Law Proposals for Curia 18 March 2025 and 05 April 2025
Their Majesties Æiríkr and Jacquelyna give notice that they will hold an online Curia on Tuesday March 18th 2025 at 19:00 CET, and an in-person Curia on Saturday April 5th at Spring Crown tournament in Aarnimetsä (exact time to be confirmed).
The agenda is the same for both Curia, to review five items of business: one item of old business regarding baronies within principalities, one new item to name the Kingdom Chatelaine as a Great Officer, one new item to be consistent with the old business item, and two new items of business to clarify where the responsibility lies to confirm local officers and to ensure that all award information gets sent to the Posthorn Herald.
These proposed changes are being put before the Curia for discussion. The outcome of that discussion may be that any of the proposed changes may be rejected or altered before being implemented into Kingdom law.
All Great Officers of the Kingdom should make every effort to attend both Curia meetings. If Great Officers are unable to do so, they may send a designated representative, or make their comments known to the Crown and Kingdom Seneschal in writing, prior to the day of the Curia. Members of the populace may also send comments in writing to the Crown (crown@drachenwald.sca.org) and Kingdom Seneschal (seneschal@drachenwald.sca.org) in advance of the meetings.
Old Business: Proposal for moving responsibility regarding baronies within a principality from Crown to Coronet
Reasoning
The burdens of the Crown are many. This proposal moves the responsibilities for those baronies that are within a Principality, from the Crown to the Coronet, as the Coronet is already responsible for their regions.
Formatting
In the law text below, added text is marked with bold and removed text is marked with strikethrough.
Proposed law text
6.05 Territorial Baronies
6.05.1 While the Corpora provide for the basic terms on how territorial baronies are established, Drachenwald has the following extra requirements:
6.05.1.1 The petitioning group must be able to guarantee that the minimum requirements specified in Corpora will be maintained between the time of filing and the time of approval by the Board of Directors.
6.05.1.2 The petitioning branch must have a sustained record of activities, including the hosting of Principality or Kingdom-wide events.
6.05.1.3 Request for the advancement to baronial status must be coordinated through the Crown and the Kingdom Seneschal (and Coronet, if the branch is within a Principality), as well as the Kingdom (and Principality) Seneschal.
6.05.2 The rulership of a Baronial fief shall be awarded by the Crown or Coronet upon petition by the members of the Barony in question.
6.05.3 When a Barony is left without at least one Baronial ruler the following procedures are in effect:
6.05.3.1 The outgoing Baronial ruler(s) shall appoint a Vicar as a temporary replacement. If this does not occur within ten days of the Baronial ruler(s) departure, the Crown or Coronet will appoint a Vicar. The Vicar shall hold no baronial office.
6.05.3.2 Within ninety days of the naming of the Vicar, the membership shall be polled to determine the future of the branch; to remain as a Barony, to change to non-baronial branch status, or dissolve the branch. This polling will be conducted by the Vicar and the Baronial Officers under the supervision of the Kingdom or Principality Seneschal. The results of this polling are due to the Crown or Coronet within thirty days of the poll being taken.
6.05.3.2.1 If the Barony members wish to dissolve the branch or change to non-baronial status, the Baronial Seneschal will coordinate with the Kingdom or Principality Seneschal on the necessary communications with the Society Seneschal, or the Board of Directors through the Society Seneschal. The Vicar shall retire at the end of the transition period.
6.05.3.2.2 If the Barony members wish to remain a Barony, they must select Baronial ruler(s). The recommendation process must occur within one year from when the Vicar was named. At this time the group may send a petition to the Crown or Coronet naming its candidates (either an individual or a couple). The Vicar retires once the proposed Baronial rulership is approved by the Crown or Coronet.
6.05.3.2.2.1 If the Barony members are unable to select a Baronial ruler(s) in the time allowed, the members will be polled to select a non-baronial branch status. The branch may not apply for Baronial status for at least two years. The Vicar retires on the day of the polling.
6.05.4 At any time the members of a Barony may petition the Crown or Coronet for the appointment of a Baronial ruler Baron/Baroness If a Barony has only a single Baronial ruler, the members of the Barony may petition the Crown or Coronet for the appointment of an additional Baronial ruler to rule with its current Baronial ruler.
6.05.5 In the event that the members of the Barony in question wish to remove one or both Baronial rulers, they must first seek arbitration through the grievance procedure outlined in 12.02.2.
6.05.5.1 If it is the finding of the arbitrators that the best solution to the difficulties is the removal or suspension of either or both Baronial rulers, the membership shall submit a petition to that effect, signed by at least two-thirds of the members, to the Crown or Coronet. The arbitrators will submit a report of their findings as specified in Drachenwald Law.
6.05.6 Baronial rulers have the right to give non-armigerous awards and positions of honour.
6.05.7 Baronial rulers hold their Baronies in Fealty to the Crown, or to the Coronet if the Barony is within a Principality. This fealty must be presented at Coronation. If unable to attend, one or both of the Baronial rulers will provide fealty to the Crowns prior to the day scheduled for Coronation. They must present this fealty at Coronation or Investiture, as appropriate, either in person, through an envoy, or in writing.
6.05.8 The length of a single term for a Baronial ruler is a maximum of two years. After consulting with the members of the Barony, the Crown or Coronet may, at their discretion, ask one or both of the Baronial rulers to serve another term. It is recommended that no Baronial ruler serve more than two consecutive terms.
6.05.9 Any person holding a Baronial fief in Drachenwald must step down from office when no longer residing in the Barony.
