Public Advocate of Cascadia
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The Public Advocate of Cascadia is an elected official in the Republic of Cascadia. Established on November 27, 2022, through a ratified amendment to the Provisional Constitution, the Public Advocate serves as an independent officer of the Republic, tasked with defending the accused and providing counsel to those facing legal or other challenges. The post has been vacant since the resignation of Akeboun on February 17, 2025 in order to be appointed Attorney General.
History
The office of Public Advocate was created as an amendment to the Provisional Constitution of Cascadia. The amendment, proposed by Vice President SayerQT on November 25, 2022, at 11:32 PM PT, was passed by the House of Representatives with a vote of 14 in favor and 0 against. It was subsequently ratified by referendum on November 27, 2022, with 95.8% of votes cast in favor of the amendment. The amendment sought to establish a dedicated advocate for citizens within the Cascadian legal framework.
The first election for the Public Advocate was held concurrently with the December 2022 Cascadia general election, and saw Mole_ victorious in a three-person race over xKoniac_ and Furballen. Mole_ was remembered for issuing several public service announcements.
Over the course of its existence, the Public Advocate has often been an underutilized position, having been vacant on several occasions.
The Public Advocate's role is further integrated into the government structure as outlined in the National Constitution of Cascadia, which was ratified on January 1, 2023.
Responsibilities
According to the act that amended the Provisional Constitution to establish the Public Advocate, it was created with the following primary responsibilities:
- **[Defense of the Accused](pplx://action/followup):** Representing and defending individuals accused of crimes or wrongdoing within Cascadia.
- **[Provision of Counsel](pplx://action/followup):** Offering advice and support to individuals or groups facing legal or other challenges.
Article V, Section 5.A of the National Constitution states "There shall be a Public Advocate of Cascadia, to be a defender of the accused, a general ombudsman for the people of Cascadia, or to provide defense and counsel to those on the defensive end of an issue before the court."
Furthermore, the Public Advocate is a member of the Electoral Commission, as stipulated in Article III, Section 2.E.a of the National Constitution, which is responsible for proposing electoral division boundaries.
Election and Term of Office
The Public Advocate is directly elected by the citizens of Cascadia for a term of two months. Elections are held alongside elections for the House of Representatives and the President.
To be eligible for the office of Public Advocate, candidates must meet the standard requirements for citizens of Cascadia, as defined in the National Constitution.
Vacancy, Recall, and Impeachment
The National Constitution of Cascadia outlines specific procedures for both vacancy and recall of the Public Advocate:
- Vacancy: In the event of a vacancy, the President of Cascadia appoints a replacement. This appointment requires the advice and consent of two-thirds of the House of Representatives. The appointed individual serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.
- Recall: The Public Advocate can be removed from office through a recall process. A recall election can be triggered by a petition signed by one-sixth of the total votes cast in the most recent election for President of Cascadia by valid citizens of Cascadia. If the petition requirement is met, a recall election is held. The Public Advocate is removed from office if a majority of voters support the recall.
Additionally, according to Article III, Section 3.D of the National Constitution, the Public Advocate can be impeached by the House and, upon conviction, removed from office and disqualified from holding the office of Public Advocate for no more than six months.
List of Public Advocates
- [Insert list of Public Advocates, with terms of service. A table might be a good format.]