Office of the Lord Speaker 653 Share Posted May 17 GUIDE TO THE DUMA JEAZIKMARV DLUM VE EDLERVIK Issued by the OFFICE OF THE LORD SPEAKER On the 11th day of Vzmey ag Hyff of 531 E.S From the Haurul Caezk, The Book of Honor Ch. IX. “The Royal Duma” (Ve Krawneo Duma): “IX.I. The Royal Duma shall sit as representatives of the Haeseni people by the grace of the Crown to advise on matters of law and action, and the Speaker shall oversee the assembly to ensure its sittings are peaceful and productive. IX.II. The Speaker shall be recommended to the Crown through a vote in the Royal Duma, of which those eligible for recommendation are: i. Every Haeseni Lord of landed title, ii. The Royal Aldermen. IX.III. The Royal Duma shall consist of two assemblies: i. The Upper Assembly. ii. The Lower Assembly, whose number shall not exceed half the seats of the Upper Assembly. IX.IV. Upon the Royal Duma shall sit: i. Every Haeseni Lord of landed title or their appointed representative, of which shall be a member of their family, who shall sit upon the Upper Assembly. ii. The Royal Aldermen, who shall sit upon the Lower Assembly. iii. The Grand Maer, who shall sit upon the Lower Assembly. iv. The Palatine, only as an arbitrator if a vote is tied… …IX.VII. On the first sitting of every session following an election cycle, there shall be elected from among the members of the Royal Duma: i. The Lord Handler, who shall aid in all apparent duties of the Speaker, stands responsible for marking attendance and voting tallies, and assumes the role as overseer of the Royal Duma in absence of the Speaker. ii. By Crown decree in time of need; the Royal Auditor, who shall upon their own volition seek to root out idleness and corruption amongst such high office as the Aulic Government and Noble Peerage. IX.VIII. As representatives of all Haeseni people, the Royal Duma shall: i. Petition the Crown to sign bills passed by three-fourths majority vote into law, ii. Advise the Crown by three-fourths majority vote, iii. Introduce or remove members of the Lower Assembly by three-fourths majority vote, iv. Establish and mandate both civil and martial infrastructural works, v. Create organised political institutions within the Royal Duma, vi. Receive petitions from the citizenry, vii. Mandate national holidays, viii. Elect Haeseni citizens to the Royal Orders of Merit. ix. Summon and investigate members of the Aulic Government and Noble Peerage, x. Ensure the regulation of law and domestic policies of the Royal State, xi. Ratify international treaties… …IX.IX. The Royal Duma shall sit once called by the Speaker, and those who neglect to attend regularly shall have their privilege suspended by the Crown. IX.X. A sitting of the Royal Duma that lacks at least half of its members and the Black Bulava shall be unlawful.” SEATS UPON THE DUMA THE LORD OR LADY SPEAKER A member of the Aulic Council, the Speaker is recommended by vote to the Crown upon the conclusion of a previous session. The duty of the Speaker is to run the Duma as a fair and composed court fitting of its status, prepared to act as Jovenaar or judge in the case of a court of honor (see: the Royal Inquisitor). Furthermore the Speaker sits upon the aulic council as an advisor to the crown, and is therefore best addressed as Their Excellency. The Speaker wields the Black Bulava, which must be at all times displayed to the Duma Hall while in session, and may use a gavel to maintain order in the Hall. THE LORD OR LADY HANDLER The Handler is elected at the start of a Session and maintains the prestige and conduct of the Hall. Should the Speaker require an absence from a meeting of the Duma, the Handler shall take their place at the front of the Hall. THE ROYAL INQUISITOR The Royal Inquisitor may be selected from the Duma by the Lord Speaker to serve the crown. The purpose of this position is to maintain the prestige and excellence of the Aulic Government and the peerage of the Kingdom. Should a case arise in which there is a dispute between or alleged dishonor by any members of the noble class, the Royal Inquisitor may convene a court of honor to determine the rightful truth, and should the Royal Inquisitor deem a member of the Aulic Government neglectful or acting with dishonor, they may call summon them to a session of the Duma Hall. THE LORD OR LADY PALATINE The Lord or Lady Palatine is only to vote in case of tie, but may also advise the Duma on its service to the Crown and Kingdoms. The Palatine shall be addressed as Their Excellency, and is both leader to the Aulic Council and highest advisor to the Crown. PEERS