Government Structure

[Kaiser Kirk]

The Government of The Kingdom of Greater Bavaria and Schweiz

The Constitution dates from the Second Franco-Prussian war and is loosely based on the 1848 constitution, modified to reflect a federal system of multiple states.

The primary states of the Kingdom of Greater Bavaria and Schwiez are the Kingdom of Bavaria and Schwiez, The Kingdom of Saxony, and the Kingdom of Wuttemberg. The next tier are the Grand Duchies of Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt, followed by numerous Duchies. To lesser confusion, all but the Greater Kingdom are referred to as "Duchies".

Constituent "Duchies"(1) and "cantons"(2) retain a high level of self rule, and are in direct governance of local affairs.  The federal level concerns itself primarily with Foreign Policy, Trade issues, Security, and centralized development funds.

The Kingdom is bi-cameral at the federal level and uni-cameral at the Duchy or canton level.

The High King selects a prime minister and cabinet, which are confirmed by the Senate.

The High King retains an active role in government, with substantial direct powers and royal prerogative.

The current High King is Lugwig III, His Royal Majesty by Grace of God, High King of Greater Bavaria and Schweiz, King and Elector of Bavaria, Count and Elector of Palantine of the Rhine, Duke and Elector of Tirol, Duke and Elector of Wurzburg, Duke of Salzburg, Prince of Gorizia and Gradisca, and Protector of Friuli.

The Federal Level
The parliament was to consist of two houses; the first comprising the great hereditary landowners, government officials and nominees of the crown; the second, elected on a very narrow franchise, comprising representatives of the small land-owners, the towns and the peasants.

By constitutional articles the equality of religions was guaranteed and the rights of Protestants safeguarded,

The High King serves as president, advised by a prime minister and cabinet. The King has strong powers of the executive which are traditionally surrendered to the ministers, but retains the active powers of veto and appointment of high officials.  The King may declare war and peace, and has a wide power of emergency proclamation.

The Kammer der Reichsräte, or house of Lords, is comprised of members from the states and Nobility.  Each Electorate, Principality, and Grand Duchy seats two members. Each of the various Duchys, Counties, Cantons, Free Cities have a seats in the House of Lords.  
Three high Catholic, three high Protestant and a single Jewish clergyman have a right to be seated as well. Each family of high nobility (Prince, Duke, Count) may choose a family member to be seated.  A family such as the Wittelsbachs thus commands 16 seats of their own.  

The House of Lords is entrusted with the rights of Treaty ratification, alterations to the constitution, and High Court.  

The Kammer der Abgeordneten, or House of Commons,  has two  members  elected by each district (usually old feudal boundaries) and free city by the common people, and one appointed member from each district and city. These appointed members are frequently scholars and prominent business men, but not infrequently members of noble houses.  The members of commons serve 6 year terms, which each elected member standing for election every 3 years. The House of commons suggests laws, and adjusts Kingdom fund raising.

The Duchy level
Each Duchy or Canton is unicameral, usually reflecting the pre-1906 government. Usually this consists of a Landtag and an executive, typically a Duke. Former sovereign Dukes retain mostly ceremonial privileges, with some, such as Lichtenstein and Saxony, wielding greater power than others.  In recent years this has expanded to include the Duchy of Friuli.

(1)   Duchy refers to any large sovereign feudal state extant prior to 1871, be it a Kingdom,  Principality, Duchy, etc.  Saxony, Hesse, Bavaria, down to Lichtenstein.
(2)   Canton refers to smaller sovereign states- actual Swiss cantons, independent Bishoprics and Counties.

Secession
The Constitution makes provisions for a secession procedure.
The legitimate ruler of the state, or the majority of that state's Kammer der Abgeordneten members  may petition for secession, listing grievances.

The Kammer der Reichsräte and King have 4 years to enact changes, which may include removal of the ruler of the state.
At the end of four years, an election shall be held. The Kammer der Reichsräte shall be responsible for ensuring the fairness of the election.
Should 50% or more of the eligible voters actually vote for secession, a second election shall be scheduled four more years in the future.
In the second election, should 66% or more of the eligible voters vote for secession, then there shall be a two year transition period prior to independence.

In practice, the standards are exceedingly high, and the process sufficiently drawn out that only extremely deep and persistant unrest would lead to a successful secession

Expansion
Provision is made for the addition of territory.

Territory added through purchase or conquest shall be considered Crown Lands, and receive seats in the Kammer der Abgeordneten, but no additional seats in the
Kammer der Reichsräte, unless that body votes to grant them.

Foreign States may petition to join the Kingdom. A majority of the registered voters must endorse such a petition. The petition shall be considered by the Cabinet, then voted on by the Kammer der Abgeordneten. If both bodies accede, then the Kammer der Reichsräte may endorse the matter to the King. Ultimately, the King must accept the additional responsibility.

Territory added through petition, shall also be considered Crown Lands answerable to the King, but retain their government and deserving of seats in both chamber.

Flag of the Kingdom :


The blue and white is the traditional colors of the Kingdom of Bavaria. In this case expressed as a cross. The upper left has four Royal Standards, one each of four sovereign realms that joined to form the Kingdom, those of Bavaria, Saxony, Switzerland (with the Wittelsbach crest), and Wuttemberg.


States of the Kingdom

State & Ruling House	major holdings
Kingdom of Bavaria  (House of Wittelsbach)
	Electorate of Bavaria
	Electorate of Palantine
	Princely County of Tirol
	Electorate of Tirol
	Duchy of Salzburg
	Electorate of Würzburg
	County of Rhine-Palantine
	Princely County of Hohenzollern (1)
	Princely County of Gorizia and Gradisca
Kingdom of Wurttemberg (House of  Württemberg)
	Electorate of Wurttemberg
Grand Duchy of Baden (House of Zähringen)
	Electorate of Baden
Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt  (House of Hesse-Darmstadt)
	Electorate of Hesse
Kingdom of Saxony (House of Wettin)
	Electorate of Saxony
	Duchy of Schliesen
	Electorate of Schliesen
Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (House of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach)
Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg (House of Saxe-Altenburg )
Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen ( House of Saxe-Meiningen)
Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha ( House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. )
Duchy of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (House of Schwarzburg)
Principality of Lichtenstien (House of Liechtenstein)
Duchy of Friuli (House of  Savoy) (3)
Princely County of Kattowice (House of Czartoryski) (4)
13 Cantons of the old Swiss Confederation (2)

		Uri
		Schwyz
		Unterwalden
		Lucerne
		Zurich
		Glarus
		Zug
		Berne
		Fribourg
		Solothurn
		Basel
		Schaffhausen
		Appenzell
		Electorate of the Schwiez
Free Cities	(many)
Spiritual Electorate of Regensburg
Spiritual Electorate of Desden (Lutheran)

(1) Held in fief from the Wittelsbachs by the Princes of Hohenzollern
(2) Held by the King of Bavaria
(3) By treaty semi-autonomous, answerable to the King and Constitution, but not subject to laws passed by the legislature.
(4) Technically held as part of the Duchy of Silesia, Kingdom of Saxony.