Prime Minister of Überstadt

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Überstadt was the head of government of the Kingdom of Überstadt until that role was given to the Monarchy. The Prime Minister was elected by Parliament at the time it desired, having no regular term length. The last prime minister, Prince Aaron, the brother and heir presumptive of King Adam, entered office on 28 October 2012 and served until its abolition on 30 September 2014. He was the second and longest-serving holder of the office.

Role

The office of the Prime Minister, which was forbidden for the Monarch to hold, was responsible for the enactment of statutes and policy by overseeing the Cabinet and coordinating its efforts. Traditionally, the majority of bills proposed in Parliament were sponsored by the Prime Minister in support of their legislative agenda. Other than most matters related to foreign and military affairs, almost all government policy independent of legislation, such as purely executive regulatory measures authorized by law and public awareness campaigns, was formulated by the Prime Minister.

There were several powers constitutionally granted the Prime Minister outside their ordinary portfolio, often to be exercised only in concert with the Monarch. Actions such as granting pardons (the "joint prerogative of mercy") and declaring a public health emergency were done jointly by the two leaders. Others, such as overseeing quarantines during such emergencies, were the sole responsibility of the Prime Minister.

There were other customary roles involving the Prime Minister and the Monarch. The two leaders met together frequently to discuss matters of state, and major policies were often the result of their agreement. Although the management of foreign relations was officially the role of the Monarch, it was customary for the Prime Minister to indicate the government's willingness to agree to substantial actions regarding other states.

Timeline of Prime Ministers

Theron of Edmount

The Right Honorable Theron of Edmount was the first and longest-serving Prime Minister to date. The head of the center-right Contractors' Democratic Party, he was elected into the First Parliament in January 2012 and formed a coalition with the conservative Cat Party and the Centrist Party. He was promptly appointed to head the government. During this term, Parliament was very weak and divisive, failing to pass more than one piece of legislation. Furthermore, the only cabinet office filled was that of Secretary of the Treasury.

After being reelected to Parliament for a second term, Theron was kept at the head of the government, which then consisted of a coalition of the two rightist parties. The Second Parliament proved more successful than the first. Under this administration, the Colony Act was passed, allowing territorial expansion to occur without the need to consult the legislature. The second law passed was the first amendment to the Kingdom's constitution, which decreased the size of Parliament to three members. During this time, Theron had the privilege of crowning King Adam at his coronation, after which he was knighted for his efforts in national politics.

Prince Aaron

His Royal Highness Prince Aaron, the younger brother of King Adam, served in the first two legislative sessions as the head of the Centrist Party. At the close of the second term, however, he founded the Renaissance Party to advocate the further development of Überstadti culture. As the head of the Renaissance Party, he was elected to the Third Parliament and formed a coalition with the Cat Party. He was appointed Prime Minister upon the elections commissioner's announcement of results. Aaron's first term saw the passage of many important pieces of legislation, but his planned programs either failed or went unenacted, drawing criticism from his brother the king. He was nonetheless reelected to represent the Duchy of Edmount at the end of March 2013, becoming the only Member of Parliament and by default remaining Prime Minister.

After dissolving the Renaissance Party to found the Theodorist Party of Überstadt, Aaron oversaw the ratification of the October 2013 constitution, which brought about the establishment of socialism and direct democracy. He led the implementation of new policies to protect the environment and create a collective economy involving all citizens. He was re-elected in July 2014, but became decreasingly active in political affairs, contributing to the decision to abolish the premiership.