Chancery
Chancery |
Current Head: Sir Txec Róibeard Nordselva |
Deputies: Marti-Pair Furxheir |
Function: To administer elections, oversee the legislative process, and manage petitions to the Crown. |
The Chancery is an office of the Royal Civil Service, headed by the Secretary of State. It is easily the most important of the offices of state, as it administers elections, oversees the operation of the Ziu, conducts the census, maintains the National Database, receives and acts upon most petitions made to the Crown, and issues royal grants under the Lesser State Seal which includes the granting of citizenship.
The position of Secretary of State is widely regarded as the most onerous in Talossa, and many of Talossa's most important figures have served as Secretary of State, including King John before his election to the throne. The position of Secretary of State is by norm and tradition considered apolitical.
Duties and Powers
The duties of the Chancery include the preparation and publication of the legislative journal, the Clark, issued with each monthly session of the Ziu and containing the text of all proposed legislation and results of the previous session's balloting.
The Secretary of State is empowered to distribute the duties of the Chancery to a single deputy and to any number of lesser "Members of the Office of the Secretary of State", referred to as Undersecretaries.
The Chancery has one department known as the Bureau of Citizenship (Büreu dal Citaxhienità) and is overseen by the Deputy Secretary (also known as the Head Head-Counter). The Deputy Secretary can also appoint a single Head-Counter to each province when necessary. Its duties are to conduct the census and issue paper copies of various documents when requested.
Appointment
Up until the Royal Civil Service Act of 2018, the Chancery was part of the Royal Household and the Secretary of State was uniquely responsible to the King, not to the government of the day. After reforms were passed by the Ziu, the Chancery was made an office of the new Royal Civil Service, most of whose chief officers now report to a Cabinet minister; the Secretary of State is the only one who instead reports from time to time to a commission formed by the Tuischac'h and the Mençei, in representation of the Ziu.
The office of Secretary of State is unique among Talossan appointments, as it is made by the Prime Minister, acting alone, without the consent of the King.
In 2005, this unique mode of appointment proved to be providential when it prevented an organic crisis. Talossa had suddenly found itself without a Secretary of State, or any other officer in the Chancery, and also without a King who was capable of exercising his royal powers. Furthermore, the Cosa had been dissolved, and an election, which may only be run by a Secretary of State, was necessary to seat a Ziu which could then elect a Regent to exercise the royal authority for a minor King. The ability of the Prime Minister to immediately appoint a Secretary of State saved Talossa by enabling it to meet its own Organically mandated election schedule and requirements, and conduct what became the historic elections to the 35th Cosa.
List of Secretaries of State
Secretary of State | Clarks conducted | Elections conducted | Term in office |
---|---|---|---|
Sir Txec Róibeard Nordselva | 21 | 56th, 57th, 58th | August 2020 - Incumbent |
Glüc da Dhi | 18 | 52nd, 53rd, 54th, 55th | May 2018 - August 2020 |
Marti-Pair Furxheir | 35 | 46th (Acting), 47th, 48th, 49th, 50th, 51st | Jan 2014 - May 2018 |
Iustì Canun | 28 | 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th | Jul 2010 - Dec 2013 |
Sir Mick Preston | 26 | 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st | May 2007 - Jun 2010 |
Sir John Woolley | 12 | 35th, 36th, 37th | Nov 2005 - Apr 2007 |
Robert Madison | 12 | 34th | Jun 2004 - Oct 2005 |
Marti-Pair Furxheir | 26 | 31st, 32nd, 33rd | May 2002 - May 2004 |
Davïu Foctéir | 2 | 30th | Jan 2002 - Apr 2002 |
Marti-Pair Furxheir | 7 | 29th | Apr 2001 - Dec 2001 |
Davïu Foctéir | 9 | 28th | May 2000 - Mar 2001 |
Sir Tamoran dal Nava | 2 | 27th | Jan 2000 - Apr 2000 |
Ián Anglatzarâ | 15 | 25th, 26th | May 1998 - Dec 1999 |
Charles Sauls | 5 | 24th | Oct 1997 - Apr 1998 |
Evan Gallagher | 7 | 22nd, 23rd | Nov 1996 - Sep 1997 |
Sean Hert | 6 | 21st | Mar 1996 - Oct 1996 |
Weston Erni | 6 | 20th | Jul 1995 - Feb 1996 |
Ian von Metairia | 35 | 14th, 15th,16th, 17th, 18th, 19th | Jul 1991 - Jun 1995 |
Robert Madison | 4 | 13th | Dec 1990 - Jun 1991 |
Ian von Metairia | 29 | 6th, 7th,8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th | Aug 1987 - Nov 1990 |
Offices of the Royal Civil Service | |||||||||
Chancery |
Treasury |
Scribery |
Archives |
Royal Society |
Secretaries |