Senate Resolution Calling for a Constitutional Convention (Debate open)

[minionofmidas]

Senate Resolution Calling for a Constitutional Convention

Section 1: Consent
The Senate of Atlasia hereby gives its consent to the President of Atlasia to call a Constitutional Convention.

Section 2: Delegate Selection
a. The SoFA shall compile a list of registered voters

b. Each region shall receive one delegate for every ten residents, and one for every five voters in the last election.

I need to check the actual figures, but this is likely to result in overrepresentation of larger regions. I'm understanding it to mean for every completed 10/5, not rounded?

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Uh, we have write-ins in this country. These are regional elections. The SoFA's constitutional authority to impose rules on them is doubtful.

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Over my dead body. Nobody with a shred of respect for the Convention's rights, or for Region's rights, or for Atlasia, or for federalism, could have come up with that idea. Obviously the Convention shall elect Presiding Officers as it shall see fit.

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There are no such votes (unless you mean he takes over the VP's current role of breaking ties in Senate votes, in which case that's obviously unconstitutional. But I doubt you meant that.). Do you mean ties in votes in the Convention?

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Could do with a rewrite: "Vacancies, should they occur, shall be filled by the Governor of the region in which the vacacy occurred."

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Meaning what?
Also, worth pointing out the Constitutional text here: "Upon application of the citizens of a majority of the Regions, the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall call a Constitutional Convention to amend or replace this Constitution. The Convention shall be constituted under regulations determined by the Senate. Such amendments or the replacement proposed by the Convention shall become operative when ratified by two-thirds of the Convention and the citizens of three-quarters of the Regions, in a public poll administered by the Governor or other officer as Regional Law may provide. All public polls mandated under this section shall be via public post and shall last for exactly one week." Article VII, Section 2. If your para. means what I think it means, it is once again unconstitutional.

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Why should that be? It should begin immediately after all members have been selected.

[qute]2. A Child Board will be requested for the Convention to operate in. If the request is not made then the Convention shall conduct it's business in the Atlas Fantasy Government sub-forum.

[quote]There would be the alternative of hosting a forum somewhere else, as was done in the past. Certainly far superior to using the Government board. I agree that a new Child Board would be best, though.

[minionofmidas]

I propose Meeker's idea to replace section two of the bill.

I oppose that. (just ftr)

[minionofmidas]

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To give everyone time to get their bearings? I thought that was easier than just saying "as soon as the results are certified we begin." If you want to change that it's fine; I don't really care.

     I think it would be good to have some time for people to wind down before the convention, but a week might be too long. I would probably like 48 hours after all delegates have been chosen for the convention to start.

"As soon as all members have been selected and [a quorum, say 50% or whatever] have sworn in"?

[minionofmidas]

They can pass amendments or an entirely new Constitution all they want under the current Constitutional rules. All I mean by that is that the thing won't officially end and stop business without 3/4 support.

The thing ends when it presents its draft for a new Constitution (or list of amendments). Which requires 2/3 support. That's not something the Senate is free to legislate on.

[minionofmidas]

Good thing that.

I call on all Senators to introduce something like I outlined before while this vote lasts.

[minionofmidas]

Subsequently, depending on how my amendment goes, I'd like to propose either adding a separate section to DWTL's version or a new clause to the end of Section 3 of my version with the text:

The next order of business will be a vote on whether the new Constitution will abolish the federal government or the regional governments of the Republic of Atlasia.

I think that's pretty clear. The amendment should be voted on.

If it's not, I might seek redress in court.

[minionofmidas]

Feel free to do so

I will defer to the wisdom of the former ilikeverin. He seems to be the one with the legal standing, anyhow.

[minionofmidas]

This is an inrage and will go unpunished.