Government of the Bai Empire

Government of Bai Empire
Semi-constitutional parliamentary monarchy
Capital	Xiongjing
Head of state
• Emperor	Fengyang Emperor
• Zongli Dachen (Chancellor)	Li Shenkang
Legislature	Imperial Congress
• Upper house	Gaojiyuan
• Lower house	Yihuiting
Judiciary	Imperial Supreme Court
Censorate	Imperial Censure Commission
Examination Yuan	Imperial Civil Service Commission
Major political parties
XGH
International organizations
AN

The Government of the Bai Empire is a semi-constitutional parliamentary democracy that consists of the monarch and the five branches of government, modelled on the political philosophy of Bai democracy set out by Prince Hu Fengyao and Ying Masun. Historically, Bai was under an absolute monarchy prior to the Middle Bai Dynasty, with de facto separate branches of the Censorate and Examination for government officials. The current system introduced the legislature and the judiciary.

The current government was founded on the 1962 Fengyang Constitution of the Bai Empire. Unlike most nations, the government is divided into five branches: the Executive Yuan (cabinet and monarch), the Legislative Yuan (parliament), the Judicial Yuan, the Censure Yuan (audit agency), and the Examination Yuan (civil service examination agency).

In practice, the system resembles a semi-constitutional system with a uniquely strong monarchy, as the Emperor may dismiss the Chancellor, the head of government, without the consent of the legislature. The Emperor, however, shares limitations found in other constitution systems, including the lack of a strong veto and no direct control of most administrative policy.

History

Snapshot: Chenghong Emperor 成洪帝
Birth: 1752, Bai Empire	Death: 1819
Other names: Hu Fengyao 胡风耀
Huangdi 皇帝
Emperor Chenghong, personal name Hu Fengyao and also known colloquially as Prince Hu, was a Bai monarch who founded the Middle Bai Dynasty. Reigning as the first Emperor of Middle Bai from 1798 to 1819, he was the first Bai Emperor to institute and implement a democratic constitutional government. Due to his legacy in restoring Bai's status as a regional power and establishing a democratic system, he remained one of the most widely-revered figures in Bai history. Born in 1752, he was the nephew of the last reigning Lin Emperor Rentong. His exile overseas, particularly in Mauretia and the Federal States, led to him embracing democratic ideals and establishing his political philosophy of Bai Democracy (Bairen Minzhu). In the 1770s, rallying with overseas Bai intellectuals, he emerged as the leading figure calling for the overthrowing of the Lin Dynasty and the establishment of a democratic constitutional monarchy. Returning to Bai in 1780, he was immediately placed under house arrest by his cousin, who saw him as a contender to the throne. Prince Hu ascended the throne as the Chenghong Emperor following the Huifu Restoration in 1798. As Emperor, he enacted the Chenghong Constitution which established the constitutional government still existing today. Under him, Bai grew more independent of its Ulethan overlords, transforming into a regional power and managing to renegotiate trade treaties with Ulethan powers. The Empire underwent rapid modernisation and reformation as Prince Hu championed respect for civil rights and vibrant economic growth. Hu eventually died of gallbladder cancer in 1819.

Snapshot: Yu Zeming 于泽冥
Birth: 31 October 1901, Huoyuan, Bai Empire	Death: 4 June 1989
Yu Zeming (Baiyu: 于泽冥; 31 October 1901 – 4 June 1989) was a Bai prince, revolutionary and military leader who ruled Bai as its Crown Regent from 1962 to 1989. Having reunified Bai through the Eastern Expedition and restored the monarchy, he continued to preside over Bai's redevelopment and oversaw its transformation into a developed country and regional power in Northern Archanta. His rule was commonly known as the Regency Era, which has been criticised as authoritarian, with mass persecution of political critics, purging of other warlords and imposition of martial law over certain areas of the country. Born in Huoyuan, Neilu Province, Yu was initially a member of his father's Bai Fascist Solidatory Party (BFSP). Following political differences with his father, he and his wife Chang Meisheng defected from the regime and remained in Izaland for the remainder of the fascist era. Returning to Bai in the 1950s, he established a new government and organised a coalition of forces (including warlords of Fascist remnants) known as the New Alliance for the Reunification of the Bai People. As commander-in-chief, he led the Eastern Expedition, defeated the various factions and reunified Bai in 1962. Through a referendum, he restored the Bai monarchy but installed his son as the de jure head of state while he continued to rule as the country's de facto leader. Under his tenure as Crown Regent, he began his Weixin Programme to reconstruct and re-develop Bai through restoring and modernising the national road and rail systems and establishing new economic zones for trade with the outside world. The re-establishment of ties with foreign powers and foreign-direct investments of the 60s and 70s led to the recovery of the Empire's economy, which became industrialized and technology-oriented. In the 80s, he began to delegate more authority to his son, and successfully bided and hosted the Xiongjing Pax Nova Games in 1988. Shortly after, on 4 June 1989, he died of a fatal stroke and was given a royal funeral. He was buried in a masoleum∈⊾ on the hill along with the other former Middle Bai Emperors.

