Seneschal

Office of the Seneschal File:SeneschalBadge.gif

Current Head: Litz Cjantscheir

Function: Head of government

The Seneschal (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Talossa conducts the executive administration of the laws of the Kingdom and oversees projects undertaken by the government. The Seneschal relies on a Cabinet consisting of a Distain (Deputy) and other Ministers, each holding portfolio of one or more legislatively-created ministries. The Seneschal is empowered to act for any of the Cabinet ministries.

The Seneschal speaks for the nation on current events, either personally or through his ministers, and issues proclamations of mourning and other calls for national observance or commemoration.

The Seneschal is empowered to unilaterally issue Prime Dictates, which have the effect of Talossan statutory law, precisely as if passed by the Ziu. Prime Dictates are subject only to veto by the King (but the veto may not be reversed without action of the Ziu). Traditionally, Prime Dictates are reserved for use in extraordinary circumstances, when the calendar of the Ziu will not meet the needs of the nation.

A Seneschal is appointed by the King at the conclusion of each General Election or when the post is vacated. The King is instructed as to the person to be appointed by the leader or leaders of the political party or parties holding a majority of seats in the Cosa. Following his or her appointment, the Seneschal is free to instruct the King as to other appointments to the government at the ministerial level. Appointments below this level (that is, to bureaus, agencies, and other departments within each ministry) do not require royal action.

By law, the Seneschal is required to propose to the Ziu, for consideration either in its first or second session after each election, an act to itemize and authorize any and all planned expenditures of the government during its administration. This budget act, once enacted, empowers the Prime Minister (through, typically, his Minister of Finance) to obtain funds from the royal treasury to meet those legislatively authorized expenses.

The Prime Ministry, which is overseen by the Seneschal and the Distain, contains one bureau:

• The Bureau of Space Exploration and Rocketry (Büreu d'Esploraziun Espaçal es Rac'hetría; BEER)

The current Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Talossa is The Most Honourable Litz Cjantscheir.