THE DETAPA COUNCIL

The Detapa Council is the governing body of the Cardassian Union, at least in theory. In practice, the Council held power for scant few of the 500 years of its existence. Until recently, it served primarily as a puppet of other factions on Cardassia. Now the Detapa Council has an opportunity to govern the Cardassian Union. It only remains to be seen whether or not a new generation of Cardassian leadership can seize the opportunity and make it happen.

 

HISTORY

The Detapa Council was founded some five centuries years ago on Cardassia Prime, before the development of warp-travel and the Union as it exists today. The original Council formed from a loose alliance of nobles, military leaders, and aristocrats following the end of the Second Hebitian period.

The Cardassia of the time was a chaotic collection of city-states and warring nations that only recently began to settle their differences with diplomacy rather than weapons. The Council was Cardassia's first true world government. In order to satisfy the different factions involved, representatives on the council were chosen from a broad section of the population, both civilian and military, to represent the greatest possible range of interests. Membership on the Council was awarded according to merit and ability, although local and regional politics influenced the choice of candidate. It was a compromise organization, but it worked, at least at first.

The Detapa Council managed to unify the disparate nations of Cardassia by holding out a dream of a stronger, more prosperous world for all Cardassians. Their newfound prosperity would come from the stars, the Council said, all Cardassians had to do was to reach out and seize their rightful destiny. So it was with great fervour that Cardassian society devoted itself to the development and perfection of spaceflight, first using lightships and chemical rockets, followed by ion drives, impulse drive and, finally, warp-drive technology.

The development of these new technologies was overseen by the Cardassian military, the self-appointed guardians of public order. The Central Command allocated resources, directed research, maintained law and order, and protected Cardassia from any outside threat. It wasn't long before the Central Command dominated all major areas of Cardassian life. At first, the Detapa Council was content to allow Central Command free rein, since it functioned so efficiently. By the time the Council realized they were merely approving decisions Central Command already made, it was too late. Central Command held the power, and they weren't about to let it go. Their continued success allowed the Cardassian military to maintain a stranglehold on the government for centuries.

For years the Detapa Council was made up of popular figureheads able to play to the people in public ceremonies and broadcasts. The members of the Council had prestige, but little or no political power, and they knew it. Occasionally, a young idealist would make it onto the Council, only to be rendered impotent by the Council's restrictions and the influence of the Central Command. Many in Central Command actually considered the Council a good place to keep an eye on political agitators and opponents where they could do no harm. The military members of the Council held all the power.

That changed when a civilian uprising on Cardassia Prime overthrew Central Command, following the devastation of the Obsidian Order in the Omarion Nebula Incident. Suddenly, the Detapa Council found themselves holding the reins of power, and facing the possibility of a Klingon invasion. At a loss for what to do, the Council accepted the assistance of Gul Dukat in escaping Cardassia Prime before the Klingons could arrive to execute them, suspecting they were Founders in disguise.

The invasion was halted and the Council returned to power just in time for Gul Dukat to negotiate an alliance between Cardassia and the Dominion. The influence of the Council waned again as Dukat became supreme ruler of Cardassia in the Dominion's name. When Dukat went mad and disappeared from public view his aide, Gul Damar, assumed his position. Damar turned against the Dominion and was killed fighting to overthrow them.

After the Dominion War was over, a new Detapa Council was formed from the surviving members, plus capable Cardassian citizens. Some retired Cardassian legates returned to the homeworld to offer their wisdom and assistance in the rebuilding process. The Council now seeks to build a newer, stronger Cardassia and to put aside the mistakes of the past.

 

COMPOSITION

The Detapa Council traditionally has twenty members (and one chairman), although the Council has allowed some seats to remain vacant at times in the past. Members of the Council have all achieved the position of legate in Cardassian society, allowing them to be entrusted with the public welfare. The law restricts the number of Central Command officials on the Council to no more than five. Despite this, Central Command was able to exercise near complete control over the Council through their influence in nearly every other aspect of Cardassian life, particularly with the aid and cooperation of the Obsidian Order. Now, with the overthrow of Central Command and the end of the Dominion War, many of the civilian members of the Council are reasserting their authority.

 

VASALA

Vasala is the concept of making beneficial relationships with people in power. First Marriages are considered part of vasala. In most cases vasala is a symbiotic relationship between the two parties, “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” or more accurately, “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine”. This concept dates back to the early days of the Union when the first Council members came from different nations, each nation would have their own interests, and council member would support this interest in the council. But they would also have their own personal interests, such as being from military background, so this would influence their vote. This collection of interests was the Councillor’s vasala.

