[1st] Role of the Senate

[Llyr Angus-Moonoak]

The First Senate resolves to commission the Demographics & Electoral Authority to explore and present to the Senate no less than 3 and no more than 5 options to create a framework for the power and limitations thereof of the Senate in the Royal Tsardom's system of government.

[Llyr Angus-Moonoak]

The First Senate voted

CONTENT - 19
Democratic Progressives 12
Conservatives 7

NOT CONTENT - 6
Democratic Progressives 2
Conservatives 4

The vote is carried.

[Llyr Angus-Moonoak]

DEMOGRAPHICS AND ELECTORAL AUTHORITY

Operating on the instruction of the First Senate

1. Role of the Senate Option A: Consultative role

The first among equal of proposed options is to retain the Senate’s role as a consultative body to the Royal Court. In this role, the Senate will operate under the ‘moral authority’ doctrine, proposing and recommending measures that may or may not be implemented by the Tsar. No action of the Senate shall be legally binding and the only source of law shall remain the Tsarski Throne.

Requires amending the Fundamental Royal Decree: No.

2. Role of the Senate Option B: Role to confirm decrees

The second among equal of proposed options is for the Senate to act as a chamber for revision and confirmation of Royal Decrees. In this proposed option, the Senate shall have the power to confirm or veto Royal Decrees and retain the power to advise and recommend measures to the Tsar. The source of law, however, shall remain the Tsar who will be the sole person capable of creating law.

Requires amending the Fundamental Royal Decree: Can be achieved with or without an amendment.

3. Role of the Senate Option C: Power-sharing role

The fourth among equal of proposed options is for the Senate to share law-making power with the Tsar, in which Acts of the Senate and Royal Decrees are both legally binding sources of law, with the most recent one overriding any previous contradictory law. This option requires a certain level of consent and agreement between the Tsar and the Senate, and allows either to veto any decision of the other. Neither however directly requires the consent of the other to create an Act of the Senate or a Royal Decrees, both of which shall have immediate effect unless otherwise stated, repealed or vetoed.

Requires amending the Fundamental Royal Decree: Yes.

4. Role of the Senate Option D: Senate supremacy role

The third among equal of proposed options is for the Senate to become the sole body capable of creating law, which can be subjected to a veto (either absolute or limited) by the Royal Court. This option is the closest to the Imperial system of government in which the Frenzy has ultimate authority over the Crown.

Requires amending the Fundamental Royal Decree: Yes.

[Llyr Angus-Moonoak]

The First Senate resolves to advise His Royal Majesty the Tsar to hold a referendum in the year 1689 on the role of the Senate, with option A and option B as choices on the ballot paper.

[Llyr Angus-Moonoak]

The First Senate voted

CONTENT - 13
Democratic Progressives 13
Conservatives 0

NOT CONTENT - 12
Democratic Progressives 1
Conservatives 11

The vote is not carried.