Southern Constitutional Committee of 2022 Thread

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Please go on.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Article IX: Continuity

1. Any law passed by the Southern Region prior to the adoption of this constitution shall remain in force unless modified by this Constitution.

2. The provisions of this Constitution, and the provisions of any laws enacted pursuant thereto or prior thereto shall, to the maximum extent permissible be severable from one another if ever struck down by any court.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Reception clause to keep existing laws in place

Severability clause to protect laws from overzealous judges.

I think that's everything.

Are we ready for a committe vote?

[Mr. Reactionary]

If we vote, the ballot will be:

Aye on All -
Nay on All -

or

BR1 -
BR2 -
BR3 -
BR4 -
BR5 -
BR6 -
BR7 -
BR8 -
BR9 -
BR10 -
BR11 -
BR12 -
BR13 -
BR14 -
BR15 -
BR16 -
BR17 -
BR18 -
BR19 -
BR20 -
ART I -
ART V -
ART IX -

[Mr. Reactionary]

So do we want to do a vote this week?

If no objections, I move we vote on Wednesday.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

No objection.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Voting is now open through the weekend

Aye on All - X
Nay on All -

or

BR1 -
BR2 -
BR3 -
BR4 -
BR5 -
BR6 -
BR7 -
BR8 -
BR9 -
BR10 -
BR11 -
BR12 -
BR13 -
BR14 -
BR15 -
BR16 -
BR17 -
BR18 -
BR19 -
BR20 -
ART I -
ART V -
ART IX -

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

xAye on All

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

X Aye on all

[reagente]

I vote Aye on all.

I think before presenting the Constitution to the voters we should collect everything that carries over and our new changes into a single document.

[Mr. Reactionary]

I vote Aye on all.

I think before presenting the Constitution to the voters we should collect everything that carries over and our new changes into a single document.

Agreed. Im glad its a unanimous, tripartisan recommendation.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Article I: The Region

1. The South and the Constitution thereof shall be representative of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

2. The region may also be referred to as the Southern Region.

3. The regional capital for The South established in this Constitution shall be Nashville, Tennessee.

4. For purposes of electoral representation, The South shall be divided into two Subregions:

i. The Upper Southern Subregion shall consist of the states of Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

ii. The Deep Southern Subregion shall consist of the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Texas.

Article II: Bill of Rights

The people of The South are naturally endowed by our creator, God, with certain inalienable rights which shall not be infringed under this constitution, including:

1. Freedom of Speech — All persons in the South are entitled to their freedom of thought and expression of their ideas and to communicate these ideas. No person shall be compelled to communicate or fund any thought repugnant to him, excepting sworn testimony before a court or board as well as information necessary and proper to commercial transactions. No laws shall be passed regulating or restraining the freedom of persons to reduce protected speech into other mediums, to make noncommercial copies thereof, and to publish or broadcast this protected speech. Freedom of speech and press shall be protected by the law with exceptions made for only those categories of speech not traditionally protected at common law. There shall be no law limiting the right of southern citizens to submit petitions to their elected officials free from retaliation and to sue in a proper court for proper relief. Additionally, there shall be no law prohibiting the right of persons to gather or assemble, on either public or private property, for any peaceful reason. Persons enjoy the right to associate together for the purpose of exercising any other right in concert, including the right to form entities for such purpose subject to law, as well as the right to exclude persons from noncommercial associations, the right to refuse to associate with an association, and the freedom from excessive burdens imposed upon associations.

2. Equality — All persons in the South are born equal, and shall be treated as so under the law, no matter their sex, race, color, or ethnicity, religion, parentage, disability, economic status, or State of residence within the Region. The provision of separate but equal facilities or programs based on sex in areas where such separation is traditional does not violate this provision. No government institution may explicitly favor one group over another, including through affirmative action programs, nor shall any government exempt its officers or employees from any law applying generally to the public nor shall the executive suspend any law without consent of the legislature. No title of nobility shall be granted within the Southern Region. No person in the South shall be excluded from participating in public life based on the arbitrary classifications enumerated herein, including participation in the militia, in court proceedings as a witness or juror, or in consideration for public office or employment.

