Monarchy of Fluvique

Queen of Fluvique
Reign	Since 18 October 2014
Full name
Eugenie Marie-Louise
House	House of Orange-Nassau-Greencastle
Father	Phillippe of Fluvique
Mother	Johanna of Austria
Born	(2014-02-19)19 February 2014 Greencastle, Fluvique
Religion	Catholicism

The monarchy of Fluvique is a constitutional and hereditary monarchy whose incumbent is titled the King or Queen of Fluvique, sovereign of the Yellow River and protector of the country and serves as the country's head of state. There have been five Fluviquean monarchs since 1872. Royal succession is determined according to common and statute law, which stipulates the throne is inherited by the sovereign's eldest living child or, in the case of a childless sovereign, the nearest collateral line. The incumbent, Eugenie, ascended the throne on 18 October 2014 and, as such, Eugenie's nephew, Prince Alexander, is current heir apparent

Their duties include summoning the House of Representatives, name ambassadors or give Royal Assent to bills. While the power for these acts stems from the Fluviquean people through the constitutional conventions of democracy, executive authority remains vested in the Crown and is only entrusted by the sovereign to their government on behalf of the people, underlining the Crown's role in safeguarding the rights, freedoms, and democratic system of government of Fluviqueans, and reinforcing the fact that "governments are the servants of the people and not the reverse"

Thus, within a constitutional monarchy the sovereign's direct participation in any of these areas of governance is limited, with the sovereign normally exercising executive authority only on the advice of the executive committee of the Queen's Privy Council, and with the sovereign's legislative and judicial responsibilities carried out by Fluviquean parliamentarians and judges and justices of the peace. The Crown today primarily functions as a guarantor of continuous and stable governance and a nonpartisan safeguard against abuse of power, the sovereign acting as a custodian of the Crown's democratic powers and a representation of the "power of the people above government and political parties".

History

A group of plenipotentiaries went to Europe to search a candidate to the throne. The main idea was to search in France, but the Franco-Prussian war forced them to go to Britain. There solicited the help of the King, and also signs treaties with other nations such Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Italy. Meanwhile in Fluvique the repressions continued and became more violent.

By the end of the war in Europe, France became a republic, and abolished all the nobility titles. Finally, by the blessing of many great powers, the crown was offered to one of the sons of William III of the Netherlands, Gabriel of Orange-Nassau. He accepted and traveled to Fluvique on August, 1872. A especial comission in Mevosa reunited and took the two constitutional antecedents and redacted a new one: The National Constitution (also know as "The septembring"), establishing the Kingdom of Fluvique, a parliamentary and federal monarchy. On October 2, 1872, the first "King of Fluvique and sovereign of the Yellow River", Gabriel of Orange-Nassau, was inaugurated. The date of his acceptance of the constitution - 2 October 1872 - is marked as national holiday.

Through the history, the role of the monarch was tied to ensure the national union, after decades of civil wars and disorder. The only two times that a monarch participated in the political issues were in 1872, choosing the first Prime Minister without democratic election and in 2002, asking for the resignation of Charles Wendell and ensuring the passing of a motion of no confidence to dissolve the Parliament, due to the social and economic crisis of that year.

Coronation Oath

The Oath of Coronation for the monarch of Fluvique, which in accordance with Article 65 of the Constitution is to be declared in the Mevosa's Cathedral. Traditionally, the parade begins in the Park Bernache, where the new sovereign comes in the Independence frigate and disembarks. The Royal carriage is guarded by the Mounted North Army until reaching the Cathedral. There, the archbishop crowns the monarch and give his blessings saying:

"May your reign be long and prosperous."

Immediately, the band of the Royal Concert Hall starts playing the Royal Anthem, "Reign over us forever", while the monarch moves out of the Cathedral accompained by the Archbishop and crosses the April Square, until reach the Parliament Palace. There, in the presence of all members of both chambers and guests, she pronounces his final oath:

"I, (name) swear that I will fulfill and ensure compliance the Constitution of the Kingdom and execute my powers according of the laws and customs."

After, the archbishop, says:

"I present you (name), (King/Queen) of Fluvique, sovereign of the Yellow River and protector of the country."

The National Anthem is sung and usually the new ruler greets their guests and other protocolar duties. The ceremony ends when the monarch is transported to the White Palace, officially starting his reing.

Succession

King George died in 2014. However, this was the first time in the history where the apparent heir was not child of the monarch. Four children of George and Queen Sophie died during his reign: Luis (1981), Charles (1998), Julia (2003) and William (2010). Also, the fifth son Albert, resigned to his claims in 2012 for illness. Thus, the succession line was moved to his daughter, Eugenie, born in 1994. At age of 20, she became the first women to be in the throne and also the first sovereign of the House of Orange-Nassau-Greencastle. The current heir apparent to the throne is Alexander, Prince of Greencastle, cousin of Eugenie, with the next three in the line of succession being the three Prince's brothers: Prince Louis, Prince Maurice and Princess Claudia.

