Title 6 - The Imperial Legislature

Charter of the Imperial Council of Deliberation

By the Light of the Creator, In the name of the People of the Aksum Imperium, and in accordance with the Constitution of the 7th Imperium, I, Rasim Aeon, Emperor and Grand Sovereign of the Aksum Imperium do hereby decree this issuance of the Charter of the Imperial Council of Deliberation of the Aksum Imperium.

Section 1. Purpose. 

The purpose of this Charter is to formally establish the Imperial Council of Deliberation as the Legislative Council of the Imperium.  It is the primary place for the deliberation of laws and ordinances affecting the entire Imperium.  

Section 2. Name. 

Per the Imperial Constitution, the legislative council of the Imperium is named as the Imperial Council of Deliberation and may at times be known as: the ICOD, the Senate, the Assembly, and whatever other names decreed or provided by law.  However on all official communications, the full name or I.C.O.D. shall be used.

Section 3. Membership.

1. Members of the Imperial Council are as named by the Imperial Constitution.  Members shall be called Senators.
2. In the initial term after the 7th Constitution and this Charter, 11 (9 representative + 2 at large) members with the most time as a member of the ICOD shall serve until June 2024, the next 11 shall serve until December 2023, and the last 11 shall serve until June 2023.  There replacements shall serve one year terms from those dates, with two at-large members elected. The Grand Praetor will serve until December 2024 unless otherwise stated.
3. A minimum of one seat per Quadrant.
4. After each election the sitting members of the I.C.O.D. shall determine whether to accept and seat the newly elected members. A 2/3 vote is required to deny an individual a seat.

Section 4. Committees.  

1. The Imperial Council of Deliberation shall have at a minimum the following committees
   1. Executive Committee.  To set policies, manage the ICOD, approve or disapprove Grand Praetor appointments and serve in the Imperial Court.  Consists of the Grand Praetor, Vice Grand Praetor, and the Chairs of each Standing Committee.
   2. Rules Committee. To recommend procedural changes, investigate behaviors of members and make recommendations on actions; and to review amendments to the Constitution and any Imperial Charters.
   3. Stewardship Committee. To review and consider matters related to foreign affairs, diplomacy, the civil service, imperial administration, local governance, culture, schools, social services, and health.
   4. Treasury Committee. To review and consider the actions related to finance, economics, and commerce
   5. Judiciary and the Inquisition. To review and consider matters related to the Imperial Tribunal, its lessor courts, and the inquisition
   6. Planning and Development. To review and consider matters related to architecture, theme, public works, transportation, housing, and construction
   7. Imperial Service. To receive updates, review and consider matters related to defense and security, and law enforcement, and make recommendations on the same within the authority granted by the Emperor/Supreme Commander.
2. There shall be a minimum of three members on each committee.
3. The Grand Praetor may remove a member from a committee, but said member may appeal to the full Council of Deliberation, requiring 2/3 vote to overrule.
4. The Rules Committee may recommend censure, removal from committee, suspension, fine, or dismissal from the Council of Deliberation.
5. All Committees shall use the same rules of procedure as the Council
6. Committees may exercise the subpoena power of the full Council of Deliberation by a majority vote.

Section 5. Officers.

The Officers of the Council of Deliberation are the Grand Praetor, who is elected by the Imperium at large or appointed by the Monarch;  Vice Grand Praetor who is elected by the full Council of Deliberation; an Executive Secretary of the Council, who is appointed by the Grand Praetor and approved by the Executive Committee; the Chief Sergeant at Arms of the Council, who is from the Imperial Service; and the Chief Parliamentarian, who is appointed by the Grand Praetor and approved by the Executive Committee.

The Grand Praetor

1. Serves as the presiding officer of the Imperial Council of Deliberation on behalf of the Sovereign and in His name.
2. Is elected at large by the Imperium or appointed by the Emperor and holds the position for two years, until resigning, a vote of no confidence, or removed by the Sovereign or a vote of the Magnus.
3. Is not prohibited, by virtue of his appointment as such, from fulfilling any of those duties, and enjoying any of those privileges of a Member of the Council of Deliberation, under these Rules of Procedure.
4. Shall appoint the Committee Chairs and members of Standing Committees subject to the approval by majority vote of the Imperial Council of Deliberation.
5. Shall appoint the officers of the Imperial Council of Deliberation with the approval of the Executive Committee.
6. Is ex-officio with voting rights on all committees.
7. Is a member of the Grand Imperial Council and the Imperial Court

