Seated Republic

Often referred to as a "Chair Government" or "Chair Republic," a Seated Republic is a form of government common among human settlements in Dendralis. Based on a similar governance model used by small independent settlements in the Olde World, the Seated Republic is a simplified form of representative democracy. Typically consisting of no more than five members, this system prioritizes strong trade practices at its core. These practices are upheld by guild leaders who hold seats within the government.

Structure

A Seated Republic is led by a democratically elected mayor, who serves as both the head of their settlement and the non-trade representative for their community. In the Fertile Valley, mayors also make up the Mayoral League, a council tasked with overseeing unity between farming settlements and managing relations with outside governments and organizations, such as the Greenwood and the Emerald Shores Alliance.
Beneath the mayor sit the "Chairs"—guild representatives for each of the settlement’s primary industries. These chairs are democratically elected by the members of their respective guilds. The number of chairs varies depending on the size and economic structure of the settlement. Larger communities in the Fertile Valley often feature three chairs: the Farmers' Chair (representing agriculture), the Masters' Chair (representing craftspeople), and the Layman’s Chair (representing non-guilded workers such as tavern owners and merchants). Together with the mayor, this configuration is colloquially referred to as a "Four-Chair Government," reflecting the total number of representatives.

Origins

The Seated Republic emerged from the unique history of the Fertile Valley, a region settled not by armies or monarchs but by laymen seeking opportunity. With no conquerors imposing a centralized system of governance, the early settlers operated cooperatively, managing their affairs as equals. It was only as the population grew that formal government structures became necessary to handle disputes and ensure fair trade practices.
Even today, the smallest thorps in the Fertile Valley operate as cooperative anarchies. In these tiny settlements, decisions are made communally, and all members are considered equal. Such thorps rely on informal agreements and mutual cooperation rather than formal governance, reflecting the egalitarian spirit from which the Seated Republic evolved.

Chair Responsibilities

The mayor focuses on broad, long-term planning and external relations, while the chairs address the more immediate needs of their industries and communities. Guild chairs are responsible for representing their constituents, both to the mayor and within their respective guilds. They advocate for the needs of their industries, ensuring favorable trade agreements and operating conditions.
Chairs also mediate disputes within their guilds, maintain price stability, and facilitate negotiations with other settlements. Though officially subordinate to mayors, chairs are often seen as more influential figures due to their direct involvement in daily affairs and their proximity to the community. This practical authority makes them the true power brokers in many Seated Republic settlements.

Elections

The sovereign nature of each settlement under a Seated Republic results in significant variation in election practices. Terms for both mayors and chairs can range from 2 to 10 years, depending on local tradition. Most elections are conducted during community meetings, where eligible members vote by roll call. In larger settlements, survey-style elections are more common, with literate scribes collecting votes to ensure fairness.
In cases where guild constituencies are small but require representation, chairs may be appointed rather than elected. This ensures every guild has a voice, though such appointments can occasionally lead to accusations of favoritism. Despite these occasional challenges, the flexibility of the Seated Republic’s election system allows it to adapt to the unique needs of each community.

Farmers' Chair

The Farmers' Chair is often the most complex seat in local governments to manage, as it is the only seat which must answer to multiple guilds. The greater farming guild, the Farmers of the Valley, comprises of four different guilds, including the Grain Growers of the Valley, the Valley Shepherds Society, the Valley Dairy Co-op, and the Verdant Farmers Collective. While most settelemtns only have one or two of these guilds represented, both Farmingdale and Greenbarrow have all four guilds within their range, making these two seats the most delicate to ballance in the Valley. As such, these two seats will often be held by politicians opposed to the other chairs in the region typical being held by seasoned farmers.

Masters' Chair

The Master's Chair handles a complex web of balancing the wants and desires of a wide variety of craftwork. Typically power struggles will arise around elections, causing a highly contested race. Successful incumbents can usually unify their body quite quickly in the interest of all after their election, while newly elected chairs can create a power imbalance early on in their tenure that will require rectifying if they wish to hold their seat in future elections.

Laymens' Chair

The Laymens' Chair centers primarily around the hospitality industry, and only exists in Farmingdale, Greenbarrow, SOmersong, and Shepherd's Hook. While the chairs often have to settle interpersonal issues between their constituents, those same constituents are still often unified in political ideals, making this position arguably the easiest of all chairs to hold in the Fertile Valley.

Type

Government, Leadership

Alternative Names

Chair Government
Chair Republic

Government System

Democracy, Representative

Economic System

Market economy