Imperium

 This page is under renovation. Read about the overall process here. Check the content in the sandbox and the earlier version. Imperium (IMP), also known as the Hegemonian Empire, is a confederation of 90 first-level entities that are primarily located in Central Arhet. The confederation has a total area of 13,982,120 km² (5.4 million sq mi) and an estimated total population of nearly 978 million. It is governed as a constitutional monarchy with a hybrid system of supranational and intergovernmental decision-making.

As a confederation, Imperium is governed through eight independent, supranational and intergovernmental Hegemonian institutions: the Hegemonian Council, Epistalma, Senate, High Council, Hegemonian Court, Aerarium, Hegemonian Bank and the Hegemonian Military Council. The Hegemonian Council is seated alternatively between Arx Consularis (map) and Orei (map); while the Epistalma and the Senate are both seated in Magium (map), as they are closely related. The remaining six institutions are seated in Dicaearchus (map), Balisipo (map), Olisipo (map), Merkatos (map) and Lichas (map).

The elected emperor, as the Vicary of Magius Aeternus and the symbol of the unity of the Hegemonian peoples, is the ceremonial head of state. Prior to the current era, constitutional monarchy, Imperium's form of government evolved from an absolutist monarchy in the Ethereal Empire and Dominate, to an elective monarchy during the First and Second Electivate, where the emperor was elected by the High Council and eventually, also by the Senate. The Consules Plebeii, elected by the Senate, are the heads of government.

Etymology and terminology
The term Imperium comes from the Hegemonian language (the dominant language throughout its history), meaning "great power" and, by extension, "empire". By general convention, the version of early historian Fabius Musca is widely accepted as the term's etymology. Musca explains that the term is related to Magius Aeternus, as the "great power over the Hegemonian peoples", the first wielder of magic and his divine origin (being the twin of Zeus and protected by the goddess Rhea; and ascending to the Ether alive).

The adjective Aetherium, from the Hegemonian (meaning "ethereal, celestial, heavenly"), initially reinforced the idea that Imperium was governed by Magius Aeternus through his direct descendants, formally named as the Vicaries of Magius Aeternus and, most of them, also Hegemonian deities. The adjective fell into disuse following the accession to the throne of Titanius II in 221 CE, the first emperor without direct relation to Magius Aeternus and, consequently, losing the right to be a deity - as most of his predecessors were.

Following the proclamation of the First Electivate, the Icarian term ἡγεμονία (hēgemonía), meaning "rule, authority, political supremacy", emerged as synonym of Imperium and as demonym for the Hegemonian peoples, as explained by the 5th century historian Erichthonius: "the name was adopted due to Imperium's undeniable political, economic and military predominance over other countries".

Government and politics
Imperium is a confederation of 90 first-level entities, which is governed as a constitutional monarchy with a hybrid system of supranational and intergovernmental decision-making, and according to the principles of conferral (which says that it should act only within the limits of the competences conferred on it by Hegemonian law) and subsidiarity (which says that it should act only where an objective cannot be sufficiently achieved by the first-level entities acting independently). Laws made by the Hegemonian institutions are passed in a variety of forms. Generally speaking, they can be classified into two groups: those which come into force without the necessity for internal implementation measures (regulations) and those which specifically require internal implementation measures (directives). Hegemonian policy is generally promulgated by Hegemonian directives, which are then implemented in the domestic legislation of its first-level entities, and Hegemonian regulations, which are immediately enforceable in all first-level entities. Decisions and recommendations can also be issued as part of the Hegemonian policy.

Governance
The emperor is the head of state of Imperium, as the symbol of the Hegemonian state and the unity of Hegemonian peoples, with his position deriving from his legitimacy as the Vicary of Magius Aeternus. As the emperor no longer personally sets public policy, governance is exercised through 8 independent, supranational and intergovernmental Hegemonian institutions. The Hegemonian Council is responsible for defining the political direction and priorities of Imperium and consisting of the heads of government from the 90 first-level entities and the Consules Plebeii. The Consules Plebeii are the heads of government of Imperium and representatives of the Hegemonian Government, as well as the chairs of the Epistalma — the executive body of Imperium, responsible for implementing public policy concerning various issues and cooperating with the first-level governments.

The Senate and the High Council are the legislative bodies of Imperium, responsible for formulating, approving and ammending the Hegemonian law. The Senate consists of 952 senators, which are elected to represent their first-level entities at-large by the single transferable vote system; while the High Council consists of 360 members, which must be part of the Concilium Principum, Sapientium, Theurgarum and Hierophantarum. By convention, each of the 4 conciliums appoints one member from each first-level entity, through different procedures that are internally established by each concilium of the High Council. The Hegemonian Court is the judiciary of the Hegemonian Government, responsible for the uniform application and interpretation of the Hegemonian law, as well as cooperating with the procedures of first-level judiciaries. The Court is also responsible for resolving legal disputes between the first-level governments and any of the Hegemonian institutions. The Aerarium is the finance and supreme audit institution of Imperium, responsible for providing the budget, monitoring and providing control and accountability of public funds, reviewing the quality and accuracy of government financial reporting, and contributing to anti-corruption efforts within the Hegemonian Government and the first-level entities.

The Hegemonian Bank is the central bank of Imperium and the prime component of the Hegemonian System of Banks, consisting of two governing bodies: the Council of Censors and the Council of Masters. The Council of Censors is responsible for determining monetary policy for the 90 first-level entities, administering the foreign exchange and gold reserves of the first-level entities, engaging in foreign exchange operations, and defining the intermediate monetary objectives and key interest rate of Imperium. The Council of Masters enforces policies and decisions of the Council of Censors, and may direct the constituent banks when doing so; also, the Bank has the exclusive right to authorise the issuance of Argentus banknotes and coins. The Hegemonian Bank also operates some Hegemonian payments systems.

The Hegemonian Military Council is the governing body of Imperium's military, responsible for military operations concerning conscription, intelligence, national security, civil protection and defense of the first-level entities. The Council consists of the leaders of the Ministry of Soldiers, the Hegemonian Forces, the Gendarmerie and the Intelligence Force. For operational purposes, the Council is divided into three further governing bodies: the Council of the Soldiers, responsible for the operation of the Division of the Legions, Aeronautics and the Navy; the Council of the Gendarmerie, responsible for operation of the 90 components of the Hegemonian Gendarmerie; as well as the Administration of the Intelligence Force, responsible for the operation of the various intelligence agencies that constitute the Intelligence Force.