The Grid Republic

[GR] The Grid Republic is the title of the core group of the Grid Republic. It is a new government composed of various groups throughout the grid. The central government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The first is the Republic Senate, a body of elected or appointed representatives from various member groups. It's main duties include mediating disputes ranging from group to grid-wide issues, regulating affairs between consenting groups, and representing the interests of Republic Citizens, as well as residents of Second Life itself. The Office of the Supreme Chancellor is the Senate's executive counterpart. As the leader of the Senate and the overall representative of the Republic, the Chancellor also holds the titles of Head of State and President. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court which is composed of twelve Justices, one of whom holds the position of Chief Justice.

The group contains roles for Republic Citizens, the various branches of government, HoloNet News Network, Security Bureau, and the Chancellor. There are also roles provided to members of the Military and the Jedi Order.

History
Main article: Republic Timeline

Roles

 * Chancellor - The Supreme Chancellor, usually simply known as Chancellor, is the title of the Head of State and Government as well as Senate President of the Grid Republic. The office is currently held by Dantius.
 * Legislative - The Grid Senate, also referred to as the Republic Senate, Grid Congress, or Republic Congress, is the Legislative and Executive branch of the Grid Republic.
 * Judicial - The Supreme Court is the highest court of law in the Republic, and composes the judicial branch of the Republic's government.
 * Security Bureau - The Republic Security Bureau (also known as the Republic Security Force) is the primary police force maintained by the Grid Republic.
 * Jedi Order - In protecting Republic citizens and upholding ideals of freedom and internal tranquility, the members of the Jedi Order are the sworn guardians of peace and justice in the Galactic Republic, answering to the authority of the Senate.
 * Military - The Republic Military, also known as the Republic Forces or Republic Armed Forces, are the Army, Navy and Starfighter forces of the Grid Republic.
 * HNN - The information source for the citizens of the Grid Republic, the Holonet News Network is dedicated to providing news across the Grid Republic.
 * Merchant - Merchants, also known as Artisans or Traders, are people permitted to buy shops and sell items in Republic owned land.
 * Citizenship - Everyone

Government and Politics
See also: Republic Policy

See also: Constitution of the Grid Republic The Republic is meant to be a mutual protection and economic alliance among a number of groups on the grid. For this reason, it was required that a formal and orderly system of government be organized to ensure the survival of the Republic's goals and the freedom of all citizens. Currently, the Chancellor is in the process of writing an official Constitution of the Republic, which shall make it almost impossible for corrupt and power-hungry members of government to achieve their malicious goals.

In order to ensure basic government organization, much of the bureaucracy is handled by the General Ministry. Within this body are the Ministries of State, Intelligence, Commerce, Defense, Education, Finance, License and Permits, Public Information, Science, Security and Intelligence, and Internal Security.

Legislative Branch

 * Main article: Republic Senate

Each member state (groups) returns a representative (a senator) to a central legislative body (the Senate). Senators are the ambassadors of their groups, and member groups are able to maintain their government and society in accordance with local beliefs, customs, and traditions. There is a wide variety of different local governments along the political spectrum: from monarchies to republics to hive-like communes. In some groups, the senator is elected to that post; in others, the group ownership appoints the senator.

Senators receive one vote in all matters—procedural and substantive. The assembly is in turn divided into individual committees, each specializing in specific fields of government administration, and which are responsible for creating legislation to be reviewed by the full assembly.

Although legislation passed by the Senate is binding to all member worlds, most of the everyday legislation followed by citizens of the Republic is created at the individual group level. Therefore, the main functions of the Senate are to mediate disputes between members, provide for the common defense, and regulate inter-system trade.

Executive Branch
Main Article: Supreme Chancellor

The office of Supreme Chancellor, currently housed by Atop Seid, is the Republic's head of government role (and, by default, head of state) and chief diplomat.

In the senate, the office serves mainly as an officiator of parliamentary procedure and the first among equals in the Senate. However, it has the authority to call an Extraordinary Session of the Senate, and can invoke "Chancellor's prerogative" in circumventing minor aspects of the Senate's parliamentary procedure. He also is the head of the Senatorial Council.

The symbol of the office of the Chancellor, as well as the Galactic Senate as a whole, is a fanned spear. Due to the delicate nature of groups on Second Life, Atop Seid decided that a "Chancellor for life" would be the only suitable solution to ensure the stability of the group without providing the role of Owner to any other members. Atop Seid made this decision based on his first-hand experience with shared ownerships. However, it has been confirmed that, once the group is fully operational, elections shall be held for the role of Chancellor, but Atop Seid shall retain a separate role of Owner.

The Chancellor also acts as commander-in-chief of the Republic Military, commanding all Republic military forces as a whole.

Judicial Branch
Main Article: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest court of law in the Republic, and composes the judicial branch of the Republic's government.

The Court consists of twelve justices; one of them is the Chief Justice who heads both the Court and the judicial branch.

In addition to serving as a "court of last resort" and as a determiner of constitutional legality, the Supreme Court also tries cases involving the highest politicians and most noteworthy people in the Republic. However, at least some cases (including the trial of senators for treason) are handled by the Senate.

Relationship with the Jedi Order
Main Article: Jedi Order

In protecting Republic citizens and upholding ideals of freedom and internal tranquility, the members of the New Jedi Order are the sworn guardians of peace and justice in the Grid Republic. Answering to the authority of the Senate, the Jedi take on the role as "traveling representatives" on behalf of the Republic Senate. Thus they are entrusted by the government with a variety of responsibilities, ranging from upholding Republic laws to acting as Republic representatives and mediators for individual disputes. They are in a sense, "peacekeepers," both in the context of promoting stability through peaceful methods and simultaneously policing the grid. The Jedi also act as Generals in the Republic Military, commanding their respective military forces during a state of war.

Economy

 * See also: Credits

Society and Culture
The Grid Republic has a diverse culture. Member groups are free to maintain their own culture in accordance with their beliefs, customs, and traditions.

Military

 * Main article: Republic Military