Josefian Reforms to the Royal Duma

[Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska 3491]

WYCAZ VA VE DUMA I KOENG JOSEF

 

 

Tov and Yermey of 343

KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM

 

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VA BIRODEO HERZENAV E EDLERVIK,

 

The Royal Duma has long since been a body of nobility and commoners, with an emphasis on nobility. Now as we move forward as an independent government, changes must be made in order to ensure that the Royal Duma works as efficient as it can and represents its people as best as it can. With this in mind, the internals of this august institution must adapt to the current climate of Hanseti-Ruska and match the landscape in which the people of Haense today face.

 

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Article I: Composition

1.1: The Royal Duma shall be composed of five Haeseni Peers at each session, as prescribed by the terms of Article II;

1.2: The Royal Duma shall be further composed of five elected officers at each session, as prescribed by the terms of Article III;

1.3: The Royal Duma shall be further composed of the Speaker of the Duma, as prescribed by the terms of Article IV;

1.4: The Royal Duma shall be further composed of the Lord Palatine or Lady Palatine, as prescribed by the  terms of Article V.

 

Article II: Nobility

2.1: All Haeseni Peers of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska shall fulfil their obligation under Section 602 of the Haurul Caezk to sit on the Royal Duma in alternating groups known as Cohorts;

2.2: Cohorts shall be determined by lottery at the start of each term of the Royal Duma every four years, and this lottery shall be conducted by the Speaker of the Duma publicly;

2.3: The first Cohort of Peers shall attend the first and third sessions of the term, while the second Cohort of Peers shall attend the second and fourth session;

2.4: In accordance with Section 602 of the Haurul Caezk, a Haeseni Peer shall be required to send a representative if they are unable to attend a sitting of the Royal Duma, charged with that Peer’s right to vote on and propose bills, and failure to do so thrice consecutively shall allow the Speaker of the Duma to suspend that Peer’s seat, which must be reinstated by the Crown;

2.5: In accordance with Section 210 of the Haurul Caezk, a Haeseni Peer must be at least fourteen years of age to attend the Royal Duma, and Peers of insufficient age shall be represented by their Regent.

 

Article III: Elected Officials

3.1: The Haeseni people shall, every four years, elected a total of five elected officials to sit on the Royal Duma as representatives of the populace;

3.2: The five elected officials shall be comprised of by two Aldermen and three Tribunes;

3.3: Aldermen

3.31: Two Aldermen shall be elected by majority vote as popular candidates charged with the representation of all Haeseni people;

3.32: Haeseni Peers may not serve as Aldermen;

3.4: Tribunes

3.41: Three Tribunes shall be elected by majority vote as representatives of common birth and charged with representation of the common-born Haeseni people;

3.42: Tribunes must be of common birth;

3.5: Elected officials must be at least fourteen years of age to sit on the Royal Duma;

3.6: Elected officials may not be convicted criminals;

3.7: Elected officials must reside permanently within the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska.

 

Article IV: The Lord Palatine

4.1: The Lord Palatine or Lady Palatine shall sit on the Royal Duma as representative of the Crown;

4.2: The Lord Palatine may request advisory acts or legislative bills of the Royal Duma regarding areas of specific interest to the Crown and the Aulic Council;

4.3: The Deputy Palatine or Palatinial Kommissar may represent the Lord Palatine in their absence;

4.4: The Royal Duma may question the Lord Palatine on matters of the Crown or the Aulic Council.

 

Article V: The Speaker of the Duma

5.1: The Speaker of the Duma shall preside over the Royal Duma and ensure its lawful and efficient functioning in accordance with this Edict and the provisions of the Haurul Caezk;

5.2: The Speaker of the Duma shall administer all aspects of the Royal Duma, including its frequent sittings, the admittance of bills for discussion, the moderation of debate and presentations, voting procedure and the submission of bills to the Crown for assent;

5.3: The Speaker of the Duma may deny the admittance of a bill for presentation and debate if they deem its content frivolous, pedantic or illegal;

5.4: In pursuit of maintaining the integrity of the Royal Duma, the Speaker of the Duma may expel members of the Duma or spectators if their conduct is disruptive or disrespectful;

5.5: The Speaker of the Duma may not introduce or vote on bills and shall maintain impartiality on all matters presented;

5.51: The Speaker of the Duma may offer critique on bills for the purpose of encouraging debate and scrutiny;

5.6: In accordance with 204 of the Haurul Caezk, the Speaker of the Duma shall nominate a member of the Duma to serve as Lord Handler or Lady Handler, who shall be confirmed by majority vote and serve as presiding officer of the Royal Duma in the absence of the Speaker of the Duma;

5.7: The Speaker of the Duma may be subjected to a vote of no confidence by the Royal Duma if they believe the Speaker to be corrupt or in breach of the provisions enshrined herein or in the Haurul Caezk, which shall advise the Crown on their removal.

 

Article VI: Powers of the Royal Duma

6.1: The Royal Duma may present, vote on and pass legislative acts to the Crown for signing into Haeseni law;

6.2: The Royal Duma may present, vote on and pass advisory acts to the Crown articulating the sentiments of the Royal Duma as representatives of the Haeseni people on any given matter;

6.3: The Royal Duma may summon Aulic Councillors and question them on the conduct of their respective Office;

6.4: The Royal Duma may vote to affirm a Lord Handler or Lady Handler in accordance with Section 204 of the Haurul Caezk;

6.5: The Royal Duma may, in the event of a succession crisis, vote to select a Crown in accordance with Section 103 of the Haurul Caezk.

 

Article VII: Limitations of the Royal Duma

7.1: The Royal Duma may not pass legislative bills regarding the operation or composition of the Haeseni Royal Army;

7.2: The Royal Duma may not pass legislative bills regarding the Jura i Krawn of the Haurul Caezk or any other matter pertaining to the Crown, succession or royal family.

 

Article VIII: The Matyas Amendment

8.1: Elected officials of the Royal Duma may cast their vote in abstention in the event they are unable to attend a sitting of the Royal Duma; 

8.2: If a bill does not achieve sufficient votes during a sitting of the Royal Duma but may achieve the required majority with the votes of any absent elected officials, the Speaker of the Duma shall write to these elected officials outlining the bills they may vote on and any notable arguments for or against such bills;

8.3: Absent elect officials shall be afforded twenty-four Saint’s hours from the time at which they receive the letter from the Speaker of the Duma to return a letter with their vote;

8.4: The Speaker of the Duma shall inform the Royal Duma on the outcome of any bill determined by absentee voting at the next sitting.

 

IV JOVEO MAAN,

His Royal Majesty Josef I, by the Grace of Godan, King of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Prince of Bihar, Dules, Ulgaard, Lahy, Sorbesborg and Slesvik, Duke of Carnatia and Vidaus, Margrave of Rothswald, Count of Graiswald, Karikhov, Baranya, Kvasz, Kavat, Karovia, Kovachgrad, Torun, Turov, Kaunas, Alban, Reza and Markev, Baron of Rytsburg, Venzia, Esenstadt, Krepost and Kralta, Lord of the Westfolk, Protector of the Highlanders, etcetera.