GOVERNMENTThe Federal Republic of Zeppy is a federal presidential constitutional democratic republic, established in March 19, 1890 by the Federal Constitution of Zeppy. It shares sovereignty over Zeppy with the 12 Cantons.
The federal government has three separate and equal branches: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. The seat of the federal government is the City of Gibraltar.
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHThe Congress of Zeppy is the legislative branch of the federal government. It is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The consent of both Chambers is required to pass any legislation, which then may only become law by being signed by the President; if the President vetoes such legislation, however, both Chambers of Congress must then re-pass the legislation, but by a two-thirds majority of each Chamber, in order to make such legislation law without the need for the President's signature. Congress has the power to regulate intercantonal commerce, raise revenue, maintain naval and military forces, declare war, create money, establish post offices and roads, promote progress of science by issuing patents and many other powers authorized by the Federal Constitution of Zeppy.
The Emblem of the Congress of ZeppyThe Palace of the Congress of Zeppy SenateThe Senate of Zeppy consists of 108 members, and serves for a maximum of three-six year terms. Each Canton has nine members, regardless of population, and are elected by Single transferable voting. The Senate has must give consent to many important Presidential appointments, including Judges, Attorneys and Members of the Cabinet and must give two-thirds consent to ratify treaties. The Senate has the right to try any important federal official by a two-thirds majority for major crimes, after the impeachment of the federal official by the House of Representatives. Any citizen of The Federal Republic of Zeppy who is entitled to vote, is at least 30 years of age and resides in the Canton they represent is eligible to become a member of the Senate of Zeppy. Any member of the Senate can be recalled if the Parliament of the Canton in which they represents passes a resolution for a recall election.
The Chancellor of the Senate of Zeppy is directly elected by the members of the Senate at the beginning of each Congressional session. The Chancellor of the Senate is usually the Leader of the majority party in the Senate, and presides over the plenary assembly of the Senate, guides and controls debates in the Senate, is responsible for ensuring the democratic functioning of the Senate, maintains order and security in the assembly and for enforcing the Rules of the Senate, and represents the Senate at both the national and the international level.
The Chamber of the Senate of Zeppy Green (7), Labour (43), Liberal (30), Independent (7), Conservative (12), Libertarian (9)The Zepese Senate Political Structure Chancellor of the Senate of Zeppy: Cyrus Bordeaux, Senator from Greece (Labour) House of RepresentativesThe House of Representatives of Zeppy consist of 395 members, each of whom represents a federal constituency
(district), serves for a maximum of nine-two year terms, and are elected by Instant runoff voting. House of Representatives seats are apportioned among the Cantons by population after every 10 years, according to the statistics authorized by the Census. All bills introduce for the purpose of raising revenue or taxation
(appropriation bills) must start in the House of Representatives. The House of Representative has the right to impeach most federal official by simple majority for major crimes. Any citizen of The Federal Republic of Zeppy who is entitled to vote, is at least 25 years of age and resides in the Canton they represent is eligible to become a member of the House of Representative of Zeppy. Any member of the House of Representative can be recalled if the Parliament of the Canton in which they represents passes a resolution for a recall election.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Zeppy is directly elected by the members of the House of Representatives at the beginning of each Congressional session. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is usually the Leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives, and presides over the plenary assembly of the House of Representatives, guides and controls debates in the House of Representatives, is responsible for ensuring the democratic functioning of the House of Representatives, maintains order and security in the assembly and for enforcing the Rules of the House of Representatives, and represents the House of Representatives at both the national and the international level.
The Chamber of the House of Representatives of ZeppyCanton | Representatives |
Catalonia | 51 |
Vasconia | 42 |
Valencia | 28 |
Aragon | 39 |
Murcia | 19 |
Andalusia | 68 |
Latium | 35 |
Israel | 26 |
Acadia | 27 |
Greece | 19 |
Tunisia | 15 |
Sicily-Sardinia | 24 |
Green (23), Labour (100), Liberal (135), Independent (10), Conservative (95), Libertarian (32)The Zepese House of Representatives Political StructureSpeaker of the House of Representatives of Zeppy: Cecília Gama, Representative from Valencia's 3rd District (Liberal) THE EXECUTIVE BRANCHThe executive branch consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. The President may sign legislation passed by Congress into law or may veto it, preventing it from becoming law unless two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to override the veto. The President may, with consent of the Senate of Zeppy, make treaties with foreign nations. The executive branch enforces the law of the Federal Republic.
