Some Like It Not

[Maj]

Lord Brass where are you from? (You don't have to tell me if you don't want, I'm just a little curious.) I think one guideline should be that you have to read the Kobolds thread, only the second one unless you prefer to read both.

[Lord Brass]

Read them both! It's the only way to be sure...Particularly you Jan.

I'm from good ol' Blighty Maj, so all this Constitution lark is a bit new to me.

Just as a note, I'm using this site for the document itself. A better examination of the history of the bill is available on a Yale website. It's very good, but too much for our little study. If anybody has any better ideas, or sites for use, then please feel free to let me know. Let's all make sure we sing from the same hymnsheet, as they say.

Anyway, I still haven't had any firm offers of help. Isn't anybody interested? At all?

[Sir Heinrich Godfrie IV]

Posted by: Lord Brass Read them both! It's the only way to be sure...Particularly you Jan. I'm from good ol' Blighty Maj, so all this Constitution lark is a bit new to me. Just as a note, I'm using this site for the document itself. A better examination of the history of the bill is available on a Yale website. It's very good, but too much for our little study. If anybody has any better ideas, or sites for use, then please feel free to let me know. Let's all make sure we sing from the same hymnsheet, as they say. Anyway, I still haven't had any firm offers of help. Isn't anybody interested? At all?

I am mostly interested, I guess.

You see, I am what some may call a... "Politacal/News Junkie".

I read newspapers, watch cable news shows, visit pol/news websites, listen to political talk radio, and (if time permits) will often watch the broadcast by CSPAN of the British Parlimentary floor debates (proper label?).

However, with regards to U.S. Constitutional Law or British Common Law, I am regretfully ignorant.

So any help or assistance by me will be short on specifics and technicalities, nevertheless, I will be happy to opine from time to time.

My suggestion, if you haven't already done so, would be to delv into the Forgotten Realms, "Baldur's Gate/Amn Campaign Setting" books for the PnP (if such books exist), and research any of the possible laws or policies that are currently under affect within the Sword Coast.

Regardless of whether you can or cannot find a full and conclusive description of these laws, statutes and ordinances, - finding bits and pieces will greatly help your effort in formulating a "composition of basic law".

You may ask, "why would finding such former laws be so relevant?"

Well, this would foster a feeling of 'real change', by illistrating to honorable members and citezens the, inherent flaws of the former system and the improvements of the New, and thus giving them a comparitive view of both.

One other thought just came to me, when creating the actual wording for this Draft/Draught, it is imperative that you are as clear as humanly possible, so as to stiffle the inevitable urge of future legislators (and ultimately judges) to interpret the wording as they see fit.

Equaly however, there must be a process for which changes can be forwarded, such as: who can make a change in the law, how many favorable consents are needed for such a change, etc., etc.

Maybe you have already given thought to my aforementioned ideas, nonetheless I will be waiting for your reaction/response. [img]smile.gif[/img]

-Sir Heine

[Lord Brass]

Thank you for your input Sir Heinrich. I have considered some of these points, but of course they remain elements of a greater whole.

With regards to previous literature on the subject, I do have a copy of the original Forgotten Realms campaign setting (that came in hardback) but it is a little spartan on legislative data. Still, I'll rake it back out and see what it says.

Please go to the website Sir H., and have a look at the different elements in the documentation. We can all learn together on this one! Soon as the weekend comes around, I'll try to crack on and email you with some ideas, if that's alright. Thrash out what we're basically trying to achieve.


Where is all the help for this? Night Stalker, how about you? Keratisdm, Underhill, Chairman Legolas? Where have all the heroes gone...?

[Keraptisdm]

Present, and taking his seat on the Committee, my esteemed friend Lord Brass. I have been on a sabbatical of sorts, researching weapons and combat methods in a far off land called Oerth.

Although I anticipate other sabbaticals to draw me away from time to time, I shall gladly participate in establishing the framework of our constitution. We shall set up a Bill of Rights for the people of the land. The slavery issue is sure to create some consternation amongst the committee memebers. In addition debates on the legality of the senate to levy taxes shall be lively to say the least. A daunting task to say the least, but I offer my services for such an admirable endeavor.

