Imperial Sector Governance Decree

The Imperial Sector Governance Decree

An Edict to establish the permanent territorial administration of the Galactic Empire; to continue the twenty Priority Sectors as Oversectors; to provide for the offices of Grand Moff, Moff, Subsector Moff, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Prefect, and for their appointment, authority, accountability, and removal; to preserve lawful indigenous government; to supersede and codify the wartime Sector Governance Decree; and to give effect to Article VI of the Imperial Charter.

Promulgated by His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Draco Tanos, in exercise of the authority vested in the Imperial Throne by Article I, Section 6, and Article VI, of the Imperial Charter.

WHEREAS, seven years before the Imperial Ascension, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine promulgated the Sector Governance Decree as a wartime measure for the coordination, security, and administration of the Sectors of the Galactic Republic;

AND WHEREAS, following the death of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine during the Battle of Coruscant, that system remained in force throughout the continued prosecution of the Clone Wars;

AND WHEREAS, the establishment of the Galactic Empire requires that the temporary territorial arrangements of the wartime Republic be regularised, expanded, and placed upon a permanent foundation consistent with the Imperial Charter;

NOW, THEREFORE, We do by this Our Imperial Edict ordain and decree as follows—

Section 1Short title

This Edict may be cited as the Imperial Sector Governance Decree.

Section 2Interpretation

In this Edict, unless the context otherwise requires—

“Oversector” means a permanent territorial division of the Empire established under section 5;

“Sector” means a conventional galactic sector recognised under Article VI of the Charter and represented in the Imperial Senate under Article III thereof;

“Subsector” means an intermediate territorial division established under section 7;

“System” includes a star system, world, moon, orbital installation, or comparable territory;

“Imperial territorial office” means the office of Grand Moff, Moff, Subsector Moff, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Prefect established or continued under this Edict;

“Imperial Territorial Governor” means the holder of an Imperial territorial office, of whatever grade;

“Oversector Command” means the unified military command assigned to an Oversector under section 5;

“the Charter” means the Imperial Charter;

“the Throne” means the Emperor acting in exercise of the Imperial Prerogative or, where the context requires, the lawful Imperial Regent.

Section 3Relation to the Charter

(1) This Edict is made in exercise of the authority conferred upon the Imperial Throne by Article I, Section 6, of the Charter, and gives effect to Article VI thereof.

(2) This Edict shall be interpreted consistently with the Charter, and nothing in this Edict shall be read to diminish any right, power, or function reserved to the Imperial Senate, the Judiciary, or any other institution by the Charter.

(3) Where this Edict is inconsistent with any subordinate legislation, regulation, directive, or administrative action, this Edict shall prevail.

Section 4Territorial tiers

(1) The territory of the Empire shall be organised into the following tiers of regional government, in descending order of jurisdiction:

(a) the Oversector, governed by a Grand Moff;

(b) the Sector, governed by a Moff;

(c) the Subsector, where established, governed by a Subsector Moff;

(d) the major or sufficiently developed system, governed by a Governor;

(e) the world, major moon, minor system, or comparable territory, governed by a Lieutenant Governor;

(f) the limited local jurisdiction, governed by a Prefect.

(2) The appropriate grade of regional government shall be determined by the strategic, economic, demographic, geographic, cultural, and administrative requirements of the jurisdiction, and not solely by its physical extent or the number of celestial bodies within it.

Section 5Continuation of the Priority Sectors as permanent Oversectors

(1) The twenty Priority Sectors, established during the Clone Wars as the territorial jurisdictions of the Grand Army's Sector Armies, are hereby continued in permanent form as the twenty Oversectors of the Empire, numbered and named in the Schedule to this Edict.

(2) Each Oversector shall retain the unified military command established for its corresponding Priority Sector, which shall continue as the Oversector Command for that territory and shall comprise such naval forces, sector fleets, Army formations, Starfighter Corps formations, Stormtrooper commands, logistics establishments, and strategic installations as are formally assigned to it by Imperial High Command.

