Civil Service Act

Civil Service Act
Citation	A-36
Considered by	Open Parliament
Date enacted	27 July 2019
Legislative history
Introduced on	11 July 2019
Introduced by	Ramelia Courelli
Voting began	20 July 2019
Required majority	Simple majority
Vote results	12 Yea, 0 Nay, 0 Abstain
Status: In force

This Act regulates appointive positions and modernizes departmental awards in order to increase regional engagement while reducing risk for abuse.

Article 1. General Provisions

Section 1. Observation of Ministerial Authority

In all cases, appointive officers serving under this Act in Ministries serve at the pleasure of the Minister. Secretaries, aides and all other department-level officeholders shall not act outside of their statutory authority and otherwise shall act within directions of the Minister. Such officers shall not supersede existing policy of the Minister and/or World Assembly Delegate, and the Minister may conduct activities within the statutory authority of a Department of their Ministry when the office of Secretary or Attorney General within a Department is vacant or as they otherwise see fit.

Section 2. Qualifications for Departmental Positions

Except as otherwise provided for by this Act, no state shall be a department-level official or aide who has not resided in the Social Liberal Union for at least two weeks, but non-Member State Resident States may be appointed department-level officials or aides.

Section 3. Public Accessibility of Officer List

Each Ministry shall keep and maintain a publicly accessible list of its Minister, Deputy Minister, and all department-level officers of the Ministry.

Section 4. Departmental Level Positions Beyond this Act

This Act shall not be construed to prevent the creation of Constitutionally permitted departmental level positions beyond its confines, but no such position shall be created without agreement to do so by the relevant Minister and the World Assembly Delegate.

Section 5. Creation of New Departments

The Cabinet may create a new Department under one of its Ministries by a simple majority vote. The order to create the new Department shall name the Department, its purpose, its Ministry, and its Secretarial position. If, after one month has passed since creation of the Department, the Department's continued existence has not been authorized by an amendment to this Act, it shall cease to exist.

Section 6. Aide Description and Appointment

Aides serve under departments at the pleasure of the relevant Minister and Secretary or the Minister of Domestic Affairs and Attorney General in the case of Deputy Attorneys General. A list of aides must be kept alongside the relevant Ministry's list of officers. Aides' terms expire immediately upon the conclusion of a Ministerial term, including in such cases as a Minister may resign from, be removed from, or otherwise vacate their office.

Section 7. Aide Authority

Aides shall not be delegated the powers of any elected officer, Ambassador, or Secretary, and may perform only such actions as are specifically requested by their Secretary or the Attorney General in the case of Deputy Attorneys General.

Section 8. Relation to Other Legislation

The Department Official Recognition and Appreciation Act shall be repealed in its entirety.

Article 2. Ministry of Domestic Affairs

Section 1. Department of Arts

The Department of Arts shall provide forums for discussion of creative matters generally. The Department may promote its role through coordination of design- or otherwise creativity-oriented activities.

Clause 1. The Department of Arts shall be directed by a Secretary of Arts appointed by the Minister of Domestic Affairs.

Clause 2. On advice of the Minister of Domestic Affairs, the Secretary of Arts may appoint aides, known as Artistic Aides.

Section 2. Department of Cartography

The Department of Cartography shall produce and regularly maintain political and other maps of the Social Liberal Union. The Department shall ensure these maps are publicly accessible both in format and in location, and may conduct discussion to further develop maps, such as naming competitions. Criteria for admission to maps may determined by the Department, but shall be no stricter than and must be inclusive of Member State status. No state shall be removed from regional maps unless they have ceased to be a Member State for at least one month, or have been convicted of an offense.

Clause 1. The Department of Cartography shall be directed by a Secretary of Cartography appointed by the Minister of Domestic Affairs.

Clause 2. On advice of the Minister of Domestic Affairs, the Secretary of Cartography may appoint aides, known as Cartographic Aides.

Section 3. Department of Communications

The Department of Communications shall compile regional events into a regular regional newsletter. The newsletter may contain events occurring with regard to the regional government, roleplay, politics, and allied regions, in addition to opinion-editorials.

Clause 1. The Department of Communications shall be directed by a Secretary of Communications appointed by the Minister of Domestic Affairs.

