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((I'm talking about the supranational body created for the colonies, not the Parliament. There shouldn't be a legislature or anything involved here. Just a body for representatives of all the states to meet and discuss things.))

((Colonial Congress? And I'm not on Cortz as I'm Royalty correct?))
 
((I'm talking about the supranational body created for the colonies, not the Parliament. There shouldn't be a legislature or anything involved here. Just a body for representatives of all the states to meet and discuss things.))
((Oh, then how about the Colonial Quorum? It sounds cool and IIRC it denotes something like a body of representatives.))
 
((Colonial Congress? And I'm not on Cortz as I'm Royalty correct?))

((You technically should be since you're a landed noble. It doesn't make a difference if you're royalty or nobility, just as long as you have the appropriate title. The only reason you're not is because you're Prime Minister.))

((Oh, then how about the Colonial Quorum? It sounds cool and IIRC it denotes something like a body of representatives.))

((Isn't quorum supposed to be the minimum number of people required for a vote or something? The Colonial Congress is probably fine for now.))
 
((You technically should be since you're a landed noble. It doesn't make a difference if you're royalty or nobility, just as long as you have the appropriate title. The only reason you're not is because you're Prime Minister.))



((Isn't quorum supposed to be the minimum number of people required for a vote or something? The Colonial Congress is probably fine for now.))
((Quorum can also denote the representative body itself. Then again Colonial Congress/Assembly would probably be better because it's simpler and more recognizable.))
 
((You technically should be since you're a landed noble. It doesn't make a difference if you're royalty or nobility, just as long as you have the appropriate title. The only reason you're not is because you're Prime Minister.))

((I don't think that the nobles would like their Cortz to be filled with Royalty....

in fact....))

Assurance of the Cortz Act

I. No close relative of the Emperor (parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin), or the Emperor himself, is to serve on the Cortz, even if they are eligible to better ensure that the Cortz is to representative of the Nobility and not another group

II. Similarly, no such person is to be elected Chamberlain.

III. It is the duty of the Chamberlain and of the Cortz to ensure the first two are enforced
 
((Navy Minister: Keep plans the same.))
 
I do not see how such an addition to the Act is relevant in any way to ensuring that the Nobility and their Cortz is representative of their interests.

In fact, I do not see the relevance of such an amendment at all. The Position of Prime Minister is selected by the Emperor to aid him in ruling the Empire, and he has the right to choose his Prime Minister as he sees fit, and should not have any restrictions in doing so.
 
Amendment to the Assurance of the Cortz Act
_________________________________________________

II. Similarly, no such person is to hold the position of Chamberlain or Prime Minister;
((Private))
Velazquez had been watching over Iberian affairs with interest, both the drafting of the history, and Valencian affairs. The Assurance Act seemed fine, except Arceo's amendment.
((Public))
He sent a message to Arceo and the Court:
"Court Chaplain Velazquez requires explanation for the proposed amendment to the Assurance Act."
 
Regardless, we still need to ensure our protection, and our relations with France, Austria, and Scandinavia. We have not moved in that regard lately.

I call for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to make efforts to do this. His absence in planning for the past few years is not forgotten, but I will allow him a chance to correct his mistake before I remove him from his post.

Also, I will speak to the representatives from the colonies to see what they think about the encroachment by other nations.
((@Duke Dan "the Man" make a plan or lose your position))

"As the daughter, and representative of my father, the Count of Florence, as well as Chancellor of the realm, I must apologize on behalf of him. He has been struck once more by a vicious disease that has sapped him of his strength, and until he gets better, or god forbid dies, I am his representative to this favorable court. Consider me his equal, as he has given my power to do what ever his position needs be.

As for my, err, my father's plan. I call for increased influence of the Hispanian state in the Eastern lands. The Korean peninsula has been overrun by barbarian northerners, and they are now weak. Let us send a flotilla to the Korean peninsula in order to show the power of our nation to their. Surely their king will accept our protection then, or maybe with some marines to occupy their cities. They need our protection, and let us convince them of so.

Meanwhile, in Africa, we can an opportunity to expand our state to the Somali, with the nation of Ajurraan. They are weak, and friendless. Let us give them a friend, and share with them our wealth, when they are within our Empire, whether it takes war or diplomacy to do so.

I also call for a guarantee of Bavaria sovereignty. Their use as a buffer state between the North and southern German states will be useful for diffusing possible tensions that could occur between Germany and Austria. It is in the interest off all on this contient that peace be continued, and with this in mind, I call for the sending of a diplomatic mission to improve relations between Germany and ourselves."
 
I do not see how such an addition to the Act is relevant in any way to ensuring that the Nobility and their Cortz is representative of their interests.

In fact, I do not see the relevance of such an amendment at all. The Position of Prime Minister is selected by the Emperor to aid him in ruling the Empire, and he has the right to choose his Prime Minister as he sees fit, and should not have any restrictions in doing so.

