New Republic Senate



Speeches: Debate on the Federated Congress Treaty

12 February 2002 | 13 February 2002 | 18 February 2002 | 20 February 2002 | 25 February 2002
Chair of the Session: Chief of State Alicia Marniss


12 February 2002

MINISTER OF STATE KREN DYSTANE
*Presents the FedCon treaty to all in hard form (Hard being data) as well as being read aloud in his sharp souless voice*
  • I. Congressional Organization
    • A There shall be a unilateral legislature
      • 1 The head of the legislature will be the President
        • a The President shall have all duties not specifically denied to the office or specifically granted to another office
        • b If the president is unable to attend his duties, the Vice President will serve that role
      • 2 The Security Council will manage internal affairs of the Congress
        • a The Security Council will be composed of the President and two other elected members
      • 3 The President, Vice President, and Security Council members will be elected by separate ballots
      • 4 The President will set the agenda and schedule of meetings
      • 5 All decisions will be determined by a simple majority rule
        • a In the event of a tie in a vote, the vote will be deferred to the Security Council
  • II Duties of the Congress
    • 1 The Congress shall rule only to affairs concerning international trade and foreign relations
    • 2 The Congress shall not rule on purely internal affairs of a nation
    • 3 Legislation passed by the Congress shall be enforced by a common fleet
      • A All members of the Congress shall contribute to the fleet
      • B The supreme commander of the fleet shall be the President unless otherwise delegated by him
    • 4 The common fleet may be deployed to aid in the security of any member nation
  • III Member Nations
    • 1 Nations may join by a majority vote of existing nations
    • 2 Member nations may leave by a majority vote

COUNCILOR ARTHAIN LINARI OF FONDOR
Chair of the Senate Council on Security and Intelligence
I must oppose this Federated Congress in the most stringent terms, because of two main reasons. First is that the members must contribute ships to a common fleet under the command of the President of this group. What were to happen if the Congress forced us to fight a war that we disagreed with? And what if this leader were unfriendly to the interests of the Republic?
We would be placing the national security of the New Republic in the hands of someone that is not of this nation. Additionally the Treaty says that the members may only leave at the consent of the other members. If we join, we are forced to stay with this agreement and perhaps someday be forced to fight against our allies, for the Treaty states that it has jurisdiction on foreign affairs as well as military ones. Signing this Treaty would without a doubt be counter the best national interests of the New Republic, and would be giving the Republic into the power of someone that may indeed be unfriendly toward us and could act against us. I strongly urge you all to vote against this Treaty for we would be placing our nation in grave risk, we are at war and cannot safely fufill the military requirements of the Treaty, and at a time when we can least afford to be sending forces away from the defense of the Republic.

COUNCILOR BORSK FEY’LYA OF BOTHAWUI
Chair of the Senate Justice Council
*Calm and composed, the Bothan councilor stands up from the curved row of Councilors to address the Senate.* Delegates of the Senate, Citizens of the New Republic, we have been presented, in the form of the Federated Congress treaty, is a thinly-veiled attempt to eliminate us of our sovereignty. I do not make such an accusation lightly.
The very foundation of the Federated Congress is fundamentally flawed in its appointment of a military leader as head of state. Not only that, but article 1, section a, subsection a basically gives this head of state a carte blanche by which he may do anything that he pleases. Then, there is the issue of executive gridlock.
It is entirely possible that the head of state, the President, and the Vice President - who are elected separately - are incapable of working together to get anything accomplished. Thus we are faced with a government that will either be too powerful and therefore able to usurp the powers of the people, or too weak and unable to protect member governments. There is more, however.
I quote. . . "3 Legislation passed by the Congress shall be enforced by a common fleet." read that next to "The supreme commander of the fleet shall be the President " and you have before you a military dictator with complete control over member governments, a tyrant like Palpatine was. *Fey'lya pauses to allow his words to sink in before continuing.*
Article III section 2 states that "Member nations may leave by a majority vote". And if a government enters into this treaty, and realizes what the Federated Congress actually is, it does not have the power to remove itself from the treaty. Consider this - member governments will not be able to decide their own policy. . . policy will be dictated by the Federated Congress.
If this is not tyranny, or blatant and gross eliminated of the sovereignty of member states, I do not know what is.

COUNCILOR RATTAGAGECH OF ELOM
Chair of the Senate Council on Science and Technology
Honorable Senators of the New Republic, the Federated Congress treaty is well-intentioned, yet flawed, as Councilors Linari and Fey'lya have pointed out. True, the FedCon exists to protect member governments from outside threats, but what exists to protect member governments from the FedCon?

SENATOR GHIC DX’ONO of ISHT
Let the delegates of the Galactic Arrakeen Republic respond to these charges - after all, what are they but the Arrakeen/Rhuidean Empire's stool pigeon?

*cheers and applause resound throughout the Senate chamber*

CHIEF OF STATE ALICIA MARNISS OF KUAT
*bangs the gavel* Decorum, Senators. Senator Dx'ono, your remarks are out of order at this time, and therefore I will grant a Right of Reply to the GAR delegation.

