Government

What kind of governments exist in your world?

And who holds the ultimate authority in it?

What are the branches of government?

How are power and responsibilities divided?

How is power distributed?

How does it impact checks and balances?

Who is the current leader?

How long have they been in power?

How is does someone ascend to power?

Is it peaceful?

What are the political factions or parties?

How are these groups formed or organized?

What are the goals and agendas of each faction?

Consider short-term vs long-term objectives. How do these goals conflict or align with others?

Who are the leaders of each faction?

What personal traits make them effective?

Who are their supporters?

Think noble families, covert organizations, etc.?

How do factions interact with one another?

E.g., are there alliances, rivalries, betrayals, secret agreements, etc.?

Who is considered a citizen?

Why?

What fundamental rights do citizens have?

How does it vary with non-citizens?

Who creates the laws?

Who drafts laws, and who approves them?

How are laws enforced?

Think consistency, corruption, regional differences, etc.? Where do the loyalties of those who enforce the law lie?

Who's exempt from the law?

And why?

How are disputes settled?

E.g., courts, duels, payoffs, etc.?

How do citizens participate in government?

How accessible is participation for ordinary people?

How does the government interact with social institutions?

Think religion, education, media, guilds, etc.? How do these institutions influence policy?

What are the biggest political controversies right now in your world?

How is your government handling them?

What is the government's scope?

E.g., does the government provide social programs like education, healthcare, housing, etc.?

Who benefits most from the current political order?

Who suffers the most?

How does the public feel about the government and the people who lead it?

Consider polls, protests, public celebrations, rumors, or underground movements that indicate approval or discontent.

Who are this government's allies abroad?

Who are its enemies?

How do both allies and rivals view this government?

How do cultural differences, military strength, or economic power shape foreign perceptions?

How does your government interact with other nations in general?

How do past conflicts influence the government's current relationships with other countries?

How large is the military?

And who has the authority to declare war?

How do international conflicts or collaborations affect domestic politics?

Draft an internal memo analyzing it.

How does international law affect government decisions?

How do rules imposed by global institutions influence national sovereignty?

How and when was this government formed?

How did societal needs, external threats, or influential leaders shape its formation?

What key events have shaped the government's development?

Look at wars, reforms, scandals, revolutions, leadership changes, etc.

How has the government’s ideology evolved over time?

How did internal debates or external pressures influence these changes?

Who have been the key individuals instrumental in shaping the government into what it is today?

How did their decisions and personalities leave lasting impacts?

How has the government changed in structure over time?

E.g., think about shifts from monarchy to republic, federation to unitary state, bureaucracy expansion, etc.?

How do historians today view the government’s past?

Consider differing interpretations, biases, access to records, etc.