Ounce of Prevention - OOC Response

[Writer]

This is meant to be a discussion, as I'd rather not interrupt [member="Faith Balor-Organa"]'s proposition with potential issues.

I have some concerns and would like to express them here, if I may.

Charter Outline

I believe the charter that [member="Cecily de Demici"] once wrote would be suitable. Why re-invent the wheel? It also opens up what we once had - Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance, etc. This would expand the Senate RP and ensure it does not fall into a stagnate state. I remember when it was like that and what it took to get it off the ground.

Spoiler

The Charter of the Galactic Republic

"We, the Beings of the Galaxy, in order to form a free union of planets, establish justice, provide for common peace and prosperity, and to secure liberty for all beings, do ordain and establish this Galactic Republic. Let the stars sing! Let the planets shout! Let the Republic begin!"


Article I. The Galactic Senate
The Galactic Senate shall be established as the legislative body and shall have the power to create, repeal, and amend any law it sees fit to govern the Galactic Republic.
Each member planet shall elect a Senator who shall represent their planet in the Senate. This Senator shall be allowed to cast a single vote.
In addition to representing the interest of their planet in the Senate, Senators are also considered agents of the Republic and are responsible for ensuring the general well being of the Republic in general. As such, they may be asked to serve as emissaries of the Republic to foreign states.
Senators may be recalled by their home planet according to local procedures.
OOC
Any member of the Galactic Republic Faction is eligible to be a Senator provided the planet they want is unclaimed and their character is currently a citizen of said planet. (No character who is a known member of a Force-User Order may be a Senator.)

Senators may write and propose any law they see fit by making a topic. Senators will have 1 week to discuss the new law in character before voting begins. Senators will have 1 week to cast their votes in character. After this week, the Prime Minister will close voting and only those votes cast will be counted. All laws require a simple majority of voting Senators.

All laws passed by the Senate effect the entire Faction, as such, no law may place undue strain on any other sub area of the Faction such as the Jedi or Military without the express permission of that sub-area's leader of the Faction Leadership.

Any Senator character is deemed inexcusably inactive for an extended period of time may have their seat declared vacant by the Prime Minister. All planets without a PC Senator are considered to be represented by NPC Senators. These NPCs do not effect the votes of the Senate.

Article II. The Office of Prime Minister
The office of Prime Minister shall be elected from among current Senators and is vested with the full executive power of the Galactic Republic. They will have the power to enact regulations through Executive Order, suggest the creation of government agencies subordinate to the General Ministry to carry out laws, and appoint Ministers of the Republic to oversee these agencies.
The Prime Minister or their designee shall act as the intermediary between the government and the Jedi Order. They shall consult the High Council on matters relevant to the Order and represent their interests in the Senate.
The Prime Minister shall also be chair of the Senate, but will not have voice unless in defense of their government's actions, and shall vote only in the case of a tie.
Executive Orders of the Prime Minister may not invalidate or contradict any existing law passed by the Senate. The Senate may invalidate any Executive Order by majority vote.
If just cause is shown that the Prime Minister has violated their sacred duty, they may be removed from office by a 2/3 majority of all voting Senators.
In the event the Prime Minister is in any way incapacitated the next most senior Minister of the Republic shall assume control of the government.
OOC
The Prime Minister is elected by the Senate through a poll vote and serves as long as they remain active and dedicated to the Senate. They are in charge of making sure the Senate remains active and relevant to the faction through their various in character powers.

The Prime Minister may only use their power to oversee the Jedi as a plot device and must have the express permission of the Grand Master of the Order or the Faction Leadership. Out of character control of the Jedi remains with the Grand Master of the Order.

Any Prime Minister who falls inactive for an extended period of time or is seen as a hindrance to the goals of the Senate and the Faction can be removed by an in character vote of the Senate.

If the Prime Minister is ever incapacitated in character or out of character, the most senior Minister takes on the role to make sure the Senate stays active. However, they can only remain in power for ONE MONTH before a new Prime Minister has to be elected.