The Mansion of the President of Zeppy PresidentThe executive power in the federal government is vested in the President of the Federal Republic of Zeppy. The President is the head of state and government, as well as the military commander-in-chief and chief diplomat. The President is elected by Runoff voting for a maximum of two-four year terms. The President may be impeached by a majority in the House of Representatives and removed from office by a two-thirds majority in the Senate. The President has the power to pardon criminals convicted of offenses against the federal government, enact executive orders, and appoint Justices, Cabinet members and other important federal officials with the consent of the Senate. Any citizen of The Federal Republic of Zeppy who is entitled to vote and is at least 35 years of age is eligible to become the President of Zeppy. The President of Zeppy can be recalled if two-thirds of the Parliaments of the Cantons passes a resolution for a recall election.
The Emblem of the President of Zeppy
President of Zeppy: Antonius Ferrer, Eng.D. (Liberal) Vice-PresidentThe Vice-President is the second-highest executive official in the federal government. As such, the Vice-President becomes President upon the death, resignation, or removal of the President. The Vice-President is nominated by the President and then presented to both Chambers of Congress for confirmation or rejection by a simple majority. The Vice-President will then hold that office until the end of the term of the President who appointed them. Under the Federal Constitution, the Vice-President works as the liaison between the executive and legislative branch and advises the President on legislative manners. As such, the Vice-President participates in Question Time, when the Vice-President answers various Questions of the Congress on behalf of the President and pushing for the President's legislative agenda through negotiations with Congress. Also, the Vice President is allowed to vote in the Senate, but only when necessary to break a tie vote.
Vice-President of Zeppy: Michelle Crescas, Ph.D. (Conservative) CabinetThe Cabinet consists of 7 senior officials who head the seven Departments of the Federal Republic and advise the President on executive manners. Members of the Cabinet are nominated by the President and then presented to the Senate for confirmation or rejection by a simple majority. Members of the Cabinet serve at the pleasure of the President.
Cabinet of Zeppy: (R-L)Incumbent | Member of the Cabinet | Department | Party |
Patricio Cheng | Secretary of Foreign Affairs | Foreign Affairs | Liberal |
Theodōros Bayramoğlu | Secretary of the Treasury | Treasury | Liberal |
Miguel Álvarez | Secretary of Defence | Defence | Conservative |
Soledad Zabala | Attorney-General | Justice | Liberal |
Julius Herennius | Secretary of the Interior | Interior | Labour |
Michelle Bosch | Secretary of Commerce and Labour | Commerce and Labour | Conservative |
Christina Mayo | Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare | Health, Education and Welfare | Liberal |
THE JUDICIAL BRANCHThe Supreme Court of Zeppy is the highest court in the federal court system. The court deals with matters pertaining to the federal government, disputes between Cantons, and interpretation of the Federal Constitution of Zeppy, and can declare legislation or executive action made at any level of the government as unconstitutional, nullifying the law and creating precedent for future law and decisions. Below the Supreme Court are the courts of appeals, and below them in turn are the district courts, which are the general trial courts for federal law.
The Lodge of the Supreme Court of Zeppy Supreme Court JusticesThe Supreme Court is comprised of 13 members, each appointed by the President with the two-thirds majority consent of the Senate. The Chief Justice of Zeppy is the head of the Supreme Court, and the other twelve members are the Associate Justices of Zeppy. The Supreme Court Justices hold office until they reach the age of 75. A judge who commits an offense while in office may be impeached in the same way as the President or other officials of the federal government.
The Chief Justice of Zeppy is one of the justices in the Supreme Court. They are the head of the Zepese federal court system and of the Supreme Court of Zeppy. The Chief Justice leads the business of the Supreme Court and presides over the Senate during an impeachment trial of the President or Vice-President.
