Parliamentary Charter
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Editor's Introduction - Since I will no longer be participating directly in the democratic process at Firnost, it seems to me that this document should be preserved in Firnost's Archives, where it can be of use to those of you who remain.
I have left all of Restor's original commentary appended for historical interest, and to maintain the core document within its original context. However, since its adoption, there have been many, many other commentaries of various kinds, which might be found in Firnost's records by the diligent and the lucky. I include within the note boxes (Such as this one) my commentary regarding specific changes I know to have been made to the Parliamentary system. There may be other alterations of which I am not aware, so I cannot claim my amendments are exhaustive. |
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*Several sheets of paper tacked onto the bulletin board of Firnost and a few stapled �leaflets� left on Everwyrd's bar written in legible handwriting (except near the end when writer's cramp really hit in) and photocopied; reading:*
People of Firnost,
It is still a while away from elections, however, I wish to make an early nomination as I think it is best thought about and not reacted to quickly or pass without debate or time of consideration. The charter of Firnost states that we do not only elect a leader for Firnost, but we also may elect a -form of governing-. That being the case, I nominate the Parliament of Kiths as Firnost's form of government.
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Each Kithain representative shall be voted into the Parliament on a three month term held in nine separate elections which run simultaneously wherein each Kithain in Firnost votes only for their own kith's representative (i.e., Sluagh vote for the Sluagh seat, Sidhe vote for the Sidhe seat, etc.).
Any change in law or procedure (including these terms) must pass a two thirds vote of the Parliament (i.e., six votes) before it may be enacted. Removal of a seated Parliament member can only occur after a unanimous vote of the Parliament in which the threatened member cannot vote.
Laws enacted by one Parliament remain in effect unless VOTED OUT by a later Parliament (two thirds majority vote).
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| By Custom, it has been in the past the practice to determine a passing vote as 2/3 of the duly elected representatives holding seats for their kith, in instances when fewer than nine representatives were elected. - Ed. | ||
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Here are some points about the Parliament and how it affects
other portions of Firnost and day to day life (feel free to
skip this section if it'll slow you down from your
all-important sex session in the garden with that young,
slutty winged Sidhe you just picked up):
Most court positions are now invalid:
Thane is no longer a valid position (unless voted in by a
Parliament). It makes sense that people defend themselves
and uphold the rules and law of their Parliament themselves.
Problems potentially leading to expulsion are taken to their
kith seat or another member of the Parliament where they are
decided upon by a two thirds vote (much more fair than the
current system of biased judgements). The people of Firnost
are used to defending the bale fire, themselves and others
as is. There have been fewer counts of violence with Sam�s
recent term (which consisted of three rarely seen Thanes)
than with Percival's term of 30+ Thanes (which includes
cabinet members who can act as Thanes), which shows that a
huge police force is actually detrimental. Also, no one
would have �special privileges� to use mundane weapons as
the current case with the Thanes. Chimerical weapons work
like gangbusters against Fae, and when it comes to the
Prodigals, I believe that throwing a wyrded cantrip from a
distance at a rampaging werewolf is wiser and safer than
walking up and poking it with a pointy stick, so there is no
need to bring in mundane weapons at all (except presently to
avoid a coup).
Positions such as Troubadour, Jester, Bard and Seer are
void. As it stands, why do you need someone APPOINTED to
make cheer and mirth in Firnost? It is impossible to mandate
goodwill and cheer. That removes the call for sanctioned
Troubadour and Jester (although no one will stop anyone for
acting out the roles without a badge declaring their title).
Bard is a misunderstood position and recent leaders have
made a mockery of it with their appointments, turning the
position into a �live-action jukebox� rather than the
foreteller and prophet that the role is meant to be, and
have thus already invalidated the position. And Seer has
always been a hotbed of contention with Prodigals being
appointing and then crying that it wasn't their fault that
they don't know how to say �no thanks�. Without a Seer,
responsibility for Naming and other high maintenance
cantrips can be sought out on a case-by-case need by the
Parliament, thus eliminating the nigh-impossible task of
finding a single Fae capable of casting every cantrip
needed.
The Parliament promotes kith unity as each kith gets a
representative to press kith related agendas and issues
through the parliament. It will also prevent any one kith to
unify under the guise of prejudice and bias against them to
threaten their way to rise above the Escheat, as has
occurred under the present system.
The Parliament promotes kith diversity and embracing the
concerns of other kiths. Perhaps Boggans do not frequent
Firnost because they do not feel represented; now they will
have reason to frequent the establishment. Just as Sam�s
reign paralleled with a rise in the Redcap population of
Firnost, with each kith equally represented there is no
reason for any kith to feel alienated or misrepresented in
Firnost. Equally important is the fact that it promotes
embracing the diversity of Firnost. If the Satyrs have an
issue that is important to them, they must persuade at least
five other kiths in the Parliament to agree with them in
order for a measure to pass.