Article III. The Ministries of the Republic
With the approval of the Senate, the Prime Minister may create any Ministry they see fit to govern the Galactic Republic.
Each Minister of the Republic and their Ministry are empowered to enact government regulations, subject to the approval of the Prime Minister. No government regulation shall violate or invalidate any law enacted by the Senate.
The various Ministers shall together be called the Cabinet and shall act collectively as an advisory council to the Prime Minister.
OOC
The Prime Minister can create any agency they wish and appoint Senators to serve as leader of those Ministries. As Ministers, these members are tasked with the duty of helping the Prime Minister keep the Senate active and relevant to the faction.

They have no power to overrule the Senate and only act in character as the Prime Minister directs them. They also have no power to enact any laws that may put significant strain on other areas of the Faction such as the Jedi or the Military without the express permission of that area's leader of the Faction Leadership.

Article IV. The Supreme Court of the Galactic Republic
The Supreme Court of the Galactic Republic shall be established is the ultimate judicial body. All other courts, tribunals, and magistrates are subordinate to its ruling.
The Supreme Court is empowered to interpret the laws of the Republic and question their validity.
The Supreme Court may invalidate any law that violates this Charter or overrule any decision of a lower court.
The Supreme Court may not create laws without a case and a formal ruling.
OOC
The Supreme Court is an NPC institution controlled directly by the current Faction Leadership. Through this mechanism, they may invalidate any law created by any body that they feel threatens the general well-being of the Faction or its members.

Article V. The Galactic Republic Military
The Supreme Commander shall be appointed by a confirmation vote of the Senate from among the active members of the Galactic Republic Military and shall be given absolute authority over its activities
War may only be declared by the Senate and the military is not empowered to act unilaterally to engage neutral parties.
The Supreme Commander is bound to carry out the terms of any treaty ratified by the Galactic Senate.
In the event of emergency, the Prime Minister may assume temporary command of the military for a period of no more than three months. The Senate may vote to extend or shorten this period of military oversight.
The Supreme Commander may appeal the Prime Minister's decision to the Galactic Republic Supreme Court.
OOC
The Galactic Republic Military is a separate and distinct area of the Faction. This section of the charter exists for the sake of continuity.

The Senate vote to confirm the appointment shall be considered an off-screen event that happens automatically upon the Faction Leader's selection of a new Supreme Commander.

No area of the Faction can unilaterally decide to declare war on another Faction without the proper approval. In addition, all areas of the Republic are bound to uphold the terms of treaties with other Factions through in character involvement.

The Prime Minister may only use their power to assume command of the military as a plot device and must have the express permission of the Supreme Commander or the Faction Leadership. Out of character control of the military remains with the Supreme Commander.

Article VI. Planetary Membership
Any planet may be accepted as a member of the Galactic Republic following a vote to ratify this Charter and a vote by the Senate to accept them.
OOC
Votes to add new planets to the Galactic Republic are considered off-screen in character events. The Senate may not control which planets the Faction seeks Dominion or Invasion over.

No Senator character or other local planetary leader character can unilaterally decide to remove their planet from the Republic. Planets can only be removed from the Republic if the Faction voluntarily surrenders them or they are successfully invaded by another Faction.

Article VII. Amendments
This Charter may be amended at any time by a vote of the Senate and confirmation by all member planet citizens.
OOC
The Senate can change this charter as needed to reflect the current needs of the Faction. However, no section of this document can put unnecessary strain on any other area of the Faction without their consent.

Votes by the citizens of each planet's citizens shall be considered off-screen in character events determined by the outcome of the Senate's decision.

This can be changed to Chief of State and Minister of State - Thus allowing two individuals to ensure that if the CoS falls incapacitated, the PM and MoS can ensure that the Republic Senate is fulfilling their duties.

I'd be more than happy to assist in that amendment/office re-structure. I just believe going back to Chancellor and such is going towards the old days that were an issue and I don't believe I stand alone in that. Chancellor seems to Order 66ish.

Any member of the Galactic Republic Faction is eligible to be a Senator provided the planet they want is unclaimed and their character is currently a citizen of said planet. No character who is a known member, past or present, of a Force-User Order may be a Senator. (Unaffiliated Force users may serve in the Senate.)

I would disagree with this for the following reason: Individuals who may want to represent a planet are restricted from representing said planet if their home planet is elsewhere. I would either clarify they would not have to renounce their citizenship of their homeworld in order to gain favor/Senatorship over a specific planet. The other thing is, scrap that particular statement from the recommendation.

