The GCoA Hierarchy

A Crash Course in GCoA Government

The Gray Council of Arnor is governed by a dual branch system, which involves checks and balances for each side. While the Mith Tur is the supreme voice of the Kinship, much of his power is given over to the Hall of Servitude and the Legislative Branch, facilitating the use of checks and balances between both sides. The two branches that make up the governmental system are the Legislative / Judicial Branch and the Executive Branch.

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The Legislative / Judicial Branch

Chain of Representation

Mith Tur
Mith Hil
The Hall of Servitude
House Governor
House Exemplar
Magistrate
Officer of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth

Above all is The Legislative Branch, headed by the Hall of Servitude which is also the Supreme Judiciary of the kinship. Each House is represented by their Governor. All Governors have equal rank within the Hall of Servitude. The Hall of Servitude receives it's power by provision from the Mith Tur, who can override their authority but, ideally, should remain executor of the Hall of Servitude's will, except in matters of extreme emergency in which the Hall of Servitude cannot convene in a timely manner.

Representation is at the core of the Legislative branch. Kinship law lays out provisions for representation for all, including at the clan level, insuring that each member of the kinship commonwealth has a voice in government. Each clan will have a representative who sits on a committee that oversees House law and Management. see below - "Concerning House Committee" for more information on this subject

The Executive Branch

Chain of command

Mith Tur (Kinship Head)
Mith Hil (Kinship Heir)
Executive Officers
Junior Executive Officers

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Examples of Posts for Executive Officers

Emissary
Treasurer
Event Coordinator
Master Recruiter
etc....

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The Executive Branch is lodged inside the House of Aramar, or Royal House. Everyone who resides within the House of Aramar is an executive officer of the kinship. Each executive officer performs a specific function, such as listed above. in matters of their station they answer to the Mith Tur and the Mith Hil (kinship head and heir) only. Conversely, they have no authority over anyone in the kinship except where matters apply to their particular executive duties (i.e. Kinship Treasurer has authority in all financial matters and Event Coordinator will be in complete command during an event). Other than the aspects that are inherent to their station, their authority is not eminent and they may not weild their commission as having authority over a citizen of the commonwealth. The only two exceptions are the Mith Tur and Mith Hil, who both have authority over the commonwealth, as their stations demand.

How the Branches Work Together. The Executive Branch has three representatives (The Mith Tur, Mith Hil and Master Recruiter) that sit in the Hall of Servitude. They help to bridge the connection between the two governing bodies so that there is understanding of matters that concern kinship management. The Mith Tur watches over the Hall of Servitude, although he has no lot. He may give input and may argue his points to the Hall of Servitude, but unless the vote is hung, he may not participate in the voting process. If an issue becomes hung in the Hall of Servitude, then the Mith Tur will cast the deciding lot.

All in the Executive Branch are held accountable by and are subject to the rulings of the Hall of Servitude. This includes the Mith Tur who may be supplanted by the Hall of Servitude with a two-thirds majority vote.

If a member of the Executive Branch breaks the code, then he/she, just like any other kinsmate, must have a hearing before the Hall of Servitude, who will properly execute the code in deciding the fate of the individual. In judicial matters, any initial ruling by the Hall of Servitude against an accused individual which the accused deems unfair may be appealed to the Mith Tur, who will decide whether the punishment stands, or, in conference with the Hall of Servitude, may decide upon an appropriate departure to lessen the severity of punishment. The judicial process admits only one appeal per case.

In matters of Legislation, many votes will be put to the commonwealth. However, the Hall of Servitude reserves the right to bar an issue from common ballot.

Concerning Authority. While there is not a lot of emphasis put on positions of authority in our kinship, it is still very important to have a leadership structure in place. Any entity that lacks such is powerless in their coordination efforts. As such, the GCoA has a Hierarchy of Authority, which is merely the structure of leadership within our group. It must be emphasized that a position of leadership above another kinsmate does not override the inherent rights of the individual of lower rank, and a rule of respect is expected to be upheld at all times. This, of course, does not give power to the individual to act in an irresponsible or disrespectful manner and all examples of such behavior should be reported up the chain of representation so the matter may be resolved expeditiously.

Hierarchy of Authority

The Hall of Servitude
Mith Tur
Mith Hil
Governors
Magistrates
Officers
Commonwealth
**Exemplars are outside the Hierarchy of Authority, except that each must answer to their respective House Governor.

Concerning Mith Hil (Kinship Heir). Once the title of Mith Tur is obtained, then an heir must be declared. This heir is meant to be the Mith Tur's second, and will assume the authority of the Mith Tur in times when the Mith Tur is not able to perform the duties of the station. The Guild Heir is the acting Governor of the Royal House. The Mith Hil position is filled by declaration of the newly ascended Mith Tur, after approval by the Hall of Servitude. Approval for the Mith Hil position is secured in the Hall of Servitude by a two thirds majority vote. If a candidate fails to be approved, then the Mith Tur may begin the process again by choosing another nominee.

The authority of the Mith Hil does not encompass the range of authority held by the Mith Tur. The Mith Hil may not override the Hall of Servitude in any matter, unless the Mith Tur has been predisposed by other circumstances.

