Bills

This is bill id#1457 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

Whereas, during the last Cosa term, former Seneschal Braneu Excelsio, without being obliged to do so, answered several citizen enquiries, and

Whereas, these answers in the absence of meaningful enquiries from the then-Opposition served the purpose of government accountability, and

Whereas, this is a new practice worth continuing for the same honorable purpose.

Therefore, be it resolved, that El Lexhatx Section H. Legislation is amended to add a new sub-section, as follows:
 

1.2.9 Any citizen, may at any time between the First and Last Clark of a Cosă Term, table in "The Lobby" board on Witt, or its equivalent, a "(CT)" or "Citaxhién Terpelaziun" in a new thread or its equivalent.
1.2.9.1 Any "(CT)" or "Citaxhién Terpelaziun," requires the sponsorship of a current member of the Ziu.
1.2.9.2 The "(CT)" or "Citaxhién Terpelaziun" may ask one question to a named Member of the Government or Civil Service, relating to Public Affairs connected with their Ministry or on matters of administration for which they are officially responsible.
1.2.9.3 A citizen is limited to one (1) active "(CT)" or "Citaxhién Terpelaziun" at a time. Active, in this context, is defined as an unanswered CT.
1.2.9.4 Any "(CT)" or "Citaxhién Terpelaziun" that is submitted, must be answered by the named Minister, Civil Service member, or other Government official within fourteen (14) days of the question being tabled. Should the Minister, Civil Service member, or other Government official be unavailable to answer the question within the fourteen (14) days, the question shall be redirected to the Seneschal or their appointed Deputy or the Minister responsible for oversight of the Civil Service member or other Government official who shall be granted a further seven (7) days to answer the aforementioned question. With the agreement of the questioner, there may be an extension of seven (7) days on top of this period. However, the period from the asking of the question to the answering of the question, shall in no circumstances exceed twenty-eight (28) days.

This is bill id#1458 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

Whereas, it is a vital national interest to have an election administration authority free of actual or reasonably perceived partisan partiality, and

Whereas, the below-proposed restrictions (as a part of ensuring this interest are modelled after those written by @Miestră Schivă, UrN  in 53RZ2 The Civil Service (Commissioner Abolition) Bill, and

Whereas, this bill would still allow parties to appoint whoever they choose as national party officers but those officers themselves would not be permitted to serve as Secretary of State simultaneously.

Therefore, be it enacted by the Ziu, that El Lexhatx C.5 which currently reads:
 

5. The Secretary of State shall hold no seat in the Ziu.

Is amended to read as follows:
 

5. The Secretary of State shall not hold the offices of Monarch, Seneschal, Distain, Judge of the Uppermost Cort, any cabinet portfolio, any party officer position in a political party at the national level, or member of the Ziu.

This is bill id#1459 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

Whereas, presently the King, Seneschal, and Secretary of State can request an advisory opinion from the Cort pü Inalt, and

Whereas, presently the Government's chief legal advisor, the Avocat-Xheneral, can't request an an advisory opinion from the Cort pü Inalt, and

Whereas, it seems reasonable for the Government's chief legal advisor to have the ability to also seek advice from the Judiciary.

Therefore, be it enacted by the Ziu of the Kingdom of Talossa that Article VIII, Section which currently reads as:

Article VIII, Section 6

Until such time as inferior corts are established, a Judge may sit as a nisi prius cort in all civil and criminal matters.

No decision or order issued by an inferior cort or nisi prius cort shall bind a coordinate cort.

The decisions or orders of the Cort pü Inalt shall bind all lower corts according to the doctrine of stare decisis provided that that the panel was composed of no less than three Judges after necessary recusal. The Cort pü Inalt may, as it deems appropriate, issue decisions or orders that are non-binding provided that it explicitly states that intention in the decision or order.

A nisi prius cort or an inferior cort deviating from binding precedent must state so with clarity and refer the matter for appellate review.

Notwithstanding any contrary proscription, the King, the Secretary of State, or the Seneschal may refer an issue to the Cort pü Inalt for an advisory opinion provided that any such panel reviewing the position is composed of no less than three Judges after any necessary recusal, there lacks a live case or controversy that would otherwise determine the issue, and there is a reasonably need for resolution of the question.

