Kingdom Law - Officers

Officers

Kingdom Officers

Great Officers

There shall be seven Great Officers in Lochac. They shall be:

1. the KingdomSeneschal
2. the Crux Australis Herald
3. the Earl Marshal
4. the Minister of Arts and Sciences
5. the Chancellor of the Exchequer
6. the Kingdom Chronicler
7. the Kingdom Chatelaine.

Lesser Officers

There shall be four Lesser Officers in Lochac. They shall be:

1. the Provost of the College of Scribes
2. the Keeper of Regalia
3. the Kingdom Historian
4. and the Kingdom Web Minister.

Term of office

1. The normal term of office for a Kingdom Officer shall be two years.
2. This term shall only be extended in exceptional circumstances.
3. No Kingdom Officer may serve for more than four years consecutively.

Responsibilities

To the Crown

1. The Great and Lesser Officers are responsible to the Crown for carrying out the Laws and administering the affairs of Lochac.
2. They owe allegiance to the Crown in the performance of their offices.
3. In addition to the specific duties defined hereunder, each officer shall carry out such other duties as are appropriate to the office, or as are directed by the Crown.

Documentation of the office

As part of their responsibility to the administration of the kingdom, the Great and Lesser Officers shall produce and/or maintain written policies of their office, and seek approval of the Crown, the Kingdom Seneschal, and the Board of SCA Ltd and Committee of SCANZ for any changes to the written policies of their office.

Communication

It shall be the responsibility and duty of each Great and Lesser Officer of the kingdom to maintain regular contact with, provide support to and collect reports from the local officers below them.

Deputies

1. It shall be the duty of each Great and Lesser Officer, within six months of assuming office, to obtain a deputy capable of assuming their office in case of emergency.
2. Emergency replacement deputies must be approved in the same manner as the office holder.

Duties of Kingdom Officers

Kingdom Seneschal

1. The Kingdom Seneschal is responsible for coordinating the administration of the kingdom's recreation activities, which includes coordinating the other Kingdom Officers as required for the smooth operation of the kingdom.
2. The Kingdom Seneschal is responsible for assisting new branches and for branch elevations.
3. The Kingdom Seneschal shall:
   1. Receive reports from all other Great and Lesser Officers on the status of their office.
   2. Make such reports as may be required by the Crown.
   3. Sit on the Council of the Purse.
   4. Sit on the Council of the Regalia.
   5. Ensure that details of upcoming Crown events, attendance at which is required for the winners of the next Crown Tournament (as defined in Corpora IV - Royalty), are properly published via the kingdom's normal publishing processes, including appearing in Pegasus at least one month before that Crown Tournament takes place.
   6. Support the Crown with processing proposed changes to Kingdom Law, and inform the Society Seneschal and the SCA Inc Board ombudsman for the kingdom of approved changes.
4. The Kingdom Seneschal is ineligible to enter or be fought for in Crown Tournaments for any reign that would coincide with their term of office.

Crux Australis Herald

Crux Australis Herald is the principal heraldic officer of the Crown, and the head of the College of Heralds in Lochac, and shall be responsible for:

1. Provision of the Crown's voice at events.
2. Registration of names and armoury.
3. Maintenance of the Order of Precedence of Lochac.
4. Provision of new ceremony.
5. Devising of new protocol for Lochac subject to the Crown's approval.

Earl Marshal

1. The Earl Marshal is the principal martial officer of the Crown, and the head of the marshallate in Lochac, and shall be responsible for:
   1. Development of combat conventions for the kingdom, as required.
   2. Encouraging the development of chivalry on the field.
   3. Maintenance, publication and enforcement of the kingdom standards for construction and use of weapons and armour.
2. The Earl Marshal, in consultation with the Crown and Kingdom Seneschal, shall appoint deputies in the areas of Keeper of the Lists, Fencing, Archery, Equestrian and Armoured Combat to perform duties in respect of the marshallate.
3. Further deputies with specific duties may be appointed by the Earl Marshal, in consultation with the Crown.
4. The Earl Marshal must appoint deputies for any of the disciplines they are not themselves an authorising marshal for. The Earl Marshal may subsume one or more of these roles into their own office, if they are qualified to do so, and so desire.
5. The Earl Marshal must be an authorising marshal in the kingdom in at least one of the following fields: armoured combat, rapier, equestrian.

