Post by Richard I on Dec 9, 2014 17:32:42 GMT
This Bill:
Will legally enshrine Political Parties, Electoral Processes and Systems, Elections of First Ministers, Partisan Government, a Loyal Opposition, a Parliamentary Crossbench and Provisions for Government within the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples. This Bill will also enshrine the Mercian Parliament House into law, as an institution that cannot be dissolved by any of the Nobility or Subjects, apart from the Lords of Mercia.
Chapter 1 - Date of the Act
1. This Bill, should it pass and be ratified, will come into effect on the 1st March 2015. Between the 1st March and the 1st May 2015, the Mercian Parliament House will not have a First Minister or Cabinet, and shall be ruled by the Lords absolutely.
Chapter 2 - Political Parties
2. A group of Nobles of the Kingdoms & Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples, at least three in number, who share the same or a similar political, social, economic, environmental or religious outlook may create a Political Party, providing that they send notification of this fact to one of the Lords of Mercia, the Mercian Parliament House or a member of the Mercian Parliament Cabinet at least twenty-four hours before the Political Party is officially formed.
3. The Political Party must have a Party Leader elected from the members of the Party that declare themselves as Party Leader candidates; the position of Party Leader must be re-elected every six months, but preferably every three months. The Party Leader candidate with a simple majority is to be elected as Party Leader.
4. The Party Leader carries on their role as a Minister of the Mercian Parliament House, plus any Cabinet or First Minister positions they may also acquire. However, the Party Leader may voice the views of their Political Party in their official capacity as Party Leader.
5. Political Parties may not press any agenda that could be construed as sectarian or threatening the sovereignty of the Lords of Mercia and the Nobility. Any Political Party discovered to have done so will be abolished, and the Political Party members will be reported to the Clyran Constabulary Office, where, if they are suspected of sectarianism or threatening the sovereignty of the Lords of Mercia and the Nobility, they will be arrested for the relevant crimes and trialled in the usual fashion.
6. The legislature and constitution of the Political Party is to be constructed in whatever way the members of the Political Party wish, but it must adhere to the rule of law, and explicitly state and act on equal representation within the legislature for all Political Party members. The Party Legislature does not have to be explicitly democratic, however.
7. Nobles that do not wish to affiliate themselves with parties may become Independent Candidates, meaning that they can declare candidacy for elections without being part of a Political Party.
8. Independent Candidates may not press any agenda that could be construed as sectarian or threatening the sovereignty of the Lords of Mercia and the Nobility. Any Independent Candidate discovered to have done so will be removed from government, and the Independent Candidate will be reported to the Clyran Constabulary Office, where, if they are suspected of sectarianism or threatening the sovereignty of the Lords of Mercia and the Nobility, they will be arrested for the relevant crimes and trialled in the usual fashion.
Chapter 3 - Terms of Office for First Ministers & Cabinets, and Elections
9. Terms of Office for First Ministers and Cabinets from now on be 4 months in length, with three terms per annum, starting on the 1st January, 1st May and 1st September every year.
10. The Cabinet is to be reduced to three Cabinet Members elected by the Lords, all Nobles and all Subjects, and a single Synod Delegate of the Mercian Christian Church.
11. Candidates for the position of First Minister and the Cabinet must either come from a Political Party, or run as an Independent Candidate.
12. Candidate nominations for First Minister or Cabinet seats begins fourteen days prior to the last day of the term of office. Nominations cannot be made closer than seven days prior to the last day of the term of office.
13. The voting period of the election for First Minister or Cabinet seats begins seven days prior to the last day of the term of office. The voting period ends on the last day of the term of office.
14. To be eligible for candidacy, an individual must be from the Nobility, and must also be either a member of a Political Party, or an Independent Candidate.
15. The election of the First Minister is to be done by an open ballot for the Lords, all Nobles and all subjects, under the alternative vote system. The candidate with a simple majority, after the alternative vote system has run its’ course, becomes the First Minister.
16. The election of the Cabinet is to be done by an open ballot for the Lords, all Nobles and all subjects, under the single transferable vote system, with the entirety of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples to be considered as a single voting range, with three seats for candidates to run for. The candidates with at least 33% of the vote, or the minimum percentage required after the single transferable vote system has run its’ course, become Cabinet members.
