Reform of 1844
The Reform of 1844 was a concentrated set of political changes that occurred from 1844 to 1845 that addressed growing sympathies for responsible government, extended franchise, and judicial transparency. The reforms introduced the Westminster system to Themiclesia and was seen as a key achievement towards the establishment of constitutional monarchy.
Background
Political system
Since the Great Settlement of 1801, the Themiclesian system of government has existed in a delicate balance between the crown and leaders of the aristocracy at court. While royal power was nearly extinguished in the consequence of the Settlement, the Emperor actively attempted to restore his powers by granting profitable opportunities to officials of his household and aristocrats, and on the other hand leaders of the faction that would evolve to become the Conservative Party stamped out the Emperor's revenues by refusing to collect them or abolishing his debts. The Baron of Men-lang, as Chancellor, sowed mistrust between the Emperor and the Crown Prince, with the result that the Emperor targeted his son as the primary challenger to royal power rather than the aristocracy for much of his later reign.
The two principal representative organizations during this time were the Diet, in which the entire nobility is represented, and the Council of Barons, which since the Settlement of 1801 included the baronage, which accounted for a large part of the nobility. The Council of Barons had a combined legislative and executive function, while the Diet held policy power only over areas outside of the royal counties. The power of the Council of Barons was the body's control over the Privy Seal and the Chancery; without these, they could not gain control over the bureaucracy.
Constitutional changes in the 1830s
Relations between the throne and aristocracy ameliorated after the ascension of Emperor Ng′ars in 1825. Ng′ars inherited his brother's prime minister, the Baron of Sk′rus, until he died in 1826, thereupon being replaced by the Baron of Tups. Tups was unable to address the Coal Crisis as it unfoled in northern Themiclesia, a problem involving Hallian colliers out-selling domestic coal merchants due to their use of railways. His administration tabled plans to subsidize the coal mines by imposing a new tax upon coal imports in 1831, which was both opposed by the Hallian colliers and deeply ridiculed in the streets. Though facing calls to resign, Tups refused on the grounds that the Hallians must not be seen to terminate an administration at its whim.