Minister of Arts and Sciences

The Minister of Arts and Sciences shall be responsible for:

1. Encouraging period arts and sciences in Lochac.
2. Organsing the annual Lochac Arts and Sciences Competition.

Chancellor of the Exchequer

1. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for:
   1. Coordinating the financial administration of funds for the Kingdom of Lochac and its branches.
   2. Collecting, safeguarding and disbursing the monies of the kingdom.
   3. Receiving financial reports from the local groups of Lochac.
   4. Sitting on the Council of the Purse.
2. A deputy must also be appointed to to represent them for either Australia or New Zealand (whichever country they are not a resident in).
3. This deputy shall be responsible for:
   1. Managing the kingdom finances in their respective country.
   2. Sitting on the Council of the Purse

Kingdom Chronicler

The Kingdom Chronicler is responsible for the monthly publication and distribution of the official newsletter Pegasus for receipt by members before the first full weekend of the month.

The Kingdom Chirurgeon

This role makes me uncomfortable as a kingdom role - should it be a health & safety role within the orgs? The Kingdom Chirurgeon is the chief first aid officerpublic health advisor of the kingdom, and shall be responsible for:

1. Advising the Earl Marshal on health related issues.
2. Supervising those Chirurgeons-At-Large and water bearers who provide first aid at any event within Lochac, excepting mundane authorities. They don't supervise (they aren't everywhere), they don't coordinate first aid at events. Waterbearing in any official capacity is a breach of Corpora II. G
3. Providing advice to officers, groups and participants on public health or first aid-related matters as they relate to the kingdom's activities.

The Kingdom Constable

Not sure that this should be a kingdom role - join as health & safety role at org-level? Probably not Great Officer at the least - Great Officers all now have Society-level counterparts. What does the Kingdom Constable actually do? Do they provide advice, maintain handbooks of guidance/policy on safety? The Kingdom Constable is the safety officer of the kingdom, and shall be responsible for:

1. The maintenance of Maintaining order and security amongst the people at events. They aren't at all events…

1. Providing constabulary related documents as are required by the SCA Ltd and filing these, as required. Not really kingdom business? Does the kingdom constable file all the documentation? Apparently this is a task for reeves that can be delegated to constables?
2. Maintaining communications with, and providing resources for, group constables.

The Kingdom Hospitaller Chatelaine

The Kingdom Hospitaller Chatelaine is the bridge between newcomers and the SCA for the kingdom, and shall be responsible for:

1. Welcoming newcomers at events and answering their questions. They aren't at all events in the kingdom.
2. Coordinating public and media relations and encouraging the growth and integration of the kingdom.
3. Maintaining communications with, and providing resources for, group Hospitallers chatelaines.

The Provost of Scribes

The Provost of the College of Scribes shall:

1. co-ordinate the production of such scrolls as may be directed by the Crown, and as may pertain to the Lochac kingdom awards
2. provide such other documents as the Crown may require.

The Keeper of Regalia

The Keeper of Regalia shall serve under the Kingdom Seneschal and shall be responsible for:

1. liaising with the Crown through the Council for Regalia regarding the purchase, maintenance, storage and transport of the kingdom regalia as outlined in the Keeper of Regalia Handbook.

The Kingdom Historian

The Kingdom Historian shall collect and compile materials relating to the history of Lochac and shall compose a chronicle of this history to be available to the people of Lochac.

The Kingdom Web Minister

The Kingdom Web Minister shall serve under the Kingdom Seneschal and shall be responsible for the maintenance and updating of the kingdom website. Just the one?

