Federal government of the Fire Territories
| Fērlæcan Gehrec of se Fȳrēþel | |
| Jurisdiction |  Federated Fire Territories |
|---|---|
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature | House of Peers (EDh) |
| Meeting place | Fȳrhēa |
| Executive branch | |
| Head of government | Right Fire Lord |
| Appointer | People's Council (ThG) |
| Main organ | |
The Federal government of the Fire Territories (Fyrish federal government)(Fēþisc: Fērlæcan Gehrec of se Fȳrēþel) is the national government of the Federated Fire Territories, a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy in Lower-Vinya, comprising 22 shires/states and two overseas territories. The federal government comprises three distinct elements: the House of Peers (Fēþisc: Efenwiht Dōmhūs), the Committee of Crown Privy Councillors (Fēþisc: Cyning Ēargespreca), and the Committee of Crown Trusted Advisors (Fēþisc: Cyning Rædbora). The federal government derives its powers under the Sovereign, principally through the 1203 Acts of Association, 1468 Acts of Devolution, 1487 Acts of Union, 1620 Acts of Devolution, and 1783 Thrall Reform Acts.
The primary organ of the government is the Committee of Crown Privy Councillors, led by the Head of government (Right Fire Lord)(Fēþisc: Riht-Fȳrdomne) who appoints ministers to the Council and lead minister to the Committee of Crown Trusted Advisors. This organ is dependant upon the House of Peers to form primary legislation, while itself only being capable of forming secondary legislation. All three organs exercise their authority under the Monarch (the Sovereign, the Crown) through an uncodified constitution, whereby the Sovereign exclusively acts through the Privy Councillors, Trusted Advisors, and House of Peers advice.
Etymology
Although Anglicised as "Federal", the Fyrish/Old-Anglian root stems from "Fērlæcan", meaning unity through association. This term arose during the 1203 Acts of Association, whereby the union of the Fire Territories became legally defined as: "an association of shires and peoples through which we are united".
"...scīra ond folc fērlæcan þurh hwilc wē eart geāned..."
— Exceprt from 1203 Acts of Association.
In official terminology, the terms "Fyrish Federal Government" (Fēþisc: Fērlæcan Gehrec of se Fȳrēþel) and "Acting Government" (Fēþisc: Rihtfremmend Gehrec) represent the federal government distinct from the shires/states collectively. Colloquially, the terms "Federal Government" (Fēþisc: Fērlæcangehrec) and "National Government" (Fēþisc: Þēodalegehrec) arise often. When "Federal" or "National" appear in government agencies or programmes, it generally indicates federal government affiliation.
History
The Fire Territories governmental structure owes its existence to the historical feebleness of the Crown, whereby devolutionary principles formed the basis of Fyrish Federalism and democracy. In these principles, power is shared between the government under the Sovereign and shire governments, comprising the federal and state governments, respectively.
While there is no written constitution, an uncodified constitution exists in the form of historical precedents, statutes, acts, and customs. Through these elements, the Sovereign effectively relinquishes executive and legislative power to the three federal government organs. Although the federal government legally derives its power through the Sovereign, the Crown is an institutionally separate element, serving no executive or legislative duties. However, the Sovereign maintains an active role in the Judiciary, historically arising from the dispute arbitration role of the Crown Court. In this manner, the Sovereign appoints impartial members to the Crown Court, providing separation of power between the federal executive-legislative and judicial organs.
Federal legislature
The House of Peers is the bicameral legislature of the Fyrish federal government, with the two houses comprising the Popular Assembly and the Council of Representatives.
People's Council
The People's Council (ThG)(Fēþisc: Þēoda Gemōt), also known as the Lord's Council, Popular Assembly, or the National Assembly, is the aggregated upper house of parliament. The Council consists of 22 Realm Councils comprising 577 members, known as Elected Lords of the Realm, each representing an electoral district. Membership within each of the 22 Realm Councils corresponds to the population of their constituent shires/states.
