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[Vivalas]

"Ah, welcome then Jasso. Now the flag is... well, it's suffice barring an alternative to it.

Now, legal wise I'm not the most experienced person, but the courts you refer to as the first call of justice would be district courts. The circuit court would have to be mobile in order to tend to the smaller settlements outside of the cities. Furthermore, the judges are to be appointed, not elected. I want to ensure that we've got competent personnel in as judges; if they want to be elected into government they can run for the senate. Furthermore, there should a high court beneath the supreme court, to act as a filter an allow for any crimes trialled at that level to have a means of appealing the decision. Additionally the court system must be an inquisitorial system; we don't need the average person thinking the court of law is an opponent rather than just trying to get to the bottom of things.

Finally, two things, one is that I am the supreme court, and thus the ultimate arbiter of law. Secondly, under no circumstances is legal precedence to have any formal status within the legal system, if it does crop up I might start setting a precedent for for any judge or minister advocating it to die a horrific death."

"Perhaps you should tell the senate about your plans to abolish legal precedence yourself then.

In any case, I can handle appointing judges directly if you prefer it that way. The state courts were intended to be the filter between circuit courts and the supreme courts, but you can serve as the supreme court if you really really want to show the people your unquestionable and totally unbiased justice.

However, courts under no circumstance should be mobile or is there any reason for them to do so, if the people want their issues settled in court they can travel to the cities themselves, as in every other nation in the world."

[Taricus]

"Didn't think I'd be rid of the senate so soon. Well that will be a pleasure to enact, the judges have no place in deciding legislature at all.

Furthermore, there will be a high court that is below the supreme court, that being me. This means that anything that would've gone to the supreme court goes to the high court and potentially appealed at the supreme court.

Having a non-mobile circuit will spell disaster though, most of the population is rural and forcing them to go to the cities for legal cases will have a deleterious effect on the economy. However the smaller townships are unlikely to have a significant enough legal load to warrant a courthouse, hence the mobile judges. We cannot expect the justice system to work if we can only enforce the law in few places."

[Demonic Spoon]

(( Question: do you guys want to keep the Senate and Government Discussion parts of the discussion phase separate, or let both happen at once? We could also let them happen at the same time until there's more senators, and then separate them; and just assume all the player senators are important enough to be at the government meeting. ))

((That works))

"We welcome you to your duties Minister Jasso"

Action 1: Finish the survey of the Forts
Action 2: Help the Ministry of the Economy's efforts.

[micelus]

"A flag before we have a functioning government? If we really need one it is best we stick to basics. Such as this one."

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"Blue to represent the wisdom and intelligence of our enlightened revlution. Red as a nod to the blood of martyrs past and future. A flower to signify the bloom of a new age, one sown by poet and scholar alike/"

((I am extremely unoriginal ))

[DontBanTheMan]

Turn 5
Start of the Year 639 of the Jakken Calendar. Taxes and upkeep are collected and paid this turn.

Spoiler: >Important Notices< (click to show/hide)

- Thousands are at risk of starving (see: Recent Events).
- City 3 AND Camillo’s Fort  is under a blockade.
- Senate elections and appointments must be held.
- Imperial Generals require payment for their units. The land and naval units altogether (excluding the Stormguard) are expecting seven wealth within the next six months.
- Information regarding many government agencies is missing.
- Information regarding the Federal Budget is missing.
- Perconari is currently unassigned.

Spoiler: Current Government (click to show/hide)

Dictator: Alavar Taisenel (Taricus)
Adviser: Carlos (Demonic Spoon)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Diplomacy, International Trade): Roberto Porras (NPC)
Ministry of Defence (Military): Lord Warr (TankKit)
Ministry of the Interior (Police, Corruption, Domestic Intelligence, Foreign Intelligence): Camila (micelus)
Ministry of Civil Service (Education, Healthcare, Law, Religion): Clemente Jasso (Vivalas)
Ministry of the Economy (Infrastructure, Agriculture, Domestic Trade, Industry, Banking, Unions): Albertus Miroslav (Zanzetkuken The Great)
Senate: Marcus Alexander and three-hundred thirty seven other prominent politicians, bureaucrats, generals, and businessmen. Elections and appointments required.

