Galactic Confederate Systems

The Confederate Systems of the Galaxy, mostly called the Confederate Systems, was the government of former Imperial worlds formed by Cole Kroger that replaced the Empire in its quest to seek independence.

The rise of the CSG led to a great deal of tension between it and the New Republic, who preferred a stronger central government than the Confederate Systems less powered central government.

The Confederate Systems movement struck fear into the hearts of countless New Republic citizens, mostly due to the Confederacy of Independent Systems' brutality, which the Confederate Systems looked to be wanting to take it's place in Republic eyes. Eventually, the Confederate Systems proved that all they wanted was systems' rights and independence and was accepted by the New Republic.

Constitution summaries
The following list contains short summaries of each of the articles.
 * 1) Establishes the name of the confederation with these words: "The Style of this confederacy shall be "The Confederate Systems of the Galaxy."
 * 2) Asserts the equality of the separate systems with the confederation government, i.e. "Each system retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated."
 * 3) Does not call the Confederate Systems a "nation", but instead says: "The said Systems hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever."
 * 4) Establishes freedom of movement – anyone could pass freely between the systems, excluding "paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from justice." All people are entitled to the rights established by the system into which they travels. If a crime is committed in one system and the perpetrator(s) flees to another system, they will be extradited to and tried in the system in which the crime was committed.
 * 5) Allocates one vote in the Congress of the Confederation to each system, which was entitled to a delegation of between two and seven members. Members of Congress were appointed by system legislatures. Also, individuals could not serve more than three out of any six years.
 * 6) Only the central government was allowed to conduct foreign relations and to declare war. No systems could have navies or standing armies, or engage in war, without permission of Congress (although the existence of system militias are encouraged).
 * 7) Whenever an army is raised for common defense, colonels and military ranks below colonel will be named by the system legislatures.
 * 8) Expenditures by the Confederate Systems will be paid by funds raised by systems legislatures, and apportioned to the systems based on the real property values of each and confederal taxes on system government profits.
 * 9) Defines the powers of the central government: to declare war, to set weights and measures (including coins), and for Congress to serve as a final court for disputes between systems.
 * 10) Defines a Committee of the Systems to be a government when Congress is not in session.
 * 11) Requires nine systems to approve the admission of a new system into the confederacy.
 * 12) Reaffirms that the Confederation accepts war debt incurred by Congress before the existence of the Constitution.
 * 13) Declares that the Constitution is perpetual, and can only be altered by approval of Congress with ratification by a majority of the system legislatures.

While still at war with Galactic Empire, the Founding Fathers were divided between those seeking a powerful, centralized national government, and those seeking a loosely-structured one. Jealously guarding their new independence, members of the Confederation Congress arrived at a compromise solution dividing sovereignty between the states and the Confederal government, with a unicameral legislature that protected the liberty of the individual systems. While calling on Congress to regulate military and monetary affairs, for example, the Confederate Constitution provided a mechanism with which to compel the States to comply with requests for either troops or revenue.

The Army and Navy
The Constitution supported the Confederal direction of the Confederation Army, and allowed the systems to present a unified front when dealing with the enemy powers. As a tool to build a centralized war-making government, they were largely a success.

The Confederation Congress, before the Constitution were approved, had promised soldiers a pension of half pay for life. Congress had some power to compel the systems to fund this obligation, and as the War of Independence with the Empire wound down after the victory at Coruscant the sense of urgency to support the military was no longer a factor. Much progress was made in Congress during the winter of 7 BBY.

Once the war had been won, a national force was maintained to man the frontier forts and to protect against attacks. Meanwhile, each of the systems had an army (or militia), and some of them had air forces Navies with special permission of Congress. The wartime promises of bounties and land grants to be paid for service were met.

The Congress from time to time during the War of Independence requisitioned troops from the systems.

Foreign policy
Even after peace had been achieved in 5 BBY, the strength of the Confederation government brightened the ability of the government to conduct foreign policy. In 3 BBY, Thomas Richter, concerned over the failure to fund an Confederate naval force to confront pirates, wrote to the New Republic to fund their army to protect their systems. After realizing that the CSG wasn't like the Empire of the CIS, they obliged.

Taxation and commerce
The Confederation Congress could make decisions, and had power to enforce any of them. There was a requirement for majority approval before any modifications could be made to the Constitution.

Congress could only tax the income of the system governments for revenue.

Congress had also the power to regulate foreign trade and interstate commerce, though the systems had some limited power to do some of their own trade and commerce.

Members of the Confederation Congress
The members of the Confederation Congress were system picked members of the CSG. They discussed the politics of the government and how to better improve it in their eyes and the eyes of their people.