"Lady Kent," the Chief Justice presiding over the hearing spoke steadily, "the 'Local Governance and Basic Rights Charter Draft' submitted by you and the 'English Congress' you represent... is quite innovative. But the Committee has noticed that many of its clauses, such as the 'community's direct review of local public service budgets' and 'elected Police Chief,' significantly conflict with our country's existing constitutional conventions and the Westminster System. How do you explain this... fundamental deviation?"
The question was sharp and typical. Sara took a deep breath. She didn't recite from the prepared script but instead looked at the tired faces of the ordinary people in the audience — those were the dozens of witnesses she had brought from different communities.
