Requirements for a Political Party Bill

[Ebowed]

Requirements for a Political Party Bill

Findings

There are 18 Political Parties (including Independent) and 71 citizens in Atlasia, which would average roughly 4 members per party. Many of the current parties have had minimal activity. This legislation shall attempt to make political parties act like a party.

Designations

A party shall have one of the following designations:

• 1. New - A party shall be designated as "New" upon the time that the first person registers as a member of that party. It shall keep this designation until it meets the requirements for an "Organized" Party or until 60 days or a Presidential Election pass in which it shall become a "Unorganized" Party.
• 2. Organized - A party shall be designated as "Organized" as long as it continues to meet the requirements stated in the Requirements section of this Act.
• 3. Unorganized - A "New" Party that fails to meet the requirements of an "Organized" Party after 60 days of its formation or by the following Presidential Election, whichever comes later, shall be designated as an "Unorganized" Party.
• 4. Disorganized - A party that was "Organized" but failed to meet to requirements to remain an "Organized" Party shall be designated as a "Disorganized" Party.
• 5. Comedic - A party may designate itself a "Comedic" or Joke party in which the party has no serious political agenda. (Examples include the Atlasian Monster Raving Loony Party, Birthday Party, and King's Joke Parties.)
• 6. Dissolved - If a party is Unorganized or Disorganized for an entire Presidential Election Cycle, it shall be "Dissolved" and its members shall be declared Independent.
• 7. Major and Minor - An Organized Political Party with at least two members up to 5% of the total population of Atlasia is a Minor Organized Political Party while one with greater than 5% is a Major Organized Political Party.

Requirements

In order to be an Organized Party, a party must have:

• 1. an ideological summary (such as Neo-Conservatism, Paleo-Libertarianism, Social Liberalism, Socialism, Hawkish Foreign Policy, Nationalism, Federalism).
• 2. produce a platform (as defined by Section 3 of the Miscellany Act).
• 3. a chairperson. (A party is free to have other officers as it so chooses.)
• 4. a convention between every Presidential Election.
• 5. more than one member.

Mergers

If two parties merge, than the new party shall have the designation of the party that was higher (New - Unorganized - Disorganized - Organized). It shall have 60 days to re-meet the Requirements.


Sponsor: Sen. Brandon H

[Ebowed]

The Jesus Christ Party's official ideological label is "Moderate."  Does this qualify for Section 3, Clause 1, or would our party need to be more specific?

[Ebowed]

Why should a disorganized party be forcefully dissolved? That makes no sense to me.

And I can't think of a recent political party convention that wasn't a complete waste of time.

Really, this bill seems totally unnecessary.

[Ebowed]

I'm glad all of these questions were asked when I was discussing this bill a few weeks ago.

Well, are you suggesting we not debate the bill?

The RRP already has more of a detailed political description in a week than the JCP has had in a few years.

If the intent of this bill is to make Atlasia's oldest and second largest party "illegitimate" because it doesn't have a political description to your liking, why should I vote for it?  Why should anyone vote to limit the free speech rights of the political parties?

If you don't, then go register as an independent.

Quite snippy.  Just because the ACA kept having its utterly useless conventions right till its death doesn't mean that the whole game would be better off if every party were having three people vote on whether or not to endorse its own candidates for a senate race and a VP spot, or wherever they happen to have candidates on the ballots.  Yaaawn.

[Ebowed]

I motion to table this bill.

Article V, Section 1, Clause 8 states "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 is therefore entirely unconstitutional, as well as being an infringement of free speech rights.  Also referencing Section 3 of the Miscellany Act is rather silly considering it's been repealed.

[Ebowed]

We are voting on this amendment:

Clause 2 of the Requirements Section is amended to
"a 50 word statement briefly explaining their political view points or a platform of 200 words or more."


Nay

[Ebowed]

Considering the Senate repealed the section of the Miscellany Act pertaining to a party platform I would like to vote Nay and hope that Brandon create include a platform definition in the bill itself.

Sorry, we had the wrong amendment.  The correct version does not address Section 3of the Miscellany Act.

[Ebowed]

We are voting on the amendment to strike Section 2, Clauses 6 and 7.

[Ebowed]

Voting has expired.  The amendment passes.

[Ebowed]

I motion that a new section be added,

Exceptions

1. Parties that have been active for more than three years are excempt from classification under the Designations and Requirements sections of this bill.

[Ebowed]

I motion that a new section be added,

Exceptions

1. Parties that have been active for more than three years are excempt from classification under the Designations and Requirements sections of this bill.

Although I'm strongly leaning nay on this, could the Senator define 'active'? Does that simply mean 'in existence' or something else?

Containing at least one member who has not missed an election.

[Ebowed]

We are voting on the following Amendment:

Exceptions

1. Parties that have been active for more than three years are excempt from classification under the Designations and Requirements sections of this bill.

Aye

[Ebowed]

I would like to withdraw the amendment.


Unless further comment is made, I hope to open voting on final passage in 24 hours.

[Ebowed]

We are voting on final passage.

Requirements for a Political Party Bill

Findings

There are 18 Political Parties (including Independent) and 71 citizens in Atlasia, which would average roughly 4 members per party. Many of the current parties have had minimal activity. This legislation shall attempt to make political parties act like a party.

Designations

A party shall have one of the following designations:

• 1. New - A party shall be designated as "New" upon the time that the first person registers as a member of that party. It shall keep this designation until it meets the requirements for an "Organized" Party or until 60 days or a Presidential Election pass in which it shall become a "Unorganized" Party.
• 2. Organized - A party shall be designated as "Organized" as long as it continues to meet the requirements stated in the Requirements section of this Act.
• 3. Unorganized - A "New" Party that fails to meet the requirements of an "Organized" Party after 60 days of its formation or by the following Presidential Election, whichever comes later, shall be designated as an "Unorganized" Party.
• 4. Disorganized - A party that was "Organized" but failed to meet to requirements to remain an "Organized" Party shall be designated as a "Disorganized" Party.
• 5. Comedic - A party may designate itself a "Comedic" or Joke party in which the party has no serious political agenda. (Examples include the Atlasian Monster Raving Loony Party, Birthday Party, and King's Joke Parties.)

Requirements

In order to be an Organized Party, a party must have:

• 1. an ideological summary (such as Neo-Conservatism, Paleo-Libertarianism, Social Liberalism, Socialism, Hawkish Foreign Policy, Nationalism, Federalism).
• 2. a 50 word statement briefly explaining their political view points or a platform of 200 words or more.
• 3. a chairperson. (A party is free to have other officers as it so chooses.)
• 4. a convention between every Presidential Election.
• 5. more than one member.

Mergers

If two parties merge, than the new party shall have the designation of the party that was higher (New - Unorganized - Disorganized - Organized). It shall have 60 days to re-meet the Requirements.


Nay

[Ebowed]

The tally is 3 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 abstention.

[Ebowed]

For reasons that I believe that any measure that might hinder growth is a bad measure at this time.

I agree.  People shouldn't be discouraged from starting new parties or leaving established ones, even if that is an unintentional side effect of this bill.

[Ebowed]

The bill has enough votes to fail.  Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[Ebowed]

The bill has failed