Directory of Vardana

Executive Directory of Vardana
Executive Directory of Vardana
Տեղեկատու (Vardanan)
	Cockade of the Republic of Vardana
	Incumbent; Anastas Barkhudar, Constantine Melikian, Lucine Argutian, Nebez Gewirk, Tamar Zakarian, Sara Lekandrean, Isaac Vorsapetn, David Avanian, Almasd Dzolkert;
Style	His/Her Excellency (in international correspondence)
Type	Directorial government
Seat	Tigranaberd Palace, Kajnadzor
Term length	Variable by election date
Precursor	Chairman of the Presidium of Vardana
Formation	11 July 1985

The Directory of Vardana (Vardanan: Տեղեկատու) is the nine-member committee that has governed the Third Vardanan Republic since the signing of the constitution, on 18 June 1985. Collectively, the Directory serves as the head of state and of government of Vardana.

The entire Directory is responsible for the federal government of Vardana, overseeing the administration of the nation. By direction of the constitution, all directors are of equal status; however, since 1992 the Directory has appointed one of its membership to serve as the Director-General. The Director-General, as first among equals, often fulfills the representative obligations traditionally carried out by a single head of state in other nations.

History

1983 constitution

The 1983 constitution was drafted during a constitutional convention following a coup from within the Revolutionary Workers' Party. The convention was chaired by future, and last, Paramount Leader Arman Boghossian. The constitution was drafted over the course of two months, and was adopted in July 1983, approved by national referendum in 1984. The constitution came into effect on 11 July 1985, exactly two years after the initial adoption. Article III called for the creation of an executive directory, partially inspired by the Daitoan model, and deals with the function and duties of the Directory.

Article III, section 1 describes the Directory as the "supreme executive power" of the nation. The Directory is to consist of 9 members, one elected from each of Vardana's 8 provinces (including a director from the claimed province of Perateia) and one at-large, elected by nation-wide popular vote. Director terms are to last four years, with no regard to term limits; however, term limits have been imposed by provincial charters in all but two provinces (Ayrum and Corduene), with elections staggered to allow for 2 to 3 Directors to be elected annually.

Section 2 granted the Directory the power to:

appoint judges, attorney generals, military officers, and other officers;
fill vacancies resulting from death, resignation, impeachment, or other disqualification;
correspond with foreign nations;
serve as presiding officers in cases of impeachment;
grant pardons and reprieves;
ensure the enforcement of laws passed by the Assembly and signed by Directory;
veto legislation;
serve as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, or to nominate one among themselves to serve as sole commander-in-chief in times of crisis;
etc.

Meeting place

The constitution provides that the Directory is to be in session simultaneously with the National Convention. However, in practice the Directory sits year-round with no formal sessions. Directory meetings, and offices, are held at Tigranaberd Palace, in Kajnadzor.

Directors

Eligibility

The Constitution of Vardana sets 4 major qualifications to become a Director. To serve as Director, one must:

be a citizen of Vardana
be at least 30 years old
be a resident for the last 10 years
not be married to a non-citizen spouse

Election and term limits

Directorial elections are staggered with anywhere from 2 to 3 director positions elected every year. Elections are regulated and held by provincial electoral commissions, in elections featuring universal suffrage. Provincial charters vary on method of election, but many (including the national at-large directorate) utilize a two-round system. Newly elected directors are sworn in a full month after their election by the President of the National Convention.

Term limits do not exist at the national level, though many provinces have enacted term limits within their own jurisdictions to restrict offices. The following provinces have a 2 term limit, allowing for no more than two consecutive terms (allowing individuals stand for election after sitting out an election cycle): Armavir, Enetne, Iotopha, and Tsaghkadzor. The province of Mysia has a hard 3 term limit, while the provinces of Ayrum and Corduene have no restrictions on consecutive terms.

Director-General

The Director-General serves as the presiding officer of the Directory, and undertakes representative duties typically associated with a single head of state. The office was established in 1992 out of Directorial gridlock and the need for a presiding officer not provided by the constitution. The Director-General is elected from among the members, originally the most senior member of the Directory, though this has not been the case since the Generalship of Zoravar Davtyan. The Director-General also serves as the functional commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The current Director-General is Anastas Barkhudar, of the Radical Party.

The constitutionality of the Director-General has often been debated among constitutional scholars and lawyers in Vardana. The constitution does not provide for a presiding officer of the directory and instead relies on all directors to undertake functions of the head of state and government collectively. Some constitutional scholars have noted that the creation of the Director-General could be explained through the Directory's exclusive power to appoint other officers or fill vacancies. However, others still widely criticize this view and have called for the position to be abolished or officially created in a constitutional amendment to limit its potential powers and influence over the Directory as a whole.

Current membership

As of January 2020 the incumbent Directors are:

Directory of Vardana
Radical (5) Republican Spirit (2) Radical Renewal (1) 11 July Club (1)
Province	Director		Province	Director		Province	Director
Vardana at-large – Member since 12 February 2010 Previous membership Director from Mysia 1996-2010 – Election 2010, 2013, 2017 Next in 2021		Director-General Director Anastas Barkhudar (Radical Party)	Province of Armavir Արմավիր/ (5.4% of population) – Member since 18 July 2013 – Election 2013, 2017 Term limited in 2021		Director Sara Lekandrean (Radical Party)	Autonomous Republic of Ayrum Այրuմ (9.6% of population) – Member since 18 July 2018 – Election 2018 Next in 2022		Director Nebez Gewirk (11 July Club)
People's Republic of Bayazet Իոտոպհա (34.7% of population) – Member since 20 July 2016 – Election 2016 Next in 2020		Director Constantine Melikian (Radical Party)	Province of Corduene Cորդuենե (1.5% of population) – Member since 30 July 2008 – Election 2008, 2012, 2016 Next in 2020		Director Almasd Dzolkert (Radical Renewal)	Province of Enetne Ենետնե (11.9% of population) – Member since 20 July 2015 – Election 2015, 2019 Next in 2023		First Deputy Director Isaac Vorsapetn (Radical Party)
Commonwealth of Mysia Μυσία/Մյսիա (14.1% of population) – Member since 20 July 2017 – Election 2017 Next in 2021		Second Deputy Director Lucine Argutian (Radical Party)	Republic of Perateia Պերատեիա/Περάτεια (0.4% of population) – Member since 18 July 2019 Previous membership Director from Perateia 2003-2011 – Election 2019 Next in 2023		Director David Avanian (Republican Spirit)	Province of Tsaghkadzor Տսագհկադզոր (22.4% of population) – Member since 18 July 2014 – Election 2014, 2018 Term limited in 2022		Director Tamar Zakarian (Republican Spirit)