Your Honors of the High Court,
I hereby present an argument regarding this case I brought to this Court as a Citizen and Legislator of the South Pacific.
Arguments
I hereby argue to this Court that the process of Retention Votes starts on March 15th and the Debate period begins then.
The word “commence” shall be articulated as the start of the process of the Retention Votes including the debate time needed in order for the Retention Vote to go through. [8] It is effectively clear from Professor Henn and Welly stating during the debate discussion stages of a proposal for Retention Votes that Retention Votes were made to have the debate period be built into this process but starting this process on March 15th. [1] [2]
Even though the word “commence” is vague and can be articulated in many ways it was clearly built to be articulated as the start of the process of the Retention Vote including the debate time and the voting process once the debate time of three days required has expired. [6] [8] Due to this vagueness, the Legislative Branch has been left to determine the definition of commence in multiple different ways allowing for this confusion to grow. For example, the 2025 Retention Vote had Former Chair Lordnwahs start debate time for 5 days on March 10th, fives days before March 15th with Former Vice Chair Welly starting the vote on March 15th. [3] [4] [5] however in the 2026 Retention Vote it was interpreted only the Vote begins on March 15th with no debate time required. Leading to conflicting views on how to set up the Retention Vote.
However even though the Charter is the Supreme Law of the Land, [7] I have to remind the Court the Legislative Procedure Act is a Constitutional Law and since the definition of commence in Article IV Section IV of the Charter [8] is to start the process of the Retention Votes the required debate time for all Retention Votes would go into effect starting March 15th.
It is plain clear and obvious that the process of Retention Votes should begin on March 15th and start out with the Legislative Procedure Act’s mandated three day debate period time.
I thank the Court for there time and allowing to submit this brief.
Reference Section
[1]: [2501.AB] Re-Approval Votes - #5 by ProfessorHenn
[2]: [2501.AB] Re-Approval Votes - #17 by Welly
[3]: [2518.RV] Retention Votes 2025: The Admiralty - #6 by Welly
[4]: [2518.RV] Retention Votes 2025: The Admiralty
[5]: For example, Discussions for [2518.RV] Retention Votes 2025: The Admiralty started on March 10th
[6]: Legislative Procedure Act - Article I Section III
[7]: Charter of the Coalition of the South Pacific - Article I Section III
[8]: Charter of the Coalition of the South Pacific - Article IV Section IV