06-14-2004, 09:06 PM
Quote:
A Bill
to establish institutions and procedures for diplomacy and international affairs.
Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the elected representatives of His Majesty's subjects, in this fourth Parliament here assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 1: External Relations Act 2003
The External Relations Act 2003 is hereby repealed.
Section 2: Diplomatic Corps
a. The Diplomatic Corps comprises all those who His Majesty has accredited as ambassadors of Hanover who have not been discharged from service.
b. Ambassadorship is a permanent, non-political post. Ambassadors are appointed by the king, and he may discharge them from service, or they may resign.
c. Ambassadors may be appointed to a particular nation or entity, or to a particular issue or cause, or in a general role. The role of the Ambassador must be specified when he or she is accredited. Ambassadors are qualified to conduct diplomacy and international relations on behalf of the Kingdom of Hanover which relates to their particular role.
d. Ambassadors must act according to the policy decisions of the incumbent Prime Minister and Foreign Office Ministers.
e. The Diplomatic Corps shall act as an advisory body to the Prime Minister and to the king on matters relating to diplomacy and international affairs.
Section 3: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
a. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department that makes policy on diplomacy and international affairs. It consists of all Ministers and executive staff assigned to it by the Prime Minister.
b. The name or style of the Ministry may be altered by Letters Patent. For the purposes of this Act, the government organ entrusted with the development of foreign policy shall be considered as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
b. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its staff are not qualified, as such, to conduct diplomacy or international affairs, except where otherwise stated herein. They make policy decisions which govern the actions of Ambassadors and other agents of government.
c. Ambassadors may serve on the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Section 4: Recognition of Foreign Governments
a. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must publish a list of all foreign governments recognised by the Crown and Government of Hanover. Inclusion on this list shall constitute a certificate of recognition by the Kingdom of Hanover.
b. Removal from this list indicates that the removed entity no longer carries out the proper functions of government.
Section 5: Treaties and International Agreements
a. The Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may initiate and/or participate in negotiations for the establishment and ratification of treaties and international agreements. This is an exception to Section 3 Clause B.
b. Treaties and International Agreements can be ratified by an Act of Parliament, which requires Royal Assent. Thereafter it is valid and binding, and shall hold the force of law in the Kingdom of Hanover and all her realms and dominions.
Section 6: Miscellaneous
a. Any person who purports to act on behalf of the Kingdom of Hanover in diplomatic or international affairs who is not an accredited ambassador is committing an offence, punishable at the discretion of the courts. Persons acting under the auspices of Section 5 Clause A above are exempt from this clause.
b. This document shall become legally binding in the Kingdom of Hanover and all her realms and dominions two weeks after it receives Royal Assent.
c. This act may be cited as the External Affairs Act (2004).
to establish institutions and procedures for diplomacy and international affairs.
Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the elected representatives of His Majesty's subjects, in this fourth Parliament here assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 1: External Relations Act 2003
The External Relations Act 2003 is hereby repealed.
Section 2: Diplomatic Corps
a. The Diplomatic Corps comprises all those who His Majesty has accredited as ambassadors of Hanover who have not been discharged from service.
b. Ambassadorship is a permanent, non-political post. Ambassadors are appointed by the king, and he may discharge them from service, or they may resign.
c. Ambassadors may be appointed to a particular nation or entity, or to a particular issue or cause, or in a general role. The role of the Ambassador must be specified when he or she is accredited. Ambassadors are qualified to conduct diplomacy and international relations on behalf of the Kingdom of Hanover which relates to their particular role.
d. Ambassadors must act according to the policy decisions of the incumbent Prime Minister and Foreign Office Ministers.
e. The Diplomatic Corps shall act as an advisory body to the Prime Minister and to the king on matters relating to diplomacy and international affairs.
Section 3: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
a. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department that makes policy on diplomacy and international affairs. It consists of all Ministers and executive staff assigned to it by the Prime Minister.
b. The name or style of the Ministry may be altered by Letters Patent. For the purposes of this Act, the government organ entrusted with the development of foreign policy shall be considered as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
b. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its staff are not qualified, as such, to conduct diplomacy or international affairs, except where otherwise stated herein. They make policy decisions which govern the actions of Ambassadors and other agents of government.
c. Ambassadors may serve on the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Section 4: Recognition of Foreign Governments
a. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must publish a list of all foreign governments recognised by the Crown and Government of Hanover. Inclusion on this list shall constitute a certificate of recognition by the Kingdom of Hanover.
b. Removal from this list indicates that the removed entity no longer carries out the proper functions of government.
Section 5: Treaties and International Agreements
a. The Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may initiate and/or participate in negotiations for the establishment and ratification of treaties and international agreements. This is an exception to Section 3 Clause B.
b. Treaties and International Agreements can be ratified by an Act of Parliament, which requires Royal Assent. Thereafter it is valid and binding, and shall hold the force of law in the Kingdom of Hanover and all her realms and dominions.
Section 6: Miscellaneous
a. Any person who purports to act on behalf of the Kingdom of Hanover in diplomatic or international affairs who is not an accredited ambassador is committing an offence, punishable at the discretion of the courts. Persons acting under the auspices of Section 5 Clause A above are exempt from this clause.
b. This document shall become legally binding in the Kingdom of Hanover and all her realms and dominions two weeks after it receives Royal Assent.
c. This act may be cited as the External Affairs Act (2004).
This Bill will formalise procedure in, and regulate the actions of, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It replaces the External Relations Act of 2003. The most important feature of this Bill is that the office of "Ambassador" is defined as a non-political, permanent appointment, outside of the scope of the Prime Minister. This helps ensure the neutrality of the Diplomatic Corps when it comes to political matters.