In the first part of this topic, which was the first post in this series within a series of blog posts, I discussed the Five-Fold Nobility. I want to continue discussing the process of becoming an Imperial American Culture by discussing the laws, customs, institutions and rules of the interregnum. The system proposed here and the system it is based upon is best served by relatively dull interregni at long intervals. However, in many ways the interegni are the periods of time which most define the regime and its system. In this Time Between the Kings the functions, structures and values of the regime are best illustrated and best made clear.
II. The Interregnum
There will have to be a direct reference in the new Constitution to the Interregnum Major Section of the Title The Imperial House in the Direct Imperial Government Civil Code and that Major Section will contain the detailed law which will govern and authorize the appropriate officials to effect the progress of the interregnum.
A. End of Reign Issues
The Grand Royal and Imperial House and Household Assembly will have the capacity to administer a number of regimes of Abdication. Only one of them is considered normal and is not really an abdication when within the number of times it has been invoked it is used properly and things are as they were expected to be. When an older Basileus-King/Roi-Emperor has passed the average life expectancy already and has been suffering from a lingering illness and has certified that he believes this to be his last illness and has set this deed in effect then A Time oF Mortality Abdication Act is in effect. When this Monarch slips into a sharp decline, coma or extended incompetence from which it is not believed he can survive longer than an interregnum takes then the instrument of law is activated and all proceeds as though he had died except for some issues of form. When he dies during the Pre Conclave Process the Process is then interrupted and all the effects are managed which go with the death itself. Then, with small adjustments the Process proceeds where it left off. Except fo this single form of Abdication none are normal. The Emperor is expected to reign until dead. The interregnum begins when this death occurs.
1. Certification of Death or Abdication
All three Court Physicians and the entire Successions Committee shall be summoned. A Quorum of these person will certify the Death or Abdication of the Monarch.
2.Summoning of the Agents of the Bereaved
In the case of Death the Harem is Given A declaration of Instant Dissolution. In the case of Abdication the Harem is given a declaration of Preliminary and Progressive Dissolution. The Harem’s Steering Board and the Mistress of Ceremonies decide whether they dissolve under a system of Emergency and Secrecy in Dissolution or whether ordinary procedures should be followed. The Harem will divide up the Common fund, set in place the defunct harem trust operating board, set up the correspondence committee and still be on premise to distribute three passes to their choice of Heirs before attending the funeral under normal circumstances. In an emergency they and their children and attendants will follow sealed procedures for dispersal.
3. Council of the Bereaved and First Dissolution
If there is an Empress she is now titled Empress Bereaved and holds Imperial Sway as she first meets with the Interregnum Council. If there is an Acting Empress then she becomes the President of the Interregnum Council which shall have reduced but substantial Imperial Sway during the Interregnum. If there is no Empress at all then the Interregnum Council will work under the Minimum Reserve Powers Provision of the Code and will work with the Direct Imperial Government to hold and exercise the Imperial Sway untill the new Emperor is reigning. Here in the first meeting the Harem. the List of Heirs, the Mistress of Ceremonies Bureaucracy and the Personal Offices of the Emperor or admitted to the Council of the Bereaved and given Writs of Dissolution and a schedule of their breaking apart and evacuating various duties and places.
4.The State Funeral and Burial
The State Funeral and Burial or to be major events but are not going to discuss in detail here. The Family must be well-informed and cared for but should have few decisions to make and tasks to innovate as regards this event. In all cases all Heirs and Family are to be given time (at least three days) to attend to activities related to these events with little other demand for their serious attentions.
B. The Interregnum Imperial Sway
The Interregnum does not greatly reduce the powers or responsibilities of the Imperial Sway. The main reduction is that it shall be nearly impossible to reform Succession law and procedure at this time of the regime’s operation. the governance and politics of the Imperial House goes on with only such use of recesses and vacations as fit within a sensible established framework.
1. The Empress
If there is an Empress she is politically indistinguishable from the Emperor in all but a few specified areas of law and operation. The Acting Empress will have substantial power when acting with full support of the majority of the Interregnum Council.
2. The Interregnum Council
The Interregnum Council must certify all Imperial acts, edicts and proclamations. They must also adjust to the three very different roles they will fulfill depending on the presence and capacity of th Empress.
C. The Successions Regime
On some day between the Death or Abdication and twenty-one days later the Imperial Solicitor and the three Chaplains and the US Censors and the Commanders of Each Compact Cavalry Honor Guard will declare that a Successions Regime is under full procedure. These persons will meet with the Interregnum Council and Publish a report on the basics of the Successions regime. they will also address a joint Session of Congress and hold a major press conference on this subject.
