Christopher Livingston
11-28-2006, 05:19 PM
Dread Sovereign Lord:
I am concerned to see that the Chancery has not complied with the terms of the Constitution Act when composing the Letters Patent for the Home and Foreign Secretaries. As Your Majesty will doubtless recall, the Act states that "ministers may only exercise those powers specifically stated in the documents appointing them" (Subsection 1E); since the recent Letters Patent do not specifically state any powers, under the law the new ministers are wholly powerless.
Also, neither of the documents bear the Prime Minister's countersignature, as is required by Subsection 1C of the aforementioned Act. Thus, under the law, the Letters do not hold legal force, and the ministers do not hold their offices at all. Of course, we all know that the Prime Minister consents to these appointments, but Hanover is a nation ruled by laws, and we must obey those laws if they are to have any meaning.
I hope that Your Majesty will ensure that the Letters Patent are revised in Chancery, so that the new officers may enter into their offices confident that they have real legal authority. I feel rather pedantic making this statement, but Hanover has always taken herself seriously, and conforming rigidly to the law is an important part of being a serious nation.
Your humble servant,
+Christopher Bergensis
I am concerned to see that the Chancery has not complied with the terms of the Constitution Act when composing the Letters Patent for the Home and Foreign Secretaries. As Your Majesty will doubtless recall, the Act states that "ministers may only exercise those powers specifically stated in the documents appointing them" (Subsection 1E); since the recent Letters Patent do not specifically state any powers, under the law the new ministers are wholly powerless.
Also, neither of the documents bear the Prime Minister's countersignature, as is required by Subsection 1C of the aforementioned Act. Thus, under the law, the Letters do not hold legal force, and the ministers do not hold their offices at all. Of course, we all know that the Prime Minister consents to these appointments, but Hanover is a nation ruled by laws, and we must obey those laws if they are to have any meaning.
I hope that Your Majesty will ensure that the Letters Patent are revised in Chancery, so that the new officers may enter into their offices confident that they have real legal authority. I feel rather pedantic making this statement, but Hanover has always taken herself seriously, and conforming rigidly to the law is an important part of being a serious nation.
Your humble servant,
+Christopher Bergensis