Federal Council of Francisville

Federal Council of Francisville Francillian: Federalsrot
Incumbent Office Abolished since June 2014
Style	The Honorable
Residence	Kirkburgh House, Wasserbrueck
Appointer	Federal Community as Legislature
Term length	One year
Inaugural holder	Cameron Falby Sebastian Linden James von Puchow
Formation	2012
Final holder	Sebastian Linden James Stewart James von Puchow
Abolished	2014
Succession	Office Abolished

The Federal Council (Francillian: den Federalsrot, German: der Bundesrat, French: la Conseil fédérale) was the multi-member executive council which constituted both the supreme executive organ of the Federal Republic of Francisville and served as its collective head of state.

Francisville was governed through a directorial system where the members of the Federal Council shared collective responsibilities for the federal administration. There was no separation of head of state and head of government, both roles being held by the Federal Council in corpore. The President of Francisville served as the presiding member of the council. Two Federal Councils existed during the existence of the Federal Republic.

History

The Grand Duke served as the head of state of the Democratic Duchy of Francisville from its foundation on 28 November 2008. On 3 June 2011, Grand Duke James I issued a declaration calling for the dissolution of the Fourth Constitution and the transition to an alternative model of government. The Federal Council was established by the federal constitution, enacted on 16 August 2012 following the June Convention. The first election of the Federal Council was held from 28 September to 6 October 2012, with James von Puchow, Cameron Falby, and Sebastian Linden becoming the inaugural Federal Councillors. James von Puchow was elected as the first Federal President. The first council was dissolved early by the Federal Chamber in June 2013. The second Federal Council was subsequently elected on 5–7 July 2013. Following the independence of North Llabdey on 3 June 2014 and the departure of James von Puchow from federal politics, the Federal Council retained a vacant seat until its final dissolution following the dissolution of the Federal Republic on 8 November 2014.

Election and composition

The Federal Council was elected for a term of one year by means of the single transferable vote from a single national list. There was therefore no guaranteed that every canton would be represented on the Federal Council although no two Councillors from the same canton ever service simultaneously. 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 Federal Council operated according to the principle of collegiate responsibility whilst each individual Councillor was appointed as the executive head of a single federal department.

Function and organisation

Powers

In addition to forming the executive branch and directing the administration of federal governance, the Federal Council served as the collective head of state. Each Federal Councillor was considered to be individually responsible for the administration of their assigned executive department, whilst being ultimately answerable to the Federal Council collectively. The constitution assigned the Federal Council a wide range of powers and responsibilities:

• To direct foreign policy in collaboration with the Federal Chamber.
• To represent the Federal Republic in an international capacity.
• To appoint and dismiss ambassadors and foreign representatives.
• To appoint and dismiss justices of the Supreme Court.
• To direct the Federal Administration.
• To propose legislation to the Federal Chamber and Federal Community.
• To coordinate national security and oversee the militia.
• To propose the federal budget and oversee its financial management.
• To facilitate cooperation between the federation and the cantons.

President

The Federal Council elected one of their members to serve as President for a one year term. The President was primus inter pares and held no executive powers over and above the other members of the Federal Council. The principal responsibilities of the President were to chair meetings of the Federal Council and to undertake special representation duties on behalf of the body as a whole. The President also continued to serve as head their assigned department and exercised executive responsibilities accordingly.

Despite not serving as the head of state in themselves, the President was recognised as the highest-ranking Francillian official, acting as the lead representative of the Federal Council as required. The office was alternatively referred to either the President of the Federal Council, Federal President, or informally as the President of Francisville. The President was empowered to act de facto as head of state while conducting official visits abroad. Formally, it was more common for this role to be exercised by the Federal Councillor with assigned responsibility for foreign affairs. However, it became standard practice for the holder of this office to also serve as President, thus combining their responsibilities.

Council meetings

The Federal Council operated through structured meetings and unstructured formal communication between members. Either form was considered acceptable provided that a majority of Federal Councils could be recorded to support any decision within a reasonable time frame. Federal Council meetings and decisions were not open to the public. This secrecy was maintained in order to protect the collegiality of the body as a whole, and to ensure the political independence of individual Councillors in performing their council duties.

List of Federal Councils

1st Federal Council, 2012-2013

See also: 2012 Francisville federal election

The first election of the Federal Council was held from 28 September to 6 October 2012, with James von Puchow, Cameron Falby, and Sebastian Linden becoming the inaugural Federal Councillors. James von Puchow was elected as the first Federal President. The first council was dissolved early by the Federal Chamber in June 2013, serving until the election of the second council on 5–7 July.

	Picture	Name	Party		Canton	Executive Department
1		Cameron Falby		Independent	New Scireland	Federal Department of Justice, Social Affairs and Citizenship
3		Sebastian Linden		Liberty Union	Rudno	Federal Department of Technology, Finance and Administration
2		James von Puchow		Social Democratic Alliance	North Llabdey	President of the Federal Council Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Culture and Defense

2nd Federal Council, 2013-2014

See also: 2013 Francisville federal election

The second Federal Council was elected on 5–7 July 2013. Following the independence of North Llabdey on 3 June 2014 and the departure of James von Puchow from federal politics, the Federal Council retained a vacant seat until its final dissolution following the dissolution of the Federal Republic on 8 November 2014.

	Picture	Name	Party		Canton	Executive Department
1		Sebastian Linden		Liberty Union	Rudno	President of the Federal Council Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Culture and Defense
2		James von Puchow (Served until 3 June 2014)		Social Democratic Alliance	North Llabdey	Federal Department of Justice, Social Affairs and Citizenship
3		James Stewart		Liberty Union	Wasserbrueck	Federal Department of Technology, Finance and Administration

See also

• Federal Republic of Francisville
• Federal Chamber (Francisville)
• Federal Community (Francisville)
• Grand Duke of Francisville