I'm not sure it particularly matters whether or not Job A and Job B are done by the same person, versus Job A and Job B being merged into one position.  The key point is that we shouldn't be picking less active people to round out the numbers of the Cabinet, and I still want to avoid that.  Otherwise you end up in a situation where, at any given moment, only 2 out of 5 Ministers are actually doing anything.

As far as I can tell, the Public Records Minister doesn't have a lot to do, and so it seems like it doesn't make sense to have it as a whole Cabinet position.  But you just got done in the job, and I didn't want to reach any hasty conclusions -- maybe there's more than meets the eye, or additional responsibilities I haven't thought of.  Was there more to it?

Embarrassingly, I have realized that I actually created some of them and I already have the files. I vectorized the seneschal badge tonight, and I'll do the rest when I get around to them.

Thank you for your efforts. If I need assistance with the images, would you be available to help?

-SVA

Immigration has been one of the most important topics to me for a long time, and that remains no less true now.  We have seen long periods of doldrums, spanning months at a time, followed by lucky strikes with media that led to short booms.  We must find a sustainable path and figure out a plan for the future.

We will continue some of the good work of the previous administration, which fulfilled some of our requests to simplify the immigration form.  The entire process needs a top-to-bottom fresh look, and we need to implement the recommendations of the royal commission.

I also pledge that we will work tirelessly to pass our flagship Public Process Act, new and improved with feedback by MC Tafial of the URL that gives it some real teeth.  And we will look back at applications from the past, to see if there were any problems in the past.  Hopefully, there will be none, and we can move forward with this reform and fear none in the future.

Due to the importance of this role, I will take it on, although I will be looking for a permanent secretary to assist.

Aglhorc:

Éu perventüră requestéu, qe Voastra Maxhestà apünta Alexandreu Davinescu àl óifisch del Ministreu dal Inmigraziun.

So then:

I hereby request that His Majesty appoint Alexandreu Davinescu to the office of Minister of Immigration.

þerxh Sant-Enogat, Mençei and senator for Cézembre, immigrated only a couple of years ago.  And yet in that short time, he has become indispensable.  He has become a leader and organizer, founding the Progressive Alliance and serving as its guiding conscience, as well as the architect of our symbolism and style.  He has been one of the most important leaders of his province.  And he has happily contributed to the success of others in his role as Permanent Secretary of Propaganda.  I am incredibly grateful that he rose up in a dark hour to continue the fight for good government, even when things looked their darkest -- remember that first vote for the Progs, þerxh, with 7.5% of the vote?

Senator Sant-Enogat has graciously agreed to serve as Distain.  This is a catch-all position, with tasks and responsibilities yet to come.  We have projects and plans, and I am grateful that Senator Sant-Enogat will be there to share them with me.  Thank you, þerxh.

Aglhorc:

Éu perventüră requestéu, qe Voastra Maxhestà apünta þerxh Sant-Enogat àl óifisch del Distain, es lo quaxhitéu à servar el Legeu Orgänic es sieu Regeu àl miglhor da sieux capacitaes.

So then:

I hereby request that His Majesty appoint þerxh Sant-Enogat to the office of Distain, and I urge him to serve the Organic Law and his King to the best of his abilities.

By the authority granted me by Org.VI.3, I would like to ask His Majesty, the King of Talossa, to appoint some select few to assist with the work of government.  These shall serve in the Cabinet, and I know they will serve with honour.  Many of these individuals have already planned out their goals, while others will have work enough in the days to come.

As I set about this task, I wish to express my gratitude to them for agreeing to serve their fellow citizens.  Our officials serve without pay and without pomp, enduring criticism and tedium for the joy of seeing a vision realized and a trust fulfilled. Thank you, my friends. And thank you to the people of Talossa, for believing in a bright future to come.

I'd like to centralize a depository of the SVG original files for government arms, rather than the PNGs on the wiki.  As I recall, the Coletx assisted with the design of many of these; does anyone recollect who specifically did this?  Was it the Foxmouth Fellow (who I just a moment ago made a different request of, and for which he has my gratitude for his forbearance)?

-SVA

It seems to me that it might be a good idea to eliminate this office, and assign its functions (monitoring the Scribery and updating Infoteca) to another member of Cabinet.  I'm not sure however, and certainly any such change would not be made immediately.  I'd be particularly interested in the opinion of @Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on this matter, if he's willing to give the benefit of his wisdom.

I have updated the sponsors list and I'm going to submit this to the CRL when it is constituted, unless there's any more suggestions or advice.

If there's no objections or better suggestions, I'll be referring this to the CRL whenever it is constituted.

Thank you, Your Majesty.  I pledge to serve the people of Talossa.  I have retrieved my copy of The Loom of Language and hope to help arrange a live ceremony in conjunction with a Living Cosa.