(3) Every Moff, governor, officer, or official lawfully holding office within a Priority Sector immediately before the coming into force of this Edict shall be deemed to hold the corresponding office within the continuing Oversector, without further act of appointment, until a successor is appointed or the office is otherwise lawfully vacated.

(4) The Ministry of Interior shall keep and publish the Imperial Territorial Registry, recording the administrative capital, Oversector Command, constituent Sectors, and subordinate territorial jurisdictions of every Oversector, together with such other particulars as Imperial law or the Throne may require.

(5) The Throne may by further Edict alter the boundaries or designation of an Oversector and direct the Registry and Schedule to be amended accordingly, provided that the number of Oversectors shall remain twenty unless Article VI of the Charter is first amended.

Section 6The Sectors

(1) Each Oversector shall comprise such Sectors as are assigned to it in the Imperial Territorial Registry.

(2) Every Sector existing at the coming into force of this Edict, together with its administrative identity, shall continue as a constituent division of the Oversector to which it is assigned.

(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the status of a Sector as the fundamental unit of representation in the Imperial Senate under Article III of the Charter.

Section 7Subsectors

(1) A Subsector may be established within a Sector where strategic, cultural, geographic, economic, or administrative circumstances justify a level of government intermediate between the Sector and its constituent systems.

(2) A Subsector shall be established, altered, or abolished by the Throne, or by the Imperial Ruling Council or Grand Vizier acting under authority expressly delegated by the Throne, upon the recommendation of the Grand Moff of the Oversector concerned.

(3) The establishment of a Subsector shall not divide or diminish the authority of the Moff over the whole of the Sector.

Section 8Systems, worlds, and local government

(1) The lawful governments of worlds, systems, municipalities, protectorates, territories, and other local jurisdictions existing at the coming into force of this Edict shall continue to exercise authority over local affairs, except where superseded by Imperial law.

(2) Nothing in this Edict shall require the abolition of an elected assembly, monarchy, aristocratic council, municipal authority, or other established indigenous institution.

Section 9Office established

There shall be a Grand Moff for each Oversector, being the Empire's senior territorial governor and the principal Imperial authority within the Oversector.

Section 10Appointment and tenure

(1) A Grand Moff shall be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Emperor.

(2) A Grand Moff need not be drawn from among the Sector Moffs of the Oversector concerned.

Section 11Authority and functions

A Grand Moff shall—

(a) coordinate the sector governments, ministries, strategic infrastructure, and intersector commerce of the Oversector;

(b) oversee regional security, emergency planning, mobilisation, and the enforcement of Imperial policy within the Oversector;

(c) reconcile policy between the Sectors comprised within the Oversector and direct intersector priorities;

(d) intervene in the government of a Sector where its Moff cannot meet a regional requirement, without thereby assuming the routine administration of that Sector;

(e) ensure the implementation within the Oversector of Imperial Edicts, Acts of the Empire, lawful regulations, and directives of the Imperial Government;

(f) exercise such further authority as is conferred by this Edict or any other law.

Section 12Supervision of Sector Moffs

(1) Every Moff within an Oversector shall report to its Grand Moff.

(2) The Grand Moff shall supervise the performance of every Moff within the Oversector, but routine administration of a Sector shall remain the responsibility of its Moff except where intervention is necessary under section 11(d).

Section 13Territorial command of Oversector forces

(1) The Grand Moff shall exercise overall territorial authority over the Oversector Command and the forces formally assigned to it by Imperial High Command.

(2) The Grand Moff may establish security priorities, direct lawful deployments, request reinforcement, and require military support for civil administration within the Oversector.

(3) Forces merely stationed, transiting, or operating within an Oversector under a separate central or strategic command shall not fall under the Grand Moff by reason of their presence alone. Nothing in this section shall permit a Grand Moff to disregard service doctrine, transfer a unit outside its assigned command without authority, or countermand Imperial High Command; and professional commanders shall remain responsible for organisation, discipline, readiness, and tactical execution.

