Politics of Ta'aroha

The politics of Ta'aroha take place in the framework of what the nation's Constitution defines as a federal presidential representative democratic republic, wherein the President of Ta'aroha is both head of state and head of government. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the Ta'arohan National Congress. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislature. Elections take place regularly within the multi-party system.

In the 20th century, Ta'aroha experienced significant political turmoil and democratic reversals. Between 1932 and 1998, the country was under military rule from a succession of dictators. Following a transitory period that began in 1998, full scale democracy in Ta'aroha was reestablished. Ta'aroha's democracy endured through following crises into the present day, now regarded as more robust and free than both its pre-1932 predecessors and certain neighboring nations.

National government
The government structure of Ta'aroha is that of a federal presidential representative republic; it contains three primary branches of government.

Executive
The President of Ta'aroha, officially known as the President of the Ta'arohan Nation, is both head of state and head of government of Ta'aroha. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Through Ta'aroha's history, the office of the Head of State has undergone many changes, both in its title as well as its features and powers. Current President Kuarahyresê Moroti was sworn into office on January 1, 2020, succeeding Mbyja Tatapytu. The Constitution of Ta'aroha, along with several constitutional amendments, establishes the requirements, powers, and responsibilities of the President, his term of office, and his method of election.

The President of the Ta'arohan Nation has the following powers:
 * Is the supreme head of the nation, head of government, and is politically responsible for the general administration of the country.
 * Issues the instructions and regulations necessary for the execution of the laws of the nation, without altering their spirit with regulatory exceptions.
 * Participates in the making of laws under the Constitution, promulgates them and has them published.
 * Appoints the judges of the Supreme Court with the Senate by two-thirds of the members present, at a public meeting convened for that purpose.
 * May grant pardons or commute sentences for crimes subject to federal jurisdiction, following a report of the court, except in cases of impeachment by the National Assembly.
 * Grant pensions, retirements, pensions and licenses under the laws of the Nation.
 * Appoints and removes ambassadors, ministers plenipotentiary and business with the Chamber of the Republic; appoints and removes cabinet ministers, the officers of his Secretariat, consular agents and employees whose appointments are not otherwise regulated by the Constitution.
 * Annually attends the opening session of the Congress, both Houses assembled for this purpose, this time realising the state of the Nation, on amendments promised by the Constitution, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.
 * Attends regular sessions of Congress, or convokes extraordinary sessions when a serious interest order or progress requires.\
 * Oversees the performance of the duties of the chief of the Ministerial Cabinet as regards the collection of the revenues of the Nation and its investment in accordance with the law or budget of national expenditures.
 * Traditionally, the President is considered to be the godfather of sixth sons and sixth daughters. This tradition dates back to the time of the Aunic Empire and has persisted into the modern day.

The President must be a natural-born citizen of the country, or have been born to a Ta'arohan citizen if born abroad. They must be at least thirty years old, and must be a resident of their home province for at least two years. A modified two-round electoral system is used. Presidential candidates do not need to win a majority of the vote to win the presidency in the first round. In order to win the election in the first round, the winning candidate's party must receive either more than 45 percent of the positive votes, or at least 40 percent of positive votes and be more than 10 percentage points ahead of the next highest candidate. If no candidate obtains the necessary votes to win in the first round, then the two candidates with the most votes compete in the second round, held two weeks later, when the candidate with the most votes in that round is elected president. Presidents are elected to a five-year term, and may be re-elected once consecutively according to the nation's Constitution.

Legislative
The Congress of the Ta'arohan Nation is the legislative branch of the government of Ta'aroha. Its composition is bicameral, constituted by a 72-seat Chamber of the Republic and a 500-seat National Assembly. The Chamber of the Republic, whose members are elected to six year terms, consists of six representatives from each province and the federal capital. The National Assembly, whose members are elected to four-year terms, is apportioned according to population.

The Congress controls the Central Bank of Ta'aroha, manages internal and external debt payment, and the value of the national currency. It rules the legal codes on Civil, Commercial, Penal, Labor, and Social Welfare affairs, all of which cannot be in contradiction with the respective provincial codes. Any changes on national or provincial limits, or the creation of new provinces, ought to be allowed by the Congress. The Congress is entitled to approve or reject any international treaty that Ta'aroha signes with other nations or international organizations. Declarations of war and the signing of peace, as well as the mobilization of troops outside or inside Ta'arohan territory must be allowed by Congress.

