View Topic

Thank you for taking the time to read this campaign, I'll try to make it worth it by keeping it as short and to the point as possible.

At the time of writing this, I am the newest member of the region who is campaigning for a seat in the underhusen, and I'm realistic enough to know that makes me a rather poor choice when there are people who know the region better.

In keeping with my realistic approach, however, I must mention that this is far from being the first region where I've held power. I don't like to use past achievements as a campaigning tool, because the achievements are often incompatible with other regions, which require a unique approach and style, but it's all I have to go on right now.

I served for a long time as The Revolutionary Council's WA Delegate, and under my leadership, we were able to expand from a very small region of 13 people to 30+ at its height, which I'll admit is not that much, but it was an active community that only showed signs of going up until I left, after which a lack of direction and inactive, ineffective leadership nearly destroyed the place as raid after raid hit and the place became stripped of its culture. I was not flawless as a WA Delegate back then, but I learnt quickly and easily understood the goals the region aspired to, and made sure those goals were met.

After a fall-out with the founder, I moved to Aura Hyperia, where I went from plebeian (the lowest of the low) to Chancellor (the second-in-command and highest position anyone in that region can aspire to unless the founder gives up power) in less than 2 months. I was tested about 3 days after becoming chancellor when our own founder, Mara Sargon, mercilessly destroyed the region very suddenly. Although I had the help of a great imperial council, one of whom is Colberius X, I was a stabilising force and managed to keep order and gain access to our previous forum to save any information that was vital to our survival. Through keeping order, we soon established a new government with our core community, and are once more expanding, attaining members, and setting up a unique culture.

I'm also ridiculously active and involved when it comes to making laws and just about any decision.

As I said, I'm at a disadvantage when it comes to this region due to being so new, but I hope to earn your votes on election day.

I'll answer any and all questions you may have. Challenge me, and hopefully I'll prove my worth.

EDIT: It has been proven pretty extensively that these laws need wide-scale adjustments, so that is also something I promise to implement with the rest of the underhusen. What's most glaring that I've seen so far is the absence of a system of precedence in all areas. Precedence is the foundation of Case Law and should be used when determining courses of action and legislation in general, so its absence annihilates very powerful sources of law which should be present.

Now that I am a candidate, I am not entirely sure whether I can or should be asking questions but if you would, name one serious flaw that can be found in our laws and state how you would correct it.

I'd first need to read the laws, which I'll start doing now. I'll edit this post with my answer when I'm finished.

EDIT 1:

Initial observation based on the following:

We, the Citizens of the Frozen Realm of Wintreath, united under the banner of His Most Royal Majesty Inric I, do hereby enact and consecrate these Fundamental Laws with the aim of creating a sovereign, independent, and free community of nations welcome to all and born upon the principles of liberty, equality, freedom, and compassion.

My first complaint is that is a bit too ceremonial, and could do with less decorative language. An actual law would look something like this:

*We, the citizens of Wintreath, under the authority of His Royal Majesty Inric I, do hereby declare the following Fundemental Laws. The Constitution aims to create a sovereign, independent and free community. We strive to uphold the principles of liberty, equality and compassion.*

Of course, I'd prefer to cut the ceremony completely by getting rid of the His Royal Majesty part, but that's just personal preference.

In addition, it should immediately be stated whether we operate under Constitutional Sovereignty or Parliamentary Sovereignty, or more specifically whether these laws can be struck down as null and void when conflicting with Wintermoot's wishes.

It is also apparent that these laws are often redundant, and the language tries to be too colourful. Laws are supposed to use excellent, clear grammar and very simple yet functional words.

These are my initial thoughts. Back to reading for now.

Bump.

What qualities make an excellent underhusen member? Based on your observations so far.

This isn't a question that I can rightly answer, as I've yet to really witness the work of the Underhusen as it happened.

I would imagine, however that activity, rationale, and the ability to push hard for dead-lines to be met and progress to be made would help, as well as an excellent work ethic, where efficiency and elegance is prised.

Adaptability is also a gift that is often under-appreciated.

I'd first need to read the laws, which I'll start doing now. I'll edit this post with my answer when I'm finished.

EDIT 1:

Initial observation based on the following:

We, the Citizens of the Frozen Realm of Wintreath, united under the banner of His Most Royal Majesty Inric I, do hereby enact and consecrate these Fundamental Laws with the aim of creating a sovereign, independent, and free community of nations welcome to all and born upon the principles of liberty, equality, freedom, and compassion.

My first complaint is that is a bit too ceremonial, and could do with less decorative language. An actual law would look something like this:

*We, the citizens of Wintreath, under the authority of His Royal Majesty Inric I, do hereby declare the following Fundemental Laws. The Constitution aims to create a sovereign, independent and free community. We strive to uphold the principles of liberty, equality and compassion.*

Of course, I'd prefer to cut the ceremony completely by getting rid of the His Royal Majesty part, but that's just personal preference.

In addition, it should immediately be stated whether we operate under Constitutional Sovereignty or Parliamentary Sovereignty, or more specifically whether these laws can be struck down as null and void when conflicting with Wintermoot's wishes.

It is also apparent that these laws are often redundant, and the language tries to be too colourful. Laws are supposed to use excellent, clear grammar and very simple yet functional words.

These are my initial thoughts. Back to reading for now.

