Kirav
05-06-2009, 23:03
Kartika, Great Kirav, Kiravian Empire
Some cities never sleep. Kartika, however, does. In fact, it sleeps late. Perhaps it is tired. After all, many of its inhabitants are responsible for managing an empire of five billion souls. For whatever reason, the streets were nearly empty in the early morning of what the Georgian calendar called June 5th. Yet among those early risers that had ventured out while their neighbours slumbered, there was an air of suspense, anticipation, and a tinge of anxiety.
At eight o'clock, more bicycles and electric carts had taken to the gravel of the capital's streets, while pedestrians walked briskly to work, but their number was still far from what even Kartikans could expect at this hour. But feeling of the city had intensified.
At eight-thirty, although nary a Coscivian-speaking voice broke the semisilence of the barely stirring city, the unspoken mood had reached its breaking point. Then the horn sounded. Once. Twice. Thrice. The bagpipe-like tone of the horn emanated from the chambers of the High Council [Also refered to as the 'Clan Council']. And then, the city awoke. The reporters that had kept a nightlong vigil outside of the chambers rushed to their stations. Cameras rung and beeped to life. Representatives from all Kiravian news services worth their salt pushed up against the fence, poised for the results.
The horn sounded thrice more, and the doors opened. Cameras flashed, waking the Kartikan police that had deservedly begun to doze off after supervising the reporters all night. Out walked the members of the Imperial Government, in various states of consciousness. Senators, Councilmen, Secriatists, Imperial Judges, and at last the Emperor himself.
Flanked by Särden Evergreen, Chancellor of the Senate, and Cheiftain Armin Völskur, of the High Council, on his right, and by Rosur Vuldlän and Kémsir Islé of the Imperial Court on his left, Emperor Irasur Seawind took his place at the podium. Facing the press, he said:
"Kátæn, Good day, Ladies and Gentlemen. After a long debate..." (He was cut off as the Iscardian Senator slumped to the floor and began to snore) "...A bit too long, it seems, the Imperacy, the Senate, the Imperial Court, and the High Council have found themselves in full agreement. We have adopted Amendment Fifty-Six to the Imperial Statute".
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee194/Glyphick47/ININlogo.gif
Early this morning, the High Council passed Amendment Fifty-Six to the Imperial Statute.
For foriegn readers who may be unfamiliar, the Imperial Statute was the law passed by the United Republics of Kirav that created the Kiravian Empire. However, the Empire that its authors intended was far different from the one that developed as Kiravian power expanded. Their vision of the Kiravian Empire consisted of the founding Republics, occupying the Eastern seaboard of what we now know as Ambris Kiravia, or Great Kirav, administered mostly by the Senate, with a stretch of overland colonies and territories to the West, whose Coscivian settlers and Aboriginal inhabitants would be defended and managed by the Emperor. As these colonies grew, they became integral provinces of the URK. When Kiravians began settling overseas, the Emperor was granted even broader powers to govern the overseas empire, regulate trade within it and without, and to oversee further expansion.
However, times have changed. Many of the colonies are now industrialised non-sovereign countries with considerable populations. Though this has been the case for some time, the Imperacy has still retained vast powers. Until yesterday, the Emperor had the power to single-handedly create and enforce legislation in most parts of the Empire. He could also alter maritime, commercial, environmental, and immigration laws without outside approval. In theory, he could choose Senators from the small posessions governed directly by apointed colonial governments. Of course, there were safeguards in place, such as impeachment in the Imperial Court and removal by the High Council, and the fact that the Senate controlled the Imperial treasury. But in many cases, there was too little standing between a corrupt Emperor and tyranny.
Though the Amendment's text is vast, it can be summarised as thus:
-Under no circumstances may the Imperacy enact legislation without approval of the Imperial Senate.
-The Imperial Code of Law may nto be amended by the Imperacy. This power is reserved solely to the Imperial Senate.
-Senators representing Territories and Imperatorially-administered colonies must be elected by the citizens of those provinces to prevent the interference of the Imperacy through its governors.
-The Imperacy does not have the power to pardon convicted felons.
-The Imperacy may not sell, lease, grant concessions, or settlement rights in, any Imperially owned land reserve, purchase, park, territorial or contiguous water are, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf claim, or fishing zone.