1. Evaluation, Enrollment and House Passes of Heirs
Heirs by right under thirteen years of age will always have been Heirs- in-Waiting. if one is about to turn thirteen he may appeal for a delay of up to one month and according to the guidelines of the Code the Interregnum Council will make these determination. This will be determined and the List of Heirs will be submitted. Those unwilling to participate will be publicly interviewed, will sign an affidavit and be fined. They will not ne allowed to pass down their participation or simply pass the chance. The number of Passes held by each Heir will be announced and the number of those awarded on the basis of their evaluation and the score resulting in those evaluation passes will also be published. The disposition of the four passes belonging to the Empress, the one belonging to each Chaplain, the three belonging to the Harem, the two belonging to the Imperial Solicitor, the two belonging to the Commander of the Blood Company and the one belonging to the Commander of the Noble and Aristocratic Honor Guard will also be published.
2.The Assembly of Peer-Electors, Electors-for Life and Marshalls
All Imperial, Acadian and Royal Peer-Electors and Electors for Life will be assembled and meet the Marshalls selected by the Interregnum Committee. The five Peer-Electors who are also Heirs will relinquish their role after certifying the Marshalls. They shall do this with the understanding that they will take these up again if and when they are eliminated from the competition. The Heir will have five days from that assembly to submit their listed Team of Supporters.
3. The Assembly of Heir’s Teams
Each Heir shall submit a list of people with a title for which role they would play in the Conclave if admitted. The list will number the highest total number of people whom that Heir could possibly bring as electors into the Conclave if he used no passes and if he earned therefore all possible bonuses. Thus the list will vary substantially by Heir. Nobody may be a principal on more than one list. Every Heir’s list will include at least three alternates who are not on any other list in any capacity. Nobody may be on more than four lists in any capacity. At the time of the Conclave no Heir will be permitted to bring in anyone not on their list submitted at this time.
4.The Grand Assembly of Permanent Electors and Heirs and the Opening Address of the Marshalls
Once the lists are certified the Marshalls of the Trials and Ordeals will announce the Program and certify the Heirs to the Competitors Camp. They shall not leave it until they become Arrived Heirs or are eliminated. The whole body of Permanent Electors will accompany them there for a reception and the Sealing In of the Competitors.
5.The Dissolution of the House and Household and the Start of the Trials and Ordeals.
From the moment they are sealed in the Imperial Household will begin a step by step and stage by stage dissolution of the Imperial House and Household sections and the Roll of the House and Household. The Permanent and Succeeding Sections will begin to be certified with the help of and witness of the people on the Heirs lists. The Trial and Ordeals will begin and continue on a schedule which is known and with regulated media coverage.
6.The Trials and Ordeals and the Summoning of the Conclave Participants and Alternates
There will be a Halfway Reception on the day when the Heirs are halfway through the Trials and Ordeals. All Conclave Participants and the Heir Competitors will attend. At that time the Participants will be sealed into the Residence of the Conclave. They will begin to watch events in the Trials and Ordeals from the stands and galleries prepared for them.
7. The Arrival of the Heir-Candidates and the Dismissal of the Marshalls and the Minister of Protocol.
When the Trials and Ordeals or completed there will be a Ceremony of Arrival and the Marshalls and the Outgoing Minister of Protocol will be Dismissed at that ceremony. The Empress will address the assembly briefly if she wishes and if there is an Empress without regard to recent or intervening custom. The Conclave proper will begin on the next day.
D. The Conclave
The Conclave will operate in secret. The minutes will not be published for fifty years. The participants will not be allowed to record anything while in the chamber. The first day however they will all be entitled to write a letter home and then there will be a ceremonial burning of pens and paper. The secrecy will begin the second day.
1. The Opening Address and Presentations of Heir-Candidates
The first day will end with all Arrived heirs giving a speech to the Conclave. They may be assisted by their electors with equipment and performances. Each shall be allotted the same period of time. The speeches will be brief.
2.The Sealing of the Conclave
The Conclave will be sealed and the Heirs sent to the Waiting Camp. From there they will be summoned as they are eliminated to serve as Electors or else at the end to become Emperor or to witness the Emperor being proclaimed.
3. The Ballots
The Imperial Solicitor will address the Conclave reminding them that they may elect by acclamation on the first ballot so long as it is duly certified by ballot. However he will also read the rules which force an election if pursued long enough. An Heir must receive two-thirds of the votes on the first ballot to become Emperor. After the first ballot all those who received less votes than the top half of the Arrived Heirs and did not finish in the top three in any of either the Imperial, Acadian or Royal Louisiana Electoral Delegations will be eliminated. On the second ballot the rules will be complex and in the code depending on the number of candidates but the top Candidate in each block will still be protected. On the third ballot and afterwards a simple majority is required to determine the Emperor and any Candidate finishing twice at the bottom of a ballot after the third shall be eliminated.
4. Proclamation
The Emperor-Elect will be for all purposes Emperor. However, his role shall be assumed in stages. But the Interregnum ends with his election.
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