Council of the Freehold
The Council of the Freehold is a governing and advisory assembly in Valyria. It is one of the most enduring institutions in Valyria, being established in the first days of the city of Valyria.
During the early days of the Freehold, most of the time the Council was little more than an advisory council to the Archons, but it has also elected Valyrian Emperors.
During the early years, the council was politically weak, while the various executive magistrates (Dragonlords Head of Family) were quite powerful. Since the transition from advisory to constitutional rule was most likely gradual, it took several generations before the council was able to assert itself over the executive magistrates. By 4000AD, the council had reached the apex of its republican power.
When the Freehold began, the council functioned as an advisory council. It consisted of 300–500 consuls who served for life. Only nobles were members in the early period, but all landowners were also admitted before long, although they were denied the senior consuls for a longer period. Consuls are the only ones entitled to wear a white toga, and a Valyrian steel ring.
The Council of the Freehold passed decrees called consulta valyria, which in form constituted "advice" from the council to an Archon. While these decrees did not hold legal force, they usually were obeyed in practice.
If a consulta valyria conflicted with a law that was passed, the law overrode the consulta valyria because the consulta valyria had its authority based on precedent and not in law. A consulta valyria, however, could serve to interpret a law.
Through these decrees, the councils directed the Archons in their prosecution of military conflicts. The council also had an enormous degree of power over the civil governance in Valyria. This was especially the case with regard to its management of Freehold finances, as only it could authorise the disbursal of public funds from the treasury. As the Freehold grew, the council also supervised the administration of the outposts, which were governed by lesser archons.
Since the 3rd century AD the council also played a pivotal role in cases of emergency. It could call for the appointment of an Emperor. However, after 602 AD, the office of Emperor fell out of use (and was revived only two more times) and was replaced with the consulta valyria ultimate ("ultimate decree of the council"), a council decree that authorised the consuls to employ any means necessary to solve the crisis.
Meetings usually began at dawn, and an Archon who wished to summon the council had to issue a compulsory order. The council meetings were public and directed by a presiding Archon (the one who called the meeting). While in session, the council had the power to act on its own, and even against the will of the presiding Archon if it wished. The presiding Archon began each meeting with a speech, then referred an issue to the consuls, who would discuss it in order of seniority.
Consuls had several other ways in which they could influence (or frustrate) a presiding Archon. For example, every consul was permitted to speak before a vote could be held, and since all meetings had to end by nightfall, a dedicated group or even a single consuls could talk a proposal to death (a filibuster). When it was time to call a vote, the presiding Archon could bring up whatever proposals he wished, and every vote was between a proposal and its negative.
The Archons can make decisions but they have to be placed before the council for a vote. The council could veto any of the Archon's decisions at any point before a motion passed. In order for a proposal to be vetoed, the following criteria had to be met. Either six of the consuls agreed and applied the veto, or two of the three Archons agreed and applied the veto. It should be noted that the use of the veto by consuls was rare as consequences outside the chambers usually followed. A much safer way was to delay the vote or defeat the proposal through gaining support and backing. If there was no veto, and the matter was of minor importance, it could be put to either a voice vote or a show of hands. If there was no veto and no obvious majority, and the matter was of a significant nature, there was usually a physical division of the house, with consuls voting by taking a place on either side of the chamber.
Council membership was controlled by the censors. By 2000 AD, familial ownership of property worth at least one hundred thousand gold pieces was required for membership. Each eligible family had to provide two consuls and only they could speak during assembly. The ethical requirements of consuls were significant. In contrast to other nobles, consuls could not engage in banking or any form of public contract. They could not own a ship that was large enough to participate in foreign commerce, they could not leave the Valyrian peninsula without permission from the rest of the council and they were not paid a salary. The exception to this was Archons and Mages.
The three presiding Archons had to be of a noble family and were voted on once a year. There was no limit to how long an Archon could remain in the seat. It was not hereditary and upon the death of an Archon an exceptional vote was held to replace them for the remainder of their term in office.
The Arch Mage, whilst not an Archon, was always consulted and his voice held great sway over the council and the Archons. The Senior Blood Mage and Senior Fire Mage also held seats in the council but Mages were excused from the colours and trappings of office.
The Freehold constitution can be divided into three main branches:
The Nobility, composed of the powerful families, which served as the supreme repository of political power and had the authority to replace consuls, administer justice, and declare war or peace;
The Council, which advises the Archons, acts primarily not on legal authority per se, but rather with its influence, and its power of vote and veto.
The Archons, elected by the council to oversee the running of the council, exercising merchant, military, and judicial powers, along with the right to preside over and call upon the assemblies.
A complex set of checks and balances developed amongst these three branches. For example, the nobility theoretically held all power, but were called and governed by the council, who, controlling discussion, exercised dominating influence over them. Other consuls could also veto proceedings before the assemblies, though this was rare. Similarly, to check the power of the Archons, two Archons could veto one of their colleagues and the consuls who could intercede and veto the actions of an Archon if enough agreed.
Current Archons
- Ikarys Aergyreon
- Taeron Valcoran
- [Ruven Vibius ]
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Controlled Territories
Political Tolerance ScaleOpenly Hostile
- 100: Actively at War
- 90: Strong Hostility
- 80: Tense Relations
- 70: Cold Interaction
- 60: Tense Relations
Aggressive
- 50: Distrustful
- 40: Limited Contract
- 30: Disagreement
- 20: Uneasy Coexistence
- 10: Minor Discomfort
Neutral
- 0: Neutral
- 10: Cordial
- 20: Tolerant
- 30: Indifferent
- 40: Accepting
Friendly
- 50: Friendly
- 60: Cooperative
- 70: Supportive
- 80: Allied Interests
- 90: Strong Cooperation
Allies
100: Declared Allies
Comments