The Honours Bill

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

WHEREAS Minister Txoteu Davinescù proposed a complete revamping of Talossa's honours system to the King and to the people more than 2 months ago;

AND WHEREAS, despite regular and heated discussion, no alternative system has been seriously proposed;

AND WHEREAS this Government aims to break the pattern of Talossan behaviour whereby things are just "given up" in the face of opposition;

AND WHEREAS specific amendments to this Bill from MZs will be gratefully considered;

BE IT ENACTED by the King, Cosâ and Senäts of Talossa in Ziu assembled as follows:

1. The following new section shall be added to El Lexhátx:

F. 40 The Talossan Honours System

The Talossan Honours System is administered by the Chancellery of Honours under the Minister of Culture and is divided into two categories: Orders and Decorations.

1. ORDERS
   The Talossan Honours System has both Dynastic (Honours created by the sovereign in which membership is considered a personal gift of the sitting monarch, granted without advice of the government) and National (Honours created by law and membership in which is carried out on the advice of advisory committees) elements. Most have a number of grades to acknowledge different levels of achievement and giving flexibility to the awarding body. The appointment to an order also entitles the appointee to post-nominal letters.
   1. Dynastic Orders
      1. The Order for the Nation (L'Urderi per la Naziun): The Order for the Nation is the senior order and is the most commonly awarded. The Crown recognises worthy citizens, offering them admission into the order for long and dedicated service to the nation, or for particular acts of valour in the defence of the realm. The Order of the Nation has one grade, that of Knight or Dame, and are entitled to add the honorific 'UrN' to their name.
      2. The Order of the Flag (L'Urðeri del Bicoloreu): The Order of the Flag is reserved by the Crown for recognition of outstanding contributions in patriotic acts. The Order of the Flag has one grade, that of Knight or Dame, and admitted members to the order are entitled to add the honorific 'UrB' to their name.
   2. National Orders
      1. The Order of the Purple Tongue: (L'Urðeri dal Glhimba Purpül) The Order of the Purple Tongue is the Order of Knighthood reserved by the Crown for recognition of outstanding contributions to the fields of Talossan language use, study, or development. The Order of the Purple Tongue has one grade, that of Knight or Dame, and are entitled to add the honorific 'UrGP' to their name.
      2. The Order of the Sabre: The Order of the Sabre is the Order of Knighthood for recognizing outstanding military merit to the nation through the leadership, development and long service in the Talossan Armed Forces. The Order of the Sabre has three grades: Commander (CS), Officer (OS), and Member (MS).
      3. The Order of Merit: The Order of Merit is the junior order of Talossa and is reserved for the recognition of outstanding national service not to the level of one of the senior orders. Service might include achievement in science, academia, art, literature, and the promotion of Talossan culture. The Order of Merit has three grades: Commander (CM), Officer (OM), and Member (MM).
2. DECORATIONS
   Decorations are awarded for gallantry, civilian bravery, or meritorious services. While similar to National Orders, they may or may not be created by the sovereign and conferred by either the Crown’s designee or a Governmental Body; and are traditional worn on the left side of the jacket or dress. Decorations may also entitle recipients to usage of post-nominals.
   1. National Decorations
      1. The Medal of Cincinnatus: The “Medal of Cincinnatus” may be awarded by the King in recognition for acts of extraordinary Talossanicity in the face of opposition. Recipients of this Medal are entitled to follow their names with the honorific “Cin.”
      2. The Seneschál’s Medals: The Seneschál’s Medal is the highest award given by the government of Talossa. The Seneschal Medal is awarded by the Seneschal for outstanding contributions to the Kingdom and are awarded in the following categories:
         1. The Seneschál’s Medal for the Arts – Honorific of SMA
         2. The Seneschál’s Medal for Science – Honorific of SMS
         3. The Seneschál’s Medal for Culture – Honorific of SMC
         4. The Seneschál’s Medal for Literature and Language – Honorific of SML
         5. The Seneschál’s Medal for Merit – Honorific of SMM
      3. Senatorial Medal of Honour: The Senatorial Medal of Honour is the highest award given by the Ziu. It was established by 25RZ77, The Senatorial Medal of Honour Act. Recipients are entitled to add the honorific S.H. after their names. The medal is awarded by a Resolution of the Senate with Royal Assent.
      4. Meritorious service decorations: There are two grades of Meritorious Service Decorations in Talossa:
         1. The Talossan Meritorious Service Cross, with post-nominal letters MSC, is specifically intended to recognize those individuals who through meritorious acts bring benefit and honour to the Kingdom of Talossa and the Crown. While the military division of this award recognises those highly professional acts that are of considerable benefit to the Armed Services, the civilian counterpart honours similar acts—whether in athletics, diplomatic relations, humanitarian activities, etc.— benefiting the nation as a whole.
         2. The Talossan Meritorious Service Medal, with post-nominal letters MSM, is the Kingdom’s secondary meritorious service decoration, which recognises highly professional acts that are of considerable benefit to the Talossan Armed Services by military personnel, and to the nation by civilians.
   2. Provincial Honours & Decorations Each of the Talossan provinces have duly authorized internal honours system of their own, allowing for the recognition of their citizens directly. For the purpose of Order of Wear, all Provincial Honours are worn in the order in which the respective province came under the Crown, oldest province in the most senior position and descending from there.

