United Council of Yesteria
The United Council of Yesteria is the national legislature of Yesteria. The United Council is comprised of one representative from each community in Yesteria, and is selected by a method chosen by each individual community. The number of representatives on the United Council is presently 93, however this is subject to change each year.
Types of Community
Any group can apply to be considered a community, however applications are usually only accepted if they are by one of six standard types. The current makeup of the United Council of Yesteria is as follows:
| Type of Community | Number | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Village | 39 | Stationary settlement comprised of a minimum of 5 households and maximum of 100 |
| Neighbourhood | 4 | Area of a settlement with total population of over 10,000 |
| Rural grouping | 13 | Collection of at least 5 isolated rural households in adjacent locations |
| Other settlement | 2 | Any other stationary settlement which does not fit into the above categories |
| Nomadic community | 27 | Nomadic community with a fixed membership of a minimum 500 individuals |
| Nomadic grouping | 8 | Grouping of numerous smaller nomadic communities (<500) |
| Other | 0 | Any other community approved the right to a representative |
Communities by Selection Method
The method of selecting a representative is decided by each local community, and can vary widely. A slim majority of communities elect their representatives using democratic elections with universal adult suffrage; with a number of other communities using democratic elections with some restrictions on suffrage. Some communities continue to appoint representatives without direct elections; while a limited number also consider the position hereditary within a single family.
The following table lists the present selection methods of the 93 current communities.
| Selection Method | Number |
|---|---|
| Direct election (universal adult suffrage) | 47 |
| Direct election (male-only suffrage) | 3 |
| Direct election (other suffrage group) | 15 |
| Other election type | 2 |
| Appointment by local authority | 4 |
| Appointment by local nobility or landowners | 1 |
| Hereditary (gender neutral) | 17 |
| Hereditary (male heirs) | 4 |