Republic of Silofais
Republic of Silofais (English) Silōfais Res Silōt (Silōs) | |
|---|---|
 Flag Flag
 Coat of Arms Coat of arms
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| Motto: Only Together We Flourish (English) Tantum Conjuncti Floremus (Latin) | |
| Capital | within Johnson County |
| Official languages | English (primary) Silōs (native) |
| Demonym(s) | Silofaisan |
| Government | Unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic |
| Horatio Eden | |
| Andrew Bevolo | |
• Speaker | Avro Keatings |
• Marshal | Abeyant |
• Chief Justice | Mark A. |
| Legislature | National Assembly |
| Senate | |
| Chamber of Delegates | |
| Establishment | 03 June 2017 |
| Population | |
• (as of 04 Aug 2017) census | 18 |
| Currency | U.S. Dollar ($) Pound Sterling (£) Euro (€) |
Website Official website | |
The Republic of Silofais is a unitary republic possessing enclaves in the United States, the United Kingdom, some parts of Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. The nation is not recognized by macronational powers or the United Nations, and so it is more commonly seen by external observers as a micronation.
The nation was established by eighteen signatories on June 3, 2017, following its second Ratification Convention.
The Constitution itself is the brainchild of Avro Keatings, currently the Speaker of the Chamber of Delegates, who set out to write it after meeting and becoming good friends with one of the nation's founders, Andrew Bevolo.
History
Ratification Conventions
In order to ratify the Constitution and found the nation of Silofais, a Ratification Convention was convened by its first signatory, Avro Keatings. Keatings himself insisted that he not be elected as President, remarking that he did not want the country to become the "nation of Avro". There the elective offices of the Government were chosen, the Government formed, and the law put into effect.
Some weeks later, however, a substantial number of signatories renounced their citizenship in protest over a handful of constitutional provisions. Those who left were chiefly concerned that a near-total ban on dual office-holding, as well as a requirement that legislators cast their votes at live sessions, would be unnecessarily prohibitive; and, moreover, they felt that their concerns were falling on deaf ears.
The sudden departure of so many people produced a constitutional crisis and, as a result, a new Ratification Convention had to be called. Those who remained deliberated over two weeks on whether changes should be made and, if so, which changes and how. Once satisfied with the results, they convened the second convention, ratified the changes, and re-formed the Government.
Government and Politics
National Government
The national government of Silofais is based upon a semi-presidential system divided between four branches:
The President
As the Head of State of the Republic, a mixture of the American President and the British Crown, the President of the Republic is charged constitutionally as the “guarantor of the sovereignty, law and tranquility” of the Republic. He takes care that the Constitution “be enforced and preserved in due respect”, and that “justice be ensured and the general welfare be promoted”.[1]
In his capacity as the Head of State, the President forms foreign policy and leads the military. He may veto legislation, though the legislature may override his veto by a two-thirds vote in both houses, and he also chairs the Council of State, a body not unlike the French Council of Ministers or the British Privy Council.
Normally the President is elected at large by the entire nation every five years, using the two-round runoff method.
The National Assembly
The power to enact, amend and annul the law is vested constitutionally in the National Assembly, which itself is composed of two houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Delegates. In addition to other geographical units, Silofais is divided among national electoral districts, from each of which one Senator and between three and seven Delegates are elected.
Normally Senators are elected for staggered terms of six years using the instant-runoff method, with one third of the house being reelected every two years. As of now, though, the Senate lies in abeyance and will come into force once there are thirty citizens.
The overall number of Delegates is apportioned among the districts at least every ten years; current statute has the census and reapportionment occur once per year, though apportionment does not affect the terms already elected. Normally the Delegates are elected altogether every three years using the single transferable vote method. Today there are nine Delegates representing three districts, and their terms will expire in 2020 with that of the President, in which year the first-ever general election of the national government will occur.
The Executive
The power to enforce the law and realize domestic policies is vested constitutionally in the Chief Secretary, who leads a multi-member body called the Cabinet, not unlike the French Prime Minister and his Government, respectively.