2. El Lexhátx F.31 (establishing the Prime Minister's Literary Awards), H.18 (establishing the Senatorial Medal of Honour), and H.19 (establishing the Medal of Cincinnatus) are hereby DELETED.

[Ian Plätschisch]

OK, so Txoteu and I had a discussion about this some time ago; I meant to write up my own proposal but here are my ideas:
-The Order of the Sabre is unnecessary - it can be folded into the Order of the Flag (which could be made a national order itself). 
-Although, the authority of anyone besides the King to grant any orders of knighthood in the first place is not clear to me
-Cut the Meritorious Service Medal and make the Meritorious Service Cross explicitly for extra-Talossan activities
-There is not enough distinction between what deserves a nomination to the Order of Merit and what deserves a Seneschal's Medal; I suggest cutting the Order of Merit since it is the only Order that would not grant a knighthood

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

Sept 10, 2019 19:07:59 GMT -6 Ian Plätschisch said:

OK, so Txoteu and I had a discussion about this some time ago; I meant to write up my own proposal but here are my ideas:
-The Order of the Sabre is unnecessary - it can be folded into the Order of the Flag (which could be made a national order itself). 
-Although, the authority of anyone besides the King to grant any orders of knighthood in the first place is not clear to me
-Cut the Meritorious Service Medal and make the Meritorious Service Cross explicitly for extra-Talossan activities
-There is not enough distinction between what deserves a nomination to the Order of Merit and what deserves a Seneschal's Medal; I suggest cutting the Order of Merit since it is the only Order that would not grant a knighthood

Okey-dokey, skip. That would give us this: I have no objection to any of it but would want Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu 's explicit go-ahead. As to what the King thinks about knighthoods, I've changed the National Orders to "on the advice of the Government". If he doesn't like that, I hope he'll tell us before we Clark this.

F. 40 The Talossan Honours System

The Talossan Honours System is administered by the Chancellery of Honours under the Minister of Culture and is divided into two categories: Orders and Decorations.

