Government of the Freethinker Commonwealth
File:Cities of the Commonwealth.png |
Cities and Geographical Entities of the Freethinker Mainland |
For details of the political setup of the Commonwealth, see "Politics of the Freethinker Commonwealth"
The Government of the Freethinker Commonwealth, referred to in-country as the Capital or the National, is the national government of the Freethinker Commonwealth. It is based primarily in Navarre, in the Freethinker Mainland, but has assets, facilities, and departments across the entirety of the Commonwealth.
Executive authority rests with the reigning monarch, King Percival IV, but in practise the Government is led by the Prime Minister (the titular head of government), who leads or is nominated by the biggest party (or coalition) in the House of the People, and his cabinet, members of which are drawn from both houses of the national Parliament. The Government exercises authority in the name of the Freestian Crown and with the confidence of both houses of Parliament, institutions in turn which are considered and required constitutionally to hold and maintain the confidence of the population of the Commonwealth.
The various Mainland provinces and territories and the three 'Autonomous Provinces' have their own domestic legislatures. These sit in the respective capitals of the various territories. The offworld colonies at present are administered regions without a developed political structure.
Monarchy
Main Article: "Monarchy of the Freethinker Commonwealth"
The official head of state in the Freethinker Commonwealth is His Majesty King Percival IV of the House of Svard-Navarre, the current 'Royal Family'. This role is defined by the constitution of the Commonwealth as an apolitical figurehead representing the continuation of the state and the nation. The Monarch him/herself provides the legal personification of the Commonwealth and under his/her name legislation and other actions of Government are undertaken.
Levels of Government
National Government
The primacy of the Commonwealth legislature allows it to overturn provincial and local laws with a supermajority of votes, though this is rarely done. The metropolices and autonomous provinces are more sovereign in this regard.
Regions
Provinces and Territories
See Also: Autonomous Provinces
Unitary Authorities
Non-territorial nations
The smaller Freestian Vampire community has its own governing body ruling on matters of internal affairs, whilst the two Autonomous Provinces can boast their own assemblies (and heads of Government) which deal with all matters excluding foreign relations and defence seperately from Parliament.
The Lost, as a non-territorial community, also have their own, somewhat haphazard government structure, based along tribal and psuedo-military lines. The Lost community are also heavily integrated into the local territorial government.
Judiciary
Main Article: "Crime and Justice in the Freethinker Commonwealth"
The Royal Judiciary controls the court and prison systems, and is independent entirely of the legislative branches of the Freethinker government, save that the prisons and courts are funded through Commonwealth government taxation.