3. Democracy — The people of The South live in a republican democracy, and therefore all law-abiding citizens who meet voting requirements as established by law shall be granted the right to vote.

4. Rights of the Accused — All persons accused of a crime shall be presumed innocent until convicted by law. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or felony crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and locale wherein the crime shall have been committed, as determined by law and allowing for changes of venue when an impartial jury cannot be empaneled, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation and be provided with a copy thereof; to a writ of habeas corpus when appropriate; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, to have the assistance of counsel for his defense, to present evidence of his innocence, offer jury instructions, exclude evidence obtained in violation of this Bill of Rights, and raise alternative arguments without prejudice. No person shall be tried for a crime in absentia or by a bill of attainder. Vague criminal laws shall be construed in favor of the accused. A person may voluntarily waive any of these rights upon declaration under oath to the court that such waiver is being made knowingly and freely. A jury conviction shall be unanimous. All persons standing trial shall be entitled to a copy of any exculpatory evidence in the possession of the prosecutor.

5. Right to Privacy — All people have the general right to privacy subject to the public health and safety. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, records, and property, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall be issued, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. A copy of the warrant shall be provided to the person being searched. No Soldier, militiaman, police, or public employee shall, in time of peace be quartered in any private property, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, invasion, or imminent peril, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. No person shall be required by law to present identification merely to be physically present in a public place. No list or database shall ever be created, compiled, or maintained of any privately owned weapons nor shall any list or database of persons exercising these rights be created.

6. Right to Religious Freedom — Each person possesses the right to believe or not believe whatever religious  ideas they choose. No government shall infringe upon anyone's right to believe, worship, or participate in religious rites, subject to laws of general applicability where a reasonable accommodation is not possible. No person conscientiously opposed to the bearing of arms shall be compelled to do so. Furthermore there shall be no preference, endorsement, nor biases against or in favor of any one religion or a combination of religions, nor shall the religious be excluded from receiving public funds. No religious test or oath of office shall be required for public office or public employment. No government power shall be delegated to a religious body or organization nor shall the government have any power to determine or resolve disputed religious doctrine. The use of nondenominational prayers by public officials and employees shall not constitute the preferencing or endorsement of a religion nor shall the use of the Bible as a teaching tool in public schools, provided that such instructional use is not presented as pure fact.

7. Right to Property — All persons possess the general right of quiet enjoyment of their real, personal, and intangible property including the right to use, transport, alienate, and dispose of such property subject to the public interest. The taking of private property of any type for actual use by the public without just compensation determined by a proper court of law is prohibited, and the owner of any property taken in such manner shall have the right to reacquire such property for just compensation if such property is not actually used by the public.

8. Right to Travel — All persons have the right to move, travel, and roam, with or without other persons and with or without their lawful property on public lands and right-of-ways, when such movement does not imminently jeopardize the public health or safety. All persons also have the right to hunt, fish, forage for sustenance, camp, harvest timber, and consume public natural resources subject to reasonable laws for the promotion of conservation and good stewardship.

9. No Taxation Without Representation — No citizen subject to taxation who meets the general voting requirements shall be denied the opportunity to vote for their representation in government.

10. Right to Arms —The right of all persons who have not been convicted of a violent crime or have been declared incompetent through due process of law to own and publicly carry as many of any type of any lawful weapon as is desired for whatever lawful purpose shall not be infringed. Lawful weapons include but shall not be limited to any caliber of any firearm that can be carried and operated by a single person, bladed or blunt melee weapons, fireworks, hand-propelled explosives such as hand grenades, and electric stun guns. Accessories and ammunition for lawful weapons shall be construed as lawful weapons.

11. Cruel and Unusual Punishment — Excessive bail shall not be required nor unreasonably denied when the suspect is not a flight or safety risk, nor excessive fines or punitive damages imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Humane capital punishment after due process for murder or rape convictions shall not be considered a cruel or unusual punishment.

