Responsibilities of Council
The councillor's responsibility is to debate and convince their fellow councillors on the best route to enact that will best serve the citizens of Ithosia. Councillors can serve on one of two councils, the Council of Community, the local branch of governing councillors, or the Republic’s Council, Ithosia's national branch of governing councillors. With each branch having similar roles and responsibilities.
Councillors on their region’s Council of Community will discuss matters of local importance (petty crime, road construction/repair, taxes, etc.). While councillors on the Republic’s Council discuss matters of national importance (major crime, military actions, international trade, relationships with nearby nations, etc.).
Regardless, each council works similarly, with all present councillors explaining their solutions for the topic at hand. With a period of debate beginning afterwards, where the merits or lack thereof of each solution is debated upon. Once this has been resolved the solution is voted upon by each present councillor, any missing or sick councillors are able to have their vote added at a later time or the vote can be granted via a substitute if possible. Whatever gains the most votes is then enacted without further argument (this is in theory, but not often in practice).
Once the council has been adjourned for the day, the councillors will go about communicating with other local governing officials in order to enact whatever decisions were made during that day's session. Ensuring quick action takes place (which again, is in theory and not often in practice).
An Ithosian Councillor is only allowed to hold office in one of the two branches, the local Council of Community, or the national Republic’s Council (which resides in
The Imperium Inpero Amphitheatre in
Capita Emporio. Each council’s representatives serve two-year terms before re-elections, a councillor must declare their intentions before re-elections begin; whether they will retire, seek reelection in their current council, or seek election on the opposite council.
To learn more about the different branches of council read about the The Founder's Council of Ithosia.
Powers of Veto
Each councillor, regardless of which council they serve on, is granted one veto per two-year term, which they can enact to throw out the results of a vote. The use of a veto is an extreme action, often used to the shock of all other councillors present. If the veto is enacted it does not mean that the results of the original vote cannot be sustained. All it means is that the matter will undergo further discussion, either the next day or week or sooner depending on its urgency. With each councillor present able to give further arguments to try and sway the others to their purpose. The vote is redone, and if the same outcome is reached it must be accepted. Unless a different councillor uses their veto to axe that outcome, in which the same process will take place until a veto is not enacted.
The most recent circumstance of multiple vetos being used during one debate occurred roughly twenty years ago. It occurred when the council met to discuss the large group of humanoids' that wished to pass through their nation. The vote came down to, ‘do not let them pass,’ a total of four times, but each time, the followers of Captain Argus Malitora of the military’s forward forces would veto the outcome. With the belief being that the founding story of the country was obscuring the council's rational thinking on the matter. Eventually, the captain, who serves as a special advisor to the council on matters of military importance was able to sway the minds of the remaining councillors into allowing him to barter with the large humanoid group and broker safe passage through Ithosia.
Public Perception of Role
Most of the smaller communities have close relations with their councillors, often having them over for dinner and being overall quite friendly with them. However, this is often not the case with those that serve on Councils of Community for larger cities, or for councillors that sit on the Republic’s Council. A wide range of popular opinions exist regarding councillors and it often depends on if the represented citizens feel properly supported or if they have been slighted or will fall victim to an unpopular decision.
If a popular decision is made, a councillor may receive praise, love and gifts from their constituents and the citizens of the republic. But, if an unpopular decision is made, especially if the voice of the collected citizen crowd is ignored, then councillors may be met with harassment, or on rare occasions violence. While this is not always warranted, sometimes the decisions of the council are flagrantly in opposition to the voices of people and the response is a just one.
Elder Advisors
This is a special title given to Elders of the republic that have long tenures on either the Council of Community or the Republic’s Council. The title grants an elder continued access to the floor of the council where other councillors actively debate. No other citizen may touch the floor of the council and must sit in the area designated specifically for citizens.
Elders that have been granted the title of Elder Advisor are allowed to advise other councillors on matters they ask for their assistance on and are allowed to take the floor to air their opinions on whatever matter is on hand. However, they are not allowed a vote at the end of their discussion, their role is only one of advisor.
The title is granted to those that have served for many years, and have undergone
The Elder's Journey Ceremony . The title of Elder Advisor is granted to the individual by a representative of the state, usually a currently active councillor or an associated representative of the republic.
Payment and Benefits
The compensation for an Ithosian Councillor depends both on the area in which they serve, and the council on which they sit. A councillor on a Council of Community for a small area, will not be compensated or hold as much sway or benefit as a long-serving councillor for the capital, or as any on the Republic’s Council.
This is all determined by the amount of work involved with the varying population and territory size that comes under each council. A councillor that holds one of the three seats for a small community of a few dozen farmers in northern Ithosia will be faced with much less work than a councillor that sits on a twelve-person council for one of the larger coastal trade ports of Ithosia. The former will likely only require his council to meet once or twice a week, if that, and debates often don’t occur and solutions are often quickly enacted. With very few occasions requiring outside assistance. As such, they can typically easily continue working in their main profession alongside their political one.
While the latter, a councillor in a large city or on the Republic's Council, is likely swamped in work twenty-four seven. Sitting in council every day for hours in debate before having to spend hours more trying to find efficient ways of actually enacting the decisions that were made. And thus, the republic pays the latter a bigger stipend along with other perks that may include land, property deeds, cattle and more.
The former is still compensated well, and their names hold sway in their local community, but it likely does not typically reach the bustling cities and ears of the citizens of the capital. Who are much more likely to recognize the councillors of the capital and those that serve on the Republic’s Council.
This can be both bad and good, the lesser-known councillors will likely still be able to lead a quiet life if they wish to. And on the flip-side, may have a harder time finding support for higher office if they wish to seek council in another larger town or for a seat on the Republic's Council. While the busier, more well-known councillors of the larger cities and the republic, will likely be hassled by requests from local citizens at every corner. Or even worse, be accosted by those that disagree with their opinions.
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