So i was half-joking when I suggested trials, but it looks like people are interested. So I've drawn up a (rough) outline of an idea of how they ought to work. Vague, I know.
There are two ways a trial can start:
1. The Emperor accuses a Senator of a crime that is not always an automatic death penalty (things like attempted murder of the Emperor in plain sight, or a Senator standing up and proclaiming his allegiance to the Dark Gods would not be tried, just hanged)
2. The Senate indicts a Senator for a crime they suspect of a crime. Note this is not a trial, the vote is one whether the Senators think they are guilty, but whether there is enough doubt to formally go over the evidence in a trial. The indictment requires only a simple majority of the Senators, and at least one Faction Leader in support of the indictment. A faction leader will propose the indictment.
if we do trials, the Senators ought to be encouraged to sneak things in every now and then about their crimes, and if we detect them and have enough evidence, they can be tried. Currently I'm the only one who has really started this process, although I think one person was homosexual at one point, but didn't further it too far. This is in addition to things like events that come up, like in the last update. If that happened again, they would be tried on a more theoretical basis, and the argument would be about what punishment should be meted out.
So there would be two types of trials:
1: Character Trials: These will be based on the evidence that we dig up from a person's posts, letters, anything in character. In this situation, the accused is aware that they will be caught, although I doubt they'd play like that in character.
2. Event Trials: These would be based on events that come up concerning Senators committing a crime. This trial is not a trial in the common sense, but a sentencing hearing.
The trials will, of course, be influenced by personal bias, hate between houses, the faction the person is from, and the meddling from the Imperial Court.
A Draft format for a Character Trial:
Indictments:
Indictments are proposed as provisions during normal sessions. A Faction Leader has to propose an indictment, and it must pass by a simple majority.
Indictments must include:
The supposed crime of the indicted
At least one piece of evidence
The name of the indicted and his Faction.
An example:
I, (Senator Name) , Senator and Leader of the (Faction) Demes, propose an Indictment of Senator (Senator Name) for the crime of (Crime).
(Evidence)
If the Indictment passes, the Trial will be held at a special session of the Senate, or as an extension of an existing one. The Emperor can obviously choose to veto the provision. If the Senator accused is set to die by the next session, he will not, similar to Faction Leaders for the upcoming session.
The Trial:
The Faction Leader who made the accusation is the the head of the Prosecution. The accused will be his own lawyer. The job of the prosecutor is to investigate the accused's posts and letters and comments made in character. Other Senators can submit evidence to the Prosecutor. At the end of the trial, the Prosecutor will post a complete collection of evidence. The Prosecutor will also recommend a sentence. This is important because too harsh a sentence and the Senators may not vote in favor. The President of the Senate presides over the Senate, and if the Senate finds the accused guilty, will Sentence him. The President will normally sentence him to what the Prosecution asked for, but he can change the sentence. He cannot not give the accused a Sentence though.
Unlike a modern trial, the jury (The rest of the Senate) is allowed to weigh in and submit evidence, alibis, desperate pleadings for innocence, etcetera. The trial will have a length of 3 days, at the end of which there will be a voting period of 2 days. In order to convict the accused, there must be a 2/3rds majority.
Format for an event trial:
The Emperor asks the Senate to sentence the criminal among them. He is guilty, there is no doubt about that.
This is a shorter trial. The Emperor proposes a Sentence, and for a period of 2 days, the Senate will debate whether this is the correct sentence. Faction leaders may propose amended sentences. Since this is a sentencing trial, the proposal with the most votes wins. The voting period is one day.
Obviously everything can be changed, from procedure, to time length, to number of crimes.
I sent this to Czoklet a few mins ago, but I thought it would be good to hear from the other Senators too. Any comments are appreciated.