UDL Convention, December '10 (Official business complete.)

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Anyway, this is my idea for primaries:

When there are more the one UDL candidates for an office, inter-party primary shall be held.

For offices elected at-large (President, Senate at-large seats) all members, regardless of regions, may vote.

For offices elected regionwide (Regional Senators, Governors, etc. etc.) only members registered in certain region may vote.

Also, if we establish regional chairmen, this rule should apply as well.

[HappyWarrior]

I like the original proposal but am fine with the updated one.  I also would like to say that I am not all that big on the idea of the council seats being so specialized, especially if we have the five council seats.  Other than that I'm perfectly fine with the other proposals and do plan to run for one of the council seats.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I do plan to run for Council seat as well. I'm confident my activity is the best argument

[Dr. Cynic]

I'll be a candidate for a council seat as well as the ceremonial title of President (If you guys don't want me doing anything lol )

[HappyWarrior]

I'll be a candidate for a council seat as well as the ceremonial title of President (If you guys don't want me doing anything lol )

Can you do both?

[Insula Dei]

I hereby launch my campaign for the council.

I pledge:

-to vote for the candidate that best represents our values as a left-wing party for president.

-to support term limits for members of the council.

-to support measures to allow all party members to have a vote on their president.

-to pay special attention to members with a non-JCP background and new members

I also support my fellow candidate Sewer for the council since he has shown a large commitment and sense of sacrifice for the cause of a new era in atlasian politics.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Since we're already campaigning

I offer myself for a member of the council because:

1. My dedication to the game has already been proved. I'm a person who likes to do stuff. Do a lot of stuff
2. I have an experience in developing new project, just to mention Midwest Universal Althing, and I'm pretty sure my energy and ideas can be useful right here and right now
3. In addition to experience mentioned, I have an experience in recruitment, including inviting some people to the UDL in last two days

Reassuming, I want to do stuff for the UDL, give me a chance *hughughug*

[HappyWarrior]

There are a number of reasons I think I will be a great member of the soon to be formed council, and a great leader for this party:

1) I have helped to lead growing parties before in Atlasia, including being a founding member of both the Democratic Alliance and the AUB, both of which achieved a decent amount of success during their time.  I was also a leader within the Progressive Liberal Party when I first arrived on the scene in Atlasia.
2) I have been an active member of Atlasia consistently for the past number of years and I feel that I have truly proven myself to others within Atlasia.
3)  I have formed important personal relationships with members of each of the other parties in Atlasia which often prove crucial in Atlasian elections.
4)  I can represent a moderate voice within the UDL's leadership structure, something that I think is very important to make a party strong, considering we will need to garner moderate and cross-party votes.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

There are a number of reasons I think I will be a great member of the soon to be formed council, and a great leader for this party:

1) I have helped to lead growing parties before in Atlasia, including being a founding member of both the Democratic Alliance and the AUB, both of which achieved a decent amount of success during their time.  I was also a leader within the Progressive Liberal Party when I first arrived on the scene in Atlasia.
2) I have been an active member of Atlasia consistently for the past number of years and I feel that I have truly proven myself to others within Atlasia.
3)  I have formed important personal relationships with members of each of the other parties in Atlasia which often prove crucial in Atlasian elections.
4)  I can represent a moderate voice within the UDL's leadership structure, something that I think is very important to make a party strong, considering we will need to garner moderate and cross-party votes.

You have my support.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I'll be a candidate for a council seat as well as the ceremonial title of President (If you guys don't want me doing anything lol )

Can you do both?

Actually I would think that the President could not serve on the council... I'd prefer that personally.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Since we're already campaigning

I offer myself for a member of the council because:

1. My dedication to the game has already been proved. I'm a person who likes to do stuff. Do a lot of stuff
2. I have an experience in developing new project, just to mention Midwest Universal Althing, and I'm pretty sure my energy and ideas can be useful right here and right now
3. In addition to experience mentioned, I have an experience in recruitment, including inviting some people to the UDL in last two days

Reassuming, I want to do stuff for the UDL, give me a chance *hughughug*

Endorsed.

For others, there are too much candidacies for me to endorse you all, so I'll have a hard time when I'll have to actually vote.

[Хahar 🤔]

I would support limiting members of the Council to one-time reelection, and disallowing reelection altogether for President.

The idea that Ogis proposed has merit, but I don't know if we could get enough interest in off months.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I would like to address the convention.

Fellow UDLers

This is a moment for the progressive movement in Atlasia.

I did not join this party to oppose one person, nor to oppose the JCP, where many good people remain and I wish nothing but the best to.

We do not need to be rivals, yes, our bases are similar, our views are similar, as are, I believe many of our goals. Where we are in competition, let that competition be open and fair, but where we can work together to forward a progressive agenda in the face of ideological dogma, let us do so without bitterness or suspicion, on either side.

As I said in my press release, while this party is the Union of the Democratic Left, we must be governed by decent pragmatism. If we allow ourselves to get bogged down in fighting ideological battles that the people of Atlasia have little time for, then we will deserve whatever we get from them in return.

In that end, I wish to put myself forward as a candidate for the UDL Council.

