(LONG) More NAC Politics

I seem to be in a writing mood, so here's a draft of how the NAC might work in
the GZGverse. Hope somebody finds it interesting or useful for generating
campaigns or scenarios.

cheers,
        Hugh

At the top is His or Her Majesty, eldest child of the previous king and queen.
His or her partner is technically the consort, a distinction that only
concerns those obsessed with seating arrangements at royal functions.

The Confederation consists of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales,
Canada, East America, and West America. Each of these has a parliament similar
to those of Wales and Scotland today, able to pass legislation and raise
taxes. The division of America (maybe three way would be better? Anyone?) is
officially due to population size. Cynics say it is designed to occupy former
US citizens in new rivalries instead of looking back to the past.

England itself has lost the house of lords some time in the past century, and
now has a proportional Senate as well as the house of representatives. Peers
still exist though: nobility has always been a useful way to reward the rich
and successful and have them working with the government rather than against
it.

There is a Bill of Rights which guarantees the right to vote, a fair trial,
and personal freedom. It's expected to be honoured throughout the NAC. The
British parliament oftens acts as the trend setter for legislation on other
issues.

The British parliament also controls defense and foreign policy, which usually
isn't controversial, and trade policy which often is. The expanse of space and
slow communications have created conditions similar to the 19th century
British empire, with a strong mercantilist and free trade faction. But where
ever there is money, governments feel compelled to intervene. A tariff on tea
wouldn't cause too much trouble, would it?

The monarch in theory has sweeping powers. The two that matter the most are
being able to dissolve parliament, and being the head of the armed forces.

The first is also delegated to governor generals on Earth and viceroys in
space. The power is supposed to be only exercised when the local parliament is
deadlocked and unable to function. Frivolous use is discouraged as it reflects
badly on the monarch.

As head of the armed forces, the monarch helps deter any military coup, as in
the event of such they would order loyal forces not to become involved or to
actively oppose. (This probably sounds strange to US readers, but it does
work.)

The monarch could legally dissolve parliament and rule solely through military
control. For the past few hundred years the royal families have been bright
enough to realize this would bring them nothing but hard work and
unpopularity. But a particularly ambitious or egotistic monarch could try it
during a major emergency...

Off Earth the Confederation is a number of dominions. A dominion has at the
core one planet with a large enough population to have a regional parliament
and governor general of its own. There are also a number of attached
protectorates, smaller settlements with a representative in the parliament.
Since the GG is very much on his or her own with extra responsibilities, they
have the title of viceroy.

Regional parliaments don't have control over the military, only police, so
legally they can't take military action. What happens in an emergency is that
the viceroy, in consultation with the local parliament, authorizes military
action which will be retrospectively approved by Earth. Sometimes it isn't,
ending the viceroys career. Personality therefore plays a major role in
determining how rapid and forceful the initial response to any aggression is.

Most settlements of any size in the NAC have permanently stationed regiments
and naval squadrons. Here there can be variations depending on how benevolent
you consider the NAC to be.

In the nice case, the viceroy is a well respected member of the local
community and the military detachments recruit heavily from the local
population, carrying on the British tradition of long service in fixed units
rather than moving people around. Military action to defend the settlement
will be swiftly organised and with popular support.

In the nasty case, the local population is recently acquired or considered
independence prone. Then the military will be brought in from outside and
relations with the locals kept to a minimum. The settlement will still be
defended, but the troops much more self reliant and fully prepared to put down
any rebellion as well.

How do settlements get started? The easy planets were taken long ago, so
expansion these days is either onto more difficult planets, or establishing
new communities on an existing planet. (This is ignoring the steady trickle of
people joining - or leaving - existing townships.) It takes
financing and resources, sometimes provided by the dominion parliament,
sometimes by a private corporation.

A new settlement applies for recognition as a protectorate
of his/her majesty, and is attached to the nearest dominion.
This entitles them to military defense, access to the legal system, and
representation in parliament.

What happens if the settlers don't apply? Many groups start with the dream of
striking out on their own. A few even
succeeded if they were near Cal-Tex or Alarishi space. Far
too many found themselves being "liberated from royal and capitalist
oppression" by ESU warships. The NAC now makes
sure that would be settlers are well briefed by survivors/
escapees from such settlements, and even the hard core idealists decide the
current government is less burdensome than a commissar.

Over time these settlers, or frontiersmen, or gypsies, have become a
recognisable sub culture. Whole families and communities specialise in opening
up new worlds,
revelling in the freedom and self-reliance this entails.
(Corporations that try to establish a "company town" of obedient drones are in
for a nasty shock.) Once the settlement becomes civilised, with taxes and
judges and police, they move on to another. The settlers irritate and perplex
authorities, but wise viceroys recognise their usefulness as a safety valve
for the discontented.

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