6.05.10 Any person holding a Baronial fief in Drachenwald may participate in the Crown List and, if applicable, a Coronet List. They are required to submit the name of an acceptable candidate for Vicar with other documentation required for participation in the Crown or Coronet List. Should the Baronial rulers be victorious in the Crown or Coronet Tournament, the Vicar assumes responsibility for the Barony immediately. The Vicar must conduct a polling for the new Baronial rulers within 90 days.
1. Proposal for clarification of fealty presented by principalities
Reasoning
This proposal aligns the kingdom law with current practices and the wording is consistent with the proposed change under old business. This proposal affects section 6.01.4.
Formatting
In the law text below, added text is marked with bold and removed text is marked with strikethrough.
Proposed law text
6.01.4 The Territorial Coronet hold their Principality in Fealty to the Crown. This fealty must be presented at Coronation. If unable to attend, the Territorial Coronet will provide fealty to the Crowns prior to the day scheduled for Coronation. They must present this fealty at Coronation either in person, through an envoy, or in writing.
2. Proposal for changes in categories of the kingdom officers
Reasoning
This proposal is due to changes in Corpora where the Kingdom Chatelaine has been moved from the category of Lesser Officers to Great Officers. Additionally, the proposal removes the hierarchical wording that ranks the Great Officers in order of precedence. This propsal affects sections 5.01, 5.02, and 5.06.9.
Formatting
In the law text below, added text is marked with bold and removed text is marked with strikethrough.
Proposed law text
5.01 The Great Officers of the Kingdom of Drachenwald are as follows, in order of precedence:
Kingdom Seneschal
Kingdom Herald (Schwarzdrachen)
Kingdom Earl Marshal
Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences
Kingdom Chancellor of the Exchequer
Kingdom Chronicler
Kingdom Signet Clerk
Kingdom Web Minister
Kingdom Chatelaine
5.02 The Lesser Officers of the Kingdom of Drachenwald, and the Great Officers responsible for them, are as follows:
Kingdom Chatelaine – Seneschal
Kingdom Captain-General of Archers – Earl Marshal
Kingdom Marshal of Fence – Earl Marshal
Kingdom University Chancellor – Minister of Arts and Sciences
Kingdom Social Media Officer – Seneschal
5.06.9 Chatelaine
5.06.9.1 Shall be a Lesser Officer, under the direction of the Seneschal.
5.06.9.2 5.06.9.1 Shall be the chief recruiting officer for the Kingdom, providing information to assist local groups in conducting effective recruiting, and mentoring regional and local chatelaines to manage and maintain growth.
5.06.9.3 5.06.9.2 Shall assist new members in learning the laws and customs of the Society and Drachenwald.
3. Proposal for clarification of where the responsibility lies to appoint and confirm local officers
Reasoning
The burdens of the Crown are many. This proposal clarifies that the responsibility of appointing local officers lies with the next level above, and the confirmation of those appointments are the responsibility of the relevant rulers (Crown, Coronet, or Baronial). This proposal affects section 6.07.
Formatting
In the law text below, added text is marked with bold and removed text is marked with strikethrough.
Proposed law text
6.07 Local Officers
6.07.1 Local officers are appointed by their kingdom superior officers, kingdom, principality, or baronial level (as applicable). The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Crown, Coronet, or Baronial rulers (as applicable). Local officers must not be substantively opposed by the people of the local branch, but the final decision regarding their tenure remains with the Crown and Kingdom officers, or with the Coronet and Principality officers, or with the Baronial rulers and Baronial officers, as applicable.
6.07.2 Local officers may be removed from office, by their kingdom superior officers. Removals are subject to confirmation by the Crown, Coronet, or Baronial rulers (as applicable). The designated successor will assume the office until a replacement can be appointed. If there is no designated successor, the kingdom, principality, or baronial level officer (as applicable) will, subject to the confirmation of the Crown, Coronet, or Baronial rulers respectively, appoint a replacement, as soon as possible.
4. Proposal for clarification of the responsibility to get awards registered in the Order of Precedence database
Reasoning
The purpose of this proposal is to minimize frustration over missing awards in the online Order of Precedence, and to avoid wasting the time and resources of scribes and royals that unknowingly plan to give out awards that a recipient has already received. This proposal affects sections 2.02.6 and 5.06.2.3, and adds new sections 5.06.2.6, 6.01.5, and 6.05.6.1.
Formatting
In the law text below, added text is marked with bold and removed text is marked with strikethrough.
Proposed law text
2.02.6 It is the responsibility of the Crown to ensure that a list of all awards granted by them is received by the Schwarzdrachen Herald and the Kingdom Chronicler, the Schwarzdrachen Herald, and the Posthorn Herald, who updates the Order of Precedence database which is maintained and kept accessible online.
5.06.2.3 Shall set up and maintain a Kingdom Order of Precedence and shall be responsible for having the Order of Precedence updated with all awards given in all royal courts of Drachenwald, including the Kingdom’s Principality and Baronial courts. The database for the Order of Precedence (OP) is an online tool that aids the populace when sending in award recommendations and it aids all of Drachenwald’s royalty when deciding which awards to give out. Therefore, it is recommended that the OP database should be updated regularly so that it remains a useful tool for everyone.and presented to the Royal Heirs before their Coronation.
5.06.2.6 Shall appoint any assistants as deemed necessary.
6.01.5 It is the responsibility of the Coronet to ensure that a list of all awards granted by them is received by the Principality and Kingdom Chroniclers, the Schwarzdrachen Herald, and the Posthorn Herald, who updates the Order of Precedence database which is maintained and kept accessible online.
6.05.6.1 It is the responsibility of the Baronial rulers to ensure that a list of all awards granted by them is received by the Baronial, Principality (if applicable), and Kingdom Chroniclers, the Schwarzdrachen Herald, and the Posthorn Herald, who updates the Order of Precedence database which is maintained and kept accessible online.