[Lord Brass]

Originally posted by Keraptisdm: I shall gladly participate in establishing the framework of our constitution. We shall set up a Bill of Rights for the people of the land. The slavery issue is sure to create some consternation amongst the committee memebers. In addition debates on the legality of the senate to levy taxes shall be lively to say the least. A daunting task to say the least, but I offer my services for such an admirable endeavor.

Good man, good man! This is the sort of enthusiasm we and the Sword Coast are looking for. Please look at the site (link above) unless you would like to put forward a different structure to investigate?

Email on its way to you Kdm.

LB

[Sir Heinrich Godfrie IV]

Lord Brass, I just sent you an email.
It will explain to you my situation for the next couple of days.
Note: I would have 'Personal Messaged' you this, but was unsure if ever checked it.

Sir Heine.

[Lord Brass]

Thanks Sir H, have a look at your email too. (I replied here just in case you've checked this first.) [img]smile.gif[/img]

For those who might like to know, I've had a chance to perform a brief survey of the articles of the Constitution, and would greatly accept anybody's help with comments and suggestions. Once I've gone through that, I'm off to look at the amendments which have been made law.

Some of the articles range from declarative in nature, such as Articles VI and VII, whilst some have a real say in the sort of legislative function that we are trying to achieve - particularly Articles I and III and V.

However, what is of interest, and something which I didn't consider at all, is the idea of having a President (Article II). It is possible that people may consider this to be the position of the Chairman? In which case, our esteemed colleague Legolas may already fit the bill admirably. Opinions on this one please.

Anyway, anybody else interested in helping? Email me if you wish to.

LB

[Night Stalker]

The Chairman position that Legolas has been performing admirably in is more analogus to the Speaker of the House.

The slavery issue will be a very sticky one for our immediate neighbors to the South, Amn are active in the skin trade. Also, another point of possible contention, the idea that "All men are created equal." Since we have many more dwelling within our borders than just humans, we should try to treat as many races as possible equally. This kinda brings us back to the kobold issue again. Not all races show a tendancy towards "civilized" behaviour.

Obviously humans, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, and most of the fey folk have this tendancy and should be included. A big problem exists with the goblin-kin though. I think invitations to this grand new civil endevour should only be offered on a tribe by tribe basis with a mandatory probationary period to prove their willingness to make our experiment a success. Those tribes that cannot overcome their homicial tendancies should be considdered for extermination.

Also, and this is very important. Participation in this venture MUST be voluntary and not compulsory. Any entity may freely withdraw with out fear of repercussions. We are here to promote Liberty, nothing more. We must never endevour to "spread the word" as it were. Let us stand upon the merits we create, and those that wish to join us are free to do so. Those that do not wish to are free to not as well. We must not be quick to recreate the Maztaca debacle.

[Lord Brass]

Well said that man. I too would consider the Chairman's position as a Speaker of the House. However, we might, and I only say might consider the possibilities of a president. Something else to vote on! [img]smile.gif[/img]

The notion of integration for the goblinoid races is a crux of the Constitutional issue. We need to have an effective mechanism in place with which to debate the problem; also, a structured forum with which we can formulate a viable solution.

Speaking of integration, it might be more desirable to merely initiate what elements we can, for the more "civilised" peoples, and consider inviting races who wish to participate on a voluntary basis at a later date. The crux might be that participation is permissible only if they themselves can produce a representative body, as well as a common political ideology or dogma. That way we can slowly increase membership without rushing headlong into oversubscription and senatorial chaos.

Of course, as Night Stalker has pointed out, we have to provide a legal as well as moral and ethical framework which all citizens must adhere to. Here, we will face stiff opposition, for the goblinoid races of the Realms are hardly likely to leap wholeheartedly into a philosophy which is so alien to the centuries (millenia) of internecine and aggressive behaviour dominant in their societies. Yet we must try, and prevail, if there is ever to be peace in the Realms and the Sword Coast in particular.

For the good of the Realms.

LB