End to Districts Amendment [Passed/Sent to Regions]

[Јas]

So, I'm confused.  This bill seems to eliminate districts, but what does it replace them with?

The bill which seeks to institute PR-STV requires a constitutional amendment before it can be fully implemented.

The districts would be replaced by that system which treats the whole of Atlasia as a single electoral constitutency.

[Јas]

So the idea is that the Senate has full freedom to change the rules under which Class B Senators are elected, making it possible to drop proportional representation again without needing yet another amendment?

Correct

How clear is the constitution on the districts issue?

The 2 main parts in this regard are:
Art I, s.1, cl.1 mandates the election of 5 Senators from the regions and 5 from the districts.
Art IV, s.4 sets out the re-districting process.

[Јas]

I understand Moderate and Earl's point and I agree with Lewis that this is the appropriate venue for that discussion.

On that matter, I would have no difficulty with either Peter's or Lewis's possible amendments or indeed one which is very specific in stating something such as:
"...Class B, which shall comprise Senators elected via proportional representation by means of single transferable vote."

[Јas]

I understand Moderate and Earl's point and I agree with Lewis that this is the appropriate venue for that discussion.

On that matter, I would have no difficulty with either Peter's or Lewis's possible amendments or indeed one which is very specific in stating something such as:
"...Class B, which shall comprise Senators elected via proportional representation by means of single transferable vote."

I'd be fine with that new wording.  I don't think the absolute specifics need to be in the constitution, but if the ultimate goal is to change to a PR-STV system, let's lock that in.

In which case, someone had better put forward an amendment.

[Јas]

I'm not sure why we need to vote on this amendment first when the second amendment will wipe out its wording

Only if the second amendment passes. Lewis is giving the Senate an opportunity to pick it's preferred wording.

[Јas]

Tally on Lewis's Amendment
Aye: 4 (Moderate [NE]; Earl; Ebowed; Lewis)
Nay: 2 (Sam; Brandon)
Yet to Vote: 3 (afleitch; Al; Moderate [D2]; Rob)

[Јas]

The amendment passes.

Result on Lewis's Amendment
Aye: 6 (Moderate [NE]; Earl; Ebowed; Lewis; Moderate [D2]; afleitch)
Nay: 2 (Sam; Brandon)
Abstain [Didn't Vote]: 2 (Al; Rob)

[Јas]

Voting is now open on the following amendment:

That Section 3 be amended to read:
"(...)Class B, which shall comprise Senators elected via proportional representation by means of single transferable vote."

Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain accordingly.

[Јas]

Tally on Lewis's Amendment
Aye: 2 (Earl; Moderate)
Nay: 4 (Ebowed; Lewis; Brandon; afleitch)
Abstain: 1 (Sam)
Vacant: 1 (Northeast)
Yet to Vote: 2 (Al; Rob)

[Јas]

Updated Tally on Lewis's Amendment
Aye: 3 (Earl; Moderate; Verily)
Nay: 4 (Ebowed; Lewis; Brandon; afleitch)
Abstain: 1 (Sam)
Yet to Vote: 2 (Al; Rob)

[Јas]

Tally on Amendment (Brandon)
Aye: 2 (Sam; Brandon)
Nay: 4 (Verily; Ebowed; Moderate; Lewis)
Abstain: 1 (Earl)
Yet to Vote: 3 (afleitch; Al; Rob)

[Јas]

With 5 Nays and 1 declared abstention, the amendment fails.

Result on Amendment (Brandon)
Aye: 2 (Sam; Brandon)
Nay: 5 (Verily; Ebowed; Moderate; Lewis; afleitch)
Abstain [Voted]: 1 (Earl)
Abstain [Didn't Vote]: 2 (Al; Rob)

[Јas]

I motion for cloture.

Voting is open. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain on Cloture.

[Јas]

Tally on Verily's Cloture Motion
Aye: 6 (Verily; Ebowed; afleitch; Moderate; Lewis; Al)
Nay: 0
Abstain: 2 (Earl; Sam)
Yet to Vote: 2 (Brandon; Rob)

[Јas]

Result on Verily's Cloture Motion
Aye: 8 (Verily; Ebowed; afleitch; Moderate; Lewis; Al; Sam; Brandon)
Nay: 0
Abstain [Voted]: 1 (Earl)
Abstain [Didn't Vote]: 1 (Rob)

The Cloture Motion having received the support of more than two-thirds of the members of this chamber, we shall proceed to final vote.


Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain on the following Constitutional Amendment:

End to Districts Amendment

That the following changes shall be made to the Atlasian Constitution:

1. Article I, Section 1, Clause 1 of the Atlasian Constitution shall be amended to read as follows:
The Senate shall be composed of ten Senators, each with a term of four months.

2. Article I, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Atlasian Constitution shall be amended to read as follows:
No Person shall be a Senator who has not attained a hundred or more posts and, in the case of Regional Senators, is not a registered voter in the Region that they represent.

3. Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the Atlasian Constitution shall be amended to read as follows:
The Senate shall be divided into two classes: Class A, which shall comprise the Senators elected from the Regions, and Class B, which shall comprise Senators elected by a form of proportional representation.

4. Article IV, Section 4 of the Atlasian Constitution shall be repealed.

[Јas]

Tally on Final Vote
Aye: 6 (Ebowed; Verily; Lewis; Al; Moderate; Earl)
Nay: 0
Yet to Vote: 4 (afleitch; Brandon; Rob; Sam)

7 Aye votes are needed to send this Amendment to the regions for consideration.

[Јas]

Result on Final Vote
Aye: 7 (Ebowed; Verily; Lewis; Al; Moderate; Earl; afleitch)
Nay: 1 (Sam)
Abstain [Didn't Vote]: 2 (Brandon; Rob)

The Amendment having passed the Senate is therefore sent forward to the regions for their consideration.


On a personal note, I thank the 7 members for their votes. This amendment and accompanying bill took quite a lot of effort and I hope now that we can gain approval from the regions. Indeed any help you can provide to that end would be appreciated.