Government of Athor
| Government of Athor | |
|---|---|
| حكومة أتور | |
 National Arms | |
| Overview | |
| Established | 21 December 2022 |
| State | Islamic Emirate of Athor |
| Leader | Prime Minister |
| Appointed by | Monarch |
| Main organ | Council of Ministers |
| Ministries | 12 Ministerial Departments |
| Responsible to | Parliament |
The Government of Athor, informally the Athori Government or His Grace's Goverment, is the central executive authority of the Islamic Emirate of Athor. The government is lead by the Prime Minister who nominates all other ministers. The prime minister and their most senior ministers belong to the supreme decision-making committee, known as the Council of Ministers.
Ministers of the Crown are responsible to the House in which they sit; they make statements in that House and take questions from members of that House.
History
The government was established on 21 December 2022 as a body to aid the monarch in running the nation. They take a similar role to the Privy Council, in advising the monarch on how to exercise their powers. However, they also were established to help the monarch manage domestic affairs.
Government and the Crown
The Athori monarch is the head of state and sovereign but not the head of government. The authority of the state that is vested in the sovereign, known as the Crown, remains as the source of executive power exercised by the government. The monarch holds absolute power, but when there's a government in power they typically take little direct action in governing the nation.
The Crown also possesses a body of powers in certain matters collectively known as the royal prerogative. These powers range from the authority to issue or withdraw passports to declarations of war. However, most of these powers are delegated from the sovereign to various ministers or other officers of the Crown, who may use them without having to obtain the consent of Parliament.
The prime minister also is typically asked to have weekly meetings with the monarch.
Royal prerogative powers include, but are not limited to, the following:
Domestic Powers
- Appoint and Dismiss a Prime Minister - A Duty Personally Exercised by the Monarch
- Appoint and Dismiss Other Ministers - Also Exercised by the Monarch Typically on the Prime Minister's Advice
- Power to Assent and Enact or Reject Bills by Giving or Withholding Royal Assent to Bills Passed by Parliament
- Give and to Issue Commissions to Commissioned Officers in the Armed Forces
- Power to Command the Armed Forces
- Organise Membership of the Privy Council
- Power to Issue, Cancel, Suspend, Recall or Impound Athori Passports
- Power to Pardon Any Conviction
- Grant, Cancel and Annul Any Honours
- Power to Create Corporations
Foreign Powers
- Make and Ratify International Treaties
- Declare War and Conclude Peace with Other Nations
- Power to Deploy the Armed Forces Overseas
- Power to Recognise States
- Credit and Receive Diplomats
Ministers and Departments
As of 23 December 2022, there are 13 Ministerial Departments and 4 Government Offices. All of these are supported by civil servants.
In theory a government minister does not have to be a member of either House of Parliament. However, by convention they are required to be a member of the House of Assembly or the House of Councillors in order to be accountable to parliament. From time to time, prime ministers nominate non-parliamentarians to become ministers.
Government in Parliament
Under the Athori system, the government is accountable to one of the houses of parliament, sometimes both as ministers can be drawn from either house. The government is required to maintain the confidence of the house they primarily belong to. By convention, if they lose the confidence of the house the government is typically required to resign.
During debates on legislation proposed by the government, ministers, usually with departmental responsibility for the bill, will lead the debate for the government and respond to points made by MPs.