The Praetor Act of ASC 2359

[Bill3000]

A bill to modify the Procedures of the Landsraad. This bill will compose of two major modifications.

1) Replace the following section:

Section A: Basic Powers of the Praetor
Clause 1. The Praetor shall be vested with the basic power outlined within the Imperial Charter.
Clause 2. The Praetor is empowered to represent the cause of law and order under the Kaiser in the Landsraad.

With:

Section A: Basic Powers of the Prætor
Clause 1. The Prætor of Shireroth shall preside over the Landsraad as chairman.
Clause 2. Zer purpose and duty shall be to call a meeting of the Landsraad to order, tally vote close votes, generally manage and keep order within the Landsraad; as well as keep records of all bills and resolutions passed during his/her tenure.
Clause 3. The Praetor is empowered to represent the cause of law and order under the Kaiser in the Landsraad.

2) Replace the following section:

Section D: Appointment of the Prætor
Clause 1. The appointment of the Prætor shall comply with the rules for appointment of a Prætor as set down by the Imperial Charter.

With:

Section D: Appointment of the Prætor
Clause 1. The Prætor of Shireroth may only be elected by the nobility of the land in the Landsraad. The Prætor does not have to be a Noble of Shireroth.
Clause 2. When a Prætor resigns or is fired, the Kaiser or a noble of the Landsraad must initiate a vote for a new Prætor within four (4) days.
Clause 3. Once the vote is initiated, the first phase shall be a nomination period. The nomination period will last three (3) days. A nominee must be seconded in order to count as a candidate for the voting period.
Clause 4. After the nomination period, a voting period will be initiated that will last for four (4) days. Every noble will list the candidates in order of preference. The highest nomination will recieve a number of votes equal to the number of canidates, the second highest shall receive one less vote than the highest nomination, and so on, so that the last nomination will recieve one vote. There is no quorum for this vote.
Clause 5. The candidate with the most votes after the voting period of four (4) days is appointed Prætor.

Explanation: The second part is obvious - there has previously been no set rules for voting for the Prætor, which this fixes. The first part is simply adding what is in the Decreebook - instead of simply saying "see the Decreebook,", I think it will be much better if we simply have the basic privilidges for the Prætor listed in the as it makes the most sense. Previously, it said "See the charter", but the explanation for the Praetor's powers is now in the decreebook, not the charter.

Sorry for the mess in the voting - I'm not sure how I should word this. Tell me if you think it is clear or not for the method of voting we had recently used for the Praetor, and tell me how to improve it. As usual, the debate period will last for three days.

[Shyriath]

I'm not entirely sure that the voting system we used in this particular instance should be copied so closely. It was, after all, a bit irregular, since the legal status of the old voting procedure got shifted out of existence.

I think that perhaps it should be phrased something like this, to return to something closer to how it was:

Clause 4. After the nomination period, a voting period will be initiated that will last for four (4) days. Every noble will list the candidates in order of preference. The highest nomination will recieve a number of votes equal to the number of canidates, the second highest shall receive one less vote than the highest nomination, and so on, so that the last nomination will recieve one vote. There is no quorum for this vote.

The fun of voting for you multiple times notwithstanding, Bill, I'd rather that nobles not be required to list three, and only three, choices if the actual number of candidates is different.

[AngelGuardian93]

I disagree. I think three is just right personally.

[Bill3000]

Good idea, Shyriath. While it is comical, it's better.

In my opinion, I'd remove the priority system altogether in place of a simple voting for a single person, but it's tradition apparently, and so I'll keep it that way.

[Hypatia Agnesi]

I think that

Clause 2. When a Prætor resigns or is fired, the Kaiser or a noble of the Landsraad mus initiate a vote for a new Prætor.

should be changed to

Clause 2. When a Prætor resigns or is fired, the Kaiser or a noble of the Landsraad must initiate a vote for a new Prætor within four (4).

to prevent us from having no Praetor for a week or two again. I did not like that, especially since bills were still being sent through. The actual number of days (I said 4) is not as important as setting a short window within which an election must begin. This, combined with a specific method of electing a new Praetor, will hopefully make things go more smoothly.

[Delphi]

The version you just gave leaves out the word "days".

[Bill3000]

Good idea. Edited, including the word "days"

Voting shall commence in less than three hours.

[Rakesh]

Good improvements.

AYE - East Antica (3)

[Delphi]

Duchy of Antica proper votes AYE (10).

[Bill3000]

Antya votes YEA. (4)

(NOTE: I'm not sure if I am still steward of the Duchy of Kildare - Hypatia, could you please clarify if your LoA is still in effect?)

[AngelGuardian93]

HOLY votes aye (4).

[Shyriath]

*Curses his Internet connection* I suppose the voting period is now clsoed for this bill?

[Bill3000]

You have 50 minutes.

[Hypatia Agnesi]

Kildare votes Aye (16).

[Shyriath]

Naudia'Diva votes AYE (10)!

[Bill3000]

This vote PASSES 47-0-0.