The Veletzian Reforms

[Nectorist 12869]

The Veletzian Reforms

As confirmed and accepted by the Duma in the Year 1920.

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Lo unto the Adrians,

 

Although marked by steadfast, loyal governance over the course of the rise of Velec and the Second Duke’s War, the Council of Orel has now served its purpose. Having established ourselves as an independent polity, it is necessary and prudent that we reconfigure the instruments of government for the new era our great duchy is to enter. Under the guidance of his council and the Duma, His Grace, John II, proposed the following restructuring of the governing body of Adria to better-suit the needs of the realm.

 

I) THE OFFICE OF THE DUKE OF ADRIA

 

As stipulated by the Franciscan Articles:

 

I. LANDS AND TITLES BEHOLDEN TO THE DUCAL CORONET

The following titles are hereby tied to the Ducal Coronet of Adria in perpetuity.

• Duke of Adria

• Count of Velec (consisting of the town of Velec)

• Protector of the Aaunic South

• Defender of the Eastfleet Trade

The following properties are hereby tied to the Ducal Coronet of Adria in perpetuity.

• The City of Velec and Little Raev

• The Castle of Emalinhrad

Let no lawful claim be made to the preceding titles or properties be made without first claiming and holding the Duchy of Adria.

 

Revised Articles:

I. LANDS AND TITLES BEHOLDEN TO THE DUCAL CORONET

The following titles are hereby tied to the Ducal Coronet of Adria in perpetuity.

• Duke of Adria

• Count of Velec (consisting of the town of Velec)

• Protector of the Aaunic South

• Defender of the Eastfleet Trade

• Defender of Dumacracy

• First Citizen of Adria

The following properties are hereby tied to the Ducal Coronet of Adria in perpetuity.

• The City of Velec and Little Raev

• The Castle of Emalinhrad

Let no lawful claim be made to the preceding titles or properties be made without first claiming and holding the Duchy of Adria.
 

As stipulated by the Franciscan Articles:

 

II. ELIGIBILITY FOR THE DUCAL CORONET

The elected candidate for the Ducal Coronet must…

• be of the age of majority.

• be a faithful member of the Church of the Canon.

• be in good standing with the courts of the Duchy of Adria.

• be of an established noble lineage.

• claim descent through Exalted Sigismund.

 

Revised Articles:

II. ELIGIBILITY FOR THE DUCAL CORONET

The elected candidate for the Ducal Coronet must…

• be of the age of electoral majority, defined as sixteen.

• be a faithful member of the Church of the Canon.

• be in good standing with the courts of the Duchy of Adria.

• be of an established noble lineage. 

• have resided in the Duchy of Adria for the prior five years preceding the Ducal Election.

• claim descent through Exalted Sigismund.

 

As stipulated by the Franciscan Articles:

 

III. THE FRANCISCAN ARTICLES

Upon the assumption of the Ducal Coronet, each Duke is required to sign the Franciscan Articles, named after the first Duke of Adria, Franz Vladov. These articles act as an agreement between the Duchy (i.e the electors) and the Duke.

• The Duke of Adria is to be chosen by the Ducal Electors in a just and fair election, and his children hold no right of inheritance to the Ducal Coronet of Adria.

• The Duke of Adria is required to convene a Duma, a meeting between lords sworn the duchy every two years.

• The Duke has no right to create new feudal or municipal taxes without the approval of the Duma.

• The Duke has no right to declare war or peace without the approval of the Duma.

• The Duke is required to provide for the standing ducal army.

• If the Duke was to transgress on the law or privileges of the nobility, the Articles authorize the nobility to refuse the Duke’s orders and act against him.

 

Revised Articles:

III. THE FRANCISCAN ARTICLES

Upon the assumption of the Ducal Coronet, each Duke is required to sign the Franciscan Articles, named after the first Duke of Adria, Franz Vladov. These articles act as an agreement between the Duchy (i.e the electors) and the Duke.

• The Duke of Adria is to be chosen by the Ducal Electors in a just and fair election, and his children hold no right of inheritance to the Ducal Coronet of Adria.

• The Duke of Adria is required to convene a Duma, a meeting between lords sworn the duchy every two years.