A matter arising under the Covenants of Rights and Freedoms is appealable as of right to the Cort pü Inalt. In all other instances, the Cort pü Inalt may not be compelled to exercise its appellate authority. However, when declining to do so, the Cort pü Inalt must issue an order declaring such, and no such declaration shall be deemed as the Cort pü Inalt adopting or setting as binding precedent the appealed from decision or order.

The Cort pü Inalt, and any other cort existing under this article, shall interpret all matters through the lens of the Covenants of Rights and Freedoms.

Any Judge that is a named party in a matter shall recuse himself or herself from hearing any and all parts of the matter.

Is amended to read as follows:

Article VIII, Section 6
 

Until such time as inferior corts are established, a Judge may sit as a nisi prius cort in all civil and criminal matters.

No decision or order issued by an inferior cort or nisi prius cort shall bind a coordinate cort.

The decisions or orders of the Cort pü Inalt shall bind all lower corts according to the doctrine of stare decisis provided that that the panel was composed of no less than three Judges after necessary recusal. The Cort pü Inalt may, as it deems appropriate, issue decisions or orders that are non-binding provided that it explicitly states that intention in the decision or order.

A nisi prius cort or an inferior cort deviating from binding precedent must state so with clarity and refer the matter for appellate review.

Notwithstanding any contrary proscription, the King, the Secretary of State, the Seneschal, or the Avocat-Xheneral may refer an issue to the Cort pü Inalt for an advisory opinion provided that any such panel reviewing the position is composed of no less than three Judges after any necessary recusal, there lacks a live case or controversy that would otherwise determine the issue, and there is a reasonably need for resolution of the question.

A matter arising under the Covenants of Rights and Freedoms is appealable as of right to the Cort pü Inalt. In all other instances, the Cort pü Inalt may not be compelled to exercise its appellate authority. However, when declining to do so, the Cort pü Inalt must issue an order declaring such, and no such declaration shall be deemed as the Cort pü Inalt adopting or setting as binding precedent the appealed from decision or order.

The Cort pü Inalt, and any other cort existing under this article, shall interpret all matters through the lens of the Covenants of Rights and Freedoms.

Any Judge that is a named party in a matter shall recuse himself or herself from hearing any and all parts of the matter.

This is bill id#1460 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

IN HONOUR OF our friend and cüncitaxhien, Ián Tamorán S.H. , now gone from our midst:

BE IT ENACTED by the King, Cosă and Senäts assembled that

1. Organic Law X.5 is amended from:
 

Any citizen who neither votes in any general election nor responds to any national census established by law for a period of two years, as calculated at any Election Deadline, shall be deemed to have renounced his citizenship.

to:
 

Any citizen who neither votes in any general election nor responds to any national census established by law for a period of two years, as calculated at any Election Deadline, shall be deemed to have renounced his or her citizenship. This shall not apply to any Talossan confirmed by the Secretary of State to be deceased, who shall be honoured with the postnominal "TDE" (Talossan Din els Efs, or in the English language, "Talossan in eternity")

This is bill id#1461 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

BE IT ENACTED by the King, Cosă and Senäts in Ziu assembled that El Lexhatx H.2.1.2, which currently reads:
 

2.1.2. A bill has passed the Hopper if it has spent at least 10 days in the Hopper, and is exclusively limited to the following:

    2.1.2.1. Non-binding proclamations that have no effect other than express the wish of the Cosa, Senate, or Ziu as a whole, in which case the bill must contain the words "Sense of the Cosa", "Sense of the Senate" or "Sense of the Ziu" in its title.
    2.1.2.2. Proclamations that establish the position of the Ziu on a foreign policy issue.
    2.1.2.3. Establishment of a committee that has no powers other than advisory powers and whose recommendations must still be approved by the Ziu in order to be binding and making appointments to such a committee.
    2.1.2.4. Appointments to functions that are already defined in law and for which the Ziu is explicitly allowed to make appointments according to law.
    2.1.2.5. Any decision which the law explicitly allows the Ziu to make without the bill containing such a decision having to go through committee.
    2.1.2.6. Removing a regent or consenting to the re-appointment of a regent in accordance with Org.II.5.
    2.1.2.7. Revoking a Prüm Diktat.
    2.1.2.8. Notices of reprimand in accordance with Org.VIII.5.
    2.1.2.9. The granting or restoration of citizenship.

shall be amended by the amendment of 2.1.2.6 to read:
 

2.1.2.6. Removing a regent or consenting to the re-appointment of a regent in accordance with Org.II.5, or confirming the nomination of an Heir Presumptive in accordance with Org.II.7.

and by the addition of two more paragraphs:
 

2.1.2.10. A bill that was passed by the previous Cosa but, due to Organic Law provisions, must be passed once again to take effect.
2.1.2.11. A bill that was passed by a previous Cosa but did not take effect due to drafting errors, which are explicitly corrected in the revised bill.