12. Personal autonomy — All persons are sovereign over their physical persons. All persons have a right to be born when such birth does not endanger the life of the mother. All persons have a right to a name. All persons have the right to engage in self-dense. No competent person shall be compelled to receive any medical treatment, sterilization, abortion, drug, or vaccine, nor shall any competent person be compelled to ingest anything, or have an organ or body part removed, or receive any tattoo, marking, or microchip. No person shall be compelled to become impregnated or engage in sexual conduct with any person nor shall any unrelated consenting adults be prohibited from engaging in non-commercial sexual conduct in private, subject to reasonable public health measures to prevent the spread of sexually transmissible diseases and reasonable protections against coercive sex resulting from hierarchical power imbalances. Slavery and involuntary servitude, whether as a result of legal status, punishment, peonage, debts, or contracts is hereby prohibited. This shall not include participation in legal proceedings or in a draft or militia service during an emergency declared pursuant to law.

13. Family — All persons have the right to form families. No two consenting adults disrelated by blood by at least two degrees of family lineage shall be prohibited from legal marriage. No person shall be prohibited by law from conceiving and bearing children nor shall any law unreasonably limit the legal adoption of children by adults determined by law to be competent parents or of incapacitated adults by family members determined by law to be competent guardians. Parents shall have the right to direct the care, custody, and education of their child, provided that the best interests of the child are not greatly endangered by such determination. Family members and descendants shall be entitled to prevent the intentional desecration, destruction, damaging, or removal of the graves of and public monuments to their loved ones, whether by force, injunction, or other legal remedy.

14. Contract — All persons possess the general right to contract with other persons, whether for goods, property, wages, labor, personal services, insurance, or other lawful purpose, subject to the public policy and laws of the Southern Region. No person shall refuse to contract with another person for goods, property, wages, or insurance on the basis of being a member in a classification protected in Paragraph 2 of this Bill of Rights.

15. Labor — All persons possess the right to engage in a skilled trade, the right to alienate their labor, the right to collectively bargain their labor, the right to form and join unions for such purpose, the right to refuse to join or fund unions without retaliation, and the right to privacy both through a secret ballot in any union certification election and protection from having personal information given by an employer to representatives of a union.

16. Civil Lawsuits — In civil cases where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court, than according to the rules of the common law nor shall any jury be bifurcated between determining facts and determining a reward. Equitable remedies shall be solely reserved for the judiciary which shall possess the power to issue all writs to provide an adequate remedy. No defendant shall be denied the presumption of non-liability. Any person may settle a civil claim without approval of a court.

17. Crime Victims— The victim of any crime as determined by due process of law shall be entitled to restitution from the criminal, the right to address the court prior to sentencing, and the right to notice when the criminal has escaped or is released from prison.

18. Marijuana — The right of adults to cultivate, harvest, and consume tobacco, marijuana, cannabis, or derivatives thereof for personal use shall not be violated, subject to reasonable regulation of the time, place, and manner of consuming the same. No law shall prohibit in totality the commercial sale or distribution of such products.

19. Revolution — Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government. The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.

20. Other Rights — The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Article III: The Executive Branch

1. The executive authority of The South shall be vested in the Governor of The South. The governor must be a registered voter in The South.

2. The governor must be elected democratically by the people of The South. Elections are to be held every January, April, July and October for governor. The appropriate election administrator will open the voting booth at 12:00:00am EDT of the penultimate Friday of the month and will close said booth the following Sunday at 11:59:59pm EDT. The election administrator must accept any absentee ballot received no more than 168 hours prior to the opening of the polls.

3. Candidates for governor will be given until the Wednesday at 11:59:59 pm EDT preceding the first date of polling in the election they wish to contest to announce their candidacy and appear on the ballot. This is to be done by officially declaring their candidacy in the Candidate Declaration Thread.

4. When the polls close, the appropriate election administrator of The South shall be given twenty-four hours to count the votes and declare a winner. All gubernatorial elections shall be by single transferable vote, unless otherwise specified by law. The newly elected governor is to be officially sworn in on the Friday following the election. In the case of a tie, all tied candidates are to run in a runoff election occurring in the weekend following the regularly scheduled election to determine a winner. The winner will be eligible to swear in immediately. In the case of a tie in a runoff election, the newly elected legislature will vote between the tied candidates to elect the new governor. There may only be one governor at any point in time. Once a new governor is sworn in, the old one forfeits their office.

