From the hopper (June 2015)
Despite the election, there are quite a good number of bills currently in the hopper, some of which seem rather interesting.
Let’s review them one by one, but first, let’s offer an apology to any bill author whose bill was missed should we have missed on. No harm was intended…
The automatic votes validation amendment
Secretary of State Furxheir has tried for a few times to keep the secret votes made with the automatic voting form totally secret, even from him.
All of his past proposals were firmly rejected because they were aimed at removing those ballots from the validation procedure.
This new proposal however, keeps them for review, but not on their content, just on their technical information (such as IP address made to vote).
Sevastáin Pinátsch, minister of Stuff and new Senator for Atatûrk proposed a cleaner rewrite and was added as co-sponsor.
Here is the change in question, as it currently stands:
Article VII: Election to the Cosâ, Section 6 will get a new sub-section 1 which reads as follows:
6.1: Secret votes cast using a secure, electronic voting system for which a confirmation receipt is available to the voters and which the voters can validate themselves shall not have their content (Cosa votes, Senate votes, Provincial votes and Referendum votes) revealed to the electoral commission provided that the identifiers and technical information used to vote are still available to them. Any member of the electoral commission may request that the content of an automated ballot be still reviewed by the electoral commission as a whole if they suspect a problem occurred with that specific vote.
The order of the chancery act
The chancery is possibly the most demanding office and Secretary of State Furxheir decided to propose to create an order of the Chancery to reward citizens who have helped the chancery in any way, as well as Secretaries of State who remained in office for a long time.
Marti-Pierre Furxheir tried to model the order on the Order of Canada and the Order of Québec, which is an honor legion established to honor extraordinary citizens, and which has multiple levels like in his proposal.
Overall, the reactions have been that people feel that the King should be the only person attributing awards, and Sir Alexandreu Davinescu even understood the bill as a way for Mr Furxheir to get an award himself, when the goal, according to the author, is simply to offer a sort of “salary” to people helping the Chancery.
Here is Mr Furxheir’s version:
THEREFORE the Ziu resolves to add section K to Ex Lexhatz entitled “Honorary Organizations”
1. The order of the Chancery is an honorary order created to recognize the contribution of the citizens of Talossa in the operation of legislation of the Kingdom.
1.1 The order is divided into 4 tiers in ascending order: Member, Knight, Officer, Commander
1.1.2 Members of the Order of the Chancery are people who helped the legislative operation of the Kingdom and for which the Secretary of State felt their action should be noted
1.1.3 Knights of the Order of the Chancery are people who have provided a significant service to the Chancery over a certain period of time. They are not considered Knight of the Kingdom.
1.1.4 Officers of the Order of the Chancery are people who have provided a significant service to the Chancery over a consistent period of time
1.1.5 Commanders of the order of the Chancery are the current Secretary of State as well as former Secretary of States who served a minimum of 6 Clarks after the passing of this act
1.1.6 It is also possible to existing members of the order to get a promotion and rise in the ranks
1.2 All members of the orders are allowed to proudly display their membership as follows:
1.2.1 Member of the Order of the Chancery are allowed to add their rank and membership in the Wittenberg Signature, on their Wiki article or other places
1.2.2 Knights of the Order of the Chancery are also allowed, if they do not have any other markings, to add to the bottom right of their coat of arm the Red bar on the left of the Chancery logo.
1.2.3 Officers of the Order of the Chancery are also allowed, if they do not have any other markings, to add to the bottom right of their coat of arm two Red bars on the left of the Chancery logo.
1.2.4 Commanders of the Order of the Chancery are allowed, if they do not have any other markings, to add to the bottom right of their coat of arm the red Ben symbol of the Chancery logo
1.2.5 The current Secretary of State is allow, if he doesn’t have any other markings, to add to the bottom right of his coat of arm the Chancery logo
1.3 Membership in the order of the Chancery may be revoked by the Secretary of State if the citizen was judged to have acted dishonorably by a cort of the Kingdom of Talossa
1.4 This act shall not cover actions taken by individuals more than 3 months prior to the passage of this act
And here is Alexandreu’s version (with 2 blanks to be determined later):
THEREFORE the Ziu hereby recognizes and reinstates as official the Talossan Database, and
FURTHERMORE the Ziu hereby recognizes Marti-Pair Furxheir as an extraordinary Secretary of State and grants him the award of __________________________________ , in gratitude for all that he has done for the Kingdom of Talossa as its Secretary of State and in his many other helpful capacities over long years.
