Mideast Assembly Thread

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

We'd need a very vast constitutional amdendment, including amendments to the stuff that I fiddled with under my administration.  While I generally support the idea of what Peter prosposed, I think it needs some tweaking.  I ask that the Assembly hold off on this until I return from vacation.  In the meantime, we'll need a new Speaker/Assemblyman.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

We'd need a very vast constitutional amdendment, including amendments to the stuff that I fiddled with under my administration.  While I generally support the idea of what Peter prosposed, I think it needs some tweaking.  I ask that the Assembly hold off on this until I return from vacation.  In the meantime, we'll need a new Speaker/Assemblyman.

I understand your position. I am inclined to believe that the present Constitution may not be fit for purpose and that has to be adressed.

Oh, I totally agree - it really needs amending, but a quick amendment like this would totally undo the 7th amendment of the 1st Const. (which was included in the 2nd Const) - the provision which allowed for the Lt. Gov. to take over after 36 hours of the Govs' absence in an emergency.  We really need an overhaul, but we need to wait until the Assembly is all here (sorry if that sounded redundant, I couldn't tell if you were agreeing or disagreeing with me ).

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

There's a vacant seat. You can have it.

Well, he'd need to be appointed.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I am introducing the following legislature:

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[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

In case people didn't see this, the Governor introduced this legislation (in his office' thread):

A further proposition my friends

Proposition 53: Initiative 31 (The Mideast Carbon Reduction Statute) is hereby repealed. The Mideast Region shall commit itself to achievable carbon reductions in 10 year periods.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I am introducing the following legislature:

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Possibly widen the scope to the Troll Resistance Act, including the statues of Gustaf and MasterJedi slashing at an army of trolls and January 3rd as Troll Resistance Day.

I could go for that.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Ok so proposing two bills for the Assembly's consideration:

1. Troll Resistance Commemoration Act
Whereas Gustaf, MasterJedi and other brave souls have shown excellent decisions in moderating the Fantasy Elections board and suppressing the troll wave,
Be it resolved that the following actions are taken:
A. A statue of Gustaf and MasterJedi shall be erected in the Mideast's capital with the inscription Viva la resistance!.
B. January 3rd shall be declared Troll Resistance Day.


2. Emergency Proposition Amendment
The following shall be included as a sub-section of the Mideast Constitution Article III, Section 2, Clause 3:
(i) In the event that the Governor finds it necessary to call for an emergency Proposition to be immediately presented before the People, the Governor may do so with the consent of the Lieutenant Governor or a majority vote of the Assembly.
(ii) The voting on emergency Propositions must take place within 72 hours after approval and remain open for 72 hours after opening or until a majority vote of the People has been reached.

The first one I support (since it's basically the principle of my earlier legislature).

The amendment is unfortunately out of our hands.  That's something the people have to vote on.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

So let's have a vote on the Troll Resistance Commemoration Act.

Aye


Don't Amendments have to be proposed by the Governor or Assembly? How do we put it before the people? Voting Booth?

The Speaker has to bring that to a vote.  And Amendments can be proposed by either the Governor or the Assembly, but only the Governor can open the voting booth, so that's really up to the Governor.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

No offense to Purple State, but I think somebody with a little more Mideastern experience would be better.  I'll take it, but if Peter wants it, Peter, you can have it.

As for how we get a speaker, one must just be nominated and then voted on (that was the first resolution that the Assembly passed - I believe it's on page 2 of this thread, but I'm too lazy to go and quote it).

So, if somebody would like to nominate me, then go ahead, otherwise, I nominate Peter.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Now we just have to wait for Peter's input.  Actually - we'll just put both to a vote.  I don't care either way, so I'll vote AYE on both.  Peter, if you want the position, just vote NAY on me and AYE on yourself.  I'll bring it to a vote since we don't have a speaker:

On the confirmation of Inks.LWC as Speaker of the Assembly: AYE

On the confirmation of Peter as Speaker of the Assembly: AYE

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

So because he isn't here yet, Aye to Inks for Speaker.

