It means a majority of the people present at the LC.  This is problematic in some ways, such as the one you noted.  A much bigger problem is that it privileges those people in attendance.  I've been in a government meeting where the outcome hinged on the fact that one of the other people on the committee had the flu!  Thankfully, people are usually cognizant of the fact that their reputation and working relationships with others do matter.

I gave serious thought to just running the meeting autocratically, and that's probably the better way to do it -- no vote to overrule the chair allowed.

And I'd agree with your side note, generally, and I think it's a good goal to move to a Real Cosa someday.

This obviously heavily draws from my experience in local government and activist groups, using rules for order common to a lot of groups.

I don't remember it very well, but my Talossa notes have a lot of info.  As I recall, almost none of this was necessary, since not a lot happened and there was no need for any of the appointed officers.  The Doorkeeper and Sergeant at Arms was just appointed to manage the Zoom, I think.

Planned Agenda
I. Chair formally opens the Living Cosa and reviews rules very briefly.
II. Appointment by the chair of a Doorkeeper and Sergeant at Arms, to which the power to maintain order
is delegated as necessary.
III. Appointment by the chair of a Chaplain, who will be invited to give an invocation (non-religious).
IV. Apologies.
V. Invitation by the chair to the Seneschal to address the assembled Ziu.
VI. Invitation by the chair to the Leader of the Opposition to address the assembled Ziu.
VII. Terpelaziuns
VIII. Clark Business.
    A. Reading by the chair of the current votes on the submitted bills, followed by voting on the bills.  Each bill is handled individually.
    C. Reading by the chair of the current confidence votes.
    D. Voting on confidence.
IX. Adjournment.


Rules
Rules are drawn from standard rules of order for organizations.

Any MZ may make a motion during an appropriate time by asking to be recognized by the chair.  Once the motion is stated, the chair will ask for a mick.  If there is a mick, then the chair will restate the motion and debate will begin.  Debate will continue until there are no more speakers who wish to be heard.  Debate can be ended by a motion to consider the previous question, if micked and affirmed by a majority of MZs.

The Clarked bills may not be tabled, sent to committee, or amended.

There is only one privileged motion.  At any time after a ruling of the chair, an MZ may move to overrule the chair.

At any point, an MZ may raise any of the following:
-Point of Order: Draws attention to a breach of rules, improper procedure, breaching of established practices, or so on.
-Point of Information: A member may need to bring up an additional point or additional information so that the other members can make fully informed votes.
-Point of Inquiry: A member may use a point of inquiry to ask for clarification on a matter of fact to make better voting decisions.
-Point of Personal Privilege: A member may use point of personal privilege to address issues pertaining to the comfort of the meeting, such as volume, muting, connection quality, or so on. Members may also use it to address the accuracy of published reports or the accuracy of a member's conduct.
These points may not be abused for personal commentary, debate outside of the established order, or other conduct not becoming a member of the Ziu.  The chair may decline to recognize a member in such circumstances.

All rules for terpelaziuns will be scrupulously followed, but members are warned that officials of the Government are not required to be present at the Living Cosa and will not be expected in case of their attendance to have every fact on hand.  Terpelaziuns which pertain to specific data or questions of fact should be lodged with the official in question through the normal procedure prior to the Living Cosa, so that the official may make inquiries.  The terpelaziun period shall be cordial and orderly.

I figure I'll make them as I need them, like I did with the Seneschal badge.  So I haven't advanced this one at all.  If there's one you think I should make a priority, I'd be happy to do so!

-SVA

I'll send you a PM.  And in the future, please use private messages when you're just trying to let me know something.

I think we'll probably wait to see if a range of candidates apply. We'll get back to you.

At the request of His Majesty, I have added His Grace as a signatory as our head of state.

Early this morning and at the direction of their president, Donald Trump, the United States of America invaded the sovereign territory of the state of Venezuela, murdered an unknown number of people, kidnapped at least two individuals, and announced that they had seized control of Venezuela and would be "running it" for an indeterminate amount of time with plans to extract its national resources.  These actions of war and criminality were taken without authorization from the United States Congress, a necessary step according to their constitution, and without the authorization of any international entity which might conceivably have provided a legal basis for these crimes.

Regardless of the merits of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, it is illegal and immoral for the United States to kidnap the citizens of another country, to murder other citizens in pursuit of that goal, or to purport to take control of the sovereign territory of another country.  These norms protect not only other countries from Americans, but they also protect Americans from the potential predatory actions of other countries.  On what basis can Americans appeal to their national sovereignty when they violate it at will?

