[ABANDONED] The Cabinet Records Stopgap Act

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

WHEREAS Lex D.8.9 seals Cabinet discussions for seven years following the demise of the government of the time of said Cabinet,

WHEREAS Lex D.8.9 gives the responsibility of preserving and making publicly available after the seven year-period to the Royal Archivist,

WHEREAS a stopgap needs to be in place in case of something happening to the Royal Archivist before said records are released under El Lexhatx D.8.9.

THEREFORE, the Ziu adds the following to El Lexhatx:

D.8.9.3 The Royal Archivist may designate the current Scribe of Abbavilla or Deputy Scribe of Abbavilla to assist the Royal Archives in preserving Cabinet archives per D.8.9. [end new text of El Lex]

Uréu q'estadra så
Breneir Tzaracomprada (MC-IND/OPEN)

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

seals Cabinet discussions for seven years following the demise of the government of the time of said Cabinet

I want to thank @GV for acknowledging the intent of the original legislation. It was indeed intended to "seal Cabinet discussions for seven years." The Avocat-Xheneral's interpretation is contrary to the intent of the Ziu when passing the legislation. We must prevent our Government from becoming lawless.

[King Txec]

As the current Secretary of State, I would be remiss if I didn't publicly bemoan the addition of yet one more task to the already heavy workload of the SoS. Of all the offices in the Civil Service, surely there could be someone else tasked with this. Perhaps a requirement that the Archives has a deputy.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

As the current Secretary of State, I would be remiss if I didn't publicly bemoan the addition of yet one more task to the already heavy workload of the SoS. Of all the offices in the Civil Service, surely there could be someone else tasked with this. Perhaps a requirement that the Archives has a deputy.

But this is a stopgap, incidental measure which could also be handled by your deputy. This is not a standing responsibility. Does that lessen your concern any?

[King Txec]

As the current Secretary of State, I would be remiss if I didn't publicly bemoan the addition of yet one more task to the already heavy workload of the SoS. Of all the offices in the Civil Service, surely there could be someone else tasked with this. Perhaps a requirement that the Archives has a deputy.

But this is a stopgap, incidental measure which could also be handled by your deputy. This is not a standing responsibility. Does that lessen your concern any?

The odds are not small that I won't be Secretary of State the next time this requirement could possibly come up. I'm simply pointing out that it does often seem the reflexive response is that the Chancery can handle something without anyone in the Chancery being asked, "is this a task that adds to your workload." A deputy could definitely handle this. It would just be nice if the department getting additional work, even minimal, is consulted.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

As the current Secretary of State, I would be remiss if I didn't publicly bemoan the addition of yet one more task to the already heavy workload of the SoS. Of all the offices in the Civil Service, surely there could be someone else tasked with this. Perhaps a requirement that the Archives has a deputy.

But this is a stopgap, incidental measure which could also be handled by your deputy. This is not a standing responsibility. Does that lessen your concern any?

The odds are not small that I won't be Secretary of State the next time this requirement could possibly come up. I'm simply pointing out that it does often seem the reflexive response is that the Chancery can handle something without anyone in the Chancery being asked, "is this a task that adds to your workload." A deputy could definitely handle this. It would just be nice if the department getting additional work, even minimal, is consulted.

I think your past openness to serve in different capacities when asked to do so leads to an assumption of your willingness to do so now, Txec. You are naturally helpful but I agree that prior consultation is warranted. Because you are the current SoS, please consider this the requested consultation. Would you prefer that section be amended or is it a reasonable measure?

[King Txec]

I don't see how this would be a difficult task, even though I have no personal idea how to even back up any part of Witt :-)

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

I don't see how this would be a difficult task, even though I have no personal idea how to even back up any part of Witt :-)

Thank you very much Txec! Sorry for not consulting before submitting the legislation. I honestly assumed you wouldn't mind but it is better not to assume.

[Mic’haglh Autófil, O.Be]

As an alternative, instead of adding this to the Chancery's plate, we could potentially give the responsibility to assist the Royal Archivist to the Scribery instead?