FURTHERMORE the Ziu hereby adds the following provision to Title B of el Lexhatx:
14. The Secretary of State may, at his discretion, bestow upon worthy citizens who have assisted him in his duties the recognition of _____________________ . This award may be revoked by the Secretary of State at such times as recipients have dishonoured the award in the opinion of the Secretary.
The provincial cunstaval amendment
Prior to the non-signing crisis, Secretary of State proposed to take even further the process of restricting the power of the King to nominate Cunstavals by proposing to allow provinces to change the rules of how the cunstaval is nominated.
Without surprise, the King reacted and explained provincial governments can already do that:
Provincial governments can make such requests today, can’t they? If I don’t act on a reasonable request, that’s my fault; but the request is always perfectly in order.
The other comments from Munditenens Tresplet and Françal Ian Lux were also against thinkering with this selection process.
THEREFORE the Ziu resolves to consult the population in a referendum to amend the Organic law as follows:
Add a new Section 9.1 to Article XVII: Territorial Subdivisions:
9.1: A province constitution may provide an alternative method for nominating the Cunstaval of that province or rules determining who the King may nominate as Cunstaval of that province. Province may provide an alternative name for the Cunstaval of their province which shall be used in an official process.
The Senators, King and Secretary of State 50 word essay act
The last bill from Secretary of State Furxheir is to modify his proposal to allow anyone who can post bills on the clark to write a 50 word essay for referendums and not just Cosa members.
Overall, this proposition was not well received at all, but not a single person supporting the act, and 4 Ziu members opposing it…
Sre Furxheir even appear to have tried to gain sympathy for his bill by talking about the non-signature fiasco, and it still didn’t cause any support.
In all cases, here is the text:
THEREFORE ZIU resolved to modify Section B, Article 2.2 of El Lexhatx which currently reads:
2.2 The Ballot can also include for each referendum up to one 50-words essay per party with Cosa Members, each marked as being either in favor of the amendment or against the amendment. The argument’s signatures are not counted in the 50 words limit.
As follows:2.2 The Ballot can also include for each referendum up to one 50-words essay per party with Cosa Members, each marked as being either in favor of the amendment or against the amendment. Any individual who not a member of the Cosa but who is otherwise allowed to directly submit bills to the Clark may also submit a single essay per referendum. The argument’s signatures are not counted in the 50 words limit.
The democratic amendment
This bill is an attempt to fix the problem with refusal of the King to sign a referendum. It is written by Sevastáin Pinátsch, Senator for Atatûrk but is co-sponsored by 5 other citizens.
The bill generate considerable discussion over 4 pages of Wittenberg, especially when the King himself came to defend his actions.
Here is the bill as it currently stands:
Therefore Article XV, Section 1 of the Organic Law, which currently reads:
“An amendment to the Organic Law may be made by proclamation by the King where so authorized by:
* A vote of two-thirds in both chambers of the Ziu, and
* Approval of the majority of voters participating in a referendum on the question of the amendment no later than during the next scheduled general election following the approval of the Ziu.
* Proposed changes to this Organic Law that affect the representation of a province in the Senäts, or of the territory or equal sovereignty of a province, shall only be passed with the approval of a majority of participating voters in that province.”, will be amended to read:
“An amendment to the Organic Law shall be made by proclamation by the King where so authorized by:
* A vote of two-thirds in both chambers of the Ziu, and
* Approval of the majority of voters participating in a referendum on the question of the amendment no later than during the next scheduled general election following the approval of the Ziu.
