Post by Masamune on Jan 1, 2011 16:36:24 GMT -5
((This is subject to revision, but it will work for now.))
For those who want to take an active part in rebuilding the world, the best place to do it from is the seat of a high official.
Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom
The Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom employ a similar organization for running their empires. Their government model is very old and structured but still robust -- provided the right officials are promoted. At the top is the royal house, followed by the Three Departments, which advise the ruler and carry out his will (when they're not playing politics). Beneath the Three Departments are the Six Ministries, which carry out the day-to-day tasks of running the nation. Each Ministry is headed by a Minister, who is assisted by a Deputy Minister; beneath them are various bureaus headed by Directors. Supervising the whole thing is the Censorate, which answers only to the ruler and whose members are generally seen as interfering busybodies by the other officials.
Below and partly independent from the central government are the local governments. While usually appointed or confirmed by the ruler and having to write reports to the appropriate ministries, local governments are typically left alone except when the central government wants something from them.
Finally, the military stands apart from the civil government, although they are largely dependent on the Ministry of War (especially in the Earth Kingdom). The army is headed by the Grand Marshall, who forms a council with the highest ranking generals to advise the ruler on military affairs.
Royal House
Ruler (Fire Lord or Earth King)
The supreme authority of their respective nations, at least in theory. In the more formulaic Earth Kingdom, the King abandons his name on accession, becoming simply "the Earth King".
Crown Prince
The appointed heir of the ruler, the Crown Prince has authority nearly equal to his father. Typically the first son, although the ruler may invest any of his offspring with the responsibility.
Ruler's Wife (Fire Lady, Earth Queen)
The wife of the reigning monarch is in charge of running the household, and of course advising her husband. In some cases, they have been known to rule themselves.
Royal Clan:
Other members of the Royal Clan have largely honorary duties. They are debarred from government service, although the more martial Fire Nation allows them to serve as generals.
Palace Staff:
While technically not a part of the government, loyal high-ranking servants often become confidantes to the ruling family and thus have a great influence on policy. While deplored by scholars as a cause of turmoil, this is an inescapable part of palace life.
Three Departments
Department of State Affairs:
The Department of State Affairs is the main body of the government, tasked with executing and enforcing the ruler's will. Mainly comprising it are the Six Ministries. It is headed by the Prime Minister, who supposedly serves as the ruler's chief adviser.
Chancellery:
Headed by the Chancellor, the Chancellery reviews policy and advises the ruler and the Prime Minister. Members tend to be sticklers for tradition.
Secretariat
The Secretariat is responsible for drafting royal decrees. In the Fire Nation, this office has been atrophied to almost nothing, due to the forceful personalities of the previous three Fire Lords. In contrast, the Earth Kingdom set up the office of Grand Secretariat, which essentially dictated policy and usurped the authority of the Chancellor and Prime Minister.
Six Ministries
Ministry of Justice
In charge of applying the law, the Ministry of Justice maintains the central court system.
Ministry of Personnel:
The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of recruiting, promoting, demoting, and paying government officials.
- Bureau of Examination
This bureau is in charge of applying and reviewing the Civil Service Examinations, and recommending careers for those who pass.
Ministry of Revenue:
In charge of collecting taxes and allocating funds within the government; the Ministry of Revenue deals in real estate and commodities as well as currency.
- Census Bureau
The Census Bureau surveys population size and the value of property, largely for the purpose of tax collection.
- The Mint
The Mint strikes coins to be circulated as currency.
Ministry of Rites:
The Ministry of Rites has the task of insuring the balance between Heaven and Earth, as well as between the four Nations. A wide range of matters, from religious establishment to diplomacy, fall under their purview. Their most common function, though, is to simply organise ceremonies.
- Bureau of Astronomy
This bureau has the important task of regulating the calendar, making sure that agricultural, religious functions, and other important events take place when they should.
- Bureau of Shrine Registration
This bureau has charge of monitoring all temples, shrines and monasteries within their nation.
Ministry of War
In charge of recruiting and supplying the army, as well as developing new weapons. They obviously work closely with the military, and in the Fire Nation are often staffed by retired officers. In the Earth Kingdom they remain largely civilian, which sometimes creates tension, as they are responsible for promoting and demoting officers, and awarding military service.
- Bureau of Weaponry
Specifically in charge of developing engines of war, in the Fire Naiton this Bureau has grown to tremendous size.
Ministry of Works
The Ministry of Works is in charge of maintaining the country's infrastructure, such as roads, port facilities, and the postal service, as well as public buildings and monuments.
The Censorate
The dreaded Censorate, led by the Chief Censor, has the power to investigate and suspend the actions of any other government agency. Their purpose is to check corruption in the Departments and Ministries, and they have the right to access all files, imprison other officials, and impound goods for their sake of their audits. They answer only to the ruler.
Local Government
Each country is subdivided into provinces, districts, and prefectures. These are headed by governors, magistrates, and prefects respectively. In some cases based on tradition, the ruler of a province will hold a title such as "king" or "duke" rather than "governor"; in the sprawling Earth Kingdom especially, these men are practically autonomous from the central government.
Below the prefects, who generally govern a large central town, are the village headmen who lead smaller communities. Their titles differ from region to region, but they are generally all the same. Minor officials or possibly not even affiliated with the formal government, they rule not by mandate but by the respect of their fellow villagers.
