# Government Structure of Mercury’s Republic ## Foundational Model [[Mercury]]’s Republic preserves the structure of the Roman Republic, updated with modern civic infrastructure and magical oversight. The system remains symbolically eternal: *Res Publica Aeterna*. ## Duumvirate Structure Mercury’s Republic is governed at the highest level by a **Duumvirate**, a dual executive leadership formed by two life-appointed figures: **Cicero** and **Octavian**. This structure ensures perpetual balance between traditionalist and reformist forces. Each Duumvir holds reciprocal veto power over the other’s decisions, maintaining equilibrium within the Republic’s constitutional framework. Cicero presides over the Senate, while Octavian guides the Juviante. Together, they embody the dual spirit of preservation and evolution within the Eternal Republic. - Dual Consuls (elected annually) - [[Senate]] of aristocratic advisors - Magically-regulated cult licensing - Separation between civic governance and magical administration (Mage’s Tower) --- ## Civic Administrative Departments (Curiae) Each department is a **Curia**, modeled on Roman tradition but modernized for magical urban governance: - **Curia Custodiae Publicae** – Public Safety and Enforcement *Lictor command, magical response, civil wardens.* *Includes the Lictors, who carry the fasces and enforce civic authority. Though officially appointed by the Juvinate, all Lictors are now informally known as "Mithran Lictors" due to their covert integration into the Cult of Mithras. This transformation began when Octavian seized control of the Lictor’s Guild as part of his administrative reforms. Over time, all new appointments have aligned with Mithran indoctrination, giving the enforcement arm of the Republic a metaphysical edge and unwavering loyalty to the Juvinate.* - **Curia Transportuum** – Transportation *Floating litter lanes, transit runes, magical traffic systems.* - **Curia Tabularia** – Records *Manages births, deaths, citizenship, deeds, archives.* - **Curia Suffragiorum** – Elections and Voting *Handles electoral rolls, ballots, voting rituals.* - **Curia Medicinae** – Health and Public Wellness *Oversees clinics, plague control, public healing.* - **Curia Urbium** – Urban Planning and Zoning *City maintenance, aqueducts, sanitation, development regulation.* - **Curia Arcanum** – Magical Regulation *Licensing, enforcement, crystal rationing, and spell auditing.* --- ## Hierarchy of Governance - **Consuls** – Dual executive power (elected annually) - **Senators Juvinates** – Central legislative body of patricians, former magistrates, and cult leaders - **Praetors** – Legal and judicial officials - **Aediles** – Public games, temples, urban management - **Quaestors** – Financial oversight and audits - **Governors** – Provincial administrators (appointed from consuls/praetors) - **Lictors** – Enforcers who carry the *fasces*, symbols of lawful power - **Nullarii** – Secret police force composed entirely of Mithran enforcers. Operate outside standard oversight, specializing in metaphysical erasure and dissonance suppression. ```mermaid graph TD Consuls --> Senate Senate --> Praetors Senate --> Aediles Senate --> Quaestors Senate --> Governors Governors --> Lictors ``` --- ## Government Branches Overview Mercury’s Republic is structured around a tiered governance model: - **Executive Branch**: Occupying the highest tier, the Executive Branch is represented by **Cicero** (*Pater Rei Publicae*) and **Octavian** (*Filius Rei Publicae*). They serve as symbolic and operational guides to the Republic’s long-term stability. This branch oversees both the legislative and judicial processes, ensuring constitutional adherence and continuity of governance. See the following section for detailed structure of executive oversight. - **Legislative Branch**: Positioned beneath the executive, the Legislative Branch is composed of the **Senate** and the **Juviante**, representing patrician and constitutional interests respectively. These two chambers collaborate to draft laws, regulate cult activity, and manage national infrastructure and policy. - **Judicial Branch**: Also beneath the executive, the Judicial Branch is headed by **Praetors** and local magistrates. It interprets laws, administers justice, and ensures consistency and fairness in legal rulings throughout the Republic. ```mermaid graph TD Executive["Executive"] Executive --> Legislative["Legislative"] Executive --> Judicial["Judicial"] Legislative --> Senate["Senate"] Legislative --> Juviante["Juviante"] Judicial --> Praetors["Praetors"] Judicial --> Magistrates["Magistrates"] ``` --- ## Executive Oversight: Cicero & Octavian The Executive Branch is jointly held by two lifelong appointed figures who provide constitutional stability and executive oversight over all government functions. - **Cicero** (*Pater Rei Publicae*) Exercises direct oversight over the **Senate**. Holds full veto authority within the Senate and serves as the traditionalist guardian of the Republic’s founding principles. - **Octavian** (*Filius Rei Publicae*) Oversees the **Juviante**. Holds full veto authority within the Juviante and leads reformist and cult-integrative initiatives. Each executive figure also holds reciprocal veto power over the actions of the other, ensuring a balanced duumvirate. The **Judicial Branch reports equally to both**, remaining impartial and accountable to both executive offices. ```mermaid graph TD subgraph Executive["Executive"] Cicero["Cicero (Pater Rei Publicae)"] Octavian["Octavian (Filius Rei Publicae)"] end subgraph Legislative["Legislative"] Senate["Senate"] Juviante["Juviante"] end subgraph Judicial["Judicial"] Praetors["Praetors"] Magistrates["Magistrates"] end Executive -->Legislative Executive -->Judicial Cicero -.->|veto| Octavian Octavian -.->|veto| Cicero Senate -.->|veto| Juviante Juviante -.->|veto| Senate ``` --- ## Citizenship Tiers - **Roman Citizen** – Full rights: voting, land ownership, divine recognition - **Colonial Citizen** – Regional privileges, partial Roman benefits - **Client Citizen** – Entry-level; can advance through cults, military, or labor - **Manumitted Citizen** – Earned freedom through bonded or contractual service - *All citizens and legionnaires swear loyalty not to any individual, but to SPQRΔ—the Senate and People of the Divine Order—and to Mercury, divine patron of the Republic.* --- ## Governance Infrastructure Notes - **Currency**: Denarii - **Magic System**: Worship is converted into Gravitas, then refined into [[Harmonic Resonance]] - **Crystals**: Function like utilities—metered, taxed, and regulated - **Example Propaganda**: _“Cicero: Pater Patriae, Heros Rei Publicae Aeternae”_ (Under the banner of SPQRΔ) --- ## Colonial and Provincial Governance The Republic’s [[Provinces]] remain geographically and nominally identical to those under Emperor Trajan at the height of Rome’s power. They are organized into Western, Eastern, African, and Frontier territories. For detailed breakdowns and regional structures, see: [[Providences]].