Martian Government

Mars is a very high-expenditure state, drawing heavily on revenues from national corporations to fund social, cultural, economic, and military initiatives. Notably, the Martian government invests heavily in education and cultural grants to the end of maintaining Martian cultural dominance. Such policies are widely popular.

## Society

There are ranks within Martian society, some of which bear with them privileges, others only prestige, all with responsibilities. This hierarchy is specifically structured to force meritocratic governance by being a hierarchy of responsibility rather than right. Rank is a privilege and lands belong to titles rather than persons; the nobility may be expelled from the House of Lords by a two-thirds vote of either their constituents or of the Senate.

### Commoners

* Immigrant - a foreign born individual granted conditional residency
* Resident - a foreign born individual granted full legal residency
* Citizen - a natural or foreign born individual with full legal rights
* Knight Companion - a member of the Companions-at-Arms
* Sworn Imperial Knight - a foreign born Imperial Knight of the Sworn Legions
* Free Imperial Knight - a natural born or prior naturalized Imperial Knight
* Anointed Imperial Knight - a life title for particular distinction
* Baronet - a heritable title for particular distinction

### Lower Nobility

* Lord or Baron - a minor lord responsible for a small estate
* Earl, Count, Grave, Graf, Comte - a minor lord responsible for a State county
* Marquess, Marquis, Margrave, Margraf - a minor lord responsible for a Provincial county

### Upper Nobility

* Duke, Dux - a major lord responsible for a State
* Premier Duke - a major lord with a permanent seat on the Imperial Council
* Imperial Prince - a senior member of the Imperial House of Farer

## Rights

Natural rights are a crucial aspect of Martian government and society. Mars was the first whole world to enshrine citizenship for non-human hominids, following the lead of the United Commonwealth States and the European Federation. There is also recognition of oceanic dolphins, octopods, corvids, canids, felids, gibbons, etc. as primitive persons, albethey with fewer natural rights. Animals like dogs and rats and cats can still be kept as "pets" but punishments for crimes against them are not significantly less harsh than for crimes against hominids.

Rights include:

* Life
* Liberty
* Justice
* Privacy
* Expression
	+ Freedom of Faith
	+ Language Plurality
	+ Protection of Peaceful Speech
	+ Universal Virtual Voting
	+ Activism and Protest Equality
* Property - Guaranteed Basic Income
* Food - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
* Housing - Basic Housing Assistance
* Water - Universal Water Ration
* Electricity - Universal Power Ration
* Sanitation - Guaranteed Waste Disposal
* Communication - Neutral and Open Internet
* Healthcare - Assured HealthCare
* Arms - Self-Defense Clause of the Constitution

## Citizenship

* There are several paths to citizenship:
	+ Immigrants may become residents by applying after five (5) years of residency.
	+ Residents may become citizens by applying after five (5) additional years of residency.

* Immigrants who enlist in the Armed Forces ALL receive residency, serve for five (5) years AND may apply for full citizenship after two (2) years of service.
* Residents who serve in the Armed Forces ALL serve for at least three (3) years AND may apply for citizenship after completing basic and specialty training, and approved upon reaching an assigned unit.

* Immigrants may also apply for other special fast-track programs:

#### STEM

* Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM; Academia) - those wishing to study, research, or teach STEM fields at Martian institutions are fast-tracked to apply for citizenship after five (5) years of residency AND attendance of a school OR employment as faculty at a Martian institution.
* Those studying at Martian institutions under the immigrant fast-track program will receive grants equal to average local cost of living calculated annually.
* Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM; Industry) - those with secure offers of employment by a Martian corporation are fast-tracked to apply for citizenship after five (5) years of residency AND cannot be unemployed at any time for a period longer than six (6) months.

#### Education

* Education (Employment) - those with secure offers of employment by an academic institution of any level are fast-tracked to apply for citizenship after three (3) years of residency AND cannot be unemployed at any time for a period longer than one (1) year.
* Education (Attendance) - those with, or who have children with, secure offers of enrollment at a Martian academic institution of any level may enroll as residents and apply for citizenship after five (5) years of residency.

#### Arts

* Arts (Employment) - those wishing to practice the arts, working for a Martian institution OR corporation are fast-tracked to apply for citizenship after seven (7) years of residency.
* Arts (Entrepreneurship) - those wishing to found a Martian institution OR corporation for the arts must have a business plan approved by committee AND will receive grants of varying value AND are fast-tracked to apply for citizenship after five (5) years of residency.

#### CHAP

* Commerce, Horticulture, Agriculture, and Production (CHAP; Employment) - those with secure offers of employment in a CHAP field are fast-tracked to apply for citizenship after five (5) years of residency BUT cannot be unemployed at any time for a period longer than one (1) year.
* Commerce, Horticulture, Agriculture, and Production (CHAP; Entrepreneurship) - those with secure business plans in a CHAP field, approved by committee, will receive grants of varying value AND are fast-tracked to apply for citizenship after three (3) years of residency.

## Legislative Branch

### Election and Selection

* The House of Representatives are elected biennially. The Senate is elected every 12-years on a rotating basis.
* Members of the House are elected by popular vote.
* Senators are nominated by governors and approved by state legislatures.

* Lords are hereditary but may be expelled (and sometimes replaced) by a two-thirds majority of either the House of Lords or of the constituents of the lands of the lordship in question.
* Lords may serve in executive government and in the Senate but not the House of Representatives.
* Appointed members of the Imperial Council are nominated by the Emperor and certified by the Senate
* The Emperor may be removed by a two-thirds majority of all three houses.

* Supreme Court Justices are also life appointments but may be impeached and recalled by a two-thirds majority of both the Representatives and Senate.

* The President is elected by an anonymous popular vote, with the election certified by the House and Senate.
* State governors and all legislatures are elected by popular vote.