Imperial Senate

The **Senate** (Tenecousian: *Senatus*), commonly called the **Imperial Senate** (Tenecousian: *Senatus Imperii*) or **Senate of the Universe** (Tenecousian: *Senatus Mundi*) is the legislative body of the Predaconian Empire. The Senate is bicameral, but consists of three parts: the Monarchy of the Universal Empire, the Curiate Assembly, and the People’s Assembly. Both chambers meet in separate wings at the Great Palace of Augustus in the city of Rifarious. For many special occasions, especially for planned visits of the emperor, the two chambers often sit in joint meetings. In theory, the Senate is based on both the traditional aristocratic values of the Republican era and the democratic values of the modern era. In practice, it was based on the estates of the feudal era, which was fit into the former and overlaid on by the latter.

The Curiate Assembly includes two different types of members: the Nobility of the Universal Empire,including all titled nobility of the empire, and the clergy, including all Patriarchs of the empire. The Curiate Assembly is the more ancient of the two chambers, being a direct continuation of the Senate of old. Due to predating the Imperial power, the Curiate Assembly’s members cannot be dismissed by the monarch, but only by an internal vote.

The People’s Assembly is an elected chamber with elections for over 10,000 constituencies, elected by a mixed member-proportional representation system. By constitutional convention (although not binding), the members of the Aulic Council are majority members of the People’s Assembly, serving at His Imperial Majesty’s pleasure.

The Senate has the most potent bureaucracy on the planet. Only the Emperor and the military hold more sway in world affairs. Decisions made under the roof of the Senate are bound to ripple through the Catholic Commonwealth, and ultimately affect the universe at large. With the universal expansion of the Empire, the Senate has shaped the political systems of many states, typically as ex-colonies, and so it has been called the "Mother of Legislatures", contrasting with the Imperial Armed Forces which is called the "Father of Militaries".

## In Political Theory

A fundamental tenet of moral philosophy — at least in regards to the ecumene — in the Imperial tradition is that "the rightful authors of a law are the people who are subject to the law". This right to self-legislation is the *sovereignty* of a people. The Predaconians recognize that it is impossible to bring this to fruition in a state spanning many — not cities, not continents, the planets, but galaxies. True, direct self-legislation is only possible when an entire people can assemble in one place. Nevertheless, this political ideal can be approached and **demos** - the sovereign power of the people - can arbitrate in the creation of laws by the conjunction of several organs of government which together guarantee the expression of sovereignty.

This solution to the problem of sovereignty in large states is put into practice through the Senate — reconstructed based on political and technological advances, the needs of the time, but also tradition, establishing the *Senatus* (Senate), within it the *Princeps Senatus* (Prince of the Senate), *Comitia Curiata* (Curiate Assembly), and *Comitia Populi* (People’s Assembly), as well as the ability to create special committees of ten (*decemviri*) for individual purposes. While no single representative body can properly enact the general will of the people, these organs do so collectively. Primary among these is the *Princeps Senatus*, the sovereign as legislator, who physically embodies Imperial sovereignty and directly enacts legislation.

The **Senatus** has a key role in this regulation. Each senator has been elected by a majority from about *1,000,000 citizens* and serves as their representative for approximately four years. The duty of senators is to hear the needs and concerns of their respective citizens, whether or not they voted for him. Theoretically, a senator is aware of what the people in his district desire. When the senators come together, the opinions of the whole empire have a venue for being considered. Every new law requires a senatorial majority and, therefore, indirectly, a popular majority.

Laws are written as bills by a member of the Magistracy. The magistrates are each a Senator of the ruling party(es) in the Imperium and are each elected individuals. Once a magistrate has submitted a bill in the Senate and it has received majority support from the senators, the *Comitia Curiata* has a vote. With a majority among both representative bodies of the Senate, the bill will be reviewed by the Imperial Council, and finally the emperor, who has the sole authority to enact it as a new law.