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 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 to elect a new governor.

6. In the event that the governor of The South, or any other executive official, commits an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the Region and that is legally prohibited, The South Legislature shall begin impeachment proceedings upon the sponsoring of one or more articles of impeachment by a member of the legislature and the seconding of such articles by another member. Should two-thirds of the legislature vote to convict on one or more articles, the executive officer in question shall immediately forfeit their office.

7. The Governor shall have the power to carry out all acts in association with the enforcement of the laws passed under this Constitution; to fill vacancies in the legislature; to command the regional militia in times of war; to appoint, with the consent of the Assembly, the heads of any executive departments which may be established by law; to issue pardons and reprieves for crimes committed under the laws of this Region, which shall be permanent upon their issuance, though he shall have no power to pardon himself; to appoint, in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the Republic of Atlasia, the Associate Justice for this Region; and to approve, or veto, all acts passed by the Assembly.

8. The governor has veto power over any piece of legislation passed by The Southern Legislature. The governor may have the power to veto sections of legislation as opposed to the whole of any legislation, if provided for by law. The governor must either sign or veto a piece of legislation or if applicable sections of legislation within one week of its passage, otherwise it will go into effect.

9. The governor is obligated to present a yearly budget by March 1 of each year. The structure and procedure for the budget process are to be determined by law. The budget of all government activities is to be voted on by the legislature after a normal debate period. The budget shall remain in effect for 1 year from its date of passage, or until March 21st of the calendar year after that of its passage, whichever is earlier. The governor is obligated to ensure that the budget does not provide for any deficits except in times of emergency or war, a condition the legislature must successfully endorse by a two-thirds majority. All budgets must include a plan for revenue and taxation.

10. Elections and referendums conducted under the authority and according to the provisions of this Constitution, shall be administered by the executive of the region; and the governor of The South, in their capacity as chief of the executive branch, shall therefore bear title as administrator of elections for the region; but by their prerogative, the governor may confer these duties upon a secondary office as may be established by law. In the event the governor, or secondary officer so designated, should be unable to fulfill this obligation, then the chief officer of the legislature, or in their absence the most senior member thereof, shall assume the title and authority of the administrator.

11. The office of Governor is to be deemed vacant upon the resignation, recall, or impeachment of the sitting Governor. A Governor who takes no action over a ten (10) day period shall automatically forfeit their office unless an official leave of absence is acknowledged prior.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Article IV: The Legislative Branch

1. The legislative power of The South shall be vested to the Southern Legislature, which shall be composed of five (5) representatives. Three (3) representatives will be elected at-large, and one (1) will be elected by each of the two subregions.

2. At-large Representatives are to be elected by all citizens registered to vote in The South. Representatives elected from a subregion are to be elected by all citizens registered to vote in the respective subregion. Representatives must be registered to vote in The South.

3. Elections to the Southern Legislature shall take place once every January, April, July, and October. The appropriate election administrator will open the voting booth at 12:00:00am EDT of the penultimate Friday of the month, and will close said booth the following Sunday at 11:59:59pm EDT. The election administrator must accept any absentee ballot received no more than one week prior to the opening of the polls.

4. Candidates for the Southern Legislature will be given until the Wednesday at 11:59:59 pm EDT preceding the first date of polling in the election they wish to contest to announce their candidacy and appear on the ballot. This is to be done by officially declaring their candidacy in the Candidate Declaration Thread.Candidates should specify if they are running at-large, for the Upper South seat, or for the Deep South seat.

5. When the polls close, the appropriate election administrator shall be given twenty-four (24) hours to count the votes and declare elected representatives. All legislative elections shall be by single transferable vote, unless otherwise specified by law. The newly elected representatives shall officially assume office on the Friday following the election, marking the beginning of a new legislative session. In the case of a tie, all tied candidates are to participate in a runoff election the following week to determine a winner, organized by the appropriate election administrators. If a tie remains, the Southern Governor shall appoint a new Delegate until a new one is elected, in which case the appointed legislator shall forfeit their office.

