Government
The Great Houses
Great Houses started as clans of family and marriage on what is now western Takasia, where the Myrorians originated before they conquered the Pelagian Empire. As Myrorian grew larger, more powerful, and richer, these small clans turned into large institutions under Roosdan Vyarden. However, though the term "Great House" was in use then, they still were not political forces behind the monarchy. As more monarchs affiliated with and were adopted into these Great Houses, they began to become de facto advisors to the throne, somewhat like political parties. It wasn't until Claudius II that these Great Houses were officially a branch of government, almost taking the part of the legislature in a three-branch republic.
Though the Great Houses' power over the monarch waxes and wanes, they continue to be "advisors" to the King, but are in reality viewpoints that the monarch often agrees with, and sometimes has to agree with to satisfy the Great Houses. The modern Great Houses - Quarrovth, Hanso, and Vrotrith - fiercly hate each other and sometimes start "House Wars". House Wars are events that take place when something occurs to anger one Great House against another - for example, when the former Crown Prince left Great House Quarrovth and was adopted into Great House Vrotrith. In these House Wars, semi-illegal businesses assassinate House nobles or leaders. These could be very loosely called "civil wars", but to do so isn't entirely correct. House Wars rarely solve problems or change Houses; each House is so large its nearly impossible for one to "wipe one out". In addition, civilians are very rarely killed, and in most House Wars, none are harmed at all.
The current Great Houses are identified by their colors - Quarrovth is maroon, Hanso gray, and Vrotrith red. For example, members of Quarrovth are sometimes called "maroons", even if the technical term is "Quarrovths" or "A Quarrovth". These official terms date back to the time when Houses were real families; even if members of Quarrovth are not part of the Quarrovth
family, they are still called "Quarrovths".
The Constitution of the Myrorian Empeureum
1.
The Unbreakable Decrees Codifying Myrorian Rights1.1. The following constitute the basic rights and liberties of all Myrorian citizens. These rights may not be abridged by any Edict, Writ, or Decree issued by a Great House, the Court, or the reigning Monarch.
1.2. The rights and liberties afforded to all Myrorian Citizens by the Unbreakable Decrees include:
1.2.1. The freedom to speak upon any subject, political, religious, or relating to the general Civil Society;
1.2.1.1. The freedom to transcribe these opinions onto paper and to distribute the resultant pamphlet to others;
1.2.1.2. The freedom to gather with others of like mind and peaceably express these opinions through mass action.
1.2.2. The freedom to practice any religion, and to found one’s own religion;
1.2.3. The right to purchase, keep, and bear in public firearms necessary for personal protection;
1.2.4. The right to privacy in one’s home and effects, to be abridged only by the issue from a Court of a warrant based upon probable cause;
1.2.5. The right to procedural due process in the Court system after being charged with a crime. Procedural due process consists of;
1.2.5.1. A notice that one has been charged;
1.2.5.2. Reasonable bond based on the charge;
1.2.5.3. A guaranteed hearing before a Judge and Jury;
1.2.5.4. Reasonable sentence based on the severity of the crime committed;
1.2.5.5. The right to avoid self-incrimination;
1.2.5.6. The right to avoid double jeopardy.
1.2.6. Rights and liberties based upon custom and upon general practice, that are not enumerated in these Decrees, and which may develop over time.
2.
The Powers of the Monarch and the Limitations Placed Upon these Powers2.1. The Monarch is the source of all law in the Myrorian Empire, and is sovereign in this sphere. The Monarch may take any course of action that is desired.
2.2. Monarchs create laws by issuing Decrees to the Myrorian Citizenry. These Decrees are binding upon all Citizens unless they conflict with earlier Court Writs or with Article 1 of this Constitution.
3.
The Great Houses3.1. A House is defined as a group of citizens that assemble in order to advocate to the Monarch a specific program of action.
3.2. Due to the tendency of factions to multiply and splinter, forming ever more extreme tendencies, this Constitution recognizes only three Great Houses at a time:
3.2.1. The Houses most numerous in membership are recognized as Great Houses.
3.3. Citizens, including the Monarch, retain the freedom to join any House under 1.2.1.2.
3.4. Houses may adopt any system they wish for internal government of members, for accepting new members, and for the issuing of Edicts.
3.5. An Edict is defined as a general rule of conduct for members of a House. Edicts are not binding upon the Monarch, should the Monarch be a member of a House, and should an Edict conflict with a preexisting Writ or Decree, the Edict is automatically declared void.
4.
The Court4.1. The Court consists of five Justices appointed by the Monarch.
4.2. The Court retains the power to issue:
4.2.1. Writs of Review, which declare Decrees void due to their conflict with Article 1;
4.2.2. Writs of Impeachment, which, given flagrant and continued breaking of Article 1 by the Monarch, place that Monarch on trial and give the Court the right to dismiss the Monarch;
4.2.3. Writs of Injunction, which limit the freedom of Houses to conduct themselves as they wish, if their conduct is judged detrimental to the public good. Writs of Injunction apply to all Houses, and may not single out a particular House.
4.3. The Court may only issue Writs if a Citizen appears before it with Standing. The Court may not issue Writs of its own accord, except in the case of a Writ of Impeachment.
5.
Religious Tests5.1. No religious test shall be made to determine a Citizen’s fitness for the office of Monarch, Justice, or any other position in the Myrorian government.
Actions declared unconstitutional by the High Court
Imperial Family of 1803 vs. Claudius Hanotepelus - High Court rules in favor of Claudius Hanotepelus. Eminent domain declared a violation of property rights, and made illegal.
Imperial Family of 1874 vs. Tamika - High Court rules in favor of Tamika [last name not specified]. Slavery declared a violation of absolute rights, and all slaves in Myroria are emancipated without compensation. In a follow up case in 1880, segregation based on race was declared a violation of the right for all men to be treated equally, and declared illegal.
IAEIO vs. Patrick Granius - High Court rules in favor of Patrick Granius - when injured on a job at a base that didn't technically exist in 1954, the High Court ruled that all IAEIO bases must be documented and told to exist publically, but that the IAEIO has a right to keep projects occuring at the base secret.
Budget for Myroria, 2009
Total GDP: 5,350,000,000,000 USD (5.350 trillion)
Commerce: 825,000,000,000, 15%.
Environment: 15,000,000,000, 3%.
Environmental laws, protecting environment: 0.
Keeping public areas clean, etc.: 7,500,000,000, 50%.
National parks, etc.: 7,500,000,000, 50%.
Defense: 1,100,000,000,000, 20%.
Education: 715,000,000,000, 13%.
Administration: 935,000,000,000, 17%.
Bureaucracy: 0
Judicial branch/High Court: 187,000,000,000, 20%.
Imperial Family salaries and other expenses: 748,000,000,000, 80%.
Law and Order/Prefecture: 1,485,000,000,000, 27%.
Government Waste: 275,000,000,000, 5%.
