The Rihannsu government revolves around the mnhei'sahe of the individual, the individual's house, and the individual's empire. Mnhei'sahe is a complex word, and may be translated as meaning different things, from personal honour to love, depending on the context.
The government is divided into three main branches. An executive branch, called the Praetorate, is responsible for maintaining order and performing the duties of a presidential cabinet. The president is the daise'Fvillha, or highest Praetor.
The Fvillha is able to speak for the Praetorate on matters that require immediate attention, and when the Praetorate is unable to meet for some reason. The Fvillha also enjoys the privileges of a head of state in treatment from both civilians and military personnel, particularly if the Fvillha has served in the military at a prior date. Fvillha's have the final say-so in naming starships as a matter of honour. There are very few privileges otherwise.
The Praetorate itself is a cabinet composed of twelve Rihannsu from various districts across the Imperium. The Fvillha appoints Praetors to fill positions vacated by former Praetors due to illness, duress, death and the like. Praetors serve until incapacitated (q.e.d.) or the current Fvillha leaves office in like manner. The Praetorate is responsible for vetoing, endorsing and enforcing legislation passed by the senate.
The Praetorate is able to declare war, peace, economic sanctions, executive orders for a maximum period of twelve weeks, and is ultimately responsible for the actions of planetary governors (q.v.)
The senate is divided into two houses, upper and lower, with the lower being responsible for proposing and drafting legislation. The upper senate, typically filled with hard-line conservatives, is responsible for vetoing or passing this legislation before it reaches the Praetorate.
The Rihannsu senator is a hereditary position, passed only through the blood-line of a noble house. A senator may only loose his or her position due to loss of the house name (q.v.) or death. The heir of a senator is his or her parents' eldest sister's eldest living child. If there is no such person, the hru'Hfirh (Head of the House) may appoint a new senator. If the senator is under twelve years old, the hru'Hfirh shall appoint a regent to serve until the heir's twelfth birthday.
The number of senators a house may have is determined on a "point" system. The point system determines the total number of points by adding the "value" of each member of the house.
Member of house: 1 Point Member of Command rank: 2 Points Member of Flag rank: 3 Points Member of Praetorate: 1 Point Fvillha: 3 PointsThese points are cumulative. For example a Fvillha automatically wins five points. (3 points for Fvillha + 1 point for Praetorate + 1 for Member) These points are used to determine the house's status as follows:
0 - 10 points . . . Unofficial House . . 1 lower senate rep 11 - 29 points . . . Official House . . . 1 lower senate rep, 1 upper senate rep 30 - 49 points . . . Official House . . . 2 lower senate reps, 1 upper senate rep 50 - ?? points . . . Great House . . . . 3 lower senate reps, 1 upper senate rep.As you can see the lower senate is based on population, and the upper senate on districts. However, both the Praetorate and the upper senate are dependent on networking within their houses to introduce legislation.
Only once a bill has gone through the process can it become law. It should be noted that the senate has the ability to nullify Praetorate executive orders via this process.
Let us now look at the planetary government system. It is organized into several planetary governors, who oversee in turn continental/district proconsuls and who report to a single senior governor for their star system. For example, each of the cities on ch'Rihan has assigned to it a proconsul who enforces legislation and maintains security. Each of these proconsuls report to the planetary governor of ch'Rihan. The Planetary governor of ch'Rihan then reports to the regional governor of the Eisn System, who is responsible for ch'Rihan, ch'Havran, and the civilian sections of the spacedock in orbit there.
There are other agencies that are administered by the government and aid in maintaining order in the imperium. These are the Galae (Naval Fleet), the Sherau'Khfi (Diplomatic Corps.), The Rihannsu Hfeifv -Arrinhai (Rihannsu Economic Ministry), and the efw'Khelh (Intelligence Corps.)
