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Holy Galactic Empire
HGE arms.jpg
HGE flag.jpg
Capital Dùn Èideann
Languange(s) English (official), Scots (official), Revised Standard Chinese (official), Primary, Russian, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Religion United Catholicism
Government Constitutional Monarchy
Established 2147
Size 533 Systems
Population 234 billion (2730 est.)
Currency Imperial Credit
Head of State Henry
Head of Government Count Leo von Holst

The Holy Galactic Empire (HGE; Chinese: Shénshèng yínhé dìguó [神圣银河帝国], Latin: Imperium Galacticum Sacrum (IGS)) is a union of planetary systems in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy under a Holy Galactic Emperor. The first emperor of the Holy Galactic Empire was Ian I, crowned in 2147. The current Emperor is Henry, who ascended to the Imperial Throne in 2738.

The Empire's territorial extent has varied over its history, but at its peak it included regions now allied with the United Sovereigns, including the Kingdom of Hau'ala, the Kingdom of Marida-Lete, and the Rhesaenan March. For much of its history the Empire has consisted of hundreds of smaller sub-units including principalities, duchies, counties, and Free Imperial Planets, as well as other domains.

Empire.jpg

Rimward from the Empire is the Orion Confederacy; clockwise lies the United Sovereigns; and counter-clockwise is the Mahana Confederation.

Contents

History

Main article: History of the Galactic Empire

The Empire was founded in 2154 by Admiral Ian Mackenzie, who successfully united the fleets of Rheinland, Shàngdu, and Dakota at the Battle of ζ Trianguli in 2147. Mackenzie spent the next 7 years consolidating the central part of the Orion Arm into a cohesive political entity, and proclaimed the Holy Galactic Empire on St. Andrews Day, 2154, with himself as the first monarch, Ian I.

Empress Leonora died suddenly in 2726. The Empire was then ruled by a three-member panel composed of Admiral of the Fleet Malcolm MacInnes, Duke Henry of Dùn Èideann, and John Halstead, Archbishop of Dùn Èideann until the Imperial Electors could propose a candidate. Eventually, Duke Henry was elected King of Canopus by the Chamber of Princes, and he ascended to the Imperial throne on St. Andrew's Day, 2738.

Government

Main article: Government of the Galactic Empire

Although having great industrial and technological might, the Empire is unable to directly exert total control over all regions within its boundaries due to the vast distances and long travel times involved. To make the governance of the Empire possible, nine Imperial Sectors have been created, each of which is governed by an appointed Proconsuls of Ducal rank.

The nine Imperial Sectors are:

Proconsuls and other appointed officials wield extensive powers, and are empowered to govern the worlds in their sectors as they see fit. Provisions are made for raising and maintaining armed forces for local security, enforcement of local laws of personal conduct, and the regulation of interstellar commerce.

The supreme legislative authority within the Empire is the Imperial Diet, which meets annually on the Imperial Home Planet of Cytheria. The Diet is composed of the Chamber of Princes, the House of Lords, and the Houses of Commons, which itself is composed of the Imperial Senate and Assembly.

Within the Houses of Commons, the Assembly is usually reckoned as being the most powerful, as all money bills must originate there.

Within each sector, there is a Sector Congress, which is convened annually by the Proconsul. Sector Congresses have very specific powers that are delegated to them by the Imperial Parliament.

Local Government Structures

The Empire has a variety of governance structures and has split up the different worlds into categories depending upon the government found on that world. The categories of government are:

Imperial Economics

Main article: Economy of the Galactic Empire

The Empire enjoys a diversified and thriving economy, with a large number of commercial enterprises competing in a marketplace, which, although nominally free, is bound by many Imperial rules, regulations and edicts, as well as the traditions of the many corporations themselves. Many corporations enjoy virtual monopolies on services and products, for while the Empire does promote a free market economy, the general feeling is that as long as quality goods are available at fair and reasonable prices it does not matter whether one or a dozen firms act as suppliers.

True to the semi-feudal nature of the Empire, many corporations are family controlled, and refer to themselves as Houses. Labor and trade unions call themselves Guilds and represent most types of workers throughout the Empire.

Imperial Society

Main article: Society of the Galactic Empire

The Galactic Empire can be typified as an aristocratic society that feels it has an obligation to set an example for the rest of the Galaxy on how a human society should run. Through centuries of diffusion of ethnic identities, racial and cultural enmities have lessened considerably, but still occasionally pose problems, often in the most unlikely circumstances.

