Government and politics of Natopia

The Bovic Empire of the Natopian Nation is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy with considerable discretionary powers reserved for both the Emperor of the Natopians and the Chancellor of Natopia. The Emperor directs foreign policy, serves as commander-in-chief of the military, and performs ceremonial and diplomatic duties in their role as head of state. Legislative authority is exercised by the Frenzy of the Empire which is presided over by the Chancellor with executive prerogatives over domestic policies. The Emperor and several appointed judges serve as a supreme judicial and constitutional court called the Supreme Court of the Natopian Nation.

The demesnes of Natopia have local autonomy, but are bound to national laws, as established in the Constitution of the Bovic Empire of the Natopian Nation, the Caprine Code, and by other statutory instruments. Demesnial and local powers are devolved, as provided by the Constitution and the Caprine Code.

The Natopian political system is a multi-party system that is mainly dominated by two major political parties, the Free Juice and Bagels Party (FJBP) and the Union Democratic Movement (UDM). Other important political parties include the Nationalist & Humanist Party (N&H), Tapferite Supremacist Party (TSP), Parti Alexandrin (PA), Workers' Parties United (WPU), and the Grand Front of Gay Liberation (GFGL). There is a tradition in Natopian politics of independent, unaligned political figures and this is often reflected in the continued contingent of independent members of the Frenzy. While coalition governments have been an occasional occurrence in Natopian history, most Natopian voters tend to favor either of the two largest parties, with the Nationalist & Humanist Party (N&H) often serving as a kingmaker as a sizeable party in the Frenzy.

With the division of the Natopian Empire throughout 1707 AN-1709 AN, the national government of Natopia was reduced to the Emperors of the East and West and the Imperial Council of Natopia. Sovereignty largely rested with each individual government, Eastern Natopia's government was based in Lindstrom and Western Natopia's was initially based in Dos Gardenias (city) and then in Geneva.

With the death of Emperor Nathan III in 1716 AN, the crown of Eastern Natopia passed to his sister, Empress of West Natopia Vadoma I, reuniting Natopia under one crown again. The death of Nathan III led to calls for the personal union of the Natopias to reintegrate into one Bovic Empire of the Natopian Nation. As such, with the death of Nathan III came the death of the Natopian division and the start of Natopian reintegration.

Lindstromism, as reflected by the national motto "Peace Through Silent Oppression", is the autochthonous Natopian political ideology that has influenced the development of Natopian governance and democracy. Created by Gustav Lindstrom, a political refugee from Stormark who fled to Natopia in the 1480s, it advocated for the implementation of a judge to check the Storish emperor's power by executing him if he was found to exceed his powers or be too powerful. He immediately fled Stormark when his doctrine caught fire among many of the growing dissident groups in Stormark. Lindstrom settled in Natopia where his ideology was immediately adopted by Nathan Waffel-Paine, therefore becoming influential in shaping the Free Juice and Bagels Party (FBJP) and the Natopian constitutional order. Natopian Lindstromism is characterized by its efforts to keep violent majorities in check with the Emperor serving as a "good Lindstromist dictator" that protects the freedoms of all minorities, encourages minorities to keep their cultures, and creates an artificial "national identity" that is pleasant and easy enough for all people to join. This has influenced the development of Natopian devolution, where demesnes enjoy considerable autonomy, devolved government, and leeway to establish cultures. However, demesnes (or any other law, including at the national level) that go against Lindstromist principles like equality, fairness, and freedom may unilaterally lose their right to govern and been abolished by the national government.

Prior to the division of the Natopian Empire, the Constitution of the Bovic Empire of the Natopian Nation served as the supreme and constitutional law of Natopia, with the Caprine Code serving as the nation's unified national code of laws. As Natopian reintegration starts in 1716 AN, both documents shall regain their official statuses as the national body of laws for the united Natopian Empire.

International organization participation

• Micras Treaty Organization.

See also

• Natopia;
• Eastern Natopia;
• Western Natopia.