[Proposal] Democratic Reform Amendment (October 2019)

[Zapatian Workers State]

I understand that this theoretically allows someone like me to run for the premiership alright, but I meant something along the lines of a "ministry of assimilation" in the Cabinet to take newcomers by the hand and ease them into the workings of the administrative-bureaucratic monolith that is this region. For nations used to participating in user-created regions, this is all a bit overwhelming.

Also, one thing not covered by the amendment, upon second reading, is clarification if the Vice-Delegate shall remain the head of the Council of Lazarene Security ex officio. This is something I bring up because one would imagine such a significant reduction in the executive prerogative of the Delegate/CEO would also affect the Vice-Delegate just as radically. Especially since many executive directives under the supreme law require 50%+1 approval from the Council of Lazarene Security, it makes the Vice-Delegacy seem more attractive than the actual Delegacy. Aside from that, you seem to have done an amazing job being effective yet uncontroversial. (Partisanship thankfully seems not to have reared its ugly head as of yet.) Keep up the good work!

The amendment doesn't mandate any ministries and it would be inconvenient for the Prime Minister if it did, since that would be particularly inflexible. NR's proposal does include a "Gameside Outreach" ministry that would be responsible for doing that.

The Vice Delegacy is unchanged by the amendment (hence the article discussing it not appearing in the proposal). As such they do remain chairperson of the CLS. Excepting that role, the position of Vice Delegate exists purely for the Delegate's successor to inhabit and is essential to the meritocratic security apparatus that the proposal retains. Since in some ways the CLS exists to inhibit the Delegate, I don't think it makes sense for the Delegate to chair it themselves. I don't think the they shall be wanting for stuff to do either, since there are plenty of institutions that they still appoint people to serve in and powers that ought to be discussed with the government and other state officials before they are exercised.

My objection to not having a clearly fixed and defined set of bureaucratic departments would be the potential for the development of a spoils system, with the Prime Minister appointing his favorites into newly created offices in return for their obeisance in all things. However, making the prospective appointees to these offices subject to confirmation by the Assembly seems to take care of this problem rather nicely, so that objection is moot.

As for the other part of my argument, I was not suggesting that the Delegate should chair the Council, but rather wondering why the Vice-Delegate's powers were not reduced to a degree proportionate to the Delegate proper. However, keeping in mind that the Council of Lazarene Security's main functions do seem restricted to holding the Delegate accountable and checking his actions, I see the merit in leaving the Vice-Delegate be in his place as chairperson of the Council.

In any event, I already voted yea for the amendment, so it's not like this was really a matter of great concern to me.