Office of IDS Emperor PiT

[Associate Justice PiT]

     This is your Emperor wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. As a Christmas present, I have decided to dispense my campaign warchest, some $30,000,000 in all, to the volunteers who put their blood & sweat into improving their communities.

     Be it resolved, Emperor PiT

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I finally decided to tackle the herculean task of updating the Wiki & updated the Southeast Region, Southeast Governor, & Southeast Lt. Governor pages. I erred against changing the names of any of the pages so as to avoid confusion. As a note to myself (or anyone else who is able to take part in the project), the following pages must be created next time since my edits have created references to those items:

KS21
Yelnoc
Whats in a name?: Amendment
Official Name Amendment

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I hereby appoint Gporter to fill the vacant seat in the Imperial Legislature.

     Be it resolved, X Emperor PiT

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I humbly request that a member of the Legislature introduce this bill based off of a bill recently proposed by the distinguished Senator & former President Lief:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     As it turns out, all five regions prematurely opened a voting booth on an amendment proposed by the Senate. As I was the first of my peers to open a voting booth, & was motivated in doing so against my better judgment by a desire to be of service to the Senate, so to speak, I would like to officially say: my bad. That is all.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I humbly request that a member of the Legislature introduce this bill based off of a bill recently proposed by the distinguished Senator & former President Lief:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I will do it Mr. Emperor

I did that earlier and it failed.

     It never went to a vote earlier, & just as well since we had other pressing business. Now I think we have the time to discuss amending it into a form that would be more acceptable to everyone.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     As I said I'd aim to do, I wiki'd the first regional law in a long time. My hope is to get at least one a day & hopefully more until we're all caught up. It will take a while, of course, but it's important that it get done.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     In updating the Wiki, it came to my attention that an initiative to reduce the signature requirements for initiatives passed by a margin of 4-3 in November 2007, as can be seen here.

     However, the number of signatures required to put an initiative on the ballot is fixed in the Constitution. This initiative did not receive enough votes in the affirmative to pass as a Constitutional amendment.

     Therefore, I am hereby declaring the Lower Signature Requirements for Initiatives to Appear on the Ballot Initiative to be a failed Constitutional amendment.

Be it resolved, Emperor PiT

[Associate Justice PiT]

    To commemorate the first anniversary of the passage of the amendment creating the Imperial Legislature, I have created the Wiki page for the Legislature, complete with a Senate History-style list of members.

     Additionally, I've updated the regional template to include the Legislature, updated the Office Holders to include the up-to-date officeholders of the region, making our part of that page the only one that is currently up-to-date. I've also created articles for Yelnoc, MilesC56, KS21, & Taft4Prez.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I was going to wait longer since I expect more will come up, but since the Leigslature is not doing much now I would like someone to propose this bill:

End To Superseded And Unenforceable Laws Gumming Up The Books Act

1. The following laws are hereby repealed:

• Southeast Forum Elite Conspiracy Initiative
• Southeast Treasurer Position Creation Initiative
• Ballot Editing Initiative
• Speling Corectshun Act OR, Making Sure Nobody Makes any Jokes About Us Act
• Initiative to Restore the Intent of the Founders
• Amendment to the Abortion Initiative

[Associate Justice PiT]

     In light of the tragic demise of former IDS Legislator Darth Svensson, I hereby order that all buildings & offices of the Imperial government fly their flags at half-staff for the next 24 hours.

Be it resolved, X Emperor PiT

[Associate Justice PiT]

Is there going to be a state memorial service? Like they did with Andrew Ct?

     I think that such a service should be held on the regular board. After all, this is not the only region that he had ever been a citizen of, so I don't think we should monopolize the proceedings.

     To answer your question, I don't know. I don't think that I am the person best suited to conduct such a service. Rather, it should be somebody like FallenMorgan or wormyguy, who had associated more closely with Svensson.

[Associate Justice PiT]

What happened to Sven?