6. Vacancies in the Southern Legislature shall be filled in a manner specified by law, and until such determination is made, by Gubernatorial appointment. Vacancies occur upon resignation, recall, impeachment, failure to swear in within one week of the legislative session opening or failure to vote on final passage of four consecutive pieces of legislation without publicly declaring absence.

7. All legislation shall first be considered in the Southern Legislature. Legislation shall be considered by the legislature upon petition of the governor, any representative, or two Southerners.

8. Any piece of legislation attaining a majority of votes cast in the legislature shall be considered passed by the legislature. Every piece of legislation shall relate to but one subject that is to be expressed in its title. No legislation shall become law without obtaining such a majority.

9. The legislature shall determine its own methods of proceedings, and shall have the power to select its own officers and to judge the qualifications of its members.

10. The legislature shall have the power to override the governor’s veto by a two-thirds majority vote.

11. Initiatives may be proposed for public referendum with the support of at least 25% of the number of registered voters in The South.

Article V: The Judicial Branch

1. The judicial power of The South shall be vested in the Southern Circuit Court, whose membership is the Associate Justice from The South.

2. The jurisdiction of the Southern Circuit Court shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution and all official acts made under its authority; to controversies between two or more citizens of The South.

3. Treason against The South, shall consist only in levying War or Rebellion against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

4. The Southern Legislature shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Article VI: Senators

1. As mandated by the federal constitution, The South shall elect one (1) senator to represent the entire region in the federal senate and one (1) senator to represent each subregion in the federal senate. Senators must be a registered voter in the South.

2. The regional senator shall be elected in the months of February, June and October. The subregional senators shall be elected in the months of April, August and December.

3. The appropriate election administrator will open the voting booth at 12:00:00am EDT of the penultimate Friday of the month, and will close said booth the following Sunday at 11:59:59pm EDT. The election administrator must accept any absentee ballot received no more than one week prior to the opening of the polls.

4. Candidates for senator will be given until the Wednesday at 11:59:59 pm EDT preceding the first date of polling in the election they wish to contest to announce their candidacy and appear on the ballot. This is to be done by officially declaring their candidacy in the Candidate Declaration Thread.

5. When the polls close, the appropriate election administrator of the South shall be given twenty-four hours to count the votes and declare a winner. All senatorial elections shall be by single transferable vote, unless otherwise specified by law. The newly elected senator is to be officially sworn in on the Friday following the election. In the case of a tie, all tied candidates are to run in a run-off election the following week to determine a winner, organized by the appropriate election administrator. If a tie remains, the previous senator shall remain in office until a senator is elected. Once a new senator is sworn in, the old one forfeits their office.

6. If the office of senator is to become vacant at some point while they are in office, the governor may appoint a Southern citizen to fill out the remainder of the term if the next scheduled election for the seat is less than 2 weeks away. If the vacancy occurs 2 weeks to 8 weeks before the next scheduled election for the seat, the governor may appoint a Southern citizen with the advice and consent of the Southern Legislature to fill out the remainder of the term. If the vacancy occurs more than 8 weeks before the next scheduled election for the seat, the election administrator shall conduct a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the term. Said election must occur within 14 days of the vacancy.

Article VII: Recall Procedure

1. The people of The South shall have the power to recall any regional elected official by the process of petition. Petitions that collect seven or more signatures shall be considered valid. When a valid petition is presented, the appropriate election administrator shall open the voting booth on the following Friday at 12:00:00am EDT and shall close said booth the following Sunday at 11:59:59pm EDT. The recall question is: “Shall [name of officer] be recalled from the office of [name of office held]?” The recall election may not occur within three days before the seventh signature is collected. Every citizen will be given the opportunity to vote YES to recall and NO to retain during this time. Abstentions will not affect the results. A majority of Southern citizens and no less than four fifths of voters must vote affirmatively to recall an elected official. Recalled officials shall forfeit their offices immediately.