Any member of the Galactic Republic Faction is eligible and welcome to be a Senator. If the planet is available and their character is not known to be associated of a Force affiliated Order (Past or Present) may partake in the Galactic Senate.

I will also say that this does violate the Senate Law that was passed which forbid Force users from being Senators, however, I think we’ve been doing that for a long time anyways.

The Chancellor may only use their power to oversee the Jedi as a plot device and must have the express permission of the Grand Master of the Order or the Faction Leadership. Out of character control of the Jedi remains with the Grand Master of the Order.

I see a huge issue arising from this - again Chancellor, plot device, Order 66. Stepping backwards and not forwards. The Jedi shouldn't be any plot device of the Republic - at any point and time.

These are just some off the top of the head concerns and ideas up for discussion of course.

 

[Writer]

In addition - this is not meant to bash her thoughts or ideas, merely bring them to the table to show what could potentially come from it and how the Senate could head into a stagnate state as it once was.

This is meant to discuss.

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Writer]

I corrected my mistake above.

It should have been Chief of State and Minister of State.

Triumvirate consists of Chief of State, Grandmaster and Supreme Commander.

 

[Kay-Larr]

I think that the idea of going to Chancellor was to make it sound more canon. There were some that I heard that didn't feel as though Prime Minister represented Star Wars.

 

[Tonald Drump]

I think that the idea of going to Chancellor was to make it sound more canon. There were some that I heard that didn't feel as though Prime Minister represented Star Wars.

This. It doesn't. If anything it cheapens the canon history of the Senate, and makes it sound a little sucky if I'm honest.

Also think of it from someone's perspective if all they know about starwars is the films. They make a Republic character with the aim of eventually being the Chancellor, only to discover they'd never get a chance to be one of the most well known positions in the Republic because we've changed it away from the Canon title in favor of a position that never existed in the films.

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

The title of Prime Minister was chosen by the Corvus/Sera/Kian administration because we had just gone through a rough period and transitioned out of a rather abysmal triumvirate but did not want people crying "Palpatine!"

I may or may not be biased, but I think changing the government system is not what is needed. We shouldn't do that everytime a new leader takes the position. It was a very solid charter and the best as far as being fleshed out is concerned. Honestly, it was superb with checks and balances. The only reason Geneviève was able to engineer things the way she did was because of lazy senators.

That is your biggest problem: maintaining Senate activity! Many a time I posted role calls or just tagged people to play, but I ended up being a lone voice. What was I to do but write executive orders then? (Which still went unchallenged even though the law clearly stated that any senator can recall an executive order for a vote to retroactively deny it.)

It is late and I am, as of now, a has-been in the Senate. But these are my two cents. As Alyesa said, why bother reinventing the wheel when you can just change the Prime Minister title to Chancellor and sound more canon? However, I disagree on the Grandmaster being political in the slightest. The Jedi already control the faction enough in other ways and are renown on Chaos for constant bickering within their own order. The Senate is more often than not devoid of OOC drama.

 

[Mantic Dorn]

[member="Alyesa Organa"][member="Alyesa Organa"][member="Faith Balor-Organa"][member="Tonald Drump"][member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

Excellent discussion!

Will definately read and discuss with staff. Please keep sharing.

 

[Tonald Drump]

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

I concurr entirely.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Every time the notion of Jedi having a voice in the running of the GR, my response is the same.

Firstly the Jedi are not political.

Secondly we are forbidden from taking office (regardless of GR laws, this is a tenet of the Jedi Code).

Thirdly, we serve, not rule.

Fourthly, the Jedi have enough IC power. One of the issues NFU writers invariably have is that Jedi do it all. Soldiers, pilots, Senators? What would be the point of RPing an NFU? So we take no political office, take no military rank and stick (primarily) to being Jedi.

Someone asked why there weren't more Comsular Jedi in the Order. The best answer is that, if there were, what would the politicians do? I've gently discouraged the Jedi from doing too much peace-brokering for this reason. Not because of canon, but because each and every Senator deserves the opportunity to RP in their own space.

Take my thread with Gen and Faith. I'm keeping quiet on purpose. This should be Gen and Faith's thread. I'm there as a plot device primarily - to hopefully stop Faith dying. I'm not saying Jedi can't be pilots or fight with the military or do diplomatic missions. I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying let the GR be a place that welcomes many different writers and characters. Not one group that does it all.