Clause 2. On advice of the Minister of Domestic Affairs, the Secretary of Communications may appoint aides, known as Communications Aides, to write components of the regional newsletter.

Section 4. Department of Justice

The Department of Justice shall be responsible for the prosecution of offending States, the representation of the government in all legal matters, and the maintenance of law and order generally.

Clause 1. The Department of Justice shall be directed by an Attorney General appointed by the Minister of Domestic Affairs.

Clause 2. The Attorney General shall consult the Cabinet before initiating prosecutions or participating in a civil case on behalf of the Government.

Clause 3. On advice of the Minister of Domestic Affairs, the Attorney General may appoint aides, known as Deputy Attorneys General.

Clause 4. Commencing two weeks following initial approval of the Bar Examination, no state may be appointed Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General unless they are an active member of the Bar.

Section 5. Department of Roleplay

The Department of Roleplay shall generally conduct roleplay activities, including organizing contests and tournaments and providing forums for in- and out-of-character roleplay. The Department shall not be responsible for cartographic matters, but may provide forums to discuss them. The Department may ensure that, within reasonable rules it may set, roleplay is adequately moderated.

Clause 1. The Department of Roleplay shall be directed by a Secretary of Roleplay appointed by the Minister of Domestic Affairs.

Clause 2. In such cases as the Department of Roleplay wishes to conduct interregional roleplay activities, it shall coordinate such activities with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Clause 3. On advice of the Minister of Domestic Affairs, the Secretary of Roleplay may appoint aides, known as Roleplay Aides.

Article 3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Section 1. Ambassadors

Ambassadors shall serve as the official representatives of the Social Liberal Union to regions to which they are assigned. Ambassadors shall generally seek to communicate and advance the goals and values of the Social Liberal Union, support mutual prosperity, and work towards peace.

Clause 1. Ambassadors shall be appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Clause 2. Ambassadors shall not engage politically in regions to which they are ambassadors, except with permission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Clause 3. No state shall be appointed an Ambassador unless they are a Member State and have been a Member State for at least two weeks.

Section 2. Department of World Assembly Affairs

The Department of World Assembly Affairs shall be responsible for advising the World Assembly Delegate on World Assembly votes and proposals. The Department shall regularly inform the Delegate of (a) how members of the Interregional Legislative Coalition have voted on World Assembly Resolutions, (b) reasons raised to support or oppose World Assembly Resolutions, and (c) proposals that may support the values of the Social Liberal Union.

Clause 1. The Department of World Assembly Affairs shall be lead by a Secretary of World Assembly Affairs appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Clause 2. On advice of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of World Assembly Affairs may appoint aides, known as World Assembly Aides.

Article 4. Ministry of Immigration

Section 1. Department of Engagement

The Department of Engagement shall provide for the engagement of newly-arrived states, through such activities as welcoming, and shall monitor the integration of these states into the Social Liberal Union, generally. The Department shall also keep and regularly maintain a list of all states violating Social Liberal Union residency requirements for the Minister of Immigration's use.

Clause 1. The Department of Engagement shall be directed by a Secretary of Engagement appointed by the Minister of Immigration.

Clause 2. On advice of the Minister of Immigration, the Secretary of Engagement may appoint aides, known as Engagement Aides.

Section 2. Department of Recruitment

The Department of Recruitment shall generally provide for the recruitment of new states to the Social Liberal Union.

Clause 1. The Department of Recruitment shall be directed by a Secretary of Recruitment appointed by the Minister of Immigration.

Clause 2. On advice of the Secretary of Recruitment, the Minister of Immigration may appoint aides, known as Recruiters.

Article 5. Office of the Chancellor

Section 1. Public Defenders

In any case where law requires the appointment of defense counsel, the Court of Justice shall appoint a competent state to serve as the defense's Public Defender.

Clause 1. Commencing two weeks following initial approval of the Bar Examination, no state shall be appointed a Public Defender unless they are an active member of the Bar.

Clause 2. No state shall be appointed a Public Defender unless they are a Member State, have been a Member State for at least two months, and have never been convicted of an offense. Provided, the Court may grant case-by-case exceptions to the requirement regarding length of Member State status via written judicial order if the Court determines that such an order is necessary to ensure the constitutional right to competent defense counsel or the interests of justice generally would best be served.

