Proposed Division Of Powers

[Fimlin 1997]

 

Article I: Governmental Powers

 

 

Section A: The Throne

 

The Grand King has the power to declare a War Council amongst his Lords. This means that the Grand King and the Lords converge, advising the Grand King on the act of declaring war. While there is no official vote, the Grand King will likely take into consideration the Kingdomís interests over his own and in doing so, will consult with the Lords thoroughly before proceeding. If war is declared, the Lordís Council will take that time to discuss how they will conduct the assaults and manage the Legion.

 

Has the power to enforce the law to the fullest extent. 

 

Has the power to veto any law that the Clan Council passes. This can be done instantly, with a signing of official documents.

 

Has the power to regulate commerce, enforce tariffs on imported goods and set taxes on anything. The act of regulating commerce includes; overriding the Grand Merchant's choices of pricing, regulating trade deals concerning the Kingdom's wealth between nations, and setting minimum pricing on goods sold by the nation.

 

Has the power to appoint a new Lord if one has recently died, stepped down, or was removed by the Grand King and the rest of the council.

 

Has the power to pardon an individual, of the state or a foreigner. Although, the Court may overturn this decision if they see that the individual is an enemy of the state or has crimes that they feel need answering for.

 

Has the power to point out an inactive or a corrupt Council member to be judged by the Court. This will usually occur by the Council notifying the Grand King of such a member, and him acting on it, though it is not limited by that.

 

When a new Grand King is seated on the throne, the councils will remain intact. This means the Grand King, once seated, cannot change the Lordís or Clan Council at will, they will remain the same as the Grand King before him.

 

If a Grand King is not satisfied with a member of the King's Council and considers them unworthy to hold their position, he may call for a re-election.

 

"The Grand King" - The Grand King is the head ruler of this system. He is directed toward exercising leadership over self, over other people, and over situations. This doesn't necessarily mean that he/she has absolute power over everything. If the Grand King wished to implement something such as a law for example, he would have to get it passed by the Clan Council as they need to vote on it

 

 

Section B: The Councils

 

 

The Lord's Council

 

The Lord's Council and Grand King will convene every two Elven weeks minimum. If a council member cannot attend, said council member must send a proxy to attend said meeting. These meetings should be regular and regular attendance is expected. However, an immediate meeting can be established if a influential incident occurs.

 

The Lord's Council Council has the power to remove the Grand King. This decision has to be a 4/5th vote. Removal can only occur if the Grand King isn't doing his job properly or has a serious infringement on his honor. Once done, a Lord Regent will be chosen from amongst the Lord's Council and the election process for a Grand King will begin.

 

Has the power to change the definitions of government, such as the definitions and duties of each council member.

 

Has the power to propose an Amendment to the Articles of Urguan which can be passed if it has the support of both the Grand King and majority of the Clan Council. The Articles of Urguan cannot be changed through this Amendment although it can include additional laws or regulations. Amendments that attempt to change the Articles of Urguan's core foundations are strictly illegal. This includes forming the Grand Kingdom into an Empire or putting the Grand Kingdom under a higher authority, however exceptions may occur if the majorty of the Clan Council agrees and the Lords council unanimously agrees, aswell as the Grand King and High Prophet's Approval.

 

Has the power to settle all grudges throughout the Kingdom and it's entirety.

 

Has the power to settle all disputes concerning the matter of the infringement of dwarven individual or clan rights.

 

Has the power to review a Clan's honor. Only during these reviews the Court is to remove the member of the clan in question, as to not start conflicts.

 

Has the power to overseer a particular area of territory within the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, if given authorisation by the Grand King. They will advise and oversee the work of the Jarl.

 

Every two weeks, the Grand King is to select a Lord to oversee and host meetings of the Kingís Council. This Lord will meet with and inform members of the Kingís Council of recent happenings within the Grand Kingdom of Urguan and discuss what progress must be made to improve the lower echelons of dwarven society.

 

A Lord may not act on the King's Council, unless given special permission from the Grand King.

 

 

 

The Clan Council

 

The purpose of the Clan Council is to gather information and views from the different clans of the Grand Kingdom and present them to the Lordís council. Each clan officially recognized by the Kingdom has the right to one member on the council, and it must be either a clan elder, or the clan father. This representative must be approved by both the respective clan father, and the Grand King. This person may not be on the Lordís Council, or the Grand King himself. 

 

The Clan Council and Grand King will convene every three Elven weeks minimum. If a council member cannot attend, said council member must send a proxy to attend said meeting. These meetings should be regular and regular attendance is expected. However, an immediate meeting can be established if a influential incident occurs.

 

In order for a clan to hold a seat on the council, they must be living in the Kingdom, be honourable, and have substantial numbers (atleast 5 members). For a clan to be added or removed from the Clan Council entirely, there must be a 3/5 vote from the Lord's Council as well as the approval of the Grand King.

 

A member may only be removed from his position by a vote of 3/5 of the Lord's Council, plus the Grand King, or at the will of the respective clan father. If a member is somehow no longer a clan elder or the clan father, or if they obtain lordship, then they are automatically removed from the position.

 

The Chairman of the Clan Council shall manage the meeting and present the views of the council to the Lordís and Kingís councils. They have no extra power, but attend and speak at Kingís Council meetings. They may also attend and speak at Lordís Council meetings, unless otherwise directed by the Grand King. The Chairman shall be selected by Grand King and his Lords.

 

The Clan Council has the power to:

 

Create law that anyone residing on dwarven lands would have to abide by. The process of law writing is as follows; the council must converge with the entirety of itís member, proxies may be sent, they must have over half of the vote for the law to pass. Both sides may give an argument lasting a maximum of 30 Elven minutes each explaining why or why not the law should be passed. Every council member has an equal vote in the matter, each consisting of one ballot.

