Imperial Senate

Imperial Senate has no defined internal structures, with even the number of its members not defined precisely. It is internally separated between patricians and plebeians, which is a little remainder from the ancient times of Itavian Republic, no longer meaning what it once meant.   Patricians are na upper tier of senators that are allowed the right to speak and participate in the Senate assemblies. They can participate in a debates regarding to petitions and current state of Imperium, with Grand Emperors in most cases present in the hall of the Senate, officially helping him to determine the will of the Gods – in other words, what will be best for the Imperium. There are approximately 600 patricians appointed permanently, number limited by how many people a Senate building can hold.   Plebeians (of course commonly called simply senators) are those that form a 'lower' chamber of the Senate, allowed to create petitions directed to the Grand Emperor. They can also deliver speeches (if they think the matter is important enough and make an appointed sufficiently earlier) to the Senate as a whole. Their exact number normally is around ten to twenty thousands. Contrary to the patricians they do not even have to possess imperial citizenship, since many of them represent various vassal states certain smaller states even electing them democratically.   There is also a Speaker of the Senate, appointed from themselves by the patricians (also called permanent senators). Or, if they are unable to do that due to too much internal struggles Imperator does that, in many cases from temporary senators. He is the one to organize votings and speeches, while ensuring noone feels for some reason offended.

Imperial Senate public agenda is to be a safe and controllable way of hearing the words of the public, with many (if not most) of its members hailing from vassal states. This allows to clearly hear the voice of growing dissent before in grows too loud, while also suppress it a bit by giving them an illusion of Imperator hearing their voices (sometimes even more than an illusion, but it depends).   It also works to broaden Imperator horizon, and to allow him to hear voices of distant provinces without being obstructed by his courtiers. With him simply being able to ask directly people from for example Visenia of its current state of affairs. But its uses aren't only limited to politics, many plebeians being for example notable scientists and magicians allowed (for their achievements) a direct route to Grand Emperor's ears.

Building of an Imperial Senate in Falon-nir, and immesurable number of personnel (including copyists, translators and so on).   Outside of the imperial city they have next to no direct power of assets beside their authority, which sometime allows them to use power of imperial organizations. Depending mostly on the current situation and their personal personality traits, since this is more of a goodwill rather than duty (especially in case of plebeians).   Its biggest direct right is the right to elect governors of central provinces, always drawn from plebeians, since patricians have to much work overseeing Imperial Senate day-to-day work.

Imperial Senate actually predates Imperium as a whole, originating in early years of Itavian Republic. It used to serve as its chief legislature, practically being a state itself (it was even called S.P.Q.R – Senatus Populusque Romanus, Senate and People of Roma, the Itavian capital).   Following the succesful conquest of Itavia by Falon the Conqueror it suffered no real changes until Dawn War, when it was refurbished into its current form by the Gods themselves

Mostly local nobles and wealthy merchants, with the right to participate considered a gift for those who already managed to become person of some significance. Gift given by the Senate or by the Grand Emperors (but with Senate approval) making it practically the only way (with exception of Brotherhood of Crows, though it is a last resort) simply citizens of Imperium can influence Grand Emperors.   As it was said, 600 patricians, ten to twenty thousand plebeians. Both of various descent.