* Proposed changes to this Organic Law that affect the representation of a province in the Senäts, or of the territory or equal sovereignty of a province, shall only be passed with the approval of a majority of participating voters in that province.
* If the King does not make such a proclamation within two weeks of the amendment being authorised, the amendment to the OrgLaw will be considered in effect and the OrgLaw accordingly amended.
* The King retains the right to reject an amendment that has been approved by the Cosa and the Senäts before its ratification by referendum.”
The refusal for King John 1 to sign an amendment took everyone by surprise, and several proposals have been made to rectify the situation.
The time bomb amendment is King John’s own solution to the impasse:
THEREFORE the Ziu hereby approves this Amendment to the Organic Law, and transmits it to the nation for ratification:
A second sentence shall be added to Article XV Section 1 of the Organic Law, reading:
Should the King, by the 15th day after the referendum in which an Amendment is authorized, fail to take action on an Amendment so authorized, it shall be deemed to have been proclaimed by the King and shall immediately take effect.
The bill wasn’t received very favorably in part because the election validation process may take more than 15 days but also in part because there is another bill in the hopper fixing this problem in a very similar manner, the Democratic amendment.
The Consent of the People and Balanced Government Amendment
The third bill attempting to fix the non-signature of the referendum, this time proposed by Alexandreu Davinescu, leader of the RUMP.
The reaction of the citizens was rather cold with Miestra even asking Alexandreu to “go away”.
Here is the content of the amendment:
Article XV of the Organic Law of the Kingdom of Talossa, which currently reads:
Section 1
An amendment to the Organic Law may be made by proclamation by the King where so authorized by:
-A vote of two-thirds in both chambers of the Ziu, and
-Approval of the majority of voters participating in a referendum on the question of the amendment no later than during the next scheduled general election following the approval of the Ziu.
-Proposed changes to this Organic Law that affect the representation of a province in the Senäts, or of the territory or equal sovereignty of a province, shall only be passed with the approval of a majority of participating voters in that province.
Section 2
The Covenants of Rights and Freedoms, being sacred and necessary to the defence of our free society, are entrenched provisions of this Organic Law. They may only be amended if the referendum required by Section 1 passes with a two-thirds majority of voters participating in the referendum.shall be amended to include the following Section 3, as follows:
Section 1
An amendment to the Organic Law may be made by proclamation by the King where so authorized by:
-A vote of two-thirds in both chambers of the Ziu, and
-Approval of the majority of voters participating in a referendum on the question of the amendment no later than during the next scheduled general election following the approval of the Ziu.
-Proposed changes to this Organic Law that affect the representation of a province in the Senäts, or of the territory or equal sovereignty of a province, shall only be passed with the approval of a majority of participating voters in that province.
Section 2
The Covenants of Rights and Freedoms, being sacred and necessary to the defence of our free society, are entrenched provisions of this Organic Law. They may only be amended if the referendum required by Section 1 passes with a two-thirds majority of voters participating in the referendum.
Section 3
Should the King decline to proclaim any proposed amendment to the Organic Law under Section 1, the King shall proclaim such amendment notwithstanding his earlier refusal if:
– Both chambers of he Ziu again approve an identical amendment, a general election having intervened since the first approval by the Ziu, and
– A two-thirds majority of voters participating in the next general election vote in favour of the amendment.
The King shall not proclaim an amendment to the Covenants of Rights and Freedoms under this section unless the people approve the amendment by a three-quarters majority in the second referendum.Article XX of the Organic Law of the Kingdom of Talossa, which currently reads:
Legislation may be enacted by the people through the Referendum. The Ziu may prepare referenda and submit these to popular vote, as it sees fit. The referendum may be advisory (a non-binding public opinion check) or may have the force of law upon its approval by a majority of those who vote on it. Referenda questions appear on the ballot during the next general election, or sooner, if the Seneschal so chooses to authorise.
shall be amended as follows:
Legislation may be enacted by the people through the Referendum. The Ziu may prepare referenda and submit these to popular vote, as it sees fit. The referendum may be advisory (a non-binding public opinion check) or may have the force of law upon its approval by a majority of those who vote on it. Referenda questions shall appear on the ballot during the next general election.