Now let's get some stuff passed.

I'm not going to close the vote until Peter gives input.  He's been a longtime citizen of the region and if he wants the position of Speaker, he can have it.  The legislation can wait until tomorrow.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Governor, as I said in your office - Amendments have always (at least since I've been a citizen) been opened as necessary, not during the window.  Besides, this region could use a good court case!  But seriously, that precedent has never been challenged, and I see no reason that it would be now.

Furthermore, I STRONGLY oppose a Third Constitution.  Calls for a second constitution were the exact thing that got us in this mess.  I don't know if you remember what happened (I don't think you were quite as involved back then - lucky you), but we called for a constitutional convention only to find me as the only person who kept bumping the thread trying to get things done.  So then the PEOPLE of the Mideast pushed it onto Xahar to do.  And he gave us what we have now.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

If we get enough interest in forming a Third Constitution it is definitely worth consideration. I give you my word I would help considerably to make things work, as I believe the Governor seems like one to be active in such a process. I would support this if it were to be carried out.

If I see that actions will actually be carried through, I'll support it.  But we've had promises for action in the past that have often fallen through.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Due to the fact that we now have at least 3 people committed to getting us a new Constitution, I will support the movement.  However, I do so cautiously - this is not something that we can just start and stop when we get bored.  It must be completed, and completed well, otherwise we'll find ourselves back in this position in another 6 months.

Now, the process for a Constitutional Convention (and this is the same as last time): The Constitution offers no provision for a CC.  This means that we need to simply pass the Third Constitution as an "Amendment" to the 2nd Constitution (for those of you who find this weird sounding, it's what we did when we voted on the 2nd Constitution).  This means that for the 3C to pass, we need a 2/3 majority support of the Constitution/Amendment.

The Assembly could pass legislation allowing for a convention, but we must remember that anything done in that convention is not legally binding.  The only thing that will be legally binding is the vote by the people.  I think we can get this done for the January election, which means it would go into effect AFTER the January election.

So, my question to the Assembly is, how do we want to do this?  Do we want to set up some kind of non-binding convention or do we want to do it some other way?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Now, on to official business: I bring the following legislation to a vote:

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[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Now, on to official business: I bring the following legislation to a vote:

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Aye

Due to the fact that we now have at least 3 people committed to getting us a new Constitution, I will support the movement.  However, I do so cautiously - this is not something that we can just start and stop when we get bored.  It must be completed, and completed well, otherwise we'll find ourselves back in this position in another 6 months.

Now, the process for a Constitutional Convention (and this is the same as last time): The Constitution offers no provision for a CC.  This means that we need to simply pass the Third Constitution as an "Amendment" to the 2nd Constitution (for those of you who find this weird sounding, it's what we did when we voted on the 2nd Constitution).  This means that for the 3C to pass, we need a 2/3 majority support of the Constitution/Amendment.

The Assembly could pass legislation allowing for a convention, but we must remember that anything done in that convention is not legally binding.  The only thing that will be legally binding is the vote by the people.  I think we can get this done for the January election, which means it would go into effect AFTER the January election.

So, my question to the Assembly is, how do we want to do this?  Do we want to set up some kind of non-binding convention or do we want to do it some other way?

It is definitely best, I believe, to start with the non-binding convention to ensure that, if things fall apart (not that they will), there is still a semi-workable Constitution left. It would also, if I understand correctly, allow us to move forward on forming a new Constitution without waiting for a delay on passing an Amendment, meaning we could start immediately.

Just want to state, to ensure that I do not forget later, that I recommend including provisions for calling an official convention in the 3C so that wasteful delays on Amendment voting is not necessary in the future.

Right - I had meant to say that I wanted that provision in the 3C, but must have forgotten.