     He flew off the handle & got banned. Granted he requested that he be banned, but it was all so sudden & unexpected. It was the Atlas equivalent of suicide-by-cop.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Just so you all know, you're really lucky to have PiT as Emperor. The updates he's made to the Wiki has simply been phenomenal, go look for yourself if you don't believe me. He's really moving this region in the right direction.

     Thanks for the voice of confidence, Mr. President. I really appreciate it.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     On the subject of the idea that was pitched to involve the Legislature in the amendment process, I think this should take care of it:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

     Thoughts?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Someone please propose:

Southern Symbols Omnibus Bill

1. To serve as representative icons of the Imperial Dominion of the South, shall the Imperial Dominion of the South adopt:

(a) the mockingbird as the Regional bird;
(b) the longleaf pine as the Regional tree;
(c) the magnolia blossom as the Regional flower;
(d) the quartz crystal as the Regional gemstone.;
(e) “Dixie” as the Regional Song;
(f) The Deer as the Regional Mammal; 
(g) Milk as the Regional Beverage;
(h) The Bowie Knife as the Regional Historic Artifact;
(i) Alvin York as the Regional Historic Figure;
(j) Gone With the Wind as the Regional Historic Novel;
(k) The Space Shuttle as the Regional Historic Spacecraft;
(l) Graniteville as the Regional Historic Textile Manufacturer;
(m) Kitty Hawk as the Regional Historic Town;
(n) Kings Mountain, North Carolina as the Regional Historic site of the American Revolution;
(o) The Battle of Chalmette, (aka) the Battle of New Orleans, as the Regional Historic site of the War of 1812;
(p) The Alamo as the Regional Historic site of the Texas Revolution;
(q) The Vicksburg National Military Park as the Regional Historic site of the Civil War;
(r) Fort Texas as the Regional Historic site of the Mexican-American War; and
(s) The Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama as the Regional Historic site of WWII.

2. The following initiatives are hereby repealed:

(a) 3. Southeast Symbols Initiative
(b) 34. Southeast Historic Symbols Initiative
(c) 36. Southeast Military History Symbols Initiative
(d) 51. Southeast Symbols III Initiative

Private School Administration Rights Bill

1. The Drug-Testing Free Region Initiative shall only apply to secondary schools and colleges that receive funding from any level of government, except through financial aid to students.

Abortion Rights for Minors Bill

1. The Parental Consent Initiative is hereby repealed.

Sexual Rights Bill

1. The Necrophilia (Penetration of a Corpse) Criminalization Initiative is hereby repealed.

     To round it off with something slightly radical...credit for the bill goes to Speaker wormyguy of the Northeast Assembly:

Self-Ownership Bill

1. All persons are defined as the sole owners of their bodily organs.

2. Any non-minor person who has not been deemed mentally incompetent by a judge shall be allowed to sell their non-essential organs (such as the kidneys, skin, and spleen) to others.

3. Any organ removal surgery must be performed under standard levels of anesthesia and cleanliness by a licensed surgeon.

4. The surgeon must inform the donor of the potential risks of organ removal surgery.

5. All donors must be blood-tested for diseases transmittable through organ donation surgery.

6. A surgeon may, at his or her own discretion, declare a person mentally incompetent for the purposes of selling his or her bodily organs.

7. Unlawfully coercing a person to sell his or her bodily organs shall be a felony punishable by not less than 60 months in prison and/or a fine of not less than $50,000.  Attempting to unlawfully coerce a person to sell his or her bodily organs shall be a felony punishable by not less than 30 months in prison and/or a fine of not less than $25,000.

8. Persons with valid organ donor cards shall be eligible for a $500 yearly tax credit.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Human cloning is already illegal in the IDS, though. At any rate I did not really expect all of the bills to be picked up, though I think it's good to put them out there.

     You're talking about the Legislative Powers Amendment, right? I put it up to a vote in the regional elections. The vote in the Legislature was strictly symbolic, as the purpose of the amendment is to involve the Legislature in the amendment process in the first place.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Congratulations to all those elected to the 8th Legislature & condolences to those defeated, including Darth Gporter. While we still have a long way to go, this was the most competitive election the Imperial Legislature has seen yet.

