What do representatives represent?

[Captain Untouchable]

I write the Bothan and Mon Calamari representatives on the Advisory Council. You'd think it'd be fairly straight-forward to work out what their jurisdiction is, but it actually isn't as clear cut as "the Calamari Sector" and "the Bothan Sector".

The problem is cohabitation. Dac is home to both the Mon Calamari and the Quarrens, and different worlds in the sector are controlled by different races. The Quarrens even have their own shipyards on Minntooine, and the planet is a fairly major colony. It isn't much simpler in the Bothan Sector either: Moonus Mandel is the homeworld of the Veknoid species, while the Di'tai'ni of Tai'ni are native to the sector too.

Dee has a similar scenario with Sluis Van: while that is the only planet we've liberated in the Sluis Sector, we have control of Clak'dor in the neighbouring Mayagil Sector, which is the homeworld of the Bith.

What are the options?

If this was the Imperial Senate, there would be one Senator for each Sector; which means that Tukphen would represent both the Mon Calamari and the Quarren; General Oruo'rel would represent the Bothans, Veknoids, and Tai'ni, and possibly the Dresselians who live just over the border. Because of the size of our territory, Sekaj L'vehl of Sluis Van might advise on behalf of the Bith, as well as his own race. Because Duro was lumped under the Corellian Sector by the Imperial Senate, Leadra Longstar might continue as their representative, while also representing the Drall, Selonians, and other non-human inhabitants of the Corellian Sector.

If this was the New Republic Senate however, there would be a lot more Senators. Worlds were admitted to the New Republic on a planet-by-planet basis, so Bothan worlds like Kothlis had their own Senator. If we took a similar approach, it would mean that Duro, Moonus Mandel, Clak'dor, and a bunch of other planets could expect to have a representative on the Council. That's basically the United Nations approach to democracy: every country/planet gets a vote, regardless of the size of it's population, territory, or military.

It's also possible that people are on the Advisory Council don't represent anything geographic or political: but rather something tactical.

The three Humans (Alderaan, Corellia, and Chandrila) founded the Rebel Alliance. The Mon Calamari brought their Fleet, and our first real chunk of territory. The Bothans brought the Spynet, and later a Sector. Sullustans eventually brought us territory and shipyards, as did the Sluissi and Duros. That approach becomes problematic though: the unrepresented Quarrens also have shipyards, whereas the Ithorians don't have much tactical value to add. If the Ithorians are allowed a representative-in-exile, does that mean that Dressel (or any other race for that matter) could expect / demand the same treatment?

Perhaps it isn't purely tactical then: perhaps it's a matter of the expertise they brought? Mon Calamari expertise in shipbuilding and fleet operations; Bothan expertise with espionage; Sullustan expertise in industry and astrogation; Ithorian expertise with agriculture; Sluissi and Duros expertise with shipbuilding and technology. However, the Quarrens are experts in mining, and the Bith are experts with science: should those merits earn them a seat on the Council?

Who cares?

I realise this isn't necessarily the sort of issue that people give much of a monkeys about. However, I'm hoping that a little thought and discussion on the subject might inspire some more interest in the politics stuff.

For me personally, I don't know if General Oruo'rel is representing his Sector, his species, or something else entirely. Is he like a State Senator, representing his people's interests on the Advisory Council, while a State Governor looks after affairs back home? Is he just representing the interests of the Bothan people, or does he need to have The Man from Moonus Mandel as one of his political underlings? Does he have any input / oversight of local military goings on like the Bothan Sector Force, or the Fifth Fleet that protects the Sector? Does leave the boring economic and socio-political stuff to the the Alliance Cabinet, and just advise on matters relating to SpecForce and the Spynet?

Tukphen presents similar questions, and more. As a Mon Calamari, he's bound to have an adversarial relationship with Mr Quarren Politics. Is that Quarren a political underling? Are they a political equal? Does he have to juggle issues of "Quarren Rights", or is there / should there be someone separate fighting that corner? Mon Calamari space also includes Safeworlds like Sanctuary, Krinemonen III, and New Alderaan. Does he represent the interests of all of the refugees on those places or - like New Alderaan - does someone else speak on their behalf? Does Tukphen get together with Celeste Starborn on a regular basis for sushi and strategy meetings?

I'm sure Dee would find it helpful to understand the jurisdiction of her new Sluissi, and whether or not she's babysitting the Bith. Charley might find it helpful too, since he's just become Mr Sullust. It would be good to know - from a Corellian Resistance perspective - what Leadra Longstar is responsible for, and if that opens up any opportunities for Sarah to be a badass matriarch in that stuff. People who might not be interested in being an actual Council member might be intrigued by the possibility of a Quarren underling whose sole responsibility is winding <s>me</s> Tukphen up.

Bonus Question

Tukphen is also in charge of the Ordnance & Supply command. Torrsk Oruo'rel is also in charge of the Alliance SpecForce command. Niev Manetii is also the CEO of the SoroSuub Corporation, and represents Sullust in shipyards matters; Sekaj L'vehl provides a similar role for the Sluis Van Shipyards. Having a day job is a great way of keeping your character doing stuff, even when politics isn't going on.

