Osiris Fraternal Order

Greetings everyone!

I address you today in the hopes of gathering your support for my bid for the office of the Keeper of the Deshret. I would also like to express my gratitude to Old Federalia for the nomination, without which I believe I wouldn't have even bothered to seriously consider standing for Keeper.

Before I proceed, allow me to introduce myself. I am Josh Sebastian. I have had the pleasure and privilege to serve regions I hold citizenship in, through various capacities, ranging from holding the highest elective office, legislator, leader of the legislative body, government secretary, minister ambassador, and world assembly delegate.

My vision for the Deshret is quite simple really, and that is just help it maximize and fulfill its most paramount obligation, and that is legislation. The body is a composition of some of the most brightest minds in all of NationStates and undoubtedly serves as an important avenue for ordinary Osirians to participate in a more active and engaged role in the affairs and governance of the region. As an institution, it is will be a driving force in the promotion and preservation of our community, only if it functions and operates in the most ideal of levels.

What is needed therefore, is for its members to stay true and committed to their mandate, to never forget their promise to Osiris. To have someone then, who can help them function in a more efficient and thus effective manner; someone who can listen and set aside personal bias for the observance of professionalism and a sense duty; someone who can facilitate discussion and constructive debate, and someone who can offer stability and a sense of direction would be for the Deshret's best interests. Friends, I believe I can be that someone. I will always try to be that someone. For the Deshret, and for the region as a whole.

As Keeper I pledge fairness and objectivity in all of my dealings, especially in official matters and duties. I would adopt a style that encourages and facilitates careful and construction discussions of before the Deshret, respecting individual rights and liberties as so accorded by the Code and our laws. But alas, I shall not tolerate any act that will stain the honor and dignity of the body, nor will I condone any act that seeks to deprive of its powers or its constitutional duty to the people of Osiris.

We've started laying the framework for what I pray would be the peace our region has long hoped for. The Deshret will be needed now and more than ever to help the Pharaoh and the people achieve that dream. I want to help the Deshret do exactly that, as a member and hopefully, it's Keeper.

Thank you for your time. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you all very much!

Same questions I had for Treize:

Aside from the priorities you've mentioned, what do you see as the priorities the Deshret most needs to focus on as it moves forward? These can be either broad or specific, there's not a "right answer" that I'm looking for, just genuinely curious.

Also, Section 3.6(d) of the Procedure gives the Keeper the power to establish additional rules for order and other processes for the operation of the Deshret as long as they don't conflict with the Procedure. Would you implement any additional such rules or processes, and if so what? Moreover, generally speaking would you be inclined to implement additional rules unilaterally or would you consult the Deshret beforehand?

Thanks, and best of luck!

Thank you for those questions, Cormac!

With regard to the first one, definitely the State Code needs to be on top of the Deshret's priority list and passed in earnest. Of course that would be the framework of our very government and would serve as the basis of other laws Osiris will be having. The inter-regional community is also certainly looking forward to our Constitution and I feel securing such a fundamental hallmark of any established government would steer us to more stable and peaceful shores. I'd also like to see a more ironed-out policy when it comes to our citizenship and election laws, not to mention laws defining crimes in Osiris.

As to the second question, generally speaking I find the standing orders complete in themselves and encompassing of needed actions already. Substantively, everything was already covered. "Procedurally" however, there is more room to fill in, and I think I great deal of that should be left for the incoming Keeper to identify, like how nomination and voting threads are to be kept separate, pinning of threads (what needs to be up there etc), where should they be and the like. Those are purely clerical. At the end of the day, however, every practice or procedure of the Deshret should be of service and convenience to the Deshret and its members. As such, I'd always act on what the body so desires.

You're welcome.

Often times Speakers need to summarize ideas and debates in order to keep threads on track. Your wall of text does not do that. Would you please demonstrate such ability when answering the following questions?

As the inaugural Keeper, you would help define the separation of powers in practice. How involved should the Deshret be with the executive? How far could legislation go to mandate and regulate executive actions?

How about the judiciary? The Temple of Seshat is going to be creating interpretations of the laws, and the Hedjet will be the judiciary as well as the executive. Will this sideline the legislature whenever there is a tripartite disagreement?

Keeping a legislature active is difficult. After writing a constitution and civil code, things inevitably cool down. What type of activities and forms of legislation to do you expect to use to keep the councilors interested?

That's my campaign thread, it's supposed to be a wall of text hehe. And I haven't been given anything to summarize:p Moving on, thank you for those questions.

Involvement should be as far as what is constitutionally permissible. Right now, the draft of the State Code provides for a check and balance mechanism, the Deshret can overturn a Pharaoh's veto by two-thirds majority vote. So when you have that, it also becomes a duty to ensure that the actions of the Pharaoh are well-founded and really beneficial for the region.The Deshret can also perform oversight functions. It can call on members of the Hedjet, and officers other government bodies for parliamentary inquiry, the result of which could be used in aid of legislation. In fact, that should be an expressed power of the Deshret.

With regard to your second question, I do believe the latest draft of the State Code already include the provision for a separate judiciary. I have personally endeavored to have a totally independent and co-equal court. The Deshret will never be sidelined. In fact, we will be exerting a lot of power and influence, because ours is the power to make to laws. Without the laws, the powers of the other two branches would come to be. Other than that, we are also the most direct means for the ordinary Osirians to be involved with government. So we have a considerable clout in terms of politics and governance.

As to the last question, let me start by saying, whatever level of activity the Deshret will be having in the future, that's up for its members, individually, to decide. The Keeper can only do so much. While certain measures (for example disciplinary or suspensive ones in terms of inactive councillors) can be initiated by the Keeper to ensure the body to be more active, ultimately the councillors themselves would be the ones to determine just how active the Deshret will be.

