Politics and Government of Zahava



The cornerstone of all things in the political environment in Zahava relies on the concept of absolute imperial authority. Imperial authority is believed to be the will of the gods, with the Emperor being a living god, and the first of all Zahavan peoples, this belief being the source of the emperor's title, the Primogenitor. The imperial government is expected to represent the gods will on earth, and to an extent imperial authority is kept in check by a series of religious, and legal precedent carried out through a series of State rituals.

Administrative Divisions
The Empire is divided into two distinct types of provinces Segmentum and Ethnarchates.

Segmentum are considered core territories of the Empire and are governed by an officer known as Primarch, Primarchs are generally members of the Imperial family such as uncles, aunts, nephews, or are proven military commanders. Primarchs are appointed directly by the Primogenitor. Each Segmentum elects a Concilium, or State Council from among citizens, noble houses, and religious cult priesthood. The Concilium acts as the peoples voice to address concerns towards the governing Primarch.

Ethnarchates are considered frontier territories, which generally have a lower per capita of citizens than Segmentum, or are known areas of civil unrest. These areas are governed by a Tetrarch, who acts as chairman of a military council. Like Primarchs Tetrarchs are appointed directly by the Primogenitor. Each Ethnarchate elects an Agora, or assembly from among citizens, noble houses, and religious cult priesthood. The Agora then appoints an Ephor, who acts as chief officer of the Agora and enacts policies as directed by the Ethnarch.

Primogenitor
The Primogenitor exercises total power over the empire, although this is kept in check by an ancient, complex system of religious, cultural, and legal traditions and expectations. Traditionally Emperors were given their titles by a joint proclamation by the Scholari and Epistates of the Synedrion with their selection being ratified by the Magos via deification. Since 1706 all Emperor's have been part of the Agesilaus dynasty, all Emperors are deified at birth, confirming their divine bloodline and thus right to rule.

Primogenitors are believed to be living gods and decedents of the first Zahavan people. Edicts by the Primogenitor can veto recommendations from the Synedrion, name members of the Imperialis Administratum and the Rehati, Segmentarchs or provincial governors, and the Tetrarchs. They are expected to oversee and partake in a complex series of state rituals meant to appease the gods and win favor for the Zahavan people. Primogenitors theoretically have unbound power, and cannot be imprisoned or charged with crimes although there are several instances throughout history where Emperors have been deposed and replaced by either distant relatives or generals of the Stratia with backing from the Magos.

Synedrion


The Imperialis Synedrion, or Imperial Senate while officially having no authority drafts national legislation which is then passed to the Primogenitor for signing into law. The Primogenitor can veto any legislation sent by the Synedrion, and has the authority to dissolve the body entirely at any time. This is extremely rare given that legislation from the Synedrion is considered to carry the weight of a mandate of the citizenry. Further the Imperialis Synedrion is capped at 500 members, with 62 seats permanently reserved for members of the Imperial family. The remaining seats are sorted among noble houses, elected citizens and religious cults getting 146 seats each. Each region of the Empire's Agora, or Concilium elects members from among itself to serve as that regions representative in the Imperial Senate, how many of the 146 seats each region gets is based off of population.

Members of a Synedrion are called Synedriots with the Megas Syndriot being the chief officer tasked with ensuring order and guiding discussion during debates.

Epistates
Epistates or Noble Houses are either members of the Imperial family, or members of influential families or military officers who have held, or currently hold lands in the various regions of the Empire. The number of representatives each family gets is dependent upon the size of their land holdings or influence. The Primogenitor has the authority to remove and award seats from one noble family to another keeping them in a near constant state of competition for Imperial attention.

Agora and Concilium
Agora, or citizens assembly are local assemblies that represent the collective, nobility, religious figures, and citizens living in a Tetrarchate or Segmentum. They elect and Ephor to serve both as chief officer of the Agora, and peoples representative towards the governing Tetrarch. The Ephor is also tasked with enacting and enforcing policy as directed by the Tetrarch in the case of a Tetrarchate.

Additionally each Agora elects members from among its own members to serve on a Concilium. Conciliae serve in a similar capacity as an Agora, except they are headed by and answer to a Primarch, which acts as a provincial governor appointed by the Primogenitor not an elected leader. Each Concilium elects members, again from among itself to serve as that provinces representative in the Synedrion. The amount of seats each Concilium is allotted for election is based on population of the territory they represent.

Both Conciliae and Agora are responsible for drafting local or provincial laws, levying provincial taxes and appointing government offices and judicial officials. This is in addition to enforcement of any imperial edicts or decrees and taxes as directed by the governing Tetrarch or Primarch.

The system of self government through Agora and Conciliae made up of citizens from the varying cultures, each with unique customs and norms, mean some laws very wildly from territory to territory, while the offices of the Tetrarchs and Primarchs and their officers ensure a guiding imperial hand even in small village affairs.

Ecclesia
The Priestly class which operates the Cult system is regulated by a complex religious bureaucracy overseen by the Ecclasiarchs. The Ecclasiarch of each region appoints priests to represent the cults in the imperial senate.

Citizenship
Only citizens may vote for or become members of an Agora. Possible methods for one to attain citizenship are: both parents must have been citizens, one must have completed either Scholari school or military service, one must pay taxes. Non-Zahavans may attain citizenship by virtue of military service and undergoing religious rituals showing their acceptance of the Zahavan faith.

Rehati
The Rehati is the Primogenitor's Small Council, headed by the right-hand figure of the empire, the Rehatiarch. The Small Council can be any size, but has almost always had nine members, usually members of the imperial family or deeply historic nobility or military leaders. The exact powers and authorities granted to the Rehati are in constant flux, and it is generally assumed that their authority supersedes whomever's it comes into conflict with unless stated otherwise by the Primogenitor.

Imperialis Administratum
The Administratum are legal ministries that oversee the implementation and regulation of imperial policy, or otherwise enact Edicts from the Primogenitor or Synedrion. All Administratum are headed by a Magistros, who in turn each answer to the Megas Magistros at the Magistros Council. Megas Magistros are in turn selected by the reigning Primogenitor to oversee the various Administratum.

Below are some examples of the various Administratum in the modern Imperial government, many of the offices have existed by one name or another for well over a thousand years

Megas Magistros
The Megas Magistros serves as the head of the Magistros Council, which in turn is made up of the heads of each of the various Administratum that form the Imperial bureaucracy. The Megas Magistros is chosen by the Primogenitor and is often also a member of the Rehati.