Some cities never sleep. Kartika, however, does. In fact, it sleeps late. Perhaps it is tired. After all, many of its inhabitants are responsible for managing an empire of five billion souls. For whatever reason, the streets were nearly empty in the early morning of what the Georgian calendar called June 5th. Yet among those early risers that had ventured out while their neighbours slumbered, there was an air of suspense, anticipation, and a tinge of anxiety.
At eight o'clock, more bicycles and electric carts had taken to the gravel of the capital's streets, while pedestrians walked briskly to work, but their number was still far from what even Kartikans could expect at this hour. But feeling of the city had intensified.
At eight-thirty, although nary a Coscivian-speaking voice broke the semisilence of the barely stirring city, the unspoken mood had reached its breaking point. Then the horn sounded. Once. Twice. Thrice. The bagpipe-like tone of the horn emanated from the chambers of the High Council [Also refered to as the 'Clan Council']. And then, the city awoke. The reporters that had kept a nightlong vigil outside of the chambers rushed to their stations. Cameras rung and beeped to life. Representatives from all Kiravian news services worth their salt pushed up against the fence, poised for the results.
The horn sounded thrice more, and the doors opened. Cameras flashed, waking the Kartikan police that had deservedly begun to doze off after supervising the reporters all night. Out walked the members of the Imperial Government, in various states of consciousness. Senators, Councilmen, Secriatists, Imperial Judges, and at last the Emperor himself.
Flanked by Särden Evergreen, Chancellor of the Senate, and Cheiftain Armin Völskur, of the High Council, on his right, and by Rosur Vuldlän and Kémsir Islé of the Imperial Court on his left, Emperor Irasur Seawind took his place at the podium. Facing the press, he said:
"Kátæn, Good day, Ladies and Gentlemen. After a long debate..." (He was cut off as the Iscardian Senator slumped to the floor and began to snore) "...A bit too long, it seems, the Imperacy, the Senate, the Imperial Court, and the High Council have found themselves in full agreement. We have adopted Amendment Fifty-Six to the Imperial Statute".
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee194/Glyphick47/ININlogo.gif
Early this morning, the High Council passed Amendment Fifty-Six to the Imperial Statute.
For foriegn readers who may be unfamiliar, the Imperial Statute was the law passed by the United Republics of Kirav that created the Kiravian Empire. However, the Empire that its authors intended was far different from the one that developed as Kiravian power expanded. Their vision of the Kiravian Empire consisted of the founding Republics, occupying the Eastern seaboard of what we now know as Ambris Kiravia, or Great Kirav, administered mostly by the Senate, with a stretch of overland colonies and territories to the West, whose Coscivian settlers and Aboriginal inhabitants would be defended and managed by the Emperor. As these colonies grew, they became integral provinces of the URK. When Kiravians began settling overseas, the Emperor was granted even broader powers to govern the overseas empire, regulate trade within it and without, and to oversee further expansion.
However, times have changed. Many of the colonies are now industrialised non-sovereign countries with considerable populations. Though this has been the case for some time, the Imperacy has still retained vast powers. Until yesterday, the Emperor had the power to single-handedly create and enforce legislation in most parts of the Empire. He could also alter maritime, commercial, environmental, and immigration laws without outside approval. In theory, he could choose Senators from the small posessions governed directly by apointed colonial governments. Of course, there were safeguards in place, such as impeachment in the Imperial Court and removal by the High Council, and the fact that the Senate controlled the Imperial treasury. But in many cases, there was too little standing between a corrupt Emperor and tyranny.
Though the Amendment's text is vast, it can be summarised as thus:
-Under no circumstances may the Imperacy enact legislation without approval of the Imperial Senate.
-The Imperial Code of Law may nto be amended by the Imperacy. This power is reserved solely to the Imperial Senate.
-Senators representing Territories and Imperatorially-administered colonies must be elected by the citizens of those provinces to prevent the interference of the Imperacy through its governors.
-The Imperacy does not have the power to pardon convicted felons.
-The Imperacy may not sell, lease, grant concessions, or settlement rights in, any Imperially owned land reserve, purchase, park, territorial or contiguous water are, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf claim, or fishing zone.