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A Special Envoy of the Senate
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| Eli_Fitzgerald | Date: Saturday, 15 Sep 2012, 10:26 PM | Message # 1 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 355
Status: Offline
| I propose this in the hope of restoring a certain measure of public confidence in this body that seems to have been lost even before the Clone War started, but especially since the end of the war. While the Empire has broad popular support, majorities in many opinion polls continue to see the Senate as mired in bureaucracy—not a place where problems are solved, but where politics is played. I sincerely feel, however, that the Senate as a democratic institution is more important now than ever.
Is there room for improvement? Yes, but censures aren't enough to improve the image of this body; we must communicate to the people three important things; 1.) the Senate is listening to them and working for them, 2.) the Senate is communicating the needs and interests of the people to the Emperor, and 3.) the Senate is an authority on interstellar conflict-prevention and conflict-resolution. It's for these reasons I propose a new position, called the Special Envoy of the Imperial Senate.
1. The Special Envoy shall have three primary responsibilities, as follows.
1a. To go on listening tours of under-represented Imperial worlds, primarily to report back to the Senate on the disposition of the public and, secondarily, to encourage Imperial worlds without Senators to seek representation in the Senate. The Special Envoy should also promote the Senate and raise awareness of its work on behalf of the people.
1b. To counsel the Grand Vizier on the disposition of the public.
1c. To act as the Senate's designated mediator in inter-planetary disputes.
2. The Special Envoy shall be elected from among delegates of the Senate by majority vote of the Senate.
2a. The Special Envoy may be recalled by a majority vote of the Senate for failure to satisfactorily carry out the duties of the Special Envoy, failure to accurately reflect the will of the people or the will of the Senate, for conduct unbecoming of a Senator, or when personal involvement in an inter-planetary dispute precludes the Special Envoy's impartial mediation of the dispute.
2b. The Special Envoy shall serve non-consecutive terms of no longer than 6 standard months.
3. Candidates for the position must have proposed at least 3 pieces of legislation to qualify.
4. No 3 consecutive Special Envoys shall be of the same species.
Eli Fitzgerald
Senator of Ralltiir (10 BBY—Present)
"I was elected to do some flamethrowing in the Senate. To a light a fire under those Senators and make it hot for them."
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Sunday, 16 Sep 2012, 5:32 AM | Message # 2 |
 Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| Senator Fitzgerald, a small change, if I might suggest?
A number of our members within the Senate are already parts of this committee or that committee, leaving them quite busy or, as we can see from recent events, tied up in matters of health and such. I would suggest there be a clause that whomever is selected as the Special Envoy not hold any other positions at the time of their selection or during their selection.
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Johannes_Oswaldt | Date: Tuesday, 18 Sep 2012, 3:05 PM | Message # 3 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 250
Status: Offline
| The Senate is increasingly unnecessary in the Imperial era. We have a strong central government now, and we have the Emperor. We honestly don't need a thousand bigheads debating with each other about what to do. That's a fact, and your little "listening tour" isn't going to change that. So the people think the Senate is "mired in bureaucracy"? Maybe we should listen to the people instead of trying to change their minds. They might know better than us, you know. The Emperor certainly does, so again I ask, is this really necessary?
Johannes Oswaldt
Senator and Governor of Eriadu
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| Eli_Fitzgerald | Date: Tuesday, 18 Sep 2012, 11:37 PM | Message # 4 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 355
Status: Offline
| Senator Oswaldt, I suspect a debate with a duraplast wall would be more constructive than debating the merits of democracy with you, so I won't do that except to point out that the people wouldn't send us here to represent them if they feel we're "unnecessary." Neither does the Empire consider us "unnecessary"—the Emperor often reminds us that we elected him so, presumably, he derives his power from us? He also has us enact his agenda for him, and some Senators such as Hurst Romodi have formal Imperial duties. I've also heard the Grand Vizier protest to us that he and the Emperor oh so cherish the input of the Senate.