- I have experience in Atlasia, and especially experience in the formation of new parties.

- I have shown through my work as Mideast Governor and as a Northeast Representative, the desire to work with whoever wants to make Atlasia better, regardless of political stripe, and that includes differences within this party.

- I pledge to defend progressive values, while reaching out to independent voters, and our friends in the JCP to work together. We are a leftist party, but we are a progressive party, and I will fight for an inclusive party that is interested in a broad church.

- I will, as I have tried to do in the Northeast Assembly, defend the rule of law, and fight the unconstitutional concentration of legal authority in any one branch of government.

I look forward to the future to see what this party will be able to achieve, this momentum must not be lost, and I look forward to being a part of it.

[hawkeye59]

Since we're already campaigning

I offer myself for a member of the council because:

1. My dedication to the game has already been proved. I'm a person who likes to do stuff. Do a lot of stuff
2. I have an experience in developing new project, just to mention Midwest Universal Althing, and I'm pretty sure my energy and ideas can be useful right here and right now
3. In addition to experience mentioned, I have an experience in recruitment, including inviting some people to the UDL in last two days

Reassuming, I want to do stuff for the UDL, give me a chance *hughughug*

Endorsed!

[Antonio the Sixth]

Looks good. I guess I'll endorse you too.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Looks good. I guess I'll endorse you too.

There are 5 council seats, lol

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I would support limiting members of the Council to one-time reelection, and disallowing reelection altogether for President.

Yes. Rotating of responsibility will make sure we won't become a typical Atlasian party of one longtime leader/few eternal leaders.

Plus, internal vitality will benefit as well.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I would support limiting members of the Council to one-time reelection, and disallowing reelection altogether for President.

Yes. Rotating of responsibility will make sure we won't become a typical Atlasian party of one longtime leader/few eternal leaders.

Plus, internal vitality will benefit as well.

Can you clarify what is meant by this?

If it's one way, that's fine - if it's another, I see a HUGE problem.

[Marokai Backbeat]

(Alright let's actually post this in the right spot, now )

I'm happy to see campaigning for the council seats kicking off already, but to play this carefully, we should vote on our leadership structure

So, acting as some sort of interim chairman here for the purposes of the vote, let's vote on establishing the following positions:


Leadership Structure

1. President of the UDL, elected by all party members to a two month term. In the event of a vacancy, there shall be a special election to fill the position for the remainder of the term.

2. Executive Council, which shall consist of five individual council positions, elected by all members of the party, and shall decide amongst themselves party duties such as Whip, Secretary, etc. All Executive Council members shall have two month terms, and in the event of a vacancy, there shall be a special election to fill the position for the remainder of the term.

3. Chairman of the UDL, elected by majority vote by the Executive Council to two month terms, shall be responsible for leading and organizing the party, as well as opening conventions and votes, and representing the UDL to other parties. In the event of a vacancy, the Executive Council shall, by normal procedure, appoint someone to fill the position for the remainder of the term.

In the event that an Executive Council member attempts to be Chairman of the UDL, he or she must attain the normal amount of votes required for anyone else aside from that person's vote. Three votes will be required, not counting that person's vote.

4. All members shall be held to a consecutive term limit of two terms, serving for a maximum of two terms in a row, and holding no position or another position for the equivalent of one term before he or she is able to hold that position again.


We have 23 members according to Kalwejt's count. Let's try to get at least 12 members voting in total, for legitimacy's sake. I don't think that will be too hard.

[Marokai Backbeat]

That seems like everything we discussed, then, yes?

I'll vote aye.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Aye

[hawkeye59]

Aye

[Хahar 🤔]

I whipped up some quick bylaws relating to organizational matters:

1. The name of this party shall be the Union of the Democratic Left.
2. The symbol of the Union of the Democratic Left shall be the President.
3. The President shall be elected through IRV to a two-month term in even-numbered months.
4. The sitting President shall not be permitted to run for re-election.
5. The ruling body of the Union of the Democratic Left shall be the Executive Council.
6. The Executive Council shall have five members elected through STV to two-month terms in even-numbered months.
7. Members of the Executive Council shall not be permitted to run for re-election more than once consecutively.
8. The Chairman of the Executive Council shall be chosen by the Executive Council.
9. For a member of the Executive Council to be chosen as Chairman, the agreement of a majority of the other members of the Executive Council shall be required.
10. The President may be neither a member of the Executive Council nor Chairman of the Executive Council.
11. In the event of a vacancy in a position elected by the party at large, the position shall be filled in a special election held using IRV.
12. For the purpose of internal party matters, membership in the Union of the Democratic Left shall be conferred twenty-four hours after registration.
13. The Executive Council may expel a member from the party by four-fifths vote.
14. The bylaws may be amended with the concurrence of an absolute majority of the party membership and of two-thirds of those party members voting.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Ok that's reasonable, Aye

[Хahar 🤔]

All right, then, I'll vote aye on my bylaws.

Also, candidates for Council:

HappyWarrior
Kalwejt
Dr. Cynic? (Also expressed interest in Presidency)
belgiansocialist
polnut
Sewer Socialist