Having said that, the position can be used to encourage activity. By facilitating different discussions about state and even inter-regional affairs, one can stimulate the activity of the Deshret, and could even start the formulation of news laws and policies. Also, the best way to encourage the councillors to be active is being active yourself. Being prompt in the replies, in the moving, closing of threads of polls, etc. The Keeper should serve as a role model.

First, if I'm being rough on you...oh well...

Josh wrote:That's my campaign thread, it's supposed to be a wall of text hehe. And I haven't been given anything to summarize:p Moving on, thank you for those questions.

If you're American, you'll remember the first debate between the president and the republican candidate in the last election cycle. It was understood by both parties that the challenger defeated the president in that debate. I'd like to think it was because he had a plan, a five point plan...so, I suggest from both real life and my own experience in NS to use bullet points. And, you could have summarized your wall of text, hehe.

Josh wrote:Involvement should be as far as what is constitutionally permissible. Right now, the draft of the State Code provides for a check and balance mechanism, the Deshret can overturn a Pharaoh's veto by two-thirds majority vote. So when you have that, it also becomes a duty to ensure that the actions of the Pharaoh are well-founded and really beneficial for the region.The Deshret can also perform oversight functions. It can call on members of the Hedjet, and officers other government bodies for parliamentary inquiry, the result of which could be used in aid of legislation. In fact, that should be an expressed power of the Deshret.

Do you believe the Deshret should pass legislation that regulates the specific roles of the executive? Perhaps the name of the official regional newspaper? Perhaps the qualifications for being a defense lawyer? Perhaps the types of guides in the Temple of Khnum?

Josh wrote:With regard to your second question, I do believe the latest draft of the State Code already include the provision for a separate judiciary. I have personally endeavored to have a totally independent and co-equal court. The Deshret will never be sidelined. In fact, we will be exerting a lot of power and influence, because ours is the power to make to laws. Without the laws, the powers of the other two branches would come to be. Other than that, we are also the most direct means for the ordinary Osirians to be involved with government. So we have a considerable clout in terms of politics and governance.

Would you support the supremacy of the court to interpret the Constitution and thereby limit the legislature or the legislature's power to expound on the Constitution with legislation?

Josh wrote:As to the last question, let me start by saying, whatever level of activity the Deshret will be having in the future, that's up for its members, individually, to decide. The Keeper can only do so much. While certain measures (for example disciplinary or suspensive ones in terms of inactive councillors) can be initiated by the Keeper to ensure the body to be more active, ultimately the councillors themselves would be the ones to determine just how active the Deshret will be.

Having said that, the position can be used to encourage activity. By facilitating different discussions about state and even inter-regional affairs, one can stimulate the activity of the Deshret, and could even start the formulation of news laws and policies. Also, the best way to encourage the councillors to be active is being active yourself. Being prompt in the replies, in the moving, closing of threads of polls, etc. The Keeper should serve as a role model.

You don't have any ideas for legislation? Perhaps a WFE regulation act? Perhaps an endocap act? Perhaps legislation to standardize how much "activity" is required for Deshret membership?

Lol, all is good :p

Old Federalia wrote: If you're American, you'll remember the first debate between the president and the republican candidate in the last election cycle. It was understood by both parties that the challenger defeated the president in that debate. I'd like to think it was because he had a plan, a five point plan...so, I suggest from both real life and my own experience in NS to use bullet points. And, you could have summarized your wall of text, hehe.

Never have I used bullet points in all my campaign threads. I'll be sure to try that the next time around hehe.

Old Federalia wrote: Do you believe the Deshret should pass legislation that regulates the specific roles of the executive? Perhaps the name of the official regional newspaper? Perhaps the qualifications for being a defense lawyer? Perhaps the types of guides in the Temple of Khnum?

If by specific we mean those roles you've mentioned, I think legislation is no longer warranted. Probably, in terms of qualifications for higher executice offices, yes, but if we are going to be limited to those instances you mentioned, I think it is no longer necessary for the Deshret to interfere. That should be left for the excecutive to decide. Give them discretion, give them freedom to exercise their duties and responsibilities in the way that they feel will be most effective, without of course violating the State Code.

Old Federalia wrote: Would you support the supremacy of the court to interpret the Constitution and thereby limit the legislature or the legislature's power to expound on the Constitution with legislation?

Yes, that's what I had in mind the entire time I was preparing a separate provision for the Pschent. The Judiciary has to be independent and supreme in its own sphere, that means the interpretation of our Constitution and other laws. While undoubtedly the Deshret makes, in its own interpretation when it is in the process of crafting laws, or amending older ones, ultimately it is the Court that will have to decide what the law really is. Of course that is without prejudice to the prerogative of the Deshret to redefine policy by passing new laws. That's the kind of arrangement I would like to have here in Osiris.

Old Federalia wrote: You don't have any ideas for legislation? Perhaps a WFE regulation act? Perhaps an endocap act? Perhaps legislation to standardize how much "activity" is required for Deshret membership?

I would rather the WFE and matters pertaining to or concerning it, be left to the Pharaoh. Endocap is good, but that would have to happen after we've achieved a certain level of stability and security making a more flexible endocap permissible. In terms of activity, yes, that is a welcome suggestion and certainly there needs to be a review of the qualifications of the other offices of the state. But really, my main concern right now is securing the passage of a new State Code. Other, more specific ideas for legislation, new legislation that is, will follow.

Legislation for the sheer point of legislation is not a practise Osiris should get into, quite the opposite.

We do not want a sprawling legal code. We want a code that is useful, easy to read and to the point.

Short enough?