This is bill id#1462 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

BE IT ENACTED etc. that El Lexhatx C.1.5.6., which currently reads:
 

1.5. The Royal Treasury, headed by the Burgermeister of Inland Revenue. The function of the treasury is to
1.5.6. provide, upon request of the Minister of Finance and any other time stated in law, a Financial Report containing the following information:

    1.5.6.1. the amount, location, liquidity, and availability of all funds held by or for the Royal Treasury,
    1.5.6.2. a detailed list of all changes in the account balances of the Royal Treasury since the last Report,
    1.5.6.3. a balance sheet which clearly lists all expenses linking them to the relative sheet items in the budget bills approved in the Cosa,
    1.5.6.4. the total amount of louise and postal items in circulation;

be amended to read:
 

1.5. The Royal Treasury, headed by the Burgermeister of Inland Revenue. The function of the treasury is to
1.5.6. provide and publish, during the 14 days before Balloting Day in any Cosă election, and at any other time stated in law or at the request of the Minister of Finance, a Financial Report containing the following information:

    1.5.6.1. the amount, location, liquidity, and availability of all funds held by or for the Royal Treasury,
    1.5.6.2. a detailed list of all changes in the account balances of the Royal Treasury since the last Report,
    1.5.6.3. a balance sheet which clearly lists all expenses linking them to the relative sheet items in the budget bills approved in the Cosa,
    1.5.6.4. the total amount of louise and postal items in circulation;

This is bill id#1463 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

Let His Majesty Ián I Lupul's decree of li 20. Güscht XLV / 2024, that @Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB is the Heir Presumptive to the Throne of Talossa, be CONFIRMED by the Ziu, subject to confirmation also by the people in referendum, in accordance with Organic Law II.7.

This is bill id#1464 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

WHEREAS the Talossan Music Top 20 has been held every year since 2015 and is one of the Kingdom's premier cultural institutions; and,

WHEREAS songs that have enjoyed great success in the TMT20, such as Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones, and Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits, deserve to be officially recognized;

THEREFORE Lex.F.4.1 is added, which reads:
 

The Talossan Music Top 20 Hall of Fame honors songs that have won the Talossan Music Top 20 multiple times, making them the most popular in the Kingdom. Honorees currently include:

4.1.1 Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (winner in 2015 and 2017)
4.1.2 The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (winner in 2020, 2022, and 2023)
4.1.3 Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing (winner in 2021 and 2024)

This is bill id#1465 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

WHEREAS under current arrangements the Attorney-General can simultaneously hold the position of Clerk of the Corts;

AND WHEREAS under same current arrangements a Deputy Clerk of the Corts cannot be appointed if s/he also hold the portfolio of Attorney General or Minister of Justice, due to the nature of these duties;

AND WHEREAS due to the nature of these duties it makes sense to also extend this prohibition to the Clerk of the Cort and not just their Deputies;

AND WHEREAS there is some duplication in 2 sections regarding Deputies that needs tidying up;


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

Section 4.8 of El Lexhatx G. Justice, which currently reads:

"The individual holding the office of Clerk of the Corts shall enjoy immunity from civil or criminal suit for any actions performed in the course of his or her official duties while holding this office. This immunity shall be lost upon leaving office. Due to the nature of the Clerk's responsibilities, an individual may not hold the office of Clerk of the Corts, or any deputy thereunder, while simultaneously holding office as a Justice of the Uppermost Cort or any national inferior court."

Shall be amended to read as follows:

"4.8. The individual holding the office of Clerk of the Corts shall enjoy immunity from civil or criminal suit for any actions performed in the course of his or her official duties while holding this office. This immunity shall be lost upon leaving office. Due to the nature of the Clerk's responsibilities, an individual may not hold the office of Clerk of the Corts, or any deputy thereunder, while simultaneously holding office as a Justice of the Uppermost Cort or any national inferior court or the portfolio of Attorney General or any office within the Ministry of Justice."

