Royal Peer Selection Committee Act, 1721

Royal Peer Selection Committee Act, 1721

Long title	An Act to Establish the Royal Peer Selection Committee to Promote a Balanced Representation in the Chamber of Peers of the Cortes Federales of Nouvelle Alexandrie; and for Other Purposes.
Introduced by	Deputy Carlos Valenzuela
Extent	Entire Federation of Nouvelle Alexandrie
Other legislation
Amendments	None
Related legislation	Proclamation of Punta Santiago

Bill as submitted to the "Hopper" of the Federal Assembly, 1721

A

BILL

TO

Establish the Royal Peer Selection Committee to Promote a Balanced Representation in the Chamber of Peers of the Cortes Federales of Nouvelle Alexandrie; and for Other Purposes.

ROYAL PEER SELECTION COMMITTEE ACT, 1721

Presented by Deputy Felipe de la Vega, FHP

Ordered, by the Cortes Federales of Nouvelle Alexandrie,
to be Printed, 1721 AN.

_______________________________

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Cortes Federales, in this present session assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS.

Article 1: Citation.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Royal Peer Selection Committee Act, 1721".
   

PART II
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE

Article 2: Establishment of the Royal Peer Selection Committee.

1. There shall be a Committee to be known as the "Royal Peer Selection Committee" (hereafter referred to as the "Committee").
2. The Committee shall consist of twenty-eight (28) members.
   1. Four (4) members shall be appointed by the King.
   2. Nine (9) members shall be appointed by the Federal Assembly, with at least two being selected by the Official Opposition and one by the smallest political party in the Federal Assembly.
   3. Four (4) members shall be appointed by the Chamber of Peers.
   4. Five (5) members shall be appointed by recognized civil society organizations, the selection of these members shall be managed by the Federal Assembly through the following procedure:
      1. Eligibility of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs): The CSOs eligible for this selection process must be non-governmental, non-profit, non-criminal, and non-partisan organizations that operate on a national scale and have been active for at least three AN years. These may include but are not limited to organizations focused on human rights, social justice, education, health, environment, science, culture, and arts.
      2. Call for Nominations: The Federal Assembly will issue a public call for nominations, inviting eligible CSOs to propose one candidate each for the Committee. CSOs must submit a nomination package that includes the candidate’s resume, a letter of endorsement from the CSO, and a personal statement from the candidate outlining their qualifications and commitment to the role.
      3. Screening of Nominations: The Federal Assembly will establish a Screening Committee comprised of representatives from different political parties. This committee will review all nominations based on a set of predetermined criteria, including but not limited to the candidate’s expertise, integrity, experience in the sector they represent, and commitment to public service.
      4. Shortlisting: The Screening Committee will shortlist up to ten candidates. The shortlist will be published, and the public will be invited to submit comments.
      5. Selection: The Federal Assembly will review the shortlisted candidates, consider public input, and vote to select two candidates for appointment to the Royal Peer Selection Committee.
      6. Notification: The successful candidates and their respective CSOs will be formally notified of their selection. The results will also be announced publicly.
      7. Review: The Federal Assembly will review the selection process every five years to ensure it remains fair, transparent, and effective in selecting qualified and diverse candidates for the Committee."
   5. Six (6) members shall be appointed by the High Court of Justice.
3. The membership of the Committee shall include, but not be limited to, representatives from various sectors of society:
   1. At least two (2) members representing different disciplines within academia.
   2. At least two (2) members representing different disciplines within the field of science.
   3. At least two (2) members representing different aspects of culture.
   4. At least one (1) member representing the field of education.
   5. At least one (1) member representing the health care sector.
   6. At least one (1) member representing religious organizations.
   7. At least one (1) member representing public service.
   8. At least one (1) member representing the arts.
   9. At least one (1) member representing the Alexandrian, Caputian, Wechua, Ladino, Wakara, and Babkhi peoples each.
4. The Committee shall annually elect a Chairperson from among its members. The Chairperson will serve for a term of one (1) AN year and is responsible for coordinating the Committee's activities, presiding over meetings, and representing the Committee in communications with the Crown and the public. The Chairperson may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.
5. All appointments to the Committee shall strive for diversity in terms of gender, region, age, and socioeconomic background, ensuring fair representation from various societal sectors. This includes, but is not limited to, professional sectors, demographic groups, and geographic locations. The composition of the Committee must strive to reflect the diversity of the Federation, with a particular emphasis on equitable representation.
6. Each member of the Committee shall serve for a term of five (5) AN years, subject to reappointment. However, in order to ensure continuity, in the first instance two of the members appointed by each appointing authority shall serve for a term of two (2) AN years only.
7. In case of a vacancy on the Committee due to resignation, death, or incapacity of a member, a replacement shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment. The replacement member shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
8. The Committee shall have the power to determine its own procedures, subject to the following requirements:
   1. The Committee shall meet at least once in every month.
   2. Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority of the members present and voting. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson or the person acting as Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
   3. Minutes of all meetings shall be kept and shall be confirmed as soon as practicable at the next succeeding meeting.
9. Members of the Committee shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the nomination, screening, and recommendation of candidates. Any member with a conflict of interest shall recuse themselves from related discussions or decisions.
   1. Upon disclosure of a potential conflict of interest, the matter will be forwarded to an independent arbitrator or body, to be appointed by the Committee, for review. This independent entity will decide the necessary action, including removal from specific decisions or from the Committee as a whole, to mitigate the conflict.
      

