Gentlesophonts:
Here's another contribution to our TML Regency Sourcebook, *Shall Not
Perish*.
I'd like to propose the following modification to Wes Esser's
[email removed] excellent diagram on the structure of the
Regency government.
Regent
R |
E W ---------------------------------------------------
G I Legislature Judiciary Executive
E D | | | | |
N E | | | | |
C | | | | |
Y Moot Senate Regent's | |
| Court | |
- ----------------------|-----------|------------|------------|-----
S | | | |
E W | Sector | Sector
C I | Dukes's | Dukes
T D | Court | |
O E | | | |
R | | | |
______________________|___________|____________|____________|_____
S | | | |
S E W |------------------> Governors Dukes
U C I | Duke's | |
B T D | Court | |
O E ------------------- | |
R | | | |
- ----------------------------------|-----|------|------------|-----
C Count's | | Counts
O Court | | |
U | | | |
N | | | |
T | | | |
Y | | | |
- ----------------------------------|-----|------|------------|-----
W Marquis's |-->Residents Marquises
O Court |
R | Barons
L Baron's
D Court
This model removes the military from the actual government structure.
Previous information on the Imperium has suggested that while the
nobility meddles in the military, the military generally remains outside
the political system except in times of severe stress like the (First)
Civil War. Even in the Rebellion, we did not see the military itself
as a player in the political struggle (despite my earlier comments to this
effect).
The legislative branch retains the noble Moot and the popularly-elected
Senate. The model retains the Imperial tradition of the nobility as being
responsible for judicial functions rather than the Regent-appointed courts
suggested by Wes. The executive branch includes both the Regenct-appointed
executives and the traditional nobility.
Senate review is limited to executives appointed by the Regent.
I suggest the following rationale for the rise of Regent-appointed executives.
Under the Imperium all noble patents came from the authority of the Emperor.
In the Regency there is no such clear authority to serve as the source of
noble patents. Therefore, the Regent has appointed Governors (for subsectors)
and Residents (for worlds) when vacancies have appeared in the noble ranks
as surrogate executives pending the `restoration' of the Empire. In actual
practice, these executives permit the Regent to establish a loyal power base
independent of the nobility. The nobility has grudgingly accepted this in
the absence of an Emperor to replenish the noble ranks.
This system avoids noble and Regenct-appointed executives having the same
jurisdiction.
Comments, critiques and accolades are encouraged.
Happy Travelling,
David Johnson
Houston, Texas, USA