Grand Senator of Enqusqo

The Grand Senator of Enqusqo (Enqutsi: Énalatlica Enqusqol) is the head of government of the Republic of Enqusqo. Executive authority is vested in the grand senator and their Public Council, though the Regal Senate is the nominal and ceremonial head of state. The grand senator and their cabinet are at all times responsible to the lower house of the Gardens of the Senate, the Public Senate.

The grand senator is appointed by the Regal Senate; however the grand senator has to enjoy the confidence of the majority of public senators, who are elected every three years according to the Qayaqaral calendar, lest the grand senator resign. The grand senator must hold one of the 351 seats of the Public Senate. The grand senator controls the selection and dismissal of consuls to the Public Council; and allocation of posts to members within the government.

The longest-serving grand senator was Tsétli Mín Xénya, also the first grand senator, whose tenure lasted 8 years and 259 days. She has served a subsequent [number] times as grand senator since her first tenure.

Appointment
The first order of business by any newly formed Public Senate is to appoint a grand senator. This must be done before any other business is conducted. To this end, the Public Senate conducts a ballot under the run-off voting system. The senator who wins this ballot must then be approved by the Regal Senate, which as head of state, must appoint the grand senator via unanimous decision. The Regal Senate has the right to reject a proposed grand senator, however, this does not occur in practice. Once the candidate is approved by the regal senate, they are presented with their commission and formally appointed to the office by the Regal Senate.

Conventionally, the grand senator is usually the leader of the majority party or senior partner in a majority coalition. However, there have been two grand senators from junior coalition partners and several minority governments throughout the history of the republic.

To be nominated for the leadership ballot, a candidate must hold a seat in the Public Senate. This implies a minimum age of 21, Enqusqan nationality, civilian status and no active role in the governments of member city-states.

Tenure and removal from office
The grand senator is said to serve ‘at the pleasure of the Senate’, hence, a grand senator may remain in office indefinitely as long as the Regal and Public senates have confidence in them. Either body has the power to call a vote of no confidence. A vote of no confidence in the Regal Senate passes if there is a single vote in favour of no-confidence. This triggers a vote in the Public Senate where a simple majority is required to remove the grand senator from office.

Additionally, any grand senator who is no longer qualified to serve in office is automatically removed.

Executive powers
The Grand Senator leads the government of Enqusqo. They act to exercise the combined authority of the city-states. In practice, this means appointing public senators to take on the roles of consul within a cabinet, known as the Public Council, who preside over important functions and ministries of the government of Enqusqo. These consuls can be dismissed at the behest of the grand senator.

The grand senator - in consultation with the Public Council - schedules and attends sessions of the Gardens of the Senate and is required to answer questions from senators in their capacity as grand senator.

Another role served by the grand senator is in their capacity as the head of cabinet, wherein they are responsible for organising meetings of the Public Council and the creation of reports on domestic and foreign affairs for the Gardens of the Senate.

Official office and residence


Located near the Gardens of the Senate, the Office of the Grand Senator of Enqusqo is called the [fun name]. It also serves as the official residence for the Grand Senator and their family.