TJO's move recently was also a lever to give the military and politicians breathing space. To do things and make decisions themselves. But that requires an active military and Senate. Which is out of my hands. But it needs to happen for the Republic to flourish once more.



#putssoapboxaway

 

[Faith Organa]

The changes I'm looking to make I feel are very minimal. I brought them to Mantic first for him to review. Once he agreed then I brought it out here to show What was being thought. Once I got to a point where I thought ready it would have been brought to the Senate for discussion.

Now that activity has been brought here ooc.

 

[Mantic Dorn]

The changes I'm looking to make I feel are very minimal. I brought them to Mantic first for him to review. Once he agreed then I brought it out here to show What was being thought. Once I got to a point where I thought ready it would have been brought to the Senate for discussion.
Now that activity has been brought here ooc.

I think you did right to post it and give folks a chance to review it.
As senator you have the right to forward any ic suggestion in a senate thread and ask for a vote. But there are some ooc mixed in with above so it should see some ooc response.
That said, I will return with an official staff oppinion in a bit.

 

[Writer]

The title of Prime Minister was chosen by the Corvus/Sera/Kian administration because we had just gone through a rough period and transitioned out of a rather abysmal triumvirate but did not want people crying "Palpatine!"

I may or may not be biased, but I think changing the government system is not what is needed. We shouldn't do that everytime a new leader takes the position. It was a very solid charter and the best as far as being fleshed out is concerned. Honestly, it was superb with checks and balances. The only reason Geneviève was able to engineer things the way she did was because of lazy senators.

That is your biggest problem: maintaining Senate activity! Many a time I posted role calls or just tagged people to play, but I ended up being a lone voice. What was I to do but write executive orders then? (Which still went unchallenged even though the law clearly stated that any senator can recall an executive order for a vote to retroactively deny it.)

It is late and I am, as of now, a has-been in the Senate. But these are my two cents. As Alyesa said, why bother reinventing the wheel when you can just change the Prime Minister title to Chancellor and sound more canon? However, I disagree on the Grandmaster being political in the slightest. The Jedi already control the faction enough in other ways and are renown on Chaos for constant bickering within their own order. The Senate is more often than not devoid of OOC drama.

As much disagreement as I may have in the past - I'm inclined to agree with [member="Geneviève Lasedri"] on several points. The Jedi shouldn't be brought into politics beyond a "Hey, what is your view?"

If you wanted to make it more canon, please understand that the Galactic Republic came in many forms - Chancellor was just one title. We don't have to go with what the Old Republic did or whatever.

 

[Writer]

The activity in the Senate was not as it once was until we had the big explosive influx around the time they began taking bigger territories like Coruscant - I believe that was the first planet Alyesa truly held a seat. Either way, I did everything I could and rallyed many people to get active in the Senate and it worked and you guys continued it with [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] and @Geneviève Lasedri. Either way, here we are now with the threat of it potentially going stagnate.

Don't make changes that aren't needed - a member shouldn't have to sacrifice their citizenship in order to become a planetary representative. It's Chaos, don't restrict the writing process, encourage it.

The purpose of this thread was to allow a discussion of the potential changes and the impact it could have - not to criticize anything you were doing Faith. I'm genuinely trying to help because I once again have the ability to. There are no ill intentions or hidden agendas.

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

Well, this is interesting. Never thought I'd see the day when I agreed with [member="Alyesa Organa"].

I suppose there is a party to be had for this occasion. Cake and wine will be served on the Senate balcony tomorrow at 15.00.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Sometimes you miss things until you read them a few times.

I entirely missed the part where it says the GR Faction Leadership can use the Jedi Order as a plot device without permission. That is not something I would be entirely comfortable with.

TJO is a separate Minor Faction. We'd be delighted to support the GR in any story. But IMHO permission needs to be sought and gained.

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

My, how the times have indeed changed.

 

[Writer]

People change with time. We all have our demons so to speak.

Everyone has their reasons for everything.

Tis the way of things.

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Jack Sparrow]

I like Chancellor.

 

[Writer]

I like Chancellor.

*slips Jack some rum*

You were sayin?