Now days vasala, though pretty much the same, has been expanded to include relationships made with powerful people. A Councillor might offer to vote a certain way on a vote for a high ranking military official if that official promotes the Councillor’s son. This practice is common place in Cardassian politics.

 

ELECTION

By Cardassian law, members of the Detapa Council are elected to their positions by a vote of the general populace. Five seats on the Council are up for election every two years, theoretically resulting in a complete change in council membership every eight years. In practice, however, there is no limit to the number of terms a member may serve on the Council, and many members serve ten, fifteen, or even twenty terms before they choose to retire.

Although Council elections are conducted by popular vote, the voting is heavily influenced by the candidates' vasala, particularly their connections with important organizations like Central Command and the Obsidian Order. In the past, Central Command (working through the Council) nominated candidates, which the people then voted on. So long as Central Command controlled nominations, they were ensured of Council members who would maintain the status quo.

The concept of "political parties" as they existed on Earth and other planets is foreign to the Cardassians. Each candidate's vasala forms his or her own "party" to offer support and secure votes, but vasala is considerably more personal and interconnected than a political party. Cardassian politics, like most of Cardassian society, is replete with trading favors and secret alliances. As is often the case with democratic politics, Cardassian elections were often more of a popularity contest than any true measure of the candidates' ability to do the job.

With the weakening of the Central Command and the Obsidian Order, free elections on Cardassia promise to be quite interesting in the future. Potential councillors are already gathering support through their vasalas, while current members of the council work to protect their positions. Some political analysts are already citing concerns that Cardassian politicians are more interested in protecting their jobs than working together to rebuild Cardassia and the Union.

 

THE PREFECT OR COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

The Detapa Council selects one of its members to act as the head of the Council and Supreme Prefect of the Cardassian Union. The Prefect runs Council meetings and serves as a tie-breaking vote. He is also the Supreme Commander of the Cardassian military, for generations, the Prefect of the Union was always a member of Central Command and a military officer. The military would not follow a civilian Prefect and it was well known among the Council that such an election would lead to an outright military coup. In order to keep their power and position, the Council always elected one of its military members as Prefect.

After the Omarion Nebula incident, popular support swung away from Central Command, and the civilian members of the Detapa Council seized the opportunity to further weaken the military's grip on the government. Unfortunately, the Klingon Empire took their uncharacteristic act of defiance as proof the civilian members of the Council were actually disguised changeling infiltrators. This provoked the Klingon invasion of Cardassian space, and forced the Detapa Council to flee Cardassia Prime to avoid capture and execution.

Since the end of the Dominion War, the Detapa Council proceeded more carefully. Ironically, Legate Damar would have been assured the position of Prefect, despite his military background, had he survived the rebellion against the Dominion.

 

POWERS

The Detapa Council controls the legislative and executive power of the Cardassian government. The Council drafts and passes legislation, sees to the enforcement of laws, raises and distributes money for the operation of the government, controls the Cardassian economy, and sees to the defence of the Union. Although the Council has considerable power according to the letter of the law, it has been largely impotent for centuries. Most of the Council's edicts were dictated entirely by Central Command.

Councillors can draft and propose legislation before the Council. Any new legislation is debated and considered among the members, with the sponsoring Councillor speaking first. In the case of legislation already approved or denied by Central Command, this process was largely for show; the decision was already made. Currently, debate is a vital part of the Council's operation, and some of the issues surrounding the reconstruction of Cardassia are hotly debated.

By law, the Council and the Supreme Prefect exercise control over Central Command and the Obsidian Order. Again, in practice things were quite different. Central Command and the Obsidian Order split most governmental power between them, leaving the Detapa Council as puppets to carry out their wishes. The Order left day-to-day matters in the hands of Central Command, but got whatever it wanted when it did choose to exercise its influence. After the Omarion Nebula incident, the power of the Order weakened considerably. Central Command tried to tighten its control over the populace, leading to a backlash against the military.

Presently, the Detapa Council retains its power over the military and the Obsidian Order in theory, but the matter is considerably more complex in reality. Vasala is more important than ever, with the most powerful factions and individuals in Cardassian society working to gather support for their personal agendas. While the Council is no longer a puppet of other factions, its power is by no means unchallenged. Forces within the military and the espionage community look toward returning things to the way they were before the Omarion Nebula incident, while forward-thinkers and reformers try to concentrate power in civilian hands.

