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The Stubbs Rule
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| Senator_Stubbs | Date: Monday, 02 June 14, 2:30 PM | Message # 1 |
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| On Dantooine, what we say is what we mean. But I've learned as a Senator that good old plain dealin' ain't as common in these parts as it is back home. The rest of the galaxy have learned that too, with Chancellor Pryce two-timin' us with his money-making shenanigans. The election of Chancellor Kruus is a new start, so let's start it out right: with a commitment to plain dealing. What I propose ("the Stubbs Rule") is simple:
"No sitting Galactic Republic senator, representative, ambassador or any other legate or delegate shall serve concurrently in any Republic civil service job, whether paid or unpaid, beyond his, her, or its Senate-related responsibilities. No senator shall serve simultaneously as a Republic government minister, military officer, or any other public administrator. Senators are prohibited from having any role in the execution of laws or policy enacted by the Senate or the Supreme Chancellor beyond the lawful oversight of Senate committees."
I vote in favor. I may just be a country boy from Dantooine, but I know a thing or two about separation of powers. A senator's job is to make the law, not to enforce it. Chancellor Kruus, let's show the people (especially those of us who didn't support you in the election) that you're serious about running a clean government, and start by cleaning legislators out of the executive branch.
Clinton "Clint" Stubbs
Senator of Dantooine and the Raioballo Sector
Owner of Stubbs RepulService, Inc. (on leave of absence)
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| Chancellor_Kruus | Date: Tuesday, 03 June 14, 7:03 AM | Message # 2 |
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| Senator Stubbs,
Don't you feel that, to a degree it is useful to bring the expertise of Senators to the various ministries of the Galaxy? To serve as advisors to the Office of the Chancellor (as is traditional) or in positions as Ministers in areas they hold expertise. As far as I am aware there is not a Salary attached to being a Minister in such a capacity and all that are paid are reasonable expenses for costs incurred. The SBI and other institutions have been in the past held by Senators (after all it is the Senate Bureau of Intelligence)
Surely too, Representatives, who have less direct duties in many cases than Senators the majority of the time are best utilized in these generally consultative positions heading up institutions or sitting on them (such as the Trade Commission, which has always had sitting representatives on it).
Which institutions specifically would you not bar them from Senator Stubbs? A list of Committees, Commissions etc that are acceptable to you would be a useful starting point.
Chancellor Luneray Kruus
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Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic
President of the Senate &c
Representative of the People of the Humbarine Sector
Trade Baron
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| Senator_Cynum | Date: Tuesday, 03 June 14, 7:13 AM | Message # 3 |
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| The Trade Commission, Senate Bureau of Intelligence and certain other areas should certainly remain exempt as they are areas where there is a degree of overlap between branches of Government in the first case to assure neutral arbitration of Trade disputes I think a multi-planetary Senatorial group is the best option for membership, as for the SBI I think it behoves us to have a directly Senate run intelligence organization to assure freedom of information directly in addition to committees having oversight over other branches of the intelligence services.
What of if Senators are called up as Governor-Generals or indeed Admirals of the Core Worlds, are these positions potentially to exclude a Senator from the Chamber?
Senator Prentiss Cynum
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Senator for the Trade Federation
Chair of the Trade Commission
Chair of the Security Committee
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| Verence_Terrawin | Date: Tuesday, 03 June 14, 7:42 AM | Message # 4 |
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| Don't you think that the Chancellor Pryce example is precisely why we need the Senate (which cannot be silenced by the Executive) in charge of at least the one intelligence Branch (the SBI) to allow us to have our own intelligence precisely autonomous of the Judiciary, Jedi or Executive branches? I believe the more we know, the less likely tyranny is.
Verence Terrawin
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Senator of Alsakan
First Lord of the Foreign Office, Alsakan
Director of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence
Chairbeing of the Appropriations Committee
Head of the Republic Stellar Cartography Service.