Clause 3. Before assuming the office of Public Defender, the state to be appointed must declare to the presiding officer, under penalty of perjury, that they do not have a conflict of interest with relation to the case with regard to which they are to be appointed.

Section 2. Registrar of the Court

The Registrar of the Court of Justice shall be a permanent officer of the Court, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Chancellor. They shall ensure cases of the Court of Justice are properly archived on all applicable platforms and may be commissioned to do legal research for the Chancellor during the course of a case or hearing. The Registrar shall have full access to all records of the Court, excepting confidential documents of counsel and prosecutors.

Clause 1. Commencing two weeks following initial approval of the Bar Examination, no state shall be appointed Registrar of the Court unless they are an active member of the Bar.

Clause 2. No state shall be appointed Registrar of the Court unless they are a Member State, have been a Member State for at least one month, and have never been convicted of an offense.

Clause 3. No state shall serve as Registrar who is also a member of the Cabinet, is the Speaker of the Union, or is the Attorney General.

Article 6. Departmental Awards

Section 1. Departmental Awards Generally

A class of awards, separate of any regional awards provided for elsewhere in law, shall exist for states making significant contributions to branches of the government of the Social Liberal Union. These shall be referred to as "departmental awards."

Clause 1. Departmental Awards may be awarded only by the relevant elected officer, and may not be awarded by Deputy Ministers.

Clause 2. All Member States are eligible to receive Departmental Awards.

Clause 3. Each award may only be granted no more than once per month.

Section 2. Speaker of the Union's Office Awards

The Office of the Speaker of the Union shall have the following Departmental Awards:

Clause 1. Long Legislative Service Award: For actively improving the Library of Parliament for an unusually long period

Clause 2. Legislative Innovation Award: For effectively improving the Library of Parliament with inventive content or organization

Clause 3. Exceptional Legislative Service Award: For generally outstanding service to the purposes of the Law Commission or Library of Parliament

Clause 4. Tacitus Award: For extensive service in archiving the history of the Social Liberal Union

Section 3. Ministry of Domestic Affairs Awards

The Ministry of Domestic Affairs shall have the following Departmental Awards:

Clause 1. Long Domestic Service Award: For actively serving the Ministry for an unusually long period

Clause 2. Domestic Innovation Award: For effectively serving the Ministry with inventive methods

Clause 3. Domestic Talent Scout Award: For newly recruiting talented states into the Ministry

Clause 4. Exceptional Domestic Service Award: For generally outstanding service to the purposes of the Ministry

Clause 5. Communications Award: For exceptional service to maintaining and writing the regional newsletter

Section 4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Awards

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall have the following Departmental Awards:

Clause 1. Long Foreign Service Award: For actively serving the Ministry for an unusually long period

Clause 2. Foreign Innovation Award: For effectively serving the Ministry with inventive methods

Clause 3. Foreign Talent Scout Award: For newly recruiting talented states into the Ministry

Clause 4. Exceptional Foreign Service Award: For generally outstanding service to the purposes of the Ministry

Clause 5. Millyland Award: For composing an exceptional ambassador report

Clause 6. Service to the World Award: For significant interregional accomplishments

Clause 7. Service to an Ally Award: For significant contributions to a region with which the Social Liberal Union is allied

Clause 8. Defense of the Union Award: For development of or defense of the security of the Social Liberal Union

Section 5. Ministry of Immigration Awards

The Ministry of Immigration shall have the following Departmental Awards:

Clause 1. Long Immigration Service Award: For actively serving the Ministry for an unusually long period

Clause 2. Immigration Innovation Award: For effectively serving the Ministry with inventive methods

Clause 3. Immigration Talent Scout Award: For newly recruiting talented states into the Ministry

Clause 4. Excellent Immigration Service Award: For generally outstanding service to the purposes of the Ministry

Clause 5. Impeccable Recruitment Award: For recruiting large numbers of states to the Social Liberal Union

Clause 6. Warm Welcome Award: For warmly and effectively welcoming new states to the Social Liberal Union