Regarding my "Hump Day Block Party" story and its universe:
Mayhem, The- The crisis of near global anarchy, terror, war, and lawlessness that has forced major social and political changes to what remains of the civilized world.
Commonwealth, The- Short for the Anglo-American Commonwealth, the largest centrally governed territory or nation in the world, also the most effectively ruled country left on the Earth. A much stabler, less violent part of the world compared to its neighbors, though at the price of being very draconian and authoritarian in many ways. The Government follows Hobbesian principles in terms of political philosophy or ideology. Consists of: the former USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Belize, and Panama Canal Territory. Predominantly Anglophone in language, though the Canal Territory has mostly Spanish speakers and Quebec is Francophone, of course.
Leviathan- Head of State and virtual dictator of the Commonwealth, builder of the New Way or New Dawn, his birth name remains an open secret that is never discussed with the general public. His office, title, and name are all, for all practical purposes, one and the same. He personally led the formation of the Commmonwealth from the ruins and ashes of the old democratic order, which had essentially collapsed during the Mayhem. He has a virtual personality cult and follows his variation of Hobbesian philosophy in governing the Commonwealth. Little is known about him and his private life, at least to the public and the world. He has little time or patience for the old traditions that, in his eyes, have failed the civilized world, and he certainly has no use for feminism, political correctness, old-school liberalism or conservatism, religious blocs, or multiculturalism, judging by his policies, which some have criticized as favoring "the privileged and the patriarchy."
Laws, The- Specifically, for the purposes of this universe, the body of legislation or legal code imposed by Leviathan on the Commonwealth and its people, and executed by his Commissars, Tribunals, Archons, and Magistrates. There is a wide and exhaustive range of material and subject matter covered and regulated by these laws, and these laws are immutable except by the dictates or will of Leviathan alone. There is no legislature or need for one in the eyes of the public, as all of the statutes consist of the Laws. Again, many of these laws have been criticized by various parties, but they are ironclad and unlikely to be changed at all in Leviathan's lifetime. Most people seem content to obey them, however.
Tribunals, The- The regional courts or judicial bodies in the Commonwealth, responsible for hearing criminal and appellate cases as needed. There are both Higher and Lower Tribunals, and their jurisdiction can vary considerably. They only hear major criminal trials and appeals, leaving civil and minor criminal cases in the hands of the magistrates. They consist of between three and seven men, and notably have few women empaneled in their ranks.
Archons, The- The regional governors, who administer large swaths of territory on behalf of Leviathan throughout the Commonwealth, these are some of its most powerful officers of state. It is noteworthy that there are only fifteen total archons in the Commonwealth and their territory varies in size, from the Archon of Australasia to the far more powerful and influential Archon of the Atlantic Coast, who controls New York City and the former Eastern Seaboard. Also significant is the fact that twelve of the fifteen archons are male.
Commissars, The- Heads of government departments or bureaus in the Commonwealth, responsible directly to Leviathan, there are more women in this number than any other governmental body, in that there are fourteen out of forty-five "full" or senior Commissars. These are directly appointed by Leviathan and serve entirely at his pleasure. They carry out his policies at the national level, though much of the administration is still done by the archons and magistrates.
Magistrates, The- Provincial or local governors or administrators, these officers have less territory and executive power than the archons, but they exercise some judicial functions that are not performed by the archons, so this gives them considerable prestige and authority. There are far more of these magistrates than there are archons, and by far, the majority of these are male as well. The main protagonist of Hump Day Block Party, the narrator, Valerian Nicolescu, is a Magistrate.
Hump Day- The mandatory day of rest and recreation throughout the Commonwealth, held in Wednesday, it has some unique laws and customs related to it, chief of which include legal public nudity and sexual congress, as well as the requirement that any two persons formally introduced to each other must engage in coitus with each other.
Covenants, Lawful- Legal contracts or documents that bind or obligate two or more people to have permanent physical relationships with each other. These cannot be entered against one's will, but once assent is given, it cannot be withdrawn. These Covenants may not be reversed or abrogated for any reason, though they can be nullified, but only by a magistrate.