However, there are anti-democratic sentiments among the supporters of the Empire (such as yourself). The Senate is the place where those sentiments and the sentiments of those who disagree can be heard in equal measure, and the people—not Senator Oswaldt and not the Emperor, either—can decide who's right and who's wrong.
The bill I proposed is one side of the argument. It's an argument for the Senate as a democratic institution that represents the interests of the people to a faceless and faithless Empire. That's what we're supposed to do here and I think this bill will help us to do it better. Honestly, what do you have against "listening"?Added (18 Sep 2012, 11:37 PM)
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Senator Stark, since the position is an elected one I think Senators can take your concerns into consideration when casting their votes without necessarily having to codify it into law. I, for one, agree with you, but I'd prefer to disqualify as few candidates as possible.
Eli Fitzgerald
Senator of Ralltiir (10 BBY—Present)
"I was elected to do some flamethrowing in the Senate. To a light a fire under those Senators and make it hot for them."
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| Verence_Terrawin | Date: Friday, 21 Sep 2012, 11:15 PM | Message # 5 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 285
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| The position of Alsakan is that it is desirable to have the maximum power possible vested in elected officers. I think it'd be a sterling example to have a Senatorial Envoy and so I vote In Favour of this motion.
Verence Terrawin
Senator of Alsakan
First Lord of the Foreign Office, Alsakan
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| Augusta_Aurelius | Date: Monday, 24 Sep 2012, 7:29 AM | Message # 6 |
 Lieutenant colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 109
Status: Offline
| It is clear that we need reform within this body. The model under which we operate is that of the former government, and as with all things, one must change with the times so that one may better serve. This bill is a turn in that direction and I applaud Senator Fitzgerald for this legislation. In Favor.
Augusta Aurelius
Queen Conosrt of Deralia
Chair of the Human Rights Monitoring and Crisis Resolution Sub-Committee of the Planetary Defense Committee
Senator of Deralia and the Tammuz Sector (30 BBY - 18 BBY, 10 BBY - Present)
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| Senator_Cambrist | Date: Monday, 24 Sep 2012, 7:05 PM | Message # 7 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 761
Status: Offline
| Senator Fitzgerald's attempts to de-legitimize the Grand Vizier and diminish his influence in the Senate are well-known. This bill is simply the latest broadside in his war on Sate Pestage, a good and honorable man. We don't need another position of power in the Senate to challenge the Grand Vizier's authority. He doesn't need to be "counseled on the disposition of the public." It's our job to represent the people; if the people aren't satisfied with the representatives they elected, the problem isn't with us, it's with them. The problem is with democracy.
The Senate is an ancient institution that I support, and so does the Empire. Indeed, the Empire has maintained a balance between the desires of the uneducated masses of the people and a strong central government. I see no need to tip the balance in the Senate's favor especially when the Grand Vizier has been so good at maintaining this balance.
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| Sate_Pestage | Date: Sunday, 30 Sep 2012, 10:26 PM | Message # 8 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Moderators
Messages: 639
Status: Offline
| I'm grateful for those sentiments, Senator Cambrist, and I agree. But are there no further votes against the measure?
Sate Pestage
Grand Vizier of the Empire
Assistant to Emperor Palpatine
Chair of the Imperial Senate
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| LomenRyuun | Date: Friday, 05 Oct 2012, 1:45 PM | Message # 9 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 696
Status: Offline
| I must agree with the words of Senators Cambrist and Oswaldt. This legislature is unneeded and points solely to a waste of time. Druckenwell is wholeheartedly against.
Lomen Ryuun
Senator, Doldur Sector
Senator, Druckenwell
Representative, Monor II (10 BBY - 9 BBY)
Representative, Geridard
Representative, Boranall
Representative, Therenor Prime
Vice-chairman, Defense Committee (Temporarily suspended)
Controlling Shareholder - Druckenwell Arms Corporation
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| Draken_Turot | Date: Friday, 05 Oct 2012, 1:49 PM | Message # 10 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 258
Status: Offline
| Acherin also votes against this un-patriotic act!!! Next thing we know, Senator Fitzgerald will petition for His Majesty to give up his throne!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Ilanah_Thanatos | Date: Saturday, 06 Oct 2012, 2:18 PM | Message # 11 |
 Colonel general
Group: Users
Messages: 891
Status: Offline
| How is it unpatriotic, Governor-General? Do the underrepresented worlds not deserve a voice too? And whether the Imperial Senate is "unneeded", as you so delicately put it, Governor Oswaldt, His Majesty keeps it in tact for a reason. I imagine so that his people...of all species...still have a voice in their government.
