Third Constitution of the Republic of Atlasia

[minionofmidas]

I don't say that Colin, you say that I say that.  The concept of enumerated powers is independent of any concept of federalism, Colin.  To provide a real world example, the Constitution of the State of Texas (and of the Republic of Texas that preceded it) also limits its government to enumerated powers.

In the case of the existing Regional governments, I am willing to tolerate their lack of enumerated powers because they are direct democracies and not republics.

I'll grant that because of the elimination of the Regions we may wish to add to the existing list of enumerated powers.  I'm even including as a starting point the addition of powers such as the regulation of Abortion that have been the province of the Regions heretofore and that you or others have expressed a desire to have the consolidated government deal with.

I do not accept the proposition that merely denying a republic certain powers and guaranteeing certain rights is sufficient protection against the abuse of power as it permits those running the republic to abuse those powers not envisaged at the time the constitution was written and puts the people at the disadvantage in such cases.

To repeat, the concept of enumerated powers is a requirement for my support of this proposal, while the specific powers enumerated is something I'm willing to leave to the considered judgment of the Senate.

Clearly the way forward, in this case, is to make Atlasia into a direct democracy.

[minionofmidas]

Clearly the way forward, in this case, is to make Atlasia into a direct democracy.

Except then, what point to having elections, and without elections, what point to Atlasia?

There would still be presidential elections. We could also go the way of most US states and elect all the cabinet members directly.


Or, rather than a bicameral parliament, we could have a Senate as now but have all laws requiring passage by both the Senate and the people, and all constitutional amendments requiring two-thirds passage by the Senate and the people.

[minionofmidas]

Can someone simply call for a national referendum on this for an immeadiate vote?

Presumably someone could motion that no further amendments be allowed, however, I don't see why the document should be rushed - especially when current opinion polls indicate that it is, in it's current state, more likely to fail than pass. Surely it would be better to seek to further amend the document to meet the concerns of the prospective Nay voters first.

Indeed, it's safe to say that the chance of passage of the document in its current state is slim indeed, though not quite none.

[minionofmidas]

Personally, I could live with the abolution of the regions if there were way more direct democracy elements on the national level, but I can't speak for others.

[minionofmidas]

Um... wasn't the Death Penalty abolished in the old Atlasia as well?

[minionofmidas]

Btw, just a reminder to Afleitch and TD: If this doesn't get two more aye votes within the next 24 hours, it fails.

Lewis Trondheim - More Courageous than Sam Spade since 16/12/1978