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[cypezokyli]

Quote:
pg wrote:

Do you think it will be easy to decide which issues need qualified majority? Not just writing the rules, but also to interpret them as work in the Parliament goes on.


That is a very long issue that I guess we should discuss in a separate topic. Because which issue needs qualified majority is not related to how those people who votes are voted as long as they are the true representatives of their communities.

taking that from the other thread. i did not know how to bring all possible topics so i just coppied the ministries we currently have in the Republic of Cyprus. if you think there is another way that covers all decisions, then we can choose that one. but it would be interesting to discuss these things in parallel

we could discuss :

what needs qualified majority

what is decided at national level , at Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot state , and if we accept the district idea - at the district level.


Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Justice and Public Order
Ministry of Education and Culture
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Communications and Works
Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment
Ministry of Health
Government Spokesman
Independent Services

[pg]

It is a bit quiet here... Possibly because it is a very difficult question.

My solution is to have all these issues decided in a single chamber parliament with simple majority voting and 50/50 representation of both communities, elected with weighted cross voting...

Naturally changes to the constitution would need more than 50% votes, perhaps 66% and minimum 50% of each community MPs, and the vote would need to be repeated after the next general elections.

Still, that was not what you asked.

[repulsewarrior]

All these topics are the domain of the central government, as we know the matters are of equal concern to each and every citizen.

The difference, in my mind, is the service which is received, by these citizens, and their right to self determination, as two communities, when these laws are to be applied. You can't expect a Greek to do the best for a Turk, and you can't expect a Turk to do what's best for a Greek, but hopefully they can learn to do the best for themselves, and to do the same for others.

The legislation that the Republic provides will define our nature, as people, without the consideration of a persons place of birth, or ethnic origin, as citizens, they are individuals, in need of protection, their sovereignty, and their Basic Human Rights.

In Cyprus, to be a citizen, you will choose from two, or more origins, with which to apply yourself, in this community's affairs. Most of the taxes that you will pay is to this communal state, income , corporate, and municipal taxes, in the execution of those affairs, that effect your daily life. The Federal taxes that you pay will assure that this supreme government can function, as well as, maintaining an Armed Force, sustaining its own Independant Judiciary, and qualifying our Sovereignty abroad, providing the service and the means for people to serve themselves, through communities.

[turkcyp]

Lets start with what should be national level and what should be state level. My guide is USA constitution.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: National Level.

Ministry of Finance: What does this ministry of Finance will do? I mean its responsibilities. If we are talking about equivalent of USA Treasury which is responsible of national borrowing and government debt, income and corporate taxation then both national level and state level since the states will be able to issue debts on their own and tax people on income tax, sales tax, property tax etc. just like in USA. I hope we are not talking about printing money here because in a modern world currency is regulated by independent central banks without any government influence anyway. And since supposedly united Cyprus is going to use Euro as currency (to my dismay) then the role of central bank will be minimum anyway just relating to bank regulation but no monetary policy functions.

Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance: Again what does this do. My intuition says state level but it depends on what this department is responsible for. In USA department of labor has virtually very little power.

Ministry of Defence: This department is not needed at any level. I am against any military and support fully demilitarization of the island, (preferably with the pullout of Turkish and Greek armies as well). Anything less than full demilitarization is a deal breaker for me. If a Cypriot army exists that my vote is “No” to that plan in any referendum. Also there has to be an internationally observed demilitarization, meaning every Greek Cypriot that currently has a gun in their hand from national guard has to surrender their gun. If you ask me I would say even ban hunting and get rid of even the hunting guns, but knowing the idiot hunting habit of Cypriots I think that is a nonstarter.

Ministry of Justice and Public Order: Again what does this ministry does. I think we are talking about police forces here because to my knowledge court system will be independent anyway hopefully, managing their own affairs without any government influence. SO if we are talking about police forces here, I guess we will have both national level and state level. At the national level we need some sort of Cyprus FBI, and the rest polices will be state level anyway. This Cyprus FBI will deal with the interstate crimes.

Ministry of Education and Culture: State level, and preferably even lower than state level. We should form school districts just like in USA and they should manage their own educational affairs. Culture is not needed to be managed. What the hell culture department does anyway. The only thing I can think about culture is museums and antiquities, we should be managed at the state level.

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism: Again un unnecessary department at both national and state level. The only thing we should have is competition regulation authorities in both states and at the national level. The rest is just an extra bureaucracy which does not do anything.

Ministry of Health: Again state level. What is the reason for national health department I do not know. There is nothing national about health. It is almost always a local phenomena. The only thing we need at the national level is some sort of agency that will take actions in bad events like, disasters, or for example bird flu, etc. etc.

Ministry of Communications and Works: What does this thing do again. The only thing we should have we should have an some sort of FCC (Federal Communication Commission) of Cyprus. Then the rest is not necessary at any level, state and national.

Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment: Again un-useful government bureaucracy. There is no need for such a thing for ministry of agriculture or natural resources. Every commercial activity relating to anything like this should be private business owned. The only thing we should have both national and state level is and Environmental protection agency, which would manage all the above mentioned topics. Any agricultural, or natural resources company should be regulated by this agency so that we can make sure their practices are environmentally safe. But if you have anything more than this, then the next thing you know, you will be starting to subsidizing agriculture, and natural resources firms etc. When the whole world is starting to drift away from this socialist type European government model to more Anglo-Saxon model we have no need for such bureaucracy,

Government Spokesman: No idea what this does.
Independent Services: No idea again what this does.