2. The people of The South shall have the power to call a referendum on any law signed by the governor during the legislative session in which it was passed by the process of petition. Petitions that collect seven or more signatures shall be considered valid. When a valid petition is presented, the appropriate election administrator shall open the voting booth on the next Friday at 12:00:00am EDT and shall close said booth the following Sunday at 11:59:59pm EDT. The referendum question is: “Shall [name of law, followed by text] be upheld as law?” Every citizen will be given the opportunity to vote YES to uphold and NO to repeal during this time. Abstentions will not affect the results. Any bill that fails to receive a majority approval will become null and void.

3. Only votes and signatures from registered Southern voters shall be considered valid for these questions.

Article VIII: Amendments

1. Amendments to this Constitution shall be proposed by the citizens of The South or the Southern Legislature. A proposed amendment in the legislature shall be forwarded to the citizens of the Southern Region for ratification by popular vote by the citizens of the Southern Region upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds of voting members and a majority of total members of the Southern Legislature. An amendment proposed by a citizen of The South which receives the signatures of one-fourth of the total number of registered voters in The South must be presented to the Legislature in a timely manner.

2. Except in November or December, the appropriate election administrator shall open the polling booth at 12:00:00am EDT on the penultimate Friday of the month for all proposed Amendments approved by the Southern Legislature before 12:00:00am EDT on the second Friday of a month that have not already received a vote. In November or December, the appropriate election administrator shall open the polling booth at 12:00:00am EDT on the second Friday of the month for all proposed Amendments approved by the Southern Legislature before 12:00:00am EDT on the first Friday of the month that have not already received a vote. In all cases, the appropriate election administrator shall close the polling booth at 11:59:59pm EDT on the following Sunday. If the date for opening the polling booth coincides with another Southern election, the appropriate election administrator shall include the vote on any proposed Amendments in the polling booth for that election.

3. Any Amendment proposed by the Southern Legislature shall only become effective upon an affirmative vote of a majority of those citizens of the Southern Region who vote for or against the proposed Amendment.

4. Whenever four-fifths of the legislature or one-fourth of the registered voters of the Southern Region considers it desirable to comprehensively improve this constitution, the governor shall call for a Constitutional Convention to propose revisions to this document, or replace it entirely. The Constitutional Convention shall consist of a minimum of three members chosen at the discretion of the governor.

5. Amendments to the federal constitution shall be voted upon by the people of The South in the same manner as amendments to the Southern Constitution.

6. To be approved, all federal amendments will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those citizens of The South who vote for or against the proposed Amendment.

Article IX: Continuity

1. Any law passed by the Southern Region prior to the adoption of this constitution shall remain in force unless modified by this Constitution or by subsequent legislation.

2. The provisions of this Constitution, and the provisions of any laws enacted pursuant thereto or prior thereto shall, to the maximum extent permissible be severable from one another if ever struck down by any court.

[reagente]

Would like to propose these quick clarifying edits to Article III (and I have a few more ideas that I will post in an hour or two):

---

Article III, Section 4:

4. When the polls close, the appropriate election administrator of The South shall be given twenty-four hours to count the votes and declare a winner. All gubernatorial elections shall be by single transferable vote, unless otherwise specified by law. The newly elected governor is to be officially sworn in on the Friday following the election. In the case of a tie, all tied candidates are to run in a runoff election occurring in the weekend following the regularly scheduled election to determine a winner. The winner will be eligible to swear in immediately. In the case of a tie in a runoff election, the newly elected legislature will vote between the tied candidates to elect the new governor. There may only be one governor at any point in time. Once a new governor is sworn in, the old one forfeits their office.

Article III, Section 5:

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 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 to elect a new governor.

Article III, Section 8:

8. The governor has veto power over any piece of legislation passed by The Southern Legislature. The governor may have the power to veto sections of legislation as opposed to the whole of any legislation, if provided for by law. The governor must either sign or veto a piece of legislation within one week of its passage, otherwise it will go into effect.

