How the Montealban Government Works

Key Characteristics of the New State:

1. Primacy of the State - The Constitution recognizes individual freedoms and rights, yet these are subordinated to the interests of the harmony of the State;

2. Direct Rule - Enforced centralization of the disparate local governments and paramilitaries traditional to the nation under the hegemony of the central government;

3. Protection of the Community - Censorship may be exercised over all published media and is aimed to prevent the dissemination of ideas contrary to the welfare of the community and the core principles of the State;

4. Anti-partisanism – The National Government prohibits the formation of political parties and maintains no ideologism;

5. National Corporatism - Corporative, collective, intellectual or economic bodies which provide representation for their members in the affairs of the State and may be formed, with the approval of the State, by like-minded individuals which share in a profession or united communal role;

6. Economic Nationalism - Characterized by raising domestic production to decrease import reliance and increase exports profitability, with the aim of achieving eventual economic total self-sufficiency.
   

The Actors of the State
The Prince - The Prince of Montealba acts as the Head of State and shares the role of the Head of Government with the President of the Council of Ministers (PCM), with ultimate superiority in decision-making superseding that of the PCM where necessary. As Head of State, the prince represents the interests of the State both domestically and abroad and by law all decisions which impact the State fundamentally (i.e., laws, constitutional amendments, foreign treaties) must receive the consent of the Prince.

The Heir Apparent - The Prince, together with the National Government selects a designated Heir shortly after his inauguration that will succeed him in his duties after the death or incapacitation of the sitting Prince. The Heir Apparent can be replaced at the discretion of the Prince and the National Government, and must be replaced if they should die before the sitting Prince.

The Council of Ministers - The functional body of the government, which advises the prince directly and acts as the core of the legislative body. The Council of Ministers may comprise any number of ministers but must consist of at least 5 key members, as outlined below. Ministers are appointed by the Prince, but may petition for positions to both the Prince and the sitting Council.

The President of the Council of Ministers - The PCM shares the powers of Head of Government with the Prince, coordinating and directing the activities of all the Ministers. It is the duty of the PCM to administer the proceedings of the National Government and to present both the drafts of bills and finalized laws to the Popular Assembly for their review as well as to present the interests of the Popular Assembly to the National Government. The PCM may take on the responsibilities of the Head of State in the absence of Prince.

The Chairman of the Corporative Chamber - Receives a special position in the Council of Ministers as direct representative of the collective interests of the Corporative Chamber. This role empowers the Corporative Chamber to provide direct input to the affairs of the State and incentivizes the proliferation of corporations.

The Minister of Defence - The chief of the terrestrial armed forces, responsible for their organization and utilization, general budget matters and procurement of their equipment. Receives special privileges as direct commander-in-chief during times of war.

The Minister of the Admiralty - The chief of the naval armed forces, responsible for their organization and utilization, general budget matters and procurement of their equipment. Receives special privileges as direct maritime commander-in-chief during times of war.

The Minister General of Caning - Organizes the policing, police accountability and efficiency, public order, and criminal justice system of the state. Enforces the duties of citizens and protects the national community from anti-social and hooliganistic actors.

The National Government - Consists of the Council of Ministers and their respective staff, as well as any other appointed persons of merit and acts as the complete legislative body. The Government draws up, edits, and finalizes laws and treaties. The National Government must take equal consideration in representing the Popular Assembly and the Corporative Chamber in formalization of legislation.

The Popular Assembly - Understood best as an Athenian forum whose role is to be the broad voice of the people. It is the entrepot into political affairs of the State and is open to all citizens. The Assembly may act as a room for the general population to discuss and propose ideas that the sitting Government should consider, which the PCM is obliged to forward to the National Government. The Assembly is designed to give even newcomers to Montealba a place to express themselves and acts as a first step in government involvement. Participants of the Popular Assembly are considered "Deputies" as representatives of their community.

The Corporative Chamber - Represents the interests of collective groups. Similar in nature to the Popular Assembly but requires that those interested be socially organized and regulated into corporate, collective, intellectual or economic bodies. In the simplest form, these may be local or provincial governments, but they can comprise any social organization the State recognizes as a collective -- companies, clubs, parishes, etc. The size of a corporative entity reflects its influence and as the lowest government branch with real power the Chamber should encourage the organization of Montealbans into communities and groups, promoting social cohesion. For entry to the Corporative Chamber, a group must consist of more than two persons and must have a factbook expressing the nature of their group. (In respect for antipartisanism explicit political groups are banned from the chamber).