Fandom>Clockpuncher at 02:08, 27 February 2022

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The '''Imperial Senate''' is the legislative body of the [[Empire]]. It is comprised of 1,000 [[Senator]]s who answer only to the [[Emperor]]. Sessions of the Senate are held in [[Senate House]], near the [[Imperial Palace]] on [[Capitol]], and most Senators attend these sessions virtually. The Senate is routinely presided over by the [[Chancellor]], with the Emperor opting to attend only on certain occasions. In the absence of both the Emperor and the Chancellor, the Senate is run by one Senator who assumes the role of Leader of the House.<ref name=":0">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/governments-and-politics-in-elite-dangerous.225156/ Frontier Forums: Governments and politics in Elite Dangerous]</ref>

== Functions ==
=== Legislation and representation ===
[[Senators]] of the Imperial Senate regularly discuss and vote on important issues of the Empire. They also enforce the Emperor's laws.<ref>[https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=f72c0f91b2 Elite Dangerous Newsletter #22]</ref> The Leader of the House runs the Senate hearings when the [[Emperor]] and [[Chancellor]] are not present.<ref name=":0" /> The Senate has legislative, judicial, and electoral powers.

All [[Senators]] and the [[Emperor]] can sit in the Imperial Senate, but it is rare that all participate at the same time. The Senators represent a group of Patrons, who in turn represent Clients, and each of those represents a group of Citizens. This representation is public. Anyone can see who is currently supporting each Senator ([[Patron]], [[Client]]), and their numbers.<ref name=":0" />

Every [[Imperial Citizen]] has a right to representation by a [[Client]]. Every Client has a right to be represented by a [[Patron]], and every Patron a Senator. Senators generally represent power bases – which can be many [[Star Systems|star systems]] or a specific interest group, and typically many hundred Patrons – though it is up to the Senator how many Patrons they have. There is not a fixed number. So if a system has just one Imperial Citizen living there, they will have representation in the Senate – but most likely only indirectly through their Patrons. It is likely there is a Patron at the head of each of the larger Imperial Minor Factions for example, but not a Senator.<ref name=":0" />

The Senate is structurally flat by law, but in practice has power blocks within it. It is led by the more important, powerful [[Senators]]. So not all Senators are equal. There are regular votes on issues of the day, and the Senator's voting power is the total number of Citizens they currently represent. Citizens are represented by Clients, and blocks of Clients by Patrons who are represented by a Senator. The most powerful Senators can have a hundred or more times the voting power than others, and a Senate majority can be just a few of the major Senators. Honour requires that the views of all Senators are listened to politely before voting against them.<ref name=":0" />

=== Relationship with the Emperor ===
How much power the Senate holds relative to the Emperor has varied over time. For example, during the long illness of Emperor [[Hesketh Duval]] the Senate grew in power, until his son [[Hengist Duval]] took the throne after Hesketh's death.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/55c475ef9657ba00210d630e GalNet: The Reign of Emperor Hengist Duval]</ref> If the Emperor is unable and wills it, then the [[Chancellor]] can rule in the Emperor's stead.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/07ba16d2a4f6f8ebd10d5e7b07f87924bf8bca34 GalNet: Blaine Refuses Patreus's Request]</ref>

The legitimacy of an emperor depends on the recognition by the Senate.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/55f7e3149657ba3510cf6eb1 Senator Arissa Lavigny-Duval Calls Impromptu Press Conference]</ref> When the emperor is deceased and there is not a clear line of succession to the Imperial Throne then the Imperial Senate must elect a suitable candidate as the new emperor. The set of rules are based on ancient laws and tradition that must be followed: the candidate must be of royal blood or of royal marriage with the [[Imperial Family|House of Duval]], chosen in one month with a clear majority backing of the Senate in the final count of the election.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/55ed60f59657ba7e69c575d7 GalNet: Chancellor Blaine Opens Senate Debate]</ref>

=== Senatorial protection ===
A majority of senators can agree to recognise an individual as a ward of the Senate, a status that confers the highest level of personal security that the Empire can offer. Those who accept senatorial protection are transported to one of multiple undisclosed, highly secure locations known only to certain senators.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/6176cad6cfe677074503f583 GalNet: Senators Offer to Protect Hadrian Duval]</ref><ref name="Exposes Lords">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/620a5094eb024118526134da GalNet: ACT Exposes the Lords of Restoration]</ref>

Known individuals to whom the Senate extended its protection included [[Hadrian Augustus Duval]], Lady [[Astrid Minerva-Duval]], and Emperor [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/618134e7c39dca54f93f07b4 GalNet: Hadrian Duval Accepts Senate Protection]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/61d87063b2c1d9324e172402 GalNet: Imperial Intelligence Denies NMLA Connection]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/61f144dd054aae43500a8eff GalNet: Arissa Addresses the Empire]</ref> Notably, Emperor Arissa was abducted by the [[Lords of Restoration]] while traveling to a senatorial protection site in January 3307; the Lords were able to carry out the abduction and deceive the Senate about the Emperor's condition until February 3308 because they were senators themselves and had assistance from corrupt [[Imperial Intelligence]] agents.<ref name="Exposes Lords" />

{{:Senator/List}}

== Trivia ==
* The word ''senate'' is derived from the Latin word ''senex'', which means "old man." Thus the word means "assembly of elders".

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Empire]]
[[ru:Имперский Сенат]]
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Imperial Senate - Revision history

Fandom>Clockpuncher at 02:08, 27 February 2022