PART III
FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

Article 3: Functions of the Committee.

1. The primary function of the Committee shall be to propose suitable candidates for appointment to the Chamber of Peers. These candidates shall be of high moral character, proven integrity, and recognized competence in their respective fields.
2. In proposing candidates, the Committee shall ensure a balanced and diverse representation of the New Alexandrian people, taking into consideration the following factors:
   1. Geographic diversity: The Committee shall aim for representation from all regions of Nouvelle Alexandrie.
   2. Gender balance: The Committee shall aim for equal representation of men and women, while also considering candidates who identify as non-binary or transgender.
   3. Age diversity: The Committee shall aim for a range of candidates representing different age groups.
   4. Professional backgrounds: The Committee shall propose candidates from a variety of professional fields, including but not limited to academia, science, culture, education, health care, religion, public service, and the arts.
3. The Committee shall establish clear, transparent, and inclusive processes for the nomination, screening, and recommendation of candidates. This process shall include the following stages:
   1. Public call for nominations: The Committee shall invite the public, as well as various professional and social organizations, to nominate suitable candidates.
   2. Initial screening: The Committee shall review all nominations and shortlist candidates based on the criteria set out in this Act.
   3. Interviews: The Committee shall conduct interviews with the shortlisted candidates.
   4. Public input: The Committee shall publish the names and qualifications of the shortlisted candidates and invite the public to submit comments or objections. The Committee shall hold public forums or hearings, accept written submissions, and conduct public surveys to collect input. The Committee shall review and consider all input received, and this process shall be documented and made available for public review.
   5. Final selection: After considering the public input, the Committee shall select the final list of candidates to be proposed for appointment to the Chamber of Peers.
4. The Committee shall maintain records of all its deliberations and decisions, which shall be made available for public scrutiny while ensuring respect for the privacy and dignity of the candidates.
5. The Committee shall annually review the composition of the Chamber of Peers and, if necessary, adjust its selection criteria and processes to better achieve the objective of balanced and diverse representation.
6. The Committee shall submit a report to the Cortes Federales and the King every time it proposes candidates for appointment to the Chamber of Peers. This report shall include an explanation of how the proposed candidates meet the criteria set out in this Act.
   

"
PART IV
OPERATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

Article 4: Meetings and Procedures.

1. The Committee shall meet at least once every two (2) months or as often as may be necessary for the transaction of its business. Extraordinary meetings may be called at the discretion of the Chairperson or upon the request of at least one-third of the Committee members.
2. Meetings shall be held at a location determined by the Committee, taking into consideration accessibility for all members. Meeting times shall be set to ensure maximum possible attendance, with due regard for the differing schedules and commitments of members.
3. Notice of each meeting, specifying the place, day, and hour of the meeting and, to the extent possible, the agenda, shall be communicated to each member at least one week before the meeting.
4. At least two-thirds of the Committee members must be present at a meeting to constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present within thirty minutes from the time appointed for a meeting, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other day and at such other time and place as the Chairperson may determine.
5. Each member of the Committee shall have one (1) vote. Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority of the members present and voting. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson or the person acting as Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
6. The agenda for each meeting shall be prepared by the Chairperson in consultation with the other members. Any member may propose items for inclusion in the agenda.
7. Minutes of all meetings shall be kept and circulated to all members within one week following each meeting. The minutes shall be confirmed as soon as practicable at the next succeeding meeting and signed by the Chairperson.
8. The Committee shall make rules for the conduct of its meetings and business, ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and fair participation. These rules shall be reviewed and updated at least once every year.
9. The Committee may form subcommittees as needed to carry out its functions effectively. The scope, composition, and duration of each subcommittee shall be determined by the Committee.
10. All members shall maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information discussed during the meetings, especially matters pertaining to the privacy of candidates.
11. The Committee shall prepare an annual report of its activities, decisions, and recommendations, which shall be presented to the Cortes Federales and made public, ensuring respect for the privacy and dignity of the candidates.
    

PART V
CLOSING PROVISIONS.

Article 5: Closing Provisions.

1. This act shall apply to all of the Federation of Nouvelle Alexandrie.
2. This act shall not become law unless it has been given Royal Assent.
3. This act shall be published and made publicly available.
4. If any provision of this act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the act, and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.