[Sir Lüc]

(I personally think the Archives should just hire a deputy instead of needlessly cross-breeding different branches of the Civil Service)

(edit: initially misstated Scribery)

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

As an alternative, instead of adding this to the Chancery's plate, we could potentially give the responsibility to assist the Royal Archivist to the Scribery instead?

I had not thought of the Scribery. That is a good idea. I have edited it to say "Scribe of Abbavilla or Deputy Scribe of Abbavilla."

[Mic’haglh Autófil, O.Be]

(I personally think the Scribery should just hire a deputy instead of needlessly cross-breeding different branches of the Civil Service)

The Scribery has a Deputy.

[Sir Lüc]

Whoops! I definitely meant the Archives, not the Scribery. I am aware the Scribery has deputies, there's two and I am one and you're the other :p

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

@Sir Lüc and @Mic'haglh Autófil, SMC EiP
Are you both saying you could support the bill with a provision for a Deputy Royal Archivist instead of involving the Scribery or Chancery?

[Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC]

If I might jump in in front of my Ministers here: as I've said elsewhere, the Government is fully in favour of expanding the Civil Service and providing backup in case officials go AWOL. The only question is being *able* to recruit to such provisions. The problem with legislatively establishing Deputies is that it doesn't amount of a hill of beans if there's no-one available. As we've found out with PermSec Immigration.

So instead of legislating, in the first place, let's simply ask the Royal Archivist to appoint a Deputy.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

If I might jump in in front of my Ministers here: as I've said elsewhere, the Government is fully in favour of expanding the Civil Service and providing backup in case officials go AWOL. The only question is being *able* to recruit to such provisions. The problem with legislatively establishing Deputies is that it doesn't amount of a hill of beans if there's no-one available. As we've found out with PermSec Immigration.

So instead of legislating, in the first place, let's simply ask the Royal Archivist to appoint a Deputy.

@Miestră Schivă, UrN Are you officially asking your party counterpart the Senator and Royal Archivist @GV to do so?

I am delighted to see that the SoS appears to be the only case where the FreeDems are OK with members of the civil service serving in political positions. I would also note we found a Deputy SoS pretty quickly when pressed.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

WHEREAS Lex D.8.9 seals Cabinet discussions for seven years following the demise of the government of the time of said Cabinet,

If you go forward with this bill, this part should probably be removed.  There's no provision in the law requiring that the Government keep its prior internal communications private.  We have extensive privacy laws, and the law specifically identifies the only things that should remain private (ie, anything covered by Lexh.D.8.3-5).

If you want to add a new provision requiring that no future Government be permitted to disclose internal communications after an election, then (a) I think that's a bad idea in terms of transparency and (b) this bill would need new language requiring that.

D.8.9.3 The Royal Archivist may designate the current Scribe of Abbavilla or Deputy Scribe of Abbavilla to assist the Royal Archives in preserving Cabinet archives per D.8.9. [end new text of El Lex]

As others have mentioned, this is silly.  The Archivist can already create deputies, as explicitly permitted by law.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

If you go forward with this bill, this part should probably be removed.  There's no provision in the law requiring that the Government keep its prior internal communications private.  We have extensive privacy laws, and the law specifically identifies the only things that should remain private (ie, anything covered by Lexh.D.8.3-5).

Hopefully the Corts can answer that one if they review the action taken by the Avocat-Xheneral.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Aside from that suit, and focusing just on the legislation here, what provision of the law requires the Government to keep all prior communications private until seven years elapse?  If you're right, let's just reference it specifically in the text.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

If I might jump in in front of my Ministers here: as I've said elsewhere, the Government is fully in favour of expanding the Civil Service and providing backup in case officials go AWOL. The only question is being *able* to recruit to such provisions. The problem with legislatively establishing Deputies is that it doesn't amount of a hill of beans if there's no-one available. As we've found out with PermSec Immigration.

So instead of legislating, in the first place, let's simply ask the Royal Archivist to appoint a Deputy.

@Miestră Schivă, UrN Are you officially asking your party counterpart the Senator and Royal Archivist @GV to do so?

I am delighted to see that the SoS appears to be the only case where the FreeDems are OK with members of the civil service serving in political positions. I would also note we found a Deputy SoS pretty quickly when pressed.

@Miestră Schivă, UrN ? Are you requesting this action of the Royal Archivist?