04-30-2008, 02:03 AM
This is somethng i've been working on for a while. this is a book detailing the structure and history of the Anequina Council and how to raise issues to the council.
The Anequina Council
By Jo-Zhar, Scribe of the Anequina Council.
To outsiders, the Anequina council is an unusual form of government because it comprises of many different aspects from other lands as well as mixing in the eccentricities of Khajiiti culture. There are aspects of both a monarchy as well as democracy, and it is this unusual blend that creates such a flexible, yet robust form of government.
History
The Anequina Council dates back to the first era in the aftermath of the Thrassian plague. With the other tribes that inhabited the northern half of the province gone, Anequina was able to stretch out. When the tribe fractured into smaller groups and city-states, the elders gathered and decided a council should rule the scattered fragments in order to provide unity against the Pellitine tribes to the south. Legend has it they debated for three days before deciding on the structure of the council. They finally settled on Nine Speakers of the Coincil, one representative each for the four cities, the three tribes, a representative of the Mane and lastly the Clan Mother herself. This structure largely remains the same to this day, though additional members were appointed after the union with Pellitine and conquest by the Empire.
Structure
As we saw above the Anequina Council is comprised of Nine Speakers and a small number of representatives. In the Council chambers each member has an equal say, but ultimately the First Speaker makes the decisions. This was frowned upon when the representatives of the Emperor and the Elder Council were admitted to the chambers but after spending a week arguing their position, they backed down, and the First Speaker remains the sole decision maker.
Speakership is inherited down the maternal line, as decided by the elders in the first era. There is no other course for speakership, and those who are in line to become speakers are trained meticulously in the dynamics of Council rule. The order of Speakership, for example First or Second Speaker is determined by election. Such elections are held once every five years. First Speakership typically goes to the Clan Mother of Anequina, who usually remains impartial in the bickering between the other Speakers. This is not always the case, as Keirgo was First Speaker in his time, when he married Eshita of Pellitine, who then became the first Representative of Pellitine. Speakers are exclusively Khajiit.
The Representatives of the Council are various diplomats elected by their various governments to give their voice to the Council. Outside of the Council Chambers, they are treated like nobility, and often they are from noble bloodlines. The Representative can be any race, and indeed an Imperial and a High Elf represent the Emperor and Elder Council respectively.
Times of Council
The Council is usually held fortnightly on Morndas. In times of need the Council may be called at short notice. In order to raise an issue to the Council, one must seek out Speaker’s Aide. These are generally found on the various estates of residence of the Speakers. The Aide will then either relay the issue to the Speaker or present one to the Speaker themselves. Once the Speaker is made aware of an issue, The Speaker will raise the issue at the next Council. If the issue is one of great urgency, Council may be called sooner.
The Anequina Council
By Jo-Zhar, Scribe of the Anequina Council.
To outsiders, the Anequina council is an unusual form of government because it comprises of many different aspects from other lands as well as mixing in the eccentricities of Khajiiti culture. There are aspects of both a monarchy as well as democracy, and it is this unusual blend that creates such a flexible, yet robust form of government.
History
The Anequina Council dates back to the first era in the aftermath of the Thrassian plague. With the other tribes that inhabited the northern half of the province gone, Anequina was able to stretch out. When the tribe fractured into smaller groups and city-states, the elders gathered and decided a council should rule the scattered fragments in order to provide unity against the Pellitine tribes to the south. Legend has it they debated for three days before deciding on the structure of the council. They finally settled on Nine Speakers of the Coincil, one representative each for the four cities, the three tribes, a representative of the Mane and lastly the Clan Mother herself. This structure largely remains the same to this day, though additional members were appointed after the union with Pellitine and conquest by the Empire.
Structure
As we saw above the Anequina Council is comprised of Nine Speakers and a small number of representatives. In the Council chambers each member has an equal say, but ultimately the First Speaker makes the decisions. This was frowned upon when the representatives of the Emperor and the Elder Council were admitted to the chambers but after spending a week arguing their position, they backed down, and the First Speaker remains the sole decision maker.
Speakership is inherited down the maternal line, as decided by the elders in the first era. There is no other course for speakership, and those who are in line to become speakers are trained meticulously in the dynamics of Council rule. The order of Speakership, for example First or Second Speaker is determined by election. Such elections are held once every five years. First Speakership typically goes to the Clan Mother of Anequina, who usually remains impartial in the bickering between the other Speakers. This is not always the case, as Keirgo was First Speaker in his time, when he married Eshita of Pellitine, who then became the first Representative of Pellitine. Speakers are exclusively Khajiit.
The Representatives of the Council are various diplomats elected by their various governments to give their voice to the Council. Outside of the Council Chambers, they are treated like nobility, and often they are from noble bloodlines. The Representative can be any race, and indeed an Imperial and a High Elf represent the Emperor and Elder Council respectively.
Times of Council
The Council is usually held fortnightly on Morndas. In times of need the Council may be called at short notice. In order to raise an issue to the Council, one must seek out Speaker’s Aide. These are generally found on the various estates of residence of the Speakers. The Aide will then either relay the issue to the Speaker or present one to the Speaker themselves. Once the Speaker is made aware of an issue, The Speaker will raise the issue at the next Council. If the issue is one of great urgency, Council may be called sooner.