[reagente]

Some more clarifying amendments

Article IV, Section 1

1. The legislative power of The South shall be vested to the Southern Legislature, which shall be composed of five (5) representatives. Three (3) representatives will be elected at-large, and one (1) will be elected by each of the two subregions.

Article IV, Section 2

2. At-large Representatives are to be elected by all citizens registered to vote in The South. Representatives elected from a subregion are to be elected by all citizens registered to vote in the respective subregion. Representatives must be registered to vote in The South.

Article IV, Section 4

4. Candidates for the Southern Legislature will be given until the Wednesday at 11:59:59 pm EDT preceding the first date of polling in the election they wish to contest to announce their candidacy and appear on the ballot. This is to be done by officially declaring their candidacy in the Candidate Declaration Thread. Candidates should specify if they are running at-large, for the Upper South seat, or for the Deep South seat.

Article IV, Section 5

5. When the polls close, the appropriate election administrator shall be given twenty-four (24) hours to count the votes and declare elected representatives. All legislative elections shall be by single transferable vote, unless otherwise specified by law. The newly elected representatives shall officially assume office on the Friday following the election, marking the beginning of a new legislative session. In the case of a tie, the candidate with the most second preferences is elected. If the tie remains, all tied candidates are to participate in a runoff election the following week to determine a winner, organized by the appropriate election administrators. In the case of a tie If a tie remains, the Southern Governor shall appoint a new Delegate until a new one is elected, in which case the appointed legislator shall forfeit their office.

Article IV, Section 7

7. All legislation shall first be considered in the Southern Legislature. Legislation shall be considered by the legislature upon petition of the governor, any representative, or two Southerners.

Article VI, Section 5

5. When the polls close, the appropriate election administrator of the South shall be given twenty-four hours to count the votes and declare a winner. All senatorial elections shall be by single transferable vote, unless otherwise specified by law. The newly elected senator is to be officially sworn in on the Friday following the election. In the case of a tie, the candidate with the first most preferences is elected. If it remains a tie, all tied candidates are to run in a run-off election the following week to determine a winner, organized by the appropriate election administrator. In the case of a tie If a tie remains, the previous senator shall remain in office until a senator is elected. Once a new senator is sworn in, the old one forfeits their office.

Article VI, Section 6

6. If the office of senator is to become vacant at some point while they are in office, the governor may appoint a Southern citizen to fill out the remainder of the term if the next scheduled election for the seat is less than 2 weeks away. If the vacancy occurs 2 weeks to 8 weeks before the next scheduled election for the seat, the governor may appoint a Southern citizen with legislative approval with the advice and consent of the Southern Legislature to fill out the remainder of the term. If the vacancy occurs more than 8 weeks before the next scheduled election for the seat, the election administrator shall conduct a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the term. Said election must occur within 14 days of the vacancy.

Article VIII, Section 1

1. Amendments to this Constitution shall be proposed by the citizens of The South or the Southern Legislature. A proposed amendment in the legislature shall be forwarded to be voted upon by to the citizens of the Southern Region for ratification by popular vote upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds of voting members and a majority of total members of the Southern Legislature. An amendment proposed by a citizen of The South which receives the signatures of one-fourth of the total number of registered voters in The South must be presented to the Legislature in a timely manner.

[reagente]

Since we have an election that will begin tomorrow, and I think it would be best for an election with the highest turnout of citizens to consider this new constitution, I motion for an immediate vote on the following two tasks.

Votes on reagente's proposed clarifications

Aye on All -
Nay on All -

or

Art III, Section 4 -
Art III, Section 5 -
Art III, Section 8 -
Art IV, Section 1 -
Art IV, Section 2 -
Art IV, Section 4 -
Art IV, Section 5 -
Art IV, Section 7 -
Art VI, Section 5 -
Art VI, Section 6 -
Art VIII, Section 1 -

Vote to approve the draft Constitution (with any approved clarifications voted on above) and present the document to the voters for ratification this election.

