You mind if I join this conversation ?
( plz do not mind the spelling and grammar )

I don't have M2TW, so I've got no idea what you mean with papal elections in M2TW, but isn't it possible to recreate a sort of RTW - senate faction to deal with the president - problem ?

this is my idea to solve the problem:
those 13 Colonys start with a large number of 'family-members' ( like the senate, no family, only senate members), maybe some important politicians of the 13 Colonys. The computer pics the most competent man to be faction leader ( the one with the most influence, military experience, loyalty and management). The computer pics automaticly a faction heir, out of the faction, not necessary a familymember of the 'president'. After 4 years, the faction leader will be a normal familymember again and the faction heir will be 'president'. New members join the family when a older familymember dies. Those new members join the faction like in RTW, with a benefactor for - instead of adoption - the parlaiment. Like this, the parlaiment keeps existing, and the computer plays for election.

This seems to be the best option for a democratic faction, isn't it ?