Government of Etruria
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The Government of Etruria, known in whole as the Imperium, is organized within a unitary single-party Senate led by an elective Imperator who holds absolute authority and serves for life. The Imperator is assisted by a three office Privy Council, called the Principate. It is a government defined by the rule of law and of convention rather than a formal constitution. Rule of law is established through the application of the body of law originating with the ancient Laurian Law, further determined by the Senate, and built upon through the centuries.
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Operation
Convention determines the daily operations of government and places limitations on its power. The Etrurian model of government is similar in many regards to parliamentary model. The Imperator and his Privy Council has the authority to legislate on any issue within the limits of convention. In practice, the Senate only reviews the decisions of the Imperator.
 Imperator Caius Augusti |
 Lord Martial Marcus Flavius (War Office) |
 Lord Secretary Lucius Papirius (Foreign Office) |
 Lord Secretary Gnaeus Caelius (Home Office) |
Senate
The Senate is a passive deliberative body of 100 members providing scrutiny of government policy. By convention, the governments legislative powers are attained through the authority of the Senate. Senators are nominated from within the Guardian Order and elected by a simple majority vote of the Guardians. Senators serve for life or until resignation. Senators can be striped of thier title if they fail to meet the standards of the Guardian Order. Certain minority representatives are given non-voting membership, such as the tribal leaders of the Dravi and Barbi populations. Any Guardian is permitted to address Senators and any citizen is permitted to attend sessions. The Gerousia are an honored elite of 30 eldest members. The Gerousia holds influence with the Principate and often act as a special advisory council to the Imperator. By tradition, Senators wear white togas and a senatorial ring and the members of the Gerousia wear a red stipe on the right shoulder.
The Senate was originally established to represent the interests of the nobility before the Etrurian king and is the oldest political entity in Etruria. Since the Senate's founding in 72 CE by the elective king Cai Artorius, the Senators have met at the Senate Amphitheater located on the southern outskirts of Alesia. There is archaeological evidence that the Senate's precursor, the Senex, met at natural outdoor amphitheater as early as the sixth century BCE. Cai Artorius and several of his successors oversaw improvements to the site now known formally as the Curia Magna. Today the site is used for ceremonial meetings of the Senate.
Routine sessions of the Senate are held in the Senate Chambers. Construction of a new Senate chamber was began when the Senate was elevated as the central organ of government following the Revolution of 1704. The massive complex is second only to the Regia in size and grandeur, standing in stark contrast to the simple Curia Magna. The structure is highly symbolic. Four bronze statues of the horse tamers are located at the two lower ends of the ramp leading to the entrance. They are a powerful symbol of the suppression of passion, an important precondition for successful legislative cooperation. Corresponding to the horse-tamers at the ramp, eight quadrigas made out of bronze decorate the roof on both ends. The quadriga is a symbol of victory. The attic of both chambers are richly decorated with symbolism. 76 marble statues and 66 reliefs form a decorative ensemble. 44 allegorical statues represent human qualities and branches of human activity, while 32 statues represent famous personalities from the antique era. The reliefs are allegorical as well and correspond to the area of public life that the famous personalities had an impact on. 50 smaller reliefs portray the lands, important cities and rivers of the empire. A massive fountain in front of the building features the Etrurian goddess of wisdom and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Alesia-Tarquinia area.
When one enters the Senate Chambers through the main entrance one passes the vestibule of the building, which contains Ionic pillars. The walls are decorated with Pavonazzo marble. The niches contain statues of Etrurian gods. Above the niches with the gods is a frieze running along the corridor and continuing in the atrium. The frieze is more than 100 meters long. It is an allegorical depiction of the blessing of Peace, the civic Virtues and Patriotism. Above the entrance that leads to the grand Hall of Pillars is a frieze with an allegorical depiction of Etruria on her throne. Representing the motto "Goods and Blood for thy country", warriors are swearing their loyalty and women are bringing offerings.
Located behind the entrance atrium is the grand Hall of Pillars (Säulenhalle) or peristyle. The hall is about 40 meters long and 23 meters broad. The 24 corinthian pillars are made out of Adnet marble, all of them monoliths weighing around 16 tons each. The pillars carry the skylight main ceiling in the middle and the coffered side ceilings. The floor is made out of polished marble, which rests on a concrete hull. The space below was designed to be used as a hypocaust for floor heating and air circulation system of the hall. Located at the transverse axis on either ends from the Hall of Pillars is the chamber of the Senate and the chamber of the Principate. Because of its representative character, the Hall of Pillars is presently used by the Imperator and the Senate for festive functions, as well as the traditional parliamentary reception.
