The Sacred Commonwealth of Saarkrisken was founded by political exiles seeking to create an utopia in 1928. Eventually, disillusioned they founded a state based on the Roman Republic. The founding families formed the patrician class and restricted the political participation of all others. The Honorious family consolidated power and was able to dominate the Consulate. Consul Lucius Honorious, one of the first Consuls, expanded the power of his office, while creating a political machine to reassure his successors were from his own family. After his third re-election, he was declared Consul for life. By arranging intermarriages with the other Consular families, he assured that both Consuls were always occupied by a relative. Eventually, the patrician class faced an uprising. In order to put it down, Lucius was declared Emperor by the Senate. Using a combination of reforms and military action, Emperor Lucius restored order.
After his death, the senate declined to create a new Emperor, and power returned to the Consuls. The power of the Honorius family was firmly established, as both Consuls were the late Emperor's sons. Occasionally, members of other families held the Consulship, but as a few consular families died out, the Honorius family inherited their wealth and influence. Having two equal heads of state, also created problems so a party formed for the return of an emperor. A compromise was decided to create the office of Princeps. The Princeps had more authority than the Consuls, but less power than an emperor. Still, a few Princeps managed to be made Emperor.
Saarkrisken is, as said based on the ancient Rome, but is not identical. The head of state(s) is elected by the Senate, although it has always been in the same family since the founding. The Senate can invest the head of state with as many powers as it wishes, but that is also dependent on the size of the majority. Senate seats are for life and Senators are appointed, not elected. Various elected assemblies exist, dealing with different aspects of the law. Suffrage is extremely limited, exercised by heads of households of the descendants of the founders and their supporters. This means that while the government only needs the majority support of the ruling class, which is about 25% of the population. Every province as its own Tribunes, which represent its interest. Technically elected by the people, the Tribunes are selected in fact by the political machines. Dynastic politics plays a big role.
Important are the roles of Magistrates. Each Magistrate has a specific portfolio, like a minister, but instead of serving at the pleasure of the head of state, a Magistrate serves a 2 year term that lines up with elections.(except Judicial Magistrates)
The most powerful force in Saarkrisken politics is the Honorius family. The family's private wealth is controlled by the Honorius Organization, a umbrella organization for various business's but also charities. The real source of power is their historical control of the Consulship. Every head of state since the founding has been from the Honorious family. By intermarrying with other powerful families, they have achieved complete control of the high offices of Saarkrisken. Still with in the family there has been competition. Primogeniture is not the rule, and dynasts have formed outside alliances in order to overthrow and usurp their family members.
Political parties exist in Saarkrisken, but they do not large memberships. A ruling coalition is often formed when a group of parties with a majority in the assemblies and a plurality in the Senate join together to support a member of the Honorious family. Policy then is usually effected by the change in Magistrates.
Saarkrisken has about 16 million people, a rather closed economy and is highly militarized.
