The People's Councils
The people's councils are the fundamental units of people's power in the New Richmond Republic, with ultimate authority on the local level over matters of state and party. According to the theory of people's council democracy under which the NRR is governed, the two great elements of the microsocialist republican system - the Central People's Government and the Blair Mountain League - and the local governments of the cantons derive their authority and legitimacy from the people's councils.
People's councils are primarily established in municipalities; however, the Basic Law makes provision for councils to be established for particular groups of citizens and for particular organizations (as is the case of the soldier's council of the Corps of Revolutionary Guards). Municipal people's councils are empowered to enact statutes which have the force of law, provided they do not run contrary to the Basic Law or any federal law or cantonal statute; other councils may or may not possess this authority. The people's councils have the authority to designate their own officers, the officers of the city or commune they govern, and the officers of the local party apparatus.
In addition to their considerable local power, the people's councils elect delegates to represent them in the Congress of People's Councils - the supreme organ of federal power. People's councils have the authority to recall their delegates, and any people's council may unilaterally call for an extraordinary session of Congress. People's councils also elect and recall deputies to cantonal legislatures.
Any citizen is permitted to attend and be heard at sessions of their local people's council provided they are not prohibited from exercising their political rights as punishment for a crime; however, only members of the Blair Mountain League may vote on affairs and in elections of delegates and council officers. If you are a citizen of the Republic and want information regarding meeting times or the location of meetings of your people's council(s), please contact your respective delegate(s) to the Congress of People's Councils or any other local officer.
People's councils are primarily established in municipalities; however, the Basic Law makes provision for councils to be established for particular groups of citizens and for particular organizations (as is the case of the soldier's council of the Corps of Revolutionary Guards). Municipal people's councils are empowered to enact statutes which have the force of law, provided they do not run contrary to the Basic Law or any federal law or cantonal statute; other councils may or may not possess this authority. The people's councils have the authority to designate their own officers, the officers of the city or commune they govern, and the officers of the local party apparatus.
In addition to their considerable local power, the people's councils elect delegates to represent them in the Congress of People's Councils - the supreme organ of federal power. People's councils have the authority to recall their delegates, and any people's council may unilaterally call for an extraordinary session of Congress. People's councils also elect and recall deputies to cantonal legislatures.
Any citizen is permitted to attend and be heard at sessions of their local people's council provided they are not prohibited from exercising their political rights as punishment for a crime; however, only members of the Blair Mountain League may vote on affairs and in elections of delegates and council officers. If you are a citizen of the Republic and want information regarding meeting times or the location of meetings of your people's council(s), please contact your respective delegate(s) to the Congress of People's Councils or any other local officer.