Chapter 4 - Powers of the Government
17. The First Minister and the Cabinet, as well as all members of the Political Party/Parties that the First Minister and the Cabinet comes from, is known as the Government of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples, or just the Government. The Government is to be represented outside of the Mercian Parliament House by the First Minister.
18. The Government may be joined by other Political Parties that have Nobles in the Mercian Parliament House, but no Cabinet seats. These Parties may join the Government at the First Minister’s discretion.
The Government has the power to:
19. Lay and collect taxes, tariffs, imposts, and excises for revenue necessary to pay the debts, provide for the common defense, and carry on the Government of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples.
20. Borrow money on the credit of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples.
21. Regulate commerce and trade with foreign nations, and domestically among the Hundreds, Shires and Provinces. However, the Government may not appropriate capital for any internal improvement intended to facilitate commerce; except for the purpose of furnishing lights, beacons, and buoys, and other aids to navigation upon the coasts, the improvement of harbors and the removing of obstructions in river navigation, and aids to navigation in national airspace; in all which cases such duties shall be laid on the users of such aids, by way of tolls in those areas.
22. To establish the Mercian Post Office; but the expenses of said Office, after fourteen days of this Bill being ratified, shall be paid out of its own revenues.
23. To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries by patent, copyright and intellectual property legislation.
24. To declare war, grant letters of legalised privateering, and make rules concerning captures on land, water and airspace.
25. To raise, support and regulate a National Guard for the land, the sea and the air; but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for longer than three months.
26. To make and motion all Bills that are necessary for carrying out the will of the Lords and the maintenance of the nation, and all other powers vested in the Government by the Lords of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples, or in any Gorsedh, Office or Service of the nation affiliated to the Government.
Chapter 5 - The Loyal Opposition
27. The Political Party/Parties that has Nobles in the Mercian Parliament House and that either only have 1 Cabinet seat, or no Cabinet seats at all, and/or that has the second highest percentage of the vote for the position of First Minister, becomes the Loyal Opposition of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples.
28. The Loyal Opposition will be led by the Party Leader of one of the Political Party that came second place in the election for First Minister. It is the duty of the Leader of the Loyal Opposition to guide the Loyal Opposition in debating and countering Bills and discussions brought forward by the Government, although they must also recognise that there are occasions where the Government and the Loyal Opposition must unite to overcome national issues or threats to the stability of the nation. The Leader of the Loyal Opposition must also represent the Loyal Opposition outside of the Mercian Parliament House.
29. The Loyal Opposition may be joined by other Political Parties with Nobles in the Mercian Parliament House, but no Cabinet seats. These Parties may join the Loyal Opposition on the discretion of the Leader of the Loyal Opposition.
The Loyal Opposition has the power to:
30. Discuss and debate any Bill or topic brought forward by the Government, and vote as they choose upon Bills.
31. Criticise actions made by the Government, providing that criticism is not made against individual members of the Government on their personal traits, although the political policies of individual members of the Government may be criticised.
32. Allow their Cabinet Member (if they have a Cabinet seat) to oppose and criticise the decisions of the other Cabinet Members in the Government.
33. Propose Bills and topics to the Mercian Parliament House from a different ideological standpoint to the Government.
Chapter 6 - The Crossbench
34. Independent Candidates and Political Parties with Nobles in the Mercian Parliament House that do not align with the Government or the Loyal opposition may join the Crossbench.
35. The Crossbench exists as a location for neutral Nobles of the Mercian Parliament House to find support and to help engage with the partisan democracy system in a pragmatic fashion with the least Government or Loyal Opposition bias.
36. The Crossbench must elect from their number a Convenor, by an open ballot open to all members of the Crossbench. An individual with a simple majority of votes becomes the Convenor of the Crossbench.
37. The Crossbench Convenor keeps the rest of the Crossbench informed about affairs in the Government and the Loyal Opposition, and may observe, but not vote or take an active role in, all meetings of the Government and the Loyal Opposition. The Convenor also represents the Crossbench outside the Mercian Parliament House.
38. It is not the role of the Crossbench Convenor to attempt to make Crossbenchers vote in a certain fashion, or take up a particular stance on a topic. Convenors found to be doing so will be ejected from their position, and a new Convenor will be elected.
