Charter for the City of Shirekeep, Initial Draft

[Mira Octavius-Aryani]

I submit a draft charter for the commission to discuss. It is probably riddled with errors.

CITY OF SHIREKEEP

CITY CHARTER

INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER 1. Definitions.

• • 101. The City of Shirekeep, hereafter referred to as the City, has been, is, and ever shall be the capital of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth.
    102. The boundaries of the City shall include all territory of the Imperial County located within mainland Benecia as of the signing of this charter. Furthermore, it shall include any and all territory added and withhold any territory removed following the enactment of this charter.
    103. The City shall be divided into administrative subdivisions called Quarters. Quarters may be designated as Urban Quarters or as Rural Quarters.
    104. The Outer Defensive Perimeter is defined as fortifications located at or near the boundary of the City.
    105. The Inner Defensive Perimeter is defined as fortifications that encircle the Urban Quarters of the City.
    106. The chief magistrate of the City shall bear the title of Prefect of Shirekeep, hereafter referred to as the Prefect.
    107. The chief magistrate of a Quarter shall bear the title of "Provost".
    108. Residents of the City and Residents of the Quarter, hereafter referred to as Residents when distinction is not necessary, shall be defined as all persons who maintain as their permanent, primary residence a defined and valid location within the jurisdiction of the City or of the Quarter, respectively.
    109. First-Preference Voting shall be defined as a system of voting in which voters rank candidates according to their their preference. Candidates who reach the threshold necessary for selection shall pass their surplus votes to the voters' subsequent choices until all seats are filled.

CHAPTER 2. Prefect of Shirekeep.

• • 201. The Prefect shall be appointed by way of Imperial Decree.
    202. The Prefect shall serve until resignation, death, inability to serve, or removal and/or relief by way of Imperial Decree.
    203. The Prefect shall be granted with the following powers:
    • (a) dispensation of justice within the boundaries of the City;
      (b) appointment of Officers of the City;
      (c) enactment of statutes relevant to the maintenance of order and prosperity for the City and binding within the boundaries of the City;
      (d) command of the Shirekeep City Guard;
      (e) command of the Apollonian Guard.

CHAPTER 3. Order and Justice.

• Sub-Chapter A. The Shirekeep City Guard.

• • 301. The Shirekeep City Guard, hereafter referred to as the City Guard, shall be empowered to maintain peace and order within the boundaries of the City.
    302. The City Guard shall maintain a headquarters commanded by an officer of the rank of Captain-General. The Captain-General of the City Guard shall be selected from among the officers of the City Guard and serve at the pleasure of the Prefect.
    303. The City Guard shall assign detachments to each Quarter. Each detachment shall be commanded by an officer of the rank of Captain.
    304. The City Guard shall maintain centralized investigative branches. Each investigative branch shall be commanded by an officer of the rank of Captain.
    305. The City Guard shall staff and maintain the Inner Defensive Perimeter of the City during peacetime.
    305. The City Guard shall receive logistical support and oversight from the Imperial Constabulary (or its successor organization).

• Sub-Chapter B. The Apollonian Guard.

• • 306. The Apollonian Guard shall provide primary defense for the City.
    307. The Apollonian Guard shall maintain an administrative headquarters commanded by an officer of the rank of Tribune or higher as appropriate to the unit's strength.
    308. The Apollonian Guard shall staff and maintain the Outer Defensive Perimeter and all fortifications located between that and the Inner Defensive Perimeter.
    308. The Apollonian Guard shall receive logistical support and oversight from the Imperial Forces (or its successor organization).

• Sub-Chapter C. Civil Defense.

• • 309. During wartime, the Quarters shall provide able-bodied Residents to serve in a wartime militia in order to augment the defense of the City.

• Sub-Chapter D. Justice System.