Section 14Representation on the Imperial Ruling Council

Each Grand Moff shall represent the Oversector on the Imperial Ruling Council in accordance with Article V of the Charter.

Section 15Office established

There shall be a Moff for each Sector, being the chief executive governor of that Sector and the principal Imperial authority for its civil administration, security, economy, and fulfilment of central policy.

Section 16Appointment and tenure

A Moff shall be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Emperor.

Section 17Authority and functions

A Moff shall—

(a) set sector-wide priorities and direct the Imperial bureaucracy within the Sector;

(b) supervise subordinate governors and coordinate ministry activity within the Sector;

(c) ensure the collection of revenue and resources owed to the Empire;

(d) issue executive directions within the Sector and resolve administrative disputes between subordinate jurisdictions, without prejudice to matters reserved to the courts;

(e) coordinate sector-wide law enforcement, transportation, communications, trade, and emergency response;

(f) ensure the implementation within the Sector of Imperial Edicts, Acts of the Empire, lawful regulations, and directives of the Imperial Government;

(g) provide accurate information to lawful Imperial authorities, including the Imperial Senate when properly requested.

Section 18Relationship with the Senate

(1) The Sector's Senator represents its population in the Imperial Senate; the Moff administers the Sector; and neither office shall be taken to absorb the constitutional function of the other.

(2) A Senator may advocate for the Sector, request information, petition the Imperial Government, and scrutinise the Sector's administration through the lawful institutions of the Senate, but shall not, by virtue of that office, command the Sector government or the forces stationed within it.

(3) A Moff's authority within the Sector shall not place that office above the Charter, the Emperor, an Imperial Edict, enacted law, the courts, or the lawful authority of the Ministries.

Section 19Territorial command of sector forces

Section 13(2) and section 13(3) shall apply to a Moff and to forces formally assigned to the Sector Command as they apply to a Grand Moff and the Oversector Command.

Section 20Subsector Moffs

(1) Where a Subsector is established under section 7, there shall be a Subsector Moff for that Subsector.

(2) A Subsector Moff shall supervise the system governments and common infrastructure within the Subsector, coordinate security, commerce, logistics, and emergency action across system boundaries, and report to the Moff of the encompassing Sector.

(3) The establishment of a Subsector Moff shall not divide or diminish the authority of the Moff over the whole of the Sector.

Section 21Governors

(1) A major or sufficiently developed star system may be designated for administration by a Governor where its strategic, economic, demographic, or administrative importance so requires.

(2) A Governor shall administer the system as a unified jurisdiction, including its worlds, moons, asteroid fields, orbital routes, stations, and major installations, and shall coordinate system customs, interplanetary transport, orbital security, resource concessions, communications, and system-wide emergency planning.

(3) A Governor shall report to the Subsector Moff, or, where none has been established, to the Moff of the Sector.

Section 22Lieutenant Governors

(1) A world, major moon, minor system, or comparable territory may be designated for administration by a Lieutenant Governor where its circumstances require a resident or distinct Imperial territorial authority.

(2) A Lieutenant Governor shall administer Imperial law, revenue, infrastructure, records, and central-government programmes within the territory, and shall coordinate with any indigenous authority.

(3) A Lieutenant Governor shall report to the Governor of the system or, where the territory does not fall within a designated system, to the Moff.

Section 23Prefects

(1) A region, city, district, lesser moon, habitat, installation, or other limited local jurisdiction may be designated as a prefecture where closer Imperial administration is necessary.

(2) A Prefect shall implement the directives of the superior territorial government, coordinate local services, infrastructure, regulation, and public order, and work with any indigenous municipal authority.

(3) A Prefect shall report to the Lieutenant Governor or Governor of the territory in which the prefecture is situated, or to such other superior as the appointing authority directs.

Section 24Designation, appointment, and tenure of subordinate offices

(1) A system governorship may be established, altered, or abolished by the Moff of the Sector, subject to confirmation by the Grand Moff.

