The High Inquisitor of Gould/Hogwarts

Once again, it is time to juxtapose two passages from current events and writing, without further ado or comment. The excerpts speak for themselves:

First, from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J. K. Rowling (2003), ch. 17:

The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An Organization, Society, Team, Group or Club is hereby defined as a meeting of three or more students.

Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.

Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.

Signed:

/s/ Dolores Jane Umbridge

HIGH INQUISITOR

Next, an ordinance passed by the City Council of Gould, Arkansas:

CITY OF GOULD

ORDINANCE NO.062011-S

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY OF GOULD AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN, STATE OF ARKANSAS, AN ORDINANCE TO BE ENTITLED:

AN ORDINANCE TO DISALLOW THE GOULD CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL FROM EXISTING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF GOULD

BE IT ORDAINED by the City of Gould City Council:

SECTION 1: GOULD CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCILS ABILITY TO OPERATE WITHIN THE CITY OF GOULD. The Gould Citizens Advisory Council by passage of this ordinance is hereby banned from doing business in the City of Gould.

SECTION 2: That the said Council is, in effect, causing confusion and discourse [sic] among the citizens of Gould and as a result is contributing to the friction not only between the Mayor and Council but also among the citizens who deserve a cooperative government. Also no new organizations shall be allowed to exist in the City of Gould without approval from a majority of the City Council.

SECTION 3: Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this ordinance being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after passage and approval.

And from the same City Council, a second ordinance:

CITY OF GOULD

ORDINANCE NO. 062011-4

BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY OF GOULD AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN, STATE OF ARKANSAS, AN ORDINANCE TO BE ENTITLED:

AN ORDINANCE FOR THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO GOVERN THE MAYOR'S ABILITY TO CALL ANY MEETINGS IN OR OUT OF THE GOULD CITY LIMITS AT WHICH CITY BUSINESS IS DISCUSSED WITHOUT A TWO THIRDS VOTE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

BE IT ORDAINED by the City of Gould City Council:

SECTION 1: MAYOR'S AUTHORITY TO CALL SPECIAL MEETINGS. The Mayor of the City of Gould shall not call special meetings to discuss City business without two thirds of the City Council's vote to do so. This includes meeting [sic] held inside or outside Gould city limits.

SECTION 2: The Mayor nor City Council members shall attend or participate [sic] in meetings with any organization in any location without City Council approval by two thirds vote.

Now, these ordinances from Gould, Arkansas come with the following explanation/ commentary by a member of the City Council which enacted them:

"In everything, you have somebody in control over it. In everything," said Council Member Sonja Farley.

Farley says no matter the group, if you discuss the city at all, the meeting must be approved by the city council.

"You couldn't just come in here and get with four people and decide you want to start an organization," said Farley. "You will go through your city council with documentation, the right paperwork and get an approval."

(H/T: Josh Blackman and Volokh Conspiracy)