Well it's meant to be ceremonial. Also as it says in the Fundamental Laws itself, the laws can not be struck down null and void my the monarch(at least not anymore...)...

I will agree that it's supposed to be a bit ceremonial.  And if you look at Decree #005, the Monarch is supposed to be referred to as His/Her Royal Majesty, so the constitution is just following what the decree says.

The Preamble may be a bit ceremonious, but it was a ceremonious occasion...after months of operating as an ad-hoc absolute monarchy whose only standing law was to define Citizenship, we were ready to move forward and formalize a government and begin really becoming a region. Some ceremony was called for when Charax wrote the Preamble, I personally think.

Additionally, Wintreath isn't structured like many other regions where there's a system of checks and balances, but with a system that grants each branch the authorities it needs and allows them to conduct their own affairs without interference. In most cases specific authorities are granted to the Monarch or the Storting, but in some cases either can take action (like declare a person PnG) or approval from both are needed (like Constitutional Amendments). To answer your question, I can not void an Act of the Storting, but the Storting can't infringe on the Monarchy either.

I hope that helps, from the perspective of someone that drafted a fair portion of the Fundamental Laws and some of the amendments to it afterwards.

I will agree that it's supposed to be a bit ceremonial.  And if you look at Decree #005, the Monarch is supposed to be referred to as His/Her Royal Majesty, so the constitution is just following what the decree says.

Actually, that comes from the Royal Titles and Styles Act...the Decree follows it, as the definition and viability of that act are a bit troublesome, in my opinion.

I'd first need to read the laws, which I'll start doing now. I'll edit this post with my answer when I'm finished.

EDIT 1:

Initial observation based on the following:

We, the Citizens of the Frozen Realm of Wintreath, united under the banner of His Most Royal Majesty Inric I, do hereby enact and consecrate these Fundamental Laws with the aim of creating a sovereign, independent, and free community of nations welcome to all and born upon the principles of liberty, equality, freedom, and compassion.

My first complaint is that is a bit too ceremonial, and could do with less decorative language. An actual law would look something like this:

*We, the citizens of Wintreath, under the authority of His Royal Majesty Inric I, do hereby declare the following Fundemental Laws. The Constitution aims to create a sovereign, independent and free community. We strive to uphold the principles of liberty, equality and compassion.*

Of course, I'd prefer to cut the ceremony completely by getting rid of the His Royal Majesty part, but that's just personal preference.

In addition, it should immediately be stated whether we operate under Constitutional Sovereignty or Parliamentary Sovereignty, or more specifically whether these laws can be struck down as null and void when conflicting with Wintermoot's wishes.

It is also apparent that these laws are often redundant, and the language tries to be too colourful. Laws are supposed to use excellent, clear grammar and very simple yet functional words.

These are my initial thoughts. Back to reading for now.

Well it's meant to be ceremonial. Also as it says in the Fundamental Laws itself, the laws can not be struck down null and void my the monarch(at least not anymore...)...

1) Laws are not supposed to be ceremonial, but clear, efficient and grounded. I understand why the ceremony is fun, but that's simply not the way it works. It gets tiresome quickly to have laws with so many redundancies and so much pretentious language, especially if you have to read through all of them. Laws are inherently serious business, which serve a serious purpose and are met with serious consequences when violated.

2) It should immediately be stated whether the constitution has authority over the monarch, or at the very least whether the monarch intends to use his power to nullify these laws in certain circumstances, and if so, what these circumstances could/should be.

Also, technically the monarch CAN nullify these laws if he so wishes. No one would be able to stop him. Whether he SHOULD is another matter.

Trust me, I study law.

EDIT: I posted this before reading the other replies to the topic.

As I said, the titles thing irks me personally, but I don't begrudge it being there. The rest I still prefer to be simpler and less redundant, and I will in fact always write these according to the legal philosophy I follow in law school, but I'll include the titles as directed.

This is also an area where my ignorance of the past can cause problems, so thank you all for making me aware of these.

I will agree that it's supposed to be a bit ceremonial.  And if you look at Decree #005, the Monarch is supposed to be referred to as His/Her Royal Majesty, so the constitution is just following what the decree says.

Actually, that comes from the Royal Titles and Styles Act...the Decree follows it, as the definition and viability of that act are a bit troublesome, in my opinion.

Well it's in there too.  I just saw it in the decree first. 

I wouldn't be opposed to a repeal of the first portions of Royal Title and Styles Act, as it's questionable if the Storting has the authority to designate titles and styles, but then there's a problem...sections 1-7 are Statutory Law provisions and Section 8 is a Constitutional Amendment, so how do you go about repealing the first sections?

Fortunately sometime after this I was able to convince the people who were writing laws to stop doing such dual-use legislation.

Seeing as everyone who has thus far opened their campaign has promised wide-scale reform, and amendments to the laws, it would be a mere formality for me to add it to my campaign, but the people who originally suggested it remain Pengu and Sapphiron, so the credit goes to them.

So! I have an actual question for you now! Well, more of a concern...

I know that you're looking at the laws from the perspective of a law student, and I know there's plenty of room for improvement for fixing the laws, but I'm concerned that such a focus on law and government will make the region more of a legal...and eventually political region, which would stand against the principles of the region. How would you go about fixing the laws and promoting an efficient regional government while preserving the region's non-political nature?