I'm back!

[Hegemon Jason Rhode]

Hey, allI'm back! I was stuck up in Chicago for the better part of a week due to the bombings in New York and Washington. As such, I was totally unable to make a move down to Texas until this Saturday. So I apologize for being away for a while.I'm pleased to see former Strategos Ed Conway elected President of Lyrica, and it interests me to see the new amendments to the Constitution. I'm here to announce a few things: First of all, again, let me apologize for being away. Second, I welcome the responsibility of Strategos and Hegemon. I think it'll be interesting. Third, I've decided to end my self-imposed restrictions on posting only in the Court and the Gen. Announcements - I have a vote in the Demes, after all. However, as the Hegemon's Court will be the center of diplomatic activities, I plan to post most of my correspondence there in the near future.Fourth, about the Amendment. To be perfectly honest, I'm glad we got down to the business of defining my powers. It was never my wish to seem like I was leaning towards monarchial tendencies; those that believed I meant as much were totally in error. However, to fulfill the position I have undertaken, I believe further outlines were needed - outlines provided by the new Amendment. So I don't really have much of a problem with it. There's just a few issues I need to clear up: - Executive Power: It worries me to see the posted constitution making no provision for me as Chief of the Executive Branch. Although my role as Strategos is clearly delineated, I accept these changes on the condition that I still maintain my position as Executive. Save for a mention in the opening section of the Const, there is no mention of allowance of state power. I gladly surrender my rights of decree and the negative powers; but if we are outlining powers, might we not also add those that I do have? I'm not dismissing the amendment, just asking questions that should be asked.The sentence in Amendment IV states: "The Constitutional role of the Hegemon shall be the same as that of Strategos" suggesting that my office is roughly equivalent to Sec. of State. What about veto power? What about the comissioning of officers? The introduction of proposals into the Lands and Demes? "The military at large is answerable to the Hegemon during times of war" Are these powers to be assumed? Also - the ability of executives to issue pardons for crimes not under impeachment. This is an accepted power of a presidential office. What about the Hegemon? Why is that not listed? The President of Lyrica has the ability, also, to issue executive orders co-signed with the Prime Minister, the Logos. Might we not have a similar system set up? It seems to me the current amendment raises a lot of questions as to my power. States of emergency? What provisions are made for these, hm? I assume I'm able to delegate power in matters of state. The American President can, for example, also assemble and dissolve Congress. What of this? Y'see, the problem with actually defining powers is that there's a lot of 'em that fall into a grey area. So where do we stand?Other than this, I have not, *for the moment*, forseeable problems with the Amendment. Please tell me what you think. - The Hegemon"Where is Great Alexander?""Great Alexander Lives And Reigns."

[dStryker]

You might as well have posted this in three languages while you're at it... ;) “After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one.” - Cato the Elder“No Sane man will dance.” - Cicero“Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you.” - Carl Gustav JungRain is a government conspiracy.

[CINC Patrick]

I also, have been detained due to the recent terrorist activities in the US. Please forgive me for my absence. I will also be gone for a good majority of next week due to a business trip, although I hope to get some time for micronations. -Commander in Chief PatrickDuke of The Duchy of KildareLogos, Hegemony of AlexandrosProfessor, University Italia"Blood Alone Turns the Wheels of History"