Cabinet Restructuring Bill

[Democratic Hawk]

In my capacity PPT, I have deemed this to be forum affairs legislation and moved it into the fifth debate slot

Cabinet Restructuring Bill

1. Article VIII, Section 2, Clause 1 is replaced with:

These Executive Departments are hereby established: Forum Affairs, Defense and Foreign Affairs, and Domestic Affairs. The Principal Officer of the Department of Forum Affairs shall be a Secretary, and the Principal Officer of the other departments shall be the Vice President.

2. Any mention of "Attorney General" in Atlasian Law shall be replaced with "Secretary of Forum Affairs".

3. Any mention of "Secretary of Defense", "Secretary of State", or "Secretary of Treasury" shall be replaced with "Vice President".

4. Any mention of "Justice Department" shall be replaced with "Department of Forum Affairs".

5. The mention of "Attorney General" in Article VIII, Section 2, Clause 4 shall be replaced with "Vice President".

Sponsor: Sen. Jake

[Democratic Hawk]

Any senator may challenge my decision pursuant to Article 3, Section 2, Clause 3 of the OSPR within the next 72 hours

Should 1/3 of the Senate (i.e. 3) concur then my decision is overruled

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

I must say that we should not alter the duties of the Vice President at the same time, as it would actually be beyond the allowed constitutional scope of this bill

I agree

As far as Cabinet restructuring goes, I regard the following options as being feasible:

1. Merging the Secretariats of Defense and State into one Secretariat of External Affairs (or the Exterior)

2. Merging the Secretariat of Forum Affairs and the office of Attorney General into one Secratariat of Internal Affairs (or the Interior)

3. Abolishing the position of Deputy Secretary of Forum Affairs

This would reduce the federal executive branch from 8 members to 5

I'm against giving the Vice President added functions simply because I'm concerned as to what would happen in the event of any future Vice President going on a prolonged and unexplained absence. We have already encountered such an untenable situation and another just won't do

That said, a recent speech of mine addressed the subject of government structural reform and I stated loud and clear that I hoped that this whole issue would be a central theme in the campaigns of those Atlasians seeking the presidency in October; therefore, I'm sympathetic to the sentiments expressed by Afleitch

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

2. Merging the Secretariat of Forum Affairs and the office of Attorney General into one Secratariat of Internal Affairs (or the Interior)

3. Abolishing the position of Deputy Secretary of Forum Affairs

This would reduce the federal executive branch from 8 members to 5

On these specific points, as I've already stated, I feel that the position of SoFA is one which already requires a significant commitment. I do not wish to see that office burdened further. Such a concern was likely the motivation behind the creation of the Dep. SoFA, a position I haven;t moved to abolish because if a SoFA feels it advantageous to appoint an official assistant, I feel such an accomodation should be allowed.

Fair enough. I've no intention of proposing an amendment along the lines of what I've suggested

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

I don't know what all has been said already in terms of a comprehensive amendment, but I would think something like this would be in order:

1. Attorney General powers taken over by Dean of the Senate, except for prosecution, which the Vice President would take over.  If the VP is the one accused, the President appoints someone else to handle the prosecution.

2. VP also handles State, Defense, and Treasury departments.

3. SoFA remains as is.

4. VP is elected separately from Pres (make for a more interesting game I think).  The VP is elected in the midterms.

Any Senator wishing to propose this as an amendment?

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

I don't know what all has been said already in terms of a comprehensive amendment, but I would think something like this would be in order:

1. Attorney General powers taken over by Dean of the Senate, except for prosecution, which the Vice President would take over.  If the VP is the one accused, the President appoints someone else to handle the prosecution.

2. VP also handles State, Defense, and Treasury departments.

3. SoFA remains as is.

4. VP is elected separately from Pres (make for a more interesting game I think).  The VP is elected in the midterms.

Any Senator wishing to propose this as an amendment?

