Edict of Election, 1736

[Icarnus 1669]

 

 

 

THE IMPERIAL DIET

 

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EDICT OF ELECTION, 1736 

10 Harren’s Folly

 

An edict for the processes concerning voting for the Imperial Senate, including voter rights and registration, schedules, vacancies and initial composition and candidacy rules, for conjunction with the Edict of Establishment of 1736.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Senate of the Holy Orenian Empire, known in shorthand as the Imperial Senate, as the lower and elected house of the bicameral Imperial Diet, shall serve as the representatives of the Imperial provinces to the legislature. This edict is issued as a companion law to the Edict of Establishment (1736), and shall enumerate the processes concerning election and candidacy to the Imperial Senate. 

 

SECTION I: VOTING RIGHTS AND REGISTRATION

 

All citizens of the Holy Orenian Empire over the age of 18 who are registered to an address have the right to vote for a candidate to the Imperial Senate in the province of their residence. 

 

Voter registration shall be conducted through the medium of an Imperial census, which shall be conducted anew at intervals of every ten years commencing in the year 1737. The census shall remain open over these ten year periods for new voter registration, with the rolls being cleared at the occasion of the new census, in this case 1747, and then so on. 

 

SECTION II: SCHEDULES

 

Elections shall occur every two years in the even years, with no province holding an election for both of their Senate seats concurrently. Senators hold four year terms from the time of their election.

 

The first round of Senate election shall occur in the year 1738, for one of the two senators in each of the four provinces, with these successful candidates becoming senators for a four-year term eligible for re-election in 1742. The next round of Senate elections shall occur in the year 1740 for the remaining senators, and so on. Upon election, senators shall swear an oath of allegiance to the Holy Orenian Empire and its laws. 

 

SECTION III: VACANCIES AND INITIAL COMPOSITION

 

In the event of a vacancy in the case of a senator’s death or resignation, the remainder of his term shall be filled by an appointee of the chief of his respective province, or an official empowered to act with that chief’s full authority such as a regent. These offices are described as follows:

 

Helena - His Grace the Duke of Helena

Haense - His Majesty the King of Haense 

Kaedrin - His Majesty the King of Kaedrin

Curon - His Majesty the King of Curon 

 

These chiefs shall not hold the power to sack a duly elected senator, who holds their office by virtue of election. 

 

The initial composition of the Senate shall be treated as if the offices are vacant, and hence both initial senators for each province will be appointed by their respective chiefs, where they will have the choice to contest their next respective elections, in 1738 and 1740, as incumbents. In the case of these initial appointments, the senator whose surname comes first in alphabetical sequence shall be up for election in the first sequence of 1738, and the second in 1740. This is how the sequences of election shall be set henceforth.

 

SECTION IV: CANDIDACY RULES

 

All candidates must be eligible to vote, with this criteria aforementioned. Candidates for the Senate must be registered to vote in their relevant province. Other criteria for candidates are established in the Edict of Establishment (1736). 

 

Any candidates for the Senate must register for the ballot before the close of the year preceding the election i.e candidates for election in 1738 must register their candidacy before the close of 1737 and transition into 1738. These candidacies are subject to confirmation by the relevant bodies such as the office of the Vice Chancellor, which are intended to ensure a candidate is eligible in accordance with all the necessary rules and regulations. All initial or subsequent (In the case of vacancies) appointees to the Senate must also comply with these standards. 

 

THIS WE PROCLAIM,

 

His Imperial Excellency, Adrian Leopold of the House de Sarkozy,

Lord Protector of the Holy Orenian Empire, Duke and Governor-General of Helena, Duke of Adria, Baron of Renzfeld