Upon a demise of the Crown (the death or abdication of a sovereign), the late sovereign's heir immediately and automatically succeeds but, in fact, still need to be confirmed by the Parliament, what is made in a further ceremony. It is customary for the accession of the new monarch to be publicly proclaimed by the Archbishop of Mevosa, in behalf of God, the people and the Kingdom. The monarch is crowned after an appropriate period of mourning, in a ceremony that ends in the oath of allegiance. However, in common law, the Crown never dies and the throne never is vacant. After an individual ascends the throne, he or she usually continues to reign until death.

Fluvique has no laws allowing for a regency, should the sovereign be a minor or debilitated; none have been passed by the Fluviquean parliament. In the Monarch Act of 1871, which established the charge, the only prerequisite was to be confirmed by the Parliament and, therefore, the people. This ambiguity has been revised twice in 1931 and 1942. According to the new amendments, the sovereign can have any religion and makes no distinction between male or female. However, as today all the monarch were catholics (because the majority of the population in 1871 was catholic) and only since 2014 Fluvique has a women in the throne.

Federal and provincial aspects

Fluvique's monarchy was established at Federation, when its executive government and authority were declared (in article 1 of the National Constitution of 1869) "the Fluviquean nation adopts the Constitutional Monarchy as its form of government, with its executive. The Fluviquean monarchy is a federal one in which the Crown is unitary throughout all jurisdictions in the country, the sovereignty of the different administrations being passed on through the overreaching Crown itself as a part of the executive, legislative, and judicial operations in each of the federal and provincial spheres and the headship of state being a part of all equally. The Crown thus links the various governments into a federal state, though it is simultaneously also "divided" into fifteen legal jurisdictions, or fifteen "crowns"—three federal and twelve provincial— with the monarch taking on a distinct legal person in each. As such, the constitution instructs that any change to the position of the monarch or his or her representatives requires the consent of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the legislative assemblies of all the provinces

Each provincial governor is elected by the popular vote appointed but "appointed" by the Queen. In the case of the territories, the Prime Minister advices the crown to appoint a federal commissioner. The Royal Committee of Appointments, which may seek input from the relevant premier and provincial or territorial community, proposes candidates for appointment a commissioner.

Personification of the Fluviquean state

As the living embodiment of the Crown, the sovereign is regarded as the personification of the Fluviquean state and such, "remain strictly neutral in political terms". The body of the reigning sovereign thus holds two distinct persons in constant coexistence: that of a natural-born human being and that of the state as accorded to him or her through law; the Crown and the monarch are "conceptually divisible but legally indivisible ... the office cannot exist without the office-holder",so, even in private, the monarch is always "on duty". The terms the state, the Crown, the Crown in Right of Fluvique, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Fluvique, and similar are all synonymous and the monarch's legal personality is sometimes referred to simply as Fluvique. Prior to the establishment of the Kingdom, Fluvo, a mythological representation of the Yellow River, was used as personification of Fluvique. However, nowadays, that figure is viewed as a subject of the monarch, due to the title of the monarch as "sovereign of the Yellow River"

As such, the king or queen of Fluvique is the employer of all government officials and staff (including governors, judges, members of the Fluviquean Forces, police officers, and parliamentarians), the guardian of foster children (Crown Healthcare), as well as the owner of all state lands (Crown land), buildings and equipment (Crown held property), state owned companies (Royal Corporations), and the copyright for all government publications (Crown copyright). This is all in his or her position as sovereign, and not as an individual; all such property is held by the Crown in perpetuity and cannot be sold by the sovereign without the proper advice and consent of his or her ministers.

The monarch is at the apex of the Fluviquean order of precedence and, as the embodiment of the state, is also the locus of oaths of allegiance, required of many of the aforementioned employees of the Crown, as well as by new citizens, as by the Oath of Citizenship. Allegiance is given in reciprocation to the sovereign's Coronation Oath, wherein he or she promises "rule over the people in accord of the laws and customs"

Head of state

Though it has been argued that the term head of state is a republican one inapplicable in a constitutional monarchy such as Fljvique, where the monarch is the embodiment of the state and thus cannot be head of it the sovereign is regarded by official government sources, judges, constitutional scholars, and pollsters as the head of state, while the Prime Minister and governors are all only representatives of, and thus equally subordinate to, that figure. Some Prime Ministers, their staff, government publications and constitutional scholars like William Karley and Frank De Blynd jave, however, referred to the position of Prime Minister as that of Fluvique's head of state, though sometimes qualifying the assertion with de facto or effective; De Blynd has hence recommended that the governor general be named officially as the head of state. Still others view the role of head of state as being shared by both the sovereign and her representatives. Since 1938, Prime Ministers have been received on state visits abroad as though they were heads of state.

Many polls have shown that 56% of the population thought the Prime Minister was head of state, while the rest considered the monarch as head of state.

Constitutional and political role

The Fluviquean monarchy symbolises and maintains a feeling of national unity by representing the country in public functions and international meetings.