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| Crown_Prince_Ordan | Date: Tuesday, 03 June 14, 1:05 PM | Message # 5 |
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| Might I suggest there is no legal principle of separating powers in this manner within the Republic. There is innately a crossover between legislators in the Republic and the Administration of certain Bureaus, Panels, Commissions, Committees and Ministries has often been delegated to serving Senators of repute. Yes I agree regarding say, the holding a Military and Civilian position simultaneously, but I do not see why a skilled scientist representing a species of skilled scientists should not lend that expentise to the Science Ministry, for example.
If there was accusation that those in such positions were committing acts of peculation I might reconsider, but I believe there are Committees in place to assure this cannot be the case and a strong independent Judiciary to prosecute offenders if evidence is discovered. I know Chancellor Kruus has assured me he would always permit a prosecution of any official of the legislature or administration go directly to trial without delay as soon as accusations were made, such is his keen attitude to keep the Govenment's reputation unsullied.
As it stands I question the need for so drastic a measure, especially at a time when so many talented Senators careers are coming to an end leaving us with a shortage of skilled individuals to assign to these posts.
His Most Royal and Secular Majesty Henrik III
By the Providence of the Universe, of the Sovereign World of Alderaan, of Avirandel, Delaya, Avishan and Raisa and of His other Realms and Territories, Prince-Regent. Head of the Alderaaan Sector Commonwealth, Defender of Secularism and Steward of the Commenor Run. &c
Representative of Alderaan in the Galactic Senate.
King of the Grizmallt System
Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
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| Senator_Stubbs | Date: Wednesday, 04 June 14, 11:24 AM | Message # 6 |
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| Quote Crown_Prince_Ordan (  ) there are Committees in place to assure this cannot be the case and a strong independent Judiciary to prosecute offenders if evidence is discovered. I know Chancellor Kruus has assured me he would always permit a prosecution of any official of the legislature or administration go directly to trial without delay as soon as accusations were made
Is that really what we want? More investigations, prosecutions, and trials? I don't think that's what the people voted for. I reckon it sounds a lot like Chancellor Pryce all over again. Now, Senators may have 'expertise' on a lot of subjects. But they're here, first and foremost, to do right by the people who elected them. Regardless of their 'expertise,' to put a Senator in a public administrator's job is a conflict of interest. These aren't the ancient, early days of the Republic when Senators served as ministers and military officers. We as a people and a democracy have long since demanded that our public administrators and civil servants be unbiased—or at least don't have obvious conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest is like the termite in your rocking chair; you know he's in there eatin' away at the blba wood, and you know if you just keep on rockin' sooner or later you're goin' end up on your be-hind. That's how a Senator doing a Minister's job damages the people's confidence in Republic institutions, whether or not there's evidence of wrongdoin'.
Could be there's a case to be made to exempt the Senate B of I. The Stubbs Rule says a Senator can't occupy a civil servant's job "beyond his Senate-related responsibilities," which I rightly intended to include Senate bureaus. Even so, the people of Dantooine and I would feel better knowing the Director of the B of I doesn't owe his job to the people of Alsakan. Just who's he goin' look out for? No one rightly knows.
Quote Senator_Cynum ( ) What of if Senators are called up as Governor-Generals or indeed Admirals of the Core Worlds, are these positions potentially to exclude a Senator from the Chamber?
Damn right.
Quote Chancellor_Kruus ( ) Don't you feel that, to a degree it is useful to bring the expertise of Senators to the various ministries of the Galaxy?
Opinions are the cheapest thing in this galaxy, Chancellor. Hell, people give 'em away for free. Everybody's got an opinion, and it don't you cost nothin' to ask a man his. Doesn't mean he needs to head up a Ministry.
Clinton "Clint" Stubbs
Senator of Dantooine and the Raioballo Sector
Owner of Stubbs RepulService, Inc. (on leave of absence)
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| Verence_Terrawin | Date: Wednesday, 04 June 14, 6:50 PM | Message # 7 |
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| May I compliment Senator Stubbs on his hat and say I wish more distinguished humans as well as aliens wore them in the Chamber.
