The Belvitz Fair Finances and Elections Act

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THE BELVITZ FAIR FINANCES AND ELECTIONS ACT

c. 1st of the Grand Harvest, 1669

 

By order of the City of Belvitz, and the will of the Mayor Elect there are to be a number of regulatory measures set in place to ensure fair play amongst the free citizenry. Due to conventions of the past in matters of finance and politics, both are to be reformed.

 

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PREAMBLE

It is the right of people through the City Charter of Belvitz affirmed by the Duke Elect that the population of this town may choose a leader from amongst its own. Through this inalienable right are elections held for the Municipal Office by popular vote. The City Mayor, once elected, is afforded by the Charter the right to form Council. This Council is comprised of the Captain of the Belvitz City Watch, the Magistrate, the Vicar, the Clerk, and the Stewardry. On council, the Stewardry serves in an advisory role and serve with no legislate or municipal authority. It is the right of every citizen in Belvitz to attend and vote in municipal elections Mayoral or otherwise.

 

ELECTORAL SETS

Hereby listed are the defined methods of voting within Municipal lines.

 

I. General Elections, Held for the purpose of electing City Officials amongst the municipal citizenry.

II. Committee Voting, Held by the Mayor for the purpose of polling the citizenry on matters of administration and utilized as an appendage of the municipal authority.

III. Closed Voting, Held for the purpose of general consensus among City Councillors, and in the event of an Electoral tie.

IV. Jury Voting, Demanded by the Magistrate upon which a body of citizens gives verdict upon legal proceedings.

V. Representative Voting, held by the Alderman's Bench when considering proposed legislation.

 

ELECTED POSITIONS

The following titles are officiated by the City Charter as elected offices.

• The Mayor of the City of Belvitz, by General Election.

• The Magistrate of the City of Belvitz, by General Election.

• The City Clerk of the City of Belvitz, by Closed Vote.

• Speaker of the Alderman, by Closed Vote.

• The Alderman's Bench, by General Election.

The following are officiated by the City Charter as appointed offices.

• The Captain of the Belvitz City Watch, by the Marshal of the Duchy of Adria, with the assent of the Mayor of the City of Belvitz.

• The Diocesan Vicar of the City of Belvitz, by the Mayor of the City of Belvitz, with the assent of the Clergy of the Canon.

• The Stewards of the City of Belvitz, by the Mayor of the City of Belvitz

 

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

Candidates for Municipal Office must…

• Be the age of majority.

• Be a faithful and upstanding citizen.

• Live within the municipal limits of the City of Belvitz.

• Live honourably and in good standing with the Adrian Court.

 

ELECTORAL RIGHTS

Each citizen of Belvitz is entitled to a single vote regardless of one’s estate or personal standing. The Citizenry is equal in this regard with no respect paid to class. All citizens who fall into an eligible category are also afforded the privilege of running for office and are guaranteed a portion of time to address the electorate before voting commences. The right of the citizenry to vote is held sacred and undeniable within the City of Belvitz, thus any attempt to prevent an Adrian from speaking his preference, or from running their respective candidacy is illegal in the eyes of the Municipal Administration. Furthermore, no outside power may force the resignation of a Municipal incumbent. The City of Belvitz requires no term limits, citizens are granted the right to run however many times they deem necessary.

 

PROHIBITIONS

Hereby when an election is called, all in attendance must remain in the room until the vote has ended. No election may be conducted by ballot or purposefully be extended to a ludicrous extent. Public campaigning is formally banned, anyone who runs as candidates must declare themselves when asked, on election day. Bribery is strictly prohibited in all forms. Electoral tampering by an outside party is also prohibited. Candidates for Municipal Office are prohibited from voting, nor is the officiator of the Election.

 

GENERAL PROTOCOL

Hereby the power to call for General Election is held by the Mayor of the City of Belvitz, with the assent of the sitting Duke of Adria. If for whatever reason the incumbent Mayor fails to call for an election by the end of their term a General Election may be called by a majority of the Municipal Council with the assent of the sitting Duke of Adria. In most strenuous circumstances the Duke of Adria is afforded the sole power to sack the Municipal Council and call for a General Election.

 

An Election is held by the incumbent Mayor of Belvitz. Should the incumbent Mayor of Belvitz choose to stand for an additional term the General Election can be overseen by any on the Municipal Council who do not stand for elected office. In the case of an electoral tie, a Closed Vote is to be held by the Municipal administration comprising the Captain of the Belvitz Watch, the Magistrate of the City of Belvitz, and the Clerk of the City of Belvitz. Should this provision fail the final decision is left to the sitting Duke of Adria.

 

MUNICIPAL FINANCE

Hereby it is required that at the end of each annual year, upon electoral transition, that the City of Belvitz provides for the elected Duke of Adria twenty percent of all annual income made over the course of the Mayoral term. Additionally, a large sum of income amounting to ten percent of the annual City budget is to be entrusted to the Diocesan Vicar for the purpose of tithe to the Clergy of St. Emma’s Cathedral. Furthermore by the end of each Mayoral term all financial matters including the sale of housing, the Municipal budget, and the City Ledger, must be up to date in time for the following Mayoral term. Upon retirement, the Mayor Elect of the City of Belvitz is entitled to ten percent of the total income upon the completion of their term.

 

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Signed,

Broos Wellis, Mayor of Belvitz

Sabo Gradic, City Clerk of Belvitz