Ordo Senatum
The bloated bureaucratic juggernaut of Citradex Terminus.
Long ago when the precursors still stood there was rapidly growing city. Disorder and chaos ruled supreme and the government was not strong enough to keep the peace. The cause, the founders deduced, was that too many uneducated voices of the commoners were allowed to participate in government. To rectify this they let only the established noble houses vote in the newly formed Ordo Senatum. They held the sole right to propose bills and taxes, vote in all things, and elect new officials and senators.
The Ordo Senatum is comprised of a number of seats that belong to a particular group, organization, company, or influential entity. Each seat is filled by an official appointed in any manner of choice by the owning organization. At its founding the senate had 287 seats that were given to each of the recognized noble houses of the city. Each house got anywhere from one to three seats. These were to be filled by a representative chosen by the recognized noble houses of the city. These seats are known as base offices or base seats since they lie closest to the floor of the spire and form the powerful foundation of power in the senate. Base offices are the only ones able to vote on the creation or destruction of new seats. The base seats must vote in favor of a motion to create a new seat for a party or destroy one. If the motion fails then it can not be attempted for another 10 years. In addition, base seats count for two votes and have the sole power to propose taxes or introduce a declaration of war (though the power is of no use any longer). When a new seat is granted it remains a seat so long as the organization remains to produce a representative. Once a seat has been active for 200 consecutive years it becomes a base office. However, it is common for seats nearing the 200 year mark to be terminated by the bases who fear they weaken their influence.
Every year on the first day of the first month the senate convenes to confirm the representatives of each seat. This is also the time where base seats and new seats are officially awarded and recognized. Beginning with base seats, and moving from the most senior seats to the newest, each seat presents its representative. Seats that fail to produce one are eliminated.
By the year 1287 BCM
Citradex Terminus had grown far beyond what the city's government could handle. The noble houses of the city convened on what to do about the current representative democracy's inability to keep order. They came to the conclusion that it was the uneducated commons who were to blame. In secret they conspired to form a new government where only those fit to rule could choose who did so. In agreement, each house levied their forces and they marched as one on the city hall. The hall fell in short order and its representatives were put to death as traitors of the city, starting
the War of Order. Shocked by this drastic action many of the commons organized a militia to combat the nobles. Brutal clashes went on for months throughout the city until the resistance was slowly snuffed out leaving the nobles in power.
The territory under the Ordo Senatum's control are the officially recognized borders of the Citradex Terminus. Though most of its fringes are uninhabitable to unmutated citizens and are not able to be patrolled or taxed (though any residents of the fringes are still officially required to pay taxes).
The Ordo Senatum has a judicial police force of enforcers, a multitude of bodyguards and security forces called the Senatum Custodes and the military—The Ordo Militarum.
Though at its founding great wondrous magic machines were widely available to most; today mostly simple coal or muscle operated machine remain.
Though the Ecclezia Sanctum is not technically the official state religion they have enough influence in the senate that they may as well be. The Faith holds a large number of seats in the senate and has a considerable amount of power over policy and legislature. They use this power to push laws limiting the rights of mutants, providing power to the church, and suppressing those who speak out against them.
The Ordo Senatum imposes tariffs on the transport of goods via the
underail, and limits the sale of most goods to officially registered marketplaces where officials tally goods that are brought in and excise a tax on vendors. The maintenance of the underail, construction of new roads, monitoring of trade, levying of commerce taxes, and responsibility of all public forms of transportation are delegated to
the municipality of transportation and trafficking.
The legislating building is the gargantuan
Forum Senatus. Other buildings include the
Water Purification Municipality's
Aquanexus, the
Garrison Primus Barracks, and many smaller courts.
Ordinis, vires, et stabilitatem.
Type
Geopolitical, City council
Alternative Names
The Senate
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Though the Electrum, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Copper denominations of coins are the official currency barters and trades will be accepted by most people.
Legislative Body
The Senate is the core governing body. It introduces and votes on laws and motions. It is the central power of the city. It is made up of 1,362 seats. The original 284 seats of the senate's founding were filled entirely by powerful nobles. However, there is no requirement that one be a noble to fill a seat. It usually ends up like this because the state recognized houses are the ones who vote in elections. Some of the seats are filled by powerful crime syndicates or other organizations because many nobles owe them their wealth. In addition, seats are often granted to the Ecclezia Sanctum, powerful merchants/companies, and subordinate organizations such as the municipality of transport and trafficking as a favor to gain allies and more influence.
Judicial Body
Most of the interpretation of the law is left to the
Ordo Inquisitionis which controls the courts of
Citradex Terminus. The Judges that make up its various courts are called
Inquisitors. Nearly all cases are heard in these courts. Cases of particular importance to the overall city will be claimed under jurisdiction by the senate itself where the case will proceed to be heard and a verdict determined and voted on by major seats.
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