Concerning Governors. Governors are the heads of each of the Houses. They are nominated and confirmed by the Hall of Servitude. They are the supreme voice of their House, but may be overridden by the Hall of Servitude, if an appeal is made for the Hall of Servitude's involvement. Like the Mith Tur, a Governor may be supplanted by the Hall of Servitude after a two thirds majority vote.

Concerning House Exemplars. House Exemplars are advisors to the Governor and sit on the House Committee. Where the Committee is concerned, the Exemplars shall be equal to, and not above the other members of the Committee. Exemplars are nominated by the House Governor and must be confirmed by the Hall of Servitude. Conversely an Exemplar may be supplanted by the Hall of Servitude after a simple majority vote.

Concerning House Structure. The Gray Council is divided into Houses which are headed by a House Governor and two House Exemplars, all of whom sit on the Hall of Servitude, and are properly called Senators while performing their Senatorial duties. Within the House government, the Governor is the highest authority, relying upon the advice of their House Exemplars and overseeing the House Committee.

Concerning House Committees. Each House is a viable entity unto itself and governs itself according to Kinship Law. Each House will be governed by a committee which includes the Governor, two House Exemplars all Magistrates. Under Kinship law, no house will become Monocratic in nature and any attempt of such will be punishable by loss of rank and title and/or possible expulsion. The Governor has complete veto power in all issues concerning the House. However, the Committee has the right to petition the Hall of Servitude for a review of the case. The Hall of Servitude may reject an issue if they feel that it is frivolous in nature, whereby the ruling of the Governor will stand.

Concerning Magistrates. Magistrates are the general representatives of the Commonwealth of the Gray Council. Each House will appoint one officer to be a General Magistrate who will be the mediator between the Commonwealth and the House Government. The Commonwealth may, in part, decide to create a clan if five or more of their number reach an accord to do so.

Concerning New Houses. The number of open Houses will depend on the number of members within the kinship. When overcrowding occurs in a House, it will be split and half it's members sent to a new House. When this situation arises, then the Mith Tur will choose a Governor to head the house, pending confirmation by the Hall of Servitude. The Governor will then nominate two Exemplars to be confirmed by the Hall of Servitude. The new Governor and his/her two Exemplars will then represent the House within the Hall of Servitude. Under no circumstances will a Clan be split up due to this type of move.

Concerning Clans. Clans are the smallest governing entity in the kinship. Each clan is made up of an arbitrary number of individuals, no less than five, who wish to band together under one representative. This representative is called the Clan Magistrate. A Clan may declare itself as such by banding together into a group of at least five kinsmates and declaring a Magistrate as it's head. This declaration must be approved by the House government.

Proviso:

If the House government refuses to accept the new clan's formation, then they may petition the Hall of Servitude, as is their right by kinship law, to have their clan instated. If the Hall of Servitude approves the new clan, then the new Magistrate may request to be relocated to a new House for obvious reasons. The relocation would have to be approved by the House of destination before any move is made. If no other House will take the new clan, then they must remain in their current location. This move is only allowed for a clan who is required to go through this proviso to gain recognition.

Concerning Officers of the Commonwealth. Commonwealth Officers are nominated by their respective Houses. The nominee will remain as such for one week, then will be promoted to officer rank barring any legitimate objections. Legitimate objections do not include arguments about seniority.

Duties of the Commonwealth Officer

The Commonwealth Officers are used as general peacekeepers and are the eyes, ears and sometimes arms of the Kinship's governing body. They have the ability to bring new members into the squiring program and are to report issues that arise on the personal level of the Gray Council. It is their duty to help where help is needed and to generally coordinate the efforts of the kinship as a whole. To be an officer in the GCoA is an honor and carries with it the responsibility of general Kinship maintenance. To be promoted to officer, one must prove themselves to the Kinship in areas of loyalty, honor, and goodwill. All positions in the hierarchy are filled from the officer ranks.

Concerning the Commonwealth. Those who have been accepted into the Gray Council after having graduated as a squire, make up the Commonwealth of the GCoA. Each member of the Commonwealth has the right to bring up issues to their representatives. They have the right to be free to do what they will, as long as it does not contradict the Council Code or the Charter. Any member of the Commonwealth may act as an advocate for a potential Squire.

Concerning Advocates. Advocates are those who can vouch for the character of a squire, thereby allowing them to be invited into the kinship. The squire's actions will directly reflect upon their advocate, so discretion is encouraged here.

Concerning Squires. Squires are the Kinship recruits. It is the responsibility of each squire to prove themselves worthy of acceptance into the Commonwealth of the Gray Council of Arnor. Each squire is the responsibility of the advocate who initiated their induction.

A squire is promoted to Sr. Squire only after they complete their squiring obligations to the satisfaction of their advocate and the Master Recruiter. Only Sr. Squires may be eligible for graduation. After graduation, a squire will be inducted into the clan of their sponsor and, thereafter, be subject to its laws and rules, as well as the laws of the House, and the Hall of Servitude.

Those squires who do not graduate will be recycled to the next graduation date. If the squire fails to graduate after their recycled period, then they will be let go. Each advocate may sponsor only ONE squire at a time.

Concerning Questions. Ask someone who has been in the kinship for a while. They can usually find an answer or point you in the right direction.

Concerning Concerns. If you have any concerns regarding this document, talk to a Senator or your Kinship Representative if you have one.