Furthermore, Section 5.4 of El Lexhatx G. Justice, which currently reads:

"5.4. Due to the nature of these duties, no deputy shall be appointed who is seated on the bench of the Uppermost Cort or any inferior cort. Nor shall any appointee hold the portfolio of Attorney General or Minister of Justice."

Is hereby repealed in full.

This is bill id#1466 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

WHEREAS the Legislative Chancery of the Province Formerly Known as Benito passed an Act renaming that Province to Belacostă; and

WHEREAS the citizenry of that Province did approve of the renaming via referendum; and

WHEREAS the Act in question requests the Ziu and Government to implement this renaming at the national level at their earliest convenience, then

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that all uses of the word "Benito" in El Lexhatx are replaced with the word "Belacostă", namely those in Lex.B.12, Lex.E.7.5, Lex.F.12.3, Lex.F.26.3, Lex.F.29, and Lex.F.36.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the use of the word "Benitians" in Lex.F.5.2.3 is replaced with the word "Belacostans".

This is bill id#1467 (this information has no legal importance and is technical in nature.

Hopper Thread

WHEREAS, the Organic Law directs that His Majesty's Government submit a Budget by the second Clark of the current term of the Cosă,

SECTION A - Financial Report

THEREFORE, His Majesty's Government notifies the following financial report to the Ziu:

 

The current funds of the Kingdom consist of a checking account, a savings account, and a PayPal account. The former two are currently held at Ally Bank, and are in the process of being transferred to Wells Fargo Bank by the Burgermeister of Inland Revenue.

Based on reporting from the Burgermeister of Inland Revenue as of 30 June 2024, and subsequent payment of registration fees between July 2nd and July 11th, these accounts stand at the following balances:
 

• Checking:  31¤04 (US$46.60)
• Savings:  826¤39 (US$1,239.97)
• PayPal:    427¤04 (US$640.59)

Total:          1284¤46 (US$1,927.16)

Between the June 30th Treasury report and the previous Treasury report as included in the Budget for the 59th Cosă, the following changes had occurred:
 

• Savings:  + 19¤57 (US$29.93) from interests earned
• PayPal:  + 54¤08 (US$81.21) from a contribution by one citizen totaling 3¤20 (US$5.00), payment of registration fees by COFFEE and IND, and sales of coins, stamps and items on printify.com

Total :        + 74¤06 (US$111.14)

No expenditures have occurred, as Talossa's webpresence is run at no cost for the time being.

Since the June 30th Treasury report, a number of registration fee payments have been publicly noted by the Burgermeister, along with a single contribution:
 

• PayPal:  + 46¤40 (US$70.00) from a contribution by one citizen totaling 3¤20 (US$5.00) and payment of registration fees

Total :        + 46¤40 (US$70.00)

SECTION B - Budget

FURTHERMORE, His Majesty's Government hereby submits to the Ziu a request for the appropriation of funds from the Royal Treasury, totaling 266¤40 (US$400.00), for the specific purposes and subject to restrictions as outlined herein:

- Ministry of Culture: 33¤20 (US$50.00) for cultural grants
- Ministry of Technology: 133¤20 (US$200.00) for speculative webhosting costs
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 33¤20 (US$50.00) for expenditure by the Bureau of Humanitarian Aid and International Development
- Ministry of STUFF: 33¤20 (US$50.00) for the issuing of ID cards
- Prime Ministry: 33¤20 (US$50.00) for supplemental funding to other appropriated funds, and for small expenses (eg. postage) by the Government and Royal Civil Service

FURTHERMORE, notwithstanding the above allocations, no funds shall be disbursed without a notice of disbursement having first been transmitted to the Ziu at least fourteen days prior to the disbursement, except that disbursements solely for the purpose of postage may be made with no less than 24 hours notice. Notices shall contain details of the purchase and a cost estimate for the purchase, or the total amount paid if seeking funds for reimbursement. Copies of receipts and/or invoices will be provided upon request to Members of the Ziu.

FURTHERMORE, any funds allocated by this section shall be retained in the Royal Treasury's accounts by the Burgermeister of Inland Revenue until such time as they are disbursed. Funds not disbursed prior to the end of the term of His Majesty's Government shall remain in the central fund.

SECTION C - Investment Policy

FURTHERMORE, His Majesty's Government hereby directs the Burgermeister of Inland Revenue to continue investing all held funds, except for an amount of liquidity needed for day to day operation up to half of the total of appropriated funds as listed in this Budget, into a high-interest savings account unless or until otherwise directed or advised by act of the Ziu.