Now, as far as I am concerned, the Civil Service Ministries yes turning over to the Civil Service to run. However, Bureaus, Panels, Commissions. Embassies and Committees should be exempt from the Stubbs rule. How does that sound? You get your civil service autonomy but don't destroy the traditionally Senate run institutions that exist at present.
Verence Terrawin
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Senator of Alsakan
First Lord of the Foreign Office, Alsakan
Director of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence
Chairbeing of the Appropriations Committee
Head of the Republic Stellar Cartography Service.
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| Demaron_Torres | Date: Wednesday, 04 June 14, 8:22 PM | Message # 8 |
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| Unfortunately, Senator Terrawin, Senator Stubbs does make a valid point in regards to certain positions. Do I believe that the Arkanian delegate has a better shot at being Minister of Science than someone who is less proficient? Common sense dictates so.
However, certain positions, such as the SBI, among others, I feel would be better served by persons who aren't directly attached to the Senate, in such a fashion. May I point out that former Senator Ryuun, who was Minister of Economics, I believe, abdicated both his senatorial post and his ministry. Heads of committees, such as Appropriations, Security and Judiciary, to name a few, can certainly have an amount of overlap, but I won't pretend it doesn't concern me when so many positions are handed out.
I can take a lesson learned from the words of one of my own people, when Alyn Stark stated he wore too many hats as husband, father, a partial leader of a world and a businessman. I count four hats there. Senator Terrawin wears five, and Senator Ordan holds three, whereas Chancellor Kruus has a much more manageable two.
Something needs to be done, Senator Stubbs. I do concur with that.
Demaron Torres
Senator, Lorrd
Chosen of House Volmen
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| Verence_Terrawin | Date: Wednesday, 04 June 14, 11:47 PM | Message # 9 |
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| Its a slippery slope.. Are we to ban families as the Lorrdian Senator alludes to? Are we to ban private enterprise among our Senators so long as its legally declared.
I would say a General rule that
Terrawin Amendment
The Chancellor is urged to keep the roles of Administration and Senate distinct and not over-burden talented senators with multiple roles. The Chancellor may not appoint Senators to the General Ministry without Senate assent, but may appoint them to other Republic organizations if he feels they are the right being for the job.
The Chancellor can appoint officials as is traditional to offices alongside their Senate seat (this allows for appointments to cover vacancies in crisis situations) but any appointment of a Senator or Representative to such a position may be overturned by a simple majority vote of the Senate and the appointee shall be obliged to step down from his appointment. .
Any Senator convicted of a felony holding office shall lose his seat in he Senate, his non-Senate post and be barred from Republic office for ten years. All penalties for crimes against the Republic are doubled while holding Republic office and tripled if holding a Senate office also. If holding both while convicted of a crime against the Republic the penalty is tripled. Any felony while holding a Senate seat and Republic post simultaniously will bar the accused from either, for life.
Verence Terrawin
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Senator of Alsakan
First Lord of the Foreign Office, Alsakan
Director of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence
Chairbeing of the Appropriations Committee
Head of the Republic Stellar Cartography Service.
Message edited by Verence_Terrawin - Wednesday, 04 June 14, 11:48 PM |
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| Demaron_Torres | Date: Thursday, 05 June 14, 1:43 AM | Message # 10 |
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| Now why would I ban families, Senator Terrawin? That's hardly becoming of you, putting words in my mouth. I'm simply quoting a man who utilized such an expression to his own defense; a defense, I might add, that had holes punched through it and it was highly suggested that he remove some of those hats. It's quite far from a slippery slope. However, I don't feel the amendment is necessary. It adds more to Senator Stubbs' bill than was originally intended. Mind you, Senator Terrawin, I don't disagree with certain parts of it, but perhaps this is not the particular piece of legislature to which it should be added.
Demaron Torres
Senator, Lorrd
Chosen of House Volmen
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