The Imperium has developed a simple, efficient governmental system. The Emperor appoints Sector Governors over the individual sectors. Each Sector Governor appoints a Planetary Governor for each of the ten-fifteen planets in their sector. Each Planetary Governor is responsible for the governance of their planet, with the help of the Imperial Civil Service. Each official also has the assistance of their "Three Wise Men", three AI computers. One of the AIs deals with security matters, one with trade and commerce and one with education and cultural issues. Since the first Emperor's AIs, the computers have traditionally been named Balthazar, Casper and Melchior, respectively. While Governors are free to deviate from this pattern, few do for fear of arousing Imperial displeasure. In reaction to fears of an AI revolt, each AI is programmed to be ultimately loyal to the Imperium and the Emperor, and the AIs do not directly control military forces. While security AIs draw up battle plans, living officers review and carry out those orders.
Many planets and cities maintain Assemblies of some sort, but these are strictly advisory bodies. While most Planetary Governors heed the advice of their Assemblies when it does not contradict Imperial policy, no one doubts where the real power lies. The security AI controls the local police forces, who report to the Governor, not the Assembly. The Governor also collects the stiff Imperial taxes that fund both the Imperium itself and the fairly generous welfare system. While there is constant grumbling about high taxes, taxpayer revolts are unknown. Everyone knows what happens if you cross the Governor.
Police forces use Stunners, with some units being issued new Hypnagogic Projectors that can put someone into a trance on the spot. Riots are dealt with very firmly, with inciting penalties being very harsh. The judicial system is reasonably fair, although the police are often trusted implicitly. Punishments for serious crimes are harsh, although minor crimes are not punished excessively. A common punishment is loss of welfare benefits, which requires that the individual find some sort of work. Often, this means joining the Stellar Guard and staying in. Prisoners are often required to do manual labor in place of work robots. While this is considered harsh, medical technology is available to make it survivable.
Sector Governors are primarily concerned with keeping their sector peaceful. Most sectors are self-sufficient economically, except for very rare items, so the Sector Governor's trade AI is busy keeping goods moving to the right place. The sector's security AI keeps track of Guard military movements, but its main responsibility is overseeing the construction and training of new Guard ships and formations. The educational and cultural AI monitors sector communications, but its main responsibility is checking the Planetary Universities in the sector for individuals with specific talents needed by the Sector Governor. It is also responsible for monitoring all research labs in the sector and informing the Governor when a lab is pursuing either vital or forbidden technologies. Running a research lab that the Sector AI doesn't know about is considered treason.
At the Imperial level, the main focus is on the use of the Stellar Guard. The Emperor's Balthazar AI maintains a constant list of all Stellar Guard forces, their locations, strengths and missions. The Imperial Casper is responsible for overseeing trade between sectors and the production and dispensation of rare materials. The Imperial Melchior AI oversees the Sector AIs, looks for patterns to behaviors between sectors that could indicate larger problems, and monitors Planetary Universities to see if any students are eligible for acceptance in the Imperial University, the most prestigious institution in the Imperium. Those who are accepted into the Imperial University are given free passage to Terra, where they are taught by the finest minds in the Imperium, and where they work on major issues facing the entire Imperium. The Emperor can be as active or as passive as he or she wishes, but the AIs expect a fairly activist Emperor, and will attempt to push a less active one towards greater accomplishment. If the AIs all agree, they can have the Emperor replaced. However, their differences in viewpoint mean that only a truly incompetent Emperor need face this fate.