A rule of thumb:
The best government is the one which governs least.

[repulsewarrior]

This is my point exactly. Balancing our needs, for the protection of our sovereignty and our rights as Human beings, while we desire our community to provide to us these services.

You need a Minister of Health to provide the law that says, Cypriots will be provided with Health Care, while you will depend on your community to apply themselves in providing you with the Hospital, the Doctor, the Roads, and all the other affairs that a state needs to function.

When you are a minority in these states, you will desire the consideration of your government, but you need a system of Justice, which is at least impartial. Most importantly, you will need a Judiciary which is superior, free from any exclusion, which protects you, above all, as an individual.

In this manner, it is possible for both states to progress bi-communally, refining their services in a manner which suits them, allowing a citizen in Cyprus, to choose from where they obtain service, as well as providing the best service for their care. This, while the Nation seeks to place our productivity, toward a higher ideal, our progress in membership with other Nations.

[turkcyp]

I tell you what federal government should do:

Department of State: Basically Foreign ministry, issuing of passports, id cards, etc.

Department of Treasury, Finance, & Economics: Basically federal borrowing, federal taxes, federal customs, minimum wage requirements, regulates financial capital markets.

Federal CDC (Center of Disease Control): Disease control should be national issue because there are always externalities between states. Every state health department should be in compliance with the Federal CDC regulations.

Federal Communication commission: That regulates airwaves, and communication issues.

A complete independent central bank:

Right now I can not think of any other federal agency that is necessary for the proper functioning of the government. If you can think of any other let me know, so I can think about it.


An complete indipendent Judiciary System:
We have an attorney general office at federal level that controls FBI, and attorney general’s office at state level that controls state police. Attorney general offices at the state level control all the state prosecutors and at the federal level controls all the federal prosecutors. Federal attorney general is responsible to prosecuting the breaches of federal law and constitution. And state’s attorney general is responsible for prosecuting the breaches of state’s constitution. Their budgets are projected every four years by the Attorney General Office and Judges Commission and are set fixed as a 5 of budget for the next five years.

And independent judiciary (both at state and national level): Courts operate completely independent of the state and federal governments. We have Judges Commission on both states, that represent all the judges in the states and chosen by the judges themselves, among the judges to manage the court system in those states. Then these two judges commission also comes together every year to decide about the Federal Judges and Supreme Court judges. Complete independence from the government and parliament.

Their budgetary needs are projected every 5 years by these Judge’s commission and request from the state and federal government and are set fixed as % of the state and federal budget for the next five years. Also this judges commission also designs and administers the exams and requirements for legal professions including requirements and merits for judges, prosecutors, and lawyers.

All judges are appointed fro life and can only be removed from their posts by the same Judges Commission, or can only be sued at the Supreme Court by any wrong doing.

[repulsewarrior]

Mr. T, an excellent effort, I would add education, sports and culture, and I would add agriculture for the credibility of its pedagogy/husbandry, to be recognised, by meeting the standards, we agree to internationally.

More useful; a Department of Treasury, Finance, Economics, and Environment.

Very nice, no?

[turkcyp]

turkcyp wrote: I tell you what federal government should do:

a) Department of State: Basically Foreign ministry, issuing of passports, id cards, etc.

b) Department of Treasury, Finance, & Economics: Basically federal borrowing, federal taxes, federal customs, minimum wage requirements, regulates financial capital markets.

c) Federal CDC (Center of Disease Control): Disease control should be national issue because there are always externalities between states. Every state health department should be in compliance with the Federal CDC regulations.

d) Federal Communication commission: That regulates airwaves, and communication issues.

e) A complete independent central bank

f) An complete independent Judiciary System(both at state and national level):
We have an attorney general office at federal level that controls FBI, and attorney general’s office at state level that controls state police. Attorney general offices at the state level control all the state prosecutors and at the federal level controls all the federal prosecutors. Federal attorney general is responsible to prosecuting the breaches of federal law and constitution. And state’s attorney general is responsible for prosecuting the breaches of state’s constitution and state laws. Their budgets are projected every five years by the Attorney General Office and Judges Commission and are set fixed as a % of budget for the next five years.

And independent judiciary Courts operate completely independent of the state and federal governments. We have Judges Commission on both states, that represent all the judges in the states and chosen by the judges themselves, among the judges to manage the court system in those states. Then these two judges commission also comes together whenever necessary to decide about the Federal Judges and Supreme Court judges. Complete independence from the government and parliament.

Their budgetary needs are projected every 5 years by these Judge’s commission and request from the state and federal government and are set fixed as % of the state and federal budget for the next five years. Also this judges commission also designs and administers the exams and requirements for legal professions including requirements and merits for judges, prosecutors, and lawyers.

All judges are appointed fro life and can only be removed from their posts by the same Judges Commission, or can only be sued at the Supreme Court by any wrong doing.

After some little refinements and some more thinking I should also add the following to federal level.

g) Federal Electricity Commission: This commission controls all the electric generating and distribution facilities all around the island. Because electricity demand in Cyprus is on the falling part of average cost curve it makes sense to aggregate the electric companies into one company and privatize and and then regulate it, by this commission. Plus an integrated electric system would mean more stability and reduced prices for everybody all around the Cyprus.

h) Federal Aviation Commission: Regulates aviation issue all around the island.