Editing EternalEmpire:Arqualan (section)

=== Distinction of Powers ===

	Different Monitari had different levels of power even among their own colleagues. As has already been alluded to, the original Probites had a greater level of authority than the subsequent “foreign” Probites, but such distinctions in legal authority were true even early in the republic. Generally, there were two degrees of legal authority. The first was known simply as ''Ibo Pudor'', or, Ib.P. (lit. “the power”) and was the general authority given to them to carry out their functions. 

A much loftier degree of power was conferred upon all Probites, and less frequently on Amboys. This was known as ''Zecopudor'', or Z.P. (lit. “higher power”) and included the right to raise and command military units and impose or rescind laws on the spot. It was expected that such decisions were to be used responsibly and rarely, though the actual tendency depended upon the holders of Zecopudor. Theoretically, these decisions were subject to the review and approval of the Optolecton, although particularly powerful or recalcitrant Monitaro had been known to ignore this opposition. Only the Optolecton could bestow the Z.P. upon an Amboy or other lesser official, and this necessitated extreme circumstances such as invasion. It has only been done five times in the history of Arqualan. Ectin the Great and the subsequent Emperors each claimed a sort of superior Z.P. that allowed them to subordinate each of the Probites.

Other degrees of power were later innovations stemming mostly from violent incidents like the Arqi Civil War and the rise of Ionomîs, but occasionally from more peaceful compromises. In His reform of the Arqi government, Ionomîs declared Himself possessed of a superior power on the virtue of not only His political and military station, but also His religious position. This power, known as Impremex, is functionally equivalent to Z.P., but with religious aspects and a higher dignity. This is important because His reforms greatly restricted the authority of both Ibo Pudor and Zecopudor.  It also expressly elevates him above the Optolecton and the other Probites, though not, interestingly, above the Jorian Comestia. 

Another distinction of status was brought about by Ionomîs – the ''Eupervestiton'' (lit. “oversight”). The term originally referred to a legal principle that each Optolecti could investigate the actions of Monitari and even private citizens and call them to answer for any wrongdoing in front of the whole assembly. There was no appeal from such a trial, though it was used comparatively rarely. The Eupervestiton was newly bestowed upon each individual Arqi citizen in terms that more closely connote the concept of sovereignty, although a more formalized “oversight” power was retained whereby individuals could demand investigations of government officials. The Eupervestiton was also given to the various Comestia and the Optolecton as a whole.