Group officers

Baronies

Baronies are required to have at least seven officers. TheyThe required offices shall be:

1. the Seneschal
2. the Reeve
3. the Herald
4. the Marshal (of any discipline) Clarification from Society Marshal that this is just one marshal of any flavour, could be a TAM.
5. the Arts and Sciences Minister
6. the Chronicler
7. the HospitallerChatelaine.

All other groups, excluding hamlets

All other groups are required to have at least three officers. The required offices shall be:

1. the Seneschal
2. the Reeve
3. one of Herald, Marshal (of any discipline), or Arts and Sciences Minister.

Term of office

Added to clarify that expectations of term for group officers is the same as kingdom officers

1. The normal term of office for a group officer shall be two years.
2. This term shall only be extended in exceptional circumstances.
3. No group officer may serve for more than four years consecutively.

Reporting

Written reports

1. The reporting schedule of all officers throughout the kingdom shall be as follows:
   1. The Kingdom Seneschal shall report to who? quarterly, by the 1st of March, June, September, and December
   2. The KingdomChancellor of the Exchequer shall report to who? quarterly as required by SCA Ltd and SCANZ requirements, also taking into account the annual reporting dates specified in Article VII of these Laws. Update reference
   3. Other Kingdom Officers shall report to who? quarterly, by the 15th of February, May, August, and November.
   4. Reeves shall send a report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer or the deputy exchequer quarterly, by the 15th of January, April, July, and October.
   5. Seneschals of baronies and shires shall report to who? quarterly, by the 15th of February, May, August, and November
   6. Other officers of baronies and shires shall report to who? quarterly, by the 1st of February, May, August, and November.
   7. Seneschals of incipient groups, colleges and cantons shall report to who? quarterly, by the 15th of January, April, July and October.
   8. Other officers of colleges and cantons shall report to who? quarterly, by the 1st of January, April, July and October.
2. Failure to so report without appropriate explanation is grounds for the Crown or relevant Kingdom Officer to suspend that Officer, or to remove that Officer officer to be suspended or removed from office. Updated to avoid having to define who is doing it, as that will vary.

Rosters

Remove - we don't warrant by roster, and this information is available via Regnumator

1. Each Great and Lesser Officer shall submit a roster of local officers and their deputies to the Crown upon request.
2. Failure to so submit within four weeks without appropriate explanation is grounds for the Crown to suspend that Officer for that reign, or to remove that Officer from office.

Financial Reports

No kingdom officer has money of their own, it's all through the Council of the Purse.

1. Each Great and Lesser Officer in Australia shall, by the 31st of January each year, provide a financial report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Deputy for Australia, for the previous Australian financial year.
2. Each Great and Lesser Officer in New Zealand shall, by the 30th of April each year, provide a financial report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Deputy for New Zealand, for the previous New Zealand financial year
3. Failure to so report without appropriate explanation is grounds for the Crown to suspend that Officer for that reign, or to remove that officer from Office.
4. At the time a new Kingdom Officer is appointed, the outgoing Officer shall prepare a financial report for that Office.
5. Both the outgoing and incoming Officers are to sign that report and a copy is to be sent to the Exchequer.

Appointment of officers

Warrants

We don't manage warrants (including roster warrants) as Corpora says we must. A warrant for each new officer (at all levels, including marshals) is supposed to be signed by the relevant Kingdom Officer and the current Crown. Existing officer warrants are supposed to be maintained by using a roster for the office (a list of everyone who has a warrant for that office) that is signed by the Crown at the start of each reign. We are in breach of this Corpora requirement - Suggest org policy to specify appointment process that says that we don't need to warrant using the Crown.

1. Appointment to and removal from all offices at all levels shall be according to the procedures established for warrants or for official rosters, as provided by the governing documents of the SCA.

This section needs to be replaced with the appointment process for officers according to who appoints them.

