Government
The government of the Holy Empire of Maroza is mainly made up of people who worked hard to gain their positions through promotions, however the regional governor, head of state and the advisers of the head of state are commonly filled by the descendants of the people who filled the job last. This mixture of family gained position and promotion has led to mixed results making some governors very effective, due to some people training for the position when they were young and in some cases incompetent people who were not governor for very long or were reassigned governor of the western provinces. This has however cause some people to be resentful of those who gained high positions in the government simply because of their parents. Most of the government in located in Maroza city, the capital, and spend most of the time running the country from the palace while most regional governors run their regions from the regional capitals.
Picture of the Palace
The Palace that houses the government is a fortress in the capital of Maroza city, built to withstand attack and prevent assassinations of government officials. Very few people are seen entering or exiting it, those that do are personnel who are on rotation or people who resupply the Palace. The Palace is armor plated and has several built in defenses, damage control systems and defense teams on stand by, in adition to this it is built to withstand a siege and has special underground facilities in the event of bombing or nuclear attacks. In inside of the building its very secure and the hallways are all guarded and patrolled by defense teams, who sometimes use several decks for military exercises.
Empress
The Empress makes all the key decisions and has the final say on everything. Any laws that citizens or governors would like to implement go straight to her.
Advisers
The empress has several advisers that have been hand picked or have been promoted to significant rank in certain fields. They are simply there to offer their opinions on matters and advise on what would be best for the nation, while not given any direct say over the Empress, they are well respected and can form an emergency government during a crisis.
Regional governors
The nation is divided into several regions, regions are controlled by governors who oversee infrastructure and other such things with their staff from the capital cities Palace or their regional capital. Some are their because of who their parents were while others are there because they rose through there own merits.
Governors staff
The staff range from people in charge of regional police, waste management, regional budgets and the like. The governors staff are people who have special position in the government simply because it comes with the job. Regional police chiefs make sure that all stations are free of corruption and working on lowering crime, regional health majors keep track of regional health issues and work on resolving them. These roles will also involve keeping in communication with the governor and advise the governor what would be most efficient to solve and prevent problems.
Symbol of the Courts
Supreme Court
The job of the supreme court is to interpret the laws of Maroza. If the people feel a law is unjust or don't like one, then the supreme court can take a look at the law and may change it. They may also review cases and overturn the verdict of the lower courts if need be. To take a law to the court the people must petition the regional governor or a member of the court may bring it to be reviewed if they wish. They have emergency power to remove the empress or any future rulers from power if they seem or are proving unfit for the job and decide if the next ruler is fit for office. Their are a total of nine members of the court who vote on the outcome of cases.
Lower Court
The lower court is the judges who oversee the trials of common criminals and civil trials. They decide the verdict unless the defendant wishes for a trial by jury, if the defendant does not request his/her trial to be by jury before the court case starts the judge will act as the jury.
Law and Order
Maroza has a very high ratio of police to citizens, policing isn't to different from military life in terms of discipline. Most police officers are trained to work with the community rather than simply police it, this is to help lower corruption and help foster trust between the police and community who in many places get to know the familiar faces and people who live in the neighborhood they patrol. The police are all to often in charge of keeping the streets clean of pro democracy protesters along with their usual crime fighting and prevention. Pro democratic rallies are illegal but ironically free speech is perfectly legal, meaning you can say anything you want but not protest the fact government elections are illegal.
Notable laws
Abortion: Legal if the mothers health is in jeopardy or is a rape victim, several laws are in place for people to give up their baby if they wish (You can drop it off at an orphanage, house or give it up right away at the hospital once it is born and no questions will be asked)
Prostitution: Legal in government run brothels, private prostitution is illegal
Home Defense act: You may shoot people breaking into your home
Anti Protest act: In a reaction to the death of a police officer who died in a riot, protests are illegal
DNA data base program: Every citizens DNA is kept on record
Movement and Security act: All citizens must be bar coded to keep track of their movement
Fire arms Regulations: Fully Automatic/Unconventional weapons are not legal for civilian use
Child Labor: Outlawed
Organ harvesting act: Organs are harvested once you die
Blood harvesting act: Every healthy citizen must donate some blood every three months
Death Penalty: Only for the most extreme cases and must have consent of the supreme court
Drinking: No restriction but must be 18+ to buy alcohol
Smoking tobacco:18+
Concubine: Legal (Rather rare status)
Sexual Consent:16+
Marriage:18+
Divorce: Legal (Taxed by the government)
Military service:12(12-18 will be in military schools and receive training along with education, compulsory 4 years at 18 or 19)
Drivers permit:16+
Drivers license:17+
Civilian Gun Usage:14+ (14-17 must have an adult supervising)
Gun Ownership:18+
Gambling:18+