Aye -
Nay -

[reagente]

Votes on reagente's proposed clarifications

Aye on All - X
Nay on All -

or

Art III, Section 4 -
Art III, Section 5 -
Art III, Section 8 -
Art IV, Section 1 -
Art IV, Section 2 -
Art IV, Section 4 -
Art IV, Section 5 -
Art IV, Section 7 -
Art VI, Section 5 -
Art VI, Section 6 -
Art VIII, Section 1 -

Vote to approve the draft Constitution (with any approved clarifications voted on above) and present the document to the voters for ratification this election.

Aye - X
Nay -

[Mr. Reactionary]

Some more clarifying amendments

Article IV, Section 1

1. The legislative power of The South shall be vested to the Southern Legislature, which shall be composed of five (5) representatives. Three (3) representatives will be elected at-large, and one (1) will be elected by each of the two subregions.

Article IV, Section 2

2. At-large Representatives are to be elected by all citizens registered to vote in The South. Representatives elected from a subregion are to be elected by all citizens registered to vote in the respective subregion. Representatives must be registered to vote in The South.

Article IV, Section 4

4. Candidates for the Southern Legislature will be given until the Wednesday at 11:59:59 pm EDT preceding the first date of polling in the election they wish to contest to announce their candidacy and appear on the ballot. This is to be done by officially declaring their candidacy in the Candidate Declaration Thread. Candidates should specify if they are running at-large, for the Upper South seat, or for the Deep South seat.

Article IV, Section 5

5. When the polls close, the appropriate election administrator shall be given twenty-four (24) hours to count the votes and declare elected representatives. All legislative elections shall be by single transferable vote, unless otherwise specified by law. The newly elected representatives shall officially assume office on the Friday following the election, marking the beginning of a new legislative session. In the case of a tie, the candidate with the most second preferences is elected. If the tie remains, all tied candidates are to participate in a runoff election the following week to determine a winner, organized by the appropriate election administrators. In the case of a tie If a tie remains, the Southern Governor shall appoint a new Delegate until a new one is elected, in which case the appointed legislator shall forfeit their office.

Article IV, Section 7

7. All legislation shall first be considered in the Southern Legislature. Legislation shall be considered by the legislature upon petition of the governor, any representative, or two Southerners.

Article VI, Section 5

5. When the polls close, the appropriate election administrator of the South shall be given twenty-four hours to count the votes and declare a winner. All senatorial elections shall be by single transferable vote, unless otherwise specified by law. The newly elected senator is to be officially sworn in on the Friday following the election. In the case of a tie, the candidate with the first most preferences is elected. If it remains a tie, all tied candidates are to run in a run-off election the following week to determine a winner, organized by the appropriate election administrator. In the case of a tie If a tie remains, the previous senator shall remain in office until a senator is elected. Once a new senator is sworn in, the old one forfeits their office.

Article VI, Section 6

6. If the office of senator is to become vacant at some point while they are in office, the governor may appoint a Southern citizen to fill out the remainder of the term if the next scheduled election for the seat is less than 2 weeks away. If the vacancy occurs 2 weeks to 8 weeks before the next scheduled election for the seat, the governor may appoint a Southern citizen with legislative approval with the advice and consent of the Southern Legislature to fill out the remainder of the term. If the vacancy occurs more than 8 weeks before the next scheduled election for the seat, the election administrator shall conduct a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the term. Said election must occur within 14 days of the vacancy.

Article VIII, Section 1

1. Amendments to this Constitution shall be proposed by the citizens of The South or the Southern Legislature. A proposed amendment in the legislature shall be forwarded to be voted upon by to the citizens of the Southern Region for ratification by popular vote upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds of voting members and a majority of total members of the Southern Legislature. An amendment proposed by a citizen of The South which receives the signatures of one-fourth of the total number of registered voters in The South must be presented to the Legislature in a timely manner.

Done.

Aye on all.

Aye on the final draft

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Aye on all amedments

Aye on final draft

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Aye on all amendments
Aye on final draft.

[reagente]

All Amendments have passed, and this Constitution will be reported to the voters for final ratification.

Great work everyone!