Althing

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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 Lögrette and a democratic auditory assembly known as the Fólkþing.

Lögrette

The Lögrette 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 Lögrette 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, selected every five years by staggered elections within each senior þing (known as a hérað) of each hundred, representing approximately 15,000 individuals.

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.

A strict single-term limit is imposed as a safeguard against abuses of power, ensuring that even the highest levels of government office remain free of tyranny. Additionally, foreigners are prohibited from becoming a jarldorman. Procedures, including the selection of officers of the Lögrette, 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 Lögrette 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 Lögrette must produce an annually balanced budget.

Fólkþing

The Fólkþing, 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, 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 Fólkþing 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 Fólkþing to be empowered with the authority of the Fólkþing to further investigate and indict.

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

National Factions

Party Name	Short Name	Leader	Foundation Date	Position	Ideology	Lögrette	Fólkþing
Aedelmåte	Traditionalist	Wægn Kayesson	7459	Centre-right	Right-wing populism, Traditionalism, Christian right, Conservatism, Libertarianism, Classical liberalism, Agrarianism, Anti-business, Anti-immigration, Anti-globalism	20	64
Andres	Socialist	Hrothgar Biarnarsson	7519	Left-wing	Marxism, Socialism, Syndicalism, Trotskyism, Trade unionism, Pro-immigration, Pro-globalization	0	30
Arbeidskraft	Labor	Grímr Bǫrkkrsson	7492	Centre-left	Left-wing populist, Trade unionism, Syndicalism, Anti-immigration, Anti-globalization	19	60
Forn-leið	Conservative	Vilhjálmr Ambrosius	7499	Right-wing	Liberal conservatism, Conservatism, Anti-immigration, Anti-globalization	29	58
Kommuúnisti Aedelandi	Communist	Bjǫrn Vigfusson	7522	Far-left	Communism	0	2
Liberale	Liberal	Hrodebert Hakonsson	7559	Centre-right	Classical liberalism, Libertarianism, Pro-business, Civic nationalism, Minarchism	22	46
Nasjonalist	Nationalist	Ásgerðr Ásgerðarsson	7511	Far-right	Right-wing populism, Ethnic nationalism, Isolationist, Anti-immigration, Anti-globalization	7	30
Natura	Green	Ásgerðr Ásgerðarsson	7422	Left-wing	Collectivist Orkanist, Environmentalism, Eco-socialism	0	3
Videresend	Progressive	Svein Sveinsson	7512	Left-wing	Progressivism, Radical centrism, Populism, Activism, Democratic socialism, Pro-immigration, Pro-globalization	4	27