Spoiler: Government Assets (click to show/hide)

States:
State C: Alavar Taisenel. 2 Assets (City C, Province C).
State 2: Carlito Madeira (NPC). 2 Assets (Province 2, Province 4), 2 Subordinates (Mayor 2, Mayor 4).
State 3: Tacito Vargas (NPC). 2 Assets (Province 3, Province 6), 2 Subordinates (Mayor 3, Mayor 6).
State 4: Yannic Dupond (NPC). 1 Asset (Province 5), 1 Subordinate (Mayor 5).
Corneddo: Lord Mayor Germanus Martinus (NPC). Autonomous.
Perconari: Unassigned.

Units: 20 Land Units, 6 Naval Units [11 Imperial Units, 6 Stormguard Units, 3 Riverguard Units, 5 Frigate Units, 1 Flagship Unit].
Imperial Gen. Warr: 2 Imperial Units [currently in Belt] + 3 Imperial Units [currently in southwest] + 1 Riverguard Unit [currently in capital]
Imperial Gen. Narváez: 3 Imperial Units [currently in southeast]
Imperial Gen. Rosales: 3 Imperial Units [currently in west]
Imperial Gen. Moreno: 2 Riverguard Units [currently in the Belt]
Dictator Alavar Taisenel: 6 Stormguard Units [currently in capital]
Admiral Lucanus Pontius: 5 Frigate Units, 1 Flagship Unit.

Agencies:
The Peoples' Bureaucracy: Adviser Carlos. Expenses: 0.75 wealth (.25 Upkeep, .5 Wages).
The National Police: Ministry of the Interior. 2 Police Units [currently in cities, focused in capital].
Ministry of the Economy: Ministry of the Economy. Information unavailable.
Tax Collection System: Ministry of the Economy. Information unavailable.

Spoiler: Federal Budget (click to show/hide)

Current Wealth:  Any wealth the government currently has is unknown.
Predicted Income: Any income generated by the government is unknown.
Predicted Expenses: Any expenses the government has is unknown.

Spoiler: Maps Page (click to show/hide)

State Map (The Peoples' Bureaucracy)


Infrastructure Map (The Peoples' Bureaucracy)


Proposed Road System, Refined Map (Ministry of the Economy)

Spoiler: National Census (click to show/hide)

Last Updated: Turn 3. The following statistics have been generated with a believed accuracy of plus or minus twenty-five percent:

- POP of country: 98
- POP [Urban vs Rural]: 6 vs 92

- POP of Crevari: 1.7
- POP of City 2: 0.8
- POP of City 3: 1.2
- POP of City 4: 0.5
- POP of City 5: 1.4
- POP of City 6: 0.4

- POP of Province C: 19
- POP of Province 2: 27
- POP of Province 3: 13
- POP of Province 4: 11
- POP of Province 5: 18
- POP of Province 6: 4

- POP of State C: 20.7
- POP of State 2: 39.3
- POP of State 3: 18.6
- POP of State 4: 19.4

Spoiler: Diplomacy (click to show/hide)

Suderland Republics: Neutral. Positive relations with the Republic of Anhoven.
Lord Valerius' Isles: Negative. De facto part of the Suderland Republics.

Diplomatic relations have not been opened up with any other significant nations or entities.

Spoiler: National Constitution (click to show/hide)

Adopted on March 24, 638.

Section 1: The Sovereignty of State
1. Estrella is a unitary republic.
2. The constituent regions of Estrella, as well as its other territories, are the sovereign lands of its people and administered by the Estrellan State.
3. New territories may be admitted into the State as desired by the government through its head official, the Dictator [change the title as required].

Section 2: The Governance of the State

Article 1
1. The government of Estrella is composed of Executive, Legislative and Judiciary Branches.
2. The Executive is composed of the Dictator, their Cabinet, and their staff.
3. The Legislative is composed of the Senate and their staff.
4. The Judiciary consists of the judges and their staff.

