Regional Government Authorities
Following Amalgamation in 2009, the powers of the 24 Republics and Kingdom were distributed between the national government and regional government authorities. Regional Government Authorities have control over a great number of responsibilities, local regulations and local laws (referred to as bylaws) and so provide many fundamental government services.
Local Government in Xuande-Xiphoi is constituted by 100 Regional Government Authorities (also known as Regional Councils to distinguish them more clearly from Regional Government Areas) which provide services over a geographic area, generally a city or region. There are additional Regional Government Authorities referred to as Special Regional Government Authorities, which are empowered by national laws and have appointed, rather than elected, administrators. These are the Fort Ormdrae Military City, the Parliament Complex Authority, and the Supreme Court Complex Authority.
Councils have the power, under standardizing laws provided under national legislation, to create bylaws which are directly enforceable in courts within the Regional Government Area. Council Bylaws may only assess a penalty of a fine up to a national maximum which is different for persons and different types of organisations and some other factors.
In the event of a conflict of laws between the laws of Xuande-Xiphoi and a Regional Government Area, Xuande-Xiphoian national law is superior to local laws for the extent of the conflict.
Local Government in Xuande-Xiphoi is constituted by 100 Regional Government Authorities (also known as Regional Councils to distinguish them more clearly from Regional Government Areas) which provide services over a geographic area, generally a city or region. There are additional Regional Government Authorities referred to as Special Regional Government Authorities, which are empowered by national laws and have appointed, rather than elected, administrators. These are the Fort Ormdrae Military City, the Parliament Complex Authority, and the Supreme Court Complex Authority.
Councils have the power, under standardizing laws provided under national legislation, to create bylaws which are directly enforceable in courts within the Regional Government Area. Council Bylaws may only assess a penalty of a fine up to a national maximum which is different for persons and different types of organisations and some other factors.
In the event of a conflict of laws between the laws of Xuande-Xiphoi and a Regional Government Area, Xuande-Xiphoian national law is superior to local laws for the extent of the conflict.
Current Regional Government Authorities
The capital city of each Republic or Kingdom is listed first followed by other Councils in alphabetical order.
Republic of Xanthi
Republic of Qi Zhou
Republic of Kókkinosonesia
Republic of Britomart
Republic of Wan Shan
Republic of Pudutamilakam
Republic of Pan Gu
Republic of Frourónisi
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Kingdom of Ménkǒu Dǎo
Republic of Polyxenesia
Republic of Nea Salamis
Republic of Nonus
Republic of Ierax
Republic of Feng Huáng Gu
Republic of Onesiphoros
Republic of Vikramanad
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Republic of Danaëneos
Republic of Qing Yuán Shán
Republic of Ouranesos
Republic of Qin Chuán
Republic of Euxinus
Republic of Eustachyschora
Republic of Aziznesos
Republic of Zhóu Si Dǎo
Special Authorities
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Responsibilities of Regional Councils
Councils hold the following responsibilities, which are delivered upon in partnership with the national government:
Councils, however, can differ widely in relation to activities they undertake, as long as they have consulted their communities in making the decisions. As a result, there is considerable diversity in the range of activities that councils provide, reflecting the different circumstances that cities, towns and communities find themselves in.
- Environmental resource management, flood control, air and water quality, pest control, regional parks and conservation, and bulk water supply.
- Transport services including local roads, in-area public transport, water reticulation, sewerage and refuse collection, libraries, parks, recreation services, local regulations, and town planning. Local Councils may also have special responsibilities in the provision of air and sea transport infrastructure.
- Community and economic development including development agencies, local consumer protection agencies, public housing services, and tourism support services.
- Education services including the provision of preschool, primary, secondary, and some vocational educational opportunities.
- Health services including general health, health and hospital services and boards, public health, and deathcare services.
- Emergency services including the organisation of a Fire & Emergency Service, Volunteer Civil Defence, and Ambulance Service.
- Licensing and regulatory services (excluding firearms, vehicle and driver standards and regulations) with regards to industries and authorities.
Councils, however, can differ widely in relation to activities they undertake, as long as they have consulted their communities in making the decisions. As a result, there is considerable diversity in the range of activities that councils provide, reflecting the different circumstances that cities, towns and communities find themselves in.
Setting of Regional Government Areaas
The process of determining a Regional Council's borders is based on the overall population of a Republic or Kingdom, with those borders determined by the Constitution of Xuande-Xiphoi. All Republics & Kingdom must have at least one regional government area. One regional government area per Republic or Kingdom emanates from the historic capital city of each.
The controlling agency for bordering matters is the Regional Government Areas Bordering Commission.
The total number of Regional Government Areas in each Republic or Kingdom is decided by the percentage of the national population resident in that Republic or Kingdom. As the Regional Governments Act 2009 currently legislates for 100 Local Councils, each 1% of the population is equivalent to an RGA, rounded to the nearest full percentage point. The goal of this determination is to ensure each RGA has a population and electors that fall within proportionate quotas across the nation, as RGAs are also used as constituencies for the Parliament. There must be at least one RGA in each Republic or Kingdom.
The controlling agency for bordering matters is the Regional Government Areas Bordering Commission.
The total number of Regional Government Areas in each Republic or Kingdom is decided by the percentage of the national population resident in that Republic or Kingdom. As the Regional Governments Act 2009 currently legislates for 100 Local Councils, each 1% of the population is equivalent to an RGA, rounded to the nearest full percentage point. The goal of this determination is to ensure each RGA has a population and electors that fall within proportionate quotas across the nation, as RGAs are also used as constituencies for the Parliament. There must be at least one RGA in each Republic or Kingdom.
Elected Members of Regional Governments
Xuande-Xiphoian citizens generally are able to elect representatives at the Regional and National level. At the Regional level, the following positions are elected by citizens:
- A Mayor, who is elected by all voters in the Regional Government Area. The Mayor also represents the city at the National Parliament's Mayoral Assembly. The Mayor is considered the chief executive of the Regional Council.
- A Regional Council, composed of a specified number of members (the median is 550). The members are referred to as Councillors. Each Councillor represents a geographic constituency within the Regional Government Area, which are independently bordered to contain a roughly equal number of voting constituents. Councillors are elected via compulsory preferential voting. These constituencies are known as Council Divisions, and typically have approximately 300,000 constituents.
- Each Council Division also has a Local Committee, made up of 19 members, who provide further democratic engagement for residents. Local Committee Members are elected to represent a geographic area, known as a Council Ward, which is contained wholly within the Council Division. Each Council Ward is drawn independently to include approximately one nineteenth of the total constituents in the Council Division in a single geographic area.
- The Councillor for the relevant Council Division attends the meeting as a participant, however, they do not possess a vote as the affairs of the Local Committee are separate to the duties of the Regional Councillor. Nonetheless, cooperation between the Committee and the Councillor is considered ideal.