Elections in Francisville

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Elections in Francisville were held to determine the composition of a number of institutions during the eras of both the Democratic Duchy and the Federal Republic. Citizens of the Duchy elected the unicameral Chamber of Deputies and numerous local officials. The Federal Republic held elections across three tiers of government; district authorities, cantonal authorities, and the Federal Council and Federal Chamber at federal level. The Federal Republic was a direct democracy and directorial system, with universal suffrage protected by the constitution. Elections in Francisville were considered to be free, fair and democratic. No electoral discrepancies were recorded in the nation's history.

Eligibility

Eligibility to vote in elections remained consistent through the history of Francisville. The constitutions of both the Democratic Duchy and the Federal Republic guaranteed universal suffrage, regardless of sex, to all persons who met the following criteria;

  • Be a citizen of Francisville.
  • Be at least 14 years of age on election day.
  • Be in possession of full political rights (e.g. not be certified as mentally incapable or be subject to a criminal punishment).

In the Democratic Duchy, the Grand Duke was forbidden from standing for election to the Chamber of Deputies, although he was permitted to hold elected office at local level. Citizens voting in local elections, and cantonal elections in the Federal Republic, were required to reside in the locality holding the election.

Democratic Duchy

See also: Democratic Duchy of Francisville

General elections

See also: Chamber of Deputies (Francisville)

The members of the Chamber were known as Deputies (French: Députés, Francillian: Deputéierten). The composition of the Chamber of Deputies was variable according to the size of the population as specified by the Constitution. The Chamber was composed of one deputy for every five citizens plus one additional deputy. This formula resulted in a membership of four deputies during both the first and second assemblies of the Chamber. Deputies were elected by means of the single transferable vote from a single national electoral list. The Constitution did not rule out the use of districting but this proved to be unnecessary due to the small size of its membership. Deputies served for terms of one year.

The following two elections were held for the Chamber of Deputies during its existence:

Local elections

The Democratic Duchy was a unitary state divided simultaneously across two facets of division into 3 cantons (Kantonen) and 3 territories (Gebidden). Cantons were non-territorial communities of citizens used for the administration of local government and the decentralisation of political power. Territories represented the Duchy's geographical land claims. Cantons and territories therefore had distinct roles and responsibilities in local government managed by separate institutions.

Each canton was governed by a Cantonal Council consisting of five local Councillors, elected annually by means of plurality-at-large voting. A provost elected by each council served as the directer of local government and the principal representative of each canton. All local Councillors also met in a nationwide assembly called the Chamber of Councillors which had the responsibility to oversee the legality of local authority decisions and the right to pressure the Chamber of Deputies on matters of local concern.

Landed territories were classified either as municipalities (if inhabited) or provinces (if uninhabited). Municipalities were governed by directly democratic town meetings which annually elected a mayor as the head of local government. Provinces had no elected officials, being administered by a chancellor appointed by the Grand Duke.

Federal Republic

See also: Federal Republic of Francisville

Federal elections

See also: Federal Council of Francisville
See also: Federal Chamber (Francisville)

Federal elections were held to the Federal Council and the Federal Chamber. In addition to forming the executive branch and directing the administration of federal governance, the Federal Council served as the collective head of state. The Federal Council was elected for terms of one year by means of the single transferable vote from a single national list. The size of the Federal Council varied according to the size of the population consisting of a minimum of three Councillors, rising to five for a population higher than twenty-five and seven for a population higher than forty. The President of Francisville served as the presiding officer of the Federal Council as primus inter pares with no powers over and above their colleagues.

The Federal Chamber was comprised of representatives, known as Federal Deputies, elected from each canton according to its population. Each canton was entitled to elect at least one Deputy, thereafter receiving an additional Deputy for every five citizens. The Chamber was elected by means of the single transferable vote with each canton functioning as a single electoral district. Legislative authority was officially vested in the Federal Community; the directly democratic assembly of the people and cantons of Francisville. The Chamber was responsible for debating and drafting acts of legislation before they were submitted to the Federal Community.

The following two elections were held for the Federal authorities during their existence:

Cantonal elections

See also: Cantons of Francisville

The cantons had the right to determine their own political systems with the stipulation that this should be in the form of a secular, democratic republic. Cantonal political systems typically followed a similar structure to the federal government. Each canton had a direct democratic citizens assembly as its legislature, alongside its own judiciary. Three cantons elected a governor (also known as a landsmann or president) as their executive branches. The exception was Wasserbrueck which elected a collegiate Executive Council, presided over by the First Minister of Wasserbrueck in a similar structure to the Federal Council.

District elections

See also: Districts of Francisville

The cantons determined the structure and authority of the local communities, resulting a variation in their status across cantons. District elections were held in Rudno and Wasserbrueck, whilst New Scireland and North Llabdey had no district level of government.

Rudno was divided into a scheme of rural and urban communes. Rural communes elected a commune reeve (de: Gemeindegrev, ksh: Jemejndejreef) as their executive, while urban communes elected a mayor (de: Bürgermeister, ksh: Bürjermejster).

Wasserbrueck was divided into burghs. Each burgh was governed by a directly democratic Town Council. Each burgh elected a provost for an annual term to serve as its executive officer.

See also

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