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A Proposal Put Forth
Started by MerryLights

[!] This post is put on all major non-Undercity noticeboards, and submitted to the Steward, Council, and Tribune [!]

People’s Forum Proposal Version 1

  1. Purpose

    1. The People’s Forum serves both as a public check on the power of the Steward and Council, and as a platform for the citizens of the Spire to voice their issues and ideas. 
  2. Structure

    1. Tribune: The Forum is led by the People’s Tribune. The Tribune is elected by a vote of the citizenry every [2 months] or upon the resignation, removal, or death of the sitting Tribune. The role of the Tribune is to lead the public meetings, to organize the petitions and proposals of the citizenry, and to voice the will of the Forum to the voting Council of the spire. 
    2. Members: The members of the Forum are not citizens directly, but groups of citizens with a minimum of 5 citizens and a stated purpose. Further information is listed in section III below. 
    3. Representatives: A representative is an individual that represents either a temporary or permanent Member of the Forum. The Member organizations may choose freely who their Representative may be, and may change it freely, though the identity of the Representative must be clearly stated to the Tribune, the other Members, and the Citizenry. 
    4. Citizen/Citizenry: The Citizens of the Spire, also referred to as the public, or the Spirefolk. A Citizen is any mortal and sentient individual that resides primarily within the Spire. Citizens over the age of 12 are eligible to vote in public elections, and Citizens over the age of 16 may serve as Representatives or as Tribune.  
  3. Membership

    1. Permanent Membership: Permanent membership, also known as a ‘Seat’ in the Forum is granted to any group, guild, faction, or other gathering of citizens that presents a name, a legal and continuing purpose for existence, and a written list of at least five signatures of citizens who are a part of the group. Permanent Members of the Forum may vote on any matter put toward a Member Vote. 
    2. Temporary Membership: Temporary Members occupy the same role as the Citizen Associates. They are composed of a group of Citizens with at least five signed members, and are assembled for a particular purpose, petition, or proposal. This group is temporary, intended to dissolve once the matter they have organized for is suitably addressed. Temporary Members are expected to choose a Representative from their group, and they may vote on any matter related to their stated purpose, petition, or proposal. 
  4. Conduct

    1. All persons, regardless of status, age, affiliation, or role are held to the same expectations of conduct within all meetings related to or regarding the Forum. Repeated violations may result in warnings, loss of speaking rights, or suspension of recognition, subject to review by the Tribune and other Permanent Members of the Forum.
      1. Obey the laws of the Spire as laid out in the Common Law. 
      2. Refrain from threats, coercion, or personal insults. Drawing a weapon or casting a spell without warning and consent is considered a threat.
      3. Respect one another and respect the purpose of the Forum. We are all on the side of the Spire. 
      4. Listen to requests for silence or order within Forum meetings. If you must have a shouting match, go elsewhere. 
  5. Function

    1. Full Session: A Full Session of the Forum must be called once per term of the sitting Tribune, or once every [2 months] at minimum. These meetings are public and announced at least [3 days] in advance. Upon announcement of a Full Session, the Tribune and the Representatives will have those [3 days] to review any Petitions and Proposals submitted before the opening of the Session. The Tribune decides which submissions are put before the Members and Citizenry in a Full Session and in what order. 
      1. A Petition is defined as written documentation of an issue, error, or objection of at least 3 Citizens. This is recommended to also contain ideas for resolution but does not have too. Petitions are read publicly, discussed, and entered into public record, but cannot be voted upon. 
      2. A Proposal is a requested law, decree, announcement, or other decision. A Proposal must have the signature of at least 5 Citizens, or 2 Representatives. It is then read publicly, discussed, and entered into public record the same as Petitions, but it may also be put to a Member Vote to determine if it is passed to the Council or a Citizen's Referendum for enaction.  
    2. Response Session: A Response Session may be called by the Tribune after the Council or Steward publicly announces a law, policy, decree, or resolution. This is when a Vote of Repeal or Amendment is put forth to the Representatives of the Permanent Members of the Forum. While this is like Full Sessions in that they are publicly announced and open to citizens, they are more focused on the singular issue they were called for, and happen quicker, with only [one day] of notice required. 
    3. At-Will Session: An At-Will Session may be called by the Tribune at any point for any reason and serves as a platform for discussion and debate. Nothing is put up for vote during this kind of session, but the Tribune may freely carry any concerns or ideas brought up to the Council and Members afterwards. 
  6. Limitations