Article 2
1. The Dictator is elected by the people of the State through its Senate. Each Senator is allowed to nominate a candidate for the Dictatorship and a candidate must receive 60% of the Senate's voting members to be elected. Candidates must have been employed in the State's service for a minimum of 10 years or in special circumstances, be approved for the position by the High Court as well as Senate. Should a Dictator be appointed under the latter circumstances, half of the Senate and High Court must immediately resign.
2. The Dictator is given total executive power in government and commands the highest rank in the State's military forces. This executive power is delegated to his Cabinet in the form of Ministries of which there is a variable number, depending on the needs of the State.
3. The Dictator may be impeached if 75% of the Senate approves this impeachment. Impeached dictators are forbidden from taking part in politics.
4. The Cabinet is appointed directly by the Dictator and the Senate may not transgress their right to do so. Cabinet members may be removed only by the Dictator or the Senate if 75% of all voting members agree to this. Cabinet members require no experience in government.

Article 3
1. The Senate is an advisory council to the Dictator and his Cabinet and is also in charge of legislative decisions. Each Senator is responsible for representing the people that have appointed and/or elected them.
2. The Senate is composed of 280 elected members and 62 appointed members. Additional seats may be created as required by the State.
3. The elected Senate seats are to be elected directly by the people. Senatorial elections are to take place every two years, with half of the electable senate being elected with the other half being elected in the next two years.
4. All Senatorial Seats will consist of a geographic area to be determined by the Dictator. All nominees for a Senatorial Seat must reside in the Seat's geographic bounds and have resided there for at least 5 consecutive years.
5. An elected senator must receive 51% of all votes in the Seat in which they ran to become a Senator.

Section 3: The Citizenry of the State

Article 1
1. A citizen is person who has professed loyalty to the Estrellan State, its laws and people. An Estrellan Citizen has the right to be protected by Estrellan laws and accept the responsibilities implied while on Estrellan soil.
2. All Estrellan Citizens are permitted the right to free speech, free worship and gainful enterprise.

Article 2
1. Enfranchised citizens are those who are permitted to vote for Senators.
2. All literate citizens over the age of 21 years are enfranchised citizens.

Section 4: Offences Against the State

Article 1
1. Treason is punishable by death.
2. Tax Evasion is treason.

Spoiler: Recent Events (click to show/hide)

- General Rodwitz is still avoiding arrest, under siege in the southwest.
- City 3 and Camillo’s Fort are being blockaded.
- A famine has swept across the north, and thousands are at risk of dying. Grain stores are dangerously low, and bread riots have broken out across the nation.
- The Mayors of Cities 2, 5, and 6 have mobilized political opposition to the federally run Tax Collection Service. They are demanding the exclusive rights to taxation within their cities.
- Rumours tell that Star Readers from the now-defunct Imperial Capital have read of a terrible end to the world. This has upset the citizenry across ex-Imperial territory.
- A new invention! The Campos Longrifle has been fabricated in our very own Royal Academy.
- Roberto Porras established diplomatic relations with the nation of Castagir, and they have made an offer: they will assist our fledgeling nation if we join them in war against the vile Suderland Republics. Castagir is sadly ruled by a monarch, but they DO possess a decent economy and powerful military.

GM Notes:
The Meeting Phase will end after several (roughly 3-5) days OR one day after the most recent post OR when the Dictator ends it. Any and all player senators are automagically invited to the Government Meetings, while the Senate Meeting is constant over the course of the turn and takes place in the background. Players may go before the Senate, but this should be performed as an action (as it takes more than one day/week/month to get much done in the Senate).

[Zanzetkuken The Great]

(Hey Taricus, fun fact.  A modern equivalent of that 8 wealth you spent on that aviation project would be the United States spending about 2.7 Trillion dollars on one thing.)

