Althing

From The World of Gotha
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is a work in progress. Content is outdated by a century.

The Althing or Althingi (Old Aedelish: Alþingi) is the national legislature, literally the "all-thing" or general assembly, of Aedeland. The bicameral Althing may review any matter with legal immunity. It consists of an aristocratic deliberative parliament known as the Lögrétta and a democratic auditory assembly known as the Folkmōt.

Lögrétta

The Lögrétta is the deliberative organ of the government responsible for formulating legislation and is the aristocratic house of the Althing. It is considered a conservative and moderating force in Aedeland. Members of the Lögrétta are known as jarldomen, meaning "chief man," and are meant to represent the eldest and wisest members of Aedelish society. The number of jarldormen is set at one hundred and one appointed by the Fører.

This indirect election process provides a measure of stability by removing direct democracy. The eligibility requirements for jarldormen are the highest of any office in Aedeland. A jarldorman must be an elder and, as a result, must be a parent of a child who has reached the age of majority. Furthermore, he must be named "chief man" of his clan. This requirement is stringent, as only an öldermann (literally "the elder man," typically the eldest among a clan’s men) is made chief man. The requirement that legislators be fathers and chief men ensures that jarldormen have a vested interest in the consequences of their actions, helping ensure temperance and restraint in legislation.

Foreigners are prohibited from becoming a jarldorman. Procedures, including the selection of officers of the Lögrétta ,are determined by rules established through custom and tradition.

One of the most important officers is the lawspeaker, chosen at the start of each annual session to preside over the Althing and declaim the law. The Fører's principal officers are appointed from among the jarldormen by the Fører himself, according to tradition. By custom, the Fører appoints a Freyrherji (Lord Martial) to oversee the war office (the Styrkene), an Utenlandsk Sekretær (Foreign Secretary) to oversee foreign affairs, and a Hjem Sekretær (Home Secretary) to oversee domestic affairs. The opposition leader, known as the Freyrskygge (Shadow Lord), appoints his own officers to form the opposition council.

The Lögrétta has several powers enumerated by the constitution, including the power to raise revenue, establish weights and measures, grant patents, punish piracy, declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and call the militia into service. By law, the Lögrétta must produce an annually balanced budget.

Folkmōt

The Folkmōt, meaning "meeting of the people," is the auditory organ of the Aedelant government and serves as the democratic and populist house of the Althing. Members, known as nefndarmen meaning "named men", are popularly elected every year for a two-year term. Currently, there are three hundred and twenty members, each representing about five thousand individuals, as determined by the last census. A census for this purpose is to be taken every seven years in what is known as the release year (Frihetsåret).

The eligibility requirements for nefndarmen are less restrictive than for jarldormen. A nefndarman needs only to be of the age of majority and reside within the hundred he represents. The age of majority, sixteen, is also the age of license in Aedeland. Upon reaching the age of majority, all rights, privileges, and responsibilities are assumed.

The Folkmōt elects an Ákærir who presides over its meetings and maintains order. Committees are formed to perform investigations, with the size of the committee varying as needed. A majority leader and a minority leader of the two largest factions each determine half the committee members. If a committee investigation reveals wrongdoing, a nefndarmen may be appointed as Andstöðuþingurinn and confirmed by a simple majority of the Folkmōt to be empowered with the authority of the Folkmōt to further investigate and indict.

The Folkmōt has only two powers: to veto any legislation and impeach any government officer.

National Factions

Party Name Short Name Leader Foundation Date Position Ideology Folkmōt
Aedelmåte Traditionalist Wægn Kayesson 7459 Centre-right Right-wing populism, Traditionalism, Christian right, Conservatism, Libertarianism, Classical liberalism, Agrarianism, Anti-business, Anti-immigration, Anti-globalism 64
Andres Socialist Hrothgar Biarnarsson 7519 Left-wing Marxism, Socialism, Syndicalism, Trotskyism, Trade unionism, Pro-immigration, Pro-globalization 30
Arbeidskraft Labor Grímr Bǫrkkrsson 7492 Centre-left Left-wing populist, Trade unionism, Syndicalism, Anti-immigration, Anti-globalization 60
Forn-leið Conservative Vilhjálmr Ambrosius 7499 Right-wing Liberal conservatism, Conservatism, Anti-immigration, Anti-globalization 58
Liberale Liberal Hrodebert Hakonsson 7559 Centre-right Classical liberalism, Libertarianism, Pro-business, Civic nationalism, Minarchism 46
Nasjonalist Nationalist Ásgerðr Ásgerðarsson 7511 Far-right Right-wing populism, Ethnic nationalism, Isolationist, Anti-immigration, Anti-globalization 30
Natura Green Ásgerðr Ásgerðarsson 7422 Left-wing Collectivist Orkanist, Environmentalism, Eco-socialism 5
Videresend Progressive Svein Sveinsson 7512 Left-wing Progressivism, Radical centrism, Populism, Activism, Democratic socialism, Pro-immigration, Pro-globalization 27