adrian-empire chancellor s guide, 2002 Manual Do Utilizador
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Chancellor's Manual
as adopted November 2000, amended May 2002
P
REFACE
This manual is for the Imperial Chancellor and the Imperial Estates General only. Chartered subdivisions may use any
parliamentary procedure they see fit so long as the fundamental rights of their Estates are conserved. Of course,
anyone may take and use ideas from this manual. Its format is a bit unorthodox, being taken from a series of formally
unrelated writings. Nevertheless, an Imperial Chancellor should find this to be a useful guide.
parliamentary procedure they see fit so long as the fundamental rights of their Estates are conserved. Of course,
anyone may take and use ideas from this manual. Its format is a bit unorthodox, being taken from a series of formally
unrelated writings. Nevertheless, an Imperial Chancellor should find this to be a useful guide.
This manual is in the process of extensive revision. Please do not hesitate to make suggestions to the Imperial
Chancellor. Our thanks to Sir Nikolai Belski for his input on this manual.
Chancellor. Our thanks to Sir Nikolai Belski for his input on this manual.
Yours in service, Maedb and Karl, Empress and Kaiser
I. P
URPOSE
The Empire is vast. At times, as many as one-third (1/3) of all votes cast at a meeting of the Estates may be by proxy.
In order to conserve the rights of all Estates to participate in our democratic process, the following rules are used. As
used below, the "government" refers to the Imperial Crown and its Ministries. The "Estates" refers to the Imperial
Estates General.
In order to conserve the rights of all Estates to participate in our democratic process, the following rules are used. As
used below, the "government" refers to the Imperial Crown and its Ministries. The "Estates" refers to the Imperial
Estates General.
A.
PHILOSOPHY
It has been pointed out more than once that, by law, it takes a unanimous vote of the Imperial Estate General to
permanently banish a member, but it only takes 2/3 to change that law. In theory, if 2/3 of the members present
wanted to permanently banish a member, they could vote to suspend notice, vote to change the law, and then
vote to waive publication of that law– after which, they could vote to permanently banish the member without
unanimity. In theory. In practice, the law of unanimity is a strong statement of policy, which the Estate Holders
have ALWAYS respected. We all understand the loophole. We have never tried to exploit it. We have all
agreed that we want complete consensus before permanently banishing a member.
permanently banish a member, but it only takes 2/3 to change that law. In theory, if 2/3 of the members present
wanted to permanently banish a member, they could vote to suspend notice, vote to change the law, and then
vote to waive publication of that law– after which, they could vote to permanently banish the member without
unanimity. In theory. In practice, the law of unanimity is a strong statement of policy, which the Estate Holders
have ALWAYS respected. We all understand the loophole. We have never tried to exploit it. We have all
agreed that we want complete consensus before permanently banishing a member.
Similarly, it has pointed out that the “grandfather clause,” the prohibition on passing a law which affects
anyone’s previously-earned titles and honors, is no protection at all because the “grandfather clause” itself can
be changed just like any other law. Although this is true, it has never happened. The “grandfather clause” has
been in our Bylaws since February 16, 1992, and has never been challenged. It too is a strong statement of our
philosophy that we make no laws which affect the previously-earned rights of our members.
anyone’s previously-earned titles and honors, is no protection at all because the “grandfather clause” itself can
be changed just like any other law. Although this is true, it has never happened. The “grandfather clause” has
been in our Bylaws since February 16, 1992, and has never been challenged. It too is a strong statement of our
philosophy that we make no laws which affect the previously-earned rights of our members.
B.
CONSTRUING LAW
When interpreting any law, one must use common sense. When a law obligates someone to do something, one
must read into that law, “as far as is feasible” or “to the extenT practicable.”
must read into that law, “as far as is feasible” or “to the extenT practicable.”
For example, the site of a meeting of the Imperial Estates General is to be published at least 60 days in advance
of that meeting. What if a host chartered subdivision suddenly backs out? Or what if it is a chartered
subdivision’s turn to host a meeting of the Imperial Estates, and they do not make adequate preparations for the
meeting? Or has made arrangements which are prohibitively expensive? Under such circumstances, we must
all apply the law as best we can, following its intent to the best of our abilities.
of that meeting. What if a host chartered subdivision suddenly backs out? Or what if it is a chartered
subdivision’s turn to host a meeting of the Imperial Estates, and they do not make adequate preparations for the
meeting? Or has made arrangements which are prohibitively expensive? Under such circumstances, we must
all apply the law as best we can, following its intent to the best of our abilities.