Romulan Senate
The Deihuit (Rihannsu Senate) is the supreme governing body of the Empire and is composed of two houses: the Lower Senate and the Upper Senate. It maintains complete control over the appropriation of the Empire's resources, approves and disapproves legislation, as well as the elections of tribunes and governmental officials, makes and ratifies treaties, and it determines who will be entrusted with the powers of the Galae. This structure seems to have provided a stable legislative base which prevents the passing of large amounts of revolutionary legislation and promotes stability.
The Deihuit is a descendant of the Grand Council, established shortly after the Landing on the Two Worlds. The Grand Council was a representative body to which each local clan, tribe, or city was to send representatives. When the Grand Council was reformed as the deihuit 100 years later, this unique districting structure remained in effect. While the situation remained tolerable through the planetary history of the deihuit, the settlement of other worlds has put a serious strain on it. Districts on newly settled planets are assigned rather haphazardly, coinciding largely with major centers of initial colonization and the political favor of whatever group currently dominates the Deihuit.
It is also a center of political intrigue and infighting. The most ancient and noble families of the Empire struggle daily to further their own causes, for the glory of the Empire, and often for their own personal advancement. The Senate is composed of many factions that bring many voices into Rihannsu politics and these factions provide a system of checks and balances in the continual struggle for personal power.
Many Senators (Deihu) are from ancient families, and candidates for an open senatorial seat are chosen from the previous Senator's family. Candidates openly campaign for the positions, appearing in public and making alliances with key senators and coalition (party) members. Before the final choice, each candidate makes a final speech before the entire senate, the speeches broadcast throughout the Empire.
Contents
Deihuit'rhoi
The Deihuit'rhoi, or lower senate, comprises almost 700 Senators from across the Star Empire. The lower senate is the core of the Senate's power since it is in this lower chamber where legislation is debated and enacted.
Coalitions
The Deihuit'rhoi is divided up into different coalitions, groups of senators with similar political goals and ideologies who band together out of mutual interest. Coalition members shift constantly as the political climate changes and issues change. Nevertheless, there are some long-standing coalitions based on age-old issues of Romulan politics. These are large coalitions with many supporters and may contain smaller coalitions with differences in the finer points of ideology and implementation.
Consul (ehkifv)
Consuls are the heads of the coalitions in the Senate. They are the spokespeople for their coalition and represent their coalition on the Continuing Committee. They are elected by their coalitions, and in the case of political disfavor, are expected to resign so another consul can be elected. Consuls of the major coalitions control key governorships and ministries.
Proconsul (hru'ehkifv)
The Proconsul is elected by the Deihuit'rhoi from the ruling coalition. The Vice Proconsul is typically elected from the ruling coalition but can occasionally be chosen from a minority coalition. Proconsul terms are for 10 years and can be renewed at the pleasure of the Senate. Proconsuls tend to rise and fall with their coalitions, but a proconsul may serve for many decades. The Proconsul controls the lion's share of power in the Senate since he/she represents the ruling coalition. The Proconsul sets the Senate agenda, determining what order and when an issue will be brought before the Senate. He can effectively tie up legislation indefinitely. The Proconsul also determines which Senators will chair the various Senate committees. It is best if the Praetor makes the Proconsul his ally so that his policies get pushed through the Senate. Another powerful influence of the proconsul is to "suggest" how the Empire deals diplomatically with its neighbors.
The Vice Proconsul handles the many details the Consul doesn't have time to tend to. Many people see the vice Proconsul office as a step up into the coveted Proconsul position.
Notes
- Eisn is the most represented system in the Deihuit'rhoi with 360 Senators allotted between the two core worlds of Ch'Rihan (240) and Ch'Havran (120).
- The Hru'ehkifv (Proconsul) is sometimes also referred to as the Deihuit'lleifven (Senate Speaker), this goes back to the short lives days of the Romulan Star Republic.
Deihuit'aerrh
The Deihuit'aerrh, or Upper Senate, exists explicitly to veto legislation. However, the veto threshold is quite high since a three-fourths majority vote of the upper body is required to confirm a veto. Members of the Deihuit'aerrh also hold the title of 'Deihu' though the body is mainly comprised of Military Officials and Planetary Governors.
The Deihuit'aerrh is comprised of over 300 Senators, below are the positions that give one a seat in the Deihuit'aerrh:
- Director of the Galae
- Chairman of the Tal Diann
- Chairman of the Gai'Shain
- Chairman of the Science Fleets
- Minister of Temporal and Spatial Investigations
- Minister of Exploration Command
- Minister of R&D
- Chairman of Engineering Corps
- Minister of Ship Design and Construction
- Minister of Facility Design and Construction
- Minister of Logistical Engineering
- Chairman of the Galae Academies
- Director of the Tal Shi'ar
- Chairman of the Internal Security Division
- Chairman of the Military Affairs Division
- Chairman of the Special Operations Division
- Chairman of the Intelligence Analysis Division
- Chairman of the Research and Development Division
- Chairman of the Mind War Division
- Director of the Rei'Krannsu
- Chairman of the Ta'Pakrsh
- Regents- System Lords
- Governors- Planet Lords (for highly populated systems)
- Mayors- District Lords (for extremely populated systems, such as ch'Revillion)
- Civilian Education Rep
- Civilian Civil Logistics
- Civilian Peoples' Rep
- Inquisition and Judicial Reps
- Civilian Civil Trade reps
- Civilian Colonial reps
Notes
- While many Military leaders hold the title of 'Deihu' (Senator) many forgo using the title and prefer to be addressed by the title of their Military position. IE, the Galae Director prefers to go by 'Galae'EnRiov' instead of 'Deihu' even though they have a seat in the Upper Senate.
- The Director of the Tal Shiar that sits in the Upper Senate is typically a figurehead and not the true Director of the Tal Shiar.
Misc Facts
- There are three different Senate buildings- one on ch'Rihan (in Ra'tleihfi), one on ch'Revellion, and one on the eastern fringes of the Empire. Senators are free to attend any of the three buildings, whichever is closest. During Senate sessions, the three buildings are broadcast to each other via large holographic projections. That way, Senators do not have to travel too far to attend Senate sessions and make it more equitable to the outer system regents.
- Deihuit'rhoi literally translates to 'the Senate below' and Deihuit'aerrh translates to 'the Senate above.' This refers to the structure of the massive Senatorial complex in Ra'tleihfi where the hulking body of the lower Senate resides entirely on the Senate floor. Above them, observing from the second and third-floor galleries of the chamber is where members of the Upper Senate reside.