NationStates Jolt Archive

To introduce our nation onto this community, please find below an explanation of our democratic systems in the Dominion of The Shambles.

Any comparison, discussion or own "Profiles" would be a great way to allow other users to see how the political systems alter from state to state.

The Shambles has 21 Districts, each with thier own Council, elected by each respective district using the STV voting system. The DCs have local law and tax rising powers, and local referenda must be set before laws deemed as having a constitutional change or effect can be passed.

The Senate, or Parliament, is elected every 4 years from Universal Sufferage, and the first-past-the-post electoral system. At the present moment, the Parliament is suspended following independence.

Laws can be made by the MS by three means. Government sponsered laws are introduced, debated, amended and then passed by a clear majority vote. As with local laws, any acts of parliament that would cause an alteration to the constitution must be passed by a national referendum.

The Council of Clerks, an independent panel within the Senate, can introduce as many as a dozen "general" bills, for debate and discussion, and on rare occasions these become law. One recent example was the Navy Act 2002, introduced by the independent panel in an attempt to open up debate on the future of the Dominion's Forces.

The Opposition Parties can introduce bills into the Senate, but their very nature often makes it impossible for them to become law. In the last Parliament, over two dozen bills, raging from the Impeachment Bill to the Dangerous Animals (Restraint) Bill were introducted, and all defeated.

There is no second chamber of Parliament. All bills can be amended if the Council of Clerks decide the law would be unworkable or has been superceded by other laws or events.

The next election is likely to be held later this year, or early next. In the mean time, an Interim Council of Ministers, chosen from the 5 parties in the last Senate, are over seeing decisions post-independence.

Those five parties are the Social & Democratic Party (the leading group in the last election), The People's Voice, The Radical Alliance, The Liberal & Democratic Party and Vres/Green.

OOC: Impressive!

Many thanks for that message, it is most kind :)

The Interim Council of Ministers was agreed upon at the Makedon Summit of August 2003, at the National Chamber, in the Shambolique capital Makedon.

The SDP leader Krys Hesketh assumed the Chairmanship of the Council, and will oversee the transition from UMS member state to full independence.

Other SDP members are Simoniv Yngol, spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, the Arts and Youth Affairs / Ministren u Kultren, Átesna az Efresdi u Ljunes ; Dominik Les, spokesperson for the Ministry of Legal Affairs / Ministren u Efresdi u Aluminin ; Wilem Cymupeni, spokesperson for the Ministry of The Environment and the Timber Trade/ Ministren u Ynvronmentna az Tembra and Sharlota Sefton, spokesperson for the Ministry of Women / Ministren u Fem

The People's Voice members are Yn Dunkansmythe, spokesperson for The Armed Forces / Ministren u Fóset az Gran, and Wiemyn Hág, speaking on the Economy and Trade / Ministren u Economi az Fiscalyn.

Radical Alliance member Glorien Filduc speaks for the Ministry of Education and Employment / Ministren u Aducatis az Ymplomis.

Liberal & Democratic member Fil Filbamber speaks for the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, and The Islands, the group of minor islands of the Dominion / Ministren u Efresdi Internentis az Ysymna.

Green party member Atnon Penrith speaks for the Ministry of Transport/ Ministren u Transport.

Other issues were given to existing members of SDP and PV departmental teams.

It is hoped that the commencement of normal Parliamentary proceedures can start later this year. The Interim Council continues its business with Senate Speaker Alyson Anunaki overseeing the passing of laws and orders.

OOC: I'd re-iterate Roania's comments. IMPRESSIVE!

IC: The King welcomes The Shambles into the NS world. We recommend The Heartland as a suitable region, however it is passworded. (I'm on the Heartland's Citizenship Council. I'd get you in without problem, seeing how well you've posted.)

I am most touched by your kind messages of support.

The Shambles' District Councils are fearlessly independent, and this often is reflected in the lack of support for the mainstream parties in the District Elections.

