Jovian Senate

Written by skairunner

Although there are many senates in the Sol System, the Jovian Senate is the largest, oldest, and arguably most powerful assembly that still exists. It claims domain not only over all of Jupiter but also the entire Jovian system and its myriad moons, stations, and peoples. The Senate's members are all Jovians, but not all Jovians are allowed to claim membership in the Senate and, in practice, only the rich and wealthy Jovians have real political power. Each senator represents a specific region of Jupiter and is elected depending on the region's rules.

Membership

In the Jovian political system, only patricians can vote for and become senators. When a Keystone is born to a family, the head of the family as well as their eldest son are elevated to patrician status. This patrician status is also bestowed upon male descendants of a patricians. This means that the number of patricians has increased over the long history of the Senate.
Each region elects its own senator. Historically, one region corresponds to a single city and its surroundings, but there are plenty of exceptions. Senators serve six year terms with no term limits, and many of the most powerful and respected senators are also the most experienced.

Organization

The Senate is a single voting chamber, but it also has many sub-assemblies that conduct research and discussion before bringing conclusions to the larger body for ratification. The Senate also has exclusive power over policy and legislation that affects Jupiter, including diplomacy, economics, management of the courts, and establishment of ministries and appointment of ministers to delegate daily affairs.

Orbital Guard

Perhaps one of the best known ministries of Jupiter, the Orbital Guard is tasked with protecting the orbit of Jupiter and her moons. This includes guarding against pirates, providing assistance to stricken vessels, and impounding craft that refuse to follow the orders of the Guard or the Jupiter Civil Spaceflight Authority. To these ends, the Orbital Guard operates a fleet of carriers, fast cutters, support craft and space superiority fighters.

History

In the ancient past, Jupiter was a planet of city-states, many of which formed alliances with their neighbors. The vast tracts of inhospitable wilderness and megafauna made long-ranging contact difficult, and unlike many other planets and moons, the age of the city-state did not end even into the more modern era.
Advances in communication and transport technology allowed city-states to forge more meaningful bonds, and larger cultural and economic unions that would serve as the progenitors of the Jovian Senate emerged, culminating in the Treaty of Labyrinthe that formalized the peaceful unification of Jupiter. Although the structure of the Senate has not changed significantly, the degree of control it has over its member regions and the tightness of their economic bonds has increased over time.

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♃ Jupiter
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Location

Jupiter

Related Ranks & Titles

• Patrician