High Chancellor
| High Chancellor of the High Council of the Beastling States of Crystal Spires | |
  | |
| Incumbent Maven Auryn since 2008 | |
| Style | His/Her Excellency |
| Residence | The High Cloisters of the Old Imperial Palace |
| Appointer | Democratically Elected |
| Term length | 10 years |
| Inaugural holder | Selanie |
| Formation | 23 August 1980 |
| Salary | §95,930.50 ($50,137.90) |
| Website | http://www.HighCouncilContactCenter.gov.cs |
The High Chancellor of the High Council of the Beastling States of Crystal Spires an elected civilian head of state of Crystal Spires with executive power over the High Council, and is also in charge of directing the Order of Idealists, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Council of the Seven. High Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the government of Crystal Spires. The original chancellors were the officiators of the Forntian courts of justice, or ushers who sat at the "kɐnsle" or gateway of a court, which separated the judge and counsel from the audience. A chancellor's office is called a chancellery or kɐnslerij. The word is now used to describe the title of the chief executor of various officers in government, education, religion etc. who acts as the head of the republican government, is a person in charge of foreign affairs, is a person with duties related to justice,is a person in charge of financial and economic matters in the Chancelleries, and is in direct contact with the head of the universities in Crystal Spires.
Duties in the High Council
In the High Council, the High Chancellor functions along the following lines:
- The head of government — usually the leader of the majority party or coalition — forms the government, which is answerable to the High Council;
- Full answerability of government to parliament is achieved through
- The ability of the High Council to pass a vote of no confidence.
- The ability to vote down legislative proposals of the government.
- Control over or ability to vote down fiscal measures and the 'budget' (or 'supply'); a government is powerless without control of the state finances.
Appointment
In Crystal Spires, the High Chancelllor is directly elected by the people on Election day which is on the Ceremony of Great Purification. Councillors of the Government also having only one vote unlike the representative democratic model. This makes the appointment of the High Chancellor and Chancellor often a tyranny of the majority.
Removal
A High Chancellor can be removed from power in the High Council by
- Resignation, following:
- Defeat in a general election.
- Defeat in a leadership vote at their party caucus, to be replaced by another member of the same party.
- Dismissal — through Impeachment, criminal accusations to be followed by a trial of corruption or a emergency election on loss of confidence.
- Death — in this case, the Chancellor typically acts as the High Chancellor until a new High Chancellor is appointed.
First among equals in Council
The High Chancellor is first among equals in the High Council and that remains the practical reality in Crystal Spires. While seemingly a central and dominant figure within the parliamentary system, a High Chancellor cannot perform a Council dissolution. In contrast to many presidential or parliamentary systems, in Crystal Spires this is a Council decision, with the High Chancellor as one member voting on the suggestion.
Duties with Foreign Ministries and War Powers
The High Chancellor of the Beastling States has the power to direct the Order of Idealists in Crystal Spires. While the power to declare war is constitutionally vested in the High Council, the High Chancellor sits at the head of the Order of the Seven and directs the order of military action and is, with the aid and advisory boards of the Ministry of national defense, responsible for planning military strategy. High Chancellor also directs the proper foreign policy. Through the Minister of Domestic and National Defense plays a role, the High Chancellor is responsible for the protection of Spireans abroad and of foreign nationals in the Beastling States. The High Chancellor decides whether to recognize new nations and new governments, and negotiates treaties with other nations, which become binding on the Beastling States when approved by two-thirds vote of the High Council.
And they also employ official "executive agreements" in foreign relations. These agreements frequently regard administrative policy choices germane to executive power; for example, the extent to which either country presents an armed presence in a given area, how each country will enforce copyright treaties, or how each country will process foreign mail etc, to offer a pragmatic solution when the need for swift, secret, and/or concerted action arises. There are limits to such actions and the High Chancellor operates with much caution with those agreements as they can be brought before the council and brought down by 2/3 majority.
Judicial Powers
The High Chancellor appoints the Chief Justice in the Council of the Seven and another permanent judge on the High Tribunal at the advice of the Chief Justice. He/she dismisses the judges if and only if the High Council offers a resolution to that effect by two-thirds majority of the members present. If they consider a question of law or a matter of public importance has arisen they can ask for the advisory opinion of the High Tribunal. He/she has the right to grant pardon, to suspend, remit or commute the death sentence of any person.
