Reich Senate

The **Reich Senate** (German: *Reichssenat*) of the Greater Germanic Reich of the German Nation is the political body composed of the Reich Senators, a group of high-ranking officials within Germany personally appointed by the Head of State. Reich Senators were appointed largely from the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP), based on personal achievements judged by the President of Germany accordingly, disregarding the positions the candidate for Senator currently holds. Some Senators were appointed from State functionaries who did not hold Party positions, and other seats were given to people who have made large contributions to the transformation of German society and culture. Field Marshals, despite being lauded as representatives of the Wehrmacht, were never appointed as Senators within the Small Senate, due to their perceived apolitical nature. Instead, Field Marshals were given the position of 'Honorary Senators', and a seat in the advisory body of the Reich Senate.

The Reich Senate was established primarily by the Munich Constitution of 1950, which was spearheaded by the Reichsreform Task Force, during the period of the Der Neubau des Reiches from 1945-1950. According to the Munich Constitution, the Reich Senate would be divided into two main bodies with separate functions, the Large Senate, its advisory body, and the Small Senate, its elective body. The Large Senate would be the personal advisory body of the President of Germany. The Large Senate would convene regularly, and can be summoned by the President himself as he wishes, regardless of time, place, or convenience. The Small Senate would convene upon the resignation or unfortunate death of the President of Germany, and elect a new Head of State, either among its own members, or possibly but highly unlikely, an outsider to the office.

## Large Senate

### **Appointment**

*See also: Reich Senator*

The members of the Senate are usually picked from the highest levels of leadership, ranging from the Reichsleiters, the Reich Ministers, and the Gauleiters. They are the President of Germany's most trusted officials, each member representing a different aspect of German governance, from the State to the Party. The position of Reich Senator, is a position of great prestige. However, the position is not a for-life position, and Senators can be replaced within their lifetimes regularly. Senators can be appointed and removed from office at will by the President. At most, there have been a total of 100 Senators during Erwin Bumke's Presidency. Currently, under the Presidency of Karl Dönitz, there are 64 Senators, 24 of whom are members of the Small Senate.

### **Function**

*See also: Reich Congressional Session*

As an advisory body to the Head of State, the Senate was a more formal body for Reichsleiter, Reich Minister, and Gauleiter bi-annual conferences. The Large Senate serves as the primary place for policy discussion and decision-making within the highest echelons of the Party and State. Despite being referred to as bi-annual, the President, according to the Munich Constitution, was allowed to convene them more often if seen fit and necessary.

The Senate often discussed issues of national importance, such as cultural policy, foreign policy, defense policy, national security, economic policy, financial policy, industrial policy, law enforcement, and other legal and political issues. Accordingly, the Senate often had "guests" of whom were not Senators, but were invited specifically to provide their input and/or solutions regarding any issues being discussed within the Senate. Often times, these guests, if proven worthy, would become Senators in the future.

## Small Senate

### **Appointment**

The members of the Senate are usually picked from the highest levels of leadership, ranging from the Reichsleiters, the Reich Ministers, and the Gauleiters. Among these Senators, there are select-few who are given a position within the Small Senate. These members are the most-trusted cadre of leadership of which the President of Germany relies on, though ironically, their position is not one of function but of seniority, and only truly matters when the incumbent President is out of office.

### **Election**

*See also: Reich Conclave*

In line with Adolf Hitler's wishes, the Senate operates much in the same way as the Vatican City's College of Cardinals, where the 24 members of the Small Senate are locked within the Brown House in Führerstadt Munich. Hitler believed that if the members were locked in, without any access to outside information, then it would be considered as a true election, outside of the influence of local and foreign propaganda. This process is referred to as the Reich Conclave, which the German nation and people considers the President-Elect to be the spiritual and legal successor of the Eternal Führer Adolf Hitler. Reich Conclaves are held within the Senator's Hall in the Brown House of Munich, a city which was chosen because Munich is the "Capital City of the Movement".