The Senate stands as the Concords highest governmental council and its primary legislative body. It is the power of the Senate to pass laws, decree expenditures of the treasury, handle foreign policy and really whatever they feel is under their purview.

See Senate Motions for a list of previous proposals put forward by this council.

Function

It is the role of the Senate to govern The Concord and its control extends to all aspects of life not covered by another council. It is important to recognise that in this, the Senate is superior to any local or Realm-based organisation, such was part of the sovereignty ceded by each Realm during the creation of the Concord.

Any major commission or task requires the support of the Senate, who has full control over the Treasury. While it cannot force the Exchange to provide materials, the vast wealth of the Treasury means that it has great power to control the Exchange and resources.

While the Senate cannot interfere in the functions of the War Chamber, it is the duty of the Senate to appoint Generals and Admirals to control the forces of the Concord. It is the role of the Senate to start and end wars with foriegn powers and local dangers, as well as decide upon ownership of new territories captured by the Concord. With this in mind, matters of Foreign Diplomacy fall to the Senate with decisions of the Concord’s position being foremost in many discussions.

The Senate also has the ability to control the Laws of the land, determining what is and is not a crime and the punishments possible.

All of these actions are governed by the original agreement of The Concord as well as by the power of Veto held by the Church of the Divine Spheres and the Throne.

Powers

Powers of the Senate are separated into Legislative powers, Economic powers and Diplomatic powers, they are as follows.

Legislative Powers

Changes to Concordian Law

The Senate may change what is deemed illegal or legal within The Concord. This does need to remain within the bounds of the original Concord and will be arbitrated by the Symposiarch and other Concordians. The Senate may also change or define punishments that are available for such crimes.

Appointment

The Senate has the ability to grant titles to citizens of the Concord that it has control over. The exact requirements and nature of each title depends on the title in question. The Senate may also appoint titles of individual Realms if the Realm is unable to.

Creation

The Senate has the ability to create new titles that are not connected to commissions. These titles may include funds, resources or powers. They will be defined when created and will be overseen by the Symposiarch to ensure they remain within the bounds of the original Concord.

Assignment

When a region comes under the control of The Concord that region is assigned to a Realm by the Senate. Once assigned a region can only be relinquished by a realm if its national assembly agrees to relinquish it or if it is lost and reconquered.

Abrogation

Where it is allowed, the Senate has the ability to abrogate a previous Senate decision. If the vote is successful, the decision is nullified in the most effective way possible. This may be requested at any point by a senator, at which point it requires seconding by an additional senator. If the request is seconded, then a motion is held, requiring a Supreme Majority, but not prompting the Church Veto. Each senator may only request one abrogation each summit.

Enthronement

The Senate has the ability to name a Concordian citizen to the Throne, placing them upon the Throne for the remainder of their life or until they step down. There is an appointment method by which Thrones are elected. It is as follows:

A motion is raised that there should be a Throne. If the motion passes a Throne vote will be held at the next senate session.
At the next session, any senator may nominate a candidate.
Each candidate may give a short speech in order of nomination.
Each senator then stands behind the candidate they support or moves to the ‘none of the above’ area.
If any candidate received two thirds of all senators (a supreme majority) then the decision is given the Church to consider their veto. If successful there, then the candidate is named as Throne and will be crowned at the next Summit.
If no candidate receives a supreme majority, then all senators are given a short amount of time to reconsider their position, wherein they may change their support.
If no senators move, or if after three recounts there is no Supreme Majority, then the motion has failed.

Removal

The Senate has the ability to remove the title of Senator from a Senator. If the vote passes, the Senator in question has their title removed, is removed from the chamber and barred from re-entering for the remainder of the session. They may not stand as Senator until a year has passed. This requires a supreme majority. This may be requested at any point by a senator, at which point it requires seconding by an additional senator. If the request is seconded, then a motion is held, requiring a Supreme Majority, but not prompting the Church Veto. Each senator may only request one removal each summit.

