After a moment of silence, Jonathan began to speak: “First, to enact reforms is nothing one can do over night, even if one has an idea of how they shall look like. Also, I am certainly not qualified to really design those reforms. I can say, in very broad terms, what worked and what did not work, but some of those ideas are very circumstantial. So, the first question to answer would be what form the parliament will take, because there needs to be at least one. I personally would push for two, one for regions or nobles or something in that direction, to appease the old guard and one for the people. The thing is, the most important decision is the power each parliament has, as well as the amount of power that is left in your hands. The region or noble parliament should have some significant powers, but should never be able to blockade the governments ability to act, in my opinion. The people’s parliament should have some power over the purse, but the power of the military should stay, at least for now, in your hands, even though that power should be delegated down to capable generals. But let’s leave it at that. The second most important thing is how the vote for the people’s parliament is cast, as well as who is allowed to vote and other such rules.... “
Jonathan paused to pull out a small book out of a pocket and opened it at a page he obviously marked beforehand, after that he continued: “the vote should be cast in general, direct, free, equal and secret vote. At least that is the accepted way in my world. Mind you, at least in the beginning the parliament needs not to be to powerful, but if it shall not become a farce that might even be worse than no parliament at all, those statements should be true.“
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The king thought for a moment and then he asked: “What is this for a book in your hand?”
Jonathan laughed and put the book away and answered: “This is the constitution of the country I live in. Mind you, not every law is written down here, but the most important laws are, and to change those laws is difficult. Not impossible, that would be the stupidest thing ever, but difficult, so that even a single majority is not enough to do it, I believe. It could guide us, but many things written down there assume things that are not true right now, and are only really possible after more than two centuries of rapid social development. Still, it might give us a few ideas how to proceed.”
“I understand. Is there a king in that book at all?”
“No, but there is a person that could easily be made into a powerless king, simply make the position hereditary, and add all the succession laws of the kingdom of Theron on top. But I do not believe that would be a good idea, at least for now. In a Century? Maybe.”