The How About This? Amendment
Senator Éovart (Eðo) Grischun also has his own proposal for solving the non-signing issue, but it doesn’t seem to have much support, most commenters being opposed to it.
in summary, in the author’s own words:
- Amendments will go into the hopper for 28 days minimum, THEN
- Amendments go before the Ziu twice. ie, Amendments must go to Clark twice and must pass both times, THEN
- It goes to referendum, and if passed THEN
- The King SHALL enact the amendment.
Here is the bill content:
THEREFORE Article XV of the Organic Law (entitled; Amendments to the Organic Law) is stricken from the Organic Law in its entirety, and rewritten as follows:
Article XV: Amendments to the Organic Law
Section 1
An amendment to the Organic Law shall be made by proclamation by the King where so instructed in accordance with all other sections of this Article. The King shall be deemed to have received such instruction when all provisions in all sections of this Article have been met. Amendments to the Organic Law shall only be made when all provisions outlined in all other sections of this Article have been met.
Section 2
Amendments to the Organic Law may be submitted for consideration in the following manner:
A legislative proposal which seeks to amend the Organic Law must spend a minimum of 28 days in The Hopper before being submitted to the Secretary of State for inclusion in the Clark; THEN
The legislative proposal shall be considered by the Ziu twice in two separate voting sessions (Clarks) and must pass both chambers of the Ziu both times before being considered ready to submit to referendum; AND
In both voting sessions an affirmative vote of two-thirds in both chambers of the Ziu must be achieved.
Section 3
In the event that a legislative proposal that would amend this Organic Law satisfies all provisions set out in Section 2 of this Article then a referendum on the question of the amendment will be held. The referendum will be held no later than during the next scheduled general election following the second stage approval of the Ziu. The referendum will be deemed approved if a majority of participating voters vote in favour of the amendment. Additionally, proposed changes to this Organic Law that affect the representation of a province in the Senäts, or of the territory or equal sovereignty of a province, shall only be passed with the approval of a majority of participating voters in that province.
Section 4
The Covenants of Rights and Freedoms, being sacred and necessary to the defence of our free society, are entrenched provisions of this Organic Law. They may only be amended if the referendum required by Section 3 of this Article passes with a two-thirds majority of voters participating in the referendum.
The Two Cents Amendment
Newcomer Galen Zavala-Sherby of the Socialist party proposed massive changes and this amendment is the first version of Galen Zavala-Sherby massive reform amendment to drastically reduce the power of the King in Talossa. This first version was split in 3 parts (which follows).
Miestra Schiva approved it in principle, since it would bring the Kingdom closer to her ideals, but in practive, according to her:
[…]giving the Seneschál power to dissolve the Cosâ is a bad move. It would mean the government being able to keep itself in power indefinitely by not allowing the Cosâ to ever remove it.
Already C. Carlüs Xheraltescù noted that this was giving too much power to the Seneschal and several people pointed out that the bill should be split in portions and reformated, hence the second version below.
For now, here is the original bill:
Whereas Article III Section II of the Organic Law currently reads:
The King is the symbolic head of the nation. The nation democratically grants the King and his successors certain Royal Powers: The right to declare national holidays, grant titles of nobility, make the annual Speech From the Throne on the 26th of December (or at other times when events warrant), to veto bills (or Prime Dictates), to issue Writs of Dissolution and Warrants of Prorogation for the Cosâ, to grant pardons and commute sentences, to confer awards and decorations, to appoint the Seneschál after elections, and to appoint Governors of Territories upon the advice of the Seneschál.
Shall be amended to read:
The King is the symbolic head of the nation. The nation democratically grants the King and his successors certain Royal Powers: The right to declare national holidays, grant titles of nobility, make the annual Speech From the Throne on the 26th of December (or at other times when events warrant), to confer awards and decorations, and to advise the Seneschál on the appointment of Governors of Territories.
