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III-III
Section 3-3: Checks and Balances

     This has gone left unexplored for some time. The system of checks and balances is already inherent in the political system of Temuair. It just needs some defining to give it value. I will try to do my best to explain it clearly so that one may understand better where an officials power lies. To start off with, we'll explore the branches of government. As we said before, there are 2. The "House" or the lawmakers, and the "Justice" or the law enforcers. Each branch has certain powers over another and uses those powers to make a system functional. There is also a separation of powers. For example, looking at the powers of the Justice branch and their ability to "Banish" and the House's ability to "Exile".

     In this separation there can be no mixture. For example, A demagogue can in no way request a forgivement of banishment from any official who can. They must take it to the highest ranking official in the Justice branch, being the Judge if there is one available or a Captain. With good reasons clarified, the Guard Captain can then unbanish. This goes the same for a Burgess. Even though he or she may hold more political power than a Guard Captain, they cannot demand that someone be forgiven unless they take it to the highest ranking official. This disposes of some myths as well. Both a Judge and a Burgess hold the same amount of political power. They are equals, and the tops of their branches.

     So, where does the checks come in? Well, this is the basic premise for thus as outlined in the Mundane Burgesses' manual of Politics.

  • A Burgess of the "House" may dismiss any judicial case or action with good reason.
  • A Judge of the "Justice" may overturn any law and claim it unfair with good reason.

    These are the basic powers over each other. They are decent ways to keep the other branch in check. You may be asking, what about a demagogues powers. Well, a Demagogue holds no political power against a Judge, the same way a Guard Captain holds none against a Burgess. In the cases where a Burgess is not available, all the Demagogues acting together can make a decision as a Burgess. In this same way, all the Guard Captains can make a decision as a Judge. *NOTE* ALL must agree.

         These basic checks and balances help keep a system functional. Know where the separation of powers are, and the checks lie. The checks lie in intervention of justice, not in a basic power of office. Of course, they are intertwined. Perhaps a Burgess makes light of new evidence and wants to unbanish an offender. He/She cannot simply demand an unbanishment, but must go to the Judge and ask for a re-trial. However, someone set to go to court can simply go free if the Burgess demands it with good reason. The difference is the timing. Whereas, a Judge cannot overturn a bill, only a law. The checks are based on timing alone.

         Using these basic premises can help prevent abuse of office. That's all it's really useful for. The checks and balances were not made to abuse your own powers, because everyone is fair game under Justices' watchful eye. Use these powers only if necessary and your system will gain support and strength. This was all that was written in his book on checks and balances.

  • Section III-III: Checks and Balances