Changes Needed in Shireroth

[Kaiseress Carol]

Changes Needed in Shireroth
Let the Debates Begin!

My fellow Shirerithians:

It is obvious we need to make some changes around here. I have solicited and have received suggestions and advice from some of you on how to make our country thrive again. I wish to hear from those yet to speak. I know you all care about Shireroth, and that you want it to prosper. Together we can do it.

Some of the suggestions received so far are from the reign of the last Kaiser, Meskan II, and many came in to me after I became Kaiseress. I will list some of them, and wish to hear your opinions before I institute some of them.

1. Give all citizens the vote in the Landsraad (accomplished by the late Kaiser).
2. Recent Census, including current jobs held, territory, and job change request, if desired (See census form)
3. Combine ministries until we have more active citizens.
4. Return to old-style feudalism, based on Duchies and not on independent counties.
5. Oustfest. Make sure active people fill roles as ministers and dukes.
6. E-mail newsletter. Anyone wish to volunteer?
7. Recwar with Antica. Do we have enough active people who would be interested in participating?
8. Ensure clear lines of succession. Make sure we have a Steward, and that the Kaiser selects an heir.
9. Revamp noble titles and privileges.
10. Before a Praetor leaves office, zie shall hold an election for a new Praetor. This will ensure that the Landsraad can be called into session should there be no active Kaiser or Steward. If this is not possible, amend the Charter to allow the Minster of the Interior or the Arbiter to hold the election.
11. Allow the Landsraad to be called into session even if there is no Praetor.
12. Return to old-style Landsraad voting privileges (just dukes and barons to vote).

Please comment, decry, adapt, or improve on any or all of the above. This is a very important issue--the survival and wellbeing of our beloved nation, Shireroth! Long may she live!!

[Conglacio]

1+4+9+12

I am thinking this...

Counties and Baronies work as they do under New Feudalism(but with simpler voting rules). Duchies work under Old Fuedalism.

In other words, The Crown appoints Dukes, and thus Duchies exist independent of population. The barons can exist independent of Duchies, but need to align themselves with a duke if they want a vote.

At the same time, put a fixed limit on the Landsraad's size of 6 or 10, and say that the highest ranked nobles get a ote. Therefore, if the country is small, like we are now, there is space in the landsraad for all citizens to get a vote. If we grow to a large size the power is in the hands of the leading nobles. Thus it automagicaly adjusts to provide the right power structure. If there is space for a few counts, then the most active get in. To check if they are still active, a call is made every now and then to see if they respond.

[Conglacio]

10+11
How about this...
At any time, anyone in the landsraad can make a post saying "Hello!! Is there a preator here?!?!?" and if the Preator or the Preator's stand-in replies within a week to it, then no problem. If they don't respond but the Kaiser, Steward, Minister of the Interior, Arbitor or Heir Apparent reply, then they can hold an election. If no one reponds, then the most senior member of the Landsraad to respond will hold an election.

[Conglacio]

8. at the begining of a Kaiser's reign, all on the "approved Heir" list must swear within a week, or be removed from it. When the list is updated, they must also swear, or be removed.

The list has all dukes in order of seniority (if Dukes become appointed again) plus any other's that the crown approves of. Have it limited to 6 people.

The Kaiser would say who is their Chief Heir, and if the Kaiser does not choose one, then the most senior on the list is it. The Cheif Heir has some minor emergancy powers.

If someone posts a message in the Kaiser's Court to see if they are there, then if niether the Kaiser or the Steward respond within a week, then the Chief Heir can use the emergancy powers. If there is no kaiser reponding within 6 Weeks, then the Chief Heir inherits the throne.

[Gman Russell]

Those are some solid ideas, David. I can't think of anything else right now, but it's a sound start, for now.

[WolvinX84]

When I have time, hopefully tomarrow, or tonight, I'll post by proposal. I already spoke to the Kaiseress on it.