Chapter 6 - Votes of No Confidence
39. The Government, if they do not believe that the First Minister is leading the nation in a way suiting to their duty, or their party ideology, may call for a Vote of No Confidence.
40. The voting period for the Vote of No Confidence is to be seven days following the day that the Vote of No Confidence was called.
41. All Members of the Government, the Loyal Opposition and the Crossbench, as well as the Lords of Mercia, may take part in the Vote of No Confidence.
42. If 66% (two-thirds) of the entire Mercian Parliament House believe that the First Minister should be stripped of his post by the end of the voting period, then the incumbent First Minister shall return to being a Member of the Mercian Parliament House, although they may remain as part of the Government.
43. If a First Minister is stripped of his post through a Vote of No Confidence, then immediately following their removal, a seven day period of nominating for a new First Minister from within the current Government may begin. This is to be followed by seven days voting period under the alternative vote system.
44. The election of the new First Minister is to be done by an open ballot for the Lords, all Nobles and all subjects, under the alternative vote system. The candidate from within the Government with a simple majority, after the alternative vote system has run its’ course, becomes the First Minister.
45. The new First Minister will then finish the term of the previous First Minister, until the next election in either January, May or September.
Chapter 7 - Inviolability of Stations
46. The Mercian Parliament House, the Government, the Loyal Opposition and the Crossbench, and all mechanisms, positions and processes as laid out in this Bill, are to be made inviolable. No Government may repeal any of the articles or chapters in this Bill, nor may the Bill itself be repealed.
47. Only the Lords of Mercia may repeal this Bill, and only they can dissolve the institution of the Mercian Parliament House.
I believe that we should pass this motion, as partisan democracy is the logical extension to the democratic system that we have now. Through partisan democracy, we will be able to find and question our political beliefs, and foster ties of unity and 'togetherness' amongst the nation. As the Government, the Loyal Opposition and the Crossbench will operate in the style of Mercian Tradition of fair play and understanding that each party is only doing what they can to make the nation a better one, then this Bill will not divide Mercia along arbitrary ideological boundaries, but will instead bring it closer together.
Will legally enshrine Political Parties, Electoral Processes and Systems, Elections of First Ministers, Partisan Government, a Loyal Opposition, a Parliamentary Crossbench and Provisions for Government within the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples. This Bill will also enshrine the Mercian Parliament House into law, as an institution that cannot be dissolved by any of the Nobility or Subjects, apart from the Lords of Mercia.
Chapter 1 - Date of the Act
1. This Bill, should it pass and be ratified, will come into effect on the 1st March 2015. Between the 1st March and the 1st May 2015, the Mercian Parliament House will not have a First Minister or Cabinet, and shall be ruled by the Lords absolutely.
Chapter 2 - Political Parties
2. A group of Nobles of the Kingdoms & Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples, at least three in number, who share the same or a similar political, social, economic, environmental or religious outlook may create a Political Party, providing that they send notification of this fact to one of the Lords of Mercia, the Mercian Parliament House or a member of the Mercian Parliament Cabinet at least twenty-four hours before the Political Party is officially formed.
3. The Political Party must have a Party Leader elected from the members of the Party that declare themselves as Party Leader candidates; the position of Party Leader must be re-elected every six months, but preferably every three months. The Party Leader candidate with a simple majority is to be elected as Party Leader.
4. The Party Leader carries on their role as a Minister of the Mercian Parliament House, plus any Cabinet or First Minister positions they may also acquire. However, the Party Leader may voice the views of their Political Party in their official capacity as Party Leader.
5. Political Parties may not press any agenda that could be construed as sectarian or threatening the sovereignty of the Lords of Mercia and the Nobility. Any Political Party discovered to have done so will be abolished, and the Political Party members will be reported to the Clyran Constabulary Office, where, if they are suspected of sectarianism or threatening the sovereignty of the Lords of Mercia and the Nobility, they will be arrested for the relevant crimes and trialled in the usual fashion.
6. The legislature and constitution of the Political Party is to be constructed in whatever way the members of the Political Party wish, but it must adhere to the rule of law, and explicitly state and act on equal representation within the legislature for all Political Party members. The Party Legislature does not have to be explicitly democratic, however.