• The Duke has no right to create new feudal or municipal taxes without the approval of the Duma.

• The Duke has no right to declare war or peace without the approval of the Duma.

• The Duke is required to provide for the standing ducal army.

• If the Duke was to transgress on the law or privileges of the nobility, the Articles authorize the nobility to refuse the Duke’s orders and act against him.

• In the event of a state of war, all laws regulating taxation are suspended until the official cessation of hostilities. 

 

II) THE GENERAL STAFF OF ADRIA

The rigidity of the current Council of Orel is presently unsuitable to direct the economic and political activity at the direction of His Grace. Instead, a broader council, unrestricted by the confines of specific, defined positions, shall be made to advise the Duke on all matters of state and carry out the executive functions of the Ducal Office. It is in His Grace’s interests that his council be flexible enough to sufficiently address the potential challenges that the realm faces, while also well-staffed as to meet the administrative and bureaucratic demands of the state. 

 

Proposed Articles:

 

IX. THE GENERAL STAFF

The General Staff of Adria shall henceforth be defined as the executive advisory body to the Duke of Adria. Appointed by the Duke of Adria, the Prefects of the General Staff are, barring a few exceptions, without position, instead being delegated tasks according to need and merit.

• All members of the General Staff of Adria shall be referred to as Prefect.

• All Prefects of the General Staff are unilaterally appointed by the Duke of Adria.

• The General Staff of Adria shall generally be without specific position, save the two enumerated roles:

  • Chancellor of the Adrians: The foremost councilor of the Duke of Adria and the designated regent of the Duchy of Adria.

  • Tribune of the Greycloak Watch: The foremost military officer in the Duchy of Adria after the Duke of Adria and the commander of the Greycloaks. They shall retain the informal styling of ‘Marshal of Adria’. Presently, Caelan von Draco @VoxyNoir.

• All Prefects of the General Staff shall be afforded the full executive authority to perform the tasks assigned to them, and are answerable only to the Duke, the Chancellor of the Adrians, and the Duma.

• Prefects of the General Staff, save the Chancellor of the Adrians or the Tribune of the Greycloak Watch, may be subject to a review of conduct by the Duma if called to do so by a majority vote. 

 

III) THE DUMA

 

As stipulated by the Franciscan Articles:

 

VI. DEFINING THE DUMA

The Duma shall henceforth be defined as the assembly of the estates within the Duchy of Adria. The Duma is tasked with carrying out judgment on matters pertaining to the Duchy and shall have the final say on matters pertaining to laws, wars, alliances, and treaties.

• The Duma is assembled upon the request of the Duke, and as due by the Franciscan Articles is required to be assembled once every two years.

• The estates and their representatives are henceforth defined as thus.

  • From the Duchy, the Chancellor acts as the Duke’s representative and heads the Duma in the Duke’s name.

  • From the nobility, two representatives from every demesne within the Duchy are called forth.

  • From the burghers, four representatives from the City of Velec are called forth.

• The representatives from the estates must represent a majority of the population of Adria.

• In order for a motion to pass, it must have a clear majority.

 

Revised Articles:

VI. DEFINING THE DUMA

The Duma shall henceforth be defined as the assembly of the estates within the Duchy of Adria. The Duma is tasked with carrying out judgment on matters pertaining to the Duchy and shall have the final say on matters pertaining to laws, wars, alliances, and treaties.

• The Duma is assembled upon the request of the Duke, and as due by the Franciscan Articles is required to be assembled once every two years.

• The estates and their representatives are henceforth defined as thus.

  • From the Duchy, the Chancellor acts as the Duke’s representative and heads the Duma in the Duke’s name.

  • From the nobility, two representatives from every demesne within the Duchy are called forth.

  • From the burghers, four representatives from the City of Velec are called forth.

• The representatives from the estates must represent a majority of the population of Adria.

• The Duma shall be wholly popular and include all property-holding citizens of the Duchy of Adria.

• The Chancellor of the Adrians shall act as the Duke’s representative to the Duma and head the Duma in their name.

• All changes to the Franciscan Articles, or documents of reform necessitating change to the Franciscan Articles, must be passed and approved by the Duma.

