Fiction:Stellar Union

"A glorious empire isolated from all the others, no wonder it has such a unique criminal history."

- Tarena Maana

The Stellar Union is an interspecies federal parliamentary republic located in the Milky Way Galaxy. As a small empire, the Stellar Union lacks colonies in any other major galaxy, but it does retain a large amount of power in star systems close by. Famed by nearby empires as a place where dreams can come true, the nearest superpower is a good three thousand light-years away.

Government
"You cannot live with or without a government."

- Prince Thyrae Yrdirsi

The Stellar Union is a parliamentary republic whose governing body is known as the Embassy. The Embassy is a council of representatives, known as delegates, from each member species' nation-state, which is then run by a Supreme Marshall. The Embassy has control over most legislative and executive powers in the Stellar Union.

Executive Branch
In the Stellar Union, most executive power is wielded by the Supreme Marshall. These powers include the ability to formally declare war, maintaining the Embassy, vetoing decisions made by the Embassy, appoint a council of assistants, and formally issuing peace. The Supreme Marshall is elected by the delegates of the Embassy every five years, for a maximum of two terms, and can be voted out of office by the Embassy in the same manner. In the event that the Supreme Marshall dies in office or resigns, a temporary, one term leader, called an Executive, is appointed to replace the vacant Supreme Marshall until a formal election can be held. The Executive has all the powers that the Supreme Marshall has, excluding the ability to appoint assistants.

Legislative Branch
While the Supreme Marshall has executive power in the Stellar Union, the Embassy has legislative power. The Embassy, being a council of elected delegates, holds elections every five years, exactly two years prior to Supreme Marshall elections. These elections allow for the common population to vote for the five representatives that their nation-state is permitted to have. These delegates are allowed a maximum of three terms non consecutively, but can be forbidden from running by their associated nation-state. Delegates have the power to make laws and decisions for the good of the Stellar Union, regulate trade amongst its member nation-states and between itself and other empires, issue taxes, propose a declaration of war to the Supreme Marshall, propose a peace treaty to the Supreme Marshall, and impeach the Supreme Marshall.

Judicial Branch
While not a true branch of the Stellar Union's government, the judicial system plays a crucial role in maintaining the Stellar Union. Headed by the High Council, the judicial system of the Stellar Union regulates disputes between member nation-states, clarifies the law in trials, and can repeal laws that are deemed "unconstitutional". However, most trials are headed by minor State Courts and the bigger, more important cases are headed by the High Council. The High Council is run by a group of seven judges, and the judges are appointed by the Embassy to serve twenty year long terms.