Nation/Amigard
Contents
Government
The Constitution of Amigard that was formally adopted on June 3, 2014 defines the various branches of government and limits their respective authority
Amigard is a theocracy under the direction of the Roman Catholic Church. The nation is lead by a Cardinal who is elected by the Council of Bishops and approved by the Pope in Rome. The Cardinal is elected for a life term to the office and can only be removed by a unanimous vote of no confidence by the Council of Bishops, a 75% vote of no confidence from the general population (a two thirds majority vote of no confidence by the Parliament is necessary to call for a general vote of no confidence) or by excommunication from the Church.
The Cardinal holds a great deal of authority within Amigards borders, and while he will often seek the approval of the Council of Bishops when making decisions on foreign or domestic policy, it is not required that he do so. Both the Bishops Council and Parliament may override or otherwise veto a decision made by the Cardinal under some circumstances described below. Neither council may override the cardinal when he is making an emergency decision that directly affects the wellbeing of the state assuming that failure to make an immediate decision would place the welfare of the Theocracy in imminent danger.
Government Heirarchy
While the Cardinal is responsible for the overall governance of the Theocracy in its entirety, the Theocracy is divided into more manageable geographic and political subdivisions. Currently there are nine Dioceses similar in form and function to a State or Province, but which are governed by a bishop who is elected by popular vote from among a list of candidates and approved by the Cardinal. Each Diocese is further divided into various Parishes (counties) that are governed by priests that have been appointed by the Diocesan bishop. Finally the most basic government is that of the local or municipal government which may be governed by a mayor, a town/city council or a combination of the two depending on the particular form adopted by the community. The local/municipal government is the highest governmental leadership position (aside from Parliament) that can be filled by someone who is not an ordained member of the priesthood.
Parish-Local Level
A parish will generally include several local governments/cities and is governed by a Catholic priest who has been appointed by the Diocesan Bishop.
The Parish Priest is ultimately responsible for the spiritual and temporal welfare of all Amigard citizens within his jurisdiction and answers to the Diocesan Bishop. Each Parish also has a council made up of citizens of the parish and the number of members varies depending on the population of the Parish but is never less than seven members. The Parish Council is meant to be advisory in nature although the recommendations of the council are forwarded to the Diocesan Bishop as well and Parish Priests that consistently disregard the council are often reprimanded by the Bishop. Any adult citizen that is a resident of the Parish may sit on the Parish Council.
Diocese Level
A Diocese is made up of various Parishes and its geographic boundaries are determined by the Cardinal in Amigard City. A Diocese is run by a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church who has been elected by popular vote from among a pool of candidates and who has been approved by the Cardinal.
Bishops generally enjoy near absolute authority within their own Diocese though they are limited by the Amigard Constitution as well as the Cardinal who maintains the authority to override any decision made by the Bishop. A diocese will also include a Diocesan Council that is comprised of representatives from each Parish throughout the diocese although the Bishop determines the size of the council. The council is responsible for drafting new legislation and reviewing or altering existing legislation however it is the Bishop that ultimately chooses to adopt or reject the legislations created by the council.
However, like the Parish Council, the recommendations of the Diocesan Council are forwarded to the Cardinal’s office for review and most Bishops are wise not to alienate the council lest the council press the Cardinal for a review of the Bishop’s performance. Generally speaking Bishops are elected for life unless the Cardinal requires a new election which he is likely to do if the Diocesan Council is consistently unsatisfied with the Bishop’s performance.
The Council of Bishops: The council consists of nine bishops, one for each diocese within the nation. The council advises the Cardinal on matters both foreign and domestic and is granted some legislative powers. The council may create and adopt laws with a majority vote of its members and the approval of the Cardinal. Legislation presented by Parliament must first pass through the Bishops Council with a majority vote before it is sent to the Cardinal for approval. The Bishops Council may also override a decision made by the Cardinal with a two-thirds majority vote. The Council generally meets twice annually (usually once in January and again in June) to discuss matter of importance unless an emergency meeting is called by the Cardinal or one of its members.
