High Chancellor of Callagea

High Chancellor of the Republic of Callagea
Standard of the High Chancellor
Incumbent Audrey Henri LaBeau since 5 May 2015
Residence	The Rose Palace
Appointer	Central Assembly
Term length	Four years, limited to one term
Inaugural holder	Sir George Wallace, 5 May 1887
Formation	Constitution of Callagea
Salary	125,000 Cents

The High Chancellor of the Republic of Callagea is the head of state of Callagea. Under the Constitution of Callagea, the High Chancellor serves as the presiding officer of the Central Assembly and exercises many ceremonial powers while real policy making power remains under the authority of the Prime Minister. The High Chancellor calls for elections, dissolves the Central Assembly, appoints members to the cabinet, and can grant pardons and sign treaties on the behalf of the Central Assembly. The High Chancellor is a non-partisan official who is selected for a set term of four years by the Central Assembly in a unanimous vote. The current High Chancellor is Audrey Henri LaBeau.

Appointment

Unlike members of the Central Assembly or the Prime Minister who serve indefinite terms between one to three years, the High Chancellor serves a complete four year term. However, the High Chancellor can only serve one full term, unless he was appointed to serve less than two years of another term in which case he is may be eligible for a full term. The High Chancellor is selected by the Central Assembly on May 5 every four years. The High Chancellor is appointed through a unique process known as a consensus system in which the political leaders of the governing coalition and opposition coalitions of the Central Assembly meet individually with the High Chancellor candidates. Then, the appointment is voted on and usually approved by the Central Assembly, although members have the right to make nominations from the floor. To become appointed, the High Chancellor doesn't have to receive the "majority" of the votes but rather he must receive the unanimous approval of all members voting which is required to be no less 2/3 of all members. Because of the non-partisan manner of the office, there is rarely fierce debate on who becomes High Chancellor and the vote is considered more ceremonial and that political, usually coinciding with the first order of business for that session of the Central Assembly.

Removal From Office

Like most public and governmental officials in Callagea, the High Chancellor is subject to removal from office by an order of the Central Assembly. While the Central Assembly needs a unanimous majority to appoint the High Chancellor, upon a majority of two thirds of its members, the Central Assembly may remove the High Chancellor from office for either inappropriate behavior, illegal activity, or other reasons that affect the image of Callagea. Additionally, on the request of the Government and the Prime Minister, the Central Assembly can call the High Chancellor competence and mental fitness into question and he may be removed for incompetence or inability to discharge his duties. While this is the most rare as many High Chancellors prefer resignation to public removal from office, it remains an option for the Central Assembly.

Replacement and Succession

When the High Chancellor is removed from office, resigns, or dies during his tenure, the Prime Minister assumes the powers of the High Chancellor to exercise his office temporarily. During such a temporary transition, the Prime Minister is never called "High Chancellor" and the seat is officially left open while the responsibility and powers are handed over to the Prime Minister. Within six months, the Central Assembly is required to appoint another High Chancellor who is required to serve out the remainder of that term. If the High Chancellor was appointed for a period less than two years of the existing term, he or she is eligible to serve another term. However, if the Central Assembly is unable to select a new High Chancellor within six months of the vacancy, a new election is automatically triggered for the Central Assembly.

Inauguration

Upon the appointment of the new High Chancellor of the Central Assembly, the High Chancellor-elect is invited into the Central Assembly chamber where he stands in front of the entire assembly and is administered the following oath by the current and outgoing High Chancellor (or if the High Chancellor is unavailable or the same individual, the oath is administered by the Presiding Judge of the High Court of Justice):

"I, (NAME), in the sight of my peers and countrymen, upon the invitation of the esteemed members of the Central Assembly, do hereby accept their appointment to the office of High Chancellor for the Republic of Callagea and I do solemnly swear (or affirm) to solemnly discharge the duties and powers of the office entrusted in me with all due faith, diligence, and respect to the laws and Constitution of the Republic of Callagea."

Upon taking the oath, the High Chancellor is handed the Gavel of the Central Assembly by the outgoing Chancellor and takes his office.

Duties and Powers

The position of High Chancellor is relatively a ceremonial position, much like the monarch of a constitutional monarchy, and the High Chancellor's greatest and sole role is the human embodiment of the state. He however wields little or no policy and decision making power. Below are the various duties of the High Chancellor.

