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// Prologue: A Discourse on Equestrian Politics 
// Story: Seat of Power 
// by BradMayFan 
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Prologue: A Discourse on Equestrian Politics

Canterlot Castle. The seat of power of Equestria. For over a thousand years the decisions made within its walls had effected the lives of everypony from Fillydelphia to Manehatten, Dodge Junction to Appleloosa  and from Cloudsdale to Ponyville. Although Equestria may seem like an absolute monarchy to many outsiders, it is in fact a democracy based on the Westminstmare system of governance.

In Equestria, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the Co-Heads of State, with each holding the power to veto any act of parliament, a power that has never been used by either. The princesses alone form the Executive branch of government in Equestria. Beneath the Princesses is the Prime Minister, the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister mostly acts as a figurehead for the legislative branch of government and has little extraordinary power compared to his fellow MPPs. The 325 MPPs from across Equestria form the rest of the House. These 325 ponies create the laws that rule the land. 

At a glance, anypony could be excused for thinking that Canterlot Castle is nothing more than the royal residence of the Princesses. But deep within the bowels of the castle lies the House of Commons. To reach the House, one must walk for what seems like miles from the grand entrance. Past the Royal Banquet Hall and through the hallways that  the offices of the Equestrian Bureaucracy cling to. It is in these offices that building permits are processed, tax returns are filed and the trains made to run on time. To new MPPs, these offices may seem to simply be a burgundy blur as they race to the house. But the veteran members know that making friends in these offices is one of the single easiest things a pony can do to make their own job easier. Having friends in these offices can be the difference between a backbencher and one of the leading figures in the house. In some cases a simple note passed to the right staffer in the right office can propel a bill from being discussed on Friday at 4:45PM to being top of the weeks agenda. It is a parliamentary tradition to keep this fact a secret from the junior MPPs.


The Equestrian Parliament is unique in the world as it is perhaps the only power seat in the world not to have its own building. The other parliaments of the world are housed in their own magnificent buildings separated physically from the residence of the Head of State whether it be a President or Royalty. It has been said that the decision to hide away parliament was made by Princess Celestia herself to keep the Members of Pony Parliament from forming an undeserved air of greatness around themselves. To remind them that by constitution, they have but one duty in Canterlot, to represent their constituents in matters of Government. Some ponies however choose to believe that the house was tucked away in a attempt to keep it under wraps and to lead people to forget that they do have representation in government. But going by the latest voter turnout percentages that nearly touched 95% this seems to be lost cause.

Seemingly every pony in Equestria has an opinion on politics although it sometimes takes some prodding before some ponies are willing to discuss their views on things such as the controversial Carrot Tariff or Buffalo Rights. If Princess Celestia had once hoped to suppress the new-found democracy in Equestria her attempts had obviously failed. On election day there was talk that the voter turnout may have set new records as exemplified by the massive lines at almost every polling place in Equestria. By law, elections must be held at least once every 4 years and ponies were always anxious to exercise their right. As dusk fell across Equestria on election night the streets of every city, hamlet and village in the nation began to empty as ponies gathered in the bars and restaurants that the various parties had rented to celebrate what they each hoped would be good results.