So more questions (feel free to ignore them). What are factions are there in the senate, how are senators elected? (electorates? planet wide?) and how many senators are there? (if you have said already and I have just missed it I do apologize)
I haven't said it, so you didn't miss it. At the formation of the Republic there were 215 autonomous regions on Earth, each with two Senators. In addition, at that time, there were five Senators for off planet colonies, so there were a total of 220 Senators. Since the formation of the Republic the demographics of the Republic have changed quite a bit, given the forced migration to Mars and Ganymede. Currently, there are still 220 Senators, but the bulk of the Senators now originate on Mars.
The Senate is divided into many parties, some official and some that are more relaxed, transitory, or casual. The Human Purity Party, led by Senator, then Consul, Young, was one of the largest, although it has been losing support as the Dregluk became less of a threat, and as more and more people left Earth. The Human Purity Party was fully in support of the war and the genocide of the Dregluk. In addition, the HPP was against any technology that modified baseline humans, such as implant tech or genetic modification. In part, the HPP, and the Human Purity Church, which backed the party, gained so much power and respect because one of their primary focuses were remediation of radiation damage to Earth, and medical assistance for those affected by the radiation from the bombardment.
The Fiscal Conservatives, also called the Fiscal Realists, are a smaller but influential party that advocates for sound fiscal and economic policies. They believe that a strong military must be supported by a strong economy, and that without that economy the strong military will smother and ultimately destroy the state. While most other parties respect the Fiscal Conservatives for their desire to build up the Republic's economy, they also think of them as somewhat naïve for their dogged desire to look to the economy first, last, and always.
The War Hawks are a large party primarily focused on the military and the war, and have long been allied to the Human Purity Party. This alliance was thrown into disarray when the information from Eden was given to the Senate, and this more than anything forced Consul Young to step down.
There are numerous minor parties that form and dissolve constantly. There are nationalists, who want to return to the old days of nation states, religious groups formed around ancient religions, and planetary groups representing the particular interests of their specific colony.
Kurt
