[Amendment] Imperial Conference

[Christo Eucalyptos]

A BILL to AMEND the CAPRINE CODE of the
BOVIC EMPIRE of the NATOPIAN NATION


An Act to Adjust the Imperial Conference

The following amendments to the Caprine Code are made

Section Thirty-two -- Imperial Conference

1. The Imperial Conference is established as a political, consultative, advisory council with limited legislative powers.
2. The Imperial Conference is subordinate to the Frenzy and supports the Frenzy's purpose of legislating for the Empire.
3. The Imperial Conference is composed of 429 Advisers. selected by active demesne unions, recognized political parties, religious organizations, and ethnic group associations.
3.1. Advisers are elected or appointed by the following legal entities: Principality of Arboria (38), Kingdom of Normark (116), Most Serene Union of the Demesnes (81), Royal Tsardom of the Marches (77), Dynastic Incarnation of Flaventia (76), West Tapfer Federation (41)
3.2 The number of Advisers is determined by total forum post count divided by ten, rounded to nearest whole number.
3.3. The Chancellor shall be empowered to change the apportionment of Advisers after the conclusion of every Imperial Census (Section 8.B.2) by directly amending clause 3.1 of this section following the formula of clause 3.2 of this section.
3.1. Each active Demesne Union (or unattached demesne), is accorded a number of Advisers equal to the total posts in their forum divided by ten, rounded to the nearest whole number. Each Demesne Union's government may compel its Advisers to vote a certain way.
3.2. Each active political party is accorded a number of Advisers equal to the number of registered members multiplied by ten. Each political party may compel its Advisers to vote a certain way.
3.3. Each active religious organization is accorded 20 Advisers, regardless of active membership. Each religious organization may compel its Advisers to vote a certain way.
3.4. Each active ethnic group association is accorded 10 Advisers, regardless of claimed membership. Each ethnic group association may compel its Advisers to vote a certain way.
4. The Imperial Conference will debate policies and proposed laws according to their own procedures.
4.1. A President of the Imperial Conference will be elected by a majority of Advisers to serve as parliamentarian, clerk, and spokesperson.
5. Policy decisions of the Conference will take the form of non-binding resolutions referenda that will serve to inform the Frenzy and Imperial Government of the wishes and desires of the Natopian Nation.
5.1. The Imperial Conference may pass resolutions referenda on any topic of national or regional importance.
6. Additions to the Caprine Code may be proposed by the Imperial Conference by passing a Referendum and then presenting proposing the Referendum to the Chancellor or Speaker of the Frenzy.
6.1 The Referendum will need to be passed as a Frenzy Bill before becoming law.
6.2 The President of the Conference acts as Sponsor of the Bill in accordance with Section 2.4.
7. The Imperial Conference will be adjourned and reconvened at the same time as the Frenzy. remain in session indefinitely.
7.1. Adviser representation will be readjusted at the start of each new Frenzy Session.

I don't want to do away with the Conference, but I would like to propose some adjustments to make it more manageable.

[Li Naomiai]

My lord Speaker,

I think the Imperial Conference needs a constructive purpose, otherwise it will fall into boredom. A possibility would be to make it an electoral college for the election of the Chancellor.

[Christo Eucalyptos]

Lord Speaker,

An interesting suggestion. I did tweak the language of clause 6 so that any such Referenda passed by the Conference is proposed directly to the Frenzy. Currently a referendum is merely "presented" to the Chancellor or Speaker, who are not compelled in anyway to act on it further.

Is it prudent to have the "lower house" elect the presiding officer of the "upper house?"

[Isabella Kalirion]

Lord Speaker,

The operation of the Imperial Conference thus far has not filled anyone with confidence, and the suspicion lurked that there was a temptation to bump up one's seat allocation by playing the numbers game through generating ultimately spurious posts. It might be interesting to summon it occasionally to deliberate a particular matter but ultimately I feel that it lacks utility.

[Christo Eucalyptos]

Lord Speaker,

I would ask those assembled Representatives to voice their opinion on whether or not to reform or abolish the Imperial Conference.

If we abolish it, the forum could be reserved for political discussion and proposed laws, for when a Representative has an idea but does not want to formally introduce it to the Frenzy yet.

[House Meir]

Lord Speaker,

I think we should move to get rid of the Imperial Conference entirely. We can turn the forum as the Representative of Sororiya proposed, a "Legislative Committee" of sorts where people can introduce drafts of legislation for cooperative drafting, or discuss other matters. It could serve as a Frenzy lobby where citizens can approach Frenzy Representatives and speak to them on issues that matter.

[Li Naomiai]

Lord Speaker,

Unless the Imperial Conference can have a unique role – that the country needs, for example for certain elections or ratifications – then I do not see the need of the Conference, and it should then be abolished.

[Christo Eucalyptos]

A BILL to AMEND the CAPRINE CODE of the
BOVIC EMPIRE of the NATOPIAN NATION


An Act to Adjust the Imperial Conference

The following amendments to the Caprine Code are made

Section Thirty-two -- Imperial Conference

1. The Imperial Conference is established as a political, consultative, advisory council with limited legislative powers public policy forum open to all residents of the Empire to discuss possible changes to Natopian law.
2. The Chancellor or Speaker of the Frenzy shall keep order in the Imperial Conference.
2. The Imperial Conference is subordinate to the Frenzy and supports the Frenzy's purpose of legislating for the Empire.
3. The Imperial Conference is composed of Advisers selected by active demesne unions, recognized political parties, religious organizations, and ethnic group associations.
3.1. Each active Demesne Union (or unattached demesne), is accorded a number of Advisers equal to the total posts in their forum divided by ten, rounded to the nearest whole number. Each Demesne Union's government may compel its Advisers to vote a certain way.
3.2. Each active political party is accorded a number of Advisers equal to the number of registered members multiplied by ten. Each political party may compel its Advisers to vote a certain way.
3.3. Each active religious organization is accorded 20 Advisers, regardless of active membership. Each religious organization may compel its Advisers to vote a certain way.
3.4. Each active ethnic group association is accorded 10 Advisers, regardless of claimed membership. Each ethnic group association may compel its Advisers to vote a certain way.
4. The Imperial Conference will debate policies and proposed laws according to their own procedures.
4.1. A President of the Imperial Conference will be elected by a majority of Advisers to serve as parliamentarian, clerk, and spokesperson.
5. Policy decisions of the Conference will take the form of non-binding resolutions that will serve to inform the Frenzy and Imperial Government of the wishes and desires of the Natopian Nation.
5.1. The Imperial Conference may pass resolutions on any topic of national or regional importance.
6. Additions to the Caprine Code may be proposed by the Imperial Conference by passing a Referendum and then presenting the Referendum to the Chancellor or Speaker of the Frenzy.
6.1 The Referendum will need to be passed as a Frenzy Bill before becoming law.
7. The Imperial Conference will be adjourned and reconvened at the same time as the Frenzy.
7.1. Adviser representation will be readjusted at the start of each new Frenzy Session.

Effectively abolishing it, but saving its spot in the CC if we ever want it again.

[House Meir]

Lord Speaker,

I support this Bill and encourage everyone to support it when it goes for a vote.

[Li Naomiai]

Move to vote to adopt the final amended version.

[Christo Eucalyptos]

Second.

Aye.

[House Meir]

Aye.

[Arudou Ken]

As proxy for Áþamé Issèla Mari Vāstra: Nay

[Isabella Kalirion]

Aye

[Sprocket]

Passed.