[Taricus]

((Perconari? Also we've more than made 8 wealth this turn in taxes Zan. I think you may be overstating it just a little ))

"Right, in hindsight that one part about tax evasion being treason in the constitution is going to get a very thorough workout in the coming months. Those landholders had best expect any higher power may show mercy on them, because I WILL not tolerate such a vile and treasonous act against the state." Alavar let his rage trail off for a few moments, letting him recompose himself before continuing

"That being said, where successful the tax agency has managed to do a particularly effective job, gaining enough money to more than effectively pay for the army for the year and then some, meaning the treasury has about 3 wealth left in it's coffers.

Technologically, I've met with the inventor of the Campos longrifle, and from what I've seen such a weapon could prove revolutionary given it's accuracy. It may have flaws but I'd hazard that those can be worked out in time, or adapted to. Along with basically funding the entirety of the flight research for at least a decade, if not more, and we'll certainly have a lead in both knowledge and the prestige involved in being the first to reach for the skies with fight and achieving it."

[Zanzetkuken The Great]

((Perconari? Also we've more than made 8 wealth this turn in taxes Zan. I think you may be overstating it just a little ))

(I'm looking at the economic report right now.  The percentage of our GDP 8 wealth signifies is the same as what percent 2.7 trillion dollars is to the US economy.)

(May not post for a bit.  Trying to get answers on a few things from Don'tBanTheMan about the Taxation Service.  I have many questions from what he sent me.)

[Demonic Spoon]

((@DontBantheMan, iirc tankkit managed to conquer some territory? Could we get that added to the map?))

"Dictator, ministers, I would like to recommend spending some of our wealth buying food for the starving citizens, and sending our new fleet to break the Blockade on one of our cities and forts, and stop our conquering ventures until we have quelled the open rebellion of one of our generals along our southwestern border, which is of course of the highest priority"

"That being said, where successful the tax agency has managed to do a particularly effective job, gaining enough money to more than effectively pay for the army for the year and then some, meaning the treasury has about 3 wealth left in it's coffers. "

"My dictator, we would like to request 1 Wealth, so we can increase the wages of the bureaucrats. We are currently paying them enough that they can barely avoid starving and no more, we will need to increase salaries soon or risk losing all of our most skilled workers."
((Upkeep costs before the rebellion and economic crash were around 3 wealth per year instead of the 0.75 I've slashed it to. I still have cash left for several more years if you need the money for something else but would like to begin raising salaries asap.))
"Attached is the report of our Fort survey"

The survey of all forts outside of the warzone in State 4 is completed. The forts are currently organized in blocks, with each block containing a number of minor and major forts.

Spoiler: Fort Survey (click to show/hide)

Block 1/The Belt:
Major Forts: 4. Mount Sapario [Class 4, Size 2, #1], Sala’s Fort [Class 1, Size 2, #2], The Bustillo [Class 3, Size 4, #3], Camillo’s Fort [Class 3, Size 1, #4].
Minor Forts: 12. Western Belt: 5 [west of the Bustillo], Eastern Belt: 7 [east of the Bustillo].

Block 2/The Southwest:
Due to fighting, this Block has not been surveyed. There are four minor and one major forts in this Block.

Block 3/The Near South:
Major Forts: N/A.
Minor Forts:: 2.

Block 4/The Capital:
Major Forts: 2. Barnsley Castle [Class 4, Size 2, #1]. Lybster Castle [Class 1, Size 4, #2].
Minor Forts:: 6 [one protecting each of the major forts, two guarding each of the forts protecting the major ones].

Spoiler: Fort Map (click to show/hide)

[Taricus]

"Take 1.5, that should shore up the loyalties of the bureaucrats."

[DontBanTheMan]

((@DontBantheMan, iirc tankkit managed to conquer some territory? Could we get that added to the map?))

