The Washington Society

[DKrol]

x DKrol

[DKrol]

My proposal:

The Federal Government

Executive Branch: As now, headed by a popularly-elected president chosen every four months. The president is charged with reviewing legislation passed by the Senate, leading the armed forces, appointing members of the cabinet and the Supreme Court, and enforcing federal laws.
      Changes: The vice presidency is abolished.

The Legislative Branch: All legislative powers are vested in the Senate, which is composed of three classes: three Regional Senators, three District Senators, and a single Senator At-Large chosen by the entire population. The Senator At-Large, in addition to being a full member of the Senate, would serve as the ceremonial presiding officer of the chamber (as the VP does now). Senators are elected to four-month terms.
      Changes: Number of Senators reduced from 10 to 7; Class B elected from Districts instead   
                      of at-large; office of Senator At-Large created.

Judicial Branch: Essentially the same as now: three justices appointed for life (or until resignation/ impeachment) by the president.


The Regions
The number of Regions is reduced from 5 to 3. Each Region is charged with devising its own system of government. The Districts from which the Class B Senators elected are drawn by a panel of the Regional chief executives, with the Senator At-Large acting as chair.

Thoughts?

Line of succession to the Presidency without a VP?

[DKrol]

Sorry for jumping in, but the real problem is that the executive branch lacks any real power. Bore's and Lumine before him have both been active and effective Presidents, yet it's virtually impossible for a President to craft a legacy unless they mess up.

I'm actually leaning towards a Parliamentary system, because it would fuse the executive and legislature together and actually make things interesting. I mean a parliament of say 20-25 people would be extremely powerful, and governments could be much more fluid.

I'll write something up tomorrow for this, but I'm leaning towards this

Thing is this is a majority American Forum and most Americans wouldn't want to play.

I would.

[DKrol]

Sorry for jumping in, but the real problem is that the executive branch lacks any real power. Bore's and Lumine before him have both been active and effective Presidents, yet it's virtually impossible for a President to craft a legacy unless they mess up.

I'm actually leaning towards a Parliamentary system, because it would fuse the executive and legislature together and actually make things interesting. I mean a parliament of say 20-25 people would be extremely powerful, and governments could be much more fluid.

I'll write something up tomorrow for this, but I'm leaning towards this

Thing is this is a majority American Forum and most Americans wouldn't want to play.

I would.

As would I.

The biggest hurdle for any Parliamentary proposal is that most Americans are unfamiliar with how such a system would work. That could be addressed by keeping some of the labels of the current system (ie: "Senate" rather than "Parliament", "Speaker" instead of "Prime Minister") or by enacting a French-style government with executive power divided between a Prime Minister and a President.

I like that French idea, actually.

[DKrol]

A parliamentary system would be the kind of radical change that might actually revitalise things.

Agreed. Couldn't hurt.

Agreed.