Ballard Constitution

The Ballard Constitution is a technocratic republic. Only those with a graduate degree or higher can run for office, and only after getting another graduate degree in a rigorous state-run political school. The president of the Ballard Constitution must possess a doctorate in both degrees.

The primary concern of the Ballard Constitution is to uphold the original ideals of the Exodus fleet. Genetic freedom, equality, enlightened capitalism, and other high ideals are the order of the day.

The Ballards have two main battlefleets, all seasoned fighters but running down over time. Near constant warfare with the New Economic Block has ground it down through attrition. The Ballard Constitution economy has run dry trying to update their fleets, and so they most often export their scientists to other polities to secure their assistance.

The Ballard Constitution prides itself as the first Neo-Human polity to settle in the Orion Spur. A small cadre of motivated scientists established a foothold on some previously terraformed yet abandoned worlds and used them as an anchor point to refuel the rest of the Orion Fleet. The Orion Fleet rested there for some time and then took off, fracturing soon afterwards.   In a way that saved the nascent colony. The most radical members of the Orion Fleet weren't keen on settling on the first few worlds, and wanted to get a bit further and consolidate their power base. The scientists spent a few nights in a drunken bender before a political scientist, Doctor Ballard, put together a startlingly cogent and iron-clad constitution. Within two days it was ratified and President Ballard was inaugurated.   The Ballard Constitution spread out to five neighboring systems, establishing low-level terraforming efforts before the New Economic Block caught up to them. They quickly went into high military footing and have never quite left it. This has left the Constitution strangely schizophrenic: a peace-loving republic that has been pushed into eternal war. They have made a point to never forget the Exodus and believe the rest of the Neo-Humans will have their back.   They are naive. Their governmental system works fine in a vacuum, but when the other Neo-Human polities get involved they flounder. They can't move in three directions at once, especially when they don't realize that they're moving in the third. The Ballard Constitution is considered a pawn by the other, stronger Neo-Human polities. It's only a matter of time before one of the others absorbs them.