(2) A lieutenant-governorship may be established, altered, or abolished by the Moff or competent Governor, subject to review by the Grand Moff.

(3) A prefecture may be established, altered, or abolished by the competent Governor or Lieutenant Governor.

(4) Every designation under this section shall be entered in the Imperial Territorial Registry maintained by the Ministry of Interior.

(5) A Subsector Moff shall be appointed by the Grand Moff of the Oversector, on the recommendation of the Moff of the Sector concerned, and the appointment shall be notified to the Ministry of Interior.

(6) A Governor shall be appointed by the Moff of the Sector or, where a Subsector has been established, by the Subsector Moff, subject to confirmation by the Grand Moff.

(7) A Lieutenant Governor shall be appointed by the Governor to whom the territory reports or, where there is none, by the Moff, subject to confirmation by the next superior territorial authority.

(8) A Prefect shall be appointed by the superior territorial authority to which the prefecture reports.

(9) Every Imperial territorial office established by this Part shall be held at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be suspended or terminated by that authority, subject always to the powers of the Emperor, the Grand Vizier, and the Imperial Ruling Council under Part VIII.

Section 25Continuation of indigenous government

The Empire recognises the diversity of worlds, cultures, traditions, and peoples within it, and nothing in this Edict shall require the displacement of a lawful indigenous government in a jurisdiction where Imperial authority may be discharged alongside it.

Section 26Government according to loyalty and necessity

(1) A jurisdiction that is loyal, competent, and orderly shall ordinarily be entrusted with broad freedom in its internal affairs, subject to the Imperial Territorial Governor's responsibility for matters reserved to the Empire.

(2) Corruption, disorder, disloyalty, strategic danger, or failure of government within a jurisdiction may justify progressively closer Imperial supervision, up to and including direct Imperial administration.

(3) Direct Imperial administration under this section is a remedial and security measure, and shall not be treated as the ordinary or automatic condition of a jurisdiction's government.

Section 27Escalation and relaxation of supervision

(1) A superior Imperial Territorial Governor may, where the circumstances described in section 26(2) arise within a subordinate jurisdiction, assume closer direction only to the extent reasonably required to restore lawful, competent, and orderly government.

(2) The officer assuming closer direction shall state in writing the grounds for intervention, the powers assumed, and the jurisdiction affected, and shall notify the next superior authority without delay.

(3) Every intervention shall be reviewed at intervals not exceeding ninety standard days, shall be relaxed as circumstances allow, and shall cease when the stated conditions no longer require it.

Section 28Regional emergencies

(1) A Grand Moff or Moff may declare a regional emergency within the Oversector or Sector concerned where immediate action is required and the Throne cannot be consulted in time.

(2) A declaration under this section shall be reported to the Emperor or, in the Emperor's absence, to the Imperial Ruling Council as soon as practicable, and shall remain subject to review, variation, or revocation by the Throne or Council.

(3) A regional emergency shall cease after thirty standard days unless confirmed or extended by the Emperor or, in the Emperor's absence, by the Imperial Ruling Council.

Section 29Public order and security priorities

An Imperial Territorial Governor may establish security priorities, direct lawful deployments within that officer's authority, and require appropriate support from forces assigned to the relevant territorial command, subject to Part III and section 19.

Section 30Reports and accountability

(1) Every Grand Moff shall be answerable to the Emperor and subject to examination by the Imperial Ruling Council for the government of the Oversector, and shall make true and faithful report upon its condition, security, economy, and administration.

(2) Every other Imperial Territorial Governor shall report regularly upon the condition, security, economy, and administration of the jurisdiction to the next superior authority in the chain established by this Edict.

Section 31Oversight and inspection

The Emperor, the Grand Vizier, the competent Ministries, and the Imperial Inspectorate may inspect, investigate, audit, and review any regional administration. The Imperial Courts may review such administration in causes lawfully brought before them.