AND Whereas Article XI Section II of the Organic Law currently reads:
The King appoints the Seneschal. If a single party occupies a majority of the seats in the Cosâ, the King shall choose as PM whichever individual shall be designated by that party. If no single party has a majority, the King shall appoint a Seneschál after consulting party leaders with the objective of finding a PM who can be sustained in subsequent Votes of Confidence by a majority of seats in the Cosâ. The King must appoint a new Seneschál or announce the continuation of the incumbent in office within one month of the end of elections, or, if after one month no candidate can be appointed with the support of a Cosa majority, dissolve the Cosa after the first Clark and call for new elections.
Shall be amended to read:
The Seneschal is elected by the citizens of Talossa during the election of the Cosa. Seneschal candidates will be selected within parties and be voted for during the previously stated time frame.
AND Whereas Article XI Section IV currently reads:
The Seneschal has State duties. He may advise the King to dissolve the Cosa and to appoint and remove members of the Cabinet. His advice to the King on these matters may not be refused. The Seneschal may issues Speeches to the Nation in writing, declare war pending the approval of the Cosa, write treaties pending the approval of the Cosa, expedite the Ziu’s consideration of legislation, and issue Prime Dictates.
Shall be amended to read:
The Seneschal has State duties. He may dissolve the Cosa and appoint and remove members of the Cabinet. The Seneschal may issues Speeches to the Nation in writing, declare war pending the approval of the Cosa, write treaties pending the approval of the Cosa, expedite the Ziu’s consideration of legislation, and issue Prime Dictates.
AND Whereas Article XI Section V currently reads:
Prime Dictates (PD’s) are public declarations which affect government policy and have the force of law. They take effect upon their countersignature by the King, function as laws for all purposes, and may be repealed by a majority vote in the Cosâ. If a Prime Dictate is vetoed by the King, the Cosâ may introduce the text of the PD as a regular bill and, if it receives two-thirds of the vote, it becomes law over the King’s objection. A PD may never be used to amend the Organic Law. PD’s shall be published at the earliest possible opportunity in the Clark.
Shall be amended to read:
Prime Dictates (PD’s) are public declarations which affect government policy and have the force of law. They take effect upon proclamation function as laws for all purposes, and may be repealed by a majority vote in the Cosâ. A PD may never be used to amend the Organic Law. PD’s shall be published at the earliest possible opportunity in the Clark.
AND Whereas Article XI Section VI currently reads:
Should a petition supported by members of the Cosa holding more than half the seats therein be presented to the Crown instructing the King to replace the Seneschal, the King shall accede to the petition, and shall replace the Seneschal with any specific person named in the petition, or, lacking any specific recommendation for a successor, with any person who the Crown believes will command the confidence of the Cosa.
Shall be amended to read:
Should a petition supported by members of the Cosa holding more than half the seats therein be presented to the Crown instructing the King to replace the Seneschal, the King shall accede to the petition, and shall replace the Seneschal with any specific person named in the petition. After declaration of the new Seneschal a 48-hour period will be given so that the citizens of Talossa may petition against the assignation of the new Seneschal. If a majority of citizens petition a new election must be held and new candidates chosen. If no petition arises the Seneschal shall remain.
AND Whereas Article XII Section I currently reads:
The King appoints and dismisses members of the Government (Cabinet), and their subordinates, on the advice of the Seneschál. The Government consists of the Seneschál, the Distáin, the Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Immigration Minister, and Minister of Stuff. Various other ministries may also be appointed as the Seneschál sees fit.
Shall be amended to read:
The Seneschal appoints and dismisses members of the Government (Cabinet), and their subordinates. The Government consists of the Distáin, the Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Immigration Minister, and Minister of Stuff. Various other ministries may also be appointed as the Seneschál sees fit.
AND Whereas Article XII Section VIII currently reads:
The King shall appoint a member of the Government to be Distáin (Deputy Prime Minister) on the advice of the Seneschál. The Distain shall act in place of the Seneschal in the event of the latter’s death, resignation, absence, or disability, until a new Seneschal shall be appointed. The Ziu may by law establish procedures for determining the absence or disability of the Seneschal.