 

PROCEDURES

For most matters, the Detapa Council requires only a simple majority vote.

In day-to-day matters, the Council Prefect holds executive power, including command over the military. The majority of the Prefect's decisions are later ratified by the Council. When the Central Command dominated the Council, nearly all its votes were rubber stamps on the decisions of the military Prefect. Now many Councillors prefer to limit the Prefect's powers out of fear of abuse, although most agree the Prefect must remain able to make decisions for the good of the Cardassian people. Overturning a decision of the Prefect requires a two-thirds majority of the Council, and the Prefect gets to vote, so such vetoes are rare.

 

TITLES

The Cardassian government has its own titles for officials. A prefect governs a colony or client world. A legate is a high-ranked official in the Cardassian government, while the higher ranks require membership in the Central Command or a position on the Detapa Council.

 

Colony/Subjugated World Leader – Prefect

High Ranked Official – Legate

Member of the Central Command – Legate

Member of the Detapa Council – Councillor

Head of the Detapa Council/Prefect of the Cardassian Union – Chairman

 

MINISTRIES OF THE COUNCIL

The Detapa Council and the Prefect delegate much of the daily operation of the Cardassian government to a variety of ministries, each headed by a minister. Ministers are appointed by the Council, and may be dismissed at their pleasure. Like most of Cardassian politics, their appointments and dismissals are largely decided by vasala. The Ministers generally report directly to the Prefect, who in turn presents their reports to the Detapa Council. Ministers advise the Prefect on matters concerning the Cardassian Union, and often have considerable influence because of this. There are dozens of ministries, some acting under the guidance of others. The most important ministries are detailed here.

 

DEFENSE MINISTRY

The Ministry of Defense is nominally in charge of the Cardassian military, at least from a budgetary and oversight standpoint. Of course, this has not actually been the case for centuries. Central Command assigned a senior or retired officer the position of Defense Minister as a reward for years of loyal service, and the job was widely known as a "comfortable retirement position" requiring almost no work. In the past century or so, the Central Command dispensed with even the pretence of reporting its actions to the Ministry of Defense, the entire office was little more than a sham.

Since the end of the Dominion War, the position of Defense Minister is a hotly contested one. The current Minister, Legate Joban, is an "old guard" Cardassian officer. There is considerable call to replace him with a civilian minister, to ensure the military does not get out of hand. However, there is concern that a civilian will not have the respect of the military, and fear of a military coup if the Central Command is marginalized too much. Joban, suddenly finding himself holding real power, is doing his best to walk the line between the two camps.

 

MINISTRY OF THE ECOMONY

The Ministry of the Economy values currency, oversees trade negotiations and commerce treaties, sets interest rates and currency exchange, and performs economic forecasts and analyses for the Detapa Council.

The ministry served as a scapegoat for many of Cardassia's ills in the wake of the Dominion War. Damage to the Union's economy is laid across the ministry's doorstep, despite the fact it had little or no say in the policies of Central Command, or the Dominion. The Council is conducting a purge of personnel in the ministry, and only those with the strongest vasala weathered the storm unscathed. They ended forming the core of a new Economic Ministry, charged with the herculean task of rebuilding the Cardassian Union's shattered economy and establishing trade relations with other powers in the Alpha Quadrant, which remain suspicious of Cardassia.

 

SECURITY MINISTRY

The Ministry of Internal Security, or simply the Security Ministry, has long been a puppet of the Obsidian Order. The ministry's duties involve enforcing the law and maintaining public order. In practice, they served as a public arm of the Order, conducting searches and interrogations, surveillance of suspected troublemakers, arrests of known or suspected criminals, and so forth. Members of Internal Security often played the role of honest and harried public officials, encouraging criminal suspects to cooperate with them, rather than being turned over to the "tender mercies" of the Obsidian Order. The ministry is riddled with undercover agents of the Order, keeping watch over the watchers themselves.

When the Omarion Nebula incident weakened the Obsidian Order, Internal Security gained in power. Under the Dominion, they cooperated with the Jem'Hadar to enforce the Dominion's laws, but by end of the war Internal Security officers turned against the Dominion en masse rather than turn their weapons on their own people. Their assistance greatly aided the rebellion in ousting the Dominion from Cardassia Prime.

