Chapter 5 - The Executive Council

[Penelope]

The Executive Council​

IV. Executive Council

The Executive Council27 is the body and discussion forum for executive officers and officials, geared towards improving upon and giving direction to regional goals or objectives, such as that of the Prime Minister7 and their cabinet8.

Establishment of the Executive Council​

IV. Executive Council

Establishment of the Executive Council

(1) The Executive Council will serve as the collective head of government, but may appoint a Prime Minister to represent their interests through a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council.

Key points of the Establishment of the Executive Council:

• The Executive Council27 is the collective head of government, tasked with directing and appointing a cabinet, and directing Ministers8 and Ministries to implement programs, activities, programs or government policy.
• The Executive Council27 may appoint a Prime Minister7 with powers provided to itself, and to represent their interests within or outside Lazarus, by two-thirds majority vote of their number

Directives of the Executive Council​

(2) The Executive Council may issue directives by a two-thirds vote to set public policy for ministries and all their programs and activities. Such directives will remain in effect unless rescinded or amended by the Executive Council. This authority may be revoked from or given to a Prime Minister or Cabinet Minister through a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council.

Key points of Directives of the Executive Council:

• The Executive Council27 or Prime Minister7 (where one exists) may issue directives by a two-thirds vote of their number, which can set public policy for ministries, which can include all their programs and activities
• Directives issued by the Executive Council27 remain in effect unless rescinded or amended by the Executive Council27 or Prime Minister7 (where one exists)
• Authority may be revoked or given to a Prime Minister7 or a Cabinet Minister8 through a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council27

Election of the Prime Minister​

(4) The Executive Council may allow the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers to be elected by the Assembly with a majority instant-runoff vote to a four-month term. Procedure for the elections will be defined by law. The Executive Council may hold a two-thirds vote to designate a Prime Minister or Cabinet Minister position as subject to election.

Term of the Prime Minister​

(4) The Executive Council may allow the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers to be elected by the Assembly with a majority instant-runoff vote to a four-month term.

Key points of the Election and Term of the Prime Minister:

• The Prime Minister7 undergoes an election every four months, unless a special election is held as a result of resignation for instance
• Prime Ministers7 are elected via an instant runoff vote in the Assembly26, where the candidates are ranked by preference of the voters and a majority must be achieved for a candidate to become Prime Minister7
• Procedure for elections is defined in law, such as in the Lazarene Elections Act 2019
• The Executive Council27 may designate or appoint a Prime Minister7, forgoing an election, through a two-thirds majority vote of their number

(2) The Executive Council may issue directives by a two-thirds vote to set public policy for ministries and all their programs and activities. Such directives will remain in effect unless rescinded or amended by the Executive Council. This authority may be revoked from or given to a Prime Minister or Cabinet Minister through a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council.

Key points:

• The Prime Minister7 can establish public policies or directives for each ministry
• The Prime Minister7 can set public policies or directives for programs or activities
• The Prime Minister's7 directives remain in force unless that Prime Minister7 or another Prime Minister7 rescinds them
• The Prime Minister's7 directives can also be amended by that Prime Minister7 or another Prime Minister7
• The Executive Council27 can revoke or not provide these powers however to a Prime Minister7, and may provide them through a two-thirds majority vote of their number

Establishment of the Prime Minister's Cabinet​

(3) The Executive Council may appoint Cabinet Minister, Deputy Ministers, regional representatives, and any other officials deemed necessary to carry out the duties, programs, and activities of the ministries, and may provide or rescind this authority to a Prime Minister or Minister through a 50%+1 vote of the Executive Council.

Key points:

• The Executive Council27 or Prime Minister7 (if given the authority), may appoint Cabinet Ministers
• Cabinet and Deputy Ministers8 are subject to a confirmation vote of the Executive Council27 that would need 50% of those voting to approve of it, and one additional vote in favor
• Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers8 do not require a confirmation vote of the Assembly26, unless they are made subject to election by the Assembly by the Executive Council27

Term of Cabinet Ministers​

(4) The Executive Council may allow the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers to be elected by the Assembly with a majority instant-runoff vote to a four-month term. Procedure for the elections will be defined by law. The Executive Council may hold a two-thirds vote to designate a Prime Minister or Cabinet Minister position as subject to election.

(5) Appointment of Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and regional representatives, as government officials, where not undergoing an election of the Assembly, will be subject to confirmation by 50%+1 vote of the Executive Council.