1. ORDERS
   The Talossan Honours System has both Dynastic (Honours created by the sovereign in which membership is considered a personal gift of the sitting monarch, granted without advice of the government) and National (Honours created by Talossan law and tradition and membership in which is granted on the advice of the Government) elements. Most have a number of grades to acknowledge different levels of achievement and giving flexibility to the awarding body. The appointment to an order also entitles the appointee to post-nominal letters.
   1. Dynastic Orders
      1. The Order for the Nation (L'Urderi per la Naziun): The Order for the Nation is the senior order and is the most commonly awarded. The Crown recognises worthy citizens, offering them admission into the order for long and dedicated service to the nation, or for particular acts of valour in the defence of the realm. The Order of the Nation has one grade, that of Knight or Dame, and are entitled to add the honorific 'UrN' to their name.
   2. National Orders
      1. The Order of the Purple Tongue: (L'Urðeri dal Glhimba Purpül) The Order of the Purple Tongue is the Order of Knighthood reserved by the Crown for recognition of outstanding contributions to the fields of Talossan language use, study, or development. The Order of the Purple Tongue has one grade, that of Knight or Dame, and are entitled to add the honorific 'UrGP' to their name.
      2. The Order of the Flag (L'Urðeri del Bicoloreu): The Order of the Flag is reserved by the Crown for recognition of outstanding contributions in patriotic acts, and (with Crossed Sabers) for outstanding military merit to the nation through leadership, development and long service in the Talossan Armed Forces. The Order of the Flag has one grade, that of Knight or Dame, and admitted members to the order are entitled to add the honorific 'UrB' to their name.
2. DECORATIONS
   Decorations are awarded for gallantry, civilian bravery, or meritorious services. While similar to National Orders, they may or may not be created by the sovereign and conferred by either the Crown’s designee or a Governmental Body; and are traditional worn on the left side of the jacket or dress. Decorations may also entitle recipients to usage of post-nominals.
   1. National Decorations
      1. The Medal of Cincinnatus: The “Medal of Cincinnatus” may be awarded by the King in recognition for acts of extraordinary Talossanicity in the face of opposition. Recipients of this Medal are entitled to follow their names with the honorific “Cin.”
      2. The Seneschál’s Medals: The Seneschál’s Medal is the highest award given by the government of Talossa. The Seneschal's Medal is awarded by the Seneschal for outstanding contributions to the Kingdom and are awarded in the following categories:
         1. The Seneschál’s Medal for the Arts – Honorific of SMA
         2. The Seneschál’s Medal for Science – Honorific of SMS
         3. The Seneschál’s Medal for Culture – Honorific of SMC
         4. The Seneschál’s Medal for Literature and Language – Honorific of SML
         5. The Seneschál’s Medal for Merit – Honorific of SMM
      3. Senatorial Medal of Honour: The Senatorial Medal of Honour is the highest award given by the Ziu. It was established by 25RZ77, The Senatorial Medal of Honour Act. Recipients are entitled to add the honorific S.H. after their names. The medal is awarded by a Resolution of the Senate with Royal Assent.
      4. The Talossan Meritorious Service Cross, with post-nominal letters MSC, is specifically intended to recognize those individuals who through meritorious acts performed outside Talossa which bring benefit and honour to the Kingdom of Talossa and the Crown. While the military division of this award recognises those highly professional acts that are of considerable benefit to the Armed Services, the civilian counterpart honours similar acts—whether in athletics, diplomatic relations, humanitarian activities, etc.— benefiting the nation as a whole.
   2. Provincial Honours & Decorations Each of the Talossan provinces have duly authorized internal honours system of their own, allowing for the recognition of their citizens directly. For the purpose of Order of Wear, all Provincial Honours are worn in the order in which the respective province came under the Crown, oldest province in the most senior position and descending from there.

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

Recommend adding “with crossed Sabers” to designate for Military Merit

[Lüc da Schir]

Ok, first off I must say I would have strenuously opposed the initial text, but the amended one as posted by Miestrâ is far better suited to our needs. I have to note that the text isn't formatted like the rest of El Lexhatx, however, which is bad practice. Once the amended text is accepted, I'd be glad to suggest a Lexhatx-compliant formatting.

However:

Suppose this comes into effect. How does the Chancellery of Honours award a decoration for military merit? On what meritorious deeds do you propose it should act upon?

Side note: it's funny the act mentions "orders-in-council" when 1) our Privy Council is dead, and it would have no authority to issue anything like that anyway; and 2) Miestra was against my proposal to revamp the Privy Council last year.

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

Sept 11, 2019 3:14:32 GMT -6 Lüc da Schir said:

Once the amended text is accepted, I'd be glad to suggest a Lexhatx-compliant formatting.

Grült méirci!

Suppose this comes into effect. How does the Chancellery of Honours award a decoration for military merit? On what meritorious deeds do you propose it should act upon?

I will expect the Minister of Interior (or Defence, if my current bill goes through) to advise the Government in that regard.

it's funny the act mentions "orders-in-council" when 1) our Privy Council is dead, and it would have no authority to issue anything like that anyway; and 2) Miestra was against my proposal to revamp the Privy Council last year.

Ha ha, fine, that's a hangover from Canadian regulations, I'll change it.

[Glüc da Dhi]

I like the (modified) decorations bit. I would strongly prefer however to let orders remain the prerogative of the King. That way we would add something new without risking that we might devalue that what we already have.

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

Been sick for most of the last month. I have no issues and thank you for getting this Clarked!
- Davinescu