• • 310. The City shall have Central Court with a standing judicial staff of judges, lawyers, and constables of the court.
    311. All judges and lawyers of the judicial staff shall be required to possess active status in the Mango Bar in order to serve.
    312. The Central Court shall rotate its judicial staff among the Quarters as necessary to process any and all legal cases scheduled on the Quarter's court calendar. The number of staff shall be assigned in accordance with the size of the docket.
    313. Decisions made by a Quarter Court may be appealed to the Central Court.
    314. Decisions by the Central Court may be appealed to the Prefect.
    315. Decisions by the Prefect may be appealed to the Imperial Judex.

CHAPTER 4. Quarters.

• • 401. The Prefect shall determine the number, distribution, and jurisdictions of the Quarters, and may revise them at will.
    402. Each Quarter shall have a management board for the purpose of managing:
    • (a) oversight of services distributed at the Quarter level;
      (b) appointment of local officers;
      (c) compilation of and response to petitions lodged by Residents.
    403. Elections shall be held annually in each Quarter to select five Residents to serve as its management board.
    404. The management board shall select from among its membership a Provost to lead the board and act as an intermediary between the Quarter and the Prefect.
    405. A Provost shall be accorded honorary status as Bonitatis for the duration of the term.
    406. Imperial Dominions, Imperial States, and local regions therein may petition the Prefect for permission to act as a sponsor for a particular Quarter. Sponsors shall be expected to provide additional capital, human and material resources, and patronage for their awarded Quarter. The Prefect may revoke sponsorship at will.
    407. If a Quarter has a sponsor, the sponsor shall administer elections. If a Quarter has no sponsor, the Prefect shall administer elections using a First-Preference Voting system.
    408. Each Quarter shall maintain a Guildhall, which have the following functions:
    • (a) offices for local officers to perform administrative duties;
      (b) meeting hall and offices for the management board and staff;
      (c) courtroom;
      (d) barracks for the City Guard.

CHAPTER 5. Obligations.

• • 501. The government of the City shall be responsible for providing its residents with the following services:
    • (a)
      (b)
      (c)
    502. The government of the Quarter shall be responsible for providing its residents with the following services:
    • (a)
      (b)
      (c)

CHAPTER 6. Symbols.

• • 601. The Coat of Arms for the City is blazoned Azure an Angel Or victorious over a Daemon Iron prone, supported by Mooses.
    602. The Flag of the City is a Banner of Arms.

Chapter 7. Amendments.

• • 701. This charter may be amended or revoked by Imperial Decree.
    702. Amendments to this charter shall be listed here:
    • (a)

[Altea Lomax]

Copypasted from the Discord server as requested:

[5:12 PM] Belledin (ImpInq): @Mira O-A (Prefect of Shirekeep) 101: “and ever shall be” could be interpreted as trying to make Imperial law
[5:12 PM] Belledin (ImpInq): 102: “withhold” isn't the right word to use here, though I'm not sure what is
[5:13 PM] Belledin (ImpInq): 109: more usually called the single transferable vote
[5:12 PM] Belledin (ImpInq): 202: more concisely “life or good behavior”
[5:13 PM] Belledin (ImpInq): 203: “with” superfluous
[5:14 PM] Belledin (ImpInq): 314-15: probably not necessary to include the Prefect in the appeals chain?

Also:

• 407: The Prefect or provosts should administer all elections. Indeed I mislike the sponsorship system as a whole — Shirekeep should emphatically exist outside and above all other federal subjects.
• Suggestions for city-level services: police, electricity, water, gas, sewage, and Internet.
• Suggestions for quarter-level services: fire brigades, garbage collection, street cleaning.

[Mira Octavius-Aryani]

CITY OF SHIREKEEP

CITY CHARTER

INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER 1. Definitions.

