Konselora

From Almeopedia

Konselora [qon sɛ ˈlo ra] is the Verdurian word for 'council', deriving from Caď. konsir give advice— the word is related to konso 'cousin', implying that the original advisors were family members. (There is still a special feeling for cousins in Eretald: people close enough to trust, but not so close that they'll just make the same mistakes you will.)

In Caďinorian law the word specialized to refer to a ruler's council; but this institution has evolved in various ways. Quite a few states have a konselora of some sort; the most important are these.

Verduria

The Konselora Daluy of Verduria is the king's cabinet— essentially, the top level of the administration.

Legally the king may appoint anyone he wants to the Konselora, nor is there any requirement that a particular ministry be included. It was only practical, however, to include the heads of all the ministries; and as cooperation with the Esčambra became entrenched, most of these are appointed in collaboration with the prime minister.

During the reigns of the Vleteons, the cabinet has consisted of these officials:

Sanno Konselore Daluii / Prime Minister 

The head of the Government; advises the King and executes his wishes; responsible for the day to day administration of executive power. In the absence of the King, presides over the Council. Also responsible for running the royal household (though this is delegated to the Hozën Daluy, the Royal Steward) and for introducing government bills into the Esčambra.

Pere Esčambre / First in Parliament 

The speaker of the legislature. Elected by the members of the Esčambra; usually identical to the preceding.

Sanno i Kunaša / Lord of the Exchequer 

Director of the treasury, which collects taxes and disburses money to the various government functions under the oversight of the Esčambra.

Reďréë i Ruscurë / Foreign Minister 

Head of the Ambassadorial Service; largely responsible for international affairs, save war.

Alte Dalui Ovnelom / King's High Justice 

Administrator of the King's courts and prisons. Generally a retired judge of the High Court. The royal experts in Verdurian law also report to him.

Reďréë i Belgo / Minister of War 

Head of the Army (which includes the Verdurian navy). Normally filled by an army officer (and a noble).

Sanno Kalei / Lord of the Forum 

Head of the City Forum (Mažtan-Kal). Elected annually by the Forum.

Šrayom Mažtane / City Wizard 

Responsible for any magic needed by the state; also oversees wizards practicing within the kingdom.

Reďréë i Celdoni / Minister for Trade 

Regulates trade; collects customs; polices the guilds; registers corporations; grants royal charters and monopolies.

Reďréë i Hutorát / Minister of Agriculture 

Ensures the steady supply of food to the nation by buying up excess crops in good harvest years and distributing them in poor years, and likewise for livestock. Prosecutes the oppression of landholders by the gentry. Organizes poor relief. Administers the King's own estates.

Pere Ďitelom / First Engineer 

The Ministry of Roads (Reďreo i soî Ďitelî), headed by the First Engineer, is responsible for public roads, buildings, and parks, as well as the royal shipyards and armory.

Řivo i Verdúria / Mayor of Verduria city 

Head of the local (city) administration, which oversees local commerce, maintains roads, maintains public order, and undertakes public works (such as the the first sewer system).

Mašrom Denië / Master of Documents 

Keeper of the City and National Archives and the Crown Jewels; recorder of legal decrees; overseer of Verdurian universities and seminaries; liaison with the temples and churches. Organizes national ceremonies.

Šoh Célenorei / Duke of Célenor 

By the terms of the treaty by which the Duchy recognized the sovereignty of Verduria, the Duke of Célenor has a seat on the Council, though he does not always have any official function.

Before the usurpation of Utu the pagan Patriarch of Verdúria (Perař Verdúrë) sat on the council. Mëranac 1e attempted to revive this custom, but the Eleďî demanded representation for their own Patriarch, and the revival was abandoned.

The Palace Guard and the garrison of Arcaln report directly to the King, though this is sometimes delegated to the Prime Minister.

Ctésifon

The legislature of Ctésifon is the Konselora. This was a longstanding but informal institution of Caďinas; Bura formalized its membership and procedures, and gave it legislative powers, beginning in 2920. Bura, though aiming at restoring the empire, was conscious of his origins as just another noble; by sharing some power he aimed to give other nobles a stake in the central power.

Unlike the Verdurian Esčambra, the Ctésifoni Konselora did not have the right to choose a monarch; nonetheless Mëranac 1e, on occupying Ctésifon in 3304, acted as if it did, and accepted the legislature's somewhat grudging acceptance of Verdurian sovereignty the next year.

The Konselora remained an assemblage of nobles only till 3408, under Čipelric 2e, who created ten seats for the burghers of Žésifo, with a very limited franchise requiring a high annual income, supplementing the 60 seats then assigned to nobles. Ctésifon remains a very conservative state that considers Verdurian ideas such as direct elections to be dangerously radical.

The Ctésifoni administration is distinct from the legislature, though it's still normal for the kings to choose nobles (and thus Konselora members) as ministers. The chief minister of the government is the Perë reďréë or First Minister. Very often the king trusts no one but a member of the royal family with this position.