NE1: Official Language Act [Passed]
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 28, 2024, 10:32:37 AM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  Atlas Fantasy Elections
  Atlas Fantasy Government
  Regional Governments (Moderators: Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee, Lumine)
  NE1: Official Language Act [Passed]
« previous next »
Pages: [1]
Author Topic: NE1: Official Language Act [Passed]  (Read 1850 times)
Cincinnatus
JBach717
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,092
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« on: December 21, 2012, 08:29:39 AM »
« edited: December 26, 2012, 09:03:55 PM by Cincinnatus »

The Assembly will now consider the following legislation, introduced by Representative Poirot.  Debate will last 72 hours.

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
The world will shine with light in our nightmare
Just Passion Through
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 45,174
Norway


Political Matrix
E: -6.32, S: -7.48

P P P

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2012, 12:50:01 PM »

I have to be honest, I really don't see the need for this bill.
Logged
H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY
Alfred F. Jones
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 15,075
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2012, 01:04:25 PM »

I don't think we need to do this. And it discriminates against those who can't or choose not to speak English.
Logged
Barnes
Roy Barnes 2010
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,556


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2012, 04:19:33 PM »

I'm usually opposed to "official language" bills of any sort, and in regard to this bill, it really doesn't seem that necessary.
Logged
Poirot
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 3,517
Canada


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2012, 06:35:39 PM »

Number 2 and 3 of the proposal formalize the current situation. English is the language used in the assembly to debate and adopt laws. When there is a court case, the language of the court proceeding is also English. It is expected these bodies function in English but there doesn't seem to be a rule about it.

It is useful to define the common language because it makes it difficult for everyone to understand and participate if there are different languages used. If a bill is presented in another language than English many people would have to use translators to understand. In using translation you risk losing subtlety in meaning of the words. When interpreting laws the meaning of words are important. An example would be "within 7 days" and the different meanings are given to that simple expression.

Number 4 is to make the job of the election official easy and the process transparent. I have seen in other parts of Atlasia ballots filled using candidate names with cyrillic script or other alphabet (on my screen I only could see litlle squares). I don't think the election official should need to translate ballots and the voting process is more transparent if everyone can see and verify votes and the count. I don't think it discriminates other language speakers, you just have to copy and paste from the official ballot.

I have used the term Latin script to make it larger and include like accented characters that are easily readable. It leaves out smileys for voting because we use other forms of valid sign to mark voting intentions.
Logged
Goldwater
Republitarian
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 18,054
United States


Political Matrix
E: 1.55, S: -4.52

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2012, 06:40:33 PM »

I'm fine with this, although I'm not sure it's really necessary...
Logged
Poirot
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 3,517
Canada


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2012, 08:04:15 PM »

To illustrate what point number 4 is addressing, I found an example in the IDS December 2012 regional election, a post made on Dec. 22.
https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=166715.msg3564158#msg3564158

I don't know how they are going to deal with this vote. With my proposal the election official would not have the extra work of translating a ballot.

Point number 2 helps the assembly deal with the situation of a citizen submitting a bill in a foreign language (if the situation ever happens). We would not be forced to translate it. I could change the wording to Laws must be written in English, if it is deemed better.   
Logged
The world will shine with light in our nightmare
Just Passion Through
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 45,174
Norway


Political Matrix
E: -6.32, S: -7.48

P P P

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2012, 08:07:07 PM »

I would only be open to signing this bill if section one is removed and the title of the bill changed.  I do not believe the Northeast needs to declare an "official language" even with these requirements in place.
Logged
Barnes
Roy Barnes 2010
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,556


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2012, 09:57:57 PM »

I offer the following amendment:

The Official Ballot Language Act

1. The official language of the Northeast is English.
2. Laws must be adopted in the official language.
3. The judicial system operates in the official language.

4.1. Voting ballot must be filled using Latin script. For a ballot to be counted in a regional election, it must be cast in the same language by which is was presented to the voter.
2. This act may not be applied retroactively to any election before the enactment of this act.
Logged
Poirot
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 3,517
Canada


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2012, 11:17:54 PM »

Perhaps that is the most the assembly will agree with. I tried to regroup a few aspects related to the language used in the game official functions in a coherent bill.

I think the content of my bill proposal is only what is expected from citizens. If someone proposed a bill in Japanese to be original of for the fun of it, what would the assembly do. I imagine something like please resubmit it in English so all people understand it and we can debate it. Basically laws need to be in English.

It's not of extreme importance to me. I expected reluctance from what I observed in Atlasia when the topic of language is discussed. 
Logged
The world will shine with light in our nightmare
Just Passion Through
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 45,174
Norway


Political Matrix
E: -6.32, S: -7.48

P P P

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2012, 11:22:04 PM »

Rep. Poirot, do you consider the amendment friendly or unfriendly?  It isn't added to the bill unless your approval or disapproval is made clear.
Logged
Poirot
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 3,517
Canada


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2012, 06:15:59 PM »

I will say friendly.
Logged
Cincinnatus
JBach717
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,092
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2012, 06:22:20 PM »

I see no reason not to vote in favor of this in the amended form.  Does anyone object to ending debate tonight?..
Logged
Poirot
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 3,517
Canada


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2012, 07:38:59 PM »

I have a minor thing to add.

I think a typo. In clause 1, change is to it, so will read "by which it was presented to the voter".

For clause 2, I don't see how we could change election results retroactively but I don't have a problem with it if we need this security.

I don't have objection to end debate tonight.
Logged
Poirot
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 3,517
Canada


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2012, 08:32:51 PM »

I insert the modification of is to it.

I offer the following amendment:

The Official Ballot Language Act

1. The official language of the Northeast is English.
2. Laws must be adopted in the official language.
3. The judicial system operates in the official language.

4.1. Voting ballot must be filled using Latin script. For a ballot to be counted in a regional election, it must be cast in the same language by which it was presented to the voter.
2. This act may not be applied retroactively to any election before the enactment of this act.

Logged
Cincinnatus
JBach717
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,092
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #15 on: December 25, 2012, 10:18:46 PM »

Debate time has expired.  We will now vote on the final text;


The Official Ballot Language Act

1. For a ballot to be counted in a regional election, it must be cast in the same language by which it was presented to the voter.
2. This act may not be applied retroactively to any election before the enactment of this act.
Logged
H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY
Alfred F. Jones
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 15,075
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #16 on: December 26, 2012, 12:17:14 AM »

Nay.
Logged
Goldwater
Republitarian
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 18,054
United States


Political Matrix
E: 1.55, S: -4.52

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #17 on: December 26, 2012, 01:17:23 AM »

AYE
Logged
Barnes
Roy Barnes 2010
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,556


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #18 on: December 26, 2012, 03:00:05 PM »

Honestly, I'm still rather concerned over the bill - in any form it may take.

Abstain.
Logged
Poirot
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 3,517
Canada


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #19 on: December 26, 2012, 08:51:44 PM »

aye
Logged
Cincinnatus
JBach717
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,092
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #20 on: December 26, 2012, 09:03:07 PM »

Abstain
Logged
Cincinnatus
JBach717
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,092
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #21 on: December 26, 2012, 09:03:36 PM »

With 2 Ayes, 1 Nay, and 2 Abstentions, the bill Passes.
Logged
Pages: [1]  
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.034 seconds with 13 queries.