SENATOR RABBITT OF THE GALACTIC ARRAKEEN REPUBLIC
I must invoke a point of personal privaledge and request that the representative from Ishori be removed if such remarks continue; as for his request, I would not venture to interpret the Fed Con's constitution, I didn't have any part in making it, I don't know the ins and outs, but I believe we all know who we should really be asking

CHIEF OF STATE ALICIA MARNISS OF KUAT
Thank you, Senator. Indeed, if Senator Ghic Dx'ono, or any other member of the Senate, continues to make personal attacks on other senators in debate, I will have the Seargent at Arms remove them from the Chamber. The Charter urges member nations to behave respectfully to each other. . . should this body be held in a lesser standard?

SENATOR GHIC DX’ONO OF ISHT
My most. . . sincere apologies, Senator.

SENATOR POROLO MIATAMIA OF DIAMAL
I suggest perhaps that the Lord of Rhuidea should be invited to speak to the Senate and therefore address each point of concern the Senate may have for this treaty. No matter what this body thinks of the ARE or the treaty, it must be considered fairly.

SENATOR KEI’LARA OF RYLOTH
I question why this treaty is even being considered, seeing as the ARE is still an enemy of the republic, and still holds a large number of New Republic military personnel hostage.
Before we negotiate and consider this treaty, the ARE must see to the safe return of the hostages as a gesture of good will, and negotiate a peace to end the state of war.

COUNCILOR SIAN TEVV OF SULLUST
Chair of the Senate Commerce Council
Delegates of the Senate and Citizens of the New Republic, the junior senator from Ryloth has made an excellent point. Perhaps we should table this topic and instead work on establishing a lasting peace between the Republic and the A/RE. Only after peace has been declared, and all of the hostages returned, as a gesture of good will, can we legitimately consider this topic. -

SENATOR RABBITT OF THE GAR
Now this is something about which I have knowledge to contribute, if the chair will allow me (assuming I get permission to continue) just in the interest of promoting peace, if and when we do contact the A/RE regarding the NR members in their possession, they should be referred to as prisoners, in the A/RE's eyes, they were attempting smuggling..or tax evasion, or something along those lines.

13 February 2002

CHIEF OF STATE ALICIA MARNISS OF KUAT
Please continue, Senator.

SENATOR RABBITT OF THE GAR
Referring to them as hostages will give the impression that you view the A/RE as some kind of rogue state which would be a great way to get off to a terrible start

COUNCILOR BORSK FEY’LYA OF BOTHAWUI
Chair of the Senate Justice Council
Thank you, Senator, for your remarks. However, I feel I must question one point. . . how else can the New Republic and its allies see the Arrakeen/Rhuidean Empire than a hostile state? Its enforcement of the closed trade proclamation is laughable as that doctrine was created with the sole intent of attacking New Republic sovereignty and the principle of free navigation.
Because of its past actions, the A/RE and its officials are persona non grata in the New Republic. Before we can seriously consider ending the state of war, let alone consider any sort of treaty, it is imperative that the A/RE return to us the hostages that they took, as proof of intent.
I quote Senator Rabbitt verbatim: "referring to them as hostages will give the impression that you view the A/RE as some kind of rogue state which would be a great way to get off to a terrible start." What else did the A/RE do but get off to a terrible start when it decided to enforce the closed trade doctrine and take New Republic personnel hostage?

SENATOR RABBITT OF THE GAR
I don't know if you do, but I read reports that come from the situations; the people in the A/RE's possession were arrested as criminals, hostages are people you trade for something you want, criminals are people who break your laws and you put in prisons; as for the closed trade proclamation, how is a nation's right to regulate commerce within their borders and attack on the sovereignty of the New Republic; certainly the republic does not rely so much on trade with NG Inc that losing trade with them would usurp the power of the NR government

18 February 2002

CHIEF OF STATE ALICIA MARNISS OF KUAT
Are there any points or motions at this time?

SENATOR POROLO MIATAMIA OF DIAMAL
I motion to immediately close debate and vote on the FedCon treaty.

SENATOR KEI’LARA OF RYLOTH
The delegation from Ryloth seconds the motion.

CHIEF OF STATE ALICIA MARNISS OF KUAT
Very well. The chamber is now in voting procedure and the sealed door rule is in effect. Determining whether or not to end debate is a procedural matter; all present must vote for or against.

COUNCILOR ARTHAIN LINARI OF FONDOR
Chair of the Senate Council on Security and Intelligence
I vote against the motion

COUNCILOR ARCHELLIUS OF CORELLIA
Chair of the Senate Council on the Common Defense
I cast my vote to end debate

COUNCILOR CIGHAL OF CALAMARI
Chair of the Senate Finance Council
I do not believe any further discussion would be much more productive, and therefore I vote for ending debate.

SENATOR RABBITT OF THE GAR
I vote against the measure

RODIAN DELEGATION
We agree that more information is needed before closing debates, we vote against the measure

COUNCILOR JAMES COLLINS OF AMBRIA
Chair of the Senate Ministry Council
I vote against ending debate and voting on the Fed Con offer.

