Declaration
Overview
The Conclave has a number of powers to enable them to fulfil their constitutional role to support the proper use of magic by the Empire. These powers are grouped together as the Declarations of the Conclave. Declarations are used by the Conclave to determine policy and to appoint citizens to the Imperial titles appointed by the Conclave. They always require a vote by the assembled Imperial magicians to pass.
A declaration can generally be thought of as a short sentence beginning "The Imperial conclave declares ..." and then a single specific thing such as "...that I am Archmage of Winter" or "...that Sadogua should be considered an ally of the Empire."
Procedure
Raising a declaration
A declaration is placed on the agenda for the next Conclave session. Placing a declaration costs a mana crystal, which must be paid when the declaration is raised. The civil servant records the name of the person raising the declaration and the specifics of what that declaration is about. For example "Xavier i Guerra raises a Declaration of Sorcery against Pieter Vanderhooven" or "Lebannon of Haros Water raises a Declaration of Candidacy for the title of Archmage of Winter".
The grandmaster of each order has a power called the veil of night which allows them to raise a declaration to the agenda without revealing any specifics of that declaration, in which case it is recorded as ""The Grandmaster of (Order) raises a declaration."
Presentation
The format follows the approach used for an address. Each declaration in turn is announced by the civil service, in the order in which they were placed on the agenda. The individual who raised the declaration to the agenda then has one minute to present their position, they must spend crystal mana if they wish to speak for longer.
Debate
After the declaration has been presented, those present may pay mana for the right to discuss the subject, in order determined by the Principle of Precedence.
Resolution
After the discussion is complete, every Imperial magician present may vote in favour or against, or may choose to abstain. If more magicians vote in favour than vote against, the declaration is carried. In the case of a tie, the declaration is considered to have failed.
The civil servants supporting the meeting may choose to count votes on a general aye or nay where the outcome is very clear. If voting is required, magicians normally vote by raising their hands and are counted out by order with civil servant counting independents and verifying any counts.
List of Declarations
Declaration of Candidacy
The Conclave can declare someone to hold a specific title controlled by the Conclave. This is most commonly used to propose someone for the title of archmage, Warmage or Dean of the Lyceum, but there are a number of other temporary or permanent positions that might be allocated using this declaration. Occasionally, this declaration has been used to simply remove someone from their position, by declaring that their post should be filled with nobody.
It is typical for the civil service to group all declarations of candidacy that effect the same position together at the point on the agenda where the last one was raised and conduct a single vote for the position. In this case, each individual who has raised that declaration makes a presentation in the order they raised their candidacy, then a single discussion takes place followed by a single vote. The candidate with the most votes takes the title.
The incumbent does not automatically get to make a presentation - although there is nothing to stop them raising themselves as a candidate if they realise someone is challenging for their title. They may speak normally during the discussion period, and the incumbent is automatically presented as an option during the voting process without the need for a separate declaration.
A Declaration of Candidacy comes into legal effect at the end of the session, after all the gambits are resourced. It is the responsibility of the previous holder of the title to ensure that all regalia passes to the new title holder speedily and with the minimum of fuss.
Declaration of Concord
The Conclave makes an agreed upon statement of belief, intent or support. It has no binding legal element but clearly expresses the intent of the Conclave. It is often used to decide that the Conclave agrees to bring a matter before the Senate, and potentially to nominate someone responsible for liaising with the senators to raise a motion there.
Occasionally the Declaration of Concord is used in advance to declare that a specific magical act will not be considered sorcery. In 326YE for example, a number of curses were placed on individuals who had been identified by the Shuttered Lantern as supporters of the briars involved in the Freedom heresy. Given the personal power of several of these individuals, the covens involved sought this Declaration immediately before placing the curses and used it (successfully) as a defence when magicians associated with the Imperial Senate and Imperial Synod tried to have them declared sorcerers in the aftermath.
The Declaration of Concord has also been used to set in motion the sequence of events that lead to the creation or dissolution of a Conclave order.
Declaration of Endowment
Any mana or illium that the Conclave owns is automatically added to the Font - for distribution between the orders. Other property, such as materials, items, money and even resources, are not added to the Font - they remain the property of the Conclave until they are distributed by a Declaration of Endowment.
Anyone raising a Declaration of Endowment must state what property of the Conclave they wish to transfer and who to. The recipient may be any Imperial citizen - but it can also be one or more of the Conclave orders. Any resources, items or riches endowed on an order are added to that order's vaults. They may only be accessed thereafter via a gambit.
