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Lotoa: Difference between revisions
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== Government and politics == | == Government and politics == | ||
[[File: | [[File:Emele Mahina, LT portrait.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Emele Mahina, the current Governor of Lotoa.]] | ||
Lotoa is | Lotoa is the second-most recent territory to become a state of Cartadania, having ratified the constitution on 3 January 2029, making it the 33rd federal entity and 32nd state to join the union. The state's capital and seat of government is the city of Laaula, located on Pōpolohua Bay at the southern end of Anamua Island. The state is organized into three branches of government – the executive branch consisting of the [[Governor of Lotoa|Governor]] and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the Council of Envoys and Senate of Lotoa; and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of Lotoa and lower courts. All candidates in the primary elections are listed on the ballot with their preferred party affiliation, but they are not the official nominee of that party. At the primary election, the two candidates with the top votes will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. If at a special primary election, one candidate receives more than 50% of all the votes cast, they are elected to fill the vacancy and no special general election will be held. | ||
Lotoa | === Executive branch === | ||
The executive branch of Lotoa comprises the [[Governor of Lotoa]] and seven other elected constitutional officers: the [[Lieutenant Governor of Lotoa|Lieutenant Governor]], Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Controller, State Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Education. As the chief executive officer of the State, the Governor also serves as commander-in-chief of its military force. Lotoa is the sole state in Cartadania to actively maintain a naval paramilitary force. | |||
The Lieutenant Governor assumes the role of President of the Senate of Lotoa and holds the primary position in the line of succession to the governor. Meanwhile, the Attorney General acts as the principal legal advisor to the governor and the Royal Assembly, serving as the chief lawyer of the State and heading the Department of Justice. The Attorney General is second in the line of succession to the governor. In the event of vacancies in all three executive offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, the Orator Princeps of the Lotoa Council of Envoys ascends to the position of governor. | |||
=== Legislature === | === Legislature === | ||
{{Main|Lotoa Royal Assembly}} | |||
[[File:Lotoa Capitol Building.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Lotoan Capitol building in Laaula]] | |||
The [[Lotoa Royal Assembly]] is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the [[Lotoa Council of Envoys]], with 100 members, and an upper house, the [[Senate of Lotoa]], with 40 members. Combined together, the Lotoa Royal Assembly consists of 140 elected representatives from an equal number of constituent districts across the state. The Royal Assembly holds sessions in the Lotoa State Capitol in Laaula. In spite of its name, Lotoa is no longer a royal monarchy, instead having retained the name due to cultural heritage. | |||
The Council of Envoys is presided over by the Orator Princeps, while the Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Lotoa. The Council and Senate each elect a clerk and sergeant-at-arms. The Senate of Lotoa's clerk is known as the Secretary of the Senate. The Royal Assembly also selects the State's Auditor of Public Accounts. The statutory law enacted is codified in the [[Kanawai Lotoa]] ({{literal translation|Lotoan law}}). | |||
=== Judiciary === | === Judiciary === | ||
{{Main|Judiciary of Lotoa}} | |||
[[File:Aliiolani Hale, Oahu, Hawaii.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Lotoa Supreme Court building in Laaula]] | |||
Lotoa’s legal framework is predominantly rooted in common law, akin to most other states in Cartadania, with influences from civil law systems such as community property regulations. While capital punishment remains a lawful penalty for severe felony convictions, specifically those categorized as [[Criminal justice system of Cartadania#Class 0|Class 0 felonies]], Lotoa is predominantly characterized as a rehabilitative state. This philosophy emphasizes the rehabilitation and societal reintegration of offenders. | |||
At the apex of the state judiciary sits the [[Supreme Court of Lotoa]], composed of seven Justices. The Lotoa Court of Appeals functions as the primary appellate court, while the Lotoa Insular Courts serve as the principal trial courts. Justices of both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are appointed by the Governor and are subject to retention elections by the electorate every 12 years. Lotoa’s Insular Courts are county-wide courts of general jurisdiction, analogous to superior or county courts in other states. Given that Lotoa’s islands align with the state’s counties, these courts are commonly referred to colloquially as county courts, such as Anamua County Court, rather than by their formal title, the Lotoa Insular Court of Anamua County. | |||
The Judicial Council oversees the administration of the state’s court system, comprising the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Lotoa, 14 judicial officers, four representatives from the State Bar of Lotoa, and one member from each house of the state legislature. | |||
=== Local government === | === Local government === | ||
Each of the three islands–[[Anamua]], [[Matau]], and [[Laititi]]–serves as county-equivalents for Lotoa, with the islands being divided into districts and further into cities and villages, many of which retain their native names. | Each of the three islands–[[Anamua]], [[Matau]], and [[Laititi]]–serves as county-equivalents for Lotoa, with the islands being divided into districts and further into cities and villages, many of which retain their native names. | ||