The Community Representative -
Servant of The Peopl
Community Representatives are all independent and non-party. Indeed, forming a political party is considered the same as creating a pressure group to push self-interest. The life of a CR in Democratia is quite different from that of today's political representative.
Each electoral Community has two CRs, one male, one female.
CRs are elected for a 4-year term, with run-off ballots to allow a wider selection of candidates, and make the final results closer to the wishes of the electorate.
There is an immediate by-election when a position becomes vacant.
There is a Confirmation Vote after the first two years of incumbency. A CR requires to win 60% of the votes cast in a YES/NO ballot to retain a position.
CRs must declare all family and business interests.
There are fixed dates for General Elections, held one week before the Summer Session begins.
A 3-week General Election Campaign takes place at the beginning of the Spring Break. Free electoral literature is produced for all candidates by the Community Offices. There is an electoral mileage allowance based on on the size and nature of an Electoral Community.
CRs have a 9-month work year, with a 4-week Winter Break, a 4-week Spring Break, and a 4-week Summer Break.
Each working month includes 3 weeks in the House and one week in the Community.
There is a 4-day week in the House, from Monday, 12 noon, to Friday, 1.00 pm, and a 4-day week at the Community Office.CRs are required to attend House Assembly on Monday to Thursday afternoons, and attend Committee Meetings in the mornings, Tuesday to Friday.
Each CR is appointed to 3 Committees, or 2 if chairing a Committee.
A CR's salary is based on pre-election income, with a set minimum and maximum, with yearly cost of living increases.
There are experience and responsibility increments, and a transferable superannuation scheme, paid into equally by CR and Government.
CRs are granted secondment form previous employment, for a 2-year period beginning from the start of the Election Campaign.
Rent-free accommodation is provided for non-commuting Crs in a specially designed built building with 3-bedroom plus office, furnished apartments. A communal dining room is available at cost.
There is a free shuttle service between the CR's apartment building and the House of Representatives. There are also electric commuter cars available on a no-cost, sign-out basis.
Out-of-town CRs get a car allowance or week-end travel warrants home by the most appropriate means. These are transferable for use by the CR's family to visit.
The Community Representative's Office
The CR's office is in the main C.O.T. building. It is designed for use by the CRs, their staff, and the public. There is a permanent staff, hired locally, the number depending on the size of the Community. This off ice is funded by the Government. It is open 9am to 5pm daily. It runs the C.O.T, receives and disseminates information from the House of Representatives and the Opinion Data Bank. It issues a monthly Newsletter to the Community as an insert to the House of Representative's Newsletter. It is the contact point for the Ombudsman as well as a base for the CRs. On the upper floor there is a large auditorium and stage for meetings by election candidates, and the months. It is also available as a Community Hall. The C.O.T has computer polling booths, Data Bank and study terminals, printers and copiers. The C.O.T. area is open from 8am to 10pm.
Satellite C.O.T. and CR Offic
These are buildings adapted for the purpose. If possible, they have, as well as the C.O.T. polling booths and Data Bank terminals,
1. An office for staff,
2. A C.R.'s Room.
3. A study room for the public.
4. A meeting hall
One of the CRs is in attendance at least part of a day once a week in each of the Satellite C.O.T.s during the week in the Electoral Com
