Scrutiny - Revision history

Twiggy at 14:10, 29 July 2025

2025-07-29T14:10:02Z

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	<quote by="John of Meade, Speaker of the Senate, Winter 383YE">There is a mark of ink on the treaty. If it is a comma, the treaty is constitutional. If it is a full stop, it is unconstitutional and the whole treaty will fail.</quote>		<quote by="John of Meade, Speaker for the Senate, Winter 383YE">There is a mark of ink on the treaty. If it is a comma, the treaty is constitutional. If it is a full stop, it is unconstitutional and the whole treaty will fail.</quote>
	==Overview==		==Overview==

Teal: Ensuring the list of members of the CC is accurate

2025-06-11T18:04:48Z

Ensuring the list of members of the CC is accurate

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	* '''Auditor of the Imperial Treasury Gerard La Salle - Graeme Jamieson'''		* '''Auditor of the Imperial Treasury Gerard La Salle - Graeme Jamieson'''
	* '''Chief Magistrate Stanislav Karkovich - Jon Creek'''		* '''Chief Magistrate Stanislav Karkovich - Jon Creek'''
			* '''Chief Magistrate Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra - Nat Saunders'''

	The Constitutional Court is composed of a number of magistrates and civil servants whose job is to ensure that the motions passed by the Senate can be implemented in accordance with the Imperial Constitution. The members of the Court discuss the precise [[motion wording\|wording of a motion]] once it has passed the floor of the Senate to discuss how it will be implemented and whether that implementation is compatible with the Constitution. They will seek advice from the senator who submitted the motion to complete any [[motion_wording#Necessary_Details\|necessary details]] that are missing and add the completed motion to the [[recent history]] in the Imperial archives.		The Constitutional Court is composed of a number of magistrates and civil servants whose job is to ensure that the motions passed by the Senate can be implemented in accordance with the Imperial Constitution. The members of the Court discuss the precise [[motion wording\|wording of a motion]] once it has passed the floor of the Senate to discuss how it will be implemented and whether that implementation is compatible with the Constitution. They will seek advice from the senator who submitted the motion to complete any [[motion_wording#Necessary_Details\|necessary details]] that are missing and add the completed motion to the [[recent history]] in the Imperial archives.

	Members of the Court have different areas of expertise. The Auditor is concerned with what is physically possible for the Empire to achieve, what things cost, how long things take to construct. The Chief ~~Magistrate is~~ primarily concerned with maintaining the integrity of [[Imperial law]] and ensuring that the constitutional ''processes'' are followed. Magistrate Abraham and the Imperial Archivist examine motions to ensure that they are compatible with the spirit of the Constitution and will ensure the "dignity, freedom, and prosperity" of Imperial citizens. The Court usually strives for unanimous consensus decisions, but in extremis, they will vote; Abraham has the casting vote in the event of a tie.		Members of the Court have different areas of expertise. The Auditor is concerned with what is physically possible for the Empire to achieve, what things cost, how long things take to construct. The Chief Magistrates are primarily concerned with maintaining the integrity of [[Imperial law]] and ensuring that the constitutional ''processes'' are followed. Magistrate Abraham and the Imperial Archivist examine motions to ensure that they are compatible with the spirit of the Constitution and will ensure the "dignity, freedom, and prosperity" of Imperial citizens. The Court usually strives for unanimous consensus decisions, but in extremis, they will vote; Abraham has the casting vote in the event of a tie.

	It is important to understand that the roles played by the members of the court are designed to accord with their OOC responsibilities in upholding Empire's [[Senate_design\|game design]]. Jon Creek ~~runs~~ the magistrate team that ~~enforces~~ Imperial law, Graeme is the head of rules for Empire, while Andy and Matt oversee the game itself. They have characters so that players can interact with them, seek them out in-character for advice, put in-character arguments to them, and discuss their pronouncements with other characters. These ~~four~~ members of the Empire team ultimately determine when and how a Senate motion is implemented, therefore they play the NPC characters who form the body that makes that determination in-character.		It is important to understand that the roles played by the members of the court are designed to accord with their OOC responsibilities in upholding Empire's [[Senate_design\|game design]]. Jon Creek and Nat Saunders run the magistrate team that enforce Imperial law, Graeme is the head of rules for Empire, while Andy and Matt oversee the game itself. They have characters so that players can interact with them, seek them out in-character for advice, put in-character arguments to them, and discuss their pronouncements with other characters. These five members of the Empire team ultimately determine when and how a Senate motion is implemented, therefore they play the NPC characters who form the body that makes that determination in-character.

	==Advice==		==Advice==
	* '''Players are recommended to take advice before submitting a complex motion'''		* '''Players are recommended to take advice before submitting a complex motion'''
	* '''Advice is available outside events'''		* '''Advice is available outside events'''
	Any character in Anvil who is looking to submit a Senate motion that they believe may have constitutional or practical implications are well advised to seek out the appropriate member of the Constitutional Court before submitting their motion. The Auditor is able to give general advice as well as provide costings for sinecures, ministries and other motions. The Chief ~~Magistrate~~ can provide advice on changes to [[Imperial law]] as well as matters of the Constitution itself. If a constitutional issue is particularly complex, then Abraham may be able to provide additional useful advice.		Any character in Anvil who is looking to submit a Senate motion that they believe may have constitutional or practical implications are well advised to seek out the appropriate member of the Constitutional Court before submitting their motion. The Auditor is able to give general advice as well as provide costings for sinecures, ministries and other motions. The Chief Magistrates can provide advice on changes to [[Imperial law]] as well as matters of the Constitution itself. If a constitutional issue is particularly complex, then Abraham may be able to provide additional useful advice.

	The purpose of this advice is to give players an opportunity to talk to those characters best able to help them find the best wording for their motion and to minimise the chances that a motion will be amended or ruled unconstitutional ''after'' it has passed the Senate.		The purpose of this advice is to give players an opportunity to talk to those characters best able to help them find the best wording for their motion and to minimise the chances that a motion will be amended or ruled unconstitutional ''after'' it has passed the Senate.

Teal: /* Amendment */ spelling

2025-06-11T18:03:16Z

Amendment: spelling

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	* '''The court will attempt to discuss any proposed amendment with the senator who submitted the motion'''		* '''The court will attempt to discuss any proposed amendment with the senator who submitted the motion'''
	* '''An amended motion will require approval by the Senate'''		* '''An amended motion will require approval by the Senate'''
	* '''Chief Magistrate ~~Karkovitch~~ will raise an administrative motion at the next available Senate session to request approval'''		* '''Chief Magistrate Karkovich will raise an administrative motion at the next available Senate session to request approval'''
	* '''If the amendment is not approved then the motion is rejected'''		* '''If the amendment is not approved then the motion is rejected'''
	If the Senate pass a motion, then our game team will take that as indication that they would like the motion to pass scrutiny. If a motion is potentially viable - but has constitutional problems then we will propose the smallest possible amendments that we think would be necessary to make the motion pass scrutiny. These amendments will be discussed with the senator who submitted the motion. Once the wording of an amended motion can be agreed with the senator, then a representative of the Chief Magistrate will present the amended motion to the Senate using an administrative motion at the next available Senate session.		If the Senate pass a motion, then our game team will take that as indication that they would like the motion to pass scrutiny. If a motion is potentially viable - but has constitutional problems then we will propose the smallest possible amendments that we think would be necessary to make the motion pass scrutiny. These amendments will be discussed with the senator who submitted the motion. Once the wording of an amended motion can be agreed with the senator, then a representative of the Chief Magistrate will present the amended motion to the Senate using an administrative motion at the next available Senate session.

Matt: /* Overview */

2022-11-22T20:48:17Z

Overview

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	* IC They are responsible for ensuring that the founding principles of the constitution are protected.		* IC They are responsible for ensuring that the founding principles of the constitution are protected.
	* OOC They will not ratify a change to the constitution which Profound Decisions believe will adversely affect the enjoyment of the game. As ~~the IC wording of~~ the constitution is already written with this in mind, we ~~believe that they will be~~ able to provide IC reasoning for any rejection of a constitutional change.		* OOC They will not ratify a change to the constitution which Profound Decisions believe will adversely affect the enjoyment of the game. As the constitution is already written with this in mind, we are normally able to provide an in-character reasoning for any rejection of a constitutional change.

	The Constitutional Court will not accept a motion that violates the Constitution, but the Court will attempt to work with a senator to amend an unconstitutional motion that has passed the Senate to make it compatible with the Constitution where possible.		The Constitutional Court will not accept a motion that violates the Constitution, but the Court will attempt to work with a senator to amend an unconstitutional motion that has passed the Senate to make it compatible with the Constitution where possible.

Emmanovi: sp

2022-07-24T17:57:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:57, 24 July 2022
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	Any character in Anvil who is looking to submit a Senate motion that they believe may have constitutional or practical implications are well advised to seek out the appropriate member of the Constitutional Court before submitting their motion. The Auditor is able to give general advice as well as provide costings for sinecures, ministries and other motions. The Chief Magistrate can provide advice on changes to [[Imperial law]] as well as matters of the Constitution itself. If a constitutional issue is particularly complex, then Abraham may be able to provide additional useful advice.		Any character in Anvil who is looking to submit a Senate motion that they believe may have constitutional or practical implications are well advised to seek out the appropriate member of the Constitutional Court before submitting their motion. The Auditor is able to give general advice as well as provide costings for sinecures, ministries and other motions. The Chief Magistrate can provide advice on changes to [[Imperial law]] as well as matters of the Constitution itself. If a constitutional issue is particularly complex, then Abraham may be able to provide additional useful advice.

	The purpose of this advice is to give players an opportunity to talk to those characters best able to help them find the best wording for their motion and to ~~minimize~~ the chances that a motion will be amended or ruled unconstitutional ''after'' it has passed the Senate.		The purpose of this advice is to give players an opportunity to talk to those characters best able to help them find the best wording for their motion and to minimise the chances that a motion will be amended or ruled unconstitutional ''after'' it has passed the Senate.

	It is perfectly fine to request advice from the Court before the summit begins. The Court will examine any provisional Senate motions [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk sent to us at plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] between events and provide the best advice available.		It is perfectly fine to request advice from the Court before the summit begins. The Court will examine any provisional Senate motions [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk sent to us at plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] between events and provide the best advice available.

	==Scrutiny==		==Scrutiny==
	Once a motion has passed the floor of the Senate, the civil service will try to ensure that all the necessary details have been completed and begin to ~~scrutinize~~ the motion to check that it is compatible with the Constitution. As a result of this scrutiny, the Constitutional Court may choose to accept, amend or reject a motion.		Once a motion has passed the floor of the Senate, the civil service will try to ensure that all the necessary details have been completed and begin to scrutinise the motion to check that it is compatible with the Constitution. As a result of this scrutiny, the Constitutional Court may choose to accept, amend or reject a motion.

	When a motion is ~~scrutinized~~, it is possible that different constitutional or legal interpretations of the wording of the motion or its intent will be identified. In situations where both interpretations are equally valid, the senator will be asked to provide further guidance, in effect, this forms part of the necessary details of the motion. Only interpretations of a motion which are compatible with the constitution will be considered, we will try to explicitly rule out any unconstitutional interpretations of a motion when it is added to the Imperial archives.		When a motion is scrutinised, it is possible that different constitutional or legal interpretations of the wording of the motion or its intent will be identified. In situations where both interpretations are equally valid, the senator will be asked to provide further guidance, in effect, this forms part of the necessary details of the motion. Only interpretations of a motion which are compatible with the constitution will be considered, we will try to explicitly rule out any unconstitutional interpretations of a motion when it is added to the Imperial archives.

	Scrutiny cannot be completed until ''after the summit is concluded'', when the Court have the time to discuss every motion at length and consider every possible ramification. It is often not possible to give definitive advice on a motion during the summit.		Scrutiny cannot be completed until ''after the summit is concluded'', when the Court have the time to discuss every motion at length and consider every possible ramification. It is often not possible to give definitive advice on a motion during the summit.
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	The Imperial Constitution is designed to allow us to preserve the spirit and ethos of the game, in line with the underlying game design. Motions that clearly violate the constitution, will be rejected as unconstitutional. This is a relatively rare outcome, very few motions have been rejected in recent years and it is ''extremely'' unlikely to happen if the citizens who drafted the motion took good advice.		The Imperial Constitution is designed to allow us to preserve the spirit and ethos of the game, in line with the underlying game design. Motions that clearly violate the constitution, will be rejected as unconstitutional. This is a relatively rare outcome, very few motions have been rejected in recent years and it is ''extremely'' unlikely to happen if the citizens who drafted the motion took good advice.

	Examples of things which are guaranteed to be rejected by the magistrates include expelling a nation from the Empire, dispossessing citizens of their wealth and property, ~~centralizing~~ additional powers to The Throne or Senate, disestablishing the Bourse, Conclave, Military Council or Synod or frivolous or stupid laws.		Examples of things which are guaranteed to be rejected by the magistrates include expelling a nation from the Empire, dispossessing citizens of their wealth and property, centralising additional powers to The Throne or Senate, disestablishing the Bourse, Conclave, Military Council or Synod or frivolous or stupid laws.

	{{Senate Further Reading}}		{{Senate Further Reading}}

Matt at 10:40, 18 June 2022

2022-06-18T10:40:29Z

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	The purpose of this advice is to give players an opportunity to talk to those characters best able to help them find the best wording for their motion and to minimize the chances that a motion will be amended or ruled unconstitutional ''after'' it has passed the Senate.		The purpose of this advice is to give players an opportunity to talk to those characters best able to help them find the best wording for their motion and to minimize the chances that a motion will be amended or ruled unconstitutional ''after'' it has passed the Senate.

	It is perfectly fine to request advice from the Court before the summit begins. The Court will examine any provisional Senate motions [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk sent to us] between events and provide the best advice available.		It is perfectly fine to request advice from the Court before the summit begins. The Court will examine any provisional Senate motions [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk sent to us at plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] between events and provide the best advice available.

	==Scrutiny==		==Scrutiny==

Rafferty at 15:33, 26 May 2022

2022-05-26T15:33:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:33, 26 May 2022
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	<quote by="John of Meade, Speaker of the Senate, Winter 383YE">There is a mark of ink on the treaty. If it is a comma, the treaty is constitutional. If it is a full stop, it is unconstitutional and the whole treaty will fail.</ic>		<quote by="John of Meade, Speaker of the Senate, Winter 383YE">There is a mark of ink on the treaty. If it is a comma, the treaty is constitutional. If it is a full stop, it is unconstitutional and the whole treaty will fail.</quote>
	==Overview==		==Overview==

Rafferty at 15:33, 26 May 2022

2022-05-26T15:33:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:33, 26 May 2022
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			<quote by="John of Meade, Speaker of the Senate, Winter 383YE">There is a mark of ink on the treaty. If it is a comma, the treaty is constitutional. If it is a full stop, it is unconstitutional and the whole treaty will fail.</ic>
	==Overview==		==Overview==

Rafferty: /* Scrutiny */ Make wording less reactionary

2022-01-07T11:46:00Z

Scrutiny: Make wording less reactionary

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:46, 7 January 2022
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	When a motion is scrutinized, it is possible that different constitutional or legal interpretations of the wording of the motion or its intent will be identified. In situations where both interpretations are equally valid, the senator will be asked to provide further guidance, in effect, this forms part of the necessary details of the motion. Only interpretations of a motion which are compatible with the constitution will be considered, we will try to explicitly rule out any unconstitutional interpretations of a motion when it is added to the Imperial archives.		When a motion is scrutinized, it is possible that different constitutional or legal interpretations of the wording of the motion or its intent will be identified. In situations where both interpretations are equally valid, the senator will be asked to provide further guidance, in effect, this forms part of the necessary details of the motion. Only interpretations of a motion which are compatible with the constitution will be considered, we will try to explicitly rule out any unconstitutional interpretations of a motion when it is added to the Imperial archives.

	Scrutiny cannot be completed until ''after the summit is concluded'', when the Court have the time to discuss every motion at length and consider every possible ramification. It is ~~'''~~not~~'''~~ possible to give ~~'''~~definitive~~'''~~ advice on a motion during the summit.		Scrutiny cannot be completed until ''after the summit is concluded'', when the Court have the time to discuss every motion at length and consider every possible ramification. It is often not possible to give definitive advice on a motion during the summit.

	===Acceptance===		===Acceptance===

Dre at 16:30, 8 August 2018

2018-08-08T16:30:13Z

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	The purpose of this advice is to give players an opportunity to talk to those characters best able to help them find the best wording for their motion and to minimize the chances that a motion will be amended or ruled unconstitutional ''after'' it has passed the Senate.		The purpose of this advice is to give players an opportunity to talk to those characters best able to help them find the best wording for their motion and to minimize the chances that a motion will be amended or ruled unconstitutional ''after'' it has passed the Senate.

	It is perfectly fine to request advice from the Court before the summit begins. The Court will examine any provisional Senate motions [mailto:~~empire.~~plot@profounddecisions.co.uk sent to us] between events and provide the best advice available.		It is perfectly fine to request advice from the Court before the summit begins. The Court will examine any provisional Senate motions [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk sent to us] between events and provide the best advice available.

	==Scrutiny==		==Scrutiny==