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Senate Advice and Oversight Committee; Oversee All the Things
Topic Started: Dec 27 2014, 11:48 PM (166 Views)
Calvin Coolidge
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☆Kawaii Panda☆

It has been a little over a month since the start of the Senate's Advice and Oversight Committee, and so far, I have yet to be paid for my contributions. I accept cash, checks, and Taylor Swift memorabilia, for those wishing to right this wrong. Despite this clear oversight, the committee remains a part of our Senate, although its purpose, usefulness, and activity are up for debate. Who can we trust to make sure this issue gets debated to the fullest? I don't know either, but I thought I might as well give it a shot.

To begin, what is the Senate Advice and Oversight Committee? According to Committee Chair Angelus' opening statement in his speech: "Let's get to business", he says "the members of this body shall look to assist and provide oversight to the executive branch of Europeian Government". So far this thing is really living up to its name. For those of you who may be lacking in the definition department, the definition of oversight, according to Merriam-Webster, is "watchful and responsible care". That sounds pretty nice, actually. So, this committee will be there to help the government when it falls down and busts a hip. When you look back in the sand on the beach and see only one set of footprints, that's where the committee carried you, government. You're welcome.

Clearly, then, it's purpose has been to provide that wonderful thing we call oversight to our Executive branch. So far, the committee has looked at two different topics, a gameside participation award, which has been in discussion for about a month, and a revision of the CSO (Civil Service Office), which has been in discussion for about two weeks. The first topic has, for the most part, settled down after a consensus was reached to make an award for participating in RMB talks, and similar participation. A few days ago, Minister of the Interior Writinglegend said that the award will soon be released by his Ministry. So, for all intents and purposes, that talk can be considered a success, as the committee came up with an idea that will be used by the Executive. The other topic has essentially come down to making Assistant Ministers that can move from one Ministry to the other. There has been no word from the Vice-President on whether this change will be implemented, but this is likely due to holiday season slowing a lot of the government's activity down.

Speaking of slowing down government activity, some have said that the committee is moving too slowly, and not very reactive. Who has said that? I did, just now. In several Senate campaign platforms, candidates talked about the advantages or disadvantages of committees, and how they should (or should not) operate, if they were to be re-instated. Sopo, perhaps the most vocal supporter of the Oversight Committee, argued in his platform that "committees can play an invaluable role both in holding the Executive branch accountable and in creating a more dynamic political environment". However, the main issue from the last Presidential election in terms of Executive accountability, the lack of foreign updates, was not touched at all by the committee. In the last set of committees, set up by HEM a few months ago, a Minister was called to answer for his lack of activity, and it seems that Sopo and his fellow supporters would have liked to see that sort of discussion again. One could argue that it might be overreach to call a Minister to answer for one lackluster job performance, but Sopo even went so far as to say in his platform, "I faced a panel of Senate critics as President, and I believe I was better for it. I hope my fellow Senators will allow me to return the favor".

Now, those opposed to the committee would say that the above action would be going too far, and Kraketopia, during his Senate campaign had this to say, "if we were to grant them the power to force Ministers to appear before them, or talk about removing Ministers for not appearing before them, I would consider this a gross overstep of Senate authority and an infringement upon the rights and powers of our Executive". Perhaps the number of members on the committee that are opposed to the idea was the deterrent for not taking action, but either way, it is something to think about.

How should the committee move forward? Has it accomplished enough to continue for the rest of the term? What about next term? How many questions can I put in a row before people stop reading this article? These answers and more will likely be put forth in the comments section. Until next time, this is Calvin Coolidge, signing off.
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Lethen
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Remember when I was famous? Neither do I.

Great article Calvin! Informative and fun to read, flows well.

Anyway, committees are stupid and a waste of time. There, argument won.
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By the Prophetical Blessing of Nethel, Supreme Chancellor of the Republic of Europeia and the states within, Destined Overseer of His rightful yet forgotten realms of Estalcia and Old Europe and Crystal Falls, Defender of the Faith and New Jersey, and Heir to the concept of Sarcasm
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Sopo
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Lord High Chancellor Emeritus

The "Oversight" portion is certainly more appealing when one is not a Minister. I hope Angelus will take on a larger role as Chairman for the remainder of the term, but he has not been very active lately. The input would be much more valuable if half the committee were not a part of the Cabinet. If Anumia, Shin, and Angelus were to take an active, critical role, it could be effective, but I don't think the desire or time is there.
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Anumia
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Anumia Novo Spiritus

I have stated an ongoing interest to participate in constructive discussion to contribute ideas to the executive. Interior matters are not my greatest strength though, hence my relative quietness.
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Brunhilde
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Committees are for chumps.
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Drecq
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I agree. :D
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Kraketopia
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Lethen
Dec 28 2014, 12:05 AM
Great article Calvin! Informative and fun to read, flows well.

