Office of the Citizen-Delegate

[Gulliver]

When the Glorious Revolution brought our current system of government into being so many months ago, the Citizen-Delegate was only formally established as a figurehead. Since then, however, as the region has grown we've become increasing involved in the gameplay side of NationStates again rather than just sticking to ourselves. The Delegate and the people who work with them are a necessity of this part of NationStates, so I think, with our Delegate election about to conclude, that it's time to expand and formalize the Delegate's portfolio. To that end I have drafted the following initial, and admittedly quite short, proposal:

1. Qualifications and Election
1. Any person who is a citizen of Taijitu may stand for election to the office of Citizen-Delegate.
2. An election for Citizen-Delegate will be held if three months have passed since the start of the previous election, the Ecclesia chooses to hold an election by a majority vote, or the office of Citizen-Delegate of is vacant.
3. No person may serve as Citizen-Delegate for more than two consecutive terms.
4. The Ecclesia may remove the Citizen-Delegate by a majority vote.

2. Powers and Responsibilities
1. The Citizen-Delegate will serve as head of state and conduct foreign policy.
2. The Citizen-Delegate will hold the in-game delegacy of the region of Taijitu with full powers and will exercise them as provided by law.

3. The Prytaneion
1. The Citizen-Delegate may appoint a Prytaneion of deputies to assist them in their duties.
2. All deputies of the Prytaneion will be citizens of Taijitu.
3. The Ecclesia may remove a member of the Prytaneion by a majority vote.

[Funkadelia]

I have no issues with this.

[Bustos]

Can i get a little bit of an elaboration on

3. The Prytaneion
1. The Citizen-Delegate may appoint a Prytaneion of deputies to assist them in their duties.
2. All deputies of the Prytaneion will be citizens of Taijitu.
3. The Ecclesia may remove a member of the Prytaneion by a majority vote.

is the vice pres or sumthin?

[Delfos]

Can i get a little bit of an elaboration on

3. The Prytaneion
1. The Citizen-Delegate may appoint a Prytaneion of deputies to assist them in their duties.
2. All deputies of the Prytaneion will be citizens of Taijitu.
3. The Ecclesia may remove a member of the Prytaneion by a majority vote.

is the vice pres or sumthin?

secret cult. this name and reason for it's existence doesn't seem pertinent unless it's to enlarge the ego of the Delegate in a rather eccentric political arrangement we have with this Ecclesia. For this figure to exist it'd make sense the assembly to decide if it's necessary or who is. So, what is it atm and what do you want it to be?

[Funkadelia]

"The Prytaneion" is meant to be similar to a cabinet.

[Bustos]

So for shits and giggles he can pick a bunch of people and give them powers?

I fail to see democracy in action here.

[Funkadelia]

It's not exactly for "shits and giggles," but if you want to reduce the office of the Citizen-Delegate to such a juvenile level then be my guest.

[Bustos]

Are you okay Funk?  You seem upset.

Taking an example from American govt, these people should be approved by the Ecclesia, rather than having a vote to remove them.

[McMasterdonia]

Do we have to use the name Prytaneion? I don't really like it Can we just use cabinet or executive council?

I don't think Funk is upset, I think he was just responding to your juvenile comment. Obviously this doesn't mean that the Delegate has the power to appoint all officers, but that they "may" appoint a cabinet of people to assist them. I don't have a problem with that. Ultimately we elect the Delegate to lead and to guide the ecclesia, if we cannot trust them to appoint a couple of people to help them without it all degenerating in to some corrupt morass then we shouldn't have elected them in the first place >___>

The Ecclesia still has the power to remove officers, so overall, I don't have an issue with this act. Well done to Gulliver for taking the initiative to propose this. Some of you are happy to simply scream blue murder and protest over nothing than to actually come up with proposals yourself.

[Delfos]

Do we have to use the name Prytaneion? I don't really like it Can we just use cabinet or executive council?

Ultimately we elect the Delegate to lead and to guide the ecclesia

No, I disagree. Ultimately we elect the Delegate to hold a public service position to be guided by the ecclesia.

[Myroria]

Bustos, let's keep things civil and not reduce people's ideas to simple soundbites. Antagonizing people will not serve this discussion positively.

I am in support of these measures, though I, like McMasterdonia, think we should reconsider the name.

Allama has brought up that she feels in some areas she knows not enough to be as effective as she could be; this is exactly what appointing a cabinet is meant to rectify. I don't think it is a threat to democracy any more than any cabinet in any democracy is a threat to the system; the appointed members hold no real power other than to advise the delegate.

To comment on the delegate's position in "leading the Ecclesia" - I wouldn't go that far. The Ecclesia should be the supreme power in Taijitu, but there are some things that it simply can't do. We can't have the Ecclesia vote on everything said in an informal discussion with diplomats from another region, or whether to suppress every offensive post on the RMB, or whether to send in the TaiMil to defend a region hours before a raid is expected.

For this reason we elect a delegate. But no delegate is an expert in everything. Wouldn't it be better to give them a few advisors than half-ass it?

I would be interested in hearing Allama's views on this. As Taijitu's only delegate since the Revolution, I think she knows especially well how the delegate functions next to our legislature.

[Bustos]

Do we have to use the name Prytaneion? I don't really like it Can we just use cabinet or executive council?

Ultimately we elect the Delegate to lead and to guide the ecclesia

No, I disagree. Ultimately we elect the Delegate to hold a public service position to be guided by the ecclesia.

Agreed with Delfos.  It's a civil service.

For this reason we elect a delegate. But no delegate is an expert in everything. Wouldn't it be better to give them a few advisors than half-ass it?

I never said I was against the cabinet.  My comment was the power of the delegate to pick and choose without approval of the Ecclesia.  Not very democratic from where I am sitting.

Hence my reference to American Govt, where the President can nominate who they want and the Congress has to approve of it.

[Myroria]

I don't see why we should force the Ecclesia to vote on appointing a position with no real power. We could make it like the Citizen-Diplomat, where the Ecclesia can recall any appointment made that is unacceptable.

[Funkadelia]

The British Ministers do not have to be approved by a vote, nor do the Indian Ministers. The French Cabinet is also appointed by the executive with no vote. Similarly, the German Cabinet is not approved by a vote of the legislature. The Spanish Council of Ministers is appointed as well.

[Khem]

I like it overall however it is vague as to the powers specific to the Delegate and those which would be granted to the Prytaneion. Now personally I would love to see some responsibilities added to the position such as "It shall be the duty of the Delegate and Prytaneion to uphold the image of Taijitu. It shall be the duty of the Delegate and Prytaneion to ensure new members of the Region and Ecclesia are well informed when seeking information."

I would like to hear Als thoughts as well as to more particular duties and powers.