Procurator

In the government of the Golden Empire, the position of Procurator was created as part of the 65 Reforms. Procurators were Royal governors assigned to supervise entire sectors of 100 inhabited worlds. Ruling on behalf of the Sovereign, Procurators supervised the Consuls who ruled individual worlds in their sectors.

By 150 ABY, the Golden Empire had become too large for Rin Sakaros to rule with her existing model. The Empire had over 1,300 inhabited planets, which meant it had over 2,600 Consuls and Tribunes. Rin was persuaded that she was going to begin missing things; even she could not adequately address the daily and ongoing concerns of 2,600 beings. In the interest of ensuring her people had a government dedicated to their welfare, Rin proposed the creation of sector-level government at the Consular Assembly of that year.

A year of debate ensued, with Consuls, Tribunes, and even private citizens weighing in on both sides. Rin and her agents spent the year educating the public about the benefits the Queen foresaw in the new system, and by the Assembly in 151 ABY, the majority of the Empire had been persuaded to support the reforms. After the Assembly of that year, Rin promulgated the law and appointed the first Procurators.

Powers and authority
The foremost (and initially most controversial) power of Procurators was the appointment of Consuls. A sector's Procurator was empowered to fill any Consular vacancy in his sector without reference to any other being. Procurators could also remove Consuls at will. Procurators could pass laws binding on all worlds in their sectors. If a Tribune appealed the passage of a law by a planetary government or a Consul, the sector Procurator was empowered to adjudicate the dispute on behalf of the Sovereign.

In the case of military emergency, the Procurator acted as commander-in-chief of the sector's military forces, assisted by the Sector Magister. This authority could be used to deal with pirates and other minor irritants, but in the case of actual invasion, it was understood to be a temporary arrangement. Both the Sovereign and the Prime Legate had superior authority to the Procurator and could commandeer and use his forces at will, including moving them to other sectors.

Procurators and their Advocates initially reported to the Consular Assembly alongside their Consuls and Tribunes, although the ultimate plan was to compose the Assembly solely of Procurators and Advocates. Procurators were required to meet at least once a year with all their Consuls and Tribunes in a sort of "mini-Consular Assembly".

Appointment
Most Procurators had been Consuls of at least one world before their appointment. Given their authority to appoint Consuls, Rin Sakaros felt her Procurators needed a firm understanding of the authority they were delegating. Once appointed, only the Sovereign (or a Royal Executor acting on her behalf) could remove a Procurator.

Checks and limitations
The Ministry of Finance maintained an office in the administration of each Procurator, but unlike Consuls, Procurators had no involvement in the collection of royal taxes. The sector administration was paid out of the Royal Treasury, and Procurators were forbidden to collect taxes themselves for the sector government.

In order to preserve the protection of the citizens previously afforded by Tribunes, Rin simultaneously created the position of Advocate as a sector-level equivalent to planetary Tribunes. The Advocate could appeal any decision of the Procurator to the Sovereign, who had final authority to adjudicate the matter. The Sovereign could also overrule any appointment or dismissal of a Consul. The Consuls of Quadia and Kavez Massass reported directly to the Sovereign and were not subject to the authority of any Procurator.

Rin Sakaros occasionally installed her Centurions as Consuls in various sectors; any Consul installed by the Sovereign was presumed to remain in office at the Sovereign's pleasure, not the Procurator's. Some Procurators desired to appoint Centurions themselves, but every such request had to be approved by the Sovereign.

As with her Consuls, Rin held Procurators to the highest standard of professionalism, service, and dedication to their people. Any Procurator convicted of corruption, taking bribes, or malfeasance in office was subject to a mandatory death sentence.