Shall be amended to read:
The Seneschal shall appoint a member of the Government to be Distáin (Deputy Prime Minister). The Distain shall act in place of the Seneschal in the event of the latter’s death, resignation, absence, or disability, until a new Seneschal shall be appointed. The Ziu may by law establish procedures for determining the absence or disability of the Seneschal.
AND Whereas Article XII Section IX currently reads:
The King shall appoint a Member of the Cosa to serve as Speaker of the Cosa (Talossan: el Túischac’h), on the advice of a simple majority vote in the Cosa for the upcoming term. The Speaker shall preside, direct and maintain order during Living Cosas, in an unbiased fashion. Otherwise, his function will be to advise Members of Cosa of appropriate decorum. He is considered the honourable President of the Cosâ and shall be awarded all due veneration when serving as such. (47RZ4)
Shall be amended to read:
The Seneschal shall appoint a Member of the Cosa to serve as Speaker of the Cosa (Talossan: el Túischac’h), on the advice of a simple majority vote in the Cosa for the upcoming term. The Speaker shall preside, direct and maintain order during Living Cosas, in an unbiased fashion. Otherwise, his function will be to advise Members of Cosa of appropriate decorum. He is considered the honourable President of the Cosâ and shall be awarded all due veneration when serving as such. (47RZ4)
The Massive Reform Amendment Part 1
This is first part of the second version of Galen Zavala-Sherby amendment to drastically reduce the power of the King in Talossa. This version was also received rather badly, with several citizens expressing their concern over such massive changes, such as the power of the King to nominate the Prime-Minister.
Txec Dal Nordselva succinctly explained:
In just about every parliamentary system on earth, the head of state appoints the Prime Minister. This doesn’t mean he gets to choose for himself – he has to appoint the one who has a majority of the Cosa behind him.
Sevastáin Pinátsch, Minister of STUFF, Senator for Atatürk, brilliantly added:
I regret that this may be too “massive” a reform for many of us to contribute to meaningfully. You probably have to think smaller in terms of chipping away at the King’s role. Chisel, not sledgehammer… And taken as a whole, these three are in the realm of jackhammer.
Still, here is the text of the Part 1:
Whereas Article III Section II of the Organic Law currently reads:
The King is the symbolic head of the nation. The nation democratically grants the King and his successors certain Royal Powers: The right to declare national holidays, grant titles of nobility, make the annual Speech From the Throne on the 26th of December (or at other times when events warrant), to veto bills (or Prime Dictates), to issue Writs of Dissolution and Warrants of Prorogation for the Cosâ, to grant pardons and commute sentences, to confer awards and decorations, to appoint the Seneschál after elections, and to appoint Governors of Territories upon the advice of the Seneschál.
Shall be amended to read:
The King is the symbolic head of the nation. The nation democratically grants the King and his successors certain Royal Powers: The right to declare national holidays, grant titles of nobility, make the annual Speech From the Throne on the 26th of December (or at other times when events warrant), to confer awards and decorations, and to advise the Seneschál on the appointment of Governors of Territories.
AND Whereas Article XI Section II of the Organic Law currently reads:
The King appoints the Seneschal. If a single party occupies a majority of the seats in the Cosâ, the King shall choose as PM whichever individual shall be designated by that party. If no single party has a majority, the King shall appoint a Seneschál after consulting party leaders with the objective of finding a PM who can be sustained in subsequent Votes of Confidence by a majority of seats in the Cosâ. The King must appoint a new Seneschál or announce the continuation of the incumbent in office within one month of the end of elections, or, if after one month no candidate can be appointed with the support of a Cosa majority, dissolve the Cosa after the first Clark and call for new elections.
Shall be amended to read:
The Seneschal is elected by the citizens of Talossa during the election of the Cosa. Seneschal candidates will be selected within parties and be voted for during the previously stated time frame.