• • 101. The City of Shirekeep, hereafter referred to as the City, is the eternal capital of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth.
    102. The boundaries of the City shall include all territory of the Imperial County located within mainland Benecia as of the signing of this charter, as well as including any and all territory added and excepting any territory removed following the enactment of this charter.
    103. The City shall be divided into administrative subdivisions called Quarters. Quarters may be designated as Urban Quarters or as Rural Quarters.
    104. The Outer Defensive Perimeter is defined as fortifications located at or near the boundary of the City.
    105. The Inner Defensive Perimeter is defined as fortifications that encircle the Urban Quarters of the City.
    106. The chief magistrate of the City shall bear the title of Prefect of Shirekeep, hereafter referred to as the Prefect.
    107. The chief magistrate of a Quarter shall bear the title of "Provost".
    108. Residents of the City and Residents of the Quarter, hereafter referred to as Residents when distinction is not necessary, shall be defined as all persons who maintain as their permanent, primary residence a defined and valid location within the jurisdiction of the City or of the Quarter, respectively.
    109. First-Preference Voting shall be defined as a system of voting in which voters rank candidates according to their their preference. Candidates who reach the threshold necessary for selection shall pass their surplus votes to the voters' subsequent choices until all seats are filled.

CHAPTER 2. Prefect of Shirekeep.

• • 201. The Prefect shall be appointed by way of Imperial Decree.
    202. The Prefect shall serve at the pleasure of the Golden Mango Throne or until the Prefect's tenure ends due to death, resignation, or disqualification.
    203. The Prefect shall be granted the following powers:
    • (a) dispensation of justice within the boundaries of the City;
      (b) appointment of Officers of the City;
      (c) enactment of statutes relevant to the maintenance of order and prosperity for the City and binding within the boundaries of the City;
      (d) command of the Shirekeep City Guard;
      (e) command of the Apollonian Guard.

CHAPTER 3. Order and Justice.

• Sub-Chapter A. The Shirekeep City Guard.

• • 301. The Shirekeep City Guard, hereafter referred to as the City Guard, shall be empowered to maintain peace and order within the boundaries of the City.
    302. The City Guard shall maintain a headquarters commanded by an officer of the rank of Captain-General. The Captain-General of the City Guard shall be selected from among the officers of the City Guard and serve at the pleasure of the Prefect.
    303. The City Guard shall assign detachments to each Quarter. Each detachment shall be commanded by an officer of the rank of Captain.
    304. The City Guard shall maintain centralized investigative branches. Each investigative branch shall be commanded by an officer of the rank of Captain.
    305. The City Guard shall staff and maintain the Inner Defensive Perimeter of the City during peacetime.
    305. The City Guard shall receive logistical support and oversight from the Imperial Constabulary (or its successor organization).

• Sub-Chapter B. The Apollonian Guard.

• • 306. The Apollonian Guard shall provide primary defense for the City.
    307. The Apollonian Guard shall maintain an administrative headquarters commanded by an officer of the rank of Tribune or higher as appropriate to the unit's strength.
    308. The Apollonian Guard shall staff and maintain the Outer Defensive Perimeter and all fortifications located between that and the Inner Defensive Perimeter.
    308. The Apollonian Guard shall receive logistical support and oversight from the Imperial Forces (or its successor organization).

• Sub-Chapter C. Civil Defense.

• • 309. During wartime, the Quarters shall provide able-bodied Residents to serve in a wartime militia in order to augment the defense of the City.

• Sub-Chapter D. Justice System.

• • 310. The City shall have Central Court with a standing judicial staff of judges, lawyers, and constables of the court.
    311. All judges and lawyers of the judicial staff shall be required to possess active status in the Mango Bar in order to serve.
    312. The Central Court shall rotate its judicial staff among the Quarters as necessary to process any and all legal cases scheduled on the Quarter's court calendar. The number of staff shall be assigned in accordance with the size of the docket.
    313. Decisions made by a Quarter Court may be appealed to the Central Court. Such cases shall be evaluated by a panel of five judges.
    314. Decisions by the Central Court may be appealed to the Imperial Judex.

CHAPTER 4. Quarters.

