[Proposal] The Order of Precedence Act of 2016

[Gradea]

The Order of Precedence Act of 2016

Preamble
The order of precedence to the throne of Osiris (with the occupant of the throne of Osiris being known for the purposes of this Act as the Pharaoh is to be established as laid down below. In the event of a vacancy, the temporary occupant of the throne is to be decided as follows.

1. The Pharaoh
2. The Heir Apparent
3. The Priests of Osiris (in accordance to their respective seniority as determined by their date of induction into the Council of Priests).
4. The Chief Vizier
5. The Chief Scribe
6. The Viziers (in accordance to their respective seniority as determined by the length of citizenship)
7. The Chief Advocate
8. The Marshal General/s of the Pharaonic Guard (in accordance to their respective seniority as determined by their length of service).
9. The Deputy Scribe/s (in accordance to their respective seniority as determined by their length of service as a Deputy Scribe).
10. The Deputy Viziers (if any, in accordance to their respective seniority as determined by their length of service as a Deputy Vizier).
11. Imperial Ambassadors
12. Members of the Civil Service
13. Citizens

[Syberis]

I like the concept, but there are a couple amendments to the Scroll of Ma'at that would be required first.

For example:

In the event that the Pharaoh abdicates and the office of Heir Apparent is vacant, succession to the office of Pharaoh will be determined from among the Council of Priests as prescribed by law.

(1) The Pharaoh will determine a line of succession, beyond the Heir Apparent, which will be comprised of Priests.
(2) In the event that the Pharaoh has not determined a line of succession, the default line of succession will be determined according to World Assembly endorsement count, in descending order from highest to lowest endorsement count.
(3) In the event that two or more Priests have the same endorsement count, their order in the default line of succession will be determined according to regional influence in Osiris, in descending order from highest to lowest regional influence level in Osiris.
(4) In the event that the offices of Pharaoh and Heir Apparent are both vacant, the first Priest in the line of succession who is willing to serve as Pharaoh will succeed to the office of Pharaoh and will automatically resign from the Council of Priests.

The way the law is written right now, we'd have to amend the Scroll of Ma'at and the Legal Code of Osiris to read

In the event that the Pharaoh abdicates and the office of Heir Apparent is vacant, succession to the office of Pharaoh will be determined as prescribed by law.

And the removal of Article IV of The Legal Code of Osiris. I disagree with this personally, but I do want to see good discussion, so, please, Scribes, do give plenty of input. There are a few ways we could make something like this work, but we'd have to do so very carefully.

[Fedele]

I propose casting lots.

In all seriousness, though, perhaps there should be a body capable of appointing a Pharaoh in such a situation.

[Cormac]

I appreciate the level of thought that must have gone into how to set the order of precedence, and that you care enough to be thinking about worst case scenarios, but it's exceedingly unlikely that this would ever be needed. If we ever reach a point in which the Pharaoh abdicates, there is no Heir Apparent or he is not willing to serve, and there are no Priests or they are not willing to serve, we are going to have much bigger problems than who will succeed the Pharaoh -- because that will mean the entire community will have collapsed, and the offices further down the order won't be filled or available either.

I think the line of succession we have now is probably sufficient. That isn't to say I won't assent to this should it pass the Council of Scribes -- I haven't decided that yet -- but just to express my personal view.

Agreed with Syberis that this would also require amendments to the Scroll of Ma'at, otherwise it would be unconstitutional.

[Biyah]

If we get to the point where we're pulling the third or fourth in line, then Osiris was mass ejected and/or the game broke.

[Adytus]

I think the line of succession we have now is probably sufficient. That isn't to say I won't assent to this should it pass the Council of Scribes -- I haven't decided that yet -- but just to express my personal view.

I agree with Cormac.