We will soon announce our postings to Government, our immediate plans and programme, and a speech for the future.

The same has been communicated to His Majesty directly, and a fancy letter will follow soon.

Qe ça piaçadra Voastră Maxhestà:

El Secretar d'Estat concludev'iensă eleziun xheneral dels citaxhiéns del Regipäts Talossan. Noi, els Membreux dal Cosă subsignhats, inperent la maxhorità dels eschcaes. Com'isch zirectat  par l'Artical VI del Legeu Orgänic, es sür clam dal Cosă del Regipäts Talossan, noi as·chent qe Voastră Maxhestà apünta Alexandreu Davinescu come voastra Seneschal.

                                      Fidéămint,

May it please Your Majesty:

The Secretary of State has concluded a general election of the citizens of the Kingdom of Talossa. We, the undersigned Members of Cosa, command a majority of seats.  As directed by Article VI of the Organic Law, and on behalf of the Cosa of the Kingdom of Talossa, we ask Your Majesty to appoint Alexandreu Davinescu as your Seneschal.

                                      Faithfully,


Sir Xhorxh Pol Briga, UrN ( @xpb ) of the Progressive Alliance
Tric'hard Lenxheir ( @Tric'hard Lenxheir)  of the Progressive Alliance
Baroness Cjantscheir of Tamorán Beach, Erschéveþ Cjantscheir ( @Litz ) of the Progressive Alliance
Françal Ian Lux ( @Françal I. Lux ) of the Progressive Alliance
John, Duke of Lupul ( @Duke John ) of the Progressive Alliance

Supported with supply and confidence by
Mximo Malt ( @Mximo Malt  ) of the IDT

You're comparing me to a domestic abuser?

Listen, I think it's entirely possible for most people to engage in contentious, even heated, political discussion without calling people names like "clown" or making such incredibly insulting comparisons.  I don't think that it does anyone any favors to engage like this.

As a survivor, I also don't appreciate this flippant reference.  Shame on you.

People were permitted to change their votes the way it was set up. So while things were obviously trending one way, there was ample opportunity for people to demonstrate grace and change minds.

That did not happen.

At the time of my statement above, a majority of the Progressive membership had already voted unanimously not to pursue negotiations with the URL.  I have already addressed some of the concerns: many members felt like it would be hard to work with individuals who were directly insulting us and some of our members, and who had no qualms about lying.  It seemed as though clearing the air about such matters might open up more possibilities -- perhaps with the end of the election, there might be space for self-reflection.  Maybe if we were open about our concerns, in a way we'd avoided during the campaign, things might shift enough that our members would have two valid choices.

Unfortunately, during this period, the URL leader told us we were just a "political clique" and a group of "clowns," among various other insults.  She even reposted at length a restatement of something she said had "personally offended" me.  Why, she wondered, didn't we just "riposte in kind?"  Where were our mocking memes and angry denunciations?

At this point, it should be crystal clear that we don't do that kind of politics.  We don't make personal attacks on other parties as a whole, don't apply denigrating names or mocking labels, and don't allege broader allegations against the legitimacy of other parties.  Our criticisms are specific and backed by evidence, not just cruel rhetoric.  That kind of negative campaigning might be effective in some quarters, but it makes Talossa less fun and drives people away.  We think it's better for everyone if we continue to focus on reform and good governance, and stay out of the mud.

With the vote concluded, it will surprise no one that Progressives chose to engage in a confidence-and-supply agreement with the IDT.  We are also in the final stages of formalizing an similar agreement with the Independent Greens, although no vote has yet been taken on that.

Our letter of majority is nearly ready, and we expect to be in a position to form a Government within a couple of days.

I agree with you, Foxmouth.  No one may join a constituent group within the Coletx without first becoming a member.  Shall we petition His Majesty for your admittance, S:reu Cabischabuerg?

-SVA

That's a great point, and we should make sure to mention that specifically.

-SVA

This change would ensure that a lawsuit could be brought only when there was a live case or controversy. The court would only hear a case if there was some existing problem that they could solve, in other words. I think it's a problem because it makes the judiciary into an ad hoc legislature that is only presented with one side before making their ruling, rather than an adversarial process.

Such a change kind of seems like the opposite of what you were going for, which was expanding the advisory opinion role in which authorized people can just ask the court to rule about something that's not in front of them. So I'm very surprised to hear you say that.

No, that does make sense!  I'm not arguing against the precedent or practice, since I think it's basically fine and it's neat that the Senate is always around.  I just got confused.

Advisory opinions should be minimized as much as possible.  In many countries, they are used as a method of ad hoc lawmaking.  I'd prefer advisory opinions be removed completely, and instead use a "case or controversy" standard.