Separation of Powers Act

[Khem]

I propose the following to safeguard from the threat of centralized power and its capacity to taint our Glorious Revolution. I would love some input.

1. Elected Officials
1. All elected officials shall be limited to holding a single office at a time.
2. The Ecclesia hereby defines an elected official as any of the following offices: Citizen-Delegate, Citizen-Initiator, Citizen-Sergeant, Citizen-Liaison?
3. Any elected office not exempted specifically by this measure do not  count as an additional office for elected officials.

[Myroria]

An excellent post, strengthening Taijituan democracy and filled with revolutionary spirit!

I would advocate including Liaison in the bill either by motioning for a vote if the Liaison act passes, or including it as an amendment after the fact.

[Cormac]

I think we need to come up with a term other than "elected official." I get why we're not including the Dean and the Editor, but to argue that they aren't elected officials seems off. Elected government official maybe?

Is 1.1 meant to keep elected officials from holding any of the appointed offices as well? For example, is it meant to keep the Citizen-Sergeant from serving as citizen-diplomat, or does it extend even further to keep them from serving as citizen-ambassadors, citizen-guides, etc.? We need to flesh that out a bit so we're clear on exactly what we mean to prevent.

[Khem]

I believe the language contains only those offices enshrined elected government officials rather than just any officer of said office or in the case of C-Diplomat being an unelected office would also not bar that. So the updated text would be:

1. Elected Government Officials
1. All elected government officials shall be limited to holding a single office at a time.
2. The Ecclesia hereby defines an elected government official as any of the following offices: Citizen-Delegate, Citizen-Initiator, Citizen-Sergeant
3. Any elected office not exempted specifically by this measure does not count as an additional office for elected government officials.

[Delfos]

 

[Gulliver]

I do agree with Cormac that term other than "elected official" would  be better, since it precludes the need for the third clause and we may in the future want to add unelected offices to the list. My initial proposal would be "independent offices".

1. Elected Government Officials Independent Offices
1. All elected government officials shall be limited to holding a single independent office at a time.
2. The Ecclesia hereby Independent offices shall be definesed an elected government official as any of the following offices: of Citizen-Delegate, Citizen-Initiator, and Citizen-Sergeant.
3. Any elected office not exempted specifically by this measure does not count as an additional office for elected government officials.

[Eluvatar]

I like Gulliver's revison.

[Khem]

I do agree with Cormac that term other than "elected official" would  be better, since it precludes the need for the third clause and we may in the future want to add unelected offices to the list. My initial proposal would be "independent offices".

1. Elected Government Officials Independent Offices
1. All elected government officials shall be limited to holding a single independent office at a time.
2. The Ecclesia hereby Independent offices shall be definesed an elected government official as any of the following offices: of Citizen-Delegate, Citizen-Initiator, and Citizen-Sergeant.
3. Any elected office not exempted specifically by this measure does not count as an additional office for elected government officials.

I do in large part like the revision and appreciate the title yet I worry such a name gives the illusion of being responsible to the self over the wider community. I know it is a semantic argument but I always feel strongly about word choice and this appears to me a poor one. Even "Executive Offices" would be better in terms of language (of course yours is still better than my initial draft title for them ).

[Cormac]

I've been thinking about both this and how to ensure that all of our government offices have equal power and are equally accountable to the Ecclesia, and I was wondering if it might be wise to unite our elected offices into a single collective institution. So something like this:

1. Composition
1. The Executive Council will be comprised of the following executive offices: Citizen-Delegate, Citizen-Initiator, Citizen-Liaison, Citizen-Sergeant.
2. All officers will be limited to holding a single executive office at a time.

2. Powers and Responsibilities
1. The Executive Council will hold regular meetings to discuss and address matters on the executive agenda, which will include any matter any officer wishes to discuss. The minutes of such meetings will be provided to the Ecclesia.
2. The Executive Council may, by majority vote, invite other officials to participate in its meetings. Only executive officers may vote on Executive Council matters.
3. The Executive Council may, by majority vote, set executive policy in regard to any executive matter that involves more than one executive office. Such policy may be amended or repealed by the Ecclesia.
4. Agreements negotiated by the Citizen-Delegate and/or citizen-diplomats with other regions or organizations will only be submitted to the Ecclesia following a majority vote of the Executive Council in favor.

[Khem]

I've been thinking about both this and how to ensure that all of our government offices have equal power and are equally accountable to the Ecclesia, and I was wondering if it might be wise to unite our elected offices into a single collective institution. So something like this:

1. Composition
1. The Executive Council will be comprised of the following executive offices: Citizen-Delegate, Citizen-Initiator, Citizen-Liaison, Citizen-Sergeant.
2. All officers will be limited to holding a single executive office at a time.

2. Powers and Responsibilities
1. The Executive Council will hold regular meetings to discuss and address matters on the executive agenda, which will include any matter any officer wishes to discuss. The minutes of such meetings will be provided to the Ecclesia.
2. The Executive Council may, by majority vote, invite other officials to participate in its meetings. Only executive officers may vote on Executive Council matters.
3. The Executive Council may, by majority vote, set executive policy in regard to any executive matter that involves more than one executive office. Such policy may be amended or repealed by the Ecclesia.
4. Agreements negotiated by the Citizen-Delegate and/or citizen-diplomats with other regions or organizations will only be submitted to the Ecclesia following a majority vote of the Executive Council in favor.

I could definitely support this measure. It does all I had wanted in separation of powers and then some.

[Myroria]

I'll support this. Accountability to the people and each other.

[Cormac]

I also thought of a fifth clause, for more accountability to the Ecclesia:

5. The Executive Council will deliver comprehensive reports on the progress of executive initiatives to the Ecclesia during the months of Ventaire, Orôse, Tonneral, and Lacidor.

[Khem]

Quarterly reports? I can get behind that.

[Myroria]

I'd maybe consider changing the name. "Executive Council' might make some people nervous. Maybe "Advisory Council" to highlight its role as advisory to the Ecclesia.

[Cormac]

I'd maybe consider changing the name. "Executive Council' might make some people nervous. Maybe "Advisory Council" to highlight its role as advisory to the Ecclesia.

Good idea, I'll tweak that.