     As an issue that AG Brandon H brought up to me late last month, the Constitution was actually amended so that the date that the new Emperor & Viceroy swear in coincides with the date that federal officers swear in. The Constitution is however mum on the date of swearing in for other offices.

     Since regular federal elections never coincide with elections to the regional Legislature, I am of the opinion that we should maintain the tradition of newly elected Darths swearing in immediately after the election. I would like to know the opinions of my subjects, however. Thoughts?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     The regional statute is now officially up-to-date.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Whereas; the Dirty South Wiki Update Act was passed into law on November 1, 2008 calling for a commission to be appointed to maintain the Wiki;

     Whereas; no Governor of the Southeast nor Emperor of the Imperial Dominion of the South has appointed any citizen to serve on this commission pursuant to this act;

     Whereas; any law passed by the citizens or by the Legislature of this region should have purpose, should be respected, and should be treated as bearing its due force of law;

     Therefore; I hereby appoint myself to this commission, to serve thereupon until such a time that I or any future holder of this office shall see fit to revoke the granted commission.

     Be it resolved, X Emperor PiT

[Associate Justice PiT]

Omnibus Maintenance Bill

1. The Emperor of the Imperial Dominion of the South shall have the authority to, by executive order, grant Omnibus status to or remove Omnibus status from any bill or initiative passed into law in the Imperial Dominion of the South.

2. Any bill or initiative that is passed into law amending a law accorded Omnibus status (hereinafter Omnibus law) shall, in addition to being recorded in a Wiki article of its own, be incorporated into the text of the Wiki article of the amended Omnibus law.
   a. The Emperor shall have the authority to, by executive order, declare any bill or initiative passed into law to be an amendment to an Omnibus law or, likewise, declare any bill or initiative passed into law to be unrelated to an Omnibus law.
   b. Any citizen of the region shall have the right to appeal any order issued by the Emperor pursuant to Section 2, Clause a of this bill to the regional Magistrate for judicial review.

3. In the Wiki article of any Omnibus law, there shall exist a link to a forum post or Wiki article including the original version of the law.

4. Should any Omnibus law have its Omnibus status removed pursuant to Section 1 of this bill, the original text of the law, as linked to pursuant to Section 3 of this bill, shall supplant the amended text, if any difference between the two versions should exist, in the Wiki article of the formerly Omnibus law in question.

Amendment Repealing Useless or Superseded Amendments to the Southeast Constitution, mk. II

The following Initiatives/Amendments to the Southeast Constitution are hereby repealed:

• Amendment to the Southeast Constitution on Amendment Procedure (54)
• Amendment to the Southeast Constitution on Amendment Process (94)
• Amendment of Article I Section 9 (178)
• Why The Need For Special Election Act? (206)

[Associate Justice PiT]

     By the power vested in me by the Omnibus Maintenance Bill, I hereby accord omnibus status to Law #289, the Southern Symbols Omnibus Bill.

     Be it resolved, X Emperor PiT

[Associate Justice PiT]

     It has come to my attention that the regional voting booth will have to be opened 20-32 hours from now. I blame Article I, Section 2 & Article I, Section 4 for introducing a possibility of contradiction.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     It has come to my attention that the regional voting booth will have to be opened 20-32 hours from now. I blame Article I, Section 2 & Article I, Section 4 for introducing a possibility of contradiction.

Should we amend it in the legislature?

     No, it's alright. I'm thinking that I might put together a manual for future Emperors, much like how Teddy put together a manual for SoFEs.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Brandon H informed me that he was interested in running for re-election, however Article IX, Section 3 says:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

     Attorney General is elected in parallel to Emperor & Viceroy, so I assume that the same regulations apply to all three, even though that is not explicitly stated. As such, I think that an announcement would have to transpire in the Candidate Declaration Thread for me to be able to list him on the ballot. I didn't check it until now, because I thought the election was going to coincide with the federal election, but then I found out it was this weekend. Sorry.