Requirements for a Political Party Bill

[Јas]

Abstain

[Јas]

The amendment ties 2-2-1 after the expiration of the voting period.
I am unsure how this now proceeds and would ask for advice from my fellow Senators on how this now proceeds.

[Јas]

I offer no advice, but if it will help, I'll vote a belated Aye on the amendment.

Good enough for me, I am deeming the amendment passed 3-2-1.

I appeciate that this may be procedurally irregular - displeased Senators should feel free to challenge the decision with the Court and give them something to do.

[Јas]

Aye

[Јas]

Could the SoFA provide his input on how realistically possible it is for him to go back three years to check that at least one member of a party has voted in every federal election since that time?

Well given that only one party has lasted that long, it's really a matter of checking if one of its members did so. I'd presume that this is the case for the party in question, otherwise the amendment is pointless.

[Јas]

Nay

[Јas]

Abstain

[Јas]

It has been pointed out to me that the bill may be unconstitutional being a breach of Article V, Section 1, Clause 8:
"Any political party of five or more members is considered to be an organized political party. The benefits of being an organized political party may be determined by the Senate by appropriate legislation."

This bill would appear to allow an organised political party have less than 5 members, so I'm inclined to agree that it may not be constitutional.

On this basis, I change my vote to Nay.