Each of the 21 District Councils vote each year for a third of all members to be re-elected. The 21 Councils are constituted by a number of seats relative to the size of each region.

The Capital, Makedon, has its own Council of 25 members, dispropotionate to its size, but as Capital made its own provisions for representation.

The 20 other Districts of The Shambles are:

Sant Agath. A small island off the mainland.
Savique. A moderate island many kilometers off the mainland. Also features a tiny uninhabited inlet.
Blun. Neighbours Savique, separated by the Savique Strait.
Sud Ynys. Occupies the southern part of Albanija island, and a separate island group of its own.
Albanija. A large curve shaped island in the far eastern seas of the Shambles Dominion.
Flád. The largest region on the Flád island.
Lélan. Occupies the southern coastal strip of Flád.
Cosis-Búlen. The north-western neighbour of Flád. Also inludes a number of islands and islets.

On the "main island", Makedon the capital is within the Skopje mountains. The other Districts in this main island are Táltet, Sant Gregoriv, Ygli Tent, Withnél, Ynijas, Múrpan, Banc, Hesketh, Tripoli, Crosen, Malta and Slevis.

Nice :D Good to say a new player who doesnt just jump in yelling
" N00k YU!!!!!"
Good luck with the game and remember you can allways call on Pabli if ya need any help. :wink:

I second Pablostics's comment. Keep up the good work! Welcome to NS.

a definate round of applause from the Kentosani Cabinet...

well done!

OOC: Excellent start. :D
I had somthing like a post on this in mind a while back for Daistallia (during the post coup d'etat elections for anyonje who is paying attention to my history). I still have it running around and simmering somewhere. this thread reminds me of my need to take care of it. Thanks! :D

Many thanks for these messages :)

Whilst some of the ever changing developments within this new nation will be better suited to individual threads, I will use this to discuss the changing political make up of the Dominion as it grows from fragile state to full independence.

As you may have gathered, I do not lead my own nation. I am merely a commentator or narrator for the goings on there. If I don't agree with the decisions of the peoples, so be it.

The Interim Council of Ministers will meet soon to discuss the possibility of elections before Christmas. As a first step towards this, a Bill to pave the way for a Registar of Electors is to be introduced by the Council of Clerks. The Electoral Registration And Systems Bill is likely to have cross-party support when it is discussed next week. An interim Electoral Registration Commission was set up during independence talks.

([cries] I tried so many times to post.. I had the message saved in Word.. and.. it's not here.. nor is it there.. arrgh! (Why does Walmington refuse to invent the computer? I can't imagine!))

All Walmington delights in news of Shambolique democratic progress. For long they have strived in a civilised manner to determine their own fate, much as Walmington and her allies struggles even to-day against the forces which would deny us the same freedoms. So said King Godfrey III during Sunday's Empire Service broadcast to WoS, Ceyloba, Mauritania and The Western Sahara, Togo, Sao Tome and Principe, The Walmingtonian Cape Colonies and Swaziland & Lesotho, Wayneisia, and Madagascar, as well as any foreign nations with technology enough to pick-up the transmission (so that's everyone who isn't us, anyway, heh).

The same broadcast included talk from other influential parties in His Majesty's Government of Walmington's intention to maintain and increase trade relations with the internationally popular people of The Shambles. -Just as soon, that is, as advance parties of diplomats and businessmen establish a Walmy Guide-Book to Shambolique tastes as may pertain to potential fountain-pen, printed work, classic automative, and clatter-box export markets ( ;) ).

Admiral James Frazer of Ceyloba has authorised the detachment of HMWS Longevity -a formidable II Class destroyer- from station with Naval Group Ceyloba for "flag-flying" duties in the Shambles island group. She and her 237 crew are to play host to Walmingtonian diplomats assessing the possibilities for foundation of a Walmingtonian consulate.

Of course the Longevity will be carrying an assortment of gold-tipped fountain pens, Ceyloban teas, and other such trinkets of congratulation and good will.