Government of the Kazharii Imperium

The government of the Imperium derives its power from the Imperial Constitution, a document which guarantees the basic rights of the people and outlines the powers of the government. The Imperial Constitution was written by delegates from the 5 founding worlds millennia ago in order to outline the framework of the new galactic government that they wished to establish. The Imperial government is divided into three branches: the Executive Branch, the Imperial Senate, and the Imperial Court. The Senate makes the laws of the Imperium. The Executive enforces those laws, and controls the military of the Imperium. The High Court maintains justice, and, when necessary, interprets the constitutionality of laws passed by the Imperial Senate and the actions of the Executive.

The Executive

The Executive branch consists of the Imperator and his staff. The Imperator is elected by a popular election for 20 year terms. The job of the Imperator is to maintain law and order within the Imperium, and to represent the Imperium in inter-galactic affairs. He is the Chief Diplomat of the Imperium. All diplomats to foreign nations are appointed by him, and he can take part in any negotiations with foreign nations that he chooses to take part in.

The Imperator has supreme control over the military of the Imperium. All soldiers and officers are officially employees of the office of the Imperium.

The Imperator possesses the power of the line item veto over bills passed by the Imperial Senate. If he chooses to veto a bill, the Imperial Senate has another chance to pass the bill into law by a 2/3 majority vote. The Imperator can not veto a bill that is passed into law in this manor.

The Imperial Senate

The Imperial Senate is the supreme law making entity within the Imperium. All laws passed by it are considered higher than any laws passed by planetary law making bodies. The only law that is higher is the Imperial Constitution. Any bills that receive a 50% majority vote in the Imperial Senate are then subjected to a veto by the Imperator. If he does not veto the bill, it becomes law. If he chooses to veto a bill, the Imperial Senate has another chance to pass the bill into law by a 2/3 majority vote. The Imperator can not veto a bill that is passed into law in this manor.

The Imperial Senate has the power to amend the Imperial Constitution. If a proposed amendment receives a 2/3 majority vote by the Imperial Senate, it is then voted on by the citizens of the Imperium. If they vote in favor of the proposed amendment by a 50% majority, it then becomes a part of the Imperial Constitution. The Imperator can not veto constitutional amendments.

Every planet in the Imperium that has achieved Colony status (1 million or more inhabitants) is allowed to elect 1 Senator to the Imperial Senate. Larger worlds are allowed 1 Senator for every billion inhabitants. Planets with a permanent population between 100,000 and 1 million are allowed to elect one Representative, who is allowed to participate in discussions in the Senate and voice the concerns of the colonists that he represents to the Imperial Senate. He is not allowed to cast a vote when bills are voted upon, nor can he vote on proposed constitutional amendments. Senators are elected by popular election on the world which they represent for 15 year terms. Representatives serve 5 year terms. Senators are only allowed to serve 1 term in office. If the people of a world are not happy with the actions of their Senator, a special election can be called by petition. If the vote of no confidence is passed by a 3/4 majority, the Senator is removed from office, and a new election is held. If the current length of the current term is such that the new Senator would only serve 5 or fewer years in office, he would be allowed to run for office in the next election. If the current term has more than 5 years remaining, he would not be allowed to run again.

The Imperial Court System

The function of the Imperial Court System is to hear trials of a criminal or a civil nature. The highest court in the land is the Supreme Imperial Court, located in Kazhor Rihad on the world of Vakhar. It consists of 7 Judges of the Court, who are appointed by the Imperator, but must be approved by a 50% majority of the Imperial Senate. The Supreme Imperial Court only hears criminal cases of the highest nature, cases concerning foreign dignitaries and diplomats, officials of the Imperial government, and cases involving constitutional issues. Rulings of the Court must be agreed upon by at least 4 of the 7 Judges.

Located on the capital world of each system of the Imperium is an Imperial System Court. This court is the highest court within the system. It can hear nearly any case that can be heard by the Supreme Imperial Court. Like the Supreme Imperial Court, the Imperial System Courts have 7 Judges, who are also appointed by the Imperator. The Imperial System Courts were mainly created to help alleviate the load of cases that come before the Supreme Imperial Court. The Supreme Imperial Court can delegate cases that do not involve officials of the Imperial government to an appropriate Imperial System Court. If the defendant in a criminal trial held by such a court is found guilty, he may appeal to the Supreme Imperial Court, which has the option to hear the case. If it accepts, it holds a new, smaller trial, in which it reviews the case. It can choose to accept or reverse the decision of the lower court.

On every planet of the Imperium, there exist a certain number of Imperial District Courts, depending on the population of the planet. These courts consist of 3 Judges, appointed by the Planetary Governor. They hear civil and criminal cases that occur within their respective districts. They can not hear cases involving constitutional issues. If the defendant in a criminal trial held by such a court is found guilty, he may appeal to an Imperial System Court, which has the option to hear the case. If it accepts, it holds a new, smaller trial, in which it reviews the case. It can choose to accept or reverse the decision of the lower court.