The Conclave cannot rescind a Declaration of Endowment; once passed the item or items become the full legal property of the recipient. The Conclave can indicate that they expect a magician to bequeath an item to the Conclave when they are finished with it, but they cannot create a legal obligation to do so as part of a Declaration of Endowment. If the Conclave is bequeathed a resource that provides an ongoing income then they may either pass a declaration to endow the resource - or instead endow some portion of the income accrued to date.
Declaration of Sorcery
The Conclave may declare a magician to be a sorcerer. The most common reason for this declaration is as a result of an abuse of 'legal curses' against citizens or allies of the Empire, or against those engaged in suspect trade of magical resources (often in conjunction with a legal penalty assessed by an Imperial magistrate). If this Declaration is made:
- the sorcerer is prohibited from contributing to rituals.
- the sorcerer is prohibited from carrying or using crystal mana.
- the sorcerer is not permitted to run a mana site; the resource is confiscated by the civil service.
- the sorcerer cannot hold any title within the Imperial Conclave.
- the sorcerer cannot use mana to raise an item to the conclave agenda.
- the sorcerer cannot use mana to speak before the conclave.
- the sorcerer is prohibited from knowingly interacting with Eternals or their heralds.
All crystal mana owned by someone declared to be a sorcerer is legally forfeit to the Conclave. A sorcerer who violates these prohibitions will be subject to arrest and trial before a magistrate. During the Spring Summit 378YE, the Imperial Senate voted to add a prohibition against interaction with eternals and their heralds to the declaration.
Declaration of Reconciliation
The Conclave may reconcile a sorcerer with the Empire. If this declaration is made, all rights that were taken from them are returned. They regain possession of any confiscated mana site, but not of any crystal mana it may have produced while they were sorcerers.
This declaration can also be used to remove or modify a ban placed by the declaration of interdiction.
Declaration of Amity
The Conclave may declare a specific Eternal is an ally of the Conclave. Members of the Conclave are encouraged to demonstrate courtesy and even aid these Eternals, or their Heralds, where it is possible for them to do so. The Eternal, and any associated Heralds, gain the rights of Amity. This declaration overturns a declaration of enmity.
Further information about the rights of Amity and a list of the Eternals who currently benefit from these rights is available here.
Declaration of Enmity
The Conclave may declare a specific Eternal to be an enemy of the Empire. If this declaration is made, it becomes dangerous for anyone to consort with the Eternal named in this declaration, or with their Heralds. Such an act usually results in the offender being declared a sorcerer, but they may also face investigation by a magistrate for treason. Having enmity from the Conclave brings with it a number of other drawbacks. It automatically overturns a declaration of amity.
Further information about the effects of Enmity and a list of the Eternals who are currently enemies of the Empire is available here.
Declaration of Neutrality
This declaration removes either amity or enmity from a specific target and returns them to a neutral legal status. Any benefits gained from, or penalties imposed by, the previous status are lost at the end of the conclave session.
Declaration of Imperial Lore
Rituals that are part of Imperial Lore are widely available to any Imperial citizen. New rituals may be added to Imperial Lore by this declaration. The declaration instructs the civil service to arrange for a specific ritual be added to the body of Imperial Lore, allowing magicians all over the Empire to receive training in the ritual. This process requires three things:
- A copy of a ritual text detailing the ritual which is used up as part of the process
- A successful Declaration of Imperial Lore
- Ten thrones which are given to the civil service to pay for distribution of the ritual
Once a ritual is added to Imperial Lore it is functionally impossible to remove it. The best the Conclave can do is attempt to declare performance of the ritual to be sorcery with the Declaration of Interdiction. In the past, the Conclave has often approached the Imperial Senate for assistance paying the ten Thrones, but this requires a separate motion from the Senators.
Declaration of Interdiction
The Conclave may censor specific rituals, items and materials that represent a significant magical danger to the Empire. In the case of rituals it doesn't prevent knowing the ritual, but it means that producing the magical effect that that ritual creates is henceforth illegal. For magic items and materials it is illegal to use the interdicted items or materials and they should be handed in promptly to the civil service to be destroyed or placed out of reach, as appropriate.
Declaration of the Balance
This declaration requires every grandmaster pass a vote of confidence from the members of their order who are present. If the declaration succeeds then each order in turn votes whether to support for the grandmaster or not, starting with the order with the highest precedence. If the majority of members support their grandmaster, their position is safe; if the majority do not, then the grandmaster loses their position at the end of the conclave session, and the civil service arrange a new election before the next conclave session.