Derisive Umbaran
Corporate Technocracy: A Primer
“Democracy is the process of having an uneducated, uninformed mob select one psychopathic lawyer from a long, ever-increasing line of psychopathic lawyers in the hopes that one of those psychopathic lawyers will be able to fix a problem. Technocracy is the process by which problems are actually fixed.” - Director Gerion Ardik, Department of Law
Goals
Scientific advancement and the safeguarding of capitalist ideology are the two primary concerns of the Techno Union. The Techno Union expends billions of credits each year on research and development to further the advancement of technology and our understanding of the universe. To protect against those who would threaten the prosperity of the Techno Union and other capitalistic entities, the Techno Union also fields a large security force, primarily composed of droids, mercenaries, and auxiliary companies from member-planets.
Due to the nature of the Techno Union’s governance, the continuing education of many of the galaxy’s citizens is paramount. As such, universities dedicated to the sciences are readily established and scholarships distributed to those who show promise in those fields. The more educated the populace, the greater the pool of experts the Techno Union has to draw from.
Regardless of the availability of education as pushed through the Techno Union, it is ultimately meaningless if planets remain technological backwaters. The Techno Union reinvests much of its tax revenue into planets to develop their infrastructure. New road systems, power plants, hospitals, police stations, sewers, water supplies, spaceports, waste disposal, and so forth are always quick to arrive in the wake of Techno Union investment. Happy populations are productive populations, and so the Techno Union takes adequate steps to ensure those living under it are able to live comfortably.
Execution
The Techno Union itself is the federal governing body of the space it claims jurisdiction over. It is lead by a foreman, who heads an executive council made up of the representatives of corporations who are members of the Techno Union. The Foreman and the Executive Council convene regularly to make decisions on foreign policy, budgeting, and so forth. Planetary issues do not usually come to their attention unless they are a source of unrest.
The Techno Union has no desire to directly rule planets. Established planetary governments have little to fear from the Techno Union, so long as they are not hostile to their citizens, the interests of the Techno Union, free market capitalism. And continue to deliver their dues with minimal delay.
Since the federal elements of the Techno Union cannot be bothered with planetary affairs, what entities organize the development of planetary infrastructure and the promotion of education? Because petty politics and corruption often get in the way of these goals, the Techno Union has established a system to bypass corrupt politicians and other forms of clout.
The task of developing planets falls to various committees that are established on a system-wide basis. These organizations are called Committees for Development. Committees for Development operate independently of the planetary government and are expected to cooperate with one another. Disputes between the two tend to end in favor of the Committee and are enforced by the Techno Union’s security force.
Committees for Development are composed entirely of certified experts. Doctors, scientists, and engineers are the only individuals allowed to staff these committees. Further, to have a seat on a Committee, you must be a born-native of that planet. A Rodian born on Apatros and who spent most of his life there cannot serve on the Committee for Development of Rodia, but a human born and raised on Rodia can. If, of course, they have the necessary educational attainment. When admitting a world as a member of the Techno Union, the Directorate
The individuals who head Committees for Development are known as Viceroys. Viceroys do not need to be natives of planets, but they do need to be skilled businessmen or public administrators. Viceroys are typically selected and appointed by the Techno Union, though those with sufficient clout could probably request positions. Viceroys with inadequate performance have been seen to be removed, as are those who regularly squander Techno Union resources.
In pursuit of technological advancement, the Techno Union operates a large amount of research and development centers across its accumulated space. Notable facilities include Kamino for the fields of medicine, genetics, and cloning and Hypori for electrical engineering.
Sources of Income
Instead of directly administering worlds, the Techno Union merely collects tribute from planets under their protection. The amount of tribute varies between planets and is proportional to the amount of wealth the planet already has, so as not to bleed planets dry or collapse governments under the weight of their dues.
These funds are generally diverted towards one of the following.
- Development of planetary infrastructure
- Scientific research
- Promotion of education
- Military upkeep
The Techno Union: Federal Structure
The structure of the Techno Union is based upon the general structure of corporations and the Corporate Sector Authority currently situated in Levantine Space. There are three parts to the Techno Union’s federal government.