7. Nobles that do not wish to affiliate themselves with parties may become Independent Candidates, meaning that they can declare candidacy for elections without being part of a Political Party.
8. Independent Candidates may not press any agenda that could be construed as sectarian or threatening the sovereignty of the Lords of Mercia and the Nobility. Any Independent Candidate discovered to have done so will be removed from government, and the Independent Candidate will be reported to the Clyran Constabulary Office, where, if they are suspected of sectarianism or threatening the sovereignty of the Lords of Mercia and the Nobility, they will be arrested for the relevant crimes and trialled in the usual fashion.
Chapter 3 - Terms of Office for First Ministers & Cabinets, and Elections
9. Terms of Office for First Ministers and Cabinets from now on be 4 months in length, with three terms per annum, starting on the 1st January, 1st May and 1st September every year.
10. The Cabinet is to be reduced to three Cabinet Members elected by the Lords, all Nobles and all Subjects, and a single Synod Delegate of the Mercian Christian Church.
11. Candidates for the position of First Minister and the Cabinet must either come from a Political Party, or run as an Independent Candidate.
12. Candidate nominations for First Minister or Cabinet seats begins fourteen days prior to the last day of the term of office. Nominations cannot be made closer than seven days prior to the last day of the term of office.
13. The voting period of the election for First Minister or Cabinet seats begins seven days prior to the last day of the term of office. The voting period ends on the last day of the term of office.
14. To be eligible for candidacy, an individual must be from the Nobility, and must also be either a member of a Political Party, or an Independent Candidate.
15. The election of the First Minister is to be done by an open ballot for the Lords, all Nobles and all subjects, under the alternative vote system. The candidate with a simple majority, after the alternative vote system has run its’ course, becomes the First Minister.
16. The election of the Cabinet is to be done by an open ballot for the Lords, all Nobles and all subjects, under the single transferable vote system, with the entirety of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples to be considered as a single voting range, with three seats for candidates to run for. The candidates with at least 33% of the vote, or the minimum percentage required after the single transferable vote system has run its’ course, become Cabinet members.
Chapter 4 - Powers of the Government
17. The First Minister and the Cabinet, as well as all members of the Political Party/Parties that the First Minister and the Cabinet comes from, is known as the Government of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples, or just the Government. The Government is to be represented outside of the Mercian Parliament House by the First Minister.
18. The Government may be joined by other Political Parties that have Nobles in the Mercian Parliament House, but no Cabinet seats. These Parties may join the Government at the First Minister’s discretion.
The Government has the power to:
19. Lay and collect taxes, tariffs, imposts, and excises for revenue necessary to pay the debts, provide for the common defense, and carry on the Government of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples.
20. Borrow money on the credit of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples.
21. Regulate commerce and trade with foreign nations, and domestically among the Hundreds, Shires and Provinces. However, the Government may not appropriate capital for any internal improvement intended to facilitate commerce; except for the purpose of furnishing lights, beacons, and buoys, and other aids to navigation upon the coasts, the improvement of harbors and the removing of obstructions in river navigation, and aids to navigation in national airspace; in all which cases such duties shall be laid on the users of such aids, by way of tolls in those areas.
22. To establish the Mercian Post Office; but the expenses of said Office, after fourteen days of this Bill being ratified, shall be paid out of its own revenues.
23. To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries by patent, copyright and intellectual property legislation.
24. To declare war, grant letters of legalised privateering, and make rules concerning captures on land, water and airspace.
25. To raise, support and regulate a National Guard for the land, the sea and the air; but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for longer than three months.
26. To make and motion all Bills that are necessary for carrying out the will of the Lords and the maintenance of the nation, and all other powers vested in the Government by the Lords of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples, or in any Gorsedh, Office or Service of the nation affiliated to the Government.
Chapter 5 - The Loyal Opposition
27. The Political Party/Parties that has Nobles in the Mercian Parliament House and that either only have 1 Cabinet seat, or no Cabinet seats at all, and/or that has the second highest percentage of the vote for the position of First Minister, becomes the Loyal Opposition of the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Council of the Diarchal Crowns of the Disciples.
