Establishment Party

Chairman
 Administrative Leader
 Executive Leader
 Founded
 Preceded By
 Succeeded By
 Demonym
 Governmental
 Foreign Affairs
 Influences
 Administrative Seats

The Triumvirate Establishment Party was founded on June 26, 2012, by Arnold Ogamon, former Major Executive and Chief Attorney at the time. It was the second party established in the Triumvirate, behind the Progressive Party and it represents a more conservative side to Triumvirate political ideology than the Progressive Party.

## History

The Establishment Party was originally created by Arnold Ogamon to oppose the PEACE Act, the primary legislative goal of Stavrok, founder of the Progressive Party. As the second political party, the Establishment Party made a name for itself, at least at first, as simply being "anti-Progressive" rather than pushing any real alternatives of its own. With Ogamon's career on the downhill when he founded the party, the Establishment Party found its first political champion in Andrew Mearl, who quickly became the Speaker of the Administration in 2012-III and remained such for all of 2013. Mearl lead the party and was the political head of the party for that expanse of time, even with Elliot Neil (who was also from the Establishment Party) as Major Executive for a trimester. Mearl sought to be rational and realistic about government in cutting spending, promoting a reasonable Administrative Branch, and trying to make long-term investments that would help the party grow in the long run. However, Mearl met his match in the Progressive's Nathan Maine, who succeeded Elliot Neil as Major Executive and massively expanded the power of the Majorate and government spending, particularly with his 2013 stimulus bill (which became the center of contention between the Progressives and the Establishment Party in 2013-II and 2013-III). After the Establishment Party was unsuccessful in running a candidate (Mitchell Carrick, Administrative Liaison at the time) against Maine for 2013-III, it cleverly maneuvered to get complete control of the Administrative Branch by electing, despite all protections against such, an Establishment Speaker (Andrew Mearl) and Deputy Speaker (Edward Stenbach), meaning the Establishment Party, one party, controlled the entire agenda of the Administration. This ended in a defiant stand off over Maine's spending programs which resulted in the Halloween Shutdown in October-November of 2013 when Maine, Mearl, Stenbach, and Carrick failed to come to an agreement and the government shut down for two weeks, the first time such had ever happened. Eventually the Establishment Party had no choice but to cave to Maine and end the shutdown, having lost all public support, and the Establishment Party was nearly wiped out. Maine worked to rebuild the party after the shutdown, with Andrew Mearl retiring, and saw to it that Edward Stenbach would join the Executive Branch. Though the party remained weak, when Maine had served out his last term and Ryan Bleitze (Authority Party) was elected Major Executive, Stenbach became Minor Executive, and, when Bleitze eventually resigned, Stenbach became the seventh Major Executive. This marked a significant turning point for the Establishment Party, having returned to political power following it's near-obliteration by Maine and the Progressives in 2013. Stenbach served through 2015-I as Major Executive, nearly two and a half trimesters, but remained on the Executive Branch following. Though, ever since the showdown and subsequent shutdown in late 2013, the Establishment Party has failed to maintain any power in the Administrative Branch, with Stenbach's success in the Executive Branch, the party largely recovered from its public loss of favor.
After the harsh aftermath of the initial Winter Wars, all members of the Establishment Party were ruled inactive, and removed. Thus, with no members of the Establishment Party, the party itself became null and void. However, on February 21, 2016, Major Executive Lancelot Rice ruled that a chairman was needed, and reaquitted Vulpes Arenas to the party, thus allowing him to become chairman. Qiar Tos was in the party as well, but as Vulpes Arenas had more experience, he was placed in the spot.

#### Economic

* **Laissez-Faire Economics:** The Establishment Party fights for government hands off of the economy, no intervening in the market or economic affairs. Fiscal conservatism is an important part of our platform. By government deregulating the markets, reducing taxes, and being more supportive of private property, the economy will flourish.
* **Reduction of the Budget, Cutting Government Spending:** The Establishment Party believes that to benefit a free and open economy, the government must spend less money and involve itself less in the private sector. Reckless and endless spending by the government will only lead to the unreasonable implementation of the government in the economy and force higher taxes and high debt burden on the Triumvirate, all things we want to avoid.
* **Small Government:** Because businesses and individuals in the private sector are more adept at performing tasks, the Establishment party prefers a smaller government that is less restrictive to the people. As small a government as possible is what is best for economic and cultural growth.
* **Against the Minimum Wage:** We are against a minimum wage in the Triumvirate because it will destroy jobs, something we do not wish to do as we want the economy to grow. Imposing a minimum wage will force employers to charge higher than may be necessary for labor, undermining economic growth and business development.
* **Recruitment Incentives:** We are against high recruitment incentives, they must be kept low and monitored closely to guarantee efficiency.
* **Government Authority over Private Institutions:** We reject the notion that the government should tell private individuals or institutions what to do with their private assets or organizations.
* **Taxes:** The Establishment Party, in keeping with Zerouh's philosophies, is strongly against taxes on businesses, individuals, or products. A tax will decrease the desire to start businesses and join the Triumvirate and hurt our economy. The government should cut spending and utilize responsible loans to fund projects, not take advantage of the people and the economy via taxes.

