Omrazir: Government

The Provinical Court

The chief authority in Omrazir is the bey himself, the provincial governor of all Raziya. He rules from his palace in the heights of the West City, aided by a circle of councillors and a host of government functionaries. The Raziyan court is a mirror of the caliphal court back in Sirdab, headed similarly by a grand vizier and hajib, or chamberlain, along with the lesser viziers who lead the three divans of government: the divan of the chancery, the divan of the treasury, and the divan of military records. The bey is advised by a council composed of these viziers, along with the amir, or high military commander of Raziya, and the qadi of the Elucidarium.

The bey of Raziya has traditionally been drawn from the caliphal family itself, though the exact reason for this tradition is uncertain. Most likely it was influenced by the spiritual and political importance of Omrazir itself, with its key geographic position and its vital role as champion of the Azadi faith in its early years.

The Omrazir City Council

Despite the presence of a direct relative of the caliph acting as the bey of Omrazir, day-to-day governance of the city is largely decentralized, being apportioned out -- or simply appropriated by -- various entities throughout the city. The most important of these are the sayyids (if male) or sayyidas (if female), the official leaders and representatives of the various neighborhoods and districts of the city. These individuals are generally responsible for mediating disputes within and among quarters, enforcing building codes and curfews, policing minor matters, coordinating market days, observing holy days and public celebrations, and maintaining public infrastructure and buildings (streets, bath houses, local mosques and temples, etc.). Depending on the neighborhood in question, such positions of authority may be appointed, voted on by certain community members, or inherited along family lines.

Just as importantly, these neighborhood leaders are generally expected to serve as part of the Omrazir City Council. Although this only semi-official body has no true delegated powers to govern the city as a whole, the council members nevertheless have access to the provincial court and may at least hope to exert some influence over city-wide affairs. They may also bring their own particular neighborhood's problems to court to be heard by the provincial council, and are allowed even to speak before the bey himself, though this latter happens only infrequently. Even the poorer and smaller neighborhoods of the city may send their local leader to sit on the council, though in practice not all do so. The City Council benefits the bey as well, as it allows him to keep a finger to the pulse of the unpredictable city, and offers him an avenue to exert subtle power within its many districts.