 

Remove laws. This process will be just as the creation of a law, except to remove it.

 

A Lord can be removed from the Lord's Council if he goes missing for ten elven days or is deemed guilty of high treason. This requires the majority vote of the Council, as well as the vote of the Grand King.

 

Has the power to propose an Amendment to the Articles of Urguan which can be passed if it has the support of both the Grand King and the majority of the Clan Council. The Articles of Urguan cannot be changed through this Amendment although it can include additional laws or regulations. Amendments that attempt to change the Articles of Urguan's core foundations are strictly illegal. This includes forming the Grand Kingdom into an Empire or putting the Grand Kingdom under a higher authority, however exceptions may occur if the majorty of the Clan Council agrees and the Lords council unanimously agrees, aswell as the Grand King and High Prophet's Approval.

 

Veto a declaration of war under medium crown authority or less, with a three majority vote.

 

Veto a declaration of peace under medium crown authority or less, with a majority vote.

 

Veto the forming or breaking of an alliance under high crown authority or less, with a majority vote.

 

Remove a member from the King's Council with a majority vote. along with the Grand King's approval.

 

Petition the removal of the Grand King, with a majority vote This will reduce the Lordís vote to 3/5 rather than 4/5.

 

Veto the removal of a Grand King, a majority vote.

 

 

 

Court of Mountains

 

Has the power to overturn the Grand King's pardon. Although, they must show proof of unanswered crimes or treason.

 

Has the power to interrogate and cast judgement on individuals suspected of treason.

 

Has the power to make judgement on any crime within the kingdom.

 

Section C: Elections

 

 

Grand King: People must take careful time in choosing the next Grand King. The polling booths must be open for the span of three elven days. Anybody from the Lordís Council can run for Grand King. Anyone outside the Council must be nominated by a Lord. Only true sons and daughters of Urguan, regardless of their status in society, may vote in an election for the Grand King of Urguan.

Any one dwarf can run for Grand King, although, there are only allowed for a minimum of two running dwarves for the throne at any given election. Each Clan Councilor will choose a dwarf to represent their clan and interests on the throne (this may include a close friend of the clan or a member of a smaller sub-clan). They have a maximum of two elven days to make this decision. After this is done, the Election process may begin.

Only those citizens who recognise themselves as true sons of Urguan may be nominated as a Grand King of Urguan.

If the Grand King is removed from his position or dies, the Lord's Council may nominate one of the Lords to act as Lord Regent for the duration of the election period. The Lord Regent falls under the same restrictions as a Grand King at Limited Crown Authority. This position must be immediately withdrawn once a Grand King has been elected.

Lord's Council: These Dwarves are appointed by the Grand King and the Grand King only. There are no election processes for these.

Only those citizens, who recognise themselves as true sons of Urguan may become a part of the Lord's Council of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan.

King's Council: The King's Council members are appointed by their respective predecessors, with approval from the Grand King. In the event there was not one appointed or said dwarf was deemed criminal, dishonorable, or unstable upon the removal of his position, the duty of electing a new position will fall directly upon the Grand King. The Grand King may either appoint one himself or allow the people of the Kingdom elect a new one, though this depends upon his level of Crown Authority. If the election is chosen, the booths must be open for at least three elven days.

For the voting to occur a voting booth must be set up for the population. This is the process for any election period. These booths are to remain private so that one can vote privately. These booths will be run by the guard and a selected official of the guard to oversee the operation. The voting period must last a minimum of three elven days with adequate poll time so that the voters may have a chance to vote. Any citizen living beneath the Grand Kingdom of Urguan can take part in the election for a member of the King's Council. These voting periods will only begin once a member of the Kingís Council announces that he is stepping down from his position, has gone missing, been accused of a crime causing him to lose his position, been cast out by the judgement of the Lord's Council or death has befallen him.

 

 

This is how I believe the major powers within the Kingdom should be divided, and this is my reasoning.

 

The Clan Council deserves the right to pass the laws of which their people will live under, for it is they the clans & people who will ultimately be affected by these laws.

The Clan Council deserves the right to remove Lords, as they are the ones who are supposed to act in the common interest of the people and the clans.

The Clan Council deserves the right to nominate a member or friend of their clan/ sub-clan, as it is they who will be ruled.

 

The Lord's Council deserves the right to remove a Grand King, as it is they who have worked with the Grand King and have seen his work ethic and motives.

The Lord's Council deserves the right to review and oversee the parts of the Kingdom they serve are functioning properly.

 

The Grand King deserves the right to declare war and peace, as it is he who leads the nation.

The Grand King deserves the right to appoint Lords, as it is the Lords who advise the King.

 

The Court of Mountains deserves the right to interput laws, as the lack of a Judicary branch harms the Kingdom.

 

This is a rough plan for how the powers should be divided, but all the ore necessary.

 

(let us discuss this until we reach an agreement, for change needs to come one way or another, but only after we can reach an agreement.)

 

- Clan Father Fimlin Grandaxe, Former Lord of the Grand Kingdom.

[Hiebe 2493]

Hiebe says.

Too many councils,

He shrugs.

[fatwampa 25]

So thar be wut... Dree councils as far as I kin count. That's a bloody awful lot fer 'ow many dwovres thar be.

 

 

((edited to be ic))

[Daisy 9735]

"Nae. Ye jus' strippin powah frum odah councils! Ah vote nae."

[Fimlin 1997]

"Nae. Ye jus' strippin powah frum odah councils! Ah vote nae."

Da Clan Council becomes the kingdom legislature, and power is given from Lords to Clan council where it is needed, the government is too focused on the Lords and not the people.

[CptShoelace 137]

To many words meh eyes can not move fast enough

[Birdwhisperer 1174]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.