OF THE REALM By law, every landed house of Hanseti-Ruska is afforded a seat upon the Duma’s Greater Assembly. The Peer of the House is expected to sit on the Duma, or to appoint a representative if they are incapable. This ensures each Peer and their noble family are both obligated to hear the concerns of the people they represent and have an assured avenue to advise the Crown and fellow nobility regardless of their other obligations or interests within the Kingdom. Peers may engage in debate and are afforded one (1) vote per House. GRAND MAER OF VALDEV Per the Book of Honor, “The Grand Maer shall be elected to the Royal Duma through public elections held every six years, in which any Haeseni adult may run. The Maer shall be responsible for, and entitled to: i. Collect tax on behalf of the Treasurer. ii. Manage the Royal Capital’s tavern, or employ someone to do so. iii. Maintain the appearance of the Crownlands and Capital, and aid the Crown with improvements to infrastructure. iv. Hold festivities within the Crownlands and Capital, and liaise with the Royal Court. v. Publish Writs of Banishment and direct soldiers of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl if their commands are not contrary to that of the Officers, the Aulic Council, or the Crown. vi. Reside within the Maer’s Chamber of the Royal Duma Hall for the duration of their term.” The Grand Maer may not appoint a representative in their stead to the Duma, as they are an elected representative of the People. They may engage in debate and are granted one (1) vote per point of action. ROYAL ALDERMEN Per the Book of Honor, “The Royal Aldermen shall be nominated to the Royal Duma by way of Royal Decree or majority vote in the Duma, and may remain in office until their forfeiture or removal, in which any Haeseni adult may run if they do not currently sit upon the Duma.” By this law, the Aldermen may present themselves to the Duma as a candidate. When their nomination is ratified by a seconding from any current sitting member of the Duma, they may then be appointed or rejected by majority vote. The total elected aldermen may not exceed half the Peerage’s seats upon the Royal Duma. As of 529E.S., the number of Aldermen elected may be as many as four (4). Furthermore the Aldermen may not appoint a representative in their stead to the Duma, as they are an elected representative of the People. They may engage in debate and are granted one (1) vote per point of action. ORDER OF EVENTS ROLL CALL Every session of Duma begins with the calling of Roll from highest to lowest rank by title, during which each present member must make known their attendance. The current Roll includes: VALWYCK VIDAUS KVASZMALKOVYA NOVKURSAIN ZVEZLUND KORAVIA KOVGRAD VERSKAYA SVARGRAD THE GRAND MAER, IOANNA D’ARKENT-KORTREVICH ALDERWOMAN ALEXANDRA BARUCH ALDERMAN ALEKSZEJ KORVACZ ALDERMAN CASPIAN COLBORN ALDERMAN RATIBOR RADOVANIC POINTS OF ORDER A point of order is a question directed at the Speaker over the agenda of the day or possible things that the Duma may address. If a representative wishes for a particular point of action (an item on the day’s agenda), it may be brought up immediately after the roll. BILL PROPOSAL A proposed bill is a suggestion for law or action. They are traditionally published to the public prior to the start of a session as a Letter to the Duma, and may furthermore be sponsored by a sitting representative upon the Duma. DEBATE Debate is the important though often spirited means by which the Duma hears the voices of the people elected to its seats. Debate arguments should be proposed to the Speaker, who will decide which of two forms the debate is conducted in: UNMODERATED During unmoderated debate, members of the Duma can speak freely, not needing permission from the Speaker to address the Duma. MODERATED During moderated debate, members of the Duma must ask for permission from the Speaker to present their argument to the Hall. MOTIONS MOTION TO TABLE Should a representative feel a bill is not ready for vote or that it requires further discussion and context, they may motion to table. Their motion must be seconded, at which point the vote shall be suspended and put into the order of business for the next meeting of the Duma. MOTION TO VOTE When a representative feels a debate has reached the ends of productivity, they may motion to vote. This motion must be seconded, at which point the speaker shall begin the voting process and all debate must cease. VOTING When voting begins, answers are expected to be prompt and without further comment. Each representative is