Constitutional Republic of Rotovia
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Department of Embassies
Diplomatic Guide to Rotovia
Authorised by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Lady Hon Dr Sarah Hours.
General national information
Rotovia may refer to the Constitutional Republic of Rotovia, or the Commonwealth of the Rotovian Empire. To aid in clarifying this, in international relations the Constitutional Republic of Rotovia is referred to as "Rotovia" or the "Republic" and the Commonwealth of the Rotovian Empire is referred to as the "Commonwealth".
Executive government:
Head of State
Her Imperial Eminency, Her Royal Majesty, the Empress Nicoletta Bacchus III is the head of state of the Republic, and of all nations in the Commonwealth. Within Rotovia, the title "Imperator" is used, as Rotovian titles are not gender based. The Empress is the supreme head of the legislative, judicial and executive government and will from time-to-time intervene directly all any arm of government.
Head of Government
The government is headed my the President of the Privy Council, know conventionally as "the President". The President is elected from the majority of members of the parliament, and must command their confidence in order to govern.
Cabinet
All ministers are appointed to the Privy Council upon being sworn into office, by convention, and decisions concerning the executive functions of government are made there by advising the Empress-in-Council. Judges, senior Lords, and the Imperial Cabinet for the Commonwealth are also sworn in into the Privy Council.
While the Privy Council normally meets on a fortnightly basis, the Cabinet -constituting all ministers, associate ministers and parliamentary secretaries- will meet more regularly to discuss administrational matters.
Legislature:
The Senate is the supreme legislative body for the Republic, and may pass laws affecting the Republic. It also acts as an upper house to the State Assemblies which are unicameral. All ministers must be members of the Senate, and are required to maintain the confidence of the parliament at all times.
House of Commons
Senators are elected to the House of Commons through optional preferential voting to either represent an electorate, as list candidates for a political party, or as Members of the Athenian Assembly. One third of all seats in the Senate House of Commons are reserved for Athenians elected in accordance with the doctrine of Athenian Supremacy dating back to the subjugation of the Grecian, Roman and Carthaginian kingdoms to the Rotovian Emperor. Ministers must be elected from the Commons.
The Commons act as a lower house within the Senate, but may meet in joint session with the Lords.
House of Lords
Members of the House of Lords constitute nobles invited to sit by the Emperor, as well as nobles appointed on the advise of the Privy Council. While the House of Lords normally only acts as an upper house, it serves as the parliament when the Commons are prorogued or an election is underway.
Judiciary:
Magistrates
In order to serve in any court in Rotovia a judge must have been first appointed a magistrate. Certain nobles are magistrates by virtue of their office, however, any barrister may become a magistrate upon the recommendation of the Attorney-General and 40 of their legal peers.
District Courts
Appointed by the Empress on the advise of State Assemblies District Court judges may hear cases relating to state law and represent the most local level of judicial government.
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the federal court of Rotovia and deals with matters concerning the laws of the Republic, that do not involve nobles or constitutional matters, as a court of first instance. It may also hear appeals from the District Courts of Appeals.
There are thirty full members, and twenty associate justices of the court.
Central Court
Nobles are entitled to request any cases in which they are involved be heard by the Central Court in lieu of any other jurisdiction. It may only hear matters in first instance and judges are usually appointed to the Central Court after retiring from the Supreme or High Courts and having been appointed to the House of Lords.
High Court
The High Court hears all matters concerning the High Laws of Rotovia (otherwise known as the constitution). It may also hear appeals from any lower court.
There are ten full members, and five associate members.
Diplomatic Information:
Titles
Rotovia does not domestically use gender based titles, but assume equivalent terms in foreign relations.
Precedence of titles
Rotovians should be referred to as "L'ord" or "Lord/Lady" first, then any prefix such as "Honourable", then any academic titles, then any office they hold, and finally (in formal situations) their noble titles.
e.g The Lady Hon Dr Sarah Hours, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Baroness Hours, Baroness of Macisikan
FIRST DRAFT: More details to come.