The Constitution. 

Constitutional Law is the sole authority in the Ascendancy. The Constitution makes no provision for new legislation save by amending the Constitution itsself. The Constitution provides for the absolute freedom of the individual save where that freedom would unduly deprive him of his property or freedom. The Constitution also make provision for an Ascendant as head of state, and a Grand Magistry. 

The Ascendant

The current Ascendant is Mazrim II Velkor, recently having succeded his father, Madog I. The Andrean Constitution empowers the Ascendant to "Represent the Ascendancy in foriegn matters and conduct relations with foriegn entities, to ensure the rights of the populous, and to lead the nation in matters martial. Furthurmore he may appoint others to aid him in this edeavour." To this end, the Ascendant has created four ministries to help him manage the growing nation.
 

Ministry of War: The chief duty of the War Ministry is to provide for the logistical and strategic needs of the military. 

Ministry of Standards: This ministry keeps track of all national standards (weights, measures, etc.) and proposes voluntary standards when no industry consensus is met. 

Ministry of Foriegn Affairs: Conducts all diplomatic relations with foriegn powers. Treaties are approved by the Ascendant but may not violate Consitutional Law. 

Ministry of Public Works: Added by Section 9, Article 6; the MPW oversees the concientous objecters who choose 3 years of state service over 2 years of Military. Also manages Ascendancy Shareholder Services and the Investment Division.
 

The Grand Magistry

The Grand Magistry is the panel for selecting Magistrates and ruling on cares remanded to them by the courts of individual Magistrates. It is comprised of seven Lord Magistrates and presided over by an eighth member, the Chief Magistrate. All Lord Magistrates are selected by the Ascendant from the general pool of Magistrates and serve for life. The Chief Magistrate is elected by the Lord Magistrates from thier own number and serves for ten years. A portion of all court fees go toward the running of the governemt.
 

Magistrates: Each Magistrate is selected by the Grand Magistry based on merit. The Applicant submits his aplication to the Office of the Grand Magisrty. Once a Magistrate is selected, he runs his court as a freelance operation, taking cases and collecting payment as he sees fit. 

Courts: When a Magistrate accepts the responsiblity of adjudicating a suit, he randomly selects four Adjunct Magistrates from the adult population of the locality. Adjunct Magistrates are payed the same amout as the Magistrate for thier services. After hearing the case, the Magistrate and Adjunct Magistrates vote on the outcome, then the Magistrate renders on the penalty and fees. This entire process is voluntary however, and both parties may seek the services of a private adjudicator utilizing basic Andrean contract provisions in the Constitution rather than judicial provisions.
 

Ascendancy Shareholder Services

Upon completion of the citizenship obligation, all Andrean citizens are granted one share in the Ascendancy itself. This share entitles the holder to a portion of the yearly surplus of funds generated by the government's investments. 

Investment Division

Faced with a shortage of funds, due to the lack of taxes and droping revenue from court fees and fines, the Ministry of Public Works was given a directive in 1409 to sell off many state-run industries and projects, and to reinvest the resulting funds. The Investment Division was set up to handle this. Over the past decades the growing revenue from these investments has helped propel the Ascendancy to power, making it one of the most powerful nations in Scandia without requiring non-voluntary taxation. In addition, the past decade has seen large surpluses, resulting in the creation of Ascendancy Shareholder Services to distrubute the surplus among the public.