Presidents of the Grand Council of State
The Grand Council of State is led by a President (in the sense of "presiding officer"). The President is chosen by the GCoS, which are essentially the "Heads" of State. The GCoS is freshly chosen by the newly-elected Parliament (with a law meaning that it needs a 3/4 approval for the whole GCoS), with popular incumbents tending to be re-appointed. Presidents are confirmed by a vote of the new GCoS when they officially begin their term. The office of President in modern days are tied with the post of Secretary of Foreign Affairs, making the President the one who represents the nation at international events and at the UN-analogue.)
Presidents since 1922
Calvin Coolidge (Democratic-Massachusetts) 1922-1930
Frits Roseveld (Progressive-New Netherlands) 1930-1945
Harald Steensen (Whig-Dakota) 1945-1950
Edouard Dupont (Democratic-Upper Country) 1950-1959
Christian Herter (Democratic-Massachusetts) 1959-1963
Joseph Mansfield (Progressive-New Netherlands) 1963-1970
Geraint Brenin (Whig/Independent Whig-Allegheny) 1970-1977
Morton Carroll (Democratic-Upper Virginia) 1977-1982
Julian Mathieu (Socialist-Lower Louisiana) 1982-1989
Ramsay Clark (Socialist-New Netherlands) 1989-1995
Mary Hanford (Democratic-Carolina) 1995-2003
Calvin Howell (Democratic-Seminol) 2003-2009
Jo Byquist (Socialist-Christiana) 2009-present
Frits Roseveld (Progressive-New Netherlands) 1930-1945
Harald Steensen (Whig-Dakota) 1945-1950
Edouard Dupont (Democratic-Upper Country) 1950-1959
Christian Herter (Democratic-Massachusetts) 1959-1963
Joseph Mansfield (Progressive-New Netherlands) 1963-1970
Geraint Brenin (Whig/Independent Whig-Allegheny) 1970-1977
Morton Carroll (Democratic-Upper Virginia) 1977-1982
Julian Mathieu (Socialist-Lower Louisiana) 1982-1989
Ramsay Clark (Socialist-New Netherlands) 1989-1995
Mary Hanford (Democratic-Carolina) 1995-2003
Calvin Howell (Democratic-Seminol) 2003-2009
Jo Byquist (Socialist-Christiana) 2009-present
History of the Presidency
Traditionally, the Progressives and Whigs had more power here since they could convince the Socialists and Democrats to put them in as a compromise. However, Democrats had more ability to push for a President from their party since they were more entrenched than the Socialists.
As the Socialists grew in influence, they became disillusioned with the Grand Council of State, with some saying it only served to hinder the march of progress. Thus Socialists focused their efforts on Parliament and not the GCoS. Democratic stubbornness on this front didn't help as Socialist majority governments were forced to pick more Progressives than Socialists for the GCoS.
When any Socialist became Councillor, they tend to back the leftier choice for President (which always were the Progressive). As the position of President grew in influence, the Socialists argued that the GCoS should reflect the will of the people (by this point, Socialists were still fourth biggest despite being one of the Big Two in Parliament).
Mansfield's Council was a theoretical Prog-Soc majority, but when the new GCoS appointed a centre-right Whig despite the Socialists winning a landslide in that year's election, things got controversial. Thankfully, Brennin was very conciliatory and managed to smooth things over. Disagreement between Brennin and the Whig Party led to him leaving and becoming an "Independent Whig". He was nevertheless re-nominated as President the next election.
When Carroll took over as President, it was clear that the power of the Progressives and Whigs in the GCoS was dwindling as the Socialists and Democrats became more moderate. The 1979 election saw his renomination thanks to friendly Socialists, Progressives and Greens (the Greens re-entered the GCoS thanks to a voter revival and the polarisation between Soc-Prog and Dem-Whig becoming worse).
However, in 1982, the long-serving Socialist Councillor (and former Governor-General of Lower Louisiana, he double-jobbed) Julian Mathieu was appointed President, a reflection of the fact that Socialists was now accepted in "mainstream" politics.
From that point forth, the Progressives and Whigs were permanently excluded from the increasingly-significant Presidency.
As the Socialists grew in influence, they became disillusioned with the Grand Council of State, with some saying it only served to hinder the march of progress. Thus Socialists focused their efforts on Parliament and not the GCoS. Democratic stubbornness on this front didn't help as Socialist majority governments were forced to pick more Progressives than Socialists for the GCoS.
When any Socialist became Councillor, they tend to back the leftier choice for President (which always were the Progressive). As the position of President grew in influence, the Socialists argued that the GCoS should reflect the will of the people (by this point, Socialists were still fourth biggest despite being one of the Big Two in Parliament).
Mansfield's Council was a theoretical Prog-Soc majority, but when the new GCoS appointed a centre-right Whig despite the Socialists winning a landslide in that year's election, things got controversial. Thankfully, Brennin was very conciliatory and managed to smooth things over. Disagreement between Brennin and the Whig Party led to him leaving and becoming an "Independent Whig". He was nevertheless re-nominated as President the next election.
When Carroll took over as President, it was clear that the power of the Progressives and Whigs in the GCoS was dwindling as the Socialists and Democrats became more moderate. The 1979 election saw his renomination thanks to friendly Socialists, Progressives and Greens (the Greens re-entered the GCoS thanks to a voter revival and the polarisation between Soc-Prog and Dem-Whig becoming worse).
However, in 1982, the long-serving Socialist Councillor (and former Governor-General of Lower Louisiana, he double-jobbed) Julian Mathieu was appointed President, a reflection of the fact that Socialists was now accepted in "mainstream" politics.
From that point forth, the Progressives and Whigs were permanently excluded from the increasingly-significant Presidency.