S.20.2-3: Governor Terms Amendment (Statute)

[Dr. MB]

The special election period for less than a 3 month term is essentially pointless. All it does is drive up voter fatigue and unnecessarily put Southern government in turmoil. With this amendment, the succession to become the next Governor will be smooth. The governor can pick someone who has both the experience and the ability to serve in case of their resignation.

[Dr. MB]

If the Speaker is the designated successor it makes the speakership an inherently partisan job when in reality it should be whoever can run the chamber the best. For example in the past, Fhtagn was speaker during NeverAgain's governorship and TimTurner was speaker over a wide span of governors from both sides.

[Dr. MB]

If the Speaker is the designated successor it makes the speakership an inherently partisan job when in reality it should be whoever can run the chamber the best. For example in the past, Fhtagn was speaker during NeverAgain's governorship and TimTurner was speaker over a wide span of governors from both sides.

This issue could be sidestepped if we had the chamber conduct a new vote for Governor, rather than have a designated successor (when a vacancy occurs, the speaker could act as an "acting Governor," whose sole task is to administer the election for next Governor)

Fine with me.

[Dr. MB]

The Governor (and the sponsor of this amendment) has expressed a willingness to change it. Perhaps a delegate should offer up an amendment(?) to do this.

Yeah someone should do that. Spark?

[Dr. MB]

The Governor (and the sponsor of this amendment) has expressed a willingness to change it. Perhaps a delegate should offer up an amendment(?) to do this.

Yeah someone should do that. Spark?

What would you like to change?

Introducing a constitutional amendment:

Governor Terms Amendment
Article V, sections 5 and 6 of the Southern Constitution are amended to read as follows:

5. Should the office of governor fall vacant at any point during the term, the chief officer of the legislature, or, should none be available, the longest continually-serving available member of the legislature, shall assume the role of acting governor until a special election can be organized by the appropriate election administrator. If the vacancy occurs less than three weeks before the next regularly scheduled election, however, the chief officer of the legislature, or, should none be available, the longest continually-serving available member of the legislature, shall immediately become the governor and serve for the remainder of the term, vacating their position within the legislature. the legislature can vote to elect a new governor. If the legislature fails to select a new governor within 14 days of the vacancy, the acting governor shall become governor for the remainder of the term and vacate their seat in the legislature.

6. In the event that the office of governor falls vacant three or more weeks before the next scheduled gubernatorial election, a special election shall be held to fill the remainder of the term, organized by the appropriate election administrator. The election shall be held on the first Friday following the vacancy, except where the Friday falls within two days of the position becoming vacant, in which case the election will take place the following Friday, and be held in the same manner as a regular gubernatorial election. Upon certification of the results, the governor-elect shall immediately assume office upon swearing in.

Section V.7 shall be redesignated V.6 and all subsequent sections shall be renumbered accordingly.

Sponsor: MB

Debate to last 48 hours

[Dr. MB]

Just to clarify, if a successful no confidence vote against the speaker were tabled during this 14 day period, would the new speaker become acting governor?

If there’s no speaker than the longest serving member of the chamber becomes governor. Not sure why a successful VoNC would get tabled.

[Dr. MB]

Just to clarify, if a successful no confidence vote against the speaker were tabled during this 14 day period, would the new speaker become acting governor?

If there’s no speaker than the longest serving member of the chamber becomes governor. Not sure why a successful VoNC would get tabled.

Here's the scenario I envisioned:

Speaker becomes acting governor - decides to never schedule a vote so the 14 days occurs and they become governor.

Presumably, the only recourse that the chamber has would be to depose the speaker, and elect a new speaker, but I think the current wording leaves it unclear if the new speaker becomes acting governor, or if the original speaker carries on.

Yeah that’s a good point.

I guess I’ll amend my amendment then:

Introducing a constitutional amendment:

Governor Terms Amendment
Article V, sections 5 and 6 of the Southern Constitution are amended to read as follows:

5. Should the office of governor fall vacant at any point during the term, the chief officer of the legislature, or, should none be available, the longest continually-serving available member of the legislature, shall assume the role of acting governor until a special election can be organized by the appropriate election administrator. If the vacancy occurs less than three weeks before the next regularly scheduled election, however, the chief officer of the legislature, or, should none be available, the longest continually-serving available member of the legislature, shall immediately become the governor and serve for the remainder of the term, vacating their position within the legislature. the legislature can vote to elect a new governor. If the legislature fails to select a new governor within 14 days of the vacancy, the acting governor shall become governor for the remainder of the term and vacate their seat in the legislature. If the acting governor fails to open a vote to elect a new governor within 3 days of the vacancy, any member of the legislature may open a vote.

6. In the event that the office of governor falls vacant three or more weeks before the next scheduled gubernatorial election, a special election shall be held to fill the remainder of the term, organized by the appropriate election administrator. The election shall be held on the first Friday following the vacancy, except where the Friday falls within two days of the position becoming vacant, in which case the election will take place the following Friday, and be held in the same manner as a regular gubernatorial election. Upon certification of the results, the governor-elect shall immediately assume office upon swearing in.

Section V.7 shall be redesignated V.6 and all subsequent sections shall be renumbered accordingly.