MasterJedi
Atlas Star
Posts: 23,808
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« on: July 06, 2009, 12:15:35 PM » |
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« edited: July 09, 2009, 04:52:55 PM by Senator MasterJedi, PPT »
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Federal Government Accountability and Oversight Reform Bill
The OSPR is amended as follows
Article 3 Section 2 Clause 2 is amended as follows.
There shall be nine slots available for debating legislation on the Senate floor. Of these slots, three shall be available for any purpose; two shall be available for any purpose except the debating of Amendments to the Constitution; one shall be available only for legislation that the PPT considers to be related to forum affairs or emergency legislation which can be introduced pursuant to Article 7, Section 1 of this resolution; one shall be available for any piece of legislation, regardless of its location in the queue, at the PPT's discretion; one shall be available for debating veto overrides pursuant to Article 5, Section 3; and one shall be available for the conducting of all investigative hearings and the debate and passage of subpoena resolutions.
Article: 7 Senate Oversight Powers
Sections 1. Hearing Rules
1. The Senate shall have the power to conduct investigative hearings for the purpose of government oversight and accountability.
2. Senators are not to slander the official they are questioning.
3. The officials should answer all questions as honestly as they possibly can.
4. Officials can be held in contempt of the Senate if they knowingly lie or refuse to answer a question. The one exception to this would be that if there is a current or potential court case that is related to the subject matter of the hearing and in answering the question, the official may refuse to answer a question asked of them on the grounds that it may incriminate him or herself.
5. If an official cannot take part in the hearing at the present time they should post this in the hearing thread and inform the Senate of the earliest possible time of compliance.
6. If an official refuses to acknowledge the hearing, he or she may be held in contempt of the senate.
Section 2. Process to Convene an Investigative Hearing
1. A resolution that subpoenas an official may be introduced in the Legislation Introduction thread. In order for the Resolution to be taken up for a vote it must be co-sponsored by two Senators.
2. Once introduced in accordance with clause one, the PPT will bring it to the floor as soon as an appropriate slot opens up.
3. The resolution must have at least 48 hours of debate after which, the resolution comes up for a final vote. However if there is a broad consensus that the hearing should occur the PPT shall move it too a final vote within 24 hours.
4. Only a simple majority shall be necessary to subpoena a public official.
5. Once the Senate has passed a subpoena resolution, The PPT shall open up a thread in the Hearings slot for the hearing to take place. The PPT is also charged with informing the official that he/she has been subpoenaed, how long they have to respond, and that they may be held in contempt for not complying with the subpoena.
Section 3. Closing an Investigative hearing
1. If either the Senators are satisfied with the officials answers or the PPT feels the Hearing has gotten off task, the PPT may call for a vote to adjourn which shall need only a simple majority to pass.
Section 4. Contempt of the Senate
1. If a senator feels that an official shall be held in contempt, he may introduce a contempt of the Senate resolution. The Resolution must have two co-sponsors in order for the PPT to bring it up for a vote.
2. Once the PPT brings it to the floor for a vote the Senate must debate it for no less the 72 hours. A vote will be open if no debate has occurred within 24 hours and it must pass by a three-fourths majority.
All subsequent Articles are renumbered accordingly
Spon: Sen. NC Yankee
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