View from Benacia/Issue 52: Post of Imperial Ombudsman Created

This imported article was originally posted at http://viewfrombenacia.blogspot.com/2005/01/issue-52-post-of-imperial-ombudsman.html at 01/18/05.

Kaiser Mors IV today created the anticipated advisory office of Imperial Ombudsman, in doing so opening the way for the first (and probably only) popularly elected office since time immemorial.

The provisions for the office were laid down in Imperial Decree #150, which not only established the the office itself but the requirements for the office and laid down the groundwork for conducting the elections. Those eligible to vote are "those who are not Nobles (as defined by Imperial law) or minors, and who have not had their voting privileges revoked due to punishment." Meanwhile, candidates to the post must be "neither a minor, nor the Kaiser, nor under any continuing punishment by the judicial apparatus of the Imperial Government."

The election occurs in two phases: first there is a nomination phase, in which any Shirerithian citizen may participate. If someone is nominated and then seconded, zie becomes a candidate in the voting phase. Voting is conducted similarly to Pr�tor elections, with voters listing the candidates in order of precedence. Elections are to be held every six months, although elections may be called early in order to remove an unsuitable Ombudsman.

With the machinery in place to go ahead with elections, the last major stumbling block is determining which citizens are eligible to vote, especially since it's not certain which inactive people should be considered citizens anymore. This will be the main issue to tackle before beginning the first elections.

The Landsraad LIVES!

Duke Scott Alexander of Hyperborea restored the Landsraad landscape with the proposal of the"Join the Micronational RecWar Society" act on Friday. This bill very simply is a proposal that Shireroth join the Micronational RecWar Society, which is dedicated to providing an organized and regulated environment for friendly recwar. Believed to have the support of the Kaiser, the bill may open the way for the revitalization of the Ministry of Military Affairs.

At the moment, the bill is doing well in the Landsraad, with the vote currently standing at about Y-20 to N-0, although it is still quite short of the minimum needed to pass.

KIRS Goes Worldwide

After the announcement of the first KIRS broadcast at the MNN forums, it appears that the new radio show will have an avid audience when it makes its next broadcast. Listeners from Natopia, Antica, Attera, Novaya Zemlya and other nations all made known their applause and laughter for KIRS's foreign news show, and several individuals have begun pondering doing shows in a similar format.

Kudos to Scott for the success of his efforts!