Editing Government of the Twelve Colonies (TOS)

{{TOS twelve colonies series}}
The '''government''' of the [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Colonials]] is nominally a representative democracy.

== Quorum of Twelve ==
:''For more information on the ruling council of the Colonials, see: [[Quorum of Twelve (TOS)]].''

The main legislative body is the '''Quorum of Twelve''', with each of the twelve members representing a colony. Initially lead by a [[Adar (TOS)|president]], the position is never filled after the destruction of the Colonies {{OS|Saga of a Star World}}. The original Quorum leaders, prior to the [[Battle of Cimtar]], were apparently interspersed amidst the five battlestars of the ill-fated peace conference, having last met on battlestar ''[[Atlantia (TOS)|Atlantia]]''.

It is not clear how many of the original Quorum survives the destruction of the [[Colonial Fleet (TOS)|Colonial Fleet]], but it is clear that a handful of Sires had stayed on the last [[Pegasus (TOS)|known]] surviving [[Battlestar (TOS)|battlestar]], ''{{TOS|Galactica}}'', or had lived through the bombardment of the Twelve Colonies to join the civilian ships and later enter into service as a Quorum member.

In the past, each Quorum member (who apparently are either are [[Sire]]s or Siresses) received a [[Seal of the Lords|special medallion]] associated with their position. Most of the Seals have been lost to either time or due to the final Cylon attack, leaving Adama and the traitorous Lord {{TOS|Baltar}} with the only Seals. Adama knows from study that the medallions have special abilities aside from its symbolism of authority, and Baltar apparently remembers this information as well {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II}}.

== Leadership ==

While technically a member of the Council, Commander {{TOS|Adama}} effectively becomes the supreme commander of the [[The Fleet (TOS)|Fleet]], making most of the important decisions regarding the caravan of ships, including their gathering and establishing their ultimate destination, [[Earth (TOS)|Earth]].

Adama's status does not escape the notice of the Quorum, who occasionally attempt to wrest control away from the commander. Their actions often complicate situations, and leaves Adama retaining full authority ([[TOS]]: "[[Greetings From Earth]]", "[[Baltar's Escape]]").


[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (TOS)]]
[[Category:Colonial Government]]
[[Category:Colonial Government (TOS)]]
[[Category:TOS]]

[[fr:Gouvernement des Douze Colonies (LSO)]]