[CRL] The Immigration Reform (No Minister's Pets) Bill

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

WHEREAS the recent reforms to immigration emphasising "quality over quantity" raised valid concerns about the Immigration Minister having too much discretion;

AND WHEREAS a possible form of abuse of discretion would be for the Immigration Minister to petition for grants of citizenship and to expect "favours" from new citizens in return;

BE IT ENACTED that El Lexhatx E.7 be amended by the insertion of the words in bold:

7. The Secretary of State shall, on a date of his choosing, but within a period of ten days after receiving a petition from at least two citizens, neither of whom shall be the Minister of Immigration or anyone to whom they have delegated their powers, to issue a Grant of Citizenship as described in clause 4, and upon certification from the Ministry of Immigration that the prospective citizen has sufficient understanding of Talossan life and culture for full participation determine the provincial assignment of the prospective immigrant and issue a Royal Grant of Citizenship to the immigrant. This Grant shall be issued under the Royal Seal, either as applied by the Chancery, or, should the Majesty request, by the Sovereign under his or her own hand. If requested by the Government, the Grant may also bear the signatures of the Seneschal and/or Immigration Minister. The Royal Grant shall be promptly issued coincident with the candidate affirming his fealty to the Royal House and his allegiance to the Kingdom by taking any Oath of Talossan Citizenship specified by law. At the time this Royal Grant is issued, and from that point forward, the applicant shall be a full citizen of the Kingdom of Talossa. The fact of the issuance of this Grant shall be posted on Wittenberg by the Secretary of State, that the new citizen may be welcomed by his compatriots. Any and all objections raised to the immigration made after this Royal Grant will be moot.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

Can we take this to the CRL?

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

Can we take this to the CRL?

@Sir Ian Plätschisch @þerxh Sant-Enogat @Glüc da Dhi S.H.

[þerxh Sant-Enogat]

no objections from the technical point of view of the quality of the legislation, the correctness of the language, the internal consistency of the document and the consistency with existing legislation

[Sir Ian Plätschisch]

Approved

[Glüc da Dhi S.H.]

No objections, but as far as conflicts of interest go in Talossa, I think the immigration minister being able to write citizenship petitions is really not a particularly concerning one. Everyone can submit petitions anyway, including political allies of the immigration minister. As far as I understand -admittedly I haven't followed too closely- concerns were really more about the handling of the application itself.

This proposal is fine and doesn't do any harm, but I'm not entirely sure it's needed.

No further recommendations and no issues with the quality of the legislation.