Az Emberek Politics

To begin with, Az Emberek is a republic. That means, in brief, that its key form of top-level governance is by the consent of the people. In more specific terms, governance is provided by the Nagygyülés, a supreme legislative body comprised of 160 küldötts. The küldötts represent their respective családi in the Nagygyülés. The exact terms of office and manner of selection differ wildly and are based upon the customs and traditions of each családi. Each családi delegation has a senior küldött (the Elder) who may (and often does) speak for the entire delegation. By tradition, each Elder is allowed to speak, in turn, first on any matter before the Nagygyüles. In practice, this means that most matters are decided upon by the time the Elders are finished. As there are sixteen családi who have multiple küldötts, most of whom have multiple factions, the political machinations are such that it is a testament to the Az Emeberek ideal of inclusion that anything gets done.

In addition to their authority to create law, the Nagygyüles have the sole right to ratify treaties, declare war, alter taxes and spending, select a Törzsfonök and choose the next Helyettes Konzul.

The Nagygyülés dictates policy, but it is the duty of the Konzul and his assistant, the Helyettes Konzul, to administer the will of the people, which they do so through their Minisztérium. Both posts are held for one year, with the Konzul retiring to the post of bíró. The Helyettes Konzul then assumes the post of Konzul while the Nagygülés appoints a new Helyettes Konzul.

Where the Küldött argue about making new law and the Konzul acts to enforce current law, the Bírósag and its justices, the Bírós, uphold the past. The Bírósag is the only entity which can challenge the Nagygyüles, Konzul or even a Törzfonök. Comprised of former konzuls, now bírós, they dispense justice and ensure that the ancient laws and hoary traditions which have built the Republic are respected with due decorum.

Underlying all of these entities, there is the Polgári. Comprised of a host of tax collectors, accountants, functionaries, clarks, historians and other professionals the Polgári ensure the engine of government runs smoothly. The Polgári even have their own internal military, the Verás Kéz, who ensure the safety of the Konzul, bírós and küldötts as well as the stability of the government. Konzuls come and go, factions rise and fall, even the Nagygyüles may pass away…but the civil service ensures the continuity of the ages and the stability of the Republic.

At the last, we should mention the családi. In the beginning, there were two családi, the Vér and the Föld. At present, there are nineteen distinct családi, each listed above in order of admittance into the Republic. Upon admittance, each were permitted to keep their old governmental system for internal measures, but were required to provide certain things (Küldött, taxes, troops during war, labour during peace) to the central government. Indeed, the manner in which they provide such things is left up to each családi, as are any matters which do not specifically fall within the purview of the Polgári or Minisztérium.