Anyway, committees are stupid and a waste of time. There, argument won.
:gentleman:
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Vinage Vinage
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Gave Up Being Cool To Be Here

Sopo
Dec 28 2014, 01:26 AM
The input would be much more valuable if half the committee were not a part of the Cabinet. If Anumia, Shin, and Angelus were to take an active, critical role, it could be effective, but I don't think the desire or time is there.
Highlighted the part that I wanted to bring out over the rest.

For the Senate's entire term, from Mal's to Mousie's, half of the Oversight Committee has been in the Cabinet so there isn't really much of an Oversight aspect to it.

Personally I am for Committee's, the powers to summon an individual to answer questions is probably one of the strongest powers that the Senate now has.
The Venerable, Vinage Vinage. ER, EOB, EIN, ED, EEN, OR 1-4
2 Consecutive Term President
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Notolecta
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Vinage Vinage
Dec 28 2014, 08:41 AM
Sopo
Dec 28 2014, 01:26 AM
The input would be much more valuable if half the committee were not a part of the Cabinet. If Anumia, Shin, and Angelus were to take an active, critical role, it could be effective, but I don't think the desire or time is there.
Highlighted the part that I wanted to bring out over the rest.

For the Senate's entire term, from Mal's to Mousie's, half of the Oversight Committee has been in the Cabinet so there isn't really much of an Oversight aspect to it.

Personally I am for Committee's, the powers to summon an individual to answer questions is probably one of the strongest powers that the Senate now has.
It doesnt really have that power.
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Vinage Vinage
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Notolecta
Dec 28 2014, 08:51 AM
Vinage Vinage
Dec 28 2014, 08:41 AM
Sopo
Dec 28 2014, 01:26 AM
The input would be much more valuable if half the committee were not a part of the Cabinet. If Anumia, Shin, and Angelus were to take an active, critical role, it could be effective, but I don't think the desire or time is there.
Highlighted the part that I wanted to bring out over the rest.

For the Senate's entire term, from Mal's to Mousie's, half of the Oversight Committee has been in the Cabinet so there isn't really much of an Oversight aspect to it.

Personally I am for Committee's, the powers to summon an individual to answer questions is probably one of the strongest powers that the Senate now has.
It doesnt really have that power.
True, but I guess the power to remove plus it does no harm to maintain good relations with the Senate means that we don't see requests to answer questions being ignored for very long
The Venerable, Vinage Vinage. ER, EOB, EIN, ED, EEN, OR 1-4
2 Consecutive Term President
Longest Serving World Assembly Delegate
Survivor of 3 Political Scandals

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"You're like that coffee machine, you know: from bean to cup, you f-k up."
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Lethen
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Remember when I was famous? Neither do I.

Except when we do. I know there were questions on the GAP from a Senate Committee a few terms ago, and I responded as the Minister but the President was also summoned and never showed up for the entire term.
me, basically (click)

A letter to a friend

By the Prophetical Blessing of Nethel, Supreme Chancellor of the Republic of Europeia and the states within, Destined Overseer of His rightful yet forgotten realms of Estalcia and Old Europe and Crystal Falls, Defender of the Faith and New Jersey, and Heir to the concept of Sarcasm
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Mousebumples
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If you give this mouse a cookie, she'll probably ask for some cheese.

*promises to respond to summons as President and/or pester my Ministers to respond when appropriate*
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Kraketopia
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Lethen
Dec 28 2014, 05:44 PM
Except when we do. I know there were questions on the GAP from a Senate Committee a few terms ago, and I responded as the Minister but the President was also summoned and never showed up for the entire term.
For clarity this was not a matter of not wanting to face the Committee, but being opposed to it based on principles which I have outlined multiple times.
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Lethen
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Remember when I was famous? Neither do I.

Oh, were you President then? I could swear it was Anumia.
me, basically (click)

A letter to a friend

By the Prophetical Blessing of Nethel, Supreme Chancellor of the Republic of Europeia and the states within, Destined Overseer of His rightful yet forgotten realms of Estalcia and Old Europe and Crystal Falls, Defender of the Faith and New Jersey, and Heir to the concept of Sarcasm
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Anumia
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Anumia Novo Spiritus

The Committees started in HEM's term; I was a Senator then, and thus not the President.
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