Does anybody have ideas on how to go about doing the convention?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

On the following matter:

Troll Resistance Commemoration Act

I vote: AYE


The Act passes with 2 AYE votes and 1 NAY vote.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Should we begin to construct legislation to call for a 3CC?

I'll let you draft it, since you seem pretty eager to do so, and I'll propose any amendments that I think might be helpful after I see your bill.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Mideast Constitutional Convention Bill

Be it resolved that:

A) Upon passage of this bill, a Convention to review and rewrite the Constitution of the Mideast region shall be convened forthwith.
B) Results of said Convention shall hold no legal bearing on the governance of the Mideast without a two-thirds vote in favor of implementation. The vote must be held in an official voting booth for no less than seven days. Additional voting requirements shall be determined by the Convention.
C) The Convention shall be chaired by a presiding officer as determined by a majority vote of the People of the Mideast.
D) All elections required by this law shall require the participation of 50% of all current Mideast residents to be valid.

A couple things - section B has some problems.  First, the first sentence isn't really necessary, since it's already in the Constitution, but we can include it for clarification - I just want make sure that people understand that section B is in no way doing anything other than affirming what the Constitution says in Article VI, Section 1, clause 1.

Second, the voting booth would be held open for 3 days, since we don't have the power to dictate how long voting booths are held open for.  However, votes held during the convention (let's say a vote to include ________ in the constitution) could be held open longer, since those votes are non-legally binding and thus are not propositions.

Section C will have to be elaborated in order to give us a process of how to do that.  Can anybody run?  Must they be nominated?  Who opens the booth?

Remember - we have to establish all of this - the Governor can't just open these booths unless we say so in this legislation, because if we assume that he'll open stuff, we're assuming that these are propositions, and then we're doing this unconstitutionally.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Here's my proposed changes, which I hope you'll take as friendly amendments.  If not, let me know and I'll open the floor to vote on any amendments which are regarded as not friendly.

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[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

That is what I have so far. Because the entire Convention is not actually legally binding the format and procedure does not need to be done through formal means such as a voting booth. All of it can be done within the Convention thread except for the final vote before the people. This way we don't need to avoid any problems with who is allowed to do what in the legal realm of Atlasian or Mideastern governance. It is sort of a fact-finding committee to reform the Constitution. We just need guidelines to make sure the new Constitution is a) an improvement over the current one and b) crafted with the voice of the people to ensure that it passes and serves the constituency.

Right - I had planned on the Governor doing the booth for presiding officer over the convention, but what you just rewrote alleviates the problem of having the Governor open it.  The only question I have for you now is, who will be in charge of the initial election for presiding officer (since the presiding officer can be in charge of further elections once he takes his position).

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

How about the Speaker of the Assembly just to make it quick and easy. After that we can setup bylaws to possibly open other bureaucratic posts like a Secretary to make sure everything is taken down and organized.

By "we" do you mean the convention participants?  I'd like to keep the Assembly out of this as much as possible.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Now, on to official business: I bring the following legislation to a vote:

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Since this was eventually proven fruitless due to the onslaught, I feel this bill should be rethought.  Although I still applaud MasterJedi and Gustaf for their initial and valiant efforts.

hrrhmm

The onslaught was impossible to avoid since Dave didn't ban Ogis.  I stand by that legislation.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I'm happy with the 3C bill as it stands now.  Are we prepared to bring it to a vote?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Go for it Mr. Speaker. If it passes do we start right away or must we wait the three days after passage to begin implementation?

I do wish we received more input from the rest of the people of the Mideast. If it is hard to get a quorum present and voting the Convention may crash and burn relatively quickly. Can we assume that people will swing by and cast votes at some point?

That's a pretty large assumption, but I think we've gotten a lot of participation in the current amendment vote.  However, now that you brought it up again, I think 50% may be a little too high.  Perhaps that should be the initial standard but we'll put in a provision to allow the convention to lower that number to no lower than say, 1/3 of the voters, if necessary?

Sorry - but I have to go do some stuff - I'll be back later to work over the bill some more.