United Republic of Sol-Centauri

The United Republic of Sol-Centauri is commonly known as the United Republic, abbreviated UR, although RSC, while less common, is the official abbreviation. It is a representative democratic federal presidential constitutional republic.

The United Republic is officially known in several languages other than English, reflecting its cultural diversity: French as the République-unie de Sol-Centauri, German as the Republik Sol-Centauri, Italian as the Republicca Unita di Sol-Centauri, Spanish as the República Unida de Sol-Centauri, Latin as the Reipublicae Sol-Centauri, and Chinese as the 联合共和国
(Liánhé gònghéguó). Its legislation, policies, and other documents are produced primarily in all of these languages. Despite these official designations, the United Republic has no official language. However, English is dominant, and the primary language in which government documents originate.

## History

### Solar Federation

The Old Worlds of Cytherea, Earth and Mars together form the Solar Federation following the conclusion of the Third World War on Earth and the wider First Interstellar War. The Federation joins together these three worlds for the purposes of unitary defense, and unified policy, both foreign and domestic. It is, by far, the most powerful single entity in Inhabited Space.

Following the Second Interstellar Wars, the Solar Federation is expanded and reformed into the United Republic of Sol-Centauri. As the second world colonized, with the largest economy and military outside of the Solar Federation, Arda has long been a de facto Old World, but is now officially given de jure coequal status with Earth, Mars, and Cytherea. With the advent of the Interstellar Union, the United Republic gains additional Senators for Earth’s Luna and the Martian Provinces of Galilea, Titan, and Poseidon.

### United Republic of Sol-Centauri

During the Coalition Wars, the United Republic further centralizes. While Martian Imperial Armed Forces remain largely administratively independent, heavily-integrated joint commands are established.

In the mid 2530s, suzerainty movements in the Territory of Luna and the Martian Provinces of Galilea, Saturnia, and Poseidon succeed and they become new full Constituent Republics. The New Lunar Republic is given special status at the heart of the Federal Capital Space. The Republic of Galilea comprises Ganymede, Io, Europa, and Callisto. The Saturnian Commonwealth includes the moons of Titan and Enceladus. The Principality of Poseidon is centered around the Neptunian moon Tritan and the twin dwarf planets of Pluto and Charon. The Farer Imperial Princes retain their titles and influence, as the heads of state of the new Republics, but are essentially powerless. The primary effects are in the bureaucracies of the new Constituent Republics as they localize. Otherwise it is mostly a matter of respect and recognition.

## Constituent Republics

The Federal Capital of the United Republic is Shackleton City, Luna. Except for Luna, each Constituent Republic maintains a distinct capital.

* United Nations of Earth - McMurdo, Ross Island Special District, Antarctica
* New Lunar Republic - Shackleton City
* Federal-Imperial Republic of Mars - Olympia City, Olympus Mons, Olympia
* Commonwealth of Cytherea - Neu Konigsberg, District of Euler, Europa Nova
* Ardan Republic - Freisberg, Freilande
* Republic of Galilea - District of Troy, Ganymede
* Saturnian Commonwealth - Titan City, Titan
* Principality of Poseidon - City of Atlantis, Triton

### Old Worlds

The Old Worlds possess the largest economies in Inhabited Space. They are considered coequal. Initially the Old Worlds comprise the United Nations of Earth, the Federal-Imperial Republic of Mars, and the Cytherean Commonwealth (Venus), however Arda (formerly Proxima Centauri b) is commonly considered an Old World, which is cemented during the late 22nd Century with the formation of the United Republic of Sol-Centauri. During the 26th Century, Luna, Galilea, Saturnia, and Poseidon are elevated in status as additional Constituent Republics. This has little structural effect, however the political implications become apparent as their independent identities fully develop.

## Government

*See: Government of the United Republic*

The United Republic is a representative democratic federal presidential constitutional republic. It is based primarily on the government of Earth and that of Mars. It features a tricameral legislature, complex executive, and elected judiciary.

A popularly-elected President of the United Republic serves as head of both state and government with the assistance of a popularly-elected Chancellor, an appointed Secretary General, the Executive Representatives Council, the Cabinet, and the Security Council.

The Legislative branch of the Government of the United Republic of Sol-Centauri, called the Congress, consists of an Upper Chamber, commonly called the Senate, a Middle Chamber, known as the Chamber of Representatives or simply Chamber, and a Lower Chamber, called the General Assembly or simply Assembly.

The Judicial Branch is independent and elected by the communities they are to serve. However the Justices of the Supreme Court are elected by the Senate. They are term-limited and there are formal mechanisms for removing Justices from office.

### War Powers

The complex relationships between the individual worlds and the United Republic lead to severe tensions early on about who exactly should have what powers necessary to make war. Ultimately the model practiced on Earth and Mars largely prevails. The Joint Chiefs of Staff hold the general power to wage wars, but their actions remain beholden to the decisions of the civilian government. The President may veto armed actions, however this must be approved by the Joint Armed Services Committee. In case of conflict resisted by the Joint Chiefs, the President must issue a Resolution of War to the Congress writ large for approval. The Joint Chiefs may refuse to carry out actions dictated by the President, except an approved Resolution of War, but may be subject to impeachment and recall by the Congress for doing so.

#### *Congressus Consultum Ultimum*

Literally the 'Final Decree of the Congress', this is a measure designed to address only the most dire of circumstances. It invests absolute warmaking powers in the hands of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In such a case, civilian control of the military is suspended, but the President retains power over domestic affairs. Its invocation has several requirements: a unique three-quarters majority of the Congress as a whole in which votes are not tallied by chamber; including the unanimous consent of the Joint Armed Services Committee; the unanimous consent of the Cabinet; and the unanimous accession of the Joint Chiefs themselves.

## Armed Forces

*See: Armed Forces of the United Republic*

The Armed Forces of the United Republic (AFUR) exist for its entire history but during the Coalition Wars grow more centralized as a means of unifying command and control. Initially it is a hodge-podge of allied militaries on Earth and the forces of Mars and Cytherea.

By the end of the Coalition Wars the AFUR consist of the United Republic Department of Defense: the United Republic Surface Force, United Republic Aerospace Force, United Republic Fleet Force; and the Martian Imperial Armed Forces: Imperial Martian Fleet, Imperial Knights, Imperial Office of Intelligence, and Imperial Guards Agency. No major changes are made to the Imperial forces as a result of the integration transition.

The majority of operations are conducted jointly under the auspices of the Joint Chiefs by the Republic Guards, Expeditionary Corps, and Imperial Expeditionary Infantry with support by the Fleet Force and Imperial Martian Fleet. This is largely the same arrangement as before the unification of the forces, but they are now fully consolidated and assimilated.

To assimilate and unify troops from such disparate backgrounds, the services adopt their own new uniforms and blend traditions. At the same time, leadership recognizes the importance of heritage so traditional insignia and special dress uniforms are still authorized. Their goal is to make the integration transition seem as much a natural evolutionary process as possible.