In an earlier, simpler day one prime duty of any Terran sovereign was to make himself publicly available on frequent occasions so that even the lowliest might come before him without any intermediary of any sort and demand judgment.  Traces of this aspect of primitive sovereignty persisted on Earth long after kings became scarce and impotent.  It continued to be the right of an Englishman to "Cry Harold!" although few knew it and none did it.  Successful city political bosses held open court all through the twentieth century, leaving wide their office doors and listening to any gandy dancer or bindlestiff who came in.