Vice Grand Praetor

1. Acts in place of the Grand Praetor when the Grand Praetor is absence.
2. Is elected from among the members of the Imperial Council of Deliberation.
3. Is not prohibited, by virtue of his appointment as such, from fulfilling any of those duties, and enjoying any of those privileges of a Member of the Council of Deliberation, under these Rules of Procedure.
4. Is ex-officio with voting rights on all committees.
5. Is a member of the Imperial Court.
6. Chairs the Rules Committee.

Executive Secretary

1. Is appointed by the Grand Praetor and approved by the Executive Committee
2. Serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the I.C.O.D.
3. Leads the I.C.O.D. Secretariat and aides, hiring all the staff of the I.C.O.D.
4. Presides over the I.C.O.D. in the absence of the Grand and Vice Grand Praetor.
5. Maintains the Archives of the I.C.O.D.

Chief Parliamentarian

1. Provides advice to the Grand Praetor and membership on rules of procedure.
2. Is appointed by the Grand Praetor and approved by the Executive Committee
3. Serves as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Rules Committee

Chief Sergeant at Arms

1. Is appointed by the Grand Praetor and approved by the Executive Committee on the recommendation of the Grand Marshal
2. Must be a member of the Imperial Service.
3. Ensures the safety and security of the I.C.O.D., its members, and facilities.

Section 6. Motions before the Council of Deliberation

1. Any Member may introduce any of the following motions and each motion shall be debated and disposed of according to the Rules of Procedure: A motion to pass a Bill; A motion to pass a Resolution or make an Order; or, A motion to form a Committee for some purpose. Any other motion found in the table of motions in Roberts Rules of Order.
2. Any Member may present a petition to the Council.
3. To introduce a main motion, the Member shall post the text of what is to be considered, in accordance with a manner determined by the Council,(the Item) to the Rostrum, with the suitable prefixes in the title as stipulated below:
   1. [Bill] if the motion is to consider an item of legislation;
   2. [Resolution]/[Order] if the motion is to consider a resolution or order;
   3. [Committee] if the motion is to form a committee.
4. Subject to the below-noted provisions, a main motion shall be open for debate for a period of no less than 12 hours and no more than seven (7) days.
   1. A Member may, at any time, move a motion that an amendment be made to an Item, and every such motion shall be considered in turn with only one such motion being considered at a time.
   2. A Member may, at any time, Call for the Question on a main motion, but such a motion shall be of no effect unless seconded by at least two other members. A Call for the Questions may be approved by general or unanimous consent.
   3. The Grand Praetor shall open voting on any bill placed before the body no sooner than twenty-four hours after its original posting.
   4. The question on a motion made in accordance with Article 6(ii) shall be put as soon as that motion has been properly seconded.
   5. The Grand Praetor shall have the power to, at any time, extend or delay debate on a motion (whether a main motion or otherwise) and to end debate on a motion (not being a main motion), by resolution of a simple majority of Members of the Council.
   6. If, on the petition of the Grand Viceroy or Grand Chancellor, it is claimed that it is necessary in the vital interests of the Imperium, that the main question be promptly put on the main motion for a Bill, the Grand Praetor shall put the question on that main motion after the end of a period of two days, provided that no such petition shall be made until the second day after the main motion was first moved.
   7. The Grand Praetor shall not be under an obligation to do either of the following if he/she considers that to do so would be an abuse of the Council:
      1. Permit any motion to be debated; or
      2. Put the question on any motion.
5. Where the period for debate on a main motion expires, the Council shall vote:
   1. First on every amendment proposed to the Item, if there be any; and,
   2. Then on the main motion.
6. The ballot choices shall be the following:
   1. Yes, which shall be a vote to pass the motion;
   2. No, which shall be a vote to defeat the motion; or,
   3. Abstain, which shall be a vote to not make a decision on the motion.
7. Every vote shall be by ballot, except in cases of general and unanimous consent, in those cases an objection will require a full vote.
8. If a bill is amended prior to a vote, the vote may be opened no sooner than twenty-four hours after the amendment is made. Each successive amendment shall extend the voting moratorium accordingly.
9. Every division shall last a period of no less than one and no more than three days. The Grand Praetor shall have the power to extend, delay or end a division by resolution of a simple majority of Members of the Council.
10. At the conclusion of voting procedures, according to the votes cast the Grand Praetor will announce the result of the motion.
11. If a Bill is passed by the Council, the Grand Praetor, or some other person authorized by him/her/them for that purpose, shall present it to the Grand Chancellor for consideration and he/she to His Imperial Majesty, the Sovereign for Imperial Assent.
12. All bills must contain the following and follow the structure as set out in this section;
    1. A Title - The bill must contain a title; a number shall be assigned once accepted
    2. A Preamble - A section that shall act as the descriptor of the bill describing its intent and summarizing the bill as a whole and not directly tangible legislation.
    3. A Section - A Section shall function as actual law, there is no limit on the number of sections a bill may hold, however there must be a minimum of one.
    4. Signature of the Author of the bill.
    5. If any - Signatures of other signees, however there still must be a heading in each bill to accommodate for other signees of bills.
13. Any bills must be comprised of the information as described within Section 3.12 of this bill, otherwise the bill shall be null and void.
14. Bills are to not be altered in any way during the final voting process of a bill and a bill may not be altered unless through an amendment once it has passed.