Put simply: it's illegal and wrong to murder and kidnap people from another country.

The Kingdom of Talossa condemns these acts in the strongest possible terms, and urges its citizens to speak up against them, wherever they are and however they can.


Signed,
Alexandreu Davinescu, Seneschal del Regipäts Talossan es Baron Davinescu del Vilatx Freiric

His Majesty, King Txec, by the Grace of God, King of Talossa and of all its realms and regions, King of Cezembre, Viscount of Vuode, Sovereign Lord and Protector of Pengopats and the New Falklands, Head of the Church, Defender of the Faith, Leader of the Armed Forces, Viceroy of Hoxha and Vicar of Ataturk

Thank you for your interest.  Please refer all inquiries to the minister via PM -- @xpb .

PUBLIC NOTICE
The Prime Ministry wishes to announce the creation of the Permanent Secretary of Humanitarian Aid with the Foreign Ministry.

The job description of this Permanent Secretary is as follows: To advise the elected Government on best practices and current information in the administration of charitable funds.

This is a non-political appointment which shall be held until lawful dismissal, resignation, or incapacitation.  Appointment to this position will be based on applicants' qualifications and willingness to work, and taking into consideration the applicant's performance in prior positions.

This and other postings will continue to be available on this page, and any significant changes will be accompanied by a public announcement.

I'd just like to bump this again: do you have any interest in journalism -- something you thought might be fun, but were afraid to try?  This is the opportunity for you!

So this is someone who's an expert in foreign donations?  Okay, but there's no need to make a bill to clutter up the law.  We can just create that job.  I'm happy to do that.

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on January 02, 2026, 11:51:41 AM

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on January 02, 2026, 11:45:23 AMI guess I don't know what the BHAID permsec would do, then?  They're not choosing where to donate or collecting the money or disbursing the money.

I think they would continue to do whatever the non-Civil Service Administrator does currently. The difference is that it would be a continuing position between governments and that the BHAID would be within the Civil Service rather than formally under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

What does the BHAID admin do besides decide where to donate?

I guess I don't know what the BHAID permsec would do, then?  They're not choosing where to donate or collecting the money or disbursing the money.

I think probably the choice of where we donate the Kingdom's cash should probably rest in the hands of the voters, right?

Quote from: Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir on January 02, 2026, 11:18:33 AM

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on January 02, 2026, 07:44:19 AMOh, I see. Well, that wouldn't be closing a loophole, that would be a significant change. In the past, some provinces have chosen to have their Constable also serve as the ceremonial head of state or the head of their government. So I don't want to prevent provinces from doing that. Provinces will already be now enabled to pass their own restrictions on who can hold the office, and they can add this restriction if they so choose.

That isn't exactly trye as the current convention in appointments of Cunstavals are supposed to be from a separate province.
As having a cunstaval also be the head of government in a province seems like a dangerous position with one person having too much power.

So doing so would be closing a loophole and formalising the principals behind currently conventions

Actually, there was a specific reform enacted to change the rule that Cunstavais need to be from a different province, since some people resented it.

I think provinces are probably the best judges of how to distribute power in their own province, right?  Most of them have chosen a weak executive.  They can decide to have any role or restriction that they want.

Quote from: King Txec on January 02, 2026, 11:25:27 AMYeah I'm not really in favor of allowing Cunstavals to also be provincial heads of government. I also believe they should be from a different province.

-Txec R

I believe the former should be up to provinces, and the latter should be up to you, Your Majesty.

I'm open to suggested amendments, but the fundamental purpose of this bill is to eliminate the military governorship aspect and otherwise allow provinces to choose for themselves -- not invent new strictures for them.

Because provinces have sometimes had that as their local government, and I don't want to prohibit that.  We should leave it up to them.

Oh, I see. Well, that wouldn't be closing a loophole, that would be a significant change. In the past, some provinces have chosen to have their Constable also serve as the ceremonial head of state or the head of their government. So I don't want to prevent provinces from doing that. Provinces will already be now enabled to pass their own restrictions on who can hold the office, and they can add this restriction if they so choose.

That section is the current language from existing law, as it has been for many years. And respectfully, I find your version actually a little bit more confusing than the simpler version. Invalidating candidacy sounds like you just can't run for the office or something. I'm open to the idea, but could you explain to me why you think this is an improvement?

lol... Back in 2013, I cosponsored a bill with you to do something similar.  Sometimes you just need to be patient and try again.