Grand Inquest

The Senate can request that Concordian Magistrates begin a Grand Inquest into a legal concern, crime or event. If the vote passes, Magistrates will organise to investigate the chosen concern over the coming season, returning with results or options to continue at the coming Summit. Grand Inquests incur a cost as Magistrates requisition travel costs, guards and assistants for the investigation. The cost is estimated during the motion by the Symposiarch and is paid upon completion of the vote. The Civil Service currently has the ability to engage in one Grand Inquest per season.

Economic Powers

Commission

The Senate may call for a commission. If called for by the Senate during Concordian business then it is automatically a Concordian Commission, however if raised during Senator Motions, they may define it as a Realmic Commission. In which case it is the duty of that Senator to produce the required funds and resources. It is also during the motion raising a Realmic commission that a senator may request funds or resources from The Concord to assist. Funds allocated for this use may not be spent at The Exchange.

A motion of commission can also be used to transfer ownership of a commission to a realm or from a realm from the Concord. Both options require a Supreme Majority

See also: Campaign: Commissions

Endeavour

The Senate may call for an Endeavour. An Endeavour is an action undertaken but the Senate which requires its resources but does not necessarily result in a Commission. An example Endeavour might be using Senate resources to purchase potions for an upcoming conflux. Funds allocated for this use may not be spent at The Exchange.

Appraisal

The Senate can raise requests for Appraisal towards custom commissions up to twice each Summit. These requests will be assessed in the season that follows, becoming available for Senate construction during the Winds of the World for the following Summit.

Diplomatic Powers

Declaration of War

The Senate can declare war on any foreign power. The nation and its people are considered enemies of The Concord and trade with them is ruled as illegal.

Declaration of Peace

The Senate can end wars with foreign powers. The nation and its people are no longer considered enemies and trade with them may resume.

Ratification of Treaties

A Concordian Ambassador, acting within the powers granted to them by their title may submit a treaty to the Senate to be ratified. A ratified treaty is accepted into Concordian law and foreign policy.

Concedence

The Senate may opt to cede control of a region to a foreign power. Doing so declares that Concordian citizens will not oppose the annexation once it occurs.

Executive Powers

Publication

The Senate can approve documents for publication. Doing so distributes copies of the document to libraries and makes the document available to Civil Service offices. This will make the information available to the people of The Concord. These documents will be available on the Concordian Documents page, or another appropriate page, of the Wiki for any player to read and have their character know.

Resources

The primary resource the Senate draws from is the Concordian Treasury. The Treasury is a collection of taxation and donation from across the Concord. The exact methods and values for which are kept below a level of abstraction for the game. What is presented are the;

Incomes of the Concord
Costs of the Concord
The Total Funds available in the Treasury

This information can be requested by a Senator from the Symposiarch at any time.

The Senate cannot maintain stocks of magical items, strategic resources, crafting resources or herbs unless they are a part of an active Commission or Endeavour.

It is important to note that The Concord may not become bankrupt. In such a circumstance, the Concordians will adjourn to liquify commissions and resources to bring the Concord back into solvency.

Membership

Members of Senate are split into three forms:

True Members of Senate are Senators and the Throne. These are individuals who attendance ensures that senate will begin and are responsible for the actual function of government. True Members have the 'True Right to Speak'.
Members of Senate are additional titles with the 'Right to Speak'. These titles are granted a seat in the senate Chamber but are not voting members and do not add to the majority.
Civil Service of Senate are members of the Civil Service responsible for the operation of the council, such as the Symposiarch. They have control over the council.

Senators

Concordian Senators have a certain set of rights and responsibilities that their title grants, they are follows:

Absention

Senators lack the right of abstention, as such they are legally required to vote whenever it is possible for them do so within Senate meetings.

Address

Senators have the right of address before the senate.

Proposal

Each Senator may raise one motion during the Senators Motions section of a Senate meeting.

Executor

If a motion passes that requires a significant amount of work outside of the Senate meeting, such as purchasing the required materials for a Commission, the Senator who raised the motion is interested as the Executor of that motion. If there are any resources granted to such a motion they are given to the Executor of that motion. It is up to the Senate if excess funds are to be returned after the motion is complete.

