Governmental Structure of the Two Kingdoms II

Beneath the pharaoh are two (living) viziers, one for the Upper Kingdom and one for the Lower Kingdom.  The viziers act as prime ministers of equal standing.  They put pharaoh's wishes into action and make sure that the laws are enforced.  They act as the highest-ranking judge in their part of the kingdom and oversee many aspects of day-to-day life.

Viziers are stewards of the Two Kingdoms' resources.  They manage the canals that regulate the flow of the river and dispense surveys that enable the state to monitor its people.  The vizier is also in charge of the state treasury, royal libraries, and national storehouses.  They ensure that the workers are paid, materials are gathered, and that the whole of society runs smoothly.

Beneath the vizier is a well-organized and efficient system of government.  A central agency administers income, collects taxes, and oversees the allocation of resources for the army, construction projects, and import tariffs.  It also sees to it that the grain collected makes it to the granaries and that the other taxed items such as gold, silver, electrum, precious stones, linen, cattle, and wood arrive safely in the treasuries.

The Upper and Lower Kingdoms are each divided into four wilayat, each of which is centered around a large city.  These territories are not equally divided; Zep Tepi's portion (for example) is significantly larger and contains a majority of the realm's resources.

The wilayat are each subdivided into five to eight prefectures ruled by emirū, which are further subdivided into qaidates, under the direction of officials called qaidū, who operate much like mayors or independent governors of small portions of the city or territory.  Qaidū are appointed by the emirū, who have complete governance over their territories and are responsible for the actions of the qaidū below their authority.  The powers of the emirū and qaidū cover legal issues and even extend into clerical and religious matters on occasion.  They completely control their areas, arrange for taxation, draft citizens to labor on state projects, and allow or disallow immigration as they see fit.

All of this is accomplished by doing a survey of the prefecture or qaidate.  This survey is then sent to the central government which determines what taxes should be paid and how many laborers.  The emir then raises these taxes and drafts the laborers.  In addition, they are also in charge of maintaining the peace, and so they command troops of lesser governmental officials known as moqadamū who are responsible for bookkeeping, walking the street and keeping order, and other duties.  They are the most commonly seen arm of the government, and their tasks resemble those of a city guard and city officer rolled into one.

The state is everything in the Two Kingdoms.  All production is given over to it.  Artisans are all employed by the state.  All trade ventures are either funded by or overseen by the government, usually both.  Temples are no exception, and are often set up much like the state itself.