"While the Empress Dowager would like to continue her despotic administration of this nation, I must clarify that this amendment only codifies a factual reality of all of the most recent proposals: namely, that as no member of the Imperial Household would be able to hold a seat in the Cortz, and that the Prime Minister will no longer be able to act as the presiding officer of the Assembly, there is little need for the conflict of interest caused by having members of the Imperial Household hold the position of Prime Minister.

"The Prime Minister ought to have the approval of the Hispanian people and the highly knowledgeable individuals who comprise the Cortz. I believe, wholeheartedly, that as our institutions act to advise the Emperor, this nation's chief administrator should come from our ranks, with the approval and consent of the electors of this nation, as well as their judgment.

"The Empress Dowager has continued to show she is of poor judgment in all facets of this nation's administration, from matters of domestic organization to her warmongering spirit and continued unwise demands for war with Germany. What our nation requires is a Prime Minister of good judgment, not ineptitude and jingoism. In light of these gross ineptitudes, I demand that the Empress Dowager step down from the Prime Ministry."


Cibran Arceo,
MA for Galicia
 
"While the Empress Dowager would like to continue her despotic administration of this nation, I must clarify that this amendment only codifies a factual reality of all of the most recent proposals: namely, that as no member of the Imperial Household would be able to hold a seat in the Cortz, and that the Prime Minister will no longer be able to act as the presiding officer of the Assembly, there is little need for the conflict of interest caused by having members of the Imperial Household hold the position of Prime Minister.

"The Prime Minister ought to have the approval of the Hispanian people and the highly knowledgeable individuals who comprise the Cortz. I believe, wholeheartedly, that as our institutions act to advise the Emperor, this nation's chief administrator should come from our ranks, with the approval and consent of the electors of this nation, as well as their judgment.

"The Empress Dowager has continued to show she is of poor judgment in all facets of this nation's administration, from matters of domestic organization to her warmongering spirit and continued unwise demands for war with Germany. What our nation requires is a Prime Minister of good judgment, not ineptitude and jingoism. In light of these gross ineptitudes, I demand that the Empress Dowager step down from the Prime Ministry."


Cibran Arceo,
MA for Galicia
"Nothing the Empress Dowager has done is in any way despotic. She has only voiced opinions, and urged Councilmen to make plans. The Prime Minister's positions towards foreign affairs, or domestic organization, are not important, as those fall to the Chancellor and Steward respectively. What a Prime Minister requires is the ability to select capable men to position.

Let us go over Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's history. She was born 1719, and came to Hispania. And then, she was kidnapped, and broke free from her attacker, through her own initiative and ability. But of course, the 'ineptitude', as you say, must be in matters of State, of course, yes? Well then, let us move forward some years. She marries, and becomes Empress. Alfons IX succeeds, and she is Empress Dowager. And then what happens? Oh yes, Montsegur sacks the Palace and attempts to capture His Majesty, with the aim of usurping the Empire. So what does this woman of, 'poor judgment' do? She escorts the King to safety. Oh, terrible judgment indeed, but of course, you speak of administration. A civil war occurs, during which our 'allies' in Austria invade Italy, but eventually, Hispania prevails. As His Majesty was largely under the age of majority, upon whom does the responsibility fall? The Empress Dowager. Perhaps something to be remembered.

And now we arrive at the present. The Empress Dowager, Prime Minister, has opinions you do not share. And now you call for her resignation? Of course, I have already said a Prime Minister does not need brilliant plans for every sector of affairs, just the ability to choose those who will have them. Has she shown this before? Well, let us go to the Civil War. Hispania won, due to its able leaders. Who appointed those leaders? None other than the Empress Dowager Prime Minister. Therefore, I say she has shown complete competence and judgment.

Of course, you could convince me otherwise."-Court Chaplain
 
"Nothing the Empress Dowager has done is in any way despotic. She has only voiced opinions, and urged Councilmen to make plans. The Prime Minister's positions towards foreign affairs, or domestic organization, are not important, as those fall to the Chancellor and Steward respectively. What a Prime Minister requires is the ability to select capable men to position.

Let us go over Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's history. She was born 1719, and came to Hispania. And then, she was kidnapped, and broke free from her attacker, through her own initiative and ability. But of course, the 'ineptitude', as you say, must be in matters of State, of course, yes? Well then, let us move forward some years. She marries, and becomes Empress. Alfons IX succeeds, and she is Empress Dowager. And then what happens? Oh yes, Montsegur sacks the Palace and attempts to capture His Majesty, with the aim of usurping the Empire. So what does this woman of, 'poor judgment' do? She escorts the King to safety. Oh, terrible judgment indeed, but of course, you speak of administration. A civil war occurs, during which our 'allies' in Austria invade Italy, but eventually, Hispania prevails. As His Majesty was largely under the age of majority, upon whom does the responsibility fall? The Empress Dowager. Perhaps something to be remembered.

And now we arrive at the present. The Empress Dowager, Prime Minister, has opinions you do not share. And now you call for her resignation? Of course, I have already said a Prime Minister does not need brilliant plans for every sector of affairs, just the ability to choose those who will have them. Has she shown this before? Well, let us go to the Civil War. Hispania won, due to its able leaders. Who appointed those leaders? None other than the Empress Dowager Prime Minister. Therefore, I say she has shown complete competence and judgment.