Parliament
Amigard Parliament acts as the nations primary legislative body and meets regularly. Parliament is made up of representatives elected from the various Dioceses. The Parliament includes a number of representatives based on the overall population of the Diocese and are elected by majority vote. The Parliament has the power to draft legislation which is then passed on to the Bishops Council. If passed by the Bishops Council it is forwarded to the Cardinal who then decides whether to sign the bill into law. Parliament is also given the power to veto legislation drafted by the Bishops Council or the Cardinal with a two thirds majority vote.
All adult citizens of the Theocracy with no felony convictions and who have completed the Citizens Basic Combat Training requirement may run for election to Parliament. Currently there are 106 representatives in Parliament.
- Iraq Diocese: 30
- Syria Diocese: 22
- Jordan Diocese: 6
- Kuwait Diocese: 2
- Lebanon Diocese: 4
- Kingdom of Israel: 10
- Northern Saudi Arabia: 10
- Southern Saudi Arabia: 8
- Eastern Saudi Arabia: 10
- Oman: 4
Parliamentary Parties of Amigard
There are currently 106 members of the Amigard Parliament, with only four not being unaffiliated with a party.
Amigard Catholic Nationalist Party (ANCP)
There are currently 37 members of the ANCP in Parliament
The ANCP Espouse national identity based on a strong affiliation, and adherence to, the Catholic faith and its guiding principles. The ACNP encourages laws and economic policies that favor the Catholic Church while discouraging other faiths with the extreme members of the party supporting laws and policies that would outlaw the practice of any faith outside of communion with the Catholic Church, and would adopt Canon Law as Amigard Law. Party members lean toward a more socialist economic policy in which the government has more direct control and regulation of production and trade in order to further encourage the formation and growth of Catholic businesses.
This party favors a strong, well-funded, and technologically advanced military in order to secure and expand Amigard borders with the goal of making the Theocracy a global power and to expand and spread the Catholic faith throughout the world. The party discourages political, economic, and cultural alliances or exchanges with foreign powers whose dominant faith is anything other than Roman Catholic. The ACNP has a particular distaste for the Theocracy’s involvement and friendly relations with the Empire of Layarteb on account of its dominant pagan population.
Amigard Progressive Party (APP)
there are currently 18 members of Parliament that belong to the APP
Members of this party tend toward supporting government programs and further social and political reforms. The APP generally supports greater regulation and government oversight of production and corporations to alleviate what they perceive to be exploitation by Amigard corporations of its citizenry. The APP Favors social programs and reforms over a strong, well-funded military and advocate a largely isolationist foreign policy limited mostly to trade agreements.
Republican Reform Party (RPP)
There are currently 33 members of the RPP in Parliament
The RPP Desires greater representation of citizens in government and tend toward supporting reforms that lean toward a more secular government with increased checks and balances. Most members support a capitalist/free market economy with little government regulation/control. Members of the RRP seek to reform the government as much as possible away from the current theocratic model and more toward a constitutional republic model of government.
Theocratic Puritan Party (TPP)
There are currently 14 members of the TPP in Parliament
Members of the TPP believe that recent shifts toward democracy/representation by citizens has weakened the government and they advocate a return to a purely theocratic style of government in which the Cardinal and Diocesan Bishops hold supreme authority over the governance of the Theocracy. TPP members seek to eliminate or greatly diminish the parliament and its current authority.
Government Ministries
The Amigard government utilizes various ministries to assist the Cardinal in effectively running the country
- Education: Dalia Cantrell
- Defense: General Aamil Malik
- Intelligence: Bishop Arthur Mensk
- Foreign Affairs: Bishop John Gardner
- Economy: Sister Aalimah Farah
- Environment: Michael Smith
- Interior: Daniel Griffin
