Possible Amendments to the Seneschal Election Rules (OrgLaw VI.5-7)

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

What support would there be for the following amendments?

1) From Section 5, paragraph 2:

The method of election of a Seneschál shall be Ranked Choice Voting. Each member of the Cosâ shall have as many votes in the election as the seats which he hold in the Cosâ, but shall cast his votes as one bloc and have no divided conscience. The candidates for each such election shall be only the recognized and commonly known leader of nominated by each political party which shall have earned representation in the Cosâ at the most recent general election.

(Rationale: a party might want to nominate someone else than their "recognized leader" as Seneschal, why not)

2) First sentence of Section 6:

The second Clark of every Ziu may entertain business as normal, but especially shall occur after a month of recess following the first Clark.

Why do we need a compulsory month of recess? If an incoming Seneschál needs a while to get their Cabinet together, they can ask the King/Regent for a month of recess under OrgLaw IV.9. Having each Cosa last 8 months, during two of which the Ziu can't consider legislation, seems to drag on people's patience.

[Ian Plätschisch]

Yeah, both of these things would be improvements.

[Dr. Txec Róibeard dal Nordselvă, Esq., O.SPM, SMM]

Speaking as the SoS who had to inform the party leaders of the rules around the last Seneschal election I think these changes would be great.

[Eðo Grischun]

Yes.  When we passed the Seneschal Election Bill this is one thing I wish we had done differently.  Before it was Clarked I always imagined a Seneschal election to be open to all Members of the Ziu, so yes, I welcome this amendment.


The second point, I believe, happened because of the statutory timings of the budget, but in practice the extra month has proved unnecessary.  So, again, I support.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

WHEREAS the first election of a Seneschál by the Cosa went ahead successfully and the principle should be preserved;

AND WHEREAS if we are to make some tweaks, those tweaks should be in the direction of increased flexibility;

AND WHEREAS a wider range of possible nominees for Seneschál is more democratic;

AND WHEREAS the incoming Seneschál will still be able to call for a month of recess after the Clark on which she is elected under OrgLaw IV.9, if necessary, but there is no reason for this to be compulsory;

BE IT ENACTED by the Ziu that the Organic Law of Talossa shall be amended as follows:

1. The second paragraph of Organic Law VI.5 shall be amended by striking out the words "only the recognized and commonly known leader of" and substituting the words "nominated by", so it will now read as follows:

The method of election of a Seneschál shall be Ranked Choice Voting. Each member of the Cosâ shall have as many votes in the election as the seats which he hold in the Cosâ, but shall cast his votes as one bloc and have no divided conscience. The candidates for each such election shall be nominated by each political party which shall have earned representation in the Cosâ at the most recent general election.

2. Organic Law VI.6 shall be amended to read in its entirety:

The Seneschál shall announce publicly both the members of the incoming Government and the Government's legislative agenda at least before, if not sooner than, the last day on which a member of the Ziu may submit a measure to the second Clark. Failing this, the King shall dissolve the Cosa and call new elections.