The First Federal Acts — a synopsis

August 30, 2023 | First Quarter Season

Introduction

The Republic Act. The system of legislation created by the Republic of the Philippines. In Cossackia’s history, there was no found evidence of its own system of tracking all progress. But we do know that when Cossackia gained self-governance in 2020, they used the same system to keep track of all their laws.

But now, the country felt like nothing is done. Without a system of legislation, people cannot figure out what the government will do. Before that, all national actions and decisions were made by the Premier directly. The bad news is, there is still no system of legislation. The good news is, that all the power was used for the good of the people.

Welcome, Cossackian Insiders, to the Federal Acts of Cossackia.

The Federal Act Ratification of 2023 [FA1] (256th Session; July 7, 2023)

Hong Xiaohua; 13 y.o.
KKP - Xinhai
Taiwanese Chinese politician, Member of the Xintai City Congress, and Leader of the Kuomintang-Communist United Front Party of Cossackia

On July 7, 2023, Hong Xiaohua opened a forum on if Cossackia has any system of keeping its legislations and tracking them. She gave a short speech on request by the Speaker of the Politburo Rada and Prime Minister Karlina Soyokova.

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished members of the Politburo. If it pleases the Premier and Prime Minister to finally consider Cossackia’s legislative system. If there is ever any way to track all Cossackia’s progress.

If ever I must say that now is the time to give Cossackia its own way of keeping laws and legislation.

— Hong Xiaohua

From there, many members expressed their concerns about Cossackia’s legislative progress. And so, after 1 hour of deliberation, Karla Soyokov started a vote for a resolution. And the results were homogenous all in favor.

Results of The Federal Act Ratification of 2023

After the resolution was passed, Karla Soyokov wrote down the first Federal Act. And after the lunch break, it was proclaimed promptly. After the 256th Session, Xiaohua was hailed by her fellow Politburo colleagues as “the Mother of the Federal Act.” We had a chance to interview her and here’s what she has to say about it

…at that time, I wanted to see if Cossackia had its way of recording laws and orders. Well, it obviously doesn’t, so why not? But anyway, I’m happy that I jumpstarted the system back to activity again.

— Hong Xiaohua; August 17, 2023

The Armed Forces Act [FA2] (257th Session; July 8, 2023)

Jason Villar-Montecristo; 16 y.o.
KKP - Nabunanj
Filipino military officer and politician, Lieutenant General of the Cossackian Army, Member of the Sangguinang Kabataan of the Republic of the Philippines - Nabunanj

It was the 257th Session of the Politburo Rada, and a man by the name of Jason Montecristo, an Army general and member of the Politburo, has proposed that the Politburo provide a Federal Act that serves as proof of the Armed Forces’ legitimacy. He raised his hand and asked to be recognized, then stood up by permission, and declared:

…Premier sir. If it may please you? That you, the supreme head of the Armed Forces, finally give your attention to the legitimization of the Armed Forces? It’s about time that we must make it so that there is legal proof of the Cossackian Armed Forces’ presence and role in our country. We are no longer a ragtag militia with separatist thoughts and ideas.

— Lt. G. Jason Villar-Montecristo

After deliberation, a resolution was passed by the Politburo to create The Armed Forces Act. It was passed unanimously by an outstanding majority.

Results of The Armed Forces Act

The Third Bloc Act [FA3] (258th Session; July 10, 2023)

Up-Down

• Ukrainian soldiers with a grenade launcher (The Guardian)
• Xi Jinping & Vladimir Putin (Le Monde; April 13, 2023)
• Philippine Coast Guard standoff against the Chinese Coast Guard on the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea incident (GMA; April 27, 2023)
• 42nd ASEAN Summit Participants, including Bongbong Marcos (CNN Philippines; May 10, 2023)

Cossackia has an undying craving for power, frankly speaking. It has all the best military hardware they ever held, but they wish to share it with other nations. Many militaries in Southeast Asia are still weak compared to China, Russia, and the United States. And many trade wars have been waged, especially in the region. Cossackia has an ever-holding fear that one day, they and many countries in Southeast Asia will be tugged by the East and the West.

In response to this injustice, Karla Soyokov wrote the Federal Act ahead of the 258th Session, and he wrote all his laments against the West and the East. On July 10, he declared to the Politburo about his hatred for the incoming status quo, and he delivered a speech known as The Cruel Angel’s Thesis on Authoritarianism and Autocracy, named after Evangelion’s main OST, A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.

Democracy is bad in general. It created degenerate
leaders and weak underbellies. The West is a bunch of idiots, liars, and criminals. They are the true
oppressors of freedom.

They don’t even have the best military, let alone numerous. Because we, Russia and China, have more people, more military personnel, more resources, and therefore more power in the world. And because of that, we can do whatever we want on our whim when we see fit.

Anyone who goes against our way will be crushed, and we will replace it with our leaders that will continue our bidding. Oppress your people, and ignore human rights. Those ideas are outdated and useless.

Leaders are meant to be served, not to serve the people. Fund your friends, so they can stay loyal to you, and they too can do whatever you want them to do. Being a dictator is the best thing to be.

God doesn’t exist. Heck, believing in something like religion is stupid too! Because your morals do not matter to the state, and personally,
you. And you alone. You are the enemy of the state. We can imprison you, torture you, even execute you for God knows what.

We love to suppress other cultures and people that are not like us because they are not us. We’d rather have people like us than have to deal with outsiders living within our borders. And it will be done with fire, lead, and bloodshed.