Located at the back of the Hall of Pillars is the reception salon of the Imperator. The room is fitted with wall decorations in stucco and a large glass skylight. Hanging on the wall are portraits of the Imperators. Further behind the reception salon is the reception hall for the Senate. It is used today for committee meetings and hearings on financial, state budget, and audit court matters by the Senate.
Imperator
The Imperator is elected from within the Senate by his peers and serves as head of government and state during good behavior for life. The Imperator bears ultimate authority and responsibility over the Princepate as Princeps Senatus, the Ecclesia as Pontifex Patria, and the Imperium as Imperator.
Principate and Imperium
The Principate and Imperium, together form the government and are responsible for the formulation and execution of national policy. The office of the Imperator, including the high civil servants and special aides to the Imperator in particular, is known as the Imperium. The Principate serves as a privy council to the Imperator and its Lords are selected from within the Senate. The Principate has three independent offices.
The War Office is Etruria's unified military and is responsible for national defense. It is organized under principles of combined arms and the regimental system. It is commanded by the Imperator, through his Lord Martial M. Flavius Drusus. A staff of highly trained senior officers serve as the High Command and are responsible for formation military policy and coordinating its execution within the three military arms: the Legio (Army), Classis (Navy), and Aeolancea Imperi|Aeolancea (Air Force). The war office's traditionally defensive posture has grown offensive in recent years in response to growing regional threats . The fundamental permanent military organization is the fully independent legion (Army) or squadron (Navy/Air Force) under the authority of a Colonel or an Admiral. At times of war, military commanders are called upon to offer service to the Imperium. The unit is then placed under the direct and absolute command of the Command Staff. Commanders may choose not to support the High State, although this is very rare.
The Foreign Office is responsible external affairs of the state. The office formulates and advise the Imperator on foreign policy and works to execute his will primarily through diplomacy. The Diplomacy Service, which oversees traditional foreign affairs activities, and the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), which overseas clandestine activities, are led by the Lord Secretary of the Foreign Office L. Papirius Pulcher. It is the smallest office of government.
The Home Office, under direction of current Lord Secretary Cn. Caelius Aquila, is responsible for domestic affairs of the state. The office formulates and advises the Imperator on domestic policy and works to execute his will. The Home Office is considered the foundation of Etrurian society as it oversees the three centralized domestic State services: education, medicine, and law enforcement. Combined these services provide the basis for the Etrurian model of governance and stability. The Education Service is considered the most important and most powerful State services as it lays the framework of Etrurian society. From the age of seven, all Etrurians are evaluated and groomed by the Education Service for their place in society. The Public Health Service ensures national standards in health care as well as prevention of infectious disease. Three services operate in cooperation to deter, detect, and prosecute crime. The Security Service (SS) is responsible for intelligence and security within Etruria serving as both a national criminal investigative body and a domestic intelligence agency. The Metropolitan Police Service is first line law enforcement agency providing primarily preventative policing. The Prosecution Service is responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offenses.
Regional Authority
Three devolved Imperial Provinces are overseen by a Dux and assisted by the Comitia Tributa and the Comitia Centurata. Each province is further subdivided into democratic prefectures administered by a Prefect under the authority of the concillium. Varying judicial authority is held by all officers of the Imperium corresponding to the position held.
Trivium
The Trivium, meaning "third way'", includes several organizations unofficially sponsored by the Etrurian High State. The Ecclesia, the official state cult and perhaps the most well known Trivium, is under the personal authority of the Imperator although not formally a part of government. Trivium also includes the powerful national guilds and various professional, learned, service, and fraternal societies that are in some way under the unofficial authority of the Imperator. Lesser known Trivium include the Commissio, an Etrurian mercenary force, and the alleged Honorata Societá, the presumptive criminal organization including the heads of several prominent Etrurian tribes.
Ecclesia
The state cult supports national militarism and meritocracy through religious unity. The Ecclesia is presided over by the Collegium Pontificum with the Imperator, as Pontifex Patria, at its head. The Collegium Pontificum oversees the many religious rituals of the state and maintains the official state calendar. Furthermore, it provides religious advice to the Imperator. With the exception of the Pontifex Patria, only women are allowed to serve as religious leaders.
In theory and in social precedence, the Pontifina Sacroria was the highest ranking priestess in the Etrurian religion, in practice her influence is far less than that of the Pontifex Patria. As a position exempt from all civilian or military duties; she wields no civil or military influence. Because of this the priestess is considered above the influence of other government institutions.
