Martian Colonial Congress

The **Martian Colonial Congress (MCC)** is a subordinate governing body that rules over the nine billion inhabitants of Mars and its dependencies in the name of the United Nations.

## History

The colonisation of Mars by the general population started in the mid-21st century, and by 2196 the colonies had become self-sustaining due to the combined effort and toil of the population. Seeing themselves as separate from Earth and the United Nations, the people of Mars declared themselves an independent nation and formed the Martian Congressional Republic.

In response, the United Nations would invoke the "breakaway province rule" and launch Operation: Broken Sky, a full-scale first strike aimed to cripple the rebellion its infancy. In 2199, Deimos, the smaller moon of Mars and an important orbital military construction platform, was destroyed by planet-buster nukes as a warning. Immediately following that, a number of United Nations Navy fleets moved to blockade Mars and its nearest dependencies, bombing several key ports and naval bases from orbits and closing all supply and trade lines to the ports.

The periodic bombardments and the blockade continued until the Martian Congressional Republic surrendered, having lost the capacity to construct its fleet in the sudden assaults. In the wake of the unconditional surrender, the Congressional Republic was disbanded and its chief perpetrators summarily executed for treason. In its place, the Martian Colonial Congress was founded as a subordinate government to the United Nations, and under far stricter governmental restrictions than had been previously allowed for the colony.

## Organisation

### Leadership

The Governor of Mars is the head of the executive branch of the Martian Colonial Congress, aided by his cabinet, and is the chief representative of the United Nations on Mars unless otherwise replaced by a superior, which includes Fleet Admirals of the United Nations Navy. The second-highest official in government is the Deputy Governor.

Unlike the Senate and Executive Council, the Governor is not democratically elected by the people of Mars, but put in charge by the United Nations to oversee matters on the planet.

### Structure

#### Executive Council

Second only to the Governor, the Executive Council of the Martian Colonial Congress (MCCE) is the highest governmental organ of Mars, and the highest executive force that is democratically elected. Together with the Governor and his cabinet, it wields executive power in the MCC government when implementing directions from the United Nations or for Mars at large. Its decisions can be veto'd by the Governor or by representatives from the United Nations at any time.

#### Senate

The Senate of the Martian Colonial Congress (MCCS) is the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the MCC. The MCCS is responsible for the MCC budget, approving the Governor of Mars, receiving reports from other parts of the system, and making recommendations through resolutions. It also establishes numerous subsidiary organs to advance or assist in its broad mandate. Any legislature passed by the Senate must first be approved by the Governor, or occasionally by the Secretary-General of the United Nations themselves, who reserves the right to veto any bill.

#### Court of Justice

The Martian Court of Justice (MCJ), sometimes known as the High Court**,** settles disputes between all the various parts of the colony in accordance with interplanetary law, and gives advisory opinions on planetary legal issues. It is technically an offshoot of the Interplanetary Court of Justice.