Future of the Senate
An opinion piece by Rachel "Kate" Anumia.
Current State
Firstly, I believe that this Senate has been a productive one as it tackles the law index and has been working to streamline the legal mass we have created. However, that being said, this Senate was not a leader. The activity it created, was often due to other people having to seek it out with the exception of Constitution V. In other incidences, this Senate was very much a closed one and with very little proactive engagement with the citizenry. Speaker Swakistek crack down on who can speak in the Senate, very much represented that. This is not the direction I wish to the Senate go into, because it diminishes it’s value for Europeia.
More Seats
We need more seats in the Senate. Even before the election has begun, members of the Electoral Panel, without even waiting for the field to emerge are limiting both the excitement and the number of people who may run. If we are to increase the Senate’s role and increase it’s presence in Europeia, it will require it to be more exciting and to show more leadership. Why not start high and see what emerges? In my experience, the best way to improve an institution is by getting the best minds and hungriest politicians into it. Sell the sizzle.
Members of the region would much rather be Ministers, than Senators which they feel is a lower position by a large margin. People often don’t run when they are guaranteed a position in the executive, a position they feel they can do more for the region. That is not a trend that should continue. The Senate should be a stronger draw than it currently is.
Providing More Leadership
So the question is, how can we make the Senate more important? How can it show more leadership? I have never been a fan of the idea that the Senate should be a conflicting force with the executive. So instead, I believe that it can provide more leadership in three ways:
1.Engagement
2.Leadership on home Issues
3.Leadership on foreign issues
Engagement - The Senate should make more of an effort to make sure that people understand and are up to date on what’s happening, particularity legally. Personally, I can’t always keep up with the Senate along with my other duties. Especially when it seems like a fight to be able to interact with it. Bills should be posted more often in the Grand Hall and ideas should be tested both in the Senate and in the Grand Hall. That way, you increase accountability, you increase citizen awareness and you generate more activity.
Leadership at Home – This requires the Senate to be aware of what’s occurring in the region. I believe and have always supported the idea of a Senate that works with the Presidency in order to accomplish its goals. The Senate has as much of a stake in the wellbeing of this region as the Executive. When it comes to population, culture and Citizen Integration, I feel that this is an area where both institutions can have greater dialogue. Senators should be discussing the issues we face at home and how we can deal with them.
Leadership Abroad – Similar story with Foreign Affairs and the Military, particularity since the Senate is responsible for the maintenance of treaties. This is another area where the Senate should be playing more of a role in.
In conclusion, rather than continue to hold the Senate back I feel that we should work to set it free. Why not encourage more people to run and stroke those fires? If the field doesn’t appear to be able to support a larger Senate, then we pull it back. Why settle for less from the start?
With a greater population and a ton of new citizens, why not use the Senate to create more meaningful opportunities? And not only create those opportunities but also develop them further so that they do even more for our region, increasing the health of our political system. This doesn’t mean that we would take away from the current plans but rather we do it by being more engaging and showing greater leadership by taking up a bigger mantle.
