Austenasian Town
An Austenasian Town is the primary administrative division in the Empire of Austenasia, locally administered by an elected Town Council. Wrythe was the first Town in the Empire, being the territory of Austenasia when founded on 20 September 2008.
In accordance with the Empire of Austenasia Act 2013, "Towns are inhabited territories which are fully incorporated into Austenasia within a hierarchy of Provinces, Duchies and Regions" (the latter three divisions being mainly ceremonial). Unlike a Territory, Towns have permanent residents, and are represented in Parliament by elected Representatives.
Before the passing of the aforementioned Act of Parliament, Towns were the only type of local administrative division. Glencrannog, which has no population, held the status of a Town until the Empire of Austenasia Act 2013 transitioned it into a Territory.
Towns are governed on the local level by Town Councils. Town Councils are elected by every Town with a population of three or more: at present therefore, most Towns have Town Councils which are comprised of the entirety of their Town's population (Oppidum Tubae and Helinium do not have a Town Council, both having a population of only two). Town Councils have the power to create bye-laws, laws which only apply to that Town and are overruled by Acts of Parliament, Imperial Decrees or Imperial Edicts. In the case of an inconclusive election for a Representative, Town Councils may exercise the powers of Representative through a majority vote or elect an Acting Representative themselves.
At present there are nine Towns. Listed in order of foundation, which provides a customary precedence, these are Chalcedon, Nahona, North Nahona, Procyon, Blue Ridge, Oppidum Tubae, Helinium, Chandler, and Caldari.
