[Draft] Omnibus State Code Amendment Act

War Wombat · Post by **War Wombat** » Fri May 30, 2014 4:07 pm

I think that there should be some revision to the colonies and territories system, but I'm not sure tif the State Code is the place for that.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Fri May 30, 2014 5:18 pm

War Wombat wrote:Fri May 30, 2014 9:07 pmI think that there should be some revision to the colonies and territories system, but I'm not sure tif the State Code is the place for that.

Do you mean the Colonies and Territories act

Cormac · Post by **Cormac** » Fri May 30, 2014 9:31 pm

War Wombat wrote:Fri May 30, 2014 9:07 pmI think that there should be some revision to the colonies and territories system, but I'm not sure tif the State Code is the place for that.

I agree that this needs dealt with by law, but the State Code probably isn't the place for it. That's a thing that may need to be flexible as we see what works and what doesn't, and simple majority votes are better for matters that require flexibility.

Lands of the South · Post by **Lands of the South** » Fri May 30, 2014 9:41 pm

Cormac Somerset wrote:Fri May 30, 2014 5:22 pmMy primary concerns with your proposals is maintaining an independent judiciary. If Elders are appointed by the Pharaoh -- even if confirmed, and to essentially life terms -- and even more importantly, if allowed to serve as Scribes, it's going to be hard to keep them truly independent of the Executive.

Ah, sorry, of course I don't want Elders to serve as Scribes, I meant priests.

My primary concern goes to what Vac said: an Elder must apply the law and nothing else. An elected judiciary might look more independent than one with appointed judges, but that's an erroneous belief, given that, unlike in RL, we don't have a large and anonymous electorate. Therefore, elders cannot act politically neutral, but must always keep their reelection in mind. Judicial positions should go to the most capable members, not to those popular enough to get elected. With a confirmation vote, I trust the Deshret to make sure that the most controversial candidates won't make it to the bench.

Cormac · Post by **Cormac** » Fri May 30, 2014 10:07 pm

That's a valid point in regard to the independence of the judiciary. Thoughts from others?

In regard to Elders serving as priests, they can do that under both the current State Code and the amended State Code draft.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Sat May 31, 2014 6:20 am

I agree with Lands of the South on the ideas he has expressed about the Judiciary and why an appointed Judiciary is better than an elected one. As well as allowing Elders to join priesthoods

Cormac · Post by **Cormac** » Sat May 31, 2014 9:07 am

Once again, Elders can join Priesthoods under both the current State Code and this draft.

I'm not sure about the need for an elected Attorney General if we're allowing the Pharaoh to continue appointing Elders. It seems silly to have the person responsible for prosecution elected, but the people responsible for verdicts, convictions, and sentences appointed.

Lands of the South · Post by **Lands of the South** » Sat May 31, 2014 11:23 am

I'm fine with both versions. But the Advocate of the Deshret is not only allowed, but *supposed* to be biased, while Elders are not.

Post by **shetef** » Sat May 31, 2014 1:11 pm

Lands of the South wrote:Sat May 31, 2014 4:23 pmI'm fine with both versions. But the Advocate of the Deshret is not only allowed, but *supposed* to be biased, while Elders are not.

As the first Attorney General under the OFO, I have a bit of a grievance with that sort of view. The Scribe of Seshat should be just as impartial as the Elders. They just have a different job- that is, to argue a particular point of view, which is not the same as having a bias.

Re appointment of Elders - absolutely not. That's just asking for a revival of the KRO where the Elders only exist to serve as sycophants to the Pharaoh. I refuse to work with such a system again.

Cormac · Post by **Cormac** » Sat May 31, 2014 3:22 pm

Well, that is currently our system, and for the record judges were elected in the KRO...

But I really do feel it's better to figure out some way to separate Elders from executive appointment.