The Federation isn’t a ‘democracy’ its a jewel whose many facets form our ‘Federal Union.’ There are many states, ran in many ways, systems within systems. While the ‘Senate’ does have nominal legislative supremacy, it is on a Federal level, locales vary.
Lirsautton (Mei-ha) autonomous governmental structures look very different to Intaki for example. “The original Intaki representatives asked for minimal protection at the founding of the Federation,” according to Vremaja Idama. “We have always valued our independence and self-reliance.”
So in our glorious Federation, you can have as little or as much as you please, as long as you follow a few… rules.