ThaeciaBoard

What is the biggest issue facing Thaecia?
Thaecia's biggest issue is obviously activity. The decline in activity can be explained by our dependence on politics as a motivator for participation. When our politics ran out, so did activity, which is how we got here. We must work on a solution that solves this issue while respecting Thaecia's roots in politics, even if scaled down in importance.

What are your thoughts on the initial attempt to reform the government by the Governor and the reaction of the Prime Minister?
I don't think any plan by anyone was necessarily good. Those who remember the day that happened know how chaotic it was. We lost a few good Thaecians from the event. The way Thaecia is on track now, through a convention, is the best course we could be on. One that prevents to the best of its ability a moment of heightened tempers that forced those Thaecians out.

What are your thoughts on the procedures for the upcoming Convention, namely the idea of a “closed” or “elected” Convention vs an open, participatory one?
The procedures of the current convention are suitable. There are fears of being closed, but as it stands the convention is really still quite open. Any citizen may submit amendments to be voted on, and any vote made by the members of the convention go on to the rest of the region in a "referendum" of sorts. Thaecians do not lose their voice in government through the rules of this convention.

What are some unique ideas you intend to bring to the table for Constitutional and legal reform?
I am a parliamentarian. While not unique in that there are a handful of other parliamentarians in this election, I believe that parliamentarianism is the way forward for Thaecia. The different structure of power that parliamentarianism brings provides the potential for much more government activity that may not have been possible under the older constitution of Thaecia.
What sort of main approach do you think the Convention should take to rewriting the Constitution and reforming the Thaecian government?
To encourage active discussion, I think that the convention should be taken section by section, instead of the entire document at a time. That way we have active discussion on the nuances of constitutional law without having an entire document dumped upon us, as is the fear of some citizens.

What sort of main approach do you think the Convention should take to rewriting the Constitution and reforming the Thaecian government?
To encourage active discussion, I think that the convention should be taken section by section, instead of the entire document at a time. That way we have active discussion on the nuances of constitutional law without having an entire document dumped upon us, as is the fear of some citizens.

What is your goal for this Convention?
My goal is to represent the idea of parliamentarianism. It is the idea that I think will save Thaecia and allow it to keep some politics while it also finds new avenues aside from politics to draw activity from. The idea of parliamentarianism is not incompatible with many other novel systems of government that citizens have proposed, so I think they will go nicely together, should the new constitution choose a new path.

How do you intend to balance the need for engagement opportunities with the need for a streamlined bureaucracy?
The balance between engagement and streamlining the bureaucracy is an interesting one in parliament. Engagement is made through the ministries and government, and I think more interactions with ministries could be a good way to drive engagement. More interaction with ministries could streamline government, as it drives people to go to ministries instead of government. This allows nations more suited for government to go there where they will be more efficient than people who might not necessarily know what they are doing.

What changes do you wish to bring to the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, each?
Executive: Prime minister as executive head of government, separate from WAD, head of state. Prime minister, the government by extension, elected as head of the majority party of parliament or by coalition. Ministers chosen by the prime minister.
Legislative: I am unopposed to a bicameral parliament, but I would prefer a unicameral parliament. Ministers must be from this branch, not private citizens. Other than that, the legislative branch functions largely the same as it has been before, aside from the executive branch coming from the legislative.
Judicial: I see no real need to change this branch. It should remain focused on trials and constitutional review when applicable. As for the selection process, candidates for justices should be appointed by the prime minister and confirmed by parliament.

What changes, if any, do you intend to bring to the electoral process?
Without being an endorsement of Cinema, I do believe that method of the electoral process is best. The single transferrable vote is the ideal method for election in Thaecia, and one I think most people would be happy with. The four month election window also proposed by Cinema is ideal. In the timeframe of nationstates, it allows enough time for people to get used to their offices and duties while also being short enough to keep newcomers around who want to be involved in politics.