The Parliament's decisions and rules will be treated with
sovereignty and as the rule of law. Though the Right of
Demesne does not apply to the Parliament, their decisions
are to be considered the law of the Freehold. Though this
seems simple enough of a concept that it does not even need
to be mentioned, it is important to have it in writing so
that in the future leaders and Freeholders outside of
Firnost cannot impose their rule on it; that is for
Parliament only (i.e., Power-hungry rulers with little sense
of Freehold borders CANNOT banish people from Firnost
(despite the fact that their rule extends only to their own
holdings) or have their law set precedent in Firnost over
that of the Parliament's, which has been the case of late).
Hot issues, such as Prodigals and their rights in Firnost,
change from leader to leader almost on whim. Now, the laws
binding the non-Fae will not be subject to one person's
personal opinion on the matter, but rather by the
Parliament. With ever changing Parliament members and all
kiths having a voice on the matter, there should be less
drastic change from term to term, thus settling the fury and
anger that rises with these certain issues. No longer will
there be a leader who wins by one vote who then countermands
almost every one of the previous leader's laws and rules
despite not having a clear majority of favour on his or her
side. Laws and rules in Firnost remain from term to term
until voted out. This gives Firnost a better sense of
stability, rather than the radically altering face it has
every three months, which is a portion of the source of
vehement attitudes that accompanies certain issues.
Politics will be easier. With smaller groups to represent
(i.e., one kith), leadership will be more available to
champion personal causes for their own people they
represent, rather than eighty people all pestering one
person with radically differing ideas.
Since it is a kith representative in the Parliament
equating only one ninth of the power structure, voting will
be less of the mockery it is presently (there have been
cases recently whereby those who voted in Firnost's election
(thereby admitting an allegiance to the government there)
have disagreed with the elected leader's decision and have
gone over the Freeholder's head to get outside and
self-imposed justice on situations that have already been
decided and, according the Right of Demesne, should be
settled once ruled). How perverse is it that those who vote
in Firnost to impact the political direction there, then
skirt around the system that they have reinforced by voting,
even if it was not their preferred candidate who won?
With the Parliament in place you can still fuck in the
rooms upstairs and in the garden (unless voted out by a two
thirds Parliament vote) and can still choose pay no
attention to politics or Firnost's future instead focusing
on crying over every bloody body who stumbles in the front
door and putting more notches in your bedpost. Though if you
actually made it this far in reading, you are probably not
one of those who would care about this lack of change in
overall policy.
Everything stated above is subject to change if it is voted
out by a two thirds majority (even THAT number can be voted
to change). This allows for a more flexible form of
governing that can cater to the immediate needs of Firnost
and it's people, rather than clinging to a stale icon of the
Dark Ages based on nepotism or patterning it after our
country's governmental organisation that just about every
one of us would admit they believe is corrupt on many
levels.
OOC: Voting on issues between Parliament members can be
done on the main mailing list of Firnost or, conversely, in
private e-mail between the players of the Parliament
members. There is no need to vote IC in the chat rooms on
most issues, and any debate can be posted on the main list
as well.
OOC: This will also encourage players to unify their
character's kiths and join the various kith related mailing
lists that are out there, or to create them where they do
not exist. This is the only part that will be a little
sketchy at first, as who will moderate the lists? However,
if the idea is accepted, there are a number of wonderful
non-moderator-necessary listbots (E-groups) that are out there that can
handle the various tasks. I'm sure that this will be no
problem in the long run.
OOC: Finally, this system would encourage the voting to be
less of a popularity contest (as they really are now, I
don't think anyone actually cares about policy of
candidates, just whether or not they like them) and rather
to be more of a voting on who best represents their kith
(granted, I would -love- to see IC and OOC voting be based
on politics and policy and I won't fool myself and say that
this would do it, but I would settle with people voting on
the basis of good role-playing of a kith than simply who
they like more).
This is the first step to giving individual people more
rights and freedoms in Firnost by offering more direct and
less generalised representation. Those who know me know I
preach the benefits of a mature anarchic commune, however, I
realise that despite my desire for that style of
self-governing, the people of Firnost are too irresponsible,
immature and idiotic to consider it presently. Baby steps
then. The Parliament of Kiths does not need to go in the
direction of an anarchic commune, but instead will go in the
direction of the people. However, what sets it apart from
Firnost presently is that it will go in the direction that
ALL the people want and EVERYONE will have a voice in where
it goes.
Is there anyone here who does not believe that Firnost needs
a change more profound than the face of our leader?
Restor de Tristram
[email protected]
OOC: Player thanks Jeff (player of Berry Bliss) for getting
this idea rolling OOC.
�The cry of the common man is not always just, but if you
don't listen to it, you will never know what justice is.