User:Amigard
Amigard is an Earth II Nation
Contents
Government
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 or by a direct order from the Pope in Rome.
The Cardinal holds ultimate 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 the Ley Council 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.
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 local 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 the Lay Council) that can be filled by someone who is not an ordained member of the priesthood.