Ordering Parliamentary Elections

One of the most powerful roles the High Chancellor can play is to call and order the elections for the Central Assembly. If the High Chancellor feels that the governing coalition in the Central Assembly has either lost its majority or is failing in its attempt to govern, the High Chancellor may transmit a Writ of Dissolution to the Central Assembly. Then, the Central Assembly has roughly seven days to respond. If a majority of the Central Assembly votes to reject the High Chancellor's Writ of Dissolution, the Central Assembly will not be withdrawn and the High Chancellor may not submit another Writ of Dissolution within six months from when the first writ was rejected. Any member of the opposition in the Central Assembly may also call for a Vote of No Confidence in the governing coalition. If the vote failed to receive a majority of votes, it is rejected. But if the vote does, the results are transmitted to the High Chancellor and he formally announces that the Central Assembly is to be dissolved and proclaims elections. The High Chancellor may also dissolve the Central Assembly and proclaim elections on the end of the third year of the Central Assembly's current session but no election may be called within one year of the most recent election unless the Central Assembly is unable to select the High Chancellor.

Establishing the Government and Making Appointments

Upon the conclusion of elections, the results are presented to the High Chancellor who certifies the results with his signature. The High Chancellor then contacts the leaders of the political parties that gained the majority of seats in the Central Assembly and invites them to form a government. When proposals are made, the High Chancellor calls for a vote and if the governing coalition has the majority of support, he appoints their leader as the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister then provides the High Chancellor with a list of his cabinet ministers whom the High Chancellor appoints. All top government officials including executive officers, cabinet secretaries, government-run agency heads, ambassadors, and judges are all nominated by the Prime Minister and the High Chancellor makes the official appointment. The High Chancellor also can dismiss ministers, secretaries, ambassadors, or agency heads upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister however, he cannot dismiss any judge. The High Chancellor cannot dismiss any cabinet member or refuse to make an appointment on his or her own prerogative without the written consent of the Prime Minister.

International Relations

The High Chancellor is the head of state which means is the primary figure of importance for all foreign powers. The High Chancellor is tasked with hosting all state receptions and welcoming all foreign dignitaries to Callagea. The High Chancellor is also required to welcome all ambassadors to Callagea in a special welcoming ceremony and his signature is required to be fixed on all treaties or international agreements approved by Callagea.

Legislation

The High Chancellor is technically the presiding chair of the Central Assembly and is parliamentarian for the Central Assembly's sessions. However, when the High Chancellor is absent, the Prime Minister and governing coalition may select one of their own to serve as the "Presiding Officer of the Central Assembly." Presiding officers only have procedural powers and are not considered acting High Chancellors. The only sessions that the High Chancellor presides over personally are usually the opening sessions or other sessions of great importance and symbolism. The High Chancellor is also required to sign into law all acts and bills passed by the Central Assembly. The High Chancellor has no veto power but he can request the High Court of Justice review a bill or act if he feels it violations the Constitution.

Pardons and Reprieves

The High Chancellor may issue pardons to any individual for imprisonment, fines, or punishment except in cases of removal from office. However, any pardon issued by the High Chancellor is to be available to be challenged within seven days of when it is offered. The Central Assembly may overturn a pardon with a simple majority. The Central Assembly may also offer pardons as well but all pardons must be approved by the High Chancellor and the High Chancellor has the authority to reject a pardon.

Commander-in-Chief

The High Chancellor is technically the commander in chief of the military forces of Callagea but this is purely ceremonial and the power to give orders to the military or ask them to take action is vested in the Prime Minister who exercises it through the Minister of Defense. The High Chancellor still attends all military events however and can bestow medals of honor on soldiers and veterans.

Emergency Powers

The High Chancellor has emergency powers which include being able to call emergency sessions of the Central Assembly. In extreme cases of national emergency when the Central Assembly is either unable to meet or is dissolved and no government is formed, the High Chancellor may gain emergency powers including being able to issue emergency orders and gaining temporary control over military and police forces. An emergency however may not be proclaimed except by the Central Assembly itself or the Prime Minister if the Central Assembly is incapable of meeting.

Decorations and Honors

The High Chancellor has the authority to bestow most of the nation's top medals for military service, for civilians for their work or service, and he may bestow titles and honors. All these medals are issued and provided however in accordance with laws and guidelines established by the Central Assembly.

Speeches

Once a year at the opening session of the Central Assembly, the High Chancellor reads the "State Address to the Central Assembly" before the Central Assembly which outlines the legislative and political agenda for the next legislative session. The actual address and speech is usually prepared by the governing coalition but the High Chancellor delivers it. The High Chancellor also sometimes makes other ceremonial speeches on national or religious holidays and on New Years Day.

Compensation and Privileges

The High Chancellor is provided a salary of 125,000 cents along with healthcare and insurance benefits and a tax waiver. The High Chancellor's residence is at the Rose Palace in Nugent City which previously served a the summer residence of the monarch of Callagea. The High Chancellor is also protected by the Wolf Legion who provides security to the High Chancellor.