Section 7. Rules of Decorum

1. No Members shall make a personal attack against another Member.
2. No Member shall use any foul, profane or uncivil language, words, or gestures in session or in public.
3. Members must refrain from gross unethical conduct, or conduct which brings the Council into disrepute, in particular: disregarding the authority of the chair; persistently and willfully obstructing the business of the Council by abusing the rules of the Council; corruption through bribery or extortion; violation of the trust given him by the Council; abuse of the power of his office; or, being convicted of committing any offense against the laws of the Imperium.
4. A Member shall not be proceeded against in respect of any vote cast by him in any division, or any words spoken or language used that were a factual representation of his political choices, political ideology or political beliefs.
5. Words spoken by a Member do not constitute a personal attack if they are concerned with a position or opinion held by another Member.

Section 8. Sanction of Members

1. If a Member is in breach of Section 4, he shall, on the request of the Member so injured, retract such parts of his speech as are deemed to have constituted the personal attack.
2. A Member who fails to retract either of the following shall be suspended from the service of the Council for a period of two days:
   1. Any part of his speech that in the opinion of the Grand Praetor constitutes a personal attack; or,
   2. Any foul, profane or uncivil language, words, or gesture.
3. A Member who is not being suspended from the service of the Council, but being particularly aggrieved by the suspension of another under Section 5.2, may raise the issue on a point of order or on a motion for a resolution, and such a point of order or a resolution shall, notwithstanding any rule that prohibits challenges to the authority of the Grand Praetor, be in order and shall be properly and fully debated.
4. If a Member does anything that constitutes a breach of the rules of decorum enumerated above, the Council:
   1. May, by a simple majority (plurality), find that it has no confidence in the Member;
   2. May, by an absolute majority (a majority of votes cast), resolve to order the suspension of the Member from the service of the Council for a fixed period of time and pay a fine no more than A$5000; or,
   3. May, by a unanimous vote, resolve to order the expulsion of that Member.
5. Where the Council finds that it has no confidence in a Member who is at that time the Grand Praetor, such a finding shall also constitute a finding of no confidence is his service as Grand Praetor
6. In case of grave disorder arising in the Council the Grand Praetor may, if he thinks it necessary to do so, adjourn the Council without putting any question, or suspend the sitting for a time to be named by him.

Section 9. Amendments to and Suspension of the Rules of Procedure

1. Subject to the provisions above concerning resolutions, the Council may by resolution of two-thirds of the members amend the Rules of Procedure.
2. The Council may, by resolution of two-thirds of the members, suspend this Charter.
3. Where this Charter has been suspended, the Council may, by resolution of one-half of the members, reinstate it.
4. A main motion to pass a Bill, the effect of which would be to amend the Imperial Constitution (and any subsidiary motion made in relation to that main motion) shall not be considered whilst this Charter is suspended.

This Charter supersedes all previous decrees, edicts, laws, and ordinances that are in conflict.

All This By My Hand, BY STRENGTH AND COURAGE

Imperial Decrees, Edicts, Laws, and Ordinances

Code	Title	Date Passed	Date of Assent	Status