entitled to one (1) vote, traditionally given in the scholar’s language of New Marian. OPEN VOTE An open vote allows each member to call their vote once they have decided. There is no order to the open vote, and it is best utilized as a means of swiftly concluding business. BY ROLL A vote by roll is more formal and organized in conduct. Each member of the Duma may not speak until their land or title is called, and must answer without further comment. DA (aye; ai; affirmative) Da indicates the representative approves of the proposed action. NIET (nie; no; negative) Niet indicates the representative does not approve of the proposed action. ABSTAIN An abstention waives the representative’s vote entirely, indicating neutrality. VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE Though rare, votes of no confidence can be called against members of the Aulic Government, included but not limited to the Lord Speaker. Any representative can call a Vote of No Confidence, but must be able to justify such a drastic action. Transcripts shall be published prior to the initiation of the next session of the Duma for both public and representative review. ETIQUETTE OF THE DUMA ADDRESS Members of the Office of the Duma, i.e the Speaker and Handler, are addressed by title. The Speaker may also be referred to as their Excellency, and in debate all members of the Duma should only address the Speaker directly; other members of the Duma may be referenced, but the arguments themselves should be presented to the wielder of the Black Bulava. Peers upon the Duma may be addressed as Herzen or Herzenas; literally indicating ducal title, but in the Hall referring to their status as Lord or Lady. They may also be addressed by the name of their highest lands, such as Vidaus or Zvezlund. The Grand Maer may also be addressed by title, and the Royal Aldermen as Aldermen, followed by their surname. VOTING The XLVII Duma Session is markedly more relaxed in its voting process: members may vote in their language of choice rather than the traditional New Marian, so long as it is clear whether they are indicating da, nie, or abstantion. A motion, such as a nomination or motion to vote, must be seconded by another member of the Duma. It will then move to vote: Duma Hall members should not continue to second a vote such as ‘third’ or ‘fourth’ing, as this only serves to make the voting process redundant and reflect poorly on the representatives’ conduct. GENERAL CONDUCT Once more, representatives address not each other, but the Speaker while engaged in debate. Each representative is expected to act in a conduct which reflects their position, and must understand that while upon the Duma they are a reflection of not only their House, in the case of the peerage, but the whole of Hanseti-Ruska – and advising the anointed Crown. They shall abide the Speaker and Handler and regard one another with respect. If a representative behaves in a way unbefitting of their position, the Speaker may ask them to leave. They are expected to abide by the Speaker’s request and address the issue directly with the Speaker upon conclusion of the session. After Duma, it is advised members resume cordial relations with one another and strive not to take what was said on the floor of the Hall as any indication of personal relation. POWERS OF THE DUMA The foremost responsibility of the Duma is to advise the Crown on the best measures to represent, protect, and provide for the people of Hanseti-Ruska. It may put forward candidates for awards of Royal Merit within the various orders of honor; propose laws and edicts; and issue summons to members of the Hanseti-Ruskan government to review initiatives and objectives within their offices. In case of a royal succession crisis, the Duma is the sixth and final resort, and should all other measures to procure a legitimate heir fail, may by majority vote elect a member of the royal bloodline to the throne. In case of a peerage succession crisis, the Duma is the sixth and second to last resort by which to determine a legitimate heir in conjunction with the Crown. GODANI JEST WIELKI, His Excellency, Henrik III Edvard Amador, Lord Speaker of the Royal Duma, Viscount of Zvezlund, High Archivist to the Royal Valdev Library. Her Grace, Tataniya vas Ruthern, Lady Handler of the Royal Duma, Duchess of Vidaus, Countess of Metterden, Viscountess of Greyspine, Baroness of Rostig, Lady of Morteskvan, Lady of Barrows, Matriarch of All-Ruthern and Protector of the South. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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