At the core, the sovereign authority of the people is maintained by the *frequency* of popular assemblies of the citizens. A resident of the city of Rifarious can expect to vote almost twenty times a year, as can citizens living in even the most remote reaches of the Imperium. Such consistent regulation from the top and the bottom ensures that, while not perfect, the Universal Empire closely approaches the form of a true *respublica*.

## Organization and powers

The Senate has three separate elements: the *Princeps Senatus* (lit. “Prince of the Senate”, a role of the monarch), the Curiate Assembly, and the People’s Assembly. No individual may be a member of both Assemblies, and members of the Curiate Assembly are legally barred from voting in elections for the People’s Assembly — considered an equalizer from the times of old, where the aristocracy’s votes outnumbered the votes of the masses.

Imperial Assent of the monarch is required for all Bills to become law. The monarchy also holds vast, theoretically reserve, powers which do not depend on the Senate.

The monarch also appoints the Consuls, who then form a government — the Magistracy — from the members of the Senate. This practices the ancient practice of collegiality, not centralizing any power from the people in the hands of a singular person. They must be people who could command a majority in a confidence vote in the People’s Assembly.

All legislation must be passed by both the Assemnlies to become law. The People’s Assembly controls taxation and the supply of tax-money to the government. Government ministers (including the Consuls) must regularly answer questions in the People’s Assembly and there are a number of select committees that scrutinise particular issues and the workings of the government. There are also mechanisms that allow members of the People’s Assembly to bring to the attention of the government particular issues affecting their constituents.

While the Curiate Assembly is the upper house and the People’s Assembly is the lower house, this does not imply the former is more powerful than the latter. It merely entails that its members and officers outrank the members and officers of the People’s Assembly in the order of precedence for the purposes of protocol. As a matter of practice and custom, the People’s Assembly is the dominant chamber. The Consuls and Magistracy are responsible solely to the Emperor, and *de facto* remain in office only so long as they retain the support of the People’s Assembly and confidence of the Curiate Assembly.

### *Princeps Senatus*

The *Princeps Senatus* (lit. “Prince” or “First of the Senate”, a role of the monarch) refers to the monarch in their legislative role, acting on the advise and consent of the Senate, inclusive of both houses. The specific language of the title refers to the roots of the title, where the senator listed first on lists was the one with prerogative of honour. Historically, the title was used for compulsory registration of the imperial acts which required the consent of the Senate; the emperors could force the hand of the Senate, but only in his capacity as foremost of the Senate, which could only be shown with undisputed legality by chairing and presiding over a Senate meeting. The emperor needs only speak a few preliminary words, followed by the formula *magister meus officiorum cetera explanabit* ("my chancellor will tell you the rest"), whereupon the chancellor seated at his feet would read aloud the rest of the imperial bill to be made an act of the Senate. In modern times, the only real function of the emperor under this title is signing bills into law with imperial assent.

### Curiate Assembly

The **Curiate Assembly** (Tenecousian: *Comitia Curiata*) commonly known as the Assembly of Patricians (Tenecousian: Comitia Patricius), and often referred to as simply the ***Domus*** (Tenecousian for a noble “House”), is the upper house of the Senate. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like it’s democratic counterpart, it meets at the Great Palace of Augustus in Rifarious, Predaconia. Although legislation can normally be introduced in either chamber, the majority of government bills originate in the People’s Assembly, with the Curiate Assembly acting as the chamber of "sober second thought".

### People’s Assembly

The **People’s Assembly** (Tenecousian: *Comitia Populi*) commonly known as the Assembly of the Plebs (Tenecousian: Comitia Plebis), and often referred to as simply the ***Insula*** (Tenecousian for a peasant’s “House”), is the lower house of the Senate. Membership is by democratic election. Like it’s aristocratic counterpart, it meets at the Great Palace of Augustus in Rifarious, Predaconia. Although legislation can normally be introduced in either chamber, the majority of government bills originate in the People’s Assembly, with the Curiate Assembly acting as the chamber of "sober second thought". In modern constitutional convention, it is the
People’s Assembly which is the major part of the government.