Currently, Internal Security and the Obsidian Order exist in an uneasy symbiotic relationship. The ministry still fears the Order's influence, but it has considerably more power of its own. For its part, the Obsidian Order needs Internal Security to serve as a front-organization, and is doing what it can to re-establish its control over the ministry.

 

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

The Ministry of Justice oversees the interpretation of Cardassian law, and the application of those laws in civil and criminal proceedings. Cardassian jurists are referred to as archons, and the Supreme Archon is also Minister of Justice.

For generations, the Ministry of Justice operated largely as another arm of Central Command. Trials were little more than a formality, since Central Command handed down verdicts, and sentences, in advance. A trial only served to publicly confirm them.

Currently, the Ministry of Justice is a strong influence for reform on Cardassia Prime. Some archons are actually exercising their judicial power to help ensure only the guilty are punished, and that the laws of the Union are upheld, but most serve to continue with the status quo.

 

PUBLIC HEALTH & CULTURE

The Ministry of Public Health & Culture oversees the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the Cardassian people. De-emphasized almost to the point of non-existence under Central Command, this ministry is being revived and given greater priority by the new government.

Under Central Command, the ministry had little or no funding, and was primarily concerned with maintaining public health, and distributing propaganda approved by Central Command. The ministry made do with whatever resources it could pull together. Its physicians and councillors worked long hours for little pay, leading to considerable apathy and mistreatment of those under their care. Members of the Ministry of Health often harboured sympathies for the Dissident movement, while many others are outright members of it. They seek social and health care reforms as part of their new goals.

Associate ministers working in the Culture department of the ministry are some of the best-educated, and least-heeded, members of Cardassian society. They continue to study fragments of Cardassia's ancient culture, literature, art, and music, both to learn more about the history of their society and in hopes of reviving some of the Cardassian's cultural achievements.

 

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE

The Ministry of Science is concerned with scientific research and the development of new technologies. Like the other ministries, it functioned as little more than an arm of Central Command during the military rule of Cardassia. The ministry's prime tasks involved the development of new military technology like weapons and shields, as well as research with potential military applications, such as the study of the Bajoran orbs.

It might have been the influence of the orbs, or simply the high level of education among the scientists, but the Ministry of Science had long been a bastion of the Dissident reform movement. Scientists in the ministry chaffed under the rule of Central Command, and longed for opportunities to collaborate with their Federation counterparts, working on pure research rather than military applications. Some sought to further the position of science in Cardassian culture, while others merely wanted to end the military domination of the Union.

Since the end of the Dominion War, the Ministry of Science is little better off than before. The Detapa Council cannot afford to devote resources to scientific research when the Union has more pressing economic and social needs. Ironically, this has split the ministry between support for a civilian government and those who fondly recall the military government where they were, if not appreciated, at least well-funded.

 

ALLOCATION

Originally, a sub-ministry of Economy, Allocation was elevated to full Ministry status after the Gharva Riots of 2348 on Cardassia Prime. In an empire where resources are scarce, their careful allocation is a matter of some priority. Officials called lexors handle resource allocation on the regional or planetary level, working closely with the military. Allocation was so closely overseen by Central Command that many officers joked it was the civilian branch of the military. Allocation's vast influence and close ties with Central Command encouraged corruption and influence-peddling among lexors seeking to increase their vasala. It also created a vast black market for goods throughout the Union.

With the fall of Central Command and the Dominion withdrawal, Allocation is coming under considerable scrutiny from the Detapa Council. The Union's resources are stretched extremely thin, and its survival may depend on their proper allocation and distribution. Many lexors are trying to cover up misappropriation of resources and secure their positions in the new regime.

 

INFORMATION SERVICE

The Cardassian Information Service was little more then a propaganda machine for Central Command. It disseminated pro-state information to the people, and was responsible for the broadcasting of Trials.

In later years following the Dominion War, the Information Service was the first Ministry to be completely restaffed. It now acts more independent of the government, and its reports are less propagandist. Though they are still pro-state, their Correspondents are beginning to be viewed negatively by the population for their hardline reports, and their investigative skills are coming under scrutiny from the Obsidian Order.

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Cardassian concept of vasala extends to the local government as well. Local government authorities, such as planetary and colonial governors, are known as prefects. A prefect is supported by an extensive bureaucracy that handles the day-to-day matters of governing, including representatives from the major ministries of the Cardassian government.