Of course, you could convince me otherwise."-Court Chaplain

"It would be wrong to ever believe the Court Chaplain could ever be redeemed. He is of the very same cloth which created the Empress Dowager - that is, the corrupt nature in which one cares only for his own political furtherance, rather than for the benefit of his fellow men. Nothing makes this any more clear than his persistent use of an antiquated title, his role as a lapdog to a woman of gross incompetence, and a record which reveals cowardice and his own failure to advance meaningful positions.

"It ia not a matter of mere disagreement - after all, the Empress Dowager has been reprimanded by His Majesty, as well - for the Prime Ministry must prostrate itself before King, Parliament, and people. As the chief administrator of this nation, we can not permit incompetence, and it matters not who the incompetent is."


Cibrán Arceo,
MA for Galicia
 
Lüneburg agreed to become a subject of Germany, but to allay any fear of discrimination based on religion, a gradual integration was requested. Lüneburg would become part of Germany, but only after at least a decade as a subject nation. ((Aka, Lüneburg will become a vassal and the AI will integrate them.))
The German Chancellor accepted this compromise, one that surely benefited both sides. In the week after, the Duke of Lüneburg would officially swear his fealty to King Johann, all while the state would keep a certain autonomy. This matter dealt with, he went from debate to debate how to best organize the administration of Germany's new lands. The next step in his great plan would need to wait.

___________________________________________

Faixòn rose up to respond to the Court Chaplain.
"Court Chaplain Velazquez, truly you deserve this title as most fervent defender of the court's rights. Yet MA Arceo speaks the truth, a truth you are blind to as you adhere to the past. It is the Assembly and the Cortz that represent Hispania's will and therefore advise the Emperor. Favouritism for close relatives has already brought this nation close to a civil war once. With the creation of the Parliament, there is no reason to allow such a thing to happen again.

It was not a simple voicing of opinions, but a concrete call for war against Germany, a nation that has announced an intention to pursue good relations with Hispania and one that has allied our most important allies. If the Parliament would not have made a wise decision, Europe would have been up in flames. And the past? You speak of Austrian 'allies', a sentiment I share, yet she has been a lead element in trying to repair relations to these backstabbers. You yourself think it was a poor decision, yet you speak of sound judgement?

Certainly the leaders during the civil war were not appointed by the Dowager Empress. The leaders were the men of the military, navy and merchants who were already there and proclaimed their loyalty to the crown. Those who were appointed were the same after the war, if any was appointed, despite the creation of the Parliament. Men who haven't done much - ordering the construction of already existing buildings, or not doing anything at all before being represented by their daughter. One can hardly be called competent, the other either was absent or transferred his duties to a person nobody at court ever heard of! How is anyone to 'consider her his equal'? There is only one Minister of Foreign Affairs. What would it lead to should we accept it? Someone appointed who appoints another to appoint another and then it all ends up obscure and vague and responsibility can hardly be traced back to the first appointed. Either we need a document containing the plan from the Minister himself or we need a new Minister, at least for the duration of his disease!

And then, even though it had been rightfully pointed out that the Parliament includes enough able men to assume these offices, the Dowager Empress chose some silent bureaucrats as Ministers of Trade and Finances. Men who would likely do whatever she wishes.

No, what needs to happen is a Prime Minister with the approval of the Parliament, not one who rules against it!"

Emiliano Faixòn,
Assembly member for Pirineo
 
((I don't think that the nobles would like their Cortz to be filled with Royalty....

in fact....))

The various landed members of the Trastámara family express great dissent at the possibility of losing their rights to sit on the Cortz simply for being related to the Emperor. Some demand they be returned their feudal rights if they are to lose their positions on the Cortz.

((Navy Minister: Keep plans the same.))

((It'd be nice to know what the original was. I never really understood it since you didn't clarify it. Am I to build anything?))

* * * * *

((Right, vote time.

Amendment to the Parliament Act: Yes/No/Abstain
Assurance of the Cortz Act: Yes/No/Abstain
Amendment to the Assurance of the Cortz Act: Yes/No/Abstain
Mission: Trade/Palu/Kumasi/Abstain

The vote will last until Thursday at 12PM PST. Please bold your votes and include your character's name and class.

))
 
((Read it again, only very close relatives can't, like an Uncle. Beyond a point, there are no restrictions.))

The various landed members of the Trastámara family, especially the Emperor's cousin as Duke of Salento and Bari, express great dissent at the possibility of losing their rights to sit on the Cortz simply for being related to the Emperor. Some demand they be returned their feudal rights if they are to lose their positions on the Cortz.
 
The various landed members of the Trastámara family, especially the Emperor's cousin as Duke of Salento and Bari, express great dissent at the possibility of losing their rights to sit on the Cortz simply for being related to the Emperor. Some demand they be returned their feudal rights if they are to lose their positions on the Cortz.

((How many landed Trastamaras are there, and what are their relation to Alfons.))