The SoS Succession Reform Act

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Whereas, the Chancery is one of the most important offices in the Kingdom, and

Whereas, it has been frequently stated that filling the position of Secretary of State has been a troublesome task in the recent past, and

Whereas, this statutory revision is offered in the spirit of reform as a process or act of fundamental problem-solving or iterative improvement.

Therefore, be it resolved, that the following changes are made to Title C of El Lex:

The existing 1.2.1 is replaced with: One member of the Chancery shall be the Deputy Secretary of State. The Deputy Secretary of State shall be appointed under the same procedure as the Secretary of State in addition to advice and consultation from the current Secretary of State. The Deputy Secretary of State shall immediately succeed the Secretary of State upon their death, resignation, or removal. The Deputy Secretary of State shall fulfill responsibilities to assist the effective operation of the Chancery as assigned or delegated by the Secretary of State.

The existing 1.2.1 is renumbered to 1.2.2 and revised and following subsections are renumbered: Another member of the Chancery shall be the Royal Data Clerk, heading the Office of Dynamic Data Management. The function of the Office of Dynamic Data Management is to manage all computer records owned by the Kingdom of Talossa for its official functions and delegated to its care in order to help other Royal Households, Ministries or any other organization of the Kingdom which needs data management. The Royal Data Clerk may be the same person as the Secretary of State. The Royal Data Clerk shall be considered an Officer of the Royal Household.

1.2.3. is revised to read as follows: The Royal Data Clerk is appointed by the Secretary of State. The Deputy Secretary of State and/or the Royal Data Clerk may perform official business as delegated to them by the Secretary. Both the Deputy Secretary of State and the Royal Data Clerk shall have all the access required to carry out the Chancery's functions under this section.

Uréu q'estadra så:
Breneir Tzaracomprada (Sen-FL, TNC)
Dr. Txec dal Nordselvă, GST (Secretary of State)

[Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB]

What is section M.2.1? Is this a typo? Also, are you saying that once these positions are filled, they will have the same powers as the Secretary of State? As the incumbent SoS I'm not comfortable just giving another person the same powers as I have, especially if, for example, I don't trust that person. I don't mind the appointment procedure, but I think it should be altered to allow for input from the incumbent as to who gets chosen.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

What is section M.2.1? Is this a typo? Also, are you saying that once these positions are filled, they will have the same powers as the Secretary of State? As the incumbent SoS I'm not comfortable just giving another person the same powers as I have, especially if, for example, I don't trust that person. I don't mind the appointment procedure, but I think it should be altered to allow for input from the incumbent as to who gets chosen.

Alright, just reviewed and modified. Thank you for your excellent points, Mr. Secretary.
-I have made edits that I hope addressed your concerns. In the first new section, I stated that the DSoS "...shall fulfill responsibilities to assist the effective operation of the Chancery as assigned or delegated by the Secretary of State." (So, the DSoS helps the Chancery as directed by the SOS only.)
-I have altered the appointment language to include the advice and consultation of the sitting SoS.
-I can find no M.2.1 in El Lex to be honest. It was in the old language so I left it to be safe.

[Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB]

Thank you Senator. I don't see any fundamental issues or flaws with the bill as revised and would be happy to co-sponsor. Please make my limousine simply (Secretary of State).

Thanks

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Thank you Senator. I don't see any fundamental issues or flaws with the bill as revised and would be happy to co-sponsor. Please make my limousine simply (Secretary of State).

Thanks

Well, you just made my day. I am delighted. Thanks Mr. Secretary.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

Something just occurred to me about this bill. Does the bill's proposer have a suggestion for who would be the Deputy SoS? Because I'm not sure I can think of many candidates who're not overburdened with all sorts of other duties, right now.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Something just occurred to me about this bill. Does the bill's proposer have a suggestion for who would be the Deputy SoS? Because I'm not sure I can think of many candidates who're not overburdened with all sorts of other duties, right now.

Indeed I do. I checked with the SOS for advice as well.

[Sir Lüc]

What does this bill attempt to solve?

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

The difficulties in training and finding a new SOS. Appointing a Deputy that is the automatic successor allows for on-the-job training AND eliminates any uncertainty as to the successor.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

I'm increasingly wary of this bill because it's more "red-and-green tape". To make myself clear: I think it would be a great thing for the SoS to recruit a Deputy to the Chancery. But I'm not sure about the point of forcing him to under penalty of law - in a situation where there might not be a qualified candidate.

I've also noticed that the appointment of the Deputy by the same means as the Principal Office - rather than the Principal Office appointing their own Deputy - may well set up a scenario where the SoS and their Deputy don't get on. It's like in those US states where the Lieutenant Governor is elected separately from the Governor, rather than on a joint ticket. They might be political opponents or even from opposite parties, thus making the situation less efficient. The more I look at this, the less I like it.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

I'm increasingly wary of this bill because it's more "red-and-green tape". To make myself clear: I think it would be a great thing for the SoS to recruit a Deputy to the Chancery. But I'm not sure about the point of forcing him to under penalty of law - in a situation where there might not be a qualified candidate.

I've also noticed that the appointment of the Deputy by the same means as the Principal Office - rather than the Principal Office appointing their own Deputy - may well set up a scenario where the SoS and their Deputy don't get on. It's like in those US states where the Lieutenant Governor is elected separately from the Governor, rather than on a joint ticket. They might be political opponents or even from opposite parties, thus making the situation less efficient. The more I look at this, the less I like it.

This is an understandable concern and one expressed by the current SOS. Based on this and at the recommendation of @Dr. Txec dal Nordselvă, GST, I did add language that includes consultation and advice from the current SOS. This would seem to reduce the likelihood of having a principal and a deputy that are at odds.

I am not clear on the "being forced under penalty of law" part, could you please expand on this? There is no criminal or civil offense should a deputy SOS not be appointed in the same manner as the SOS.

What we are establishing here is an appointed deputy SOS with consultation from the current SOS. That deputy will be trained to take over upon the incumbent SOS's departure thus eliminating the need for a hurried and long search.

I welcome additional feedback and hope my response has addressed at least some of your concerns.

[Mic’haglh Autófil, SMC EiP]

What is the purpose of the Royal Data Clerk, and what would they be doing that the Ministry of Technology does not already do?

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

What is the purpose of the Royal Data Clerk, and what would they be doing that the Ministry of Technology does not already do?

In order to avoid increasing bureaucratic burden I minimized the changes made to what was necessary to achieve the intended result. This means the language around the Royal Data Clerk was transferred over unchanged from the existing statutory measures. I defer to the Chancery on questions related to the purposes of the office and any potential redundancies created by the establishment of the Technology Ministry.

[Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB]

What is the purpose of the Royal Data Clerk, and what would they be doing that the Ministry of Technology does not already do?

The Royal Data Clerk is a fancy way of saying "database administrator."

[Mic’haglh Autófil, SMC EiP]

What is the purpose of the Royal Data Clerk, and what would they be doing that the Ministry of Technology does not already do?

The Royal Data Clerk is a fancy way of saying "database administrator."

Makes sense -- effectively, since the SoS can hold this position, this allows you to continue maintaining the database as long as you care to do so, but does not force you to resign as SoS in order to transfer the responsibility to someone else. Also more lightens the load that is carried by the SoS (the office I mean, obviously if the same person holds both positions they still get the whole load to carry :P )