The Emblem of the Supreme Court of ZeppyThe Chamber of the Supreme Court of Zeppy Supreme Court Justices of Zeppy:
(R-L)
Juan Domínguez, Jean Delmas, Stephanie Melis, Grigorios Theodorakis, Giovanni Favaceddu,
Giuseppina Comaco, Carlos O'Callaghan, Sarah Mohammed, Catherine Kwan, Fernando Pinyol, Michelle Figueroa, and Desiree Cora Chief Justice of Zeppy: Stephanie Melis, L.L.D. CANTONSIn the Federal Republic of Zeppy, the federal government shares sovereignty of Zeppy with 12 Cantons. Unlike the federal government, the Cantonal government uses the parliamentary democratic system, and therefore has no cut-clear separation between the legislative and executive branch. However, the Canton has a separate judicial branch similar in structure of that of the federal judicial branch. No Canton has codified constitutions and instead functions under the concept of parliamentary sovereignty.
The Canton are allowed to secede from the Federation if: 1) the Parliament of the Canton adopts a resolution on secession from the Federal Republic of Zeppy by a three-fourths majority and 2) the people of the Canton approves, by a legal referendum, the same resolution on secession from the Federal Republic of Zeppy passed by the Parliament of the Canton.
Legislative Branches of the CantonsThe legislative branches of the Canton are called the Parliaments of the Canton. All the Cantons have unicameral legislatures. Members of the Parliaments of the Cantons are elected by Mixed-member proportional voting for unlimited four year terms. Parliament nominates and holds the Governments of the Canton
(the Premier and Ministry) accountable and can adopt a constructive motion of non-confidence or defeat a motion of confidence
(appropriation bills) to force the Government to resign, unless the Governor/Monarch dissolves Parliament within thirty days. Any Member of Parliament of the Cantons can be recalled if 30% of the voters of an electoral riding sign a petition for the recall election.
Executive Branches of the CantonsThe executive branches of the Cantons consist of the Governors of the Canton
(Cantonal republics) or the Monarchies of the Cantons
(Cantonal monarchies), and the Government of the Cantons
(the Premier and Ministry).
The Governors of the Cantons of the six Cantonal republics
(Catalonia, Vasconia, Valencia, Andalusia, Latium, Acadia) are the heads of state of the Cantons and are directly elected by universal suffrage for unlimited six year terms by First-past-the-post voting. The Monarchies of the Cantons of the six Cantonal monarchies
(Aragon, Murcia, Sicily-Sardinia, Israel, Greece and Tunisia) are the heads of states of the Canton and are hereditary by primogeniture for life. The Governors/Monarchies are largely a constitutionally ceremonial office, but the Governor/Monarchy does exercise certain limited powers with absolute discretion. The Governors/Monarchies must remain non-partisan, and renounce all affiliation with a political party or organization when taking office. The Governors/Monarchies appoints the Premiers and the Ministries of the Canton, after the nomination of the Parliaments of the Canton, and accepts their resignations. The Governors/Monarchies convenes and dissolves the Parliament of the Canton and this is exercised on the advice of the Premier. The Governors/Monarchies signs bill onto law after the approval of the Parliament and may have the extreme prerogative to decline to sign into law a bill until it has been approved by a referendum.
The Government of the Cantons consists of the Premier and Ministry. The Premier of the Cantons are the heads of government of the Cantons and are appointed by the Governor/Monarch after being nominated by the Parliament of the Canton, usually are the leaders of the majority party or coalition in the Parliament of the Cantons, and are required to be a member of Parliament of the Cantons upon being appointed as Premier. The Ministry of the Cantons are appointed by the Governor/Monarch with the advice of the Premier, are usually members of the majority party or coalition in Parliament, and are required to be members of Parliament of the Cantons upon being appointed to the Ministry.