The National Assembly is the Lower House of the National Congress. It holds exclusive rights to set taxes and customs, to issue a draft for troops, and to accuse the President, Ministers, and members of the Supreme Court before the Chamber of the Republic. Additionally, the National Assembly receives for consideration bills presented by popular initiative. The Chamber of the Republic is the Upper House of the National Congress. It must obtain quorum to deliberate (ie: an absolute majority). It has the power to approve bills passed by the National Assembly, call for joint sessions with the National Assembly or special sessions with experts and interested parties, and submit bills for the President's signature. Bills introduced in the Chamber of the Republic must, in turn, be approved by the National Assembly before being submitted for Presidential approval. The Chamber of the Republic must introduce any changes to federal revenue sharing policies, ratify international treaties, approve changes to constitutional or federal criminal laws, as well as confirm or impeach presidential nominees to the cabinet, the judiciary, the armed forces, and the diplomatic corps, among other federal posts.

Judicial
The Supreme Court of Ta'aroha, officially known as the Supreme Court of Justice of the Ta'arohan Nation, is the highest court of law in the republic. It was inaugurated on January 15, 1847. However, up through the 20th century, the Court and the Ta'arohan judicial system in general lacked autonomy from the executive. The Court was reformed in 2003 by constitutional amendment. The Supreme Court functions as a last resort tribunal. Its rulings cannot be appealed. It also decides on cases concerning the interpretation of the constitution. Members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President with agreement of at least two thirds of the present Chamber of the Republic in a session convened for that purpose. They may only be removed by impeachment, initiated by the National Assembly and carried out by the Chamber of the Republic.

Provincial and municipal governments
Ta'aroha is divided into 12 Provinces and one special administrative district, Asupe. Because of Ta'aroha's federal structure, every province has its own constitution and authorities. Each Province is divided into Districts, which are further divided into Municipalities. Each Province elects a Vice President as its executive, and has a unicameral Provincial Assembly that passes laws for the Province.

Provinces hold all the powers that are not expressly delegated to the national government. They must be representative commonwealths and not contradict the Federal Constitution. Beyond this, they are fully autonomous. They enact their own constitutions, freely organize their own governments, and own and manage their natural and financial resources. Thus, each Province has its own set of provincial laws and justice system, a supreme court, a Vice-President, a police force, and a congress. Each Provincial Congress is unicameral.

Liberal state
From 1846 until 1932, Ta'aroha experienced liberal government with first oligarchic and then democratic tendencies. The government, dominated by the landowning elite at its inception, controlled the outcome of elections. This was contested by the rising middle-class and working-class sectors. This fueled the creation of unions and more political parties, including the Radical Civil Action Union, which represented the emerging middle class. In 1892, universal and secret male suffrage was established, which officially marked the middle classes entry into the government, displacing the landowning elite.

Military state
The 1932 coup d'etat disrupted the developing Ta'arohan democracy. After World War II and the collapse of Amapytu Ubirata's regime in 1945, the nation was governed by a succession of military juntas, or councils. The government was led by the Army, but seats were held by the Navy and Air Force as well. In order to retain power, the juntas enacted populist policies such as the nationalization of the central bank, electricity and gas, urban transport, railroads, and telephone lines, under a vision dubbed the "Social State." The final military ruler of Ta'aroha would be Tente Sirionó, who successfully paved the way for regime change with the National Referendum of 1998.

Modern state
Following the end of the military junta in 1998, Ta'aroha returned to civilian government. Despite a brief military uprising from contingents of the army in 1999, the nation did not return to dictatorship. Instead, the next decade would be marked by a period of privatization and liberalization of the Ta'arohan political sphere. Following a major collapse in 2004, a series of Presidents resigned, leading many to fear that the country might dissolve. However, stability eventually returned, and today Ta'aroha is generally regarded as a prosperous democratic nation.

Elections
Elections in Ta'aroha have been regular since the reinstitution of civilian government in 1998. Because it is a federal republic, Ta'aroha has national, provincial, and municipal elections. For legislative positions elections are every two years, and for the executive power and governors every four. Apart from General elections, and ballotage, Ta'arohans also vote in primary, open, simultaneous, and obligatory elections. This is an instance before every type of election, to decide which candidates will participate in the general elections. Political parties must get at least 1.5% of valid votes to compete in general elections.

Voting
In Ta'aroha, voting is obligatory for any Ta'arohan, either native or naturalized, that is 21 years old. In November of 2021, the government passed a new law allowing Ta'arohans between the ages of 18-21 to vote optionally. In the 2015 national elections, voter turnout was particularly high at 79.83%.