28. The Loyal Opposition will be led by the Party Leader of one of the Political Party that came second place in the election for First Minister. It is the duty of the Leader of the Loyal Opposition to guide the Loyal Opposition in debating and countering Bills and discussions brought forward by the Government, although they must also recognise that there are occasions where the Government and the Loyal Opposition must unite to overcome national issues or threats to the stability of the nation. The Leader of the Loyal Opposition must also represent the Loyal Opposition outside of the Mercian Parliament House.
29. The Loyal Opposition may be joined by other Political Parties with Nobles in the Mercian Parliament House, but no Cabinet seats. These Parties may join the Loyal Opposition on the discretion of the Leader of the Loyal Opposition.
The Loyal Opposition has the power to:
30. Discuss and debate any Bill or topic brought forward by the Government, and vote as they choose upon Bills.
31. Criticise actions made by the Government, providing that criticism is not made against individual members of the Government on their personal traits, although the political policies of individual members of the Government may be criticised.
32. Allow their Cabinet Member (if they have a Cabinet seat) to oppose and criticise the decisions of the other Cabinet Members in the Government.
33. Propose Bills and topics to the Mercian Parliament House from a different ideological standpoint to the Government.
Chapter 6 - The Crossbench
34. Independent Candidates and Political Parties with Nobles in the Mercian Parliament House that do not align with the Government or the Loyal opposition may join the Crossbench.
35. The Crossbench exists as a location for neutral Nobles of the Mercian Parliament House to find support and to help engage with the partisan democracy system in a pragmatic fashion with the least Government or Loyal Opposition bias.
36. The Crossbench must elect from their number a Convenor, by an open ballot open to all members of the Crossbench. An individual with a simple majority of votes becomes the Convenor of the Crossbench.
37. The Crossbench Convenor keeps the rest of the Crossbench informed about affairs in the Government and the Loyal Opposition, and may observe, but not vote or take an active role in, all meetings of the Government and the Loyal Opposition. The Convenor also represents the Crossbench outside the Mercian Parliament House.
38. It is not the role of the Crossbench Convenor to attempt to make Crossbenchers vote in a certain fashion, or take up a particular stance on a topic. Convenors found to be doing so will be ejected from their position, and a new Convenor will be elected.
Chapter 6 - Votes of No Confidence
39. The Government, if they do not believe that the First Minister is leading the nation in a way suiting to their duty, or their party ideology, may call for a Vote of No Confidence.
40. The voting period for the Vote of No Confidence is to be seven days following the day that the Vote of No Confidence was called.
41. All Members of the Government, the Loyal Opposition and the Crossbench, as well as the Lords of Mercia, may take part in the Vote of No Confidence.
42. If 66% (two-thirds) of the entire Mercian Parliament House believe that the First Minister should be stripped of his post by the end of the voting period, then the incumbent First Minister shall return to being a Member of the Mercian Parliament House, although they may remain as part of the Government.
43. If a First Minister is stripped of his post through a Vote of No Confidence, then immediately following their removal, a seven day period of nominating for a new First Minister from within the current Government may begin. This is to be followed by seven days voting period under the alternative vote system.
44. The election of the new First Minister is to be done by an open ballot for the Lords, all Nobles and all subjects, under the alternative vote system. The candidate from within the Government with a simple majority, after the alternative vote system has run its’ course, becomes the First Minister.
45. The new First Minister will then finish the term of the previous First Minister, until the next election in either January, May or September.
Chapter 7 - Inviolability of Stations
46. The Mercian Parliament House, the Government, the Loyal Opposition and the Crossbench, and all mechanisms, positions and processes as laid out in this Bill, are to be made inviolable. No Government may repeal any of the articles or chapters in this Bill, nor may the Bill itself be repealed.
47. Only the Lords of Mercia may repeal this Bill, and only they can dissolve the institution of the Mercian Parliament House.
I believe that we should pass this motion, as partisan democracy is the logical extension to the democratic system that we have now. Through partisan democracy, we will be able to find and question our political beliefs, and foster ties of unity and 'togetherness' amongst the nation. As the Government, the Loyal Opposition and the Crossbench will operate in the style of Mercian Tradition of fair play and understanding that each party is only doing what they can to make the nation a better one, then this Bill will not divide Mercia along arbitrary ideological boundaries, but will instead bring it closer together.