Chandrila votes in favor.
Ilanah R. Thanatos
Senator of Chandrila
Message edited by Ilanah_Thanatos - Saturday, 06 Oct 2012, 2:19 PM |
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| Roman_Lekpin | Date: Sunday, 07 Oct 2012, 0:54 AM | Message # 12 |
 Colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 207
Status: Offline
| I would like to state for the record that Acting Representative Stark did not actually cast a vote for or against this measure.
Chairman Pestage is apt at what he does; mediating disputes, helping with rulings, acting as go-between for the Senate and the Emperor and in general, the Empire turns more efficiently with him in the position he holds, and speaking on a personal and planetary point, I would not see him replaced by any means.
That being said, I'm afraid Senator Fitzgerald does have a point. I have conducted research on the opinion polls mentioned by Senator Fitzgerald and he speaks the truth; indeed, the polls speak the truth. The Senate, to the common people, does appear to be mired down. While I am not necessarily a believer that a Special Envoy is necessarily the way to go, it is the only option offered at this time. My vote is for the betterment of the people by and large, throughout the whole galaxy. I am in favor.
Roman Lekpin
Representative, Lorrd (11 BBY-10 BBY) (9 BBY-Present)
Chosen of House Garth
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| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Sunday, 07 Oct 2012, 9:34 PM | Message # 13 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 302
Status: Offline
| I agree with Senator Lekpin. The Grand Vizier is an able steward of the Senate, but ultimately he's here representing the Emperor, not representing the Senate itself. He speaks persuasively to us and to the public on behalf of the Emperor, but he's not a spokesman for the Senate. While I'm grateful to the Grand Vizier for his stewardship of the Senate, I support this proposal so that the Senate has its own emissary to the people (and vice versa). I don't see this as a challenge to Sate Pestage.
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
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| Senator_Ordan | Date: Monday, 08 Oct 2012, 11:21 AM | Message # 14 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 633
Status: Offline
| Senators.
As far as I am concerned, this motion is another Raltiiri attempt to bring Republicanism back through the back door. There are quite enough well paid bureaucrats in the Galactic Empire already without adding a pointless "Envoy". This would just be a popularity contest position that would waste all of our time talking endless platitudes as many Senators are already wanton to do.
I don't support ringfencing diversity in the Empire, and I don't see why Humans shouldn't be allowed to hold the position for more than three terms. I also feel a six month term really strips the post of any possible meaning - this post would just not be in office long enough to mediate or discuss anything in depth. This is all a rather ineffective waste of time to create an envoy who would be an equal waste of time.
I thus can only vote against this motion and urge my fellow Senators to do the same.
Senator Hubert Ordan
__________________________
Senator of the Azure Sector
Foreign Minister of Anaxes
Captain-General of the Azure Interest Protection Squadron
Deputy Chairman of the Ethics Committee
Worshipful Master of the Most Loyal and Honourable Company of Blockadeers
Archtreasurer of the Vault of Pols Anaxes
Autocrat of Selgon
Owner of Azure Durasteel
Systems Admiral (Ret)
Order of the Canted Circle
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| Sate_Pestage | Date: Tuesday, 09 Oct 2012, 9:32 PM | Message # 15 |
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Lieutenant general
Group: Moderators
Messages: 639
Status: Offline
| I'd ask that Governor Oswaldt clarify for the record whether his sentiments against this measure are to be interpreted as a vote against the measure, please.
Sate Pestage
Grand Vizier of the Empire
Assistant to Emperor Palpatine
Chair of the Imperial Senate
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