They can, in cases of Foreign Affairs without official recognition of Diplomatic Immunity; Grant Pardons, Reprieves, Respites, Remissions, and commutations to foreign officials when they are in violation of Special Spirean Laws, and in circumstances with Diplomatic Privilege being revoked in the case of crimes of unique and a heinous nature, s/he can exercise the following judicial powers:
Pardon — Completely absolves the guilt of the offender
Reprieve — Temporary suspension of the sentence
Respite — Awarding a lesser sentence on special grounds
Remission — Reducing the amount of sentence without changing its character
Commutation — Substitution of one form a punishment for another form which is of a lighter character.
The guardian of the Spirean Law is, however, the Tribunal which is both an independent constitutional organ and at the same time part of the High Council in the sectors of constitutional law and public international law. Its judgement has the legal status of ordinary law. It can declare statutes as null and void if they are in violation of the Basic Law.
Executive Powers
The High Chancellor has the power to appoint members of the Council of Ministers, distributing portfolios to them. The Council of Ministers remains in power at the discretion of the High Chancellor. In practice, however, the Council of Ministers must retain the support of the supra-majority party in charge. If a High Chancellor were to dismiss the Council of Ministers on his or her own initiative, it might trigger a constitutional crisis. Thus, in practice, the Council of Ministers cannot be dismissed as long as it commands the support of a majority in the High Council. While every minister governs his department autonomously, the High Chancellor may issue overriding policy guidelines. The High Chancellor is elected for a full term of one year and can only be dismissed by parliament electing a successor in a vote of no confidence and can run for a maximum of ten uninterrupted years. According to the Spirean Law, the chancellor may set the number of cabinet ministers and dictate their specific duties.
The "chancellor principle" makes the chancellor responsible for all government policies. Any formal policy guidelines issued by the chancellor are legally binding directives that cabinet ministers must implement. Cabinet ministers are expected to introduce specific policies at the ministerial level that reflect the chancellor's broader guidelines.
The "principle of ministerial autonomy" entrusts each minister with the freedom to supervise departmental operations and prepare legislative proposals without cabinet interference so long as the minister's policies are consistent with the chancellor's broader guidelines.
The "cabinet principle" calls for disagreements between federal ministers over jurisdictional or budgetary matters to be settled by the cabinet.
Selection Process
Eligibility
To become eligible to become High Chancellor one must be a Reasoned Being
One who has reached the state of Elderhood
They must be born or reborn of D'hɑlbrisir
They must have resided in the sacred realms of D'hɑlbrisir for no less than 7 years
They must have a clean record of good behavior guilty of no crimes against the people of D'hɑlbrisir for 5 years minimum prior to election
One also must not have served as High Chancellor more than ten terms consecutively, with each term lasting a year
The High Chancellor must also have loyalty to the people of D'hɑlbrisir
They must claim no citizenship to any other state.
Nomination Process
The Political Party is responsible for the Campaigning Process of the High Chancellor. Typically, the party's candidate chooses a vice presidential nominee as well. The short term length of a Chancellor's term provides deliberate insufficient time to focus on an individual's campaign, and people in Crystal Spires vote for parties rather than individuals, other than in unique and extraordinary cases. The campaign is not the focus of the Chancellor's job, and so their actions inside and outside of the High Council determines nomination procedure. This puts a strain on their ability to reelect or be inaugurated if their actions in and/or out of their leadership positions are insufficiently publicly supported. There is alleged unfairness this puts on age and seniority as it is said to place a racial advantage on long-lived creatures like elves, but the term-length of the High Chancellor puts a deliberate curtailing of such racial abuses, however Spireans still feel greater emphasis on term limits must be addressed. Nominees participate in nationally televised debates, press conferences, speeches, rallies, and demonstrations. Nominees campaign across the country to explain their views, convince voters, and solicit contributions.
the High Chancellor's term of office begins at noon on 23rd of August of the year following the election. This date, known as Inauguration Day and independence day, marks the beginning of the year-long term of both the Chancellor and the High Chancellor. Before executing the powers of the office, a High Chancellor is constitutionally required to take an oath:
"I , -name-, in the name Good and Welfare of All people forswear life, titles, and name on behalf of duty to the people of D'hɑlbrisir. Knowing the purity of heart, mind, and spirit are represented by words, thoughts, and actions; I agree to stand without faltering courage on behalf of my people, and to act as a lantern in times of darkness which illuminates the dark path through greed, hatred, and ignorance. Stepping forth unhindered and unchained I will lead my people to prosperity, safety, and happiness, and in the light of the Law."
The High Chancellor is traditionally sworn in by the High Justice in the Tribunal of the Beastling States.