The changes here are to ensure that all matters before the Deshret, except elections which have their own timetable, have a mandatory consideration period of three days, can only proceed to vote after being appropriately seconded, etc. This was always intended to be the case, but Treize Dreizehn, as Keeper, interpreted the word previously used -- "proposal" -- to include only legislation and not nominations, removals from office, etc., and used that interpretation on occasion to move such matters to vote more quickly. They are now routinely being moved to vote more quickly, just because, and that was never how it was intended to be.Clarifying Amendment to the Procedure
Section 1: Amendment
1. The Procedure of the Deshret will be amended to read as follows:
Procedure of the Deshret
Section 1: Membership of the Deshret
1. The Deshret will be comprised of all citizens of Osiris who have applied for membership in the Deshret and who have been approved according to the procedure established by the State Code of Osiris.
2. Any Councilor of the Deshret who fails to maintain citizenship in the Osiris Fraternal Order according to the standards established by law will be removed from the membership rolls of the Deshret but will be eligible for re-application upon again attaining citizenship.
3. Any Councilor who misses four or more consecutive votes in the Deshret without declaring an official leave of absence will be removed from the membership rolls of the Deshret but will be eligible for re-application.
4. The Deshret may, by a two-thirds majority vote, remove a Councilor for conduct unbecoming of a Councilor of the Deshret. Any Councilor removed under this provision will not be eligible for re-application for a period of four months.
Section 2: Operation of the Deshret
1. Any Councilor of the Deshret may introduce a matter before the Deshret. Any matter before the Deshret, excluding elections, will go to vote only after a mandatory consideration period of three days, which may be extended to seven days at the discretion of the Keeper.
2. A matter before the Deshret will proceed to vote after a motion to vote on the matter has been made by any Councilor and seconded by any two additional Councilors. The Keeper may at their discretion delay a vote for up to seven days if two or more matters are already at vote. This provision will not apply to elections.
3. Only the Pharaoh or their designated deputy may introduce treaties or agreements with other regions or organizations before the Deshret, which will follow the same process as any other matter introduced before the Deshret.
4. Only the official responsible for such appointments may introduce appointments requiring approval by the Deshret, which will follow the same process as any other matter introduced before the Deshret.
5. Any matter at vote before the Deshret, excluding elections, will only pass the Deshret after a five day voting period. For a vote to be valid, a simple majority of all Councilors must cast a vote of aye, nay, or abstain/present during the voting period.
6. On any matter, excluding elections, Councilors of the Deshret may vote aye, in favor; nay, against; or abstain/present, indicating a vote neither in favor nor against but that one has participated in the vote for the purpose of retaining membership in the Deshret.
Section 3: Keeper of the Deshret
1. The Keeper of the Deshret will be responsible for the following duties:
(a) Any and all duties assigned to the Keeper by any law of the Osiris Fraternal Order;
(b) Maintaining the membership rolls of the Deshret according to the criteria established by Section 1 of this Procedure;
(c) Executing the processes for matters introduced before the Deshret as established by Section 2 of this Procedure and for presenting legislation that has passed the Deshret to the Pharaoh for signature or veto, if applicable;
(d) Maintaining a law index that includes all legally enacted constitutional documents, statutes, treaties, agreements, and amendments to such laws;
(e) Establishing additional rules for order and other processes for the operation of the Deshret provided that they do not conflict with this Procedure or other law.
2. The Keeper will have the power to appoint deputies to assist in the execution of these powers and duties.
3. Should the office of Keeper become vacant, the first deputy appointed by the Keeper or, in the absence of such a deputy, the most senior Councilor of the Deshret who is available to serve will preside over the Deshret for the duration of the vacancy.
There is also language in 2.3-2.4 that makes clear who can introduce treaties to the Deshret and who can nominate officials. These changes have been discussed before but we've never gotten around to amending them.