Passistaats

The Passistaats (Passikaans for Estates of Highpass) is the hexacameral legislature of the County of Highpass. It is not a permanent body, the Estates are instead summoned by the Count at his pleasure. According to custom, the Count most convene the Estates and seek their consent to increase taxes. The Estates consist of six chambers representing various groups:

• Crop farmers,
• Cattle farmers,
• Bourgeoisie,
• Cedrist priests,
• Nobility,
• Academics

The Estates have no fixed membership, instead for each convocation, the membership is made up of whoever shows up in Rhodondra and meets the criteria for the relevant chamber. This custom has led to the practice of some parties erecting road blocks to prevent people in general or certain groups to get into Rhodondra to attend the Estates.

Admittance

As the space in each chamber is limited, not only do prospective members need to make the trip to Rhodondra for each convocation, they also need to gain access to the chamber, on a strict "first come, first served" basis. The first person to enter the chamber automatically becomes its Steward. Each prospective member must also prove their membership of the represented class by making a specified deposit.

• Chamber of Farmers: One Apre of grain
• Chamber of Breeders: One head of cattle (attached)
• Chamber of Burghers: One gate token
• Chamber of the Clergy: One holy explosive
• Chamber of the Nobility: 1,652 hoors
• Chamber of Academics: One purposedly written dissertation

The head of the head of cattle must still be attached. This is formally stated in the rules. The reason is that a breeder during Oze I deposited one head of cattle (unattached), causing a ruckus. To enter the Chamber of Burghers, a gate token must be deposited. This traditional token is still issued to each town and city resident to exempt them from paying the gate fee when entering the town. Finally, 1,652 hoors is the equivalent of the attendance fee payed by each noble at the first convocation in 1545, not adjusted for inflation.

Criticism

In 1707 Alto Siccre University in Sanama issued the first Micras Democracy Index report. In the report, Highpass was rated as an autocratic regime, with a zero score in the category "electoral process and pluralism". Highpass also scored poorly in the other four categories. Modest calls were made for a modernisation of the Passi political system and the establishment of a true legislature for the country.