How far is that allowed to go? Could the Ithorian representative also be part of the Alliance Cabinet as the Minister of Agriculture? When Duros is liberated, does it need a separate "leader" and "representative", or could the same person wear both hats? Tukphen looks after Ordnance & Supply; is being Minister of Supply too many hats for one man, or just a logical extension of his current role?

[Reshmar]

The Quarren would not serve the Cal it would be an equal thing. Now the Cal Might let the Quarren serve for both but not the other way around. Not unless they really did not have a choice. After the revolt I think the Mon Cal kinda had them on lock down a bit.

This has been discussed before. http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20537&highlight=quarren

[Tukphen]

I remember we discussed it, but I don't think we reached a proper answer.

It depends what Tukphen represents. If he represents the planet, the Quarren will probably petition for their own rep. If he is a representative of the sector, the Quarren won't be happy, but they might accept it if they're equally represented in the Sector Government. If Tukphen represents the Mon Cal Shipyards or the Mon Cal Fleet, the Quarren will have to lump it, because they aren't making the same kind of tactical contributions to the cause.

Just because the Quarrens want / ask for / demand representation doesn't mean they'll get it, but it might cause trouble for us if we refuse.

[Reshmar]

Maybe the Calamari can give concessions to the Quarren in lieu of a spot on the council?

[Tukphen]

It's possible. I think we need to work out whether they are / should be represented or not though, before we discuss too much of the specifics.

[Dasquian Belargic]

As of 2 ABY, the Allied governments represented included the resistance movements of the Mon Calamari, Ithorians, Sullustans, and the Alderaanians, among many other species.

Looking at canon info.. it seems like each representative represents their species and their respective resistances against the Empire. IT seems like they are representatives of a specific planet, but of their people as a whole. In their roles within the Advisory Council, it seems like they are just responsible for advising the Chief of State regarding policy - and once the Republic is reformed, they would then take charge, with the Chief of State, in shaping the new government.

But that right now looks to be, at least based on the Wookieepedia stuff I've read, their only real responsibilities as Council members. What they do outside of that time though I guess would vary from member to member - and mostly from roleplayer to roleplayer. You could have a character with fingers in plenty of pies, such as the more militaristic or technological skilled members getting involved directly into the military aspects of war. I play the representative for Alderaan and obviously that planet has nothing to offer in the way of resources, aside from people, so her role is more likely going to be more of a political and ideological one.

[Tukphen]

In that case, do we need a more robust government, now we're a fledgeling space nation?

It sounds like the Advisory Council provides input on "the war effort", and that there are members of various races just so there's a fair and balanced sample. They don't seem to factor into actual government leadership type things.

Does the Alliance need a Parliament made up of someone from each inhabited planet, to deal with the day-to-day politics? Maybe the Alliance Cabinet is picked from those Representatives, a la the House of Commons.

[Tukphen]

Something occurred to me on the loo - I suggested stuff based on single countries, whereas a better analogy might be the UN.

The UN recognises nearly 200 countries, who discuss international policies for stuff like the economy and the environment. For the Alliance, having representatives from every individual planet talking about what they need, what they can give, and how they can work together would be a good idea. The Quarren have a couple of colonies, so they'd get their representation; so would homeworlds like Clak'dor and Moonus Mandel. It's possible that "resistance movements" might get representatives too, so that the Corellians, Ithorians, Dresellians, Wookiees, and so forth feel included in shaping the Alliance, and the future of the galaxy.

Some of those Planetary Representatives might be the Ministers on the Alliance Cabinet. I'll fall back on the same example because I like it: the Ithor representative might be Minister of Agriculture; the Clak'dor representative meanwhile might be Minister of Science, or Culture.

On top of that, there is the UN Security Council, which makes all the military and peacekeeping decisions. There are five permanent members based on the victors / strongest powers after WW2, as well as ten additional members who are voted in for two years at a time.

Maybe the Advisory Council is a little like that. Bothawui, Kothlis, Sennatt, Moonus Mandel, Di'tai'ni, and so forth all have their individual planetary representatives. However, as a major player, the Bothan people / Bothan sector also contribute someone to the "Security Council", to help coordinate the war effort.

One person might represent their planet and their culture / resistance group. Leadra Longstar might represent the planet Corellia, as well as sitting in the Corellian Resistance's seat on the Advisory Council. Celeste Starborn might represent the planet New Alderaan, and sit in the Alderaan Resistance seat. However, the Mon Calamari might have chosen Tukphen to represent them, because they thought an Admiral might contribute better on their behalf than a pure politician would, given their fleet bias. Sullust might have sent the CEO of SoroSuub, because shipyards and industry were their big selling point.

Essentially then, the Advisory Council would represent the strategically important groups / races; the Alliance Parliament would be the squabbling Senate-style masses. It's a mix of the Alliance and New Republic approaches to government, which might fit our in-betweeny status quo.

[Captain Untouchable]

I'd like to get some politics stuff kickstarted over the next couple of days, if I can. In the spirit of the whole "do everything in the main OOC thread" thing I'm going to post a thread up over there looking for interest.

Can I assume from the minimal comments / feedback that no one is particularly bothered one way or another, and that we can just roll with whatever gets cooked up in that thread?