Monarchy of the Caldan Union

The monarchy of the Caldan Union is an institution in which a person serves as the Sovereign and head of state for the Caldan Union on a hereditary basis. It is at the core of the Caldan system of constitutional monarchy which underlies Caldan federalism and parliamentary democracy. The monarch heads the Executive as the Queen-in-Council, the Legislature as the Queen-in-Parliament, and the Judiciary as the Queen-on-the-Bench at both the federal and provincial levels. Provincial governors represent her as viceroys. However, in all of these offices, operational and effective roles are filled by others. Royal assent is required for bills to become law and orders-in-council to be given effect. However, constitutionally this assent can be withheld only under the rarest of circumstances. Under the Caldan Union's democratic constitution, the Sovereign's direct role is limited, acting only on the advice of the cabinet. The Crown is primarily viewed as a guarantor of continuous and stable governance and the exercise of political power remains the preserve of the people's elected representatives. It is the role of the Queen to uphold the laws of the Caldan Union, including constitutional norms, and to ensure the rights and freedoms of the people and the sanctity of representative government. The Sovereign acts as a custodian of the Crown's governmental powers and a representative of the nation over and above government and political parties. While other members of the royal family undertake duties domestically and internationally as representatives of the Caldan Union, only the Sovereign has a formal constitutional role. In the provinces, the Sovereign is represented by the governors.

The Caldan monarchy was initially established in the 18th century. However, the institution traces itself back to the monarchies of the Three Kingdoms but also that of the Dukes of Tasat and Apatan leaders before that. The current Sovereign is Queen Gwendolyn. Although the institution of the monarchy is frequently referred to as the Crown, including in official and legal contexts, it is often poetically or informally referred to as the Gryphon Throne.

Succession

The heir apparent to the throne is His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, Grand Duke of Tarana. He is followed in the line of succession by his younger sister, Helena, Princess Royal, and then by his aunt, Princess Morgan.

Upon a demise of the Crown, be it through the death or abdication of the Sovereign, the heir immediately and automatically becomes Sovereign without any further need for ceremony or confirmation. However, it is customary for the Privy Council to meet immediately and formally proclaim the new Sovereign. If the previous Sovereign died, as has been the case in every Caldan demise of the Crown to date, one of the first acts of the new Sovereign is always the proclamation of an appropriate period of mourning for the preceding Sovereign and to convene Parliament if it's not in session. During this period, portraits of the deceased Sovereign are draped in black and palace staff wear black armbands. The prime minister makes a motion of loyalty and condolence which is seconded by the Leader of the Official Opposition. The day of the funeral is generally declared a public holiday. Only after mourning is completed is the new Sovereign crowned in a ceremony derived from the ancient traditions of the Three Kingdoms and of the Duchy of Tasat.

No incumbent appointee of the Crown is affected by the death of the monarch nor are they required to the take the Oath of Allegiance again. All references to the monarch in previous legislation continue to refer to the current monarch even if the gender is different or if there is a change in the style of the monarch.

No traitor or person tracing their claim to the throne through a traitor may hold the throne. As Caldans understand it, this includes all subjects of the Three Kingdoms, including Caldans and Lanerians, who fought against the Jacobite cause.

Parliament has the authority to provide for a Regency in the event that Sovereign is a minor or suffers long-term incapacitation. At present, Prince Peter, the Prince Consort, would serve as Regent either in the event of his wife's incapacity or either of his children ascending the throne while a minor.

The Monarchy in the Provinces

The Crown is unitary throughout all branches of government and jurisdictions at all levels. The Caldan monarch is not only the head of state of the Caldan Union but also of each province thereof. The Crown has a distinct legal persona in every province and, in legal matters, is referred to as "the Crown-in-right-of" that province. The governor of each province is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the provincial government and acts in a viceregal capacity, representing the Crown in matters of provincial governance. This formula is the same in Tasat despite the Sovereign also being the titular Duchess of Tasat. In Tarana, not considered a federal part of the Caldan Union, the formula is not used as the Sovereign acts in right of the Caldan Union. The title of Grand Duke of Tarana, held by the heir apparent, does not confer a constitutional role in that city and the Mayor of Tarana acts as a municipal authority and not in a viceregal capacity.

Constitutional Role

The Sovereign is seen as a personification of the state and, as such, reigns rather than rules. The Sovereign is a corporation sole, imbedded in institutions where power is exercised by the whole, such as the Queen-in-Council, the Queen-in-Parliamet, the Queen-on-the-Bench, and the Queen-in-right-of- each province. The Sovereign remains strictly neutral on all issues of party politics and public policy. As such, the Sovereign is the employer of all public employees, the guardian of foster children, the owner of all state lands and properties, and the rightholder of all government publications. All such claims are held by the Crown in perpetuity and cannot be terminated by the Sovereign without the advice of the government or in accordance with settled laws and policies established according to constitutional norms. The Sovereign is at the apex of the Order of Precedence, is the found of honours, and the focus of oaths of allegiance. The oath is considered reciprocal with the Coronation Oath to uphold the constitution and does not bind the taker from lawful efforts to change the form of government or to personal loyalty to the Sovereign outside the requirements of the Constitution. Members of the Socialist Party and the now defunct Republican Party publicly issues explanatory reminders of these principles upon being sworn in as Members of Parliament.

The Great Seal of the Caldan Union represents the authority of the Sovereign as applied to letters patent, commissions, instruments, proclamations, and other official documents. The Keeper of the Great Seal is the Registrar General of the Caldan Union, now a largely ceremonial office.

The Sovereign is the pinnacle of the Royal Caldan Armed Forces and serves as Commander-in-Chief, although this role is largely ceremonial.