Solemn Engagement to Maintain Order in the Chamber of Congress

Hey folks, got some updates from the Union's historical governmental scene— a throwback to the late 18th century where Poland-Ukraine and Lithuania-Belarus were figuring out how to run a smooth Congress (known as the Sejm). They laid down some classic parliamentary rules that are pretty interesting even by today's standards. Here's the scoop:

The President made a decree with the consent of the confederated Houses of Congress, setting the stage for how to get things done. Senators and Representatives must be present in their seats (no Zoom option, guys). They wanted to double the number of delegates for constitutional matters which sounds like they were really into getting different opinions on board.

Both the Speaker of the House and the Under Secretary of State for Lithuania-Belarus, with the help of these constitutional delegates, had to ensure that all proposals, whether they were new bills or amendments, had to be directly relevant to issue at hand—no fluff or filler allowed.

Everyone in Congress could speak twice on every matter—once off-the-cuff and once by turn. No session ended until the bill or point was decided. If you wanted to talk, you had to wait your turn, and once your time to speak was allocated, you couldn't pass it to someone else. There was a one-time option to chime in before your turn if you got permission, which sounds like a sneaky way to get a word in edgewise.

A new bill had to be read aloud and, if there was any confusion, the proposer and the constitutional delegates would figure it out. Once a bill was proposed, it couldn't be changed without the proposer's consent. Deliberation was set for three days after the bill's distribution. Sounds like they really took their time to think things over.

State and County Congresses would bring their locally agreed-upon bills directly to the main floor by the established procedure. If you wanted to put forward a bill, you had to give a heads-up three days in advance to allow time for review.

There were also rules for voting: secret ballots were done with balls (probably not basketballs), and if you voted aloud, you couldn't skip secret ballots. If you had to miss voting due to illness, the proceedings still went on without you—no sick days excused.

Finally, all opinions, from senators and ministers to representatives, were to be reported by the Secretary of the Interior of Poland-Ukraine after each round. And the constitutional delegate committee, including both countries' Speakers, had to consist of at least five members, making sure there was representation from each province.

These rules set the framework for more organized and structured debate in Congress, reflecting the intricate and ceremonial aspects of parliamentary procedure at the time. Today, this might be akin to setting new House or Senate rules to streamline our legislative processes. Now, back to the present—stay tuned for more political throwbacks!

Topics: parliamentary procedures; senators and deputies; constitutional deputies; confederation marshals; legislative proposals; voting; constitutional deputation; parliamentary debates; freedom of speech; secret ballots;

Declaration on Penalizing Foreign Subsidies

In a bold move to curb corruption, The Union's Congress decreed that anyone found guilty of accepting foreign funds since the beginning of the current session will face the death penalty. A few exceptions lie: those who have been awarded funds by decrees, or who receive pensions due to prior service in foreign armies or under past leadership, remain unaffected. Additionally, clergy members and laypeople promised compensation for property lost due to border adjustments retain their right too.

Any noble, free of criminal charges, may report suspected violations to national prosecutors, who must promptly take the matters to court. Informants stand to gain, as well—if the accusation holds, they're entitled to an eighth of the culprit's fortune. But, should the claim prove baseless, the would-be whistleblower faces the same fatal penalty they sought for the accused.

Those on foreign payroll for military service, as well as compensation recipients must, within three months, register amounts and reasons for these benefits in the appropriate County's court records, stating their full names. These registrations then need to be submitted to the grace of Congress for final review.

Topics: death penalty for receiving money from foreign powers; exceptions for individuals entitled by decrees, military service, or clergy; guaranteed bonuses for property seized by military cordons; obligation of nobleman to report; role of national instigators in supporting reports; punishments for false accusations; requirement to record salaries and compensations in district books; deadline to report guarantees to national authorities;