By virtue of technological amid economic preeminence, long tradition, and stable government, the Home Worlds remain as the center of Imperial influence. Home World citizens tend to look upon the Princely States and Colonies as little better than wilderness outposts, with their citizens either heathens or rubes. In turn, Homeworlders are considered by the outlying systems as fat, do-nothing snobs.

As an aristocratic society, much emphasis is placed upon one's station in life. The highest class is, naturally, the Imperial Family. Following this is the nobility, which is composed of various ranks; the ranks are, in decreasing order of precedence:

All of these ranks are hereditary, except for Knight.

In addition to Imperial Orders of Knighthood, there are some Sovereign Orders of Knighthood, the most notable is the Sovereign Order of Saint John.

Religion

Main article: Religion of the Galactic Empire

The primary religion of the Empire is Unified Catholicism. The present Pope, His Holiness Pope Paul XVII, follows the tradition of the Church by making the planet New Jerusalem his seat. The Church maintains a visible presence, and plays an important part in the workings of the Imperial Court. Under the Imperial Edict of 2359, the Church enjoys "a special status" within the Empire, although freedom of worship has long been established by law on all Imperially governed planets.

Education

Education in the Empire is regulated by the Imperial Government, through the Ministry of Education, which defines the guiding principles for the organization of education programs. Local governments are responsible for establishing education programs following the guidelines and using the funding supplied by local government.

Education is divided into three levels, with several grades in each division. Fundamental education (the first education level, including fundamental education I and II) is free for everyone (including adults), and mandatory for children between the ages of 6-14. Middle education (the second education level) is also free, but it is not mandatory. Higher education (including graduate degrees) is free at public colleges and universities.

The Empire supports a large system of institutions devoted to higher education, with an Imperial University on each Imperial Sector capital world and many colleges and institutes on other worlds. Individual worlds also have public colleges and universities established, and there are numerous private institutions chartered by Imperial Writ as well.

The Empire still has several underdeveloped regions. Its education system is accordingly plagued by many deficiencies and social and regional disparities. As of 2742:

  • Literacy rate of 94.2% for people age 15 or older
  • 11.2 years of formal education, on average.
  • 12.4 years for Homeworlders, 10.1 years for all other sectors
  • 15.1 years on Edo versus 9.2 years on Sedna and 7.9 years on Trent

Law

Imperial law is based on Roman-Germanic traditions and civil law concepts prevail over common law practice. Most of Imperial law is codified, although non-codified statutes also represent a substantial part, playing a complementary role. Court decisions set out interpretive guidelines; however, they are seldom binding on other specific cases. Doctrinal works and the works of academic jurists have strong influence in law creation and in law cases.

The legal system is based on the Imperial Constitution, which was promulgated on 5 October 2158, and is the fundamental law of the Empire. All other legislation and court decisions must conform to its rules. As of April 2741, there have been 53 amendments. Princely States have their own constitutions, which must not contradict the Imperial Constitution. Colonies and Crown Colonies have "organic laws" , which act in a similar way to constitutions.

Legislative entities are the main source of statutes, although in certain matters judiciary and executive bodies may enact legal norms. Jurisdiction is administered by the judiciary entities, although in rare situations the Imperial Constitution allows the House of Lords to pass on legal judgments. There are also specialized military, labor, and electoral courts. The highest court is the Supreme Imperial Court.

All persons are granted equal rights under the law by the Universal Rights Declaration of Robert II in 2250.

Military

Main Article: Military of the Holy Galactic Empire

The armed forces of the Holy Galactic Empire consist of the Imperial Army and the Imperial Space Navy. The Army is responsible for land-based military operations.

The Imperial Space Enforcement Agency and the Imperial Constabulary are described as ancillary military forces of the Empuire by the constitution, but are under the control of the Ministry of Justice.

The Navy is responsible for naval operations and for guarding Imperial territorial space. It is the oldest of the armed forces.

Science and Technology

Main article: 25th Century Technology

Technological research in the Empire is largely carried out in public universities and research institutes. But more than 73% of funding for basic research still comes from government sources.

Some of the Empire's most notable technological hubs are Franklin Laboratories, the Newton Institute, the ISN's Naval Technical Center, the Imperial Agricultural Research Corporation and the Imperial Technical Research Institute.

The development of new and improved methods to achieve Loftin Transfer has long been the goal of Imperial physicists.

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