    1. The People’s Forum cannot unilaterally put Proposals into action, they must have either the assent of the Council or the Citizenry as shown through a vote by either. 
    2. All Sessions of the People’s Forum must be open to all Citizens of the Spire 
    3. The People’s Forum is run by the people, for the people. It is led by the Tribune but does not answer to them, nor to the Council or Steward. 

- M. I.

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[!]

In due time, after consideration and deliberation, an answer would be given to the proposal,
one mailed directly to the petitioner, and copies made and attached to ones found on noticeboards...

=o=

To the esteemed petitioner,
Citizens of the Spire,
and to all whom these matters do duly concern,

May it fall into public records and recognition, that the Stewardess and Council of the Spire have given due reading, hearing, deliberation and consideration over the most recent of legislative and structural proposals entitled “People’s Forum Proposal Version 1”, penned by esteemed citizen and representative within the Petitioner’s Forum, Meridy Illuma.

After sober and insightful deliberation on the ends of the Council, and with no small regard for the intent therein expressed, the named Proposal is hereby, unanimously declined as a binding and permanent amendment upon the Stewardship and Council Charter, for causes following:

First, with respect unto the limitations set forth, namely within (§ 6. – 1. 3.), it is determined and judged, that the written Proposal, observed in its whole, doth tend and seek – whether by intention or by consequence – to establish the body of the Forum as a new legislative channel, parallel to that of the duly constituted Council, whilst yet disclaiming formal subordination or answerability unto the same through the utilization of the people. Should such an amendment be instated within the Charter, though clothed in the formalities of restrain and consideration, wouldst in practice admit of overlapping authority, mutual overruling, and the complete and deliberate circumvention of the settled channels by which law is proposed, weighed and enacted within our state.

Second, such establishment of legislative bodies, each in spirit of the foundational principles of our state; “By our People, For our People”, yet neither clearly bound unto the other, is held and believed to be contrary to good order, and likely in time eventuality – in consideration of the volatile nature of our state – breed uncertainty of established authority, contest the jurisdiction of the administering council and the masses, and sow instability in the making and unmaking of laws. Therefore, the Council cannot assent unto any framework which, by its nature, divides the seat of legislation without clear supremacy and final arbiter.

For these reasons, and these only, the Proposal cannot at this state and time be received as law, charter, or standing ordinance of the government.

 

Addendum

Notwithstanding the foregoing, be it known and recognized, that the practical merit and structural soundness of the Proposal is observed and considered by the Stewardess and the Council, namely those concerning the formal structure to the proceedings of the Petitioner’s Forum and the outlined responsibilities of the Tribune and the People.

Accordingly, the present Council shall, at its discretion, recognize and employ said structures upon an ad hoc basis, ministered by the Tribune, as instruments of structured and responsible civic expression. Therefore, certain contents of this proposal shall be taken into account and repurposed for the betterment of the efficiency of the Petitioner’s Forum and the office of the Tribune, realized in a written guidelines to present and future Tribunes.

This accommodation is made as a matter of prudence and goodwill, and shall not be construed as precedent, nor surrender of structure and authority, nor admission of legislative standing beyond that which is expressly granted by the Council or the Citizenry through established means.

 

So resolved,
and so entered,

By order of the Stewardess and the Council of the Spire,
this day and place, 22nd of Frostfall, 1641, Spiretown, The Seneschalty of the Southern Reach,
is duly recorded and sealed.

Penned by Tribune Monty of the Spire,

Signed By
Tribune Monty

Lady Steward Noctis

Secretariat Sorokin

Marshal Umeneri Helara, Banner Princess Yuelian

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