ELECTIONS
How was the head of state and the head of government (or other chief national authority) selected? The Head of State, the Supreme Commander (theoretically a regent, but there hasn't been an actual monarch for decades now) is selected by deliberation between the Imperial Diet, Imperial Senate, and Armed Forces. The Head of Government is the Chancellor, who heads the State Supreme Council. The Chancellor is elected indirectly by the populace - the populace elect representatives to the Diet in direct, universal elections, and from there the party or political faction/coalition with the most amount of seats shall elect a Chancellor at its discretion.
How is the national legislature selected?
The Imperial Diet (Lower House - responsible for passing laws) is selected through election; the 250 seats of the Diet each correspond to a selected area of the nation (what other countries might call a riding). 210 seats are elected from the Noctish Mainland, while 25 are elected from the Overseas territories. The remaining 15 are not elected, but are appointed by the State Supreme Council. The Imperial Senate (50 seats, responsible for revision of laws, among other things) follows a similar pattern. 35 seats are elected, with seats distributed among the provinces of the Confederation. 10 seats are elected from the Overseas territories, and the remaining 5 are appointed by the State Supreme Council.
Are elections considered free and fair?
By Noctish standards, yes.
Which was the average turnout in recent elections? Is voting mandatory?
Voting is not mandatory. Turnout in the last legislative election was a reasonable 76% of all eligible voters.
SEPARATION OF POWERS AND FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT
In case national representatives were freely elected, are they able to succesfully develop and implement new policies? Does government authority extend over the full national territory?
Government authority generally extends over the entirety of the Confederation's territories, although border regions tend to be either under a more watchful eye (in the case of heavily militarized borders with our mainland neighbours) or a more lenient one (in the case of borders with open, unclaimed lands). Representatives sent to the Diet and Senate do not develop new policies for their regions per se, but are sent to represent their regions in debates of national significance, thus representatives to these institutions develop national domestic policy. There exist separate legislative assemblies, smaller in scale, for the Noctish Realm and for each of its overseas Dominions that handle domestic policies specific to each subdivision and to ensure compliance with national policies, if applicable.
Does the legislature have the legislative initiative? What restrictions are placed on its ability to pass laws, including constitutional amendments?
The Legislature does not have the power to make decisions regarding foreign policy, as its role is purely domestic in nature. Amendments to the constitutional order require a 65% majority of all members of the Diet and Senate in order to pass. Both the Diet and the Supreme Commander have the power to propose new laws, though all proposed laws follow the same path - debate and voting in the Diet (no riders), then review by the Senate to ensure constitutionality, and then assent by the reigning monarch (or in this case, regent).
Is the executive able to subvert the legislature through legal or extralegal means (such as arbitrary dissolutions, lack of an adequate budget, or strong limits on legislature's powers)?
The Executive is able to propose new laws to the Diet, but such laws follow the same legislative path as Diet-proposed laws. The Executive does have the power to rule by decree, but such powers are only applicable in times of identifiable crisis (such as war). The Executive's Assent is required for a proposed bill to become law, thus it remains a rather powerful tool in the hands of the Executive.
From 1-10, how pervasive is corruption? (Small explanation appreciated)
5/10. Rigorous anti-corruption campaigns have kept a check on corruption at the mid-to-high levels of government, though corruption (especially bribery) can be common in the localities, especially those located close to the borders, or far-flung overseas territories where resources are more stretched than they are in the Homeland.
From 1-10, how transparent is government activity? (Small explanation appreciated)
6/10. While most government workings are reported on quite often in the media, there still exist numerous secret organizations within the Noctish government that are not under public supervision. Candidates for any office are required to disclose all information regarding their campaign finances to the public archives, which are generally open to visitors - though some documents might require clearance, if they are not outright barred from being viewed by the public. Imperial and Regional finances are made public upon the approval of the new budgets every year. The votes of individual legislators are not declared publicly (as the Diet and Senate are fairly closed environments), though the information is kept on record for those dedicated enough to find out.
Is there an independent judiciary?
Yes.
CIVIL LIBERTIES
Is there an independent media?