• An Electoral Committee shall be established as part of the Duma, with the express purpose of electing a new Duke of Adria upon the death or abdication of the former.

• The Electoral Committee, in accordance with the Franciscan Articles, shall be comprised of:

  • The Duchy of Blackvale  - Presently, Valentin van Aert @Vermy

  • The Duchy of Crestwatch - Presently, Reinolt von Draco @ItemVendor

  • The County of Aldersberg - Presently, Markus Sarkozic @Nooblius

  • The County of Varoche - Presently, Johanes van Aert @Nectorist

  • The County of Emalyne - Presently, Suzana Sarkozic @amyselia

  • The County of Gelre - Presently, Lucien de Rouen @subatomic

  • The County of Susa - Presently, Justinian Basrid @JoanOfArc

  • The Barony of Euler - Presently, Stefan Euler @Gaja

  • The Barony of Harlingen - Presently, Manus de Ruyter @Capace

  • The Primate of Adria - Presently, Unoccupied 

  • The House of Ivanovich-Montalt

  • The House of Vilac

  • The House of Valic

• New members of the Electoral Committee may only be added by the Duke of Adria, with a vote of confirmation by the Electoral Committee, or by majority vote of the Duma on the day of election.

• The mediation of disputed seats on the Electoral Committee is to be conducted by the Duma before or during the Ducal Election.

• Seats on the Electoral Committee may only be removed by the reigning Duke of Adria.

• In order for a motion to pass, it must have a clear majority.

 

IV) THE CITIZEN’S COUNCIL OF VELEC

 

Proposed Articles:

 

X. THE CITIZEN’S COUNCIL

The Citizen’s Council of Velec is to be established and maintained, its charge to facilitate the orderly governance of the City of Velec through close work and participation in the Duma. The Council and its members reflect the four pillars of Adrian society: The Army, the Church of the Canon, the Ducal Court, and the Duma.

• The Citizen’s Council of Velec will be comprised of the following members:

  • The Tribune of the Greycloak Watch, as appointed by the Duke. Presently, Caelan von Draco @VoxyNoir

  • The Primate of Adria, as appointed by the High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon. Presently, Unoccupied

  • The Magistrate of Commerce, as appointed by the Castellan of the Ducal Court. Presently, Markus Sarkozic @Nooblius

  • The Seneschal, as appointed by the Duma. Presently, Allessandra de Vend @Smol

• No member of the Citizen’s Council shall be guaranteed a seat on the General Staff save the Tribune of the Greycloak Watch

 

V) THE DUCAL RETINUE

The Ducal Retinue shall be those positions that, having a necessary place at the Duke’s side, yet not requiring a seat upon either the General Staff or within the Court of St. Emalyne, are utilized at the Duke’s personal discretion. When not under orders of the Duke, the Ducal Retinue falls under the jurisdiction of the Castellan of the Court of St. Emalyne. While not automatically afforded a seat upon the General Staff, there is no prohibition on a Prefect holding a position within the Ducal Retinue.

 

I) The Ducal Inquisitor

Tasked with rooting out the corrupting influences of dark magic from the realm.

 

II) The Ducal Scribe

Tasked with aiding the Duke in the drafting of legislation along with other important cultural and legal documents for the realm. 

 

III) The Magistrate of the Bank of Adria

Tasked with governing the Bank of Adria and maintaining the finances of the realm. 

 

IV) The Ducal Surgeon

Tasked with serving as the Duke’s personal surgeon and physician. 

 

V) Captain of the Ducal Guard

Tasked with defending the Duke and the Ducal family while outside the realm. May be a member of the Greycloak Watch.

 

VI) The Ducal Guard

Four individuals, not including the Captain, tasked with defending the Duke and the Ducal family while outside the realm. May be members of the Greycloak Watch.

 

VII) The Ducal Investigator

Tasked with gathering intelligence pertinent to the realm.

 

VIII) The Ducal Alchemist 

Tasked with performing alchemy and other such arts for the court.

 

IX) The Ducal Judge

Tasked with the conducting of justice and the interpretation of law in the stead of the Duke.