[DRAFT] Vanguard and Senate Clarification Act

[Porfloxonne]

Vanguard and Senate Clarification Act

Chapter 1: Vanguards

1. The Vanguards of Carcassone shall be formed by Senators entrusted with the mechanical defense of the region in case of attack.
2. Vanguards shall be selected by the Senate with approval from two-thirds of its membership, and confirmed by the Monarch.
   1. The Senate may remove a Vanguard by a two-thirds majority vote of its total membership. The Monarch may remove a Vanguard subject to such a vote as a regional officer while the vote is ongoing.
3. Vanguards must maintain World Assembly membership on their nation in Carcassone at all times.
4. Vanguards shall be Regional Officers on site, with Border Control, Appearance, and Communications authority.

Chapter 2: Senators

Chapter 3 of the Constitution shall be amended as follows:

1. There shall be a Senate composed of distinguished citizens which shall be responsible for the continuation of the State.
2. The Senate may admit citizens in good standing, who have continuously held their citizenship for six months, as senators by a two-thirds majority vote. Should a senator forfeit their citizenship, they shall forfeit the office of senator.
   1. The Senate may remove a senator by a two-thirds majority vote of its total membership. The Monarch may remove a senator subject to such a vote as a regional officer while the vote is ongoing.
3. Senators shall possess a World Assembly nation and shall endorse the Monarch unless on campaign while serving as member of the army or otherwise recieving a waiver by the Monarch. Should a senator cease to meet this requirement for a week, they shall forfeit the office of senator.
4. The Senate shall establish among its members an order of seniority. Should circumstance require it, the most senior available senator shall serve as Regent.
5. Should the Monarch abdicate, cease to exist or forfeit the office of World Assembly Delegate without the advice and consent of the Senate, the Senate shall elect a new Monarch from among its members. The Regent shall assume the powers and duties of the Monarchy until a new Monarch assumes the Throne.
6. The Monarch may temporarily forfeit the position of World Assembly delegate with the advice and consent of the Senate. Should the Monarch do so, the Regent shall assume the onsite position of World Assembly Delegate until the Monarch reassumes the office of World Assembly Delegate.
7. The Senate shall hear appeals of criminal trials and shall determine the constitutionality of both decrees of the Monarch and laws of the Ecclesia.
   1. The Ecclesia may overturn any such decision by a two-thirds majority vote.
8. The Senate may compel the Monarch to abdicate by an absolute two-thirds majority vote.
9. Any and all powers and privileges essential to the necessary functioning of the Senate are reserved to the Senate.
   1. Clarification on the responsibilities and operation of the Senate may be provided for by law with the advice and consent of the Senate.

[Ladratia]

Which of these drafts are we thinking deserve the most “legislative effort?”

[Ysengrim]

A Senator may be removed from the Senate by two-thirds majority vote of the body. The Monarch may temporarily remove such a Senator from a position as Regional Officer and/or remove their mechanical authorities over the course of such a vote.

I’d reword this as something like:

The Senate may remove a senator by a two-thirds majority vote. The Monarch may remove a senator subject to such a vote as a regional officer while the vote is ongoing.

But I agree with the intent.

* 1. **The Senate may overturn any such decision by two-thirds majority vote.

I don’t fully understand what this means.

[Porfloxonne]

@Ysengrim

A Senator may be removed from the Senate by two-thirds majority vote of the body. The Monarch may temporarily remove such a Senator from a position as Regional Officer and/or remove their mechanical authorities over the course of such a vote.

I’d reword this as something like:

The Senate may remove a senator by a two-thirds majority vote. The Monarch may remove a senator subject to such a vote as a regional officer while the vote is ongoing.

But I agree with the intent.

Implemented!

@Ysengrim

• 1. **The Senate may overturn any such decision by two-thirds majority vote.

I don’t fully understand what this means.

It was a typo
Just fixed it to say Ecclesia.

[Ysengrim]

Ah I see. Is that clause necessary? The Ecclesia could just amend the Constitution at that point.

[Porfloxonne]

@Ysengrim

Ah I see. Is that clause necessary? The Ecclesia could just amend the Constitution at that point.

Theoretically, the Senate could legally coup by ignoring the Constitution. Adding this clause would close out the loophole (and also reduce the need to have a ton of ultra-specific language/bloat in the Constitution).

[Porfloxonne]

This bill has been split into two separate ones:

Senate Clarification Act
Vanguard Act

[Epithemia]

How would the Senate coup by determining the constitutionality of decrees or laws?

[Porfloxonne]

The senate could theoretically ignore the constitution and declare whatever it liked unconstitutional. While that’s not very likely to happen, it doesn’t really have much downside (amending the constitution only requires 2/3 majority anyways).