On Avalon, human beings elect Members of the Parliament of Man whereas any free adult Ythrian in the relevant territory is entitled to attend and speak at a Khruath. However, many human beings join choths and therefore participate in Khruaths, not in Parliament.
On Dennitza, the zmayi both retain Vachs and elect Members of one House of the tri-cameral Shkoptsina. However, since the Shkoptsina is a human institution not fully suited to zmayi sensibilities, there have been occasions when demonstrations, e.g., of several hundred Obala fishers marched into the Chamber and demanded that their leaders be heard.
Although the two human Houses are often turbulent and sometimes even violent, the zmayi, both Members and demonstrators, are able to cope with this occasional semi-institutionalized interruption of demonstrators' leaders demanding to be heard, being heard, then withdrawing, thus contributing without (too much) disrupting.
See also On Avalon And Dennitza.
2 comments:
The institutions in that story are partially based on old Slavic historical models -- people's assemblies, often rather turbulent, with organized demonstrations as part of the process of political negotiation. Novgorod the Great had something like that.
Dear Mr. Stirling,
Now that I had not known, what you said about "organized demonstrations as part of the process of political negotiation." I can't help but think, however, of how easily such demonstrations can become attempts at coercing legislative bodies.
Sean
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