Atlasians United for a Parliamentary System

[Colin]

I think that now that I'm not going to be a Senator in a few weeks I should start up my own think tank/political action group/caucus/organization that will bring likeminded people together on issues that I think are dearly needed in this country.

So today I am announcing the formation of AUPS or Atlasians United for a Parliamentary System. This organization will be dedicated to debating and writing legislation to further advance the goal of the creation of a parliamentary system in Atlasia, advancing its political agenda through direct petitioning of leaders in Nyman and helping to elect those who will push for a parliamentary system.

First, I believe that a parliamentary system in Atlasia will be a much needed breath of fresh air into the increasing banal political atmosphere of Atlasia. It will add a new spark that goes along with creating a different system of government.

Second, it will rid Atlasia of these scandel ridden Presidential elections in which there is always some sort of scandel, mass diaspora, or quirk that leads to an overall hair-raising experience. The implementation of a parliamentary system will reform this and make politics more civil in Atlasia.

Third, it will allow for the creation of more permanent and more structure politcal parties and the stabilization of the political landscape of Atlasia into well defined parties who must work together to form majorities within the Senate in order to elect the PM.

And finally, it will allow for new and different voting systems to be used such as Proportional, Single-Transfereable vote, or FTPT w/runoff in Senatorial elections. An open list Proportional system, the one that I support, would give the additional benefits of a better organized party system and a fairer voting system for Atlasia as well as the ability for Atlasians to still choose their candidates.

I would like to invite all those who support me in the creation of a parliamentary system in Atlasia to join AUPS and to join with me in trying to make Atlasia more fun again by making in a fully parliamentary system.

[Colin]

I support the idea but i'm beginning to think there should still be an elected 'figurehead' with little power.

The more and more I think about it, having the head of state and government selected from the pool of Senators only, would stop current Governors, Lt Governors, holders of other postions and even private citizens pursuing the 'top job' should they so wish.

I am not completely against a figurehead position and neither is the AUPS, myself and this organization would just like to see some sort of parliamentary system come into play. Either a semi-presidential or a full parliamentary would be quite applicable.

[Colin]

I support the idea but i'm beginning to think there should still be an elected 'figurehead' with little power.

The more and more I think about it, having the head of state and government selected from the pool of Senators only, would stop current Governors, Lt Governors, holders of other postions and even private citizens pursuing the 'top job' should they so wish.

I am not completely against a figurehead position and neither is the AUPS, myself and this organization would just like to see some sort of parliamentary system come into play. Either a semi-presidential or a full parliamentary would be quite applicable.

That was what I would support. For example there has been talk of PBrunsel running for the top job in June and he has floated the idea himself. With a combined head of state and government chosen by the Senate he wouldn't be able to do that unless he won an election to the Senate first. Or if a private citizen wished one day to become PM, instead of running for governor, winning, then running for president, he wouldn't run for governor in the first place because he couldn't go any further politically.

Yeah a Germany-style parliamentary system would probably mesh the best with the current political climate of Atlasia though it would be mostly a figurehead, as if it isn't now, and most of the current powers of the President would be vested in the PM.

[Colin]

I oppose this, and that is what I shall say on the matter. We've had our probelms with the Presidency, but the UNited States has too. Should the U.S. simply go to a Parliamentary system because every election since 1968 there has been snickers of corruption?

Yes, it would be alot more interesting to have a Prime Minister Bush than a President Bush in my mind but that is irrelavant as we have completely different problems than the US in Atlasia.

I'm not officially changing anything until we get some consensus on the matter, however, I will begin passing around possible amendments.

How should the head of state be chosen? If they are popularly elected, the election controversy and thrice yearly bs remains. We could allow him to be elected by the Governors, or have it be a rotating power among the five Governors, or have him be elected by the Senate, or even have the PM nominate someone who is confirmed by the Senate.

We could have it be elected by the Senate and the Governors however whether the candidate would have to be a governor I would have to figure out though. We could do what they do with the King of Malaysia. They have a King for each state and they all constitute an executive council and they elect one out of them to be King for a certain term.

Some possible powers of a head of state could include:

Vetoing bills and sending them back to Parliament for re-approval
Wait to sign a bill until later or to suspend bills indefinitely
Refer bills to the court to test its constitutionality
Refer a bill to a referendum requiring a majority to vote in favour

The last two are powers of the President of Ireland.

[Colin]

Afleitch, that's why I proposed above that the Senate should be granted the power to choose any citizen it wishes for PM, with the stipulation that that citizen become a Senator if they aren't already.

Which basically means 'My boy one day you too can become the leader of Atlasia...as long as you're a Senator'

I really like your proposal, but unless the head of state and government is seperated and the head of state is elect I can't support it as it stands. It concentrates too much power in the hands of the Senate and discourages people from running for regional or non Senate posts if they wish to further their political career.

Well you can counter-act that by having the President either select or is one of the current regional governors. Or by having the HoS elected by both the Senate and the Governors but he the candidates themselves are neither Senators nor Governors.

[Colin]

But then again I don't concern myself with such matters of reform since this is but a game, like Clue.

Someone getting murdered is a game?

I am appalled at your audacity, Professor Plum.

I think that it is Colonel PBrunsel in the Conservatory with the revolver.

Well we could just call up Queen Elizabeth and tell her that we need a Governor-General. We could just say that we're from Belize or something.

[Colin]

But who would the 'candidates' be? It would be at the whim of the Senate to pick and choose rather than having them run for the position and having the public elect them.

Under the proposed system we would have

Those who can be Head of State/Government: Senators
Those who can't: Governors, Lt Governors, Supreme Court Judges, Regional Judges and Private Citizens UNLESS nominated by the Senate

Under a split system I would prefer you would have

Those who can be Head of Government : Senators
Those who can be Head of State : Senators...AND Governors, Lt Governors, Supreme Court Judges, Regional Judges and Private Citizens.

Well the secondary one is probably better. But how would it be elected? How would the HoS be elected?

[Colin]

Well the secondary one is probably better. But how would it be elected? How would the HoS be elected?

Have the HoG elected within the Senate as Jake proposes, but have the HoS elected by popular vote, then have the winner confirmed by the senate but acting independently from the Senate.

If the Senate calls all the shots at the national level, then apart from Judges, the system of 'checks and balances' breaks down.

Are people scared to let the people decide on anything anymore?

Well but then you still have the same problem. The electoral infighting, the scandels, the bickering, the people leaving in a huff, except now it'll be for a less powerful position but I see what you mean.

[Colin]

No monarchy although we could just have the current GM at that time be the "Governor-General" or something like that or we can always get Queen Elizabeth on the horn and tell her that we need a Governor-General.

But probably the HoS/HoG devide would be the best possible situation and would also emulate the current systems of government in non-monarchy parliamentary governments.

What would the powers of the HoG be in comparison to the HoS? HoS would be foreign affairs and veto while the HoG would be internal affairs and leader of the Senate?

[Colin]

There would be no need for a PPT with a PM. However I would suggest another Senator is nominated as a Speaker to mediate, basically undertaking the old PPT role.

Yep, that's provided for as well.

I would also strongly disagree with having varying Senate terms, or having terms last longer or shorter than already.

I'll agree to four month terms, but if this were really a parliamentary system, shouldn't the head of government (President in this case), be able to call for elections any time he wants.

Actually the Head of Government would be the Prime Minister, or whatever we call him, not the President who would be Head of State and yes he should have to ability to call a snap election if he cannot constitute a parliamentary majority or his coalition falls apart. Such a snap election should also be called by a no-confidence vote as well.