Curtailment

A senator may call for a vote of Curtailment once per Senate session, this does not constitute their single motion. If passed, the Senate session ends.

Escalation

Once per Senate Session a Senator may call for escalation at which point the current matter being voted on now requires a Supreme Majority, not a Simple Majority.

Proxy

A Senator may place another in their place as a proxy for any amount of time. Doing so requires that the Senator to submit this action in writing to the Symposiarch.

Chambers

The Chambers of the Senate are largely open to the public, as is befitting their role. They contain a chair for each Senator, The Throne and open central area for speaking and addressing the Senate as a whole. Additional chairs are added for partial members of the Senate and other civil service staff. While there are provided seats for the public, they are not guaranteed.

Meetings

The Senate meets in Senate Sessions on every day of the Summit, more than any other Council. These sessions are open to the public, but space for the audience is not always guaranteed, if you are interested in observing then it is best that you get there early. Senate sessions are called and wait for a maximum of ten minutes. If two thirds of the true members of Senate (those with the 'True Right to Speak') are present, senate will begin. If two thirds cannot be obtained after fifteen minutes, senate will be cancelled for the day. Senate cannot begin without a Symposiarch (be it the standard one or a stand-in). Sessions are generally split into four sections:

Introduction

Wherein the Senators, Throne, Symposiarch and any important guests are introduced.

Address

Wherein individuals may speak to the Senate on any number of issues. Addresses are submitted to the Senate prior to its meeting by speaking to the Symposiarch. In certain circumstances individuals may be granted address on the spot. There are also certain titles within The Concord which have the right of Address. Before an address may begin, a vote against the individual is taken. If passed, their address is cancelled. Emergency address and address granted by a title may not be cancelled.

Concordian Business

Wherein matters are raised by the Symposiarch. This may be responding to particular important events, appointments that are required by The Concord, maintaining in-progress commissions or the reading of intelligence.

Senator Motions

Wherein each senator may raise a single motion.

Speaking in Senate

In order to maintain civility and procedure within the Senate chamber, there are a number of regulations regarding who gets to speak and when. There are a general set of regulations that apply to all, and then a set of specific rights which enable individuals to speak at certain times.

The general rules are as follows:

Any individual can be found to be disrupting the Senate at any time by the Symposiarch, requiring their removal, first by their own act, then by the Watch.
Individuals who wish to speak and are not afforded the right by any other circumstance must stand and raise their hand. They will be acknowledged by either the Symposiarch or the Senator responsible for the current motion (during Senate business) which will allow them to speak. Any other senator or the Symposiarch can order this individual to cease speaking. If this is disputed by another senator a standard majority vote will be called to allow them to continue speaking.

Public Address

Following introductions, the Senate allows for public address. Individuals with the Right to Speak, the Right of Address or who have requested a Public Address will be granted some time to speak during this period. If you have requested Public Address during this time, you will require the support of at least one Senator to begin speaking. Support will be sought after you have been announced.

Types of Right to Speak:

Right of Address

Any Concordian Titleholder may address the Senate during the public addresses without requesting an address prior and without requiring a Senator’s support. This address is limited to 2 minutes.

Limited Right to Speak

Titles with a Limited Right to Speak are permitted to speak freely during motions or senate business that is deemed relevant to their right. This will be indicated by the Symposiarch when each item of business begins.

Right to Speak

Titles with the Right to Speak are permitted to speak freely during any piece of senate business.

True Right to Speak

Titles with the True Right to Speak are permitted to speak freely during any piece of senate business and whose attendance adds to the majority required to begin a senate session.

Voting

Every senator within the Senate has a single vote during each vote. They may not vote to abstain. Votes come in one of two forms;

Standard Vote: requiring a half plus one of the senators present minimum to agree for a motion to pass.
Supreme vote: requiring a two thirds majority of senators present to agree for a motion to pass. In addition, any supreme vote must be reviewed by the Church, as such it will not go into effect until that has been completed.