Lord Governor-General of Aurice
The Lord Governor-General of Aurice is the highest executive office of the Noble Republic of Aurice. The office was created in 2628 after the Aurician Revolution in 2627. The Lord Governor-General has the power to appoint the lord high commanders of the military forces (skyforce, naval, and grand army), to appoint the lord governors of certain over-provinces, to preside over meetings of the Noble Senate, and other executive functions.
Election and Term of the Lord Governor-General
The Lord Governor-General is elected by the Noble Senate of Aurice. He must be a duke and serves a term of three years. He may not serve two consecutive terms, regardless of how much of the term was served. This is applicable to suffect terms where a Lord Governor-General is elected to serve the balance of the term of a newly deceased Lord Governor-General. The term of the Lord Governor-General begins on the second day of Amrulmoon and is completed on the first day of Amrulmoon
The election of a duke, who is essentially the family patriarch for his family house, adds greatly to the prestige of the ducal house and there is a noted distinction between gubernatorial ducal houses, that is houses who have previously or presently served as Lord Governor-General, and those ducal houses who have no such service. Nearly all senatorial houses and most ducal houses existed well before the creation of the Noble Republic and thus before the creation of the office of Lord Governor-General.
Procedure of Conclaval Election of Lord-Governor General
Only senators may vote for the new Lord Governor-General. The election is held on the second to last day of Addanmoon during the last full year of the current term of office. The senators meet, historically in the Senatorial Palace, in conclave. The Provincial Chamber elects the Lieutenant Governor-General of Aurice on the same day as the Senate. The Senate meet in conclave and are not permitted to leave or have communication with the outside world. Foods are prepared before hand or inside the Senatorial Palace.
The Dukes first meet together as a body. The other senators (hierophants, counts, barons, and metropolitan senators) observe. The lord of the Senate turns over direction to the lord of the rank of the dukes. The lord of the rank of the dukes asks all dukes present who wish to be considered candidates for the office of Lord Governor-General to gather on the mensary. Then the lord of the rank of the dukes makes a note of them and reports this to the lord of the Senate. Historically, this list has been as small as seventeen and as great as forty nine. The lord of the Senate then validates the list and gives it to four lords of the rank. While all senators in good standing may vote for the new Lord Governor-General, only duke senators in good standing may stand as candidates.
The ranks meet each as a body, the dukes and hierophants meeting as a single body, though they are strictly speaking not the same rank. The lord of the rank for each respective body presides over the voting. In the first vote, each senator in his respective body may vote for up to three different candidates from the 'great list.' The lord of the rank tallies the votes and determines the three highest amounts of votes given. If more than three candidates have received the three highest numbers of votes, then all of those are noted. The lord of the rank makes a list of these candidates. All other candidates are excluded from the list. The lord of the rank puts this new list to a vote before his body. Each senator of the body may cast but one vote. The lord of the rank tallies the votes and determines the three highest vote counts. If this is evenly three without any ties, then he compiles the list. If more than three have received the three highest amounts of votes, then the lord of the rank makes a note of these, excluding all who received less than the three highest amounts of votes. He puts this new, probably reduced list to a third vote before his body. Each senator of his rank votes for but one candidate. It is hoped that the list has been further reduced. Regardless, the lord of the rank notes the top two highest amount of votes. All the candidates who received this amount are noted. This list may be as few as two or more if multiple candidates have received the same number of votes. At this point all four ranks have each their own respective short list. The four lords of the rank meet and consolidate their list of candidates into a single, 'final list of candidates.' This list is rarely more than twenty senators.
The four lords then present the 'final list of candidates' to the lord of the Senate. He validates the list and then brings the matter before the whole senate. First he takes a count of those in attendance, noting the numbers for each rank and for the whole senate. The count for the whole senate is usually between sixteen hundred and nineteen hundred senators. The lord of the Senate then puts the final list to a vote before the whole body of the senate. Each senator may vote for one candidate. The lord of the Senate tallies the votes and the candidate receiving the most votes wins. If there is a tie, then the votes are re-tallied, but this time excluding the votes cast by Metropolitan Senators. If there is still a tie, then the lord of the Senate retallies the votes, this time excluding the votes of the Metropolitan Senators and the votes of the Baron Senators. If there is still a tie, the lord of the Senate re-tallies the votes yet again, excluding the votes of the Metropolitan Senators, the Baron Senators, and the Count Senators. If there is still a tie, then the lord of the Senate makes a list of the tied candidates and puts the matter to a vote before the whole senate. If there is still a tie, then the candidate who is older wins. The lord of the Senate then declares the winner.
Vestiture and State Blessing
The new Lord Governor-General of Aurice is ceremonially vested in office on the second day of Amrulmoon of the first year of his term, usually in the Senatorial Palace. He is then escorted to the docks where he and a select group of senators and servants board the Golden Barge of the High Phœnissa and sail a short distance across Golden Phœnice Riven. The barge docks and the new Lord Governor-General disembark and approach the front portal where he supplicates for admission. The High Phœnissa orders the portal to open and she beckons him to enter. He enters and the High Phœnissa ritually blesses him and the whole republic for the next three years.
See Also
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