As the Head of Government, the Chief Secretary promulgates all laws, takes care that “the domestic policy be realized and the Law be executed faithfully”, and superintends the various Executive Departments established by statute.[2]
The President appoints the Chief Secretary “at his pleasure” when there is a vacancy in the latter's office, but may not remove him whatsoever. In turn, the Chief Secretary recommends both the appointments and the removals of other members of the Cabinet, which the President is obliged to carry out. Together the Cabinet hold their offices while they have collectively, and until they lose collectively, the confidence of the Chamber of Delegates, or otherwise until they choose individually to resign; and, accordingly, they may be summoned by legislators and held to account for their overall performance.
The Judiciary
The power to render justice and interpret the law is vested in both a Supreme Court and such inferior Courts (and other tribunals) as ordained by law.
The Judiciary as a whole reserves the power of judicial review, and otherwise is subject to rules of procedure established either by the Supreme Court or by statute, the latter method being superior.
Judges serving on a Court are appointed for life de facto by the President, subject to the advice and consent of the Chamber of Delegates, as they are constitutionally allowed to hold their offices “during good conduct”.[3] All Judges must retire before they attain 76 years of age.
Currently, of the whole Judiciary, there are three Justices on the Supreme Court and only one Judge on the statutory Superior Court.
Future Elections
According to Articles XXIX and XXX of the Constitution:
- All nationally elective offices will be renewed in 2020, after which their respective general elections will follow a special schedule up to 2030:
- The President will be elected in 2020, '22, '24, '26, '28, '30, '35, '40, '45, '50, '55, '60, etc.
- The Chamber of Delegates will be elected in 2020, '21, '22, ..., '29, '30, '33, '36, '39, '42, '45, etc.
- Between the years 2020 and 2030:
- The President may be age 18 (instead of 35),
- A Delegate age 15 (instead of 21), and
- A Senator age 18 (instead of 25).
The Senate currently lies in abeyance, and so its election schedule is somewhat unpredictable. If brought into force before 2030, Senators will be elected for terms of three years without staggering, then altogether in 2030, and finally for staggered terms of six years thereafter; and, if brought into force during or after 2030, then they will be elected with staggering for terms of six years, with one third being chosen in even-numbered years.
Subdivisions
National Electoral Districts
The country is primarily subdivided between three electoral constituencies:[4]
- Eurwest, covering Europe, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and countries within that remit, as well as areas of the United States of America not covered by the other two constituencies.
- South Kansas City, covering a very dense area that is roughly half of the American city of Olathe.
- Western Plains, covering the American state of Kansas (excluding those parts that are covered by South Kansas City), as well as:
- Missouri,
- Illinois,
- Colorado,
- Washington,
- Wisconsin,
- Iowa,
- Minnesota,
- North and South Dakota,
- Nebraska,
- Wyoming,
- Montana,
- Idaho,
- Utah,
- New Mexico,
- Arizona,
- California,
- Nevada, and
- Oregon.
Cities
The passage of the CITIES Act enabled the creation of cities as political subdivisions of the state. Cities can be incorporated by groups of six or more within a set geographical area, provided that a petition of incorporation submitted by them is approved by the Chief Secretary. Cities are additionally entitled to their own level of local government, a three-person city council, which are elected after the cities are incorporated.[5]
Only one city currently exists in Silofais, the City of Riversheart. It was incorporated by Avro Keatings and nine other Silofaisan citizens in the Kansas City area, pursuant to a decree issued by the Chief Secretary.
Political Parties
Before the "Great Split" there were two political parties established, the Democratic-Republic Party and the People's Party; however, following the Split, both parties soon fell into great inactivity and their status was largely unknown. By August 26, 2017, the Democrat-Republicans and People's Party were summarily dissolved and replaced by the Unity and Progress Party and the Progressive Party of Silofais, respectively.
In spite of the parties, the majority of citizens remain unaffiliated with any political party or overt partisan interest, desiring to avoid factionalism altogether.
References