. The Government Council, elected by and from amongst the Assembly, possesses executive power and some legislative functions alongside the Assembly. The Presidency is the collective head of state, primarily responsible for ceremonial and representational functions.

Mavean politics is heavily influenced by geography. The four jurisdictions are largely formed out of the natural divisions in the land, which hase created separate but interlinked political cultures. Because of these divergent practices and the need for near-unanimity in most areas of policyaking, Mavean politics has been characterised as consociational, with political cooperation across different social groups on the basis of broad consensus. Political parties are comparatively weak on a confederal level, although are stronger at a jurisdictional level.

Executive branch

The Presidency of Mava is the collective head of state, composed of the four civic heads (Puuaqats) of the constituent jurisdictions. The main role of the presidency is ceremonial and symbolic, serving as a unifying presence and symbolising the equality of all jurisdictions. As a political institution, the presidency exercises certain constitutional responsibilities, including appointing and dismissing ministers, dissolving the Assebly, and the promulgation of laws. The President of the Presidency is the presiding officer and first-amongst-equals and is always the Puuaqat of North Mava, the largest and most populous of the jurisdictions.

The Chairman of the Government Council is the head of government. They are nominated by the Assembly and are appointed by the Presidency. The chairmanship is comparatively weak compared to other prime ministers; they do not nominate ministers and cannot dismiss them on their own initiative. The Government Council, consisting of eight ministers (two from each jurisdiction) is responsible for carrying out policies and decisions in the fields of diplomacy, economy, inter-jurisdictional relations, and other matters as agreed to by the jurisdictions. The current Chairman, since 22 March 2023, is Kausaanek Malaati.

Current government

Following the resignation of Paqtuq Maagamarak, the Presidency appointed Kausaanek Malaati as Mava's 15th head of government. A new Government Council under his leadership was created.

Office	Minister	Party	Serving since
Senior officers of state
Chairman	Kausaanek Malaati	Anuvik	22 March 2023
Vice Chairman	Anaayak Nelagak	Anuvik	22 March 2023
Ministers
Minister of Finance and the Economy	Anaayak Nelagak	Anuvik	22 March 2023
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Vaak Tagaaniok	Anuvik	22 March 2023
Minister of Public Security	Nilitayoq Saujuak	Anuvik	22 March 2023
Minister of Health	Kaanik Kuviigat	Anuvik	22 May 2023
Minister of Education	Saumagut Naanuluk	Anuvik	22 March 2023
Minister of Transport	Taarakpii Nanaatik	Anuvik	22 March 2023
Minister of Justice	Asiyulak Tiyik	Anuvik	22 May 2023
Also attending cabinet
Attorney General Public Prosecutor	Mavatak Saamik	None	9 June 2022

Legislative branch

The Assembly of the Islands is the legislative branch of the confederal government. Its 61 members are elected every two years by universal suffrage and sit according to political allegiance rather than jurisdictional background. The Assembly is responsible for representing all Mavean citizens and is responsible for approving policies applicable across the confederation. The Assembly is where all laws are to be proposed and debated, and it is to the Assembly that the Governent Council is answerable and where it is held accountable.

Its seats are allocated according to the population of the jurisdiction. As of 2023, 27 seats are allocated to North Mava, 20 to South Mava, 11 to Tokuksiagak, and 7 to Taak. For a law to be approved, a majority of each delegation is required (a minimum of 35 votes, or 57.8 percent). Despite this, members are expected to represent the interests of their constituents rather than their home jurisdiction, and is one of only two institutions (along with the Government Council) which are expected to disown all jurisdictional allegiances.

Although each of the jurisdictions have their own political systems, political parties operate across jurisdictional borders. Each party has a jurisdictional branch, and these branches come together to form a confederal party in the Assembly.

Political parties in legislative elections

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Anuvik	14,291	40.84	-1.21	39	0
	Kiikalakki	11,102	31.73	+4.33	15	+1
	Yaavki	3,755	10.73	-1.71	5	+1
	Maava Naigaalu	1,921	5.49	-1.24	0	-1
	Independents	3,920	11.20	-0.17	2	-2
Total		34,989	100.00	–	61	0
Valid votes		31,989	98.49
Invalid/blank votes		491	1.51
Total votes		32,480	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		51,072	63.60
Source: Mavean Elections Office

Judicial branch

Office	Name	Party	Since
Chief Justice of the Court of Justice	Puunanak Qaat	None	18 May 2018
Chief Judge of the Court of Arbitration	Kualaatit Puagaatok	None	21 October 2017

Mava does not have a single legal system due to its confederal nature. There are currently four distinct systems of law: North Mava law, South Mava law, Tokuksiagak law, and Taak law. Each law operates in similar ways, but there are slight differences in their operations and are subject to regulation by the respective parliaments.

At a confederal level, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Arbitration constitute the judicial "Organs of the Confederation." The Court of Appeal is responsible for hearing cases relating to the constitution and its application across the confederation. The Court of Arbitration has a similar role, hearing disputes between jurisdictions and between jurisdictions and the confederal government. The main difference between the two courts is that the Court of Appeal advises on the interpretation of constitutional law for an individual or individuals where there may be doubt, whereas the Court of Arbitration judges in disputes over the application of confederal law.

All legal systems follow common-law principles, with sitting justices applying their knowledge of legal precedent and their knowledge of the law and of the case before them. Law across all four jurisdictions is therefore considered to be "organic" in as much as its application responds to individual cases and the judgements of judges. In each jurisdiction the courts are headed by a Court of Appeal, which constitutes the supreme court of the jurisdiction. In matters relating solely to the jurisdiction, these courts are the last court of appeal. Below the Court of Appeal are the "senior trial courts." In North Mava, this consists of a High Court and a Criminal Court, trying civil and criminal cases respectively. In the other jurisdictions, a single High Court tries both civil and criminal cases. All decisions made by a court is binding on lower courts within the hierarchy.

Each jurisdiction has its own justice ministry and corresponding minister. At a confederal level, the Department of Justice is responsible for ensuring the equal application of law and the protection of legal rights across all jurisdictions.

Administrative divisions

Mava is principally divided into two regional provinces: the islands of Mava and Tokuksiagak, the two most populated of the three main Mavean islands. Each island has its own elected Parliament (officially "Regional Provincial Parliament") responsible for matters relating to the island's governance. These duties involve transport planning, housing, waste disposal, social services, and environmental health. The island of Taak, because of its small population, is included in Tokuksiagak Regional Province. The creation of the regional provinces arose as part of constitutional reforms in the 1990s in response to concerns over the centralisation of power on Mava island.

Mava is further divided into 9 districts, 6 of which are located on the island of Mava, 2 on Tokuksiagak and the final district on Taak. 6 districts have their own elected councils responsible for certain district matters. Three districts do not have local councils due to their small population: Kungaatiibisa, Saayup, and Taak. Those districts without their own councils are directly governed by the regional parliament.

Political and civic pressure groups

1. Mavean General Workers' Union
2. General Assembly of Mavean Employers
3. Assembly of Churches of God
4. Union of Fishermen

International organization participation

UN

See also

• Politics of Mava
• Culture of Mava

External links

• Mava. The Global Factbook. United Nations