AND Whereas Article XI Section IV currently reads:
The Seneschal has State duties. He may advise the King to dissolve the Cosa and to appoint and remove members of the Cabinet. His advice to the King on these matters may not be refused. The Seneschal may issues Speeches to the Nation in writing, declare war pending the approval of the Cosa, write treaties pending the approval of the Cosa, expedite the Ziu’s consideration of legislation, and issue Prime Dictates.
Shall be amended to read:
The Seneschal has State duties. He may appoint and remove members of the Cabinet. The Seneschal may issues Speeches to the Nation in writing, declare war pending the approval of the Cosa, write treaties pending the approval of the Cosa, expedite the Ziu’s consideration of legislation, and issue Prime Dictates.
The Massive Reform Amendment Part 2
In this second part of his massive reform, Galen Zavala-Sherby reassigns most of the functions of the King to the Seneschal, in what Txec Dal NordSelva explains: “You are making the Seneschal FAR too powerful”
This is the bill as it currently stands:
AND Whereas Article XII Section VIII currently reads:
The King shall appoint a member of the Government to be Distáin (Deputy Prime Minister) on the advice of the Seneschál. The Distain shall act in place of the Seneschal in the event of the latter’s death, resignation, absence, or disability, until a new Seneschal shall be appointed. The Ziu may by law establish procedures for determining the absence or disability of the Seneschal.
Shall be amended to read:
The Seneschal shall appoint a member of the Government to be Distáin (Deputy Prime Minister). The Distain shall act in place of the Seneschal in the event of the latter’s death, resignation, absence, or disability, until a new Seneschal shall be appointed. The Ziu may by law establish procedures for determining the absence or disability of the Seneschal.
AND Whereas Article XII Section IX currently reads:
The King shall appoint a Member of the Cosa to serve as Speaker of the Cosa (Talossan: el Túischac’h), on the advice of a simple majority vote in the Cosa for the upcoming term. The Speaker shall preside, direct and maintain order during Living Cosas, in an unbiased fashion. Otherwise, his function will be to advise Members of Cosa of appropriate decorum. He is considered the honourable President of the Cosâ and shall be awarded all due veneration when serving as such. (47RZ4)
Shall be amended to read:
The Seneschal shall appoint a Member of the Cosa to serve as Speaker of the Cosa (Talossan: el Túischac’h), on the advice of a simple majority vote in the Cosa for the upcoming term. The Speaker shall preside, direct and maintain order during Living Cosas, in an unbiased fashion. Otherwise, his function will be to advise Members of Cosa of appropriate decorum. He is considered the honourable President of the Cosâ and shall be awarded all due veneration when serving as such. (47RZ4)
AND Whereas Article XIII Section I currently reads:
Duration of the Cosâ. The Cosâ convenes on the first day of the month after general elections, to coincide with the publication of the first Clark. Its term is roughly six months, each month coinciding with a Clark. During its last month the King shall issue a Writ of Dissolution ending its term. At the time the Cosâ is dissolved, all its members shall resign, but any Members holding positions in the Government may remain in those positions till the outcome of the election is resolved. (47RZ37)
Shall be amended to read:
Duration of the Cosâ. The Cosâ convenes on the first day of the month after general elections, to coincide with the publication of the first Clark. Its term is roughly six months, each month coinciding with a Clark. During its last month the Speaker of the Cosa shall issue a Writ of Dissolution ending its term. At the time the Cosâ is dissolved, all its members shall resign, but any Members holding positions in the Government may remain in those positions till the outcome of the election is resolved.
AND Whereas Article XIII Section IV currently reads:
Early Dissolution of the Cosâ. The King may issue Writs of Dissolution to dissolve the Cosâ before its term has expired. The Seneschal may appeal for such a Writ of Dissolution, and if the appeal is presented accompanied by the explicit support of members of the Cosa representing a majority of seats therein, the King shall dissolve the Cosa effective immediately or, should the Cosa be in session, upon its next recess. If the appeal lacks such an explicit expression of support from a majority of the Cosa, the King shall not act on the appeal for a period of three days following its receipt, and shall then accede to the appeal but only if the Crown has not been presented during that time with a petition, supported by members of the Cosa representing more than half the seats therein, praying that the Cosa be not dissolved. A Writ, once issued, takes effect only at the end of the month in which it was issued, and may be rescinded before it has taken effect. If there is a Clark being voted on that month, all voting on that Clark may be completed before the Writ takes effect. The effect of a Writ of Dissolution is to dissolve the Cosâ and to call new elections.