The Executive Council is comprised of the owners, CEOs, or other representatives of each member corporation. Membership to the Techno Union’s Executive Council is gained by the consensus of the Executive Council. No entity that is not a corporation can be represented in matters of the Executive Council. The Executive Council functions as the legislative branch of the Techno Union and determines foreign policy, internal budgeting, and passing of laws. All of these are accomplished by a voting system. The higher tier the corporation, the more votes they are allocated.
The Foreman is the appointed leader of the Techno Union. He or she heads the Executive Council and can propose legislation like the Councilors, but does not vote on legislation. The Foreman also represents the public face of the Techno Union and the final authority in all internal affairs. The Foreman reserves the right to veto and overturn legislation passed by the Executive Council, but cannot issue his or her own. The Foreman’s position is permanent until they either step down or a vote of no confidence comprising 2/3rds majority of the Executive Council is passed.
The Directorate is a collection of federal departments led by Directors. Directors are appointed by the Foreman and approved by the Executive Council to oversee the actual execution of various functions of the Techno Union on a federal level as well as keep tabs on the activities of Committees for Development.
It is the duty of the Directors to monitor the affairs of both planets and their pertinent Committees for Development while also running their own departments in order to promote a smooth, efficient, and productive bureaucracy for the Techno Union. Departments that compose the Directorate are as follows.
- Department of Law - Enforces federal regulations of the Techno Union and determines best enforcement strategies. Monitors Committees and planets for law violations.
- Department of Research - Conducts research and development on behalf of the Techno Union. Monitors research conducted by Committees and planets.
- Department of Finance - Manages the finances of the Techno Union and makes recommendation for budgetary policy. Monitors finances and budgets of Committees and planets and reports corruption.
- Department of Security - Manages the military and defense network of the Techno Union. Monitors/coordinates the security forces of Committees, member-corporations, and planets.
- Department of Education - Screens applicants for Committees for Development, sets educational standards, and issues grants to already established universities.
- Department of Diplomacy - Conducts diplomatic missions on behalf of the Techno Union, communicates with allies, receives ambassadors, and manages the Techno Union's embassies.
It should be noted that it is illegal for individuals who are not citizens of the Techno Union or are not accredited or experienced in the above fields to hold any director position. Directors are required to keep detailed records and make them 100% transparent to the Foreman and all members of the Executive Board, but not Viceroys or planetary governments.
The Techno Union: Local Structure
As far as planetary affairs go, the Techno Union’s interests do not expand beyond improving living conditions, literacy, upgrading infrastructure, and maintaining strong economies. Their approach to planetary and local governance is largely hands-free.
Every system that joins the Techno Union is required to form a Committee for Development. Committees for Development operate on a planetary level and are comprised of a large council of engineers, scientists, and other highly qualified technical experts. Committees for Development can be as large as needed, but frequently do not move beyond one-hundred and fifty (150) members. Committees for Development are tasked with developing the worlds they oversee into wealthy, productive, and safe worlds.
The experts that make up a Committee for Development have to meet the following prerequisites.
- Are a registered, native-born citizen of the planet in question.
- Have obtained a PhD in a technical field from a Techno Union approved University.
- Have no criminal record or are closely associated to those with a criminal record.
- Have not lived off-world for more than a total of six (6) galactic standard years.
At the head of each Committee for Development are a Viceroy. A Viceroy is appointed by the Executive Council. In fact, some corporations serving on the Executive Council also have individuals on their payroll serving as Viceroys. Viceroys lead individual Committees for Development in their tasks, coordinating the various assessments, recommendations, and so forth of the experts that comprise it.
Those seeking to become Viceroys have to meet the following prerequisites.
- Are a registered citizen of the Techno Union or one of its planets.
- Have a wealth of expertise or experience in regards to business.
- Have no criminal record or are closely associated to those with a criminal record.
- Have no ties to foreign governments that oppose the aims of the Techno Union.