Removal of an officer

With sufficient evidence that an officer is not fulfilling the duties of that office, the Crown and the Seneschalrelevant appointing authority may remove and replace that officer. Not clear if this is for all officers (group and kingdom). Some officers are not appointed by the Crown or Kingdom Seneschal

Suspension of an officer

1. An officer may be suspended by the Crownrelevant appointing authority for failing to comply with the Laws referring to their office, as detailed under Article IV Sections 2, 3, 5 and 6. Some officers are not appointed by the Crown (because we don't warrant them) IV.2 is only for Kingdom Officers, 3 has reporting for all officers, 5 is kingdom only, 6 is all.
2. The duties of a suspended officer shall be performed by that officer's deputy for the duration of the reign.
3. If there is no rostered deputy, then the duties of a suspended officer shall be performed by the Seneschal at the relevant level, i.e. group or kingdom. Current definitions are for the Kingdom Seneschal where it just says Seneschal.... I'm presuming the Kingdom Seneschal doesn't want to pick up the work of a shire's Captain of Archers.

Requirements for holding office

Conflict of interest

1. No person may hold more than one Kingdom Office excepting as noted under the Earl Marshal's office
2. No corporate officer of the SCA may hold any Greater Kingdom Office. What about Lesser Offices as they are very arbitrary distinctions?
3. The Crown shall hold no other office in Lochac, or its subsidiary groups, during their reign.
   1. Offices normally held by them shall be filled by their oeputies, or such other persons as they may appoint for the duration of their reign.

Kingdom Officers may not be local seneschals or reeves

heading not required, it's still under conflicts of interest

4. No person may hold simultaneously a Kingdom Office and the office of seneschal or reeve in a local branch of the kingdom.

Membership

1. All officers - including Greater and Lesser Kingdom, Officers and all local officers - must be members of the SCASCA Ltd or SCANZ.
2. Officers shall maintain their membership throughout their tenure.

Residence

1. All Kingdom officers shall reside in Lochac, and shall have resided in Lochac for at least the six months prior to taking office. Suggest not just kingdom officers
2. The following officers must have resided in Lochac for at least 1 year prior to taking office: As per SCANZ constitution
   • Kingdom Seneschal
   • Chancellor of the Exchequer and their deputy
   • Group seneschals
   • Group reeves

Other eligibility

The following officers are also officers of SCANZ, and must meet the eligibility requirements for being an officer of a New Zealand incorporated society:

1. The Kingdom Seneschal and their emergency replacement (regardless of residence or membership)
2. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, their emergency replacement, and the Deputy Exchequers for New Zealand and Australia (regardless of residence or membership)
3. Seneschals of New Zealand groups
4. Reeves of New Zealand groups.

Territorial baronages

Appointment

1. The Crown shall appoint as baronage those individual(s) deemed most fit to represent the royal presence in the barony.
2. The Crown shall give consideration to the wishes of the populace of the barony and the advice of the reigning baronage before making such an appointment.
3. Territorial baronages of New Zealand baronies are officers of SCANZ and must be eligible to be an officer of a New Zealand incorporated society.

Vicars

In the case of an extended, but temporary, absence of the baronage, they may request that the Crown appoint a vicar to fulfil the duties of the baronage until their return.

Membership

LandedTerritorial baronages must be members of SCA Ltd or SCANZ for the duration of their tenure.

Reporting

Remove

1. The baronial reporting schedule will be annually as follows:
   • March Crown: Innilgard, Ynys Fawr, Mordenvale, Krae Glas.
   • May Coronation: Stormhold, Saint-Florian-de-la-rivière, Southron Gaard, Rowany, River Haven.
   • September Crown: Politarchopolis, Aneala, Ildhafn
2. The verbal reports given in court should be brief and informative. Is unclear who the baronage is reporting to. The Crown? Populace at large? If a court report is verbal, is there a requirement for more detailed written report? Just curious. (SC)