Imperium

The Empire (Magonian: Imperium; Icarian: ἡγεμονῐ́ᾱ [hēgemonia]) is a country in Central Arhet. It is the largest country in the world by area, covering over 13 million square kilometers (5.2 x 106 sq mi) and, with 1.1 billion inhabitants within its 89 constituent provinces, is also the world's most populous country. Imperium shares borders with 30 countries, counting the enclaved country of Sanace Sanitimi. Imperium has 8 territorial exclaves throughout the world: 5 insular and 3 continental. The nation's capital and largest city is Magium.

Due to its strategic geographic location in Arhet and the inmense size of its territory, The Empire has historically been home to myriad peoples and cultures. In addition to the various ancient civilizations dispersed throughout what is the modern-day Imperium, the most predominant were the Phocaean and Icarian peoples who expanded their culture for most of the Empire. The Phocaeans established the Res Publica Phocaeensis, while the Icarians established many poleis. The most relevant peoples before them were the Isopan, Hespedian, Skyran, Caerulean and Viridian. Following the end of the Phocaeo-Icarian War, the Phocaean and Icarian unified their territories, under the leadership of Magius, to form the Ethereal Empire, which is considered to be the origin of the modern Imperium. The empire was led by Magius for more than 500 years, and by his descendants for 200 years.

The Dominate began with Titanius III, who was the first emperor to have no blood connection with Magius. This absolutist system prevailed for about 225 years until the rise of the High Council: an institution composed of religious leaders, regional leaders and magicians, who from the First Electivate had the power to choose the right person to be the emperor and lead the empire with him until its death. The system was reformed to Second Electivate in which it began to gradually incorporate democracy in the government of the Empire. This was done by establishing the Senate: an institution whose members are democratically elected and would have the power to confirm the High Council's election for emperor. Due to the popular clamor for a greater democratization of government, the current system of government began in 1720: the constitutional monarchy. In this system, the executive branch is made up of the Epistalma and two Consuls Plebeius, who are elected by the Senate. State autonomy was also granted to all 89 constituent provinces, and the emperor began to have a ceremonial role, but now he would be chosen from among the members of the Bassus-Cotta Family.

Today, Imperium is considered the world's most culturally, militarily and economically advanced country. Its system of government (Magonian system) is considered one of the most transparent and efficient in the world, especially for state autonomy, separation of powers and regulation of authority. The Empire is a country with great cultural wealth: almost all its cities have preserved their historic areas, which are attractive to tourists from all over the world. Imperium is also the cradle of philosophy, the social sciences and the exact sciences, as well as housing the most important educational centers in the world.

Government and politics
The Empire is a federal state under a constitutional monarchy. Federal legislative power is exercised primarily by the Senate and, for constitutional changes and laws that affect state powers, along with the High Council. The Senate is elected through direct elections using the single transferable vote system. The members of the High Council are appointed by the Concilium Principum, Theurgarum and Hierophantarum to represent the sociopolitical groups from the 89 constituent provinces.

The emperor, currently Gregorius IX, is the head of state and invested only with ceremonial functions, without any power over the federal and state governments. He is elected by the Senate through a process known as Electivate, in which they choose among suitable candidates from the Bassus-Cotta Family, to hold office for life as a life peer. This position has existed since 512 BC and its inaugural holder was Magius, the creator of the Empire and the greatest deity throughout the country.

The Consuls Plebeius are together the heads of government and exercise executive power through the Epistalma (Cabinet). They are elected each year by the Senate using the single transferable vote system, for a term of 1 year and without the possibility of being elected again until 3 years later. To be differentiated from each other, the Consuls Plebeius have the titles Primus and Segundus, depending on their place in the Senate vote; however, this title does not represent any difference in their functions. The current Consuls Plebeius, for the 2020-2021 term, are Milo Antonius (Primus) and Nicoteles Iustus (Segundus).

The third-highest official of the Empire is the President of the Senate (Princeps Senatus if man; Princeps Domina Senatus if woman), who is elected by the Senate and responsible for overseeing the daily sessions of the body. The fourth-highest official is the President of the High Council (Princeps Concilii if man; Princeps Domina Concilii if woman), who is the highest-ranking representative of the Concilium Principum on the High Council; also, each of the councils represented are led by the Magister Principum, Magister Theurgarum and Magister Hierophantarum, who have the responsibility of overseeing the activity of their council representatives in the High Council.

Political parties
The Empire has a multi-party system, in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for federal elections and several of them have the ability to win Senate seats and government positions thanks to the single transferable vote system. As of October 2021, the following 15 parties have seats in the Senate: