Senate address
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<quote by="Walter Brewer, Senator for Upwold">Of course it was a lie you | <quote by="Walter Brewer, Senator for Upwold">Of course it was a lie you fool. Bruised apples have black cores. Stop yammering about virtue! It's a long list but unless you buggers added an eighth while I was eating lunch, honesty ain't on it. It's an address - she can say what she sodding likes and that ain't a crime. Those with wits and a care to use them will decide for themselves what to believe.</quote> | ||
{{CaptionedImage|file=And Another Thing.jpg|title=Thanks to the presence of the citizens in the viewing gallery, speaking before the Imperial Senate means speaking before the Empire.|caption=The power to make a Senate address is possessed by only<br>a handful of [[Imperial title|Imperial titles]].|align=left|width=275}} | |||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
A Senate address is an opportunity for an individual to make a presentation to the [[Imperial Senate]] at a [[Senate session]]. Only a handful of [[Imperial title|Imperial titles]] confer the right to address the Senate, but they traditionally include [[The Throne]] and the [[Master of the Imperial Mint]]. | A Senate address is an opportunity for an individual to make a presentation to the [[Imperial Senate]] at a [[Senate session]]. Only a handful of [[Imperial title|Imperial titles]] confer the right to address the Senate, but they traditionally include [[The Throne]] and the [[Master of the Imperial Mint]]. | ||
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===Agenda=== | ===Agenda=== | ||
Regardless of any responsibilities or expectations, the Senate cannot set the content of an address. A citizen who chooses to address the Senate may speak on any matter they wish. | Regardless of any responsibilities or expectations, the Senate cannot set the content of an address. A citizen who chooses to address the Senate may speak on any matter they wish. | ||
===Usage=== | |||
The Right to Address the Senate is considered to be a constitutionally significant power by the Constitutional Court, one they are keen to ensure is not abused to monopolize the time of the Senate. New Imperial titles will not pass constitutional scrutiny if they grant the Right of Address to an Imperial title which does not have significant legal powers. | |||
The Constitutional Court have indicated that it is not constitutional to have the right to address the Senate more than once a summit. | |||
{{CaptionedImage|file=UnimpressedNobles.jpg|title=The Dawnish are by no means alone in having no time for boring speeches.|caption=An address that is over-long, rambling, or prone to digression<br/> are often very poorly received.|align=left|width=275}} | |||
==Procedure== | ==Procedure== | ||
===Raising an address=== | ===Raising an address=== | ||
An Imperial citizen who has the right to address the Senate may do so by informing the [[Speaker for the Senate]] of their intention. The Speaker will add the item to the agenda for the next session. | An Imperial citizen who has the right to address the Senate may do so by informing the [[Speaker for the Senate]] of their intention. The Speaker will add the item to the agenda for the next session. | ||
There is a printable pro-forma for a Senate [[:File:Senate_Address_Sheet.pdf|address here.]] | |||
The citizen should ensure that they are present at the chamber throughout the session, as they may be called at any time. They may only enter the chamber once called, and must leave when their address is concluded. The citizen may choose to inform the Speaker of the rough content of their address in advance if they wish. | The citizen should ensure that they are present at the chamber throughout the session, as they may be called at any time. They may only enter the chamber once called, and must leave when their address is concluded. The citizen may choose to inform the Speaker of the rough content of their address in advance if they wish. | ||
Latest revision as of 15:14, 11 June 2024
Of course it was a lie you fool. Bruised apples have black cores. Stop yammering about virtue! It's a long list but unless you buggers added an eighth while I was eating lunch, honesty ain't on it. It's an address - she can say what she sodding likes and that ain't a crime. Those with wits and a care to use them will decide for themselves what to believe.
Walter Brewer, Senator for Upwold
a handful of Imperial titles.
Overview
A Senate address is an opportunity for an individual to make a presentation to the Imperial Senate at a Senate session. Only a handful of Imperial titles confer the right to address the Senate, but they traditionally include The Throne and the Master of the Imperial Mint.
The Senate may create new Imperial titles with this power if they wish; this is most appropriate where the holder of the title does not need to attend regular Senate sessions but may need to report regularly to the Senate.
It is also possible to confer the right to make an address on a named citizen regardless of any Imperial title held. This is usually expressed as an invitation for the individual to address the Senate.
Limitations
No Compulsion
It is not possible to compel a citizen to appear before the Senate to speak. The Senate may grant an Imperial title the right to make an address, request an individual address the Senate, or invite them to speak on an individual motion, but they cannot compel them to appear. Only the Imperial Synod has the power to compel a citizen to appear before them.
Agenda
Regardless of any responsibilities or expectations, the Senate cannot set the content of an address. A citizen who chooses to address the Senate may speak on any matter they wish.
Usage
The Right to Address the Senate is considered to be a constitutionally significant power by the Constitutional Court, one they are keen to ensure is not abused to monopolize the time of the Senate. New Imperial titles will not pass constitutional scrutiny if they grant the Right of Address to an Imperial title which does not have significant legal powers.
The Constitutional Court have indicated that it is not constitutional to have the right to address the Senate more than once a summit.
are often very poorly received.
Procedure
Raising an address
An Imperial citizen who has the right to address the Senate may do so by informing the Speaker for the Senate of their intention. The Speaker will add the item to the agenda for the next session.
There is a printable pro-forma for a Senate address here.
The citizen should ensure that they are present at the chamber throughout the session, as they may be called at any time. They may only enter the chamber once called, and must leave when their address is concluded. The citizen may choose to inform the Speaker of the rough content of their address in advance if they wish.
Presentation
The citizen making an address will be allowed a few minutes to speak during which those present in the chamber are expected to remain reasonably quiet. Although the citizen has been granted the legal right to address the Senate on a matter of their choice, the Speaker determines how long they may speak for. The purpose of an address is to present the Senate with information that is of interest to them. Individuals who try the Senate's patience by talking too long on a subject that it is clearly of diminishing interest to everyone present will be instructed to conclude their address early by the Speaker.
Debate
After the presentation is complete, the Speaker will allow some time for members of the Senate to ask questions and for the speaker to reply.