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Old 10-21-2018, 10:21 PM   #491
David Johnston2
 
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Default Re: Exotic Governmental/Legal Systems

A unicameral legislature, in which a percentage of the seats are reserved for the hereditary nobles and state church officials.
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Old 10-22-2018, 02:29 AM   #492
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Default Re: Exotic Governmental/Legal Systems

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A unicameral legislature, in which a percentage of the seats are reserved for the hereditary nobles and state church officials.
I made something like that for the steampunk setting thread:
Spoiler:  
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Old 10-22-2018, 05:56 AM   #493
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A unicameral legislature, in which a percentage of the seats are reserved for the hereditary nobles and state church officials.
<Squints>
Like the Roman Senate?
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Old 10-22-2018, 09:27 AM   #494
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Default Re: Exotic Governmental/Legal Systems

An upper house containing representatives of the clans, great families, alberghi, titleholders, guildmasters, whatever. Each representative is the emissary of his sponsor rather then voting on their own. That is a chief or elder or moot chooses him or her on whatever basis they desire and if they wish they send orders to them by courier or communications device. It is theoretically legal for chiefs to represent themselves though few do. This is modeled on the UN where the Ambassador actually votes at the orders of a given chief executive.

As a follow-through there could be hired firms that specialize in providing emisaries and they could handle several House's interests at once, much like a stockbroker.
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Old 10-23-2018, 10:06 PM   #495
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Default Re: Exotic Governmental/Legal Systems

A hereditary monarchy in which the heir is chosen from among the former king's (or whatever title) blood offspring at random. All blood offspring, by marriage or mistress (or male equivalent) are eligible, but the choice is made by lot among them at the death or abdication of the monarch.

Among other effects, this means that courtiers, foreign powers, and so forth can not simply cultivate the eldest son or whatever, and the at least in theory it gives the offspring a reason to stay on good terms with each other, because they don't know which one will eventually be the new monarch, and again in theory it undercuts intrigues between potential heirs, since they don't know who to ally with or against.

In practice of course...
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Old 10-24-2018, 08:12 AM   #496
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Default Re: Exotic Governmental/Legal Systems

There are three royal families, and three kings. On any given day, one of the three is randomly selected as the king for the day, and the other three are secluded to palace-monasteries where political news can enter but not exit, until the next day.
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Old 10-24-2018, 10:05 AM   #497
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A hereditary monarchy in which the heir is chosen from among the former king's (or whatever title) blood offspring at random. All blood offspring, by marriage or mistress (or male equivalent) are eligible, but the choice is made by lot among them at the death or abdication of the monarch.

Among other effects, this means that courtiers, foreign powers, and so forth can not simply cultivate the eldest son or whatever, and the at least in theory it gives the offspring a reason to stay on good terms with each other, because they don't know which one will eventually be the new monarch, and again in theory it undercuts intrigues between potential heirs, since they don't know who to ally with or against.

In practice of course...
The problem is that bastardy cannot be accounted for without warning if one is going to count offspring of mistresses. It might be better to allow lawful concubinage.

By the way the male equivalent is ciscisbeo. For the record.
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Old 10-24-2018, 10:19 AM   #498
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Default Re: Exotic Governmental/Legal Systems

The monarch is an honorary member of all the most prestigous guilds and sodalities in the kingdom. He appears in appropriate livery at given functions.

Aside from apprentices, journeymen, and masters (who have attained guild rank by actual proficiency), and administrators (who are there just to handle the guild's bureaucracy and theoretically as much servants as the guildhall's janitor) there is the status of guild patron. A guild patron is a member by virtue of contributions which can be in cash but also include such perks as libraries, decorative and ceremonial items, outfitting of athletic teams, livery, etc. He or she does not vote except on certain occasions. For instance though a patron presides over the ceremony promoting (or shaming should that be needed) a guild member, only someone experienced in the actual occupation can judge. For instance only someone who has been to sea can say whether someone should advance in the Mariner's Guild, etc.

It is common for nobles to be Guild Patrons as noted above. They have no other voice unless they are more active members, as for instance in the Armsman's Guild.
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Old 10-24-2018, 02:30 PM   #499
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Default Re: Exotic Governmental/Legal Systems

This is inspired by the description of Irish Gavelkind:

1. All the nobility are considered a single tribe. The King is their chief.

2. On the death of the King, almost all land reverts to the realm corporately and is redivided among all nobles capable of conducting duties proper to nobles (political, judicial, military, reproductive). Those remaining are left enough land to keep them in a comfortable position as well as all properties separate from the tribal patrimony.

3. Non-nobles repeat this process at a lower level each clan paying rent to the top clan. Subinfeudation is allowed in this process as is individual holdings.

4. Obscure loose ends like pastoral or mercantile nomads and merchant cities are allowed a treaty with the top clan that features similar aspects. Service or rent is given appropriately to their nature (such as cities providing naval vessels and transport).

Basically this is like the feudal system, but readapted to feature elements of Irish Gavelkind.
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Old 10-24-2018, 08:39 PM   #500
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Default Re: Exotic Governmental/Legal Systems

The nobility sits in a council, and elects a king from among their own number who serves for a set term. However, at any time (except probably during active war or the like), another noble can call for a vote of no confidence, and he or she then gets a chance to address the council and explain why he or she should replace the sitting king. If he convinces a majority (or 2/3 or whatever), he replaces the sitting ruler, who then returns to the council as one noble among the others. If he fails to so convince, though, he loses his council seat either for a set time or permanently.
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