Electoral reform in Furneni Teundur

Electoral reform in Furneni Teundur refers to efforts to change Furneni Teundur elections and the electoral system used in Furneni Teundur. Generally Elections only occur in the Minor Diets; however, historically their are a few elected noble ranks that have the right to membership in the Imperial Diet. The two remaining examples are the Markgrafs of Stagcross and Crewőr.

Laws of the Grand Diet come in the forms of acts, reform, and proclamations. A act must pass both the left and right Diet and is law of the land. A reform only affects the Diet that passed it. For example a act may require all citizens to wear suits, but a reform passed by the Imperial Diet can only force the Imperial Diet's members to wear suits. Acts supersede reforms. This is why the Presbyteral Act of 1811 can require any changes to the electoral system of the Presbyteral Diet to pass the Imperial Diet. A proclamation is a non law abiding act or reform such as a reform that creates a suggested, non enforceable dress code.

History

• The Imperial Reform of 1802: Removed unlanded and minor nobility from membership. Ensured membership to all nobles of the rank of count and higher, these members would be known as “Diet Lords”. Created the title of “Voting Lord” which bestowed minimal special privileges beyond allowing the member to vote in the Imperial Diet. Kings and Dukes were granted the right to bestow and rescind the title on up to two relatives or minor nobles as they saw fit.

• 1805 Catholic Rebellions. The rebellion saw many of the Catholic Priests in the Presbyteral Diet joining forces with the rebellion.

• The Presbyteral Act of 1811: Following the victory of the Imperial Diet against the Catholic forces, the Imperial Diet used the victory to force the Presbyteral Diet to pass the Reform of 1811. The act removed the few remaining Catholic Priests. While the Furneni Orthodox Catholic church actively supported the Imperial Diet during the war, the Imperial Diet still used the act to strip nearly all power from the Presbyteral Diet. Now each seat of the Presbyteral Diet was chosen by the local Diet Lord. Membership was for life however, and local nobility could not remove members. Any changes to the electoral system of the Presbyteral Diet requires the approval of the Imperial Diet.

• Consolidation Act of 1834: The act required all regions to be under the domain of a Diet Lord. The bill promoted a few barons, but mostly just incorporated the domains of barons, knights, and other petty lords into nearby higher lords. Affected nobles continued to rule their lands as before, but they were now under the rule of their new sovereign.

• Minor Diets act of 1836: Required all Diet Lords to establish a Minor Diet in their own domains. All landed nobility were guaranteed membership. Further membership and diet rules were left to the noble’s discretion with the exception that diets had control over the right to tax in his domain.

• Minor Diet Membership Act of 1839: In response to some nobility loading the Minor Diets with loyal puppets, the act required 50% of all seats be landed nobility and 25% religious leader. The remaining 25% remained at the Diet Lord’s discretion.

• Suffrage Act 1852: Requires all of the Diet Lord’s new laws to pass their Minor Diet. Additionally, reformed the Minor Diets to be made up of ⅓ landed nobility, ⅓ religious leaders, and ⅓ elected members. All landed Furneni above the age of 25 who made a certain amount set by the diet could vote.

• The Imperial Reform of 1871: Allowed the Imperial Diet to vote to bestow the title and accompanying honors of “Voting Lord” on any citizen. Most new titles went to military leaders and a few wealthy businessmen.

• Representation act of 1895: Reformed the Minor Diets, granting them the power to pass laws with majority approval and the domain lord’s blessing or ¾ of the Minor Diet and the domain lord’s disapproval. Further created universal suffrage based on tax income. The top, middle, and lowest tax payers would each get to vote on ⅓ of the seats respectively. The Diet Lord was allowed to pick the number of members as long as the number was above 12 and divisible by 3.

• Catholic Electoral Sweep of 1898: With the new system Catholics were able to secure a majority but not a veto proof number in some states. This is because in certain states Catholics made up a sizable percentage of the middle class. This meant the Catholics controlled two of the three tax sections.

• Diet Act of 1898: Reverts the Minor Diets to ⅓ landed nobility, and ⅔ voted.

• The Great Dissidence: A series of uprisings, protests, strikes, and general unrest regarding the new act. It's mostly around religious grounds, but as many poor Orthodox join the protests the position becomes untenable for the Diet Lords.

• Diet Act of 1901: Strikes the Diet Act of 1898

• Presbyteral Reform of 1902: Allows Catholic Priests to enter the Presbyteral Diet for the first time since 1811.

• Religious Unity Act of 1905: In the name of religious unity forbids any candidate from openly promoting pro-Catholic or Orthodox positions. While the wording was neutral in order to appease the masses, the enforcement was used to target Catholic politicians.

• Consolidation Act of 1912: All Counts and most Princes and marquis were promoted or incorporated into other Diet Lord’s territory. Affected lords were allowed to stay members of the Imperial Diet.

• Universal Suffrage Act of 1948: Elections are now based on votes to a party. The Diet Lord is allowed to pick the Diet size of no less than 30. All male voters above the age of 25 can vote and the parties are assigned seats proportional to the percentage of votes won.

• Voting Districting Act of 1960: Created distinct voting districts in the domains, switching the system of election from party based to candidate based.

• Voting Rights Act of 1971: Established many of the rights enjoyed by modern voters.

• Presbyteral Reform Bill: Remove the Diet Lord’s authority to appoint members to the Presbyteral Diet and give it to the Minor Diets.

• The 3rd Great Dissidence: In a surprise move the Presbyteral Diet passed the Proposed Presbyteral Reform of 2023, but as the bill moves to the Imperial Diet it looks like the act will be shot down. With the brewing anger of Catholics who feel angry over their treatment as 2nd class citizens a series of uprisings, protests, strikes, and general unrest break out.