Law:Council of Territory Legislative Procedure Law

LAW ON LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE OF THE ADVISORY COUNCILS OF THE DIRECTORY

§1. Title; Applicability; Authority

Short Title. This instrument may be cited as the Council of Territory Legislative Procedure Law.

Applicability. It governs the introduction, consideration, passage, enrollment, and transmission of measures by the Council of Territory (the “Council”), and the Council’s participation in multi-council instruments of the Directory.

Constitutional Authority. The Directory consists of three advisory councils, and each council may establish subordinate positions and internal rules necessary for effective operation.

Supremacy and Limits. All Council activity under this law must comply with the State Charter and the Constitution; laws proposed by the Directory require the assent of the Princess; executive regulations are issued by Throne departments and not by the councils.

§2. Definitions

For this law:

“Directory” means the three advisory councils acting severally or, when specified, jointly.

“Member” means a duly seated voting representative of the Council.

“Simple majority” means more votes cast Yea than Nay; abstentions and absences are excluded from the denominator.

“Identical text” means word-for-word identity across councils, excluding clerical headings (file numbers, sponsors, and council identifiers).

§3. Legislative Instruments

Council of Territory Bill (CoTB) — a proposed law within the Council’s constitutional remit, to be transmitted for Directory enrollment and submission for the Princess’s assent upon passage.

Council of Territory Resolution (CoTR) — a non-binding expression, instruction, or internal rule of the Council; does not propose law and has no external legal force except as to the Council and its subordinates.

Council of Territory Statement (CoTS) — a formal statement of findings, intent, condolence, commendation, or opinion; no legal effect.

Directory Concordance (DC) — a bill-form instrument whose text is identical and is passed by all three councils; when enrolled, a Concordance serves as (a) a Directory-level proposed law to be presented for Princess’s assent; and/or (b) the Directory’s unanimous act where unanimity is constitutionally required, including cancellation of a royal decree.

Jurisdiction Transfer Concordance (DCT) — a Directory Concordance specifically effecting the unanimous transfer of categories of laws from one council to another, subject to the Princess’s assent.

Note: Nothing in this §3 authorizes councils to promulgate executive “regulations” of general applicability, which belong to Throne departments and have force of law only as provided by the Constitution.

§4. Sponsorship; Filing; Numbering

Any Member may sponsor a CoTB, CoTR, or CoTS.

The Clerk of the Council of Territory (created under §13) assigns a serial number in the format: [CoT]-[Type]-[Year]-[Sequential].

For a Directory Concordance, each council uses its own serial on introduction; upon enrollment, the Coordinating Clerk issues a unified Concordance number: DC-[Year]-[Sequential].

§5. Introduction; Referral; Readings

Filing. A measure is introduced upon filing its final text with the Clerk and service on all Members.

Referral. The Chair may refer a measure to committee; if none exist, the measure proceeds to the floor.

Readings. Unless placed on an expedited track under §11, a CoTB receives first reading on introduction and second reading before final vote; CoTR and CoTS require one reading.

§6. Calendar; Deadlines; Minimum Debate

Calendar. The Chair sets the agenda; the sponsoring Member may request priority.

Deadlines in Text. A measure may include in its own text a deadline by which it must receive a vote, provided the deadline allows adequate debate as determined under this law.

Minimum Debate. Absent unanimous consent of Members present, at least one sitting must elapse between first reading and final vote on a CoTB.

§7. Quorum; Voting; Passage

Quorum. A majority of filled seats constitutes a quorum; where membership equals one, one Member constitutes a quorum.

Voting. Votes are Yea, Nay, or Abstain; roll-call is recorded for all final actions.

Passage Thresholds. (a) CoTBs, CoTRs, and CoTSs pass by simple majority of votes cast. (b) Ties. If a vote on legislation in the Council is tied, the Princess casts the deciding vote.

Single-Member Councils. While the Council has one Member, any Yea on final passage suffices; tie rules are inapplicable.

§8. Amendments; Substitutes; Germaneness

Floor amendments must be germane to the subject.

A complete substitute may be adopted by simple majority before final passage.

§9. Enrollment; Transmission; Princess’s Assent

Upon passage of a Council of Territory Bill, the Clerk enrolls the text and transmits it for Directory docketing and presentation for the Princess’s assent in accordance with Chapter IX.

If assent is withheld in whole or part, the measure is marked “Returned Without Assent” and may be recommitted, amended, and re-presented as a new bill.

§10. Directory Concordances

Initiation. Any council may initiate a Concordance by passing a DC or DCT and transmitting its enrolled text to the other councils.

Identity of Text. Each council must adopt identical text; clerical headings may differ.

Time Window. A Concordance fails if not adopted by all three councils within 90 days of the first adoption.

Certification and Numbering. The Coordinating Clerk (the Clerk of the council that first adopted the Concordance) certifies identity of texts and issues the unified number.

Legal Effect. (a) Concordance as Law Proposal. When used to propose law, the Coordinating Clerk enrolls the Concordance and presents it for the Princess’s assent under Chapter IX. (b) Concordance as Unanimous Directory Act. When unanimity is constitutionally required (including cancellation of a royal decree), the Concordance evidences unanimous Directory decision for action. (c) Concordance for Jurisdiction Transfer. Transfers of categories between councils must be effected by a DCT and the Princess’s assent.

§11. Expedited Procedure

A sponsor may move to place a measure on the expedited calendar; if agreed to by simple majority, the measure may receive one reading and immediate final vote the same sitting.

Expedited procedure may not be used for Concordances.

§12. Inter-Council Consultation and Referrals

Courtesy Referral. Where a CoTB substantially affects another council’s remit, the Chair should solicit written views from that council before final passage.

Non-Delay. Consultation is advisory and does not create a veto unless conducted via Concordance under §10.

§13. Officers; Records; Publication

Clerk of the Council of Territory. The Council establishes the office of Clerk to maintain the journal, manage numbering, certify enrollments, and effect transmissions authorized by this law.

Journal. The Clerk shall keep a public journal of all readings, amendments, votes, and transmissions.

Register. The Clerk shall maintain a public Register of Measures with full texts and histories, including Concordance certifications.

Preservation. Enrolled copies shall be preserved in the Council archives and furnished to any Directory-level registry that may be established.

§14. Form and Style

Enacting Clause. Council of Territory Bills and Concordances use: “Be it enacted by the Council of Territory”.

Sectioning. Measures shall be divided into numbered sections; cross-references must be precise.

Effective Dates. Bills may specify effective dates; absent specification, laws take effect upon Princess’s assent and promulgation in accordance with applicable practice.

§15. Conflicts; Scope of Effect

Internal-Only Effect of Council Resolutions and Statements. CoTRs and CoTSs bind only the Council and its subordinate officers. They do not alter public rights, executive policy, or judicial rules.

Constitutional Compliance Review. Any measure suspected of conflicting with the State Charter or Constitution should be recommitted for revision; unconstitutional measures are voidable and subject to removal from codifications if so found by the Xeer.

§16. Ethics; Conflicts of Interest; Recusal

Disclosure. Members shall disclose any direct, personal, and material financial interest in a measure’s principal subject.

Recusal. A Member may recuse from debate and vote; recusal is recorded as present-not-voting.