[Pandora]

As a new citizen I know that updating the FAQ's and making it clearer would help attract more citizens. I for one haven't applied for citizenship for the longest time because micronations was new to me and I was totally lost and confused. The FAQ isn't as helpful as it could be.

1. Update info.
a) Particularly the part stating that there are only three dutchy's.
b) Also update everyone under "who can I talk to?" . I believe there are some on citizens on there that no longer participate here.

2. Under the topic "so what do we do here?" Please also add "how to do it." topic. As in explain in detail that by posting on the forum is how you participate.

3. Have someone rewrite/edit the explaination of Micronations and how they work, what we're about, etc. Pretend you are trying to explain it to a 5th grader. Please make it clear and simple as possible. The majority of potential citizens pass by it because they have no idea what it is or even how to go about it. I know I was very overwhelmed for the longest time. If the explinations were more clear, I think more people would join and participate. Perhaps makeing a brochoure for Shireroth? That would be fun!

[WolvinX84]

Okey, This time for sure.

Soon, I will post my proposal for a change to the feudal system. It has layers, like an onion. Not that I like onions. But they are like ogres, they have layers. But my plan smells better then an ogre.

I am going to be quiet now.

[Conglacio]

How dare you insult the food of the gods!

[Ari Rahikkala]

Okey, This time for sure.

Soon, I will post my proposal for a change to the feudal system. It has layers, like an onion. Not that I like onions. But they are like ogres, they have layers. But my plan smells better then an ogre.

I am going to be quiet now.

... ogres have layers?

[Hypatia Agnesi]

*whispers* It's a Shrek reference.

[Neike Taika-Tessaro]

Changes needed in Shireroth - first and foremost... a better forum template.

Everything else is clearly secondary.

*runs!*

[Pandora]

A new cartographer should be appointed. The maps desperately need to be updated. I think I might be up for the job, but I'm not really sure if I should being that I'm still new here.

[Kaiseress Carol]

I fully intend to ask the people who have been in charge of different ministries if they wish to remain in those jobs. As to the cartography, we have up-to-date maps which include the new locations of certain territories. County and Count lists need to be updated to reflect current citizenry. The information pages about Shireroth are badly out of date, and will be revised soon.

[Braden Indianensis]

It may be expedient to find out the number of citizens you have vs. the land you need. I think Shireroth could improve its reputation among MCS nations if it gave up some of its land. You have more than you need or could possibly use. You could make a list of the counties that are currently occupied, those with historical or cultural significance, and a few that new citizens could use, and get rid of the rest.

[Kaiseress Carol]

I am presently attempting to find out how many active citizens we have. Giving up additional territory right now is premature. We're trying to keep Shireroth running and healthy. That must come before land can be relinquished. Discussions of this type will need to take place in the future, not at present. I do appreciate your concerns, but hope you will hold off on pressing the issue now.

[WolvinX84]

We are an empire. We should not be giving up land. I spoke with Meskan on this once.

[osmose1000]

As soon as we figure out what is going to happen to the ministries I'm going to edit the website to reflect the changes. If you can, whoever becomes a minister, have them choose a password that is not their own to be the password for the ministry webpage wizard. The only ministry that does not run under this system is the Ministry of the Exterior, although I will spin off one for that and replace the current one with it whenever they're done.

When I do that I'll also update normal stuff and show whoever's in charge of the census how to format the citizen's page - trust me, it's simple stuff, no coding knowlege required, thanks to the magic of XML.

[Kaiseress Carol]

Moose--

Those sound like important changes. Please IM me this afternoon or evening so we may discuss this. Thanks.

[Ari Rahikkala]

When I do that I'll also update normal stuff and show whoever's in charge of the census how to format the citizen's page - trust me, it's simple stuff, no coding knowlege required, thanks to the magic of XML.

What have I done? Will we ever see the end of the citizens.xml saga?

[osmose1000]

I used XML just so normal people could edit it, damnit! :P