Hedjet Amendment Act

[Ainocra]

Section 2 Article 3 of the state code of Osiris which reads

[3. The Pharaoh will have the power to appoint or remove any citizen as a senior cabinet official, styled Scribes of the Hedjet. Appointment of Scribes must be approved by the Deshret. Junior cabinet officials may be appointed at the discretion of the relevant Scribe.]3

[(a) The ministry of justice will be a mandatory executive ministry which must have a Scribe assigned to oversee it.]5

Shall be amended to read

Spoiler

[3. The Pharaoh will have the power to appoint or remove any citizen as a senior cabinet official, styled Scribes of the Hedjet. Appointment of Scribes must be approved by the Deshret. Junior cabinet officials may be appointed at the discretion of the relevant Scribe.]3

[3. The Pharaoh will have the power to appoint or remove any citizen as a senior cabinet official, styled Scribes of the Hedjet. Appointment of Scribes must be approved by the Deshret. Junior cabinet officials may be appointed at the discretion of the relevant Scribe.]3

(a) In the event that the office of Justice is vacant any citizen may petition the Pschent directly.

In keeping with the idea to simplify the state code I believe that section a shown above should be stricken.
The Pharaoh should have full authority to organize the Hedjet as he or she sees fit.

Given that the Deshret can remove the Pharaoh by a vote I do not feel that this would overly impact oversight of the executive.


Thoughts?

[Andrew]

With the removal of the requirement of a Justice Ministry, the Pharaoh doesn't have to appoint one. Therefore, will citizens have the power to bring Court cases to the Court whether it be directly or through the Justice Ministry or Pharaoh, if a Pharaoh has established it, or they need go through the Justice Ministry or Pharaoh, to get a trial.

Even though it may be unlikely for a Pharaoh not to appoint of Scribe responsible for Justice, doesn't it vest a little too much power in the Pharaoh?

[Ainocra]

Section 8 of the criminal codex does give deputies the authority to bring charges

Section 8: Statute of Limitations

1. In order to be valid, a charge of a high crime must be brought before the Pschent by the Scribe of Justice or their deputy within twelve months of the date the alleged offense occurred.

2. In order to be valid, a charge of a felony crime must be brought before the Pschent by the Scribe of Justice or their deputy within six months of the date the alleged offense occurred.

3. In order to be valid, a charge of a misdemeanor crime must be brought before the Pschent by the Scribe of Justice or their deputy within three months of the date the alleged offense occurred.

We could also amend it to allow citizens to bring charges in the absence of a scribe of justice/deputies.

Section 8: Statute of Limitations

1. In order to be valid, a charge of a high crime must be brought before the Pschent by the Scribe of Justice or their deputy within twelve months of the date the alleged offense occurred.

2. In order to be valid, a charge of a felony crime must be brought before the Pschent by the Scribe of Justice or their deputy within six months of the date the alleged offense occurred.

3. In order to be valid, a charge of a misdemeanor crime must be brought before the Pschent by the Scribe of Justice or their deputy within three months of the date the alleged offense occurred.

4. In the event that the office of Justice is Vacant Citizens may petition the Pschent directly.

Perhaps make it members of the Deshret? draft us into being ad hoc lawyers if there is no justice ministry?
(I don't like that idea, runs counter to separation of powers.)

or perhaps give the Deshret the authority to appoint a special prosecutor by majority vote?
(same as above, don't like it but they popped into my head thought i'd share em as food for thought)

[Lord Ravenclaw]

I am not keen on this amendment. The Deshret has struck a reasonable balance between power of the Pharaoh and legislative oversight, and I don't think the Justice Ministry should be removed as a mandatory ministry.

[Joshua Bluteisen]

It's unnecessary legislative bloat to require a cabinet position that will likely see little-to-no actual use.

There is no such thing as legislative oversight in a community this small, especially when it's an appointed position in and of itself.

[Cormac]

I don't mind removing the Scribe of Justice as a mandatory ministry, but as noted by others we do need to ensure that there is someone to prosecute crimes when the need arises.

[Ainocra]

It's unnecessary legislative bloat to require a cabinet position that will likely see little-to-no actual use.

There is no such thing as legislative oversight in a community this small, especially when it's an appointed position in and of itself.

I agree with Josh, especially considering under the state code the Pharaoh can legally fire Scribes at will.

[Ainocra]

Op amended

[3. The Pharaoh will have the power to appoint or remove any citizen as a senior cabinet official, styled Scribes of the Hedjet. Appointment of Scribes must be approved by the Deshret. Junior cabinet officials may be appointed at the discretion of the relevant Scribe.]3

(a) In the event that the office of Justice is vacant any citizen may petition the Pschent directly.

[Tim Stark]

Just for the record, I am in support of this amendment.

[Vaculatestar]

I am not keen on this amendment. The Deshret has struck a reasonable balance between power of the Pharaoh and legislative oversight, and I don't think the Justice Ministry should be removed as a mandatory ministry.

I'm with Raven on this one.