#### Political/Governmental

* **Elite Government:** Our platform also focuses on keeping to Zerouh's idea of keeping intelligence and merit as the primary selectors for who takes our highest offices. Basic people can't be making massive decisions, we need extraordinary minds, intelligent people. Not to say all people aren't important in politics, but when it comes to who holds the launch codes, we believe that the most qualified person should. We favor elitism and the competitive nature of the Executive Branch, and are against an expansion of Administrative power, as we support the traditional, elite government of the Triumvirate as we were meant to be.
* **Weak Majorate:** In the modern era, a weaker Majorate is necessary to preserve the integrity of Executive offices as unique units, so we favor a less powerful Majorate.
* **No Popular Vote for Major Executive:** We are against the public or the Administration getting a say in the removal or implementation of Executive offices.
* **Senators:** We are against expansion of Senator seats in the Executive Branch and, in some cases, we may call for the reduction of Senator seats.
* **Administrative Power:** We are against the expansion of Administrative Branch power, including submission of laws by the Administration, submission of amendments, Administrative access to Executive affairs, or revocation of the Administrative Liaison without Executive Branch approval.
* **Free Departments:** We do not believe legal regulation is necessary for Departments and that the Departments will do the best work when left to the hands of the expert Executives leading them. The competitive nature of the Executive Branch will guarantee the most efficient and effective work of government institutions such as Departments.
* **Executive Election:** We are for competition to enter the Executive Branch, whereby candidates are consistently challenged so that they do what is expected for them. Concepts like a maximum partisan Executive amendment that could prohibit the most elite from being Executives are detrimental to the Executive Branch and to the Triumvirate at large.

#### Foreign Relations and Defense

* **Isolationism:** We are against intervening in international conflicts, stepping into other factions affairs, and being a world police force. The Triumvirate should focus on ourselves, not the world around us that is constantly changing and shifting making it impossible to enforce. Our first duty is to ourselves, not to the world.

#### Other

* **Historical Protection and Documentation:** Something the founder of the party, Arnold Ogamon, has been very well known for is his historical expertise and initiatives to protect and preserve the history of the Triumvirate. Keeping a regular archive of the Triumvirate and publishing old historical materials are things we work hard to improve and add to so that generations to come can enjoy the rich history of the Triumvirate.

## Party Bylaws

**§1: Aesthetics**

The official color of the Establishment shall be red. The abbreviation shall be "E". The icon shall depict the flag of the Triumvirate (dyed red) pointing to the right with a black "E" presented above.
**§2: Nomination**

Only individuals approved by the party board may be nominated or seek the Major Executive, Minor Executive, Senator, or Administrator positions.
**§3: Expulsion**

A member of the Establishment Party (excluding members of the board) can be stripped of membership in the party if the board of the party, by a majority in favor, approves. Reasonable reasons for expulsion are:
(A) Actions detrimental to the party or the Triumvirate at large.
(B) Running for a position which requires board nomination without approval from the board.
(C) A major break from party consistency.
(D) Failure to comply with Triumvirate or party laws.
**§4: Board Offices**

**§4.1: Chairman of the Establishment Party**
The Chairman of the Establishment Party shall have say over all actions of the party, being able to direct and delegate the party's actions as they see fit. The Chairman may, at any time, be overrule by the board of the party. They shall also serve to manage those actions not covered by any other board office unless they wish to delegate to others on the board. They act as the de facto treasurer of the party and speak for the board.
**§4.2: Deputy Chairman of the Establishment Party**
The Deputy Chairman of the Establishment Party shall be the second in command of the party, working under the Chairman as the Chairman sees fit. They shall assume the duties and powers of the Chairman if the Chairman is ever unavailable.
**§4.3: Director of Membership**
The Director of Membership shall have oversight on recruiting for the party, keeping members informed and active, and keeping lists on members updated.
**§4.4: Director of Campaigns**
The Director of Campaigns shall be the primary campaign advocate and election manager for the party. They will work to find candidates for the Establishment Party and help them get elected once they are approved by the board.