The Danvreas: Difference between revisions
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==Government==
The vast majority of the country's elite are Chen Pa priests, military officials, and merchants.
Chen Pa priests comprise the vast majority of the country’s political elite, with senior religious officials serving as the Empress’ closest advisors. The Violet Court, which is both the Empress’ “court” in terms of being the group of those who attend to her and the country’s legislature, has 105 Courtiers in total—45 of whom are priests, a number enshrined in law. While they are outnumbered by the popularly-elected Courtiers, known as “Noble Courtiers,” the Priestly Courtiers have two votes each, meaning they functionally control the legislature. This extra vote, known as “the third vote,” is actually said to belong to the Empress, who could choose to give it to the Noble Courtiers or could even grant it to a third class of Courtiers of her own creation, a “check” which assures her ultimate control over the political system.▼
The Chen Pa priests are divided into two classes: the higher class, consisting of expert theologians, academics, and scholars, often of noble origin, who serve as advisers and confidants to the empress. The lower class, or popular priests, are preachers who live in communities and dedicate themselves to local congregations, often serving as spiritual guides and district supervisors, managing their temple land and overseeing its material administration. The Chen Pa clergy is highly fragmented and has several internal sects, each with its own unique theological perspective. Despite these differences, there are several core beliefs that unite all Chen Pa adherents.
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The Violet Court elects one of its own members to be the High Chamberlain, a title functionally equivalent to Prime Minister. The High Chamberlain is responsible for both the household of the Empress and the administration of government. (Though, because they are literal attendants of the Empress, every legislator has some additional role in the functioning of the royal household.) Elections for the Violet Court are held every five years, with the Priestly Courtiers appointed by the various monasteries, each of whom has a particular number of seats based on ancient convention. The Cabinet is the various Courtiers the High Chamberlain has chosen to assist in running government departments. Notably, the term “Cabinet” is a direct translation and is believed to have arisen independently of the Staynish-Codexian term, but for the same reason: it once described the literal room in which high-level meetings in the palace took place.▼
▲The Violet Court elects one of its
While the vast majority of day-to-day government activity is left to the civil service and the government, the Empress does have the right to issue laws under her own authority, and maintains a functional veto over the legislature. It is understood that her lack of personal involvement in government is a choice that she may some day change, so the government has never seriously drifted from the Empress’ personal goals.
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