[PRIME MINISTRY] Recommendation of a Cabinet

[Ian Plätschisch]

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SENESCHAL

Fellow Talossans,

I come now before the throne seeking an audience to recommend the appointment of Ministers to Your Majesty’s Government.

The following Talossans have proven through their dedication, loyalty, and sheer Talossanity that they will serve the nation well as Ministers in Your Majesty's Government. Therefore I, as Seneschal del Regipäts Talossan, with all duly vested authority, hereby recommend that Your Majesty or the duly designated Regent appoint these loyal subjects to the following cabinet posts:

Viteu Marcianüs iteu Marcianüs
to the position of
DISTAIN



Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu
to the position of
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS



Iac Marscheir
to the position of
MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR



Marti-Pair Furxheir S.H.
to the position of
MINISTER OF STUFF



C. Carlüs Xheraltescù
to the position of
MINISTER OF FINANCE



Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN
to the position of
MINISTER OF CULTURE



Cresti Nouacastra-Läxhirescu
to the position of
ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Confident that the Crown will consent to these recommendations, may I be the first to congratulate the new Ministers. Each one is very talented and ready to serve, and together, we will accomplish much for Talossa and her citizens.

Ian Plätschisch
Seneschal

[Hooligan]

The Reluctant Regent
of the Kingdom of Talossa

Appointment of the Members of the Government
Other than the Seneschal and
Unnecessary Royal Notice Taken of
Appointments to Other Ministries

The Crown, through its humble and put-upon Regent, moi (pardon my French), expresses its thanks to The Most Honourable Prime Minister for referring to the Head of State his selections — made in his capacity as Head of Government — for Ministerial appointments thereto.  However, that same put-upon Regent notes that Royal Consent is only required for some of these appointments (it's kind of a mess, huh?), as according to 36RZ17: The Cabinet Refinishing Act, under which appointments to the Cabinet are made, some Ministers of His Majesty's Government are appointed (and dismissed) and serve only at the pleasure of the Seneschal, acting alone.

(That said, the Crown would be happy to entertain and give assent to any recommended appointments to Offices of the Royal Household (for which seven of the eight positions [excepting, importantly, that of Secretary of State] royal consent indeed must be sought).

However, since His Majesty's consent to all of the said appointments has been requested, it is with pleasure that for completeness sake and to ensure all citizens that His Majesty is well pleased with his government, I do herewith, with all the pomp and super-pomp of a Reluctant Regent, publish the assent to the appointment to the office of Distain and give unnecessary but still not at all uncool royal notice to the other Ministerial appointments. Therefore....

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, all loyal subjects of The Kingdom of Talossa, be made aware —

Having unfailing trust and faith in His Majesty's faithful servant and First Minister, Ian Viac'hteir Plätschisch, I, being temporarily the royal We, the Regent for His Majesty John, the King-Who-Made-Me-Do-His-Job, am (temporary are) pleased to take notice that the Most Honourable Seneschal has appointed each and every of the following loyal citizens to the specified posts in His Majesty (the same King-Who-Made-Me-Do-His-Job)'s government, viz.:

According to the terms of Article XII, Section 1 and Section 8 of the Organic Law,
The Right Honourable Viteu Marcianüs
is hereby appointed to the office of Distain


According to the terms of Article XII, Section 1 of the Organic Law,
The Right Honourable Txoteu É. Davinescu
is hereby appointed to the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs


According to the terms of Article XII, Section 1 of the Organic Law,
The Right Honourable Iac Marscheir
is hereby appointed Minister of the Interior,
comprising in part the Organic Ministries of Defence and of Immigration


According to the terms of Article XII, Section 1 of the Organic Law,
The Right Honourable Marti-Pair Furxheir
is hereby appointed to the office of Minister of Stuff

Furthermore, royal notice is taken, with pleasure and gratitude, of the following composition of His Majesty's government, as announced by the Most Honourable Seneschal:

To the office of Minister of Finance was appointed
The Right Honourable C. Carlüs Xheraltescù


To the office of Minister of Culture was appointed
The Right Honourable Dame Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN


To the office of Attorney-General was appointed
The Right Honourable Cresti Nouacastra-Läxhirescu


As Part of the Portfolio of the Minister of the Interior,
The Right Honourable Iac Marscheir
was appointed Minister of Home Affairs

Congratulations and best wishes for fruitful and achievement-filled tenures are due all the appointees from the Crown and all its citizens.

Done under my hand, as from Abbavilla, this 29th Day of July in the Year of Our Lord 2018, and of the Independence of the Kingdom of Talossa the 39th.

Sa vivadra el Regipäts Talossan es Sieu Maxhestà sè governamaintsch!

Conta Þord, the Baron Hooligan
Reluctant Regent for King John

[Hooligan]

The Crown, following its own post, heartily recommends to the incoming Cosa that it consider changes to Organic and/or Statutory law concerning the appointment of the members of the government, such that the two of them, which, taken together are downright confusing, be straightened out.

As discussed above, The Organic Law stipulates in XII.1 that the Seneschal, Distain, Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Immigration Minister, and Minister of Stuff are appointed and dismissed by the King on the recommendation of the Seneschal.

First of all, the appointment of the Seneschal should not be recommended by the Seneschal. In point of fact, it seems absolutely impossible, and it's lucky we haven't lived by the letter of the Organic Law all these years or we would never have a Seneschal (unless, I suppose, the intent is that the outgoing Seneschal should recommend his successor to the King, which would be very cool, actually, so maybe we should change OrgLaw to say that, so that it's clear). At the very least, it seems that this part of XII.1 should be changed.

Secondly, the specification of exactly six persons as being "members of the government" (along with "various other ministries", for which it seems royal assent to appointment is not Organically required) seems arbitrary, given the modern composition of the Cabinet.

Thirdly, speaking as its author, I can say that the intent of statutory law 36RZ17, The Cabinet Refinishing Act, was to divorce the Soverign from ministerial appointments entirely, such that the power of appointment and dismissal of all ministers (save the Prime Minister himself, and now I am thinking the Distain, as that person serves in that capacity when the PM is incapable of serving) should rest entirely with the Seneschal, without any need to seek royal assent. The language of Section 1.2 of that legislation is clear that "All other Cabinet officers are appointed by the Seneschál (Prime Minister), [and] serve at his pleasure...". It would seem that XII.1 of the Organic Law stands in opposition to this intention and statutoroy language, and I suggest that clarity should be made through legislation, amendment of the Organic Law, or both.

My personal recommendation is that the Ziu recommend to the people that XII.1 be amended to say:

1. that the King must appoint the Seneschal;
2. that either the outgoing Seneschal (which would be cool), or an acknowledged representative of a majority of the Cosa (as has been the custom) should be the one who recommends the incoming Seneschal's appointment to the King;
3. that with the exception of the office of the Distain (covered in XII.8), the Seneschal is free to appoint any and all ministers to his or her government, and need seek no royal assent to said appointments and dismissals; and
4. that ministers composing the government may be specified by statutory law (as was most recently [as far as I know] done by 36RZ17).

Anyway, just an idea.

Hool
Speaking as Regent because I can,
But mostly just as me, I guess

[Glüc da Dhi]

Congratulations to the new ministers!

[Lüc da Schir]

Congratulations everyone. I'm sure you will all do a fine job.

[Sir C. M. Siervicül]

MPF in government? It's a new era in Talossa!

Congratulations to all the appointees!

[Béneditsch Ardpresteir, O.SPM.]

Congratulations to all the members of the Cabinet!