The role of the Praetor.

[Erik Mortis]

People seem to misunderstand the role of the Praetor, relegating him to a simple rubber-stamper and bureaucrat of the Landsraad. This view has been perhaps enforced by the lack of controversy within the Landsraad, and until late lack of Amendment to the Charter(as it should be).

In regards to Imperial Structure, the Praetor is the second most powerful/important person in Shireroth after the Kaiser/Steward. The Praetor is the head, representative, defender, and spokesman of the Landsraad, the 2nd most powerful legal body in the nation. The Praetor has control of the ONLY check on the Kaiser in regards to the Charter. Even the Arbiter cannot enforce the Charter without the consent of the Praetor.

The power of the Praetor to deny an Amendment to the Charter is perhaps THE most important duty the Praetor has. This check is there to protect the nation from insane, idiotic, ill-advised, or irresponsible Kaisers. The Praetor is the ONE defense the Landsraad has against the Kaiser in regard to its only protection against him; the right to set its own procedures.

The Praetor manages the Election of Stewards, the removal of Arbiters and all legislature put before the Landsraad.

With this responsibility of the Praetor, comes the responsibility of the Landsraad to make sure we have a competent and capable Praetor in place.

Anytime the Kaiser takes an action that might weaken the Landsraad the Praetor must be there to argue the issue, and protect the Landsraad. The Praetor must look to keep the Landsraad strong. The Praetor must strive to maintain the Landsraad's power.

The power to manage the Landsraad means nothing without the power of the Landsraad to make its own rules and regulations. Denied these, the Praetor is meaningless.

If the Kaiser sought to remove the Praetor from the Amendment process the Praetor is responsible with stopping him. If the Kaiser sought to remove the protection of the Landsraad from outside interference, the Praetor must stop him. If the Kaiser sought to remove the Arbiter's power to enforce the Charter, the Praetor must stop him!

The Kaiser is the lord of the Nation, the Greatest authority (after the gods), but the Praetor is there to keep an eye on him. Power corrupts, and the Praetor is the check to that corruption.

Unchecked a Kaiser could literally destroy this nation. Reduce the Charter to nothingness; the Praetor is the check.

Further the Praetor is the protection of the Kaiser from the Arbiter. If the Arbiter were to attempt to revoke decrees that did not violate the Charter, the Praetor is the check. (As is the Kaiser's power to remove the Arbiter).

The Praetor is a Guardian. The Praetor protects the Charter and the Landsraad from the Kaiser, and the Kaiser from the Arbiter.

This is not to say the Praetor should block ALL amendments to the Charter, or even that he must block any at all, but all Amendments must be scrutinized, they cannot be rubber-stamped. All amendments must be examined to see if they weaken the major things the Praetor protects.

The Praetor is a Guardian.

[Jacobus Loki]

This check is there to protect the nation from insane, idiotic, or irresponsible Kaisers.

Insane, idiotic, irresponsible? Because I disagree about matters of public policy? Irresponsible would have been go along to get along.

The Praetor and I protected the Landsraad from plutocrats. We protected the nation from domination by attorneys. We did our job.

You don't like what we did. Whoop-de-do. I'm not going to storm and rage about motives, or engage in ad hominum attacks.

Don't attack a patriot. Stone my effigy. Reform the system.

Discuss the merits of the action. But stop with the personal attacks on Jonas. And me.

We both deserve better, and we both deserve apologies.

[Erik Mortis]

To be fair I meant to add a less defamatory adjective in there but forgot to go back. So I do apologize. But at the same time I don't. The amendments were poorly written, and should not have been put in the Charter. Thus I think it was an irresponsible act. (I added ill-advised to be a little more polite).

This isn't meant as an attack. This is meant as exactly what it is, an outlining and explanation of what the Praetor is and his greater role in Shireroth.

I plan to post something else about the nature of the Charter either tonight or tomorrow.

But in regards to this. The Praetor failed to protect the Landsraad. He allowed you, by an amendment, to go around its only protection. So, my criticism in that regard isn't about the exact amendment itself in a day to day sense, but in a grander view. You went around the part of the Charter that let the Landsraad decide on its own terms how to deal with voting. He did not stop you. He should have.

Further, in regards to poor quality of the Amendments, he should have stopped you there as well. This I can't fault him as directly for, in this post I'm mostly referring to larger abuses then you committed. But what if you had removed the Praetor from the Charter completely? or the Arbiter? or the Protection of the Landsraad? This circumventing of the Charter I see as a warning that he and others, don't understand the role of the Praetor.

[Jacobus Loki]

edit, edit, edit.

I really do need to leave on my trip.

Fussing with Erik is not productive.

I think I'm right.

He thinks I'm wrong.

In the end, it is his creation.

Or does it belong to us all?

I'm out of here. For now.

See you later.

Corey, Jonas, sorry for the trouble I've left you. I should have held on and done this after Xmas, and "died" in the ensuing civil war.

[Kaiser Reynardine I]

*shrug*

It's some good fun to start off my reign.

Have fun, Jacobus. I await your return.

[Erik Mortis]

I will also point out, that while I think this was a completely stupid move. I'm trying to keep everything a matter of politics, not personal. And I hope Jonas and Jake realize that I still hold them both in good regard, do not question their loyalty, and hope to see them continue to contribute to Shireroth for a long time. I just think you both fucked up....(but gods know I have too.)

[Jonas]

I'm a Guardian? Since when?

Corey, Jonas, sorry for the trouble I've left you. I should have held on and done this after Xmas, and "died" in the ensuing civil war.

No problem, always fun to have certain troubles. It brings me back to the forum. What isn't very good, actually, because I have exams.

And I hope Jonas and Jake realize that I still hold them both in good regard, do not question their loyalty, and hope to see them continue to contribute to Shireroth for a long time.

Thank you.

[Malliki]

I thought that it was pretty obvious that the presiding officer in the Landsraad, and the only officer of the Landsraad mentioned in the Charter and weilding any power, is the guardian of the Landsraad and its powers. Apparently not.

[Jacobus Loki]

I will also point out, that while I think this was a completely stupid move. I'm trying to keep everything a matter of politics, not personal. And I hope Jonas and Jake realize that I still hold them both in good regard, do not question their loyalty, and hope to see them continue to contribute to Shireroth for a long time. I just think you both fucked up....(but gods know I have too.)

Cool. Thanks.

I'll pop in when I can.

C'mon fishy, time to put on your coat.... <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/magigarp.png" alt=":magigarp" title="MagiGARP" / (glub, glub.)