Council of Shires
The Council of Shires (GoS)(Fēþisc: Gemōt of Scīra), also known as the Council of Representatives, is the lower house of parliament. Contrasting with the People's Council, the Council of Representatives comprises of one member per shire/state, for 22 members total.
Exclusive powers
The Popular Assembly and Council of Representatives each possess exclusive powers. Notably, the Popular Assembly serves to elect members from within itself to executive and Representative tenures. While the Council of Representatives is responsible for the creation of all primary federal legislation. The uncodified constitution limits the Popular Assembly's power, whereas the Council of Representatives operates under Crown Sovereignty, effectively without limits, subject to Crown Court interpretations.
Accountability to the House of Peers
Members of the executive branches, the Committee of Crown Privy Councillors and Committee of Crown Trusted Advisors, are ultimately beholden through a chain of command to the House of Peers. This accountability stems from the Head of government. Through this mechanism, the Popular Assembly has the authority to remove Heads of government through a vote of no confidence. During votes of no confidence, the Crown Court oversees and arbitrates matters.
Executive organs
Executive power in the federal government lays within the Head of government known as Right Fire Lord, on the Committee of Crown Privy Councillors. Executive duties are then delegated to ministers selected from the Popular Assembly by the Right Fire Lord.
Council of Five
The Council of Five (GoF)(Fēþisc: Gemōt of Fīf) is the collective executive body of the Government. Formally, the Council of Five is a Committee of Crown Privy Councillors. Excluding the Head of government, the Council consists of three High Ministers and two Masters, principally functioning as the Right Fire Lord's cabinet. The Right Fire Lord appoints all five members from the Popular Assembly to these positions, forming the primary executive body within the government.
Governance Council
The Governance Council (RdG)(Fēþisc: Reccenddōm Gemōt) is a clerical and secondary executive body of the Government. Formally, the Governance Council is a Committee of Crown Trusted Advisors. Principally, this body acts as an ad hoc cabinet of the Right Fire Lord, comprising impermanent and semi-permanent seats. Members are appointed by the Right Fire Lord's Master of Ministers, who forms a linked chain beholding the cabinet to the Head of government.
Master of Coin
Although the executive can perform budgetary alterations, the Council of Representatives holds the executive to existing legislation. In this manner, the incumbent government may submit proposals and requests but is ultimately beholden to the Council of Shires. Balancing the policy of the executive with the federal legislature, the Master of Coin is primarily beholden to the Council of Representatives. The title of Master indicates that the incumbent, although appointed by the Head of government, is ultimately beholden to the legislature.
A government fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 27. Quarter one runs from October 1 to December 31. Quarter two from January 1 to March 31. Quarter three from April 1 to June 30. Finally, quarter four from July 1 to September 27.
Master of Justice
While the executive can set justice policy, this policy exists under the Sovereign. It is ultimately for the Crown Court to arbitrate disputes between the legislature and executive. Beneath the Sovereign, however, the executive may implement finer resolution policies. To this effect, the Master of Justice enacts Right Fire Lord policy regarding proceedings beneath the Sovereign. Nonetheless, the Master of Justice, although appointed by the Head of government, is ultimately beholden to the legislature.
Elections
Enfranchisement within the Fire Territories has evolved significantly through the past two centuries. The earliest form of elected office consisted of the Committee of the Crown's Loyal Representatives, known today as the Council of Shires. However, the enfranchised population at the time comprised almost entirely of Lords. It was not until the 18th century that this tiny franchise would significantly grow, under the 1783 Thrall Reform Acts.
All tenures beneath the Crown are ultimately one of 577 district seats, on one of 22 Realm Councils, as part of the Popular Assembly. Due to this, all tenures within the government are subject to the same five year election cycle.
Upon taking office within the Popular Assembly, members become eligible for higher offices, such as the Head of government, Governorship, or Shire Representatives. These higher positions are ultimately appointed from the Council of Representatives.