A substantial independent media exists alongside the Central News Agency.
Is there freedom of religion?
Religion is not really dealt with from a legislative point of view. There exists an official religion, which is the Nocto-Rusinic Pantheon (officially referred to as Verunism or Lunism), but some other religious faiths are tolerated. Christianity, introduced through contact with the Acadians, is the second largest religion in the Realm, and the native faiths of the many non-Noctish residents (usually some form of animism or polytheism) form the third largest collective bloc. There exist no other religious faiths in the Realm, due to stringent immigration laws. We see what happens in other countries when barbaric and less sociable religious faiths are introduced, and we want none of that.
Is education free of political interference or indoctrination?
The state itself does not make concentrated efforts to indoctrinate its populace. Hostility to certain ideologies in the education system typically comes hand in hand with hostility to certain nations, though there exist a few ideologies or ideological concepts that are so completely beyond the pale in Noctish society that the education system makes concerted efforts to discredit them (such as Egalitarianism). There are no provisions requiring individual educators to be politically impartial. Reverence for the Noctish nation, if not necessarily its government or leaders, is taught as a matter of course.
Are citizens able to express dissent in practice, without fearing retribution?
Depends on the type of dissent. Dissent in speech is allowed, whereas dissent in action (i.e. assault, vandalism, harassment, etc.) typically brings down the quick and just hammer of the law upon the perpetrator.
Is there freedom of assembly? Are peaceful protests allowed, and are they able to proceed in practice?
"Peaceful protests" are allowed only in designated areas, under the watchful eye of local law enforcement.
Are there basic guarantees of due process, and are they upheld in practice?
Due Process is held as sacrosanct.
Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement inside the country and of international travel, including in education, residence or employment?
Individuals are free to travel within the country absolutely, and outside of the country more generally. Travel outside of the Confederation tends to be a tricky affair, as the Charter world is one stricken by war and violence, and none of the Realm's neighbours are on very good terms with her. As well, anyone that remains outside of the Realm for a sufficient period of time risks losing their citizenship.
Do individuals enjoy basic social freedoms (do they have control over appearence? are they able to freely choose marriage partners and size of family? how common is domestic violence?)?
Individuals enjoy basic social freedoms, yes. People are generally free to choose marriage partners, although only opposite-sex relations are legal (the mere idea of same-sex relations is completely alien to Noctish society). Polygyny is legal, though very rarely practiced in the modern day.
Are individuals able to freely set up their own business? Are property rights adequately protected?
Yes and yes.
PARTICIPATION AND GUARANTEES OF EQUALITY
How is citizenship determined?
Citizenship is granted based on service to the state. This is typically achieved by enlistment in the military for a 1-2 year term (the most common method), in the State Service (the primary non-military alternative) or, more recently, by achieving a first-tier university-level education. Citizenship may also be granted to particular individuals by the government.
Who is able to vote in elections?
All Citizens are able to vote in elections. Freepersons, Outlaws, Residents, and some classes of criminal are not allowed the vote.
Are different segments of the population (men, women, the LGBT community, ethnic minorities...) treated equally?
"Egalitarianism" is not a value common to the Noctish people. Treating people as equals for the sake of doing so is seen as something alien and weak, by its very nature. While most Nocts would agree that people should be afforded a basic level of respect, they would disagree that all people should be treated equally in disregard of their abilities or actions. People are different, and should be treated accordingly.
Men and women are generally treated equally, in as much as that is possible in Noctish society.
The "LGBT community" does not exist in the Noctish Realm. If such things did exist here, they would be ruthlessly purged as manifestations of Kharus' (the God of Chaos) influence.
Ethnic minorities are generally treated well, though treatment fluctuates depending on relations with their home country (if they have one that isn't Noctia, that is).
No anti-discrimination laws exist in the Realm, as they have been ruled as unconstitutional by the courts.
Are the above groups well represented in government?
For those that exist here, generally yes.
OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Are the government or nonstate groups deliberately and systematically changing the demographics of the country so as to dilute or eliminate a particular group?
Not as of the submission of this survey.
Any suggestions for future editions of the index?