In short, we are more powerful than you, and we can bully you in any way we want.

— The Cruel Angel’s Thesis on Authoritarianism and Autocracy; Karla Soyokov

The Federal Act consisted of Cossackia’s aspirations for not just their defense, but also for the collective security and defense of Southeast Asia and many of other Cossackia’s neighbors. Most notably, for Cossackia’s resurrection of SEATO, the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization. It openly declares that Cossackia will open a new world bloc, a world bloc based on true independence and neutrality, and not through the whim of the West and the East.

However, the Federal Act was met with scrutiny, as Cossackia initially stayed neutral and did not interfere with the affairs of other nations. But nonetheless, 37 Politburo members were in favor. 4 opposed, and 9 abstained due to mixed reactions. The Federal Act acts as the driving force for Cossackia’s devotion to peace, prosperity, neutrality, and diplomatic and military resolution.

Results of The Third Bloc Act

The Drag Prohibition Act [FA4] (259th Session; July 13, 2023)

Up-Down

• Fr. Joseph Fatima Jesus; 16 y.o.
  Archbishop of Karlagrad-Karlinagrad, Chairman of the United Front of Religious Denominations of Cossackia, Member of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines, and the Chairman of the United Christians Conference of Cossackia
• Caliph Imam Basha Rahmudi “!@#$ I”; 16 y.o.
  Caliph of the Karlagrad-Karlinagrad Caliphate, Chairman of the United Front of Religious Denominations of Cossackia, Member of the United Muslim League of Cossackia
• Pura Luka Vega’s blasphemous act of dancing to the remix of Our Father in a Jesus Christ [Black Nazarene] cosplay. (CNN Philippines; July 14, 2023)

The next Federal Act was in reaction to Pura Luka Vega, legally known as Amadeus Fernando Pagente. His acts of heresy and blasphemy caught the attention of the religious in Cossackia, which makes up most of the populace. During the incident, the Philippines launched many statements of persona non grata against him, Cagayan De Oro City (known as Karlagrad-Karlinagrad) among them. The official Philippine residency of Cagayan De Oro already made their decision to declare him persona non grata, but Karlagrad-Karlinagrad has yet to craft its proper response.

A recommendation was made from St. Augustine of Hippo Cathedral, by the Archbishop of Karlagrad-Karlinagrad. Father Joseph made a scathing statement regarding the heresy.

He has performed an act that will be widely condemned by this archipelago. Christians and Muslims joined in condemnation against this man. The people have spoken.

— Fr. Joseph Fatima Jesus

So, on the 259th Session, Karla Soyokov, the Archbishop, and the Caliph Basha Rahmudi created a joint response to this sign of degenerate culture. Though, they guarantee the integrity and preservation of all LGBTQ+ progress in the country. But in exchange, they must comply with the law to preserve the status quo of Cossackian culture and values. It mentions Article 8 of the Constitution, which states that free speech is used for the betterment of the country and not for falsehood. Many are quick to spot the relation to Article 4; however, the Federal Act does not infringe on the rights of LGBTQ+ members, the right to love. The Federal Act was considered constitutional, the first ever case of a close-call of legislation to be questioned based on the 2022 Constitution. 

A few misconceptions appeared in the opposition after the proclamation, but it was clear that it didn’t break Article 4 of the 2022 Constitution, proving the strength of the Constitution and its purpose. Confusion also broke out on whether to ban or regulate drag art, as it was said in the preamble of the Federal Act. But in the end, it was best to regulate it, so as not to infringe on Article 8. And so because of this schism, 31 members are in favor. There is an increased minority in opposition with 9 who oppose. 10 members abstained from voting.

Results of The Drag Prohibition Act

The Edifice Complex Act [FA5] (260th Session; July 23, 2023)

The Politburo Rada Room

Karla Soyokov draws up plans to canonize Tristagrad and Eduardsburg. Initially, Todinyograd was going to be included, but it was junked. However, there is no de jure system of administrative governance. And so, Karla Soyokov drew up his own plans for an administrative system.

After 10 days of discussions, Karla Soyokov presented a new system of territorial administration. And there are new allowable situations where Federal Subjects can be made. Named after one of Imelda Marcos’ attributes, it is called The Edifice Complex Act. The act will allow the creation of urban and residential areas whenever they want.

Since it allows more population centers to be created, it was voted with an outstanding majority.

The Edifice Complex Act Results

The Ministrisation Act [FA5] (261st Session; August 26, 2023)

The last of the first 6 Federal Acts was created in reaction to the ineffectiveness of the Departments system of the Philippines. Cossackia was now, already a Federalized state. Therefore, it was only right to change the system and adopt the concept of Ministries. This was also in reaction to the Dash-Spammer Virus incident.

So, Karla Soyokov and the members of the Politburo Rada jointly wrote down the new Federal Act, scrutinized it, and passed with flying colors. The Federal Act states all the roles of each Cabinet Minister and makes it clear on what is the role of which class.

Results of The Ministrisation Act

Overview

So far, Cossackia successfully made reforms to its government. The Federal Act system is working as expected. There is also fairness in the resolutions, however, as with the Drag Prohibition and the Third Bloc. But nonetheless, as long as time stays, Cossackia will remain to hold an active government. Summoned only when it needs to. And that will be all for the publications! Tally-ho and goodbye!
 

Sarah Shchastyava; Editor
"Welcome back Cossackians! That's all for now folks. Classes are making our jobs more difficult."