• • 401. The Prefect shall determine the number, distribution, and jurisdictions of the Quarters, and may revise them at will.
    402. Each Quarter shall have a management board for the purpose of managing:
    • (a) oversight of services distributed at the Quarter level;
      (b) appointment of local officers;
      (c) compilation of and response to petitions lodged by Residents.
    403. Elections shall be held annually in each Quarter to select five Residents to serve as its management board.
    404. The management board shall select from among its membership a Provost to lead the board and act as an intermediary between the Quarter and the Prefect.
    405. A Provost shall be accorded honorary status as Bonitatis for the duration of the term.
    406. Imperial Dominions, Imperial States, and local regions therein may petition the Prefect for permission to act as a sponsor for a particular Quarter. Sponsors shall be expected to provide additional capital, human and material resources, and patronage for their awarded Quarter. The Prefect may revoke sponsorship at will.
    407. If a Quarter has a sponsor, the sponsor shall administer elections. If a Quarter has no sponsor, the Prefect shall administer elections using a First-Preference Voting system.
    408. Each Quarter shall maintain a Guildhall, which have the following functions:
    • (a) offices for local officers to perform administrative duties;
      (b) meeting hall and offices for the management board and staff;
      (c) courtroom;
      (d) barracks for the City Guard.

CHAPTER 5. Obligations.

• • 501. The government of the City shall be responsible for providing Residents with the following services:
    • (a) Utilities;
      (b) Public Records;
      (c) Libraries;
      (d)
    502. The government of the Quarter shall be responsible for providing Residents with the following services:
    • (a) Rescue;
      (b) Sanitation;
      (c) Medical & Dental;
      (d)

CHAPTER 6. Symbols.

• • 601. The Coat of Arms for the City is blazoned Azure an Angel Or victorious over a Daemon Iron prone, supported by Moose.
    602. The Flag of the City is a Banner of Arms.

Chapter 7. Amendments.

• • 701. Any provision of this Charter may be amended - whether by way of variation, addition, or repeal - by Imperial Decree. Likewise may this Charter also wholly revoked or replaced by the aforementioned means.
    702. Amendments to this charter shall be listed here:
    • (a)

More. More things to fix. More things that should be written differently. Give.

[Ryker]

This comes to mind off the top of my head

501. Libraries/public records

[Mira Octavius-Aryani]

Added libraries and public records

[King Noah]

Please delete "until resignation, death, inability to serve, or removal and/or relief by way of Imperial Decree" from 202 to remove superfluous content from that clause of the City Charter.

I also propose 701 to be amended as follows:

"701. Any provision of this Charter may be amended - whether by way of variation, addition, or repeal - by Imperial Decree or Resolution by the Landsraad. Likewise may this Charter also wholly revoked or replaced by the aforementioned legislative means."

[Ryker]

With the way our Kaiser is eating through candy stores, perhaps dental care might be on the agenda.

[Mira Octavius-Aryani]

Medical & Dental added

[Altea Lomax]

Public libraries should be a city-level affair.

[Mira Octavius-Aryani]

After some discussion, I moved libraries to the city-level.

Any other takers? Come on, there's more wrong with it.

[Ryker]

Deathcare, a set minimum wage, primary/secondary education, attorney if they can't afford one.

[Altea Lomax]

attorney if they can't afford one.

Likewise, the right to remain silent, and the right to have their attorney/PD present before and during questioning.

[Ryker]

Right to remain silent, and the right to have their attorney/PD present before and during questioning.

That seems like something for the Imperial government to cover, not a city charter.

[Armin Jamal-Arminzadeh]

For city-wide matters, how about having a giant assembly that's either elected or constituted by all the quarter board members?

[Jeremy H. Archer]

Deathcare, a set minimum wage, primary/secondary education, attorney if they can't afford one.

We are a city that can barely avoid annual massacres and safir whores being cut up on the streets, surely we have better things to prioritise.

[Mira Octavius-Aryani]

Deathcare seems most appropriate in such a situation.

[Jeremy H. Archer]

Deathcare seems most appropriate in such a situation.

Touché, a massive pit in which bodies can be dumped should be provided for.

[Mira Octavius-Aryani]

All deaths within Shirekeep should be processed for usable organs! And some prisoners!

[Heath Belledin]

and safir whores being cut up on the streets

Excuse me? I have seen firsthand that the safir diaspora in Shirekeep is treated quite well.

[Ryker]

Well sure, but there will always be that one guy.