Section 32Removal, suspension, and discipline

(1) A Grand Moff or Moff may be removed, suspended, reassigned, censured, investigated, or otherwise disciplined by the Emperor.

(2) A Subsector Moff, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Prefect may be removed, suspended, reassigned, censured, investigated, or otherwise disciplined by the authority empowered to appoint to that office, by any superior authority in the chain established by this Edict, or by the Emperor.

Section 33Supremacy of Imperial law

No Imperial territorial office shall possess sovereignty independent of the Empire, and no Imperial Territorial Governor's authority shall place that office above the Charter, the Emperor, Imperial Edicts, Acts of the Empire, the courts, or the lawful authority of the Ministries.

Section 34Non-derogation from the Senate

Nothing in this Edict shall be read to diminish the legislative, appropriative, or investigatory authority of the Imperial Senate under Article III of the Charter, and an Imperial Territorial Governor shall remain answerable to a lawful inquiry conducted by the Senate under Article III, Section 8, of the Charter.

Section 35Duty of Imperial Territorial Governors

Every Imperial Territorial Governor shall govern impartially, uphold Imperial law, protect the citizens of the jurisdiction, advance the New Order, and ensure the implementation within the jurisdiction of Imperial Edicts, Acts of the Empire, lawful regulations, and directives of the Imperial Government.

Section 36Oath of office

Before assuming office, every Imperial Territorial Governor shall swear loyalty to the Empire, fidelity to the Charter, obedience to lawful authority, and the impartial and faithful discharge of the duties of the office.

Section 37Regional councils

A Grand Moff or Moff may establish an Oversector Council, Sector Council, advisory assembly, planning commission, or development authority as the administration of the jurisdiction requires. Such a body shall be advisory or administrative unless separately granted legislative or other authority by Imperial law.

Section 38Cooperation with other institutions

Every regional authority shall cooperate with the Imperial Government, the Imperial Senate, the Armed Forces, the Imperial Order, COMPNOR, the Imperial Security Bureau, Imperial Intelligence, and every other lawful institution of the Empire.

Section 39Interpretation and supersession

(1) This Edict shall be interpreted consistently with the Charter.

(2) The Sector Governance Decree promulgated by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in 19 BBY is hereby superseded, save that lawful appointments, territorial designations, administrative arrangements, military assignments, and official acts made pursuant to it shall continue until altered, replaced, or revoked under this Edict or other lawful Imperial authority.

(3) This Edict shall supersede any other subordinate legislation, regulation, directive, or administrative action inconsistent with it, in accordance with Article I, Section 6, of the Charter.

Section 40Savings

(1) Nothing in this Edict shall invalidate a lawful act done, appointment made, obligation incurred, or territorial designation established under the wartime organisation of the Priority Sectors before the coming into force of this Edict.

(2) A proceeding, investigation, or administrative matter pending before a regional authority immediately before the coming into force of this Edict shall continue as if this Edict had not been passed.

Section 41Commencement

This Edict shall come into force immediately upon promulgation.

(section 5)

1. Coruscant Oversector
2. Corellian Oversector
3. Chandrilan Oversector
4. Kuat Oversector
5. Deep Core Oversector
6. Farlax Oversector
7. Immalia Oversector
8. Bright Jewel Oversector
9. Relgim Oversector
10. Quellii Oversector
11. Gordian Reach Oversector
12. Maldrood Oversector
13. Trans-Nebular Oversector
14. Tolonda Oversector
15. Sarin Oversector
16. Pallis Oversector
17. Dustig Oversector
18. Greater Seswenna Oversector
19. Javin Oversector
20. Tapani Oversector

The administrative capital, unified Oversector Command, and constituent Sectors of each Oversector listed above are as recorded from time to time in the Imperial Territorial Registry maintained by the Ministry of Interior under section 5(4).

Given under Our Hand at the Imperial Palace, Coruscant, in 1 AIA, the First Year of the Imperial Era.

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