(( That territory will have to be surveyed; he marched into it without bothering to map out his conquest. The difficulty of this is that the people in these conquered lands don't really consider you their rulers yet, and the cartographers won't really know where the conquest's borders start or end. Right now, it's simply: "a small chunk of land northwest of the Belt." No major cities or other landmarkers (such as mountains or rivers) were conquered, making it very annoying to map out. ))

[Zanzetkuken The Great]

Albertus Miroslav entered swearing up a minor storm just barely below his breath.  "My dictator, it is my displeasure to report a number of aspects of our taxation are doing horrifically.  We have managed to expand outwards with the money you have provided, but there is a major problem.  We've done our absolute best, and managed to increase tax payers outside the capital state sixfold, but seventy percent in those states aren't paying. We're pretty certain if we had any less money put into this, we would only have gone from the prior five to maybe twelve to fifteen percent.  For some hard numbers, the tax income to only increased by <1.2 wealth> due to only forty percent of the nation paying!  Combining the income from the Ministry of the Economy owned properties with the taxes, we only have <3.1 wealth> coming in per year.  The only parts of the budget I know of, the Ministry of the Economy and the Taxation Service need a total of <.5 wealth> to stay running in their current conditions, barebones in the case of the former and built up to bring in a bunch of taxes if people were paying in the case of the latter.  And all of these considerations are before the cities are getting uppity about the tax service!"

The Minister slumped in his chair.  "We cannot afford any wars, like the one we already seem to be in with the West Administration!  I'm certain it is them blockading us, just look at where the locations are!  And we can't blame it on their aggression, since it's undoubtedly retaliation for the territory Lord Warr conquered awhile back!  Have we even sent any diplomats out to check!?"

Minister Miroslav took a few deep breaths and continued, far calmer, "And our situation wasn't bad enough, here's the one report we had been able to conduct as alongside the setting up of the Taxation Service.  A report on our economy."

This report estimates the amount of wealth generated by each State, with a short descriptor about its economic importance to the nation as a whole. Current accuracy of wealth generation is approximately plus or minus 26 percent.

State C: 14 wealth. 20.7 POP. Vital.
State 2: 17 wealth. 39.3 POP. Essential.
State 3: 8 wealth. 18.6 POP. Unimportant.
State 4: 11 wealth. 19.4 POP. Important.

"At current taxation rates of ten percent, even if everyone was paying taxes, the most <wealth> we could get from that is <5.0>, which would make our current total maximum being <5.9 wealth> of income.  At least, that is the level I am aware of.  If any other department is making money, I'd like to hear of it.  The Ministry is going to be one hundred percent dedicated to sorting out exactly what the budget is, but that will take time, and we need everything we can know of now."

[Taricus]

"We've more important issues in waging war, not least having to deal with a traitorous general ensuring that our manpower is tied up unable to move, much less being able to afford the army. Reducing the army is not an option thus the only logical option is to raise the tax rate. Increase it to 20%, and the stormguard will be assigned to assist and enforce the collections. The cities will be dealt with, first with words, then with force. Rest assured it will be dealt with, and it will be done so in a permanent fashion.

However, there is one thing about the current taxation system that could use tweaking; the current taxes are on land and property, giving us only a small taxpayer base to work with. See if you can't rectify this into ensuring our tax base is larger after all this is sorted."

[DontBanTheMan]

A government bureaucrat realizes there's a mistake in the forms, and causes a stir among the clerks in the room. It comes to your attention that taking the traitorous general into account, the Imperial Generals and Admiral only require about seven wealth. This is still a good deal, but significantly less than what it would've been.

[Zanzetkuken The Great]

"We've more important issues in waging war, not least having to deal with a traitorous general ensuring that our manpower is tied up unable to move, much less being able to afford the army. Reducing the army is not an option thus the only logical option is to raise the tax rate. Increase it to 20%, and the stormguard will be assigned to assist and enforce the collections. The cities will be dealt with, first with words, then with force. Rest assured it will be dealt with, and it will be done so in a permanent fashion.

However, there is one thing about the current taxation system that could use tweaking; the current taxes are on land and property, giving us only a small taxpayer base to work with. See if you can't rectify this into ensuring our tax base is larger after all this is sorted."

"The taxation rate shall be increased.  As for new taxes...there does exist potential for the creation of an income tax, though with the current tying up of the military and the fact we may be under invasion by the West Administration, implementing that does have the chance of a populist uprising.  Especially if done immediately after raising the old tax rate.  Is the Stormguard aided collection going to occur now to go after those that didn't pay, or wait to the next collection?  I will need to notify the Taxation Service as to which they would need to prepare for."