The Government
Also known as: The Court of Chicago, The Jackson Regime, The New Machine
### The Governing Kindred of Chicago's Camarilla It's over. That's what Kevin Jackson, Prince of Chicago, wants you to believe. The power struggles. The Lupine invasions. Dreams of Gehenna. Weird and shadowy elders pulling the strings. Saber-rattling in Gary Fucking Indiana. Over. Done. Jackson is determined to make Chicago more than a stable Camarilla city. He wants it to be the standard-bearer for the New World Camarilla. This isn't because he has some idealistic commitment to the sect, but because one must deal with its European arrogance and oh-so-precious formalities from a position of strength. God didn't make the rules. Men and woman didn't even make them. Monsters did, for their own purposes. Among monsters, respect is the coin of the realm, more precious than blood. Yes, some of the things that are officially over, aren't — yet. But these are problems to be managed by a strong, steady hand, not left to fester according to the notion that Kindred left to each other's throats won't be able to challenge the leadership. Prince Jackson proved that was wrong. In the turmoil accompanying his rise, ambitious, destructive Kindred showed their true colors, but the Camarilla provided tools to deal with them. The new regime banished some of them, and in the case of a few others, declared that they'd never truly been initiated into the sect. Bending knee and reciting the Traditions just wouldn't cut it anymore. Jackson and his allies used the rise of the Second Inquisition, and dictates handed down from on high, to do a certain amount of housecleaning. The fact that no Ventrue holds a Primogen's seat is regrettable, but it demonstrates that Jackson is even-handed, unwilling to place his own clan before the cause of good government. Some of the regime's other actions have brought the Prince a degree of relief. He never had much use for occultists, especially after so many of them bought into the Gehenna craze, so keeping the Tremere at arm's length suits him fine. Yet many Kindred with mystical inclinations are old and strong, and much as Jackson hates to admit it, blood magic is real, so the Bahari, Tremere, and other eccentrics haven't been cast out so much as disinvited from the political nucleus. The "New Machine" is focused on political excellence over superstitions and old grudges — even the traditional rivalries between clans. Critias is essential, for example, regardless of stereotypical Brujah-Ventrue frictions. Ideally, the Government judges Kindred by their deeds — nothing more, or less. Speaking of deeds, Jackson has made it clear that in his view, negotiations with the Lasombra will make or break the city's reputation. Pulling this off is the Government's top priority, but there won't be time to rest afterward. There will always be the next project, designed to vault Chicago to the first position among American, then Western Camarilla, holdings. If a member of this coterie isn't willing to do the work, they're expected to get out if the way.
Coterie Type
The Government is an unusual form of Maréchal coterie, as it has grown large enough to encompass and define the recognized Camarilla authorities of the city, along with Marcel, the "Friend of the Cour
Customs
The Government is responsible for the whole gamut of customs required for government in the Camarilla, including designating Elysia, receiving dignitaries, recognizing Kindred and their affiliations — the lot. One of Prince Jackson's innovations is to make Elysium a place to formally discuss certain matters of state in front of the wider body of Kindred. This doesn't apply to every issue that comes up, and the Prince's word remains final, but he's selected this relatively public venue to make Chicago appear more accountable, and to showcase a distinctly American form of government. However, the Prince isn't stupid enough to believe in completely undirected debate. Before every such session in Elysium, the Prince or Sovereign holds a private meeting of Government members, "as a committee of the whole." In this session, relevant officials get most of the debating done and decide on a few narrow questions for public consumption. This strategy is deceptive, but effective; subsequent debates in Elysium appear focused and highly productive, unlike the chaotic rants indulged by Anarch meetings.