In addition, the monarch has a number of responsibilities in the process of the formation of the Government. The procedure usually begins three months before the general election, with the nomination of the 'Royal Adviser' by the monarch. After the general election, the Royal Adviser officialy informs the monarch of the results and the political formations which may be available for governance. After this phase, the Royal Adviser introduces the leader of the winning party and the monarch invites he or she to become Prime Minister and to form the goverment.

The Constitution of Fluvique entrusts the monarch with federal executive powers: the appointment and dismissal of ministers, the implementation of the laws passed by the Parliament, the submission of bills to the Parliament and the management of international relations. The monarch sanctions and promulgates all laws passed by Parliament. In accordance with Article 86 of the Fluviquean Constitution, the monarch cannot act without the countersignature of the responsible minister, who in doing so assumes political responsibility. This means that federal executive power is exercised in practice by the Federal Government, which is accountable to the House of Representatives in accordance with Article 91 of the Constitution.

The monarch receives the prime minister at the White Palace at least once a week, and also regularly calls other members of the government to the palace in order to discuss political matters. During these meetings, the monarch has the right to be informed of proposed governmental policies, the right to advise, and the right to warn on any matter as the monarch sees fit. The monarch also holds meetings with the leaders of all the major political parties and regular members of parliament. All of these meetings are organised by the monarch's personal political cabinet which is part of the Royal Household.

The monarch is the Commander-in-Chief of the Fluviquean Armed Forces and makes appointments to the higher positions. The names of the nominees are sent to the monarch by the Ministry of Defence. The monarch's military duties are carried out with the help of the Military Household which is headed by a General office. Fluviqueans may write to the monarch when they meet difficulties with administrative powers.

The monarch is also one of the three components of the federal legislative power, in accordance with the Fluviquean Constitution, together with the two chambers of the Parliament: the House of Representatives and the Senate. All laws passed by the Parliament must be signed and promulgated by the monarch.

Royal Household

The royal household organization, constitutionally Her Majesty Royal Household, supports and facilitates the monarch and members of the royal family in fulfilling their constitutionally hereditary responsibilities and obligations. The royal household is funded through yearly budgets drafted by the government of the day in consultation with the monarch, and brought before the Parliament for approval, and then paid directly to the monarch. The royal household coordinates with various government administration ministries, and receives their advice and support where needed, though in no way does the royal household form part of the government administration. Royal household staff serve at the pleasure of the monarch, and does not resign when the Fluviquean government resigns during election cycles. The royal household is managed by the Head of the Household who inspects and supervises all household operations through various bureaus or offices of the General Secretariat. The Head of the Household is assisted by a Secretary General. The General Secretariat is divided into various departments which includes planning and coordination, the secretariat (bureau) of H.M. the Queen, the secretariat (bureau) of H.R.H. the Prince of Greencastle, security services, public relations and the media, protocol, administration, Infrastructure and Services.

The Queen preside over many official functions at the White Palace in Mevosa. Her parents and family reside at the Flanny Cottage, in Greencastle. Other members of the Royal Family reside at Fair Creek estate, a modest home on the outskirts of Mevosa Province. The Fair Creek estate itself has served as the "guest house" for visiting heads of state since 2012. Queen mother Sophie spent the majority of her time at the Red Bricks Castle in Saint Matthew.

The White Palace and others form part of the "Royal residences", a collective term used to denote the set of palaces, estates, and buildings built under royal patronage since 1871. Royal sites are owned by the Federal Government and administered by the Royal Heritage on behalf of the government of the day, and made available for the king as the head of state. Whenever a member of the royal family is not in residence, the royal site is made available for public visitations. The royal household coordinates directly with the National Heritage Council and relevant government ministries or other interests in their planning and staging of state events, with royal sites often providing the setting.

Monarchs and members of their family have also owned in a private capacity homes and land in Fluvique. Usually, they are inherited by their progeny or donated to the Federal Government. There are two household regiments specifically attached to the Royal Household: the Royal mounted grenadiers and the Patrician Guard on foot.

King George used Fair Creek as permanent residence for him and his wife, until his death in 2014. The reason was to live in a warmer house, because the White Palace seemed too big for the old couple when their children grew up. They also began a tradition of taking the royal family on annual holidays to Darwin in January, staying at Provincial Palace since 1980s. Darwin and its beaches is the most popular destination for summer holidays, thus the arrival of the royal family was viewed as the start of the holidays.

The current monarch, Eugenie, is known as "traveling queen" because of his recurring custom of reside in various estates. During her reign, she has lived in Mevosa, Greencastle, Saint Matthew, Saint Lucie, Betham, Crenel and Point Territory, visiting also all the ten provinces and territories (first monarch in doing so). She has stated that 'The kingdom does not end at the White Palace' and she has been more open and close to the people than previous monarchs, appearing in public very often and participating in numerous events. She also eliminated the 'state-visits quota' and she welcomes foreing dignitaries when she is available.

List of Fluviquean monarchs