Provinces of Lehmark
Minister of Provincial Affairs
Mr Arjunveer Singh
Annexed Territory is organised into Provinces; of which are overseen and managed by the Minister of Provincial Affairs. The Minister of Provincial Affairs is responsible for overseeing and undertaking:
Development of Provinces in the Empire of Lehmark - this includes expanding infrastructure, developing new businesses or even hosting an event in a specific province.
Administration of Provinces; Enforcement of Imperial Law due to the nature of Lehmarkian provinces, this is done by ensuring civility in Provincial Channels on Discord.
Management of Annexation Requests - which includes checking applications and forwarding a report to the Emperor and Autocrat, and preparing a drafted Treaty of Annexation.
Initiating Provincial Projects aimed at expanding or developing the Province or increasing Government Services. All projects must be approved by the Emperor and Autocrat or Imperial Chancellor.
Definition of a Province: A Province is an administrative division of the Empire of Lehmark that has undertaken the Annexation Process and is governed by Governors and whose development is managed and overseen by the Minister of Provincial Development.
Submit an Annexation Request
Option 1: A Property the Applicant owns or rents will be annexed as a Province of the Empire of Lehmark. The Applicant must reside in this Property. Form - PARF-001.
Option 2: A large plot of empty residential or commercial land - those who annex a Crown Colony to the Empire are made Governor. Form - CCARF-001.
Annexation is the process by which property has its Sovereignty transferred to the Empire of Lehmark via Treaty of Annexation after which the property becomes a new Province. The Treaty is signed between the Applicant and the Emperor and Autocrat.
Perks of Annexation
Annexation of a Province: Confers a Title of Peerage (Count or Duke) and Coat of Arms.
Applicants who have gone through with Annexation of a Province are required to purchase and display an Imperial Flag (Flag Subsidy Scheme) as per Imperial Decree LXXXIV.
Annexation of a Crown Colony: Confers Governorship of the Colony to the Applicant; to which the Applicant also receives a Title of Peerage.
Official Explanation of Annexation
Annexation implies the transfer of Sovereignty over a specified Property from one nation to another. Through Annexation, the Empire of Lehmark makes a claim of sovereignty over the annexed Property and incorporates it as a new Province.
The Empire of Lehmark is able to make this claim due to the Treaty being signed between the Applicant who resides in the Property and the Emperor and Autocrat who embodies sovereignty as per the Constitution.
Annexation does not change the ownership of any property, land, dwelling or the like. Lehmark does not take possession or ownership over annexed properties. The Empire respects the original ownership and the Applicants right to occupy.
Annexation gives Lehmark ability to expand the national borders and jurisdiction of the Empire: which by extension expands the area where Lehmarkian Law is enforceable and represents an integral part of the Empire.
Annexation Process - Adding Land to the Empire
Citizens of Lehmark may apply for Annexation using Forms: PARF-001/CCARF-001.
Annexed Provinces must purchase and display and Imperial Flag - Purchase here.
There is also currently a Imperial Flag (Flag Subsidy) as per Imperial Decree LXXXIV.
Annexation Process Following Application
The Department of Provincial Affairs will review the Application for Annexation and forward to the Emperor and Autocrat for final review.
Upon Imperial Assent, the Applicant will be presented with a Treaty of Annexation to review. Pending no amendments the Applicant will sign and return. The Emperor will sign as well and return to the Department.
The Emperor will prepare, sign and publish relevant Imperial Decree(s) to Ratify the Treaty. Thereby completing the Annexation Process. The Emperor may choose to grant Citizens the Privilege of Peerage as reward.