Shall be amended to read:
Early Dissolution of the Cosâ. The Speaker of the Cosa may issue Writs of Dissolution to dissolve the Cosa before its term has expired. The Seneschal may appeal for such a Writ of Dissolution, and if the appeal is presented accompanied by the explicit support of members of the Cosa representing a majority of seats therein, the Speaker of the Cosa shall dissolve the Cosa effective immediately or, should the Cosa be in session, upon its next recess. If the appeal lacks such an explicit expression of support from a majority of the Cosa, the Speaker of the Cosa, the Speaker of the Cosa shall not act on the appeal for a period of three days following its receipt, and shall then accede to the appeal but only if the Speaker has not been presented during that time with a petition, supported by members of the Cosa representing more than half the seats therein, praying that the Cosa be not dissolved. A Writ, once issued, takes effect only at the end of the month in which it was issued, and may be rescinded before it has taken effect. If there is a Clark being voted on that month, all voting on that Clark may be completed before the Writ takes effect. The effect of a Writ of Dissolution is to dissolve the Cosâ and to call new elections.
The Massive Reform Amendment Part 3
The third part of Galen’s reform reassigns some of the powers of the King to the speaker of the Cosa, which prompted Txec Dal Nordselva to reply:
The Speaker of the Cosa dissolving the Cosa? You really don’t seem to understand how a constitutional monarchy works. So far, all 3 amendments you have proposed are unworkable because you remove the checks and balances. Also, all three “powers” you are trying to remove are all of them ceremonial in nature. The king really has no constitutional choice in any of these (not to mention not one of these would ever get past the throne).
Interestingly, the discussion changed to be rather constructive, in our opinion. Galen replied saying:
Dr. I don’t want to hold a grudge with you so if you could understand that I am new at this
Which prompted both Sevastáin Pinátsch and Alexandreu Davinescu to reply (respectively):
Proposing legislation is definitely not for the thin-skinned. One really needs to be open to criticism (constructive, and otherwise) and not feel personally insulted when people disagree with one’s ideas. In fact, it’s the only way to become a better writer of bills and to get people to want to co-sponsor.
and:
Yes, Txec is doing exactly what a good legislator should do: hunt down flaws, ambiguities, and the unworkable. It is not just a favor to Galen, but it’s a favor to the nation.
When I look at legislation, I try to think about how it could go wrong, not just how it could go right.
Here is the bill as it currently stands, but a new version is scheduled to be uploaded by the time this issues will be released:
AND Whereas Article XIII Section V currently reads:
Duration of the Government. Members of the Government take office when appointed by the King and leave office when dismissed by the King. Such appointments and dismissals are regulated elsewhere in this Organic Law.
Shall be amended to read:
Duration of the Government. Members of the Government take office when appointed by the Seneschal and leave office when dismissed by the Seneschal. Such appointments and dismissals are regulated elsewhere in this Organic Law.
AND Whereas Article XIII Section VI currently reads:
Vote of Confidence. The Clark must contain, in every edition, a Vote of Confidence. This reads as follows: “Do you wish the current Government to continue in its term of office?” Each MC must answer this question in his Clark ballot every month, either with a “yes” or a “no.” If at the end of any month the “no” vote outnumbers the “yes” vote, the King shall dissolve the Cosâ and call new elections.
Shall be amended to read:
Vote of Confidence. The Clark must contain, in every edition, a Vote of Confidence. This reads as follows: “Do you wish the current Government to continue in its term of office?” Each MC must answer this question in his Clark ballot every month, either with a “yes” or a “no.” If at the end of any month the “no” vote outnumbers the “yes” vote, the Speaker of the Cosa shall dissolve the Cosa and call new elections.
About Author