'Hawk'

Of course someone would have to rewrite it in bill form to propose it as an amendment.

Since it's an amendment to this Bill, I'll write it as such (i.e in the style of Senator Jake's original Bill). Should I do so, I must stress that it doesn't mean I'll support it

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

I hereby open the vote on this amendment. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain

Proposed amendment:
1. Article VIII, Section 2, Clause 1 is replaced with:

These Executive Departments are hereby established: Forum Affairs; External Affairs; and Justice. The Principal Officers of these departments shall be Secretaries, with the exception of the Department of Justice whose principal officer shall be the Attorney General.

2. All duties or responsibilities ascribed in law to the "Secretary of Defense" and "Secretary of State" shall hereinafter be vested in the "Secretary of External Affairs".
 
3. All duties or responsibilities ascribed in law to the "Secretary of Treasury" shall hereinafter be vested in the President.

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

Since I agree with the amendment for the most part, I'll vote Aye . I stress, however, I'm far from decided on the final Bill

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

With 6 'Ayes', 3 'Nays' and 0 Abstentions, this amendment has passed

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

As I see it, the passing of Senator Jas' amendment has superseded the original Bill ; however, Senator Jake has proposed that an amendment be added to Section 2:

All powers delegated to the Attorney General in F.L.13 shall be delegated to the Dean of the Senate.

So, basically, as I understand it, it is now down to me to make the appropriate adjustments to the amendment that has just passed, so in effect it will be a 'new' - kind of composite - amendment once I introduce it

Also True Democrat has suggested an amendment, which I shall introduce later

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

Senator Jake,

Bearing in mind the amendment that has just passed, is it your intention that office of Attorney General:

1. Be abolished completely?; or
2. Just have those powers delegated to him in F.L-13 delegated to the Dean of the Senate?

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

I withdraw it for now. A rewritten version will appear later tonight.

OK, Senator

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

I'm allowing Senator Jake a little more time (i.e. 24 hours) to propose his re-written amendment

I myself intend to propose an amendment as requested by True Democrat - unless I feel Jake's amendment more or less encapsulates this

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

I myself intend to propose an amendment as requested by True Democrat - unless I feel Jake's amendment more or less encapsulates this

After much thought, I don't actually agree with True Democrat's proposal for the Cabinet, it concentrates too much responsibility in the hands of the Vice President. I would, therefore, not be supporting it. It was not much different from the original Bill, proposed by Senator Jake, and since that has been superceded by the passing of Senator Jas' amendment, I see no point in introducing it

I have contacted Senator Jake re the amendment he said he was working on but if it isn't forthcoming 24 hours hence, I'll be opening up a final vote on this Bill

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

I hereby open the vote on final Bill. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain

Proposed amendment:
1. Article VIII, Section 2, Clause 1 is replaced with:

These Executive Departments are hereby established: Forum Affairs; External Affairs; and Justice. The Principal Officers of these departments shall be Secretaries, with the exception of the Department of Justice whose principal officer shall be the Attorney General.

2. All duties or responsibilities ascribed in law to the "Secretary of Defense" and "Secretary of State" shall hereinafter be vested in the "Secretary of External Affairs".
 
3. All duties or responsibilities ascribed in law to the "Secretary of Treasury" shall hereinafter be vested in the President.

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

But Jake withdrew this, there can be no vote you know.

I'm of the understanding that Senator Jake introduced the original Bill, Senator Jas proposed a 'whole Bill' amendment, while Jake had also proposed an amendment to his original Bill. Senator Jas' amendment passed, which replaced the original Bill, so I asked Jake of his intentions re-his amendment, which specifically pertained to the office of Attorney General

He said that he would withdraw it for now and a rewritten version would appear later. Now I took that as meaning his amendment, rather than the Bill itself

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

Abstain

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

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

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

With 6 Ayes, 0 Nay and 3 Abstentions this Bill has passed. I hereby present to the President for his signature

'Hawk'