Shredding the Constitution
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by Zanalan
Anyone who has taken the time to look at the Constitution of Canada http://wiki.erepublik.com/index.php/Constitution_of_Canada > will realize that the document needs an update. It contains references that were valid in Beta, but are unachievable in V1. Despite these failings, the Constitution of Canada is still an effective document and must be followed, supported and defended. The new Tantis government has today put the Canadian people on notice that the Constitution might not be followed.
Cabinet
“Any Government of Canada must contain the following ministers:
Vice President...
Minister of Defence...
Minister of Finance...
Minister of Health....”
The new Cabinet, unveiled today, does not include a Minister of Defence. Instead, Tantis has elevated the General of the Army to a Cabinet position. The role of a Minister of Defence is the “...organization and administration of the Canadian Armed Forces and all of its subsidiary acquisitions and assets including but not limited to the Canadian National Defense S.O. and its Crown Corporations.” By placing the General in Cabinet, rather than a Minister, the Canadian people no longer have an administrator for the Military assets and actions.
The new Cabinet is also missing a Minister of Health. Instead, health falls under the control of the super-ministry of Internal Affairs. One cannot help but wonder how much attention the National Health SO will receive when it is one of many portfolios under review by MoIA. Under the recent changes to the productivity formula for industry, a worker’s health has a measurable impact on production (a worker at 60 wellness produces 10% more than a worker at 50 wellness does). Without direct management of the Health department, the government is placing our national productivity at risk.
One can only hope that these choices represent an oversight rather than a deliberate attempt to circumvent the Constitution. As we noted at the start of the article, the Constitution needs to be revamped and updated. Still, the current version is the only document we have. If the government ignores the document then we must all be concerned about the erosion of the rule of law. That should be the one rule that we can depend on!
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Well that is a bit insulting seeing as I am minister of Internal Affairs and so is Rishain I will be looking after health but if you had gotten more information we are also still looking for people to fill goverement posititons so those aren't the final spots.
Why, pray, are you insulted? The Constitution requires a Minister of Health. The Cabinet announced today does not include a Minister of Health. That responsibility is included in the super-Ministry. Whether or not you are looking for people to fill positions is immaterial since Health will be a sub-set of Internal Affairs.
The General of the army is in effect the MoD.
You are correct, Tom. However, the concern is whether it is in the best interest of Canadians to remove a broader control of public assets (MoD SO) and place it under the direct control of the Military.
I think it should be asserted whether or not a MoH is necessary to the functioning of the government. Personally, I would accept health to be a subdivision. The MoD is, however, a different issue: we need a General and we need a Mo😨 two separate jobs: one is responsible for the army, giving commands and following government orders, the other is responsible for deciding when the army should be utilised, and giving government orders.
Oh ok I must of misread it I thought you were saying you didn't think the people assigned to do the job could do the job but I now understand you think we should have people specifically for that sector so my apologises.
Well the super government is a bit crazy with the General now taking on two jobs. The Super Minister of Finance taking on three ministries and the Super Ministers of Internal Affairs taking on 4-5 Ministries.
There are co-minister of Internal Affairs, each with seperate responsiblities under my authority. Cesar and I will ensure that nothing is ignored.
If it makes you feel better, Cesar's new title is Minister of Health, Senior Advisor for Internal Affairs.
Yes, the problem before simply was there were TOO many Ministries that had NO effective purpose. Semantics aside we can change Minister of Internal Affairs to Minister of Health and General to Minister of Defense if youd like, they will still do EXACTLY the same thing but they will match the shallow semantics you desire and meet the constitution to the letter.
The point is the constitution is meant to outline what ROLES there must be in cabinet, not exactly what NAME they have. And the mandated roles remain, but are now merely more efficient.
If you are refering to the new admended constitution, it was never sign by the admin and because of wording in the begining stating that it require them to sign it to be valid, it was never validated so it none-void and the original constitution that is a lot more vague is really the real one or I would be a justice by now.
The constitution is simply out of date so much it need a group to redo it totally. I hope Tantis apoint a committy soon to do this.
I beg to differ, Augustus.
While the installation of the General as MoD may meet to spirit of the Constitution, the situation in Health does not. MoH is one of only three ministries that are required. By making Health a sub-Ministry the government has depreciated the value of a Ministry that is Constitutionally required.
Unfortunately, the Constitution does not merely outline the roles. It clearly and precisely set a requirement in addition to the role. The discussion in the eCanada forum makes it clear that Cesar, and MoH are subordinate to Riashain and MoIA.
Then we can name Riashain Minister of Health and make Cesar Minister of Internal Affairs. They will both have the same roles, and everything will work exactly the same way, but the name will be different.
Riashain is already technically Minister of Health as he will have access and oversight to National Healthcare. Day to day operations are just being handled by Cesar.
So you see we are simply tilting at windmills my friend. Because the Constitution is so vague and shallow on the matter that you can meet the requirements as long as you don't try and completely eliminate NHC.
Your arguing over something that will be argued later in the future. A Prime Minister decides who is the Government not the Legislature, which is congress. The Government decides who it uses its SO's not Congress which is the legislature.
As for the Constitution it needs a huge overall.
As for me deciding what is and who is the Government that is my decision and mine alone. If you want a position then you come to me or a Full Minister and they will see what you can do.
Please note:
None of my comments are meant to question the ability of John, Ria or Cesar. I am certain that they will do the best job possible.
@Tantis
I am not debating your right to name the Cabinet that you feel will best serve your administration. My point remains, the Constitution states which ministries must exist, and who has control of certain Government assets. No matter what its flaws, the Constitution is still the point of reference for government in Canada.
I see what you are getting but, but as the architect of the system I will defend it. Is it perfect? No, but it will allow this new government to see exactly which areas take the most work and from there new people can be hired. Sort of like wiping the slate clean.
I understand your concern over the MoD position, take it from a former General the MoD is a useless position, and yeah the fear of a corrupt general spending too much could be a concern but if he contradicts orders he (or she) will face immediate Court Martial.
AR--I voiced my opinion when you first suggested the change, and my opinion has not changed. I am glad that you did not institute the second part of the original suggestion.
Your second paragraph is,in part, a validation of my concern. Without a MoD, there is no one to give the General the orders. Therefore, he cannot contradict orders. Therefore, he has (largely) free reign to spend.
We will wait to see how all of this functions. As much as anything, this article should be seen as a reminder that there is a Constitution, and people want to ensure that it is followed.
there is no one to give the General the orders. Therefore, he cannot contradict orders. Therefore, he has (largely) free reign to spend.
Yes but he must follow the orders given to him by the CinC me, or he loses his position the minute such thing happens then I will recreate the Position of MoD.
That seems to be "inviting disaster" Tantis (no offense intended to AR).
While it may be harder to govern when there are more cabinet positions, I thought the constitution was supposed to provide checks and balances so that no one person has too much authority over any section.
when the constitution was written there was no position of "General" and there was no standing army so that argument in this instance is invalid Derek. The constitution was written with the understanding that General and Minister of Defense would be the same thing.
as far as i can see everything is messing up in v1
but i hope it will get better as time passes
Zanalan and Derek voice valid concerns, but I did put checks and balances in other legislation, I.e. the CAF Code of Conduct which places the order of the CinC above all and if the General were to step out of line the CinC can Court Martial the General, which is a long procedure, but I do want to prevent abuse of power and protect a very important part of the government from petty politics.