Local governments are in charge of supplying police and fire brigades themselves.
For those who want to take an active part in rebuilding the world, the best place to do it from is the seat of a high official.
Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom
The Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom employ a similar organization for running their empires. Their government model is very old and structured but still robust -- provided the right officials are promoted. At the top is the royal house, followed by the Three Departments, which advise the ruler and carry out his will (when they're not playing politics). Beneath the Three Departments are the Six Ministries, which carry out the day-to-day tasks of running the nation. Each Ministry is headed by a Minister, who is assisted by a Deputy Minister; beneath them are various bureaus headed by Directors. Supervising the whole thing is the Censorate, which answers only to the ruler and whose members are generally seen as interfering busybodies by the other officials.
Below and partly independent from the central government are the local governments. While usually appointed or confirmed by the ruler and having to write reports to the appropriate ministries, local governments are typically left alone except when the central government wants something from them.
Finally, the military stands apart from the civil government, although they are largely dependent on the Ministry of War (especially in the Earth Kingdom). The army is headed by the Grand Marshall, who forms a council with the highest ranking generals to advise the ruler on military affairs.
Royal House
Ruler (Fire Lord or Earth King)
The supreme authority of their respective nations, at least in theory. In the more formulaic Earth Kingdom, the King abandons his name on accession, becoming simply "the Earth King".
Crown Prince
The appointed heir of the ruler, the Crown Prince has authority nearly equal to his father. Typically the first son, although the ruler may invest any of his offspring with the responsibility.
Ruler's Wife (Fire Lady, Earth Queen)
The wife of the reigning monarch is in charge of running the household, and of course advising her husband. In some cases, they have been known to rule themselves.
Royal Clan:
Other members of the Royal Clan have largely honorary duties. They are debarred from government service, although the more martial Fire Nation allows them to serve as generals.
Palace Staff:
While technically not a part of the government, loyal high-ranking servants often become confidantes to the ruling family and thus have a great influence on policy. While deplored by scholars as a cause of turmoil, this is an inescapable part of palace life.
Three Departments
Department of State Affairs:
The Department of State Affairs is the main body of the government, tasked with executing and enforcing the ruler's will. Mainly comprising it are the Six Ministries. It is headed by the Prime Minister, who supposedly serves as the ruler's chief adviser.
Chancellery:
Headed by the Chancellor, the Chancellery reviews policy and advises the ruler and the Prime Minister. Members tend to be sticklers for tradition.
Secretariat
The Secretariat is responsible for drafting royal decrees. In the Fire Nation, this office has been atrophied to almost nothing, due to the forceful personalities of the previous three Fire Lords. In contrast, the Earth Kingdom set up the office of Grand Secretariat, which essentially dictated policy and usurped the authority of the Chancellor and Prime Minister.
Six Ministries
Ministry of Justice
In charge of applying the law, the Ministry of Justice maintains the central court system.
Ministry of Personnel:
The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of recruiting, promoting, demoting, and paying government officials.
- Bureau of Examination
This bureau is in charge of applying and reviewing the Civil Service Examinations, and recommending careers for those who pass.
Ministry of Revenue:
In charge of collecting taxes and allocating funds within the government; the Ministry of Revenue deals in real estate and commodities as well as currency.
- Census Bureau
The Census Bureau surveys population size and the value of property, largely for the purpose of tax collection.
- The Mint
The Mint strikes coins to be circulated as currency.
Ministry of Rites:
The Ministry of Rites has the task of insuring the balance between Heaven and Earth, as well as between the four Nations. A wide range of matters, from religious establishment to diplomacy, fall under their purview. Their most common function, though, is to simply organise ceremonies.
- Bureau of Astronomy
This bureau has the important task of regulating the calendar, making sure that agricultural, religious functions, and other important events take place when they should.
- Bureau of Shrine Registration
This bureau has charge of monitoring all temples, shrines and monasteries within their nation.
Ministry of War
In charge of recruiting and supplying the army, as well as developing new weapons. They obviously work closely with the military, and in the Fire Nation are often staffed by retired officers. In the Earth Kingdom they remain largely civilian, which sometimes creates tension, as they are responsible for promoting and demoting officers, and awarding military service.
- Bureau of Weaponry
Specifically in charge of developing engines of war, in the Fire Naiton this Bureau has grown to tremendous size.
Ministry of Works
The Ministry of Works is in charge of maintaining the country's infrastructure, such as roads, port facilities, and the postal service, as well as public buildings and monuments.
The Censorate
The dreaded Censorate, led by the Chief Censor, has the power to investigate and suspend the actions of any other government agency. Their purpose is to check corruption in the Departments and Ministries, and they have the right to access all files, imprison other officials, and impound goods for their sake of their audits. They answer only to the ruler.
Local Government
Each country is subdivided into provinces, districts, and prefectures. These are headed by governors, magistrates, and prefects respectively. In some cases based on tradition, the ruler of a province will hold a title such as "king" or "duke" rather than "governor"; in the sprawling Earth Kingdom especially, these men are practically autonomous from the central government.
Below the prefects, who generally govern a large central town, are the village headmen who lead smaller communities. Their titles differ from region to region, but they are generally all the same. Minor officials or possibly not even affiliated with the formal government, they rule not by mandate but by the respect of their fellow villagers.
Local governments are in charge of supplying police and fire brigades themselves.