The title of Speaker of the Council is given to the elected member of the Council of Governors who is the defacto leader. During each election period when the Council gathers in Ryma one of the first things they do is nominate and vote on a Speaker. This role is primarily honorific in nature. Being voted into this role gives you rule, and a bit of profit from, Ryma and allows you to have two votes during sessions. Within this role you can only hold it for your current term. You are not able to serve it twice in a row. It does not matter where you are within your current term you can be voted as Speaker. The way that any power or income from this being abused is avoided is that Whenver the current Speaker's term ends, whether they are serving another term or not, a new Speaker is voted based on the current Governors.
The only offical requirements for those that want this title is that they have not been the Speaker previous to this term. However within the culture of the Council of Governors there are unwritten rules it seems. One is that it must not be your first term as a Governor ever. There have been those that have tried but none of them have ever been voted as Speaker. Another is that last number of Speakers people can remember have all been a Governor of their province for at least a coupld of terms before this. Lastly it seems as though most people who are elected Speaker donate the money they recieve from Ryma directly to those in their province in some way. This has been donations to those in need, also in the form of building new infastructure, even using it to found new villages and cities.
The previous Speaker will say a number of phrases that relate to the Founders, and the dream of Zhen Gho being a free nation. They then will pass on the Rod of Ryma which has a Tsubasa head carved on the top with writing on the rod part. The writing is basically saying that the person who carries this will act with authority, benevolence, and decidedness.
The only added duty is to attend and be a part of management of Ryma. The city has it's own hired and streamlined team of management running the city. This is so there is no upheaval every time a new Governor is named Speaker. The idea is to bring the level of efficiency to their own Province.
The person who holds the title of Speaker gains 10% of the overall income from Ryma. It is said that this income is to be spent back to the Governor's home Province to better it and strive to be like Ryma in success and prosperity.
A Speaker can be removed from their position. There is usually a larger investigation going on as to whether they are fit to be a Governor as well. In these cases there is a simply vote to remove them as Speaker. From there a comprehensive investigation into their province and actions is conducted and finished with a trial.
The position was first made when the first meeting of the Council of Governors meet. After several days of debate and discussion it was clear that an arbiter was needed. It was then decided that a Speaker of the Council would be elected regularly to help guide the Council in decisions. No onen would be allowed to be in this position for more than one term as it could cause easy corruption and give them a way to leverage their power above the other Governors.
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