Judicial Branches of the CantonsThe judicial branches of the Canton consist of the High Court of the Cantons. Unlike the Supreme Court, the High Courts of the Cantons are precluded from review acts from the Parliaments of the Cantons, unless such review is specifically provided for by statute, because of an emphasis on parliamentary supremacy in the Cantons. The High Court compromises of 9 members who are elected by the Merit plan method, in which the Parliaments of the Cantons independently elect the Judges by a two-third vote and are then appointed by the Governor/Monarch of the Cantons. After which, in the next cantonal parliamentary election after their appointment by the Governor/Monarch, the Judge must stand in a "retention referendum". If a majority votes against retention, the Justices is removed from office, and the process starts anew. If the majority votes in favor of retention, the Justices is permitted to serve for a life-term. The High Court is led by the Lord Justices of the Cantons, while the rest of the members are called Puisne Justices of the Cantons.
The Zepese Political Map of the 12 Cantons PROVINCESIn addition to the Cantons, the Federal Republic of Zeppy is divided into 57 Provinces. They are used as electoral districts, school districts, special districts, postal addresses, phone codes, and as geographical referents. No Province is divided between two or more Cantons. The Parliaments of the Cantons legislates Charters of Autonomy of the Provinces to establish the denomination of the Provinces according to its historical identity as representations of the linguistic communities of Zeppy, the limits of their territories, the name and organization of the institutions of government and the rights the Provinces enjoy. The Provinces use the presidential-parliamentary system.
Legislative Branches of the Cantons The legislative branches of the cantons are called the Assemblies of the Provinces. All the provinces have unicameral legislatures. Members of the Parliament of the Cantons are elected by D'Hondt method Party-list proportional representation voting for unlimited four year terms. The Assemblies holds the Government of the Province
(the Provost and Advisory) accountable and can adopt a motion of non-confidence or defeat a motion of confidence
(appropriation bills) to force the Government to resign, unless the Mayor dissolves the Assembly within thirty days.
Executive Branches of the ProvincesThe executive branches of the Provinces consist of the Mayor of the Provinces, and the Government of the Provinces
(the Provost and Advisory).
The Mayors of the Provinces are the heads of state and the heads of government of the Provinces and are independently elected by the Parliaments of the Cantons for unlimited four year terms. The Mayor nominates a candidate for Provost who is then submitted to the Assembly of the Province for approval before the Mayor appoints the nominee as Provost. The Mayor appoints the Provost but the Mayor cannot dismiss the Provost, since only the Assembly of the Provinces has the power to dismiss the Government of the Province; the Mayor is forced to nominate and appoint a Provost who can command the support of a majority in the Assembly. The Mayor names and dismisses the members of the Advisory of the Province, with the agreement of the Provost. The Mayor promulgates laws and the Mayor has a very limited form of veto: when presented with a law, the Mayor can request another reading of it by the Assembly, but only once per law. The Mayor may dissolve the Assembly of the Province, with the agreement of the Provost.
The Government of the Province consists of the Provost and Advisory. The Provost of the Provinces are the heads of government of the Provinces and are appointed by the Mayor after being approved by the Assemblies of the Province, usually are the leaders of the majority party or coalition in the Assemblies of the Provinces, and are required to be a member of the Assemblies of the Province upon being elected the Provost. The Advisory of the Province are appointed by the Mayor with the agreement of the Provost, are usually members of the majority party or coalition in the Assembly, and are required to be members of Assemblies of the Provinces upon being appointed to the Advisory.
The Zepese Political Map of the 57 Provinces MUNICIPALITIESMunicipalities are the smallest political division in The Federal Republic of Zeppy, numbering 3,956. Each Canton defines their responsibilities, which may be services such as education, medical and social services, public transportation, and tax collection.
Government of the MunicipalitiesMunicipalities are governed by the Councils of the Municipalities. The Councils acts as the executive branches of the Governments of Municipalities, which typically consist of five to fifteen Councilors of the Municipalities, depending on the size and population of the Municipalities, and are elected by universal suffrage by Cumulative voting for unlimited two year terms.
The legislatures of the Municipalities consist of the House of Commons. The House of Commons are the eligible citizens of the Municipalities that meet on the first day of every month in the open air or at Municipal Hall to decide on laws and expenditures by the Council. Everyone can debate a question. Voting is accomplished by those in favor of a motion raising their hands.