SENATE RESOLUTION: Expulsion Vote Length... (Passed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE RESOLUTION

To fix the minimum vote length for expulsion votes

Be it Resolved in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

Expulsion Vote Length Senate Rules Amendment

Article 7, Clause 5 of the Senate Rules is amended as follows:

5.) The President Pro Tempore shall open a thread and commence the debates. Debates shall last at least for 72 hours. After the debates have elapsed, the President Pro Tempore shall open a vote, which shall last for 3 days, or until enough votes have been cast to pass or reject expulsion. In order to expel the Senator, a two-third majority of the sitting Senators is needed.

People's Regional Senate
Pending

Sponsor: NC Yankee
Senate Designation: SR 9015

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The sponsor shall have 24 hours to commence an advocacy and all other members will have the remaining 48 hours of the initial debate period to post their initial comments, questions and concerns.

Failure to post will result in penalties and don't think statutes banning torture will protect you.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This resolution addresses a problem that was discovered when I went to close the vote on the Lechasseur expulsion motion and I found that I could not do so, on the account of the fact that the rules mandate a 72 hour vote minimum. Changing it in this fashion would have allowed for me to have closed it as soon as 4 ayes or 3 nays had been obtained.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

One concern I'd have is that people may change their minds in the 72 hours or indeed new circumstances may arise to swing them so there may be a cost in terms of deliberation. Also maybe this should also try and ensure every Senator gets to vote on it so that people get to see their Senators take an on the record stance. Maybe I'm misunderstanding but I feel I should share these concerns with the Senate.

How about doing a motion to allow for the early closing of the vote, giving 24 hours for vote changes like we do on legislation.

I would point out back in day final votes could last SEVEN DAYS And amendment votes FIVE, until this was cut to FIVE and THREE respectively, so early closing of votes was rather crucial. 

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

One concern I'd have is that people may change their minds in the 72 hours or indeed new circumstances may arise to swing them so there may be a cost in terms of deliberation. Also maybe this should also try and ensure every Senator gets to vote on it so that people get to see their Senators take an on the record stance. Maybe I'm misunderstanding but I feel I should share these concerns with the Senate.

On the first point, maybe if we extend the debate to a mandatory one-week debate? Or would that be too long?

As a mandatory minimum yes too long. Right now the mandatory minimum is 72 hours, but it can be extended by "keeping debate continuous" and objecting to a final vote motion. At that point cloture requires the same number of votes as passage of the expulsion itself, 2/3rds.

Continuous debate requires posting to have not ceased for longer than 24 hours.

In terms of general legislation, nobody takes the time to do a really sinister filibuster anymore, its a lost art.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I am not fond of the idea of doing two in one resolution. Each one is its own case and should be considered separately in my opinion. What if one comes back and the vote fails because 3 Senators vote against expelling said returning member, but the other remains gone. The Senate likely would not get another chance before Activity Standards Amendment nails them.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I wonder if we could add a period for people to change their votes? Like doesn't the House at least give 24 hours once a bill has enough votes to pass? Maybe we could copy that system.

If you have an amendment in this regards I wouldn't be hostile to it.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I generally prefer to keep things uniform so as to avoid confusion and complexity, thus my preference would be 24 hours for vote changes.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE RESOLUTION

To fix the minimum vote length for expulsion votes

Be it Resolved in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

Expulsion Vote Length Senate Rules Amendment

Article 7, Clause 5 of the Senate Rules is amended as follows:

5.) The President Pro Tempore shall open a thread and commence the debates. Debates shall last at least for 72 hours. After the debates have elapsed, the President Pro Tempore shall open a vote, which shall last for a maximum of 3 days. , or until enough votes have been cast to pass or reject expulsion.. When the articles of expulsion have enough votes to pass or fail, the President Pro Tempore shall announce that he or she will close the vote in 24 hours and that any Senator who wishes to change his or her vote must do so during that interval. In order to expel the Senator, a two-third majority of the sitting Senators is needed.

People's Regional Senate
Pending

Sponsor Feedback: Friendly
Status: Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment is adopted.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A final vote is now open on this resolution, Senators please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

AYE

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This has enough votes to pass, Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Vote on Final Passage of the Expulsion Vote Length Senate Rules Amendment:

Aye (6): Devout Centrist, Maineiac4434, NC Yankee, OntarioProgressive, Tack and Vern1988
Nay (0):
Abstain (0):

Didn't Vote (0): Our Long nightmare is over!


With a unanimous vote the resolution is adopted.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE RESOLUTION

To fix the minimum vote length for expulsion votes

Be it Resolved in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

Expulsion Vote Length Senate Rules Amendment

Article 7, Clause 5 of the Senate Rules is amended as follows:

5.) The President Pro Tempore shall open a thread and commence the debates. Debates shall last at least for 72 hours. After the debates have elapsed, the President Pro Tempore shall open a vote, which shall last for a maximum of 3 days. , or until enough votes have been cast to pass or reject expulsion.. When the articles of expulsion have enough votes to pass or fail, the President Pro Tempore shall announce that he or she will close the vote in 24 hours and that any Senator who wishes to change his or her vote must do so during that interval. In order to expel the Senator, a two-third majority of the sitting Senators is needed.

People's Regional Senate
Passed 6-0 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,