The Imperial Dominion of the South's Legislature

[Bacon King]

Well. I recessed the Legislature and there's no Speaker to un-recess it.

Hold on a second. Did some research here.

The Speaker isn't even mentioned in the legislative section of the regional Constitution. The only reference to the job is in the Executive session, where it notes that the Speaker will serve as temporary Emperor if the offices of both Emperor and Viceroy are simultaneously vacant.

Furthermore, I see no ability for the Speaker- or anyone else- to dissolve the legislature either in statute or the Constitution. In fact, the only thing even tangentially related I can find are these fairly antiquated standing rules of the legislature, which specifies in Rule 3, Clause 3 that the legislature has "daily sessions." So even if your motion to recess was legal and effective, we came back into session on Christmas morning and have been in session ever since.

I furthermore note that due to the Legislative Vacancy Act, each of my colleagues will be removed from their offices if they don't take part in any "legislative business" for seven days. Accepting the most liberal interpretation of your actions, that as Speaker you could validly recess the legislature for the remainder of the day and that such a recess "resets the clock" for the day count in the Legislative Vacancy Act, that gives my fellow Legislators until midnight on New Year's Eve to take part in official business.

I've also looked for a while and I don't think we even have a Viceroy. What's up with that? Did we abolish the position and just not update the wiki or something? There's also no reference in law to the selection of the speaker so we really have no legal way of selecting one.


Therefore, in order to allow for my fellow Legislators to conduct official business before Tuesday and not get removed from office, I'd like to formally and officially propose Adam Griffin as Speaker of the IDS Legislature. I note that regional law does not require the Speaker to be a member of the legislature, that Adam has performed a satisfactory job in his prior service as Co-Speaker, and that he has experience with precedent to help us transform from this ad-hoc duck-taped-together excuse for a legislative body to something with some cohesive rules actually fitting a parliamentary system.

Under standard/default parliamentary procedure, I ask for a second to this nomination; I believe this election will be considered valid in the event of a majority of current office-holders voting in favor of this nomination, but anyone more familiar with Robert's Rules feel free to correct me.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Traditionally, we've only actually removed Legislators for inactivity when their inactivity was a serious impediment to the activity of the Legislature as a whole. After all, we're not here to cause stress and consternation.

     I remember a non-Senator once ran for PPT and was treated as a valid candidate. I can't imagine why we wouldn't do the same here.

[Bacon King]

     Traditionally, we've only actually removed Legislators for inactivity when their inactivity was a serious impediment to the activity of the Legislature as a whole. After all, we're not here to cause stress and consternation.

Indeed, I agree, but the language of the statute is incredibly strict. It's a bit of a concern.

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Indeed.


Who is Viceroy anyway? Does that position still exist? If not, how did it get abolished?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I can't imagine what legislative body does not permit itself the ability to recess. We should probably create a formal recess option, as well as extend the inactive period needed to boot someone to 14 days, for the sake of clarity. I would also point out that the Standing Rules are not antiquated so much as they are ignored. For that matter, I don't think the Legislature has ever passed any regulation of its own proceedings that it has then followed.

     Viceroy was abolished since we found that it wasn't a terribly interesting office and was ultimately a fifth wheel in legislative proceedings. Things went much more smoothly just by having the Speaker conduct votes. We tried adding other duties to make Viceroy worthwhile, such as maintaining the regional rolls, but they didn't really help.

[Bacon King]

Oh wait, I see it. This was the repeal of the Viceroy. Unfortunately, that's not valid. The Viceroy is specified in the Constitution so it takes a Constitutional amendment to repeal it. I can write up something later today. On that note, I can also write up something to the effect of a cohesive OSPR for the IDS Legislature as well, for us to observe.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Thank you. I've been thinking we need to amend the Constitution to do that, but I have been sidetracked.

[Wisconsin+17]

What up *****es.

[Wisconsin+17]

Bacon King, we have several things that need to be done first before we have the speaker election, such as SJoyce filling his seat. So, given that Adam has resigned, and SJoyce is still speaker until his replacement, your motion is out of order.

We'll get back to business on the second, which is just three days away. First item on the agenda is SJoyce's replacement, followed by the speaker election.
 
Also, this house is still recessed until Sjoyce reopens things on the second. Inactivity requires that the house be in session. Given that the house is out of session, inactivity doesn't apply.

[Wisconsin+17]

Also, my inactivity timer now resets to 7 days by your interpretation. Have a wonderful ****ing New years Bacon King.

[Bacon King]

PRESENTING: BACON KING'S EMERGENCY FIXER-UPPER AMENDMENT!

Article I, Section 9 is hereby amended to read:

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Article I, Section 10 is hereby amended to read:

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Article I, Section 12 is hereby amended to read:

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Article II is hereby amended to read:

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Article VII, Clause 3 is hereby amended to read:

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Article VII, Clause 4 is hereby amended to read:

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[JerryArkansas]

Every one, is it ok that i take my seat.

[Donerail]

Every one, is it ok that i take my seat.

Yep. Sign in ASAP.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Looks good. Thanks, Bacon King.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Any more opinions on Bacon King's proposed amendment?

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Are we back in session?

[Wisconsin+17]

As of 600 AM CST we are.

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It's not at the top of the order paper. We need to pick a speaker now that we are back in session.
 

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Okay. Anyone want to be speaker? Adam Griffin will have to come post in here if he wants to accept Bacon King's nomination.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Also, the Late-Term Abortion Restriction Act was passed, appropriating $10,000,000 for expanding safe-sex education programs and access to contraceptive services. We should come up with a plan toward that end ASAP.

[Wisconsin+17]

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I do.

[Wisconsin+17]

Let's give Griffen 24 hours to announce his candidacy, otherwise we'll start the speaker election.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I thought he left the IDS? Or is he still up for reelection next time?

[Adam Griffin]

I accept Bacon King's nomination.

[Wisconsin+17]

Ok, let's have the speaker election then!

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I suppose this time is the right time, to choose someone to lead our Legislature. You have 72 hours to vote now. Let's go!

[ ] Adam Griffin
[ ] Ben Kenobi

[Wisconsin+17]

[ ] Adam Griffin
[ x ] Ben Kenobi