Government of J Andres

The J Andres Government has primarily been run by the Commune since the establishment of Government in 1982. The Commune is the sole governing body in the nation, although the President has the executive roles of carrying out the decisions made by the Commune.

Commune
The Commune is the sole governing body in J Andres. It was first established in 1982. The Commune is tasked with the typical legislative duties of creating laws, and declaring wars. The Commune may remove any official from office. The Commune is populated by Senators who serve 1 year terms. Senators are appropriated by population; One senator represents every 100,000 citizens. Each senator receives one vote. Also receiving votes are the President and the Monarch. The President and Monarch each receive a number of votes equaling 1/5 of the total number of senators. This gives the President an increased power over the commune, and the monarch typically abstains from most votes.

In the past the Commune also contained a Constituent Panel. Any J Andres citizen could walk into the Historic Commune Building and sit through proceedings, they were also permitted to cast votes. The Constituent Panel as a whole received a number of votes equal to 1/5 the number of senators, and these votes were apportioned to whatever a majority of the constituent panel voted for.

The Commune has a few unique powers over the office of President, for all of which, only the Commune Senators may vote. The Commune may decide to remove a President from Office. This has only occurred once, in the case of Jack Bosco, President during the Communist Rebellions. This power does not stop at the President, the Commune can remove any government official from office. The Commune can also give supreme authority to the President, typically with the title "President General." Once the President has been granted supreme authority, they hold all powers of the Commune and President together, essentially making them the one source of power within the government. Only once has the Commune granted supreme authority upon a President, Josef Mercton received the distinction, but quickly returned power to the Commune after a few months after realizing how unbalanced it was.

President
See Also: List of Presidents of J Andres

The President of J Andres is the chief executive of the J Andres Government, charged with the execution of Commune Laws while also receiving a number of votes in the Commune. The President is directly elected by the citizens of J Andres, although in the past, the President was elected by the Commune itself. The President is also free to choose whatever title that they wish to serve as their designation as Head of State. Josef Mercton selected the title "President General," although this title has been recently tied to the position of supreme authority when granted by the Commune. Every President since Mercton has chosen to simply be identified as President.

The President has the power to create governmental departments to assist in the execution of his duties. As President General, Josef Mercton created the Departments of War and Defense, as well as Foreign Affairs. While Ben Richards was President, he created the Departments of Domestic Affairs and the Department of Energy.

The President also serves as the Commander-in-chief of the J Andres Military.

Monarch
See Also: List of Monarchs of J Andres

The position of Monarch was originally created before the Communist Revolt in 1986. It was originally devised as a way to hold on to power during the revolt. For this reason, the Monarch is granted a number of votes equal to 1/5 the number of senators in the Commune. The first Monarch of J Andres was Josef I.

The Order of Succession is not dominated by either gender, and the crown falls to the eldest child of the reigning monarch. Various other noble families hold rights to the crown as well. The Monarch may "Bestow Peerage" upon and individual. King Josef I created the Dukedoms of Boston and Rossingol for Ben Richards and Adrik Annan respectively. Other noble families also can claim a right to the crown if they were of noble blood before the formation of J Andres. These families fall below the Bestowed Dukedoms on the order of succession. The Prince of Endor Cuidad, is typically a title given to the heir apparent.

Besides for the Commune votes, the position of Monarch is largely that of a figurehead, with no official duties.

Governmental Departments
The President has the power to create various departments to assist in the administration and execution of his duties.

Department of Domestic Affairs
See Also: List of Domestic Affairs Ministers

The Department of Domestic Affairs was created by President Ben Richards in 1989. With the purpose of providing "intelligent direction in the affairs of growing the nation's infrastructure and urban development."

Department of Energy
See Also: List of Energy Ministers

The Department of Energy was created by President Ben Richard in 1993 with the purpose of "transitioning J Andres into a nuclear age of power and weaponry." Minister Nobaru Yoshiro successfully put into action a plan that eliminated J Andres dependence on fossil fuels for power, utilizing a system of Nuclear Power plants for all electricity and requiring all civilian vehicles to be electric. Minister Yoshiro also saw through the development of the J Andres Nuclear Arms Program where J Andres grew its number of nuclear warheads.

Department of Foreign Affairs
See Also: List of Foreign Affairs Ministers

The Department of Foreign Affairs, created by President General Josef Mercton in 1982, has always been crucial in making J Andres a global force. Minister Mickey Bethesda and Minister Adrik Annan have revolutionized the department and brought J Andres onto the world stage through their developments. Minister Bethesda is largely responsible for bringing J Andres to the North Atlantic Defense Coalition, which resulted in J Andres recieving large amounts of foreign aid and increasing national exposure. Adrik Annan is responsible for SPEED, the Standard Protocols for Embassy Establishment Declaration which made it possible for the construction of Embassy Circle and Bethesda Way.

Department of War and Defense
See Also: List of War and Defense Ministers

The Department of War and Defense, created by President General Josef Mercton in 1982 is the oldest department in existence. It directly oversees the J Andres Military and all of its operations. It also is the most dynamic department in the sense that every President has chosen a new minister at some point during their Presidency, where many of the other departments tend to keep their department heads for more prolonged periods of time.