COUNCILOR SIAN TEVV OF SULLUST
Chair of the Senate Commerce Council
As I do not believe we have adequate information to give the treaty a fair decision, I vote against the motion.

SENATOR GHIC DX’ONO OF ISHT
I vote against the motion

SENATOR POROLO MIATAMIA OF DIAMAL
I vote for the motion.

COUNCILOR RATTAGAGECH OF ELOM
Chair of the Senate Council on Science and Technology
*takes a few moments to reconstruct the Elomin physical calculus for the particular motion and casts his vote for ending debate.*

COUNCILOR BORSK FEY’LYA OF BOTHAWUI
Chair of the Senate Justice Council
I cast my vote to end debate.

CHIEF OF STATE ALICIA MARNISS OF KUAT
The motion fails and debate will continue. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilor James Collins of Ambria.

COUNCILOR JAMES COLLINS OF AMBRIA
Chair of the Senate Ministry Council
I agree with most of the points made thus far, in that the Fed Con offer cannot consciously be accepted by the New Republic. As it stands the FedCon offer is entirely unappealing to /any/ prospective nation. However, I must bring a few things to bear on dealings with the ARE, and their proposal as representatives of FedCon. The New Republic is in a state of war with many hostile nations. It would be wise and of best interest of the NR to settle as many confilcts as possible and to gird our allies about us as we look to the foreshadowed attack by the Shivan/Helian/GE alliance. Therefore, we should not, and cannot flippantly deny the FedCon offer. I would suggest that we send word back to the FedCon with suggested alterations to their orders and policies that would make the FedCon more appealing to all nations. *Pausing slightly for effect and playing of the reactions on the faces of the senators he continues.* I do not deny that the NR is currently in a static state of war with the ARE, and that before we enter into any supernational ties with the ARE that state must be resolved. As Director of Foreign affairs when the ARE confilct arose I know that the ARE holds 8,000 servicemen of the NR, but I also know that the NR holds an ARE warship, the Muad'dib as well as it's 380,000 member crew. We must consider this when dealing with the ARE, and not believe that they have any negotiational advantage over us. We hold our own cards. Let us realize what is there, and be careful how we play them.

20 February 2002

COUNCILOR BORSK FEY’’LYA OF BOTHAWUI
Chair of the Senate Justice Council
Honorable delegates of the Senate and citizens of the New Republic, this issue of ratifying the Federated Congress treaty is not one to be taken lightly or considered on a whim. Let me remind you that according to the Charter, the New Republic is an economic partnership among member worlds, and a mutual defense pact among member peoples.
The Charter, under which we operate, and the treaties of membership specifically outline the rights and responsibilities of membership to the New Republic. No member of the New Republic has sworn in their treaties of membership and confederation any allegiance to the Federated Congress. Such is not a power the New Republic, or this Assembly, was vested by either the founders in the Charter, or by the member worlds themselves.
As I see it, it is either the New Republic or the Federated Congress. The decision rests in the hands of each individual member world. If this body sees fit to impose the Federated Congress treaty upon the members of the New Republic, I assure you that Bothawui will not be the only member world to leave the New Republic.
Therefore, I call for a question of competence, and request that consideration of this issue to be immediately ended.

SENATOR POROLO MIATAMIA OF DIAMAL
I second the motion

CHIEF OF STATE ALICIA MARNISS OF KUAT
There is a second to Councilor Fey'lya's motion for a question of competence. This measure requires a two-thirds majority to pass, and if the motion passes, discussion on the topic will cease immediately and we will move onto the next item on the agenda.

COUNCILOR ARTHAIN LINARI OF FONDOR
Chair of the Senate Council on Security and Intelligence
I vote for question of competence.

COUNCILOR ARCHELLIUS OF CORELLIA
Chair of the Senate Council on the Common Defense
I vote for the question of competence

COUNCILOR JAMES COLLINS OF AMBRIA
Chair of the Senate Ministry Council
My piece is said. I vote for the motion.

COUNCILOR BORSK FEY’LYA OF BOTHAWUI
Chair of the Senate Justice Council
As the originator of the motion, I support it wholeheartedly.

SENATOR GHIC DX’ONO OF ISHT
I disagree with the Councilor's reasons for calling for such a vote of competence and I respectfully vote against it

COUNCILOR RATTAGAGECH OF ELOM
Chair of the Senate Council on Science and Technology
I vote for the motion, questioning the competence and jurisdiction of this body to consider such a treaty.

SENATOR POROLO MIATAMIA OF DIAMAL
Diamal casts its vote for the motion

CHIEF OF STATE ALICIA MARNISS OF KUAT
The question of confidence initated by Senator Miatamia has the requisite 2/3 majority to pass. All discussion on the Federated Congress treaty will cease. Are there any points or motions at this time?

25 February 2002

CHIEF OF STATE ALICIA MARNISS OF KUAT
We will now recess. The Senate will reconvene at the dedication ceremony of the new Capital on Ambria Prime. *taps the crystal, ending the session.*