(6) Government officials confirmed by the Executive Council will serve until the end of their term set forth by the Executive Council or until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly or Executive Council, or automatic removal from office. Further regulation of appointment or removal of government officials may be established by law.

Key points:

• Cabinet Ministers8 are Ministers8 or Deputy Ministers8
• Cabinet Ministers8 and Deputy Ministers8 are in office as long as the term lasts that was set by the Executive Council27, unless they resign or are removed
• How Cabinet Ministers8 are removed or appointed can be determined by regional law or the Executive Council27
• The Executive Council27 or Prime Minister7 can appoint more Cabinet Ministers8 if they wish to do so, as well as officials, in order to help run Ministries and assist with directives of the Executive Council27 or Prime Minister7
• Cabinet Ministers8 and Deputy Ministers8, and regional representatives, as government officials, are subject to a confirmation vote by the Executive Council if not undergoing an election of the Assembly
• Cabinet Ministers8 and Deputy Ministers8, and regional representatives, as government officials, if subject to a confirmation vote by the Executive Council27, will require a 50 percent majority with one extra vote of the Executive Council27 in order to be appointed

Establishment or Alteration of Ministries​

Establishment, removal or renaming of Ministries

(7) The Executive Council may establish, remove, or rename Ministries at will. The Executive Council may reassign or remove any Ministers, Deputy Ministers, or government officials, when establishing, removing, or renaming a Ministry. This authority may be provided to or removed from a Prime Minister or Cabinet Minister through a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council.

Key points:

• The Executive Council27 or Prime Minister7 (if given the authority) can establish, remove or rename Ministries at will
• The Executive Council27 or Prime Minister7 (if given the authority) can assign or remove Cabinet Ministers8 when they are altering or removing Ministries

Composition of the Executive Council​

Composition of the Executive Council

(8) The Delegate and Vice Delegate shall be permanent members and chairs of the Council until they are removed by three-quarters vote or resign from office, but may delegate the responsibility to any member of the Council of Lazarene Security. They shall be able to vote in the Executive Council.

(9) In accordance with the procedural rules of the Council of Lazarene Security, a member from their number shall be designated to serve on the Council as a security advisor. They shall be able to vote in the Executive Council.

(10) In accordance with the procedural rules of the Court of Lazarus, a member from their number shall be designated to serve on the Council as a legal advisor. They shall be able to vote in the Executive Council.

(11) In accordance with the procedural rules of the Executive Council, Government officials, Councillors of Lazarene Security, Court Justices, and regional representatives may be granted the right to vote in the Executive Council. The Executive Council will decide their voting or non voting status in the Executive Council through a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council. Those subject to a change in voting status may not vote in their own status vote.

(12) Membership in the Executive Council will not restrict participation in another office.

(13) The Executive Council may establish and revise its own procedural rules by 50%+1 vote. Such procedural rules will be subordinate to the laws of Lazarus.

Key points:

• The Delegate11 and the Vice Delegate12 are permanent members of the Executive Council27, and they also are the Chairpersons of the Executive Council27, while they hold office
• The Council on Lazarene Security10 will designate one of their number to serve as a security advisor
• The Court of Lazarus28 will designate one of their number to server as a legal advisor
• The Executive Council27 may appoint regional representatives, and may by two-thirds majority vote provide them voting status on the Executive Council27.
• Those subject to a vote on a change of their voting status in the Executive Council27 may not vote in their own status vote
• Being a member of the Executive Council27 does not restrict serving in another office
• The Executive Council27 may revise the procedural rules it uses to organize itself by 50 percent of votes, plus one vote

Honorary Titles of the Executive Council​

Honorary Title

(14) Members of the Executive Council may be called Executive Councilors.

Executive Council27 members can be called Executive Councilors27 as an honorary title.

Responsibilities of the Executive Council​

Ordinary responsibilities of the Council

(15) The Executive Council will be tasked with directing the affairs of state of Lazarus, inclusive of internal affairs, foreign affairs, and discussing the direction of the region.

The Executive Council27 is given the task of helping to direct the affairs of state of Lazarus, which means domestic or internal affairs, foreign affairs of Lazarus, and helping with the discussion of the overall direction of the Lazarus region.

Term of Executive Council members​

Removal from the Council

(16) Non-Permanent members of the Executive Council will serve until the end of their term or until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly, or automatic removal from office.

Key points:

• Members of the Executive Council27 serve on the Executive Council27 until the end of their term or their resignation
• Members of the Executive Council27 may also be removed from office by the Assembly26 or be removed automatically from office such as a result of their nation ceasing to exist or them losing citizenship

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