Treatise on the Commonwealth, 1968

[MRCHENN 4741]

 

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Treatise on the Commonwealth

 

15th of Horen’s Calling, 1968

 

When Paul Salvian reconquered Barrow’s crossing and endeavored to form his Commonwealth in the city of Mardon, he sought to create a government for the Commonwealth which would prevent a conflict like the Acrean rebellion from ever happening again. The device for this, in his mind, was a republic - where all forms of governance were solidified into one elected body: the Round Table. To this end, a unifying body of government would ensure that no Councillor of the Commonwealth could enforce any policy on The People without their democratic consent. 

 

I do not mean to re-iterate history that is already commonly known, but I preface this document with this reminder of Petra’s origin to describe how far this Commonwealth’s government has deviated from this vision.

 

As it stands, institutions of Petra are severely disconnected. The Round Table exists in name only, the Garmont Assembly is yet only an infant, and the Council which governs Petra can very well ignore these aforementioned bodies. We must strive for a unified Commonwealth, tied together by the strings of chivalry and liberty.

 

Peter-Nicholas Montalt

Elector of the Mardonlands

 

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I - The Government

 

The Commonwealth is ruled chiefly by the King or Queen of the Petra, and their government shall only be the Garmont Assembly. The Electors of the Assembly shall be voted into office by the citizens of the Commonwealth every four years, or at the discretion of the King or Queen of the Petra. An Elector must be a knight of the Commonwealth, or be nominated by a knight themselves. If Elected, a knight is barred from serving the Commonwealth in any military capacity, unless during war.

 

The King or Queen of the Petra may deny a nomination made by a knight, should they deem their moral character to be unfit for office.

 

After every election, Electors will nominate and vote for a Lord Chancellor, who will operate chief amongst them as the Head of State. They shall hold authority over the Order of the Petrine Laurel, represent the Commonwealth in foreign diplomacy, and execute the laws of the Commonwealth. Typically, the King or Queen of Petra will hold an audience with the elected Chancellor, and may recommend a different Elector as a candidate to the Assembly.

 

The Chancellor will appoint a Vice Chancellor, Treasurer, and a Knight-Paramount from the Electors of the Garmont Assembly. They may, at their discretion, resign this position to another Elector. They may also appoint further advisory positions.

 

The Chancellor is also held responsible to the law by the Garmont Assembly and Electors may find them impeached through a majority vote or sacked by the King or Queen of the Petra. They are also liable to the punishment of a crime, if applicable.

 

All Acts that affect the Commonwealth must pass in majority by the Garmont Assembly. An Act is typically an executive or legislative directive. Acts are not allowed to change nobility, the Order of the Petrine Laurel, or foreign diplomacy. 

 

II - Administration of Justice

 

The Knight-Paramount is responsible for administering the laws of the Commonwealth, and organizing trials when these laws are broken by both citizens and nobility. They may nominate knights of the Commonwealth to administer justice in their absence.

 

In the case that a knight breaks a law, the King or Queen of the Petra will supervise trial in place of the Knight Paramount. However, the sovereign will typically defer this responsibility back to the Lord Chancellor.

 

III - Nobility

 

Men or women who hold a title in the Commonwealth may be oathed as a knight, but are barred from being nominated to the Garmont Assembly. This limitation does not apply to their immediate family. 

 

[Tremerus 1188]

Sir Theoderic von Theonus picked up a copy of the missive and scanned through it "What a nice lesson on how things used to be." he mused to himself while folding the document and stashing it away. His gaze returned to dancing embers from the fireplace in Vallagne's square. 

[MCVDK 2830]

“As we intended things to be,” 

 

Lord Charles Temesch, 1st Procurator and one of the Founders of the Commonwealth, murmured sitting in his office in the Seven Skies.