[Announcement] Provisional Rules of the Council of Scribes

[Cormac]

Provisional Rules of the Council of Scribes Pursuant to Article II, Section 1(6) of the Scroll of Ma'at, which empowers the Pharaoh to administer the business of the Council of Scribes if the office of Chief Scribe is vacant, and invoking the power granted to the Chief Scribe by Article II, Section 1(5) to exercise discretion in determining procedure where no rules exist, these Provisional Rules of the Council of Scribes are established until such a time as the Council of Scribes may enact standing procedural rules.

Section 1: Composition and Administration

(1) All citizens of the Osiris Fraternal Order may participate in all discussions conducted by the Council of Scribes.
(2) Citizens of the Osiris Fraternal Order, the Pharaoh and Priests excepted, will have a vote on all proposals and in all elections.
(3) The Council of Scribes will be administered by the Chief Scribe. The Chief Scribe may appoint deputies to assist in administration of the Council of Scribes.
(4) If the office of Chief Scribe is vacant, or for the duration of discussion and voting on a motion to remove the Chief Scribe from office, the business of the Council of Scribes will be administered by the Pharaoh or by a Priest designated by the Council of Priests.

Section 2: Legislative Procedure

(1) Any citizen may introduce a proposal before the Council of Scribes.
(2) Only the Chief Vizier or designated Vizier(s) may introduce treaties before the Council of Scribes.
(3) Only the Pharaoh may introduce nominations for the Council of Priests before the Council of Scribes.
(4) In order for a proposal to be brought to vote, a voting citizen may make a motion to vote, with a minimum of two other voting citizens seconding the motion.
(5) After a motion to vote has been made and twice seconded in accordance with procedure, the Chief Scribe may delay a vote for up to seven days.
(6) All votes shall take place for three days. Voting citizens may vote "aye," "nay," "abstain," or votes of clearly similar intent.
(7) Abstentions may not be used to determine the outcome of any vote.
(8) All proposals require a simple majority (50%+1) of votes in order to pass.
(9) Following the passage of proposals that require the assent of the Pharaoh, the Chief Scribe will present the proposals to the Pharaoh for assent.

Section 3: Electoral Procedure

(1) The Pharaoh of the Osiris Fraternal Order may serve as electoral administrator for all elections.
(2) In the event that the Pharaoh is unable or unwilling to administer an election, the Council of Priests will designate a Priest to administer the election.
(3) The electoral period for any elected office will begin with a three day period for nominations, followed by a one day period for additional campaigning, followed by a three day period for voting. Candidates may campaign throughout an electoral period.
(4) An electoral period will begin nine days before the expiration of an elected official's term or as soon as practical after an elected office is vacated. Should an electoral period for any reason be delayed, the incumbent official will continue to hold office until conclusion of the electoral period.
(5) In any election, citizens who are eligible to vote may vote for one eligible candidate who has confirmed candidacy or may vote abstain/present.
(6) The option to reopen nominations will be included in all elections. Should the reopening of nominations receive majority support, the electoral period will be restarted.
(7) The candidate elected to office in any election will be the candidate who receives majority support in the election. If no candidate receives majority support, the two candidates with the most votes will proceed to run-off election. In the event of a tie for most votes involving more than two candidates, all candidates involved in the tie will proceed to run-off election.
(8) The run-off electoral period will consist of a two day voting period. Run-off election will be repeated as necessary until one candidate receives majority support in the election.
(9) In the event that majority support is not achieved during an election due to a tie involving only two candidates, the tie will be broken in favor of the candidate who has maintained citizenship in the Osiris Fraternal Order for the longest continuous period of time.
(10) Votes of abstain/present in any election will count only toward participation in the election and will not count for or against majority support needed to be elected to office or to reopen nominations.