The Grand Speaker Election

[Tremerus 1188]

 

THE GRAND SPEAKER ELECTION

Issued and averred by

His Grace

Atstana de

Regne Petrère

170

 

 

THE COMMONWEALTH has seen much change in the past several years, difficult change, and yet we as a people have adjusted at a speed that gives me great pride. We are graced, in our new form as an Archduchy, to retain the republican systems that Petra was built off of, including the establishment of the Garmont Assembly. I intend to continue to see this assembly upheld, which will begin with the long-due election of a new Grand Speaker to oversee it. 

 

In order to explain the duties of the Grand Speaker to those who might be unfamiliar, I have written to a previous Speaker of the Petra, Sir Atticus Reinhold, and included his response in this missive. I hope his words will help encourage those who are considering stepping forward for this important role.

 

 

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In my time as Petra’s Speaker, I found it to be a fulfilling duty unlike any other I held over the course of my career- To be able to gain such a rounded perspective from the Commonwealth’s many voices is a gift. However, I will first speak plainly on that which the job entails, before delving into pure sentiment.

 

The Grand Speaker is the neutral mediator of the Garmont Assembly, which serves as the lawmaking council of the Commonwealth. The seats of the Assembly are made up of representatives from nobility and vassal towns, alongside publicly elected representatives who speak for no title or land, but for the needs of the people. Together this collection of fine citizens drafts new laws and infrastructure proposals to suit the Commonwealth’s needs, votes on those laws, and plays an integral role in advising the Archduke and the Chancellery on the desires of their people. They are decision-makers and society-shapers.

 

The Speaker coordinates the assembly, their primary duty being the organization of its meetings, setting a time and date every two years for the seatholders to convene. Though, if needed, emergency assemblies may be called outside of this schedule by either the Speaker, or the Archduke. The Speaker will keep track of all bills submitted to them for the Assembly and call upon them to be presented, signaling when it is time for debate, and when it is time to vote, being mindful not to let any presentation or debate become over-long. They will count the votes for each bill, and announce which ones pass and which ones do not, passing on each approved bill to the Archduke.

 

It is also the duty of the Speaker to ensure the assembly stays orderly and civil. The Speaker shall issue infractions to members of the Assembly who break the Garmont’s code of conduct, and handle any disruptions to the proceedings as they arise. On occasion the Assembly can get fairly heated- Politics bring rise to a lot of emotions, and a Grand Speaker may find themselves needing to mediate not only debates, but personal conflicts between seatholders.

 

Finally, the Grand Speaker will be called upon to organize and hold elections for offices such as the Assembly’s public seats, and the office of the Lord-Mayor of Vallagne. They shall be in charge of coordinating public debates, recording transcripts, and counting ballots. The Grand Speaker is permitted and expected to hire scribes, wards, and assistants to their office to help in these matters.

 

A Grand Speaker must be diligent, and capable of keeping a cool head. They must be wholly and entirely neutral to the proceedings of the assembly, as favoring one side of debate over another would compromise the Assembly itself. 

 

In return for their diligence, the Grand Speaker gains an understanding of the Commonwealth’s people that few others are ever privy to. Because they are the confidant of many voices, from commonfolk to peers, the Speaker becomes a trusted and key advisor of the River Council, and of the Archduke. It is a position of pride, a great accomplishment for any who hold the office, and who hold it well. For those who aspire to public service, there is no finer work to be done.

 

And so, I encourage all who call the Commonwealth their home, who find themselves educated and dedicated, who seek out a way to make a name for themselves- Seek out nomination for the office of the Speaker. It is a fine hand to have in shaping our collective future, and I know many bright faces among our people who would guide that hand well.

 

 

 

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Those who wish become nominated for the position of Grand Speaker must fulfill the following requirements:

 

1. One must be at least eighteen years of age
2. One must have resided in the Commonwealth of the Petra for at least four years*
3. If one does not hold a seat on the Garmont Assembly, one must find a seatholder of the Assembly who is willing to nominate them. Seatholders may self-nominate.
4. One must be in good standing with the law of the Commonwealth.

 

Prospective Speakers are encouraged to campaign for their nomination before the next Garmont Assembly, where voting will occur. The date of the assembly will be decided once all nominations are confirmed to ensure all nominees can attend. Seatholders of the Assembly may confirm their nominations for either themselves or another person by letter. 

 

*There is one exception to this. Due to Tomasz Karoswald's extensive political experience, he will be permitted enter his name into the running for the position.

 

[OOC: Letters can be sent in-game to Tremerus/Therin or placed in the replies of this post.]

 

 

SIGNED, 

HIS GRACE, Therin Thelonius Adil of the Petra, Archduke of the Petra, Marquis de Val d’Estenou, Count of Temesch, Torm Marian, and Moere, Viscount of Mies, Baron of Garmont, Vallagne-en-Petra, Eagles Peak, Hrenthorne, Wittenbach and Resmore, Protector of the Meadows & Defender of Liberty

 

[garentoft 9265]

Upon reading the missive, and the exceptions written on it, Tomasz Karoswald took to writing a letter to Therin, which promptly stated, "Dear Therin, I would like to state my intent to be nominated for the position of Grand Speaker of the Garmont Assembly!" It is further signed with a smiley face. Later, similar letters are left in every mailbox, urging the would-be readers to spare a moment to listen to future statements from the Karoswald Campaign.

[MrMojoMordor 2413]

Bon'Ox would send a letter to King Therin - being nominated by the Hus Stafyr.

[_RoyalCrafter_ 5285]

[!]
A letter would be written to the Archduke, containg the following:

"
To his Grace,

I hope this letter finds you in good fortune, I am writing to you to formally state my intent to run for the position of Grand Speaker of the Garmont Assembly. It is my sincerely held belief that the Assembly is a noble custom of the Petran people that must be upheld!

Sincerely,

Lord Mayor, Héritier du Sacré-cœur,
Guillaume Auclair.
"