Organisational structure

The Emperor

Snapshot: Fengyang Emperor 丰阳帝
Birth: 5 July 1941, Saindaul, Izaland
Other names: Yu Jianshi 于坚石
Huangdi 皇帝
Emperor Fengyang (Baiyu: 丰阳帝), personal name Yu Jianshi (Baiyu: 于坚石), is the reigning monarch of the Bai Empire. While he ascended the throne in 1962, he only assumed its executive powers in 1989. His father, Yu Zeming, ruled on his behalf as Crown Regent during the Regent Era. He is the only son of Princess Chang Meisheng and the grandson of the last Middle Bai Emperor Yongren. Born in 1941 during the War of Fellow Brothers, he was raised and educated in Izaland when his father defected from the Fascist regime. Through arrangements for Bai's political future, Yu was made Emperor of Bai, though his executive powers were discharged to his father. In the early years of his reign, he returned to Izaland to complete his studies and married Izaki Mahkaui Tyen Hoina, and only returned to Bai in 1971. During the 70s and 80s, he slowly assumed administrative and ceremonial duties, in preparation to take over his father as leader.

The head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the Emperor, who wields significant executive and legislative power. Currently, the Fengyang Emperor is the Emperor of the country. The Emperor has the power to appoint the Chancellor (Zongli Dachen), members of the Censure Yuan, members of the Gaojiyuan, provincial governors and Dao viceroys. He also has the power to nominate judges for the Supreme Court, which requires the approval of the Censure Yuan. The Emperor is able to veto laws, issue edicts and royal pardons, dissolve the Yihuiting, change certain aspects of the constitution, declare war or impose martial law. However, edicts issued, amendments to the constitution or the implementation martial law are only effective for up to three months, and generally require the approval of the Yihuiting or the Gaojiyuan to be extended or made permanent. The Emperor cannot amend the fundamental principles of the constitution, as expressed in the articles guaranteeing human dignity, the separation of powers, the federal structure, and the rule of law.

Legislature

The Empire's legislative organ is the Imperial Congress. It is a bicaramel parliament consisting of the Renmin Yihuiting (People's Senate) and the Gaojiyuan (High Council). Members of the Yihuiting are elected by popular vote through elections, usually held every five years. Yihuiting members could also be recalled and a by-election would be held to replace the removed member. Members of the Gaoyuanhui are elected by the provincial legislatures and/or appointed by the Emperor, with the recommendation of the Chancellor. Voting is mandatory for eligible adults over 18 years of age, with a secret ballot for all elected offices.

The head of government is the Chancellor, who is also the leader of the Yihuiting. Appointed by the Emperor, he must have the support of a majority of the Yihuiting. Working directly with the monarch, he commands the legislative process and has powers that include dictating the agenda of the Gaojiyuan and selecting a cabinet. The cabinet members convene with the Chancellor to discuss policy, craft agenda and set a course for the government. Like other members of the Yihuiting, he could be dismissed by the Emperor or impeached by the Censure Yuan.

Judiciary

The Judicial Yuan is the highest judicial organ. It interprets the constitution and other laws and decrees, judges administrative suits, and disciplines public functionaries. The president and vice-president of the Judicial Yuan and additional thirteen justices form the Council of Grand Justices. They are nominated by the Emperor, with the consent of the Censure Yuan. The judges can be removed by the Censure Yuan. The highest court, the Supreme Court, consists of a number of civil and criminal divisions, each of which is formed by a presiding judge and four associate judges, all appointed for life. In 1993, a separate constitutional court was established to resolve constitutional disputes. There is no trial by jury but the right to a fair public trial is protected by law and respected in practice; many cases are presided over by multiple judges.

Censorate

The Censure Yuan is the auditing agency (censorate) for the Bai Empire that monitors, regulates and disciplines government officials and their activities. The current Censure Yuan is based on the censorate, a separate supervisory branch in previous dynasties. Like the previous censorates, it has the powers to impeach government officials, including the Chancellor, following which the cases would be forwarded to the Judicial Yuan for adjudication. Members of the Censure Yuan are nominated by the Gaojiyuan and appointed by the Emperor. In addition, the Censure also audits the national budget.

Civil service commission

The Examination Yuan is in charge of validating the qualification of civil servants. A revised model of the old imperial examination system used in previous dynasties, its activities have recently been expanded to cover the national education system. The members of the Examination are nominated by the Censure Yuan and appointed by the Emperor.

Government institutions

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