Many people have been promoted to higher positions than the average person, or "Peon". There is a rank system, which is simple enough so that even the peons can understand it enough to know who they should grovel to. It goes like this: The lower the number, the higher the rank. So a person of 1st Rank is someone you should bow so low to that if your head is still above the ground, you're not doing it right. The Emperor is above all rank, but if you lack imagination, or are just stupid, think of him as a "0" Rank.
There are two branches of the government. There are the Overlords, and the Council of Weasels. Most Overlords are on the council also.
The Lords are the most direct of the administrators. They are the ones that will interfere directly in your life. Get used to it. There are three different kinds of them. Magistrates run a city. They have relatively little power. The do pretty much the same thing as a mayor does now, except have a rank of 4. A salute or slight bow is acceptable, don't worry, these guys can't order your death. Imprisonment, yes, but not death.
The next level however, is the Lords. They rule an area about equal to the size of, say, Brazil. They can kill you. Be afraid. Grovel nicely. Except for things of mass damage and social impact. I.e., they can't order an entire city razed to the ground and buried, and can't kill anyone that has done nothing wrong. Now, what you are probably thinking is: "Evil little bastard, he's going to kill us all!." Well... what I meant was what you are probably thinking if you were semi demented and actually cared is: "Define something wrong." It means, if you are convicted of anything. If you have never been caught breaking the law, you are safe from execution. If you have got a speeding ticket, you can be executed. If you have committed a major crime such as murder, well... goodbye.
Above them, are the Overlords. There are 11 of them. One for each continent, and one for each ocean. Don't expect to ever see Overlords from outside your area. In fact, the common peons will almost never see an Overlord, except in very special and/or very unfortunate circumstances. Be extremely afraid. They can order the death of anyone, so don't do something stupid and oh, say, annoy them. You're right, this is unfair. Why don't you tell that to your local overlord and see what happens?
Of course for the Overlords and their underlings to enforce the laws, they must be created. It is the Council of Weasels that shall create these. If you really want to find out why it is called the Council of Weasels, e-mail me. Only the privileged shall know. The council is composed of people who range in rank from 1 to 3. Lords normally have a rank of 3, and Overlords of 2, but if they hold a higher rank on the council it will be that. Only three positions have a rank of one. Two other positions have a rank of three. All others are rank two.
Together, the council can make any law, individually they are still
powerful. If they vote as one, they can overrule the Emperor, except in
the case where the Emperor doesn't want to be overruled. Understand how
this works yet?
More on individual positions on the Admin.
page.