Senate Residency Requirement Amendment

[MasterJedi]

It seems pretty good now that it has been re-written. I'll probably vote for it but we'll see.

[Colin]

First I must say that I do not like carpet bagging and that I would rather that candidates be found from within that district or region rather than shipping new candidates in. However I feel with the increasing lack of new citizens and new candidates in some districts and regions I feel that it may be necessary for candidates to move to a different region or district so that some candidate could run. As Sam said above this would restrict the rights of Atlasian citizens as well as severly limit the pool of candidates in certain inactive regions and districts.

[Peter]

Okay, so we currently have...

Section 1

The Senate shall require that all non-newly registered persons who register to vote in a different region or district than the one they currently reside in, and who wish to run for either a Class A or a Class B Senate seat, must wait until they have resided in their new region or district for at least 2 months prior either to the election or to an appointment by the governor of that region.

Anyone wanna make any comments?

Should we grandfather this Amendment, because people who have moved recently will be affected by it without ever having known that they would be?

I would add something like this:

This Amendment shall not have effect upon those persons who moved prior to the passage of this Amendment.

I also have a minor textual point:

The Amendment opens "The Senate shall require that..."; Surely it is the Constitution requiring it?

[Sam Spade]

Peter, I would be glad to introduce that amendment and any other amendments you might have on this legislation.

Still won't change my opinion of it in the end, but if the Senate's going to approve it, we might as well get it in the best shape possible.

[jokerman]

Like most pure forum issues, I don't care either way.  I'll let ya'll debate out the bill but I'll probably abstain since I don't have a strong opinion on the matter.

[Colin]

We should definitely grandfather this amendment so that it doesn't interfere in the candidacies of people who have moved before this bill.

[King]

I think the Senate should just stay out of this.  The government banning active, willing, and supported forum members from running is just undemocratic.

[Gabu]

I personally feel that it should be left up to the people whether or not they want to vote for a carpetbagger, but I nevertheless open debate on Peter Bell's amendment, introduced by Sen. Sam Spade:

This Amendment shall not have effect upon those persons who moved prior to the passage of this Amendment.

[Gabu]

Aye, though I agree and second what both Sens. King and Gabu have said on this bill in general.

I said I open debate, not voting.  Let's not make Peter Bell angry; he gets scary when he's angry.

[Sam Spade]

Aye, though I agree and second what both Sens. King and Gabu have said on this bill in general.

I said I open debate, not voting.  Let's not make Peter Bell angry; he gets scary when he's angry.

It would really help if I read what other people type sometimes. 

[12th Doctor]

I think that it is generally understood that bills have no effect ex post facto but I suppose I would be open to the proposed ammendment.

[Peter]

I think that it is generally understood that bills have no effect ex post facto but I suppose I would be open to the proposed ammendment.

Costitutional Ammendment then.  I think that the fact that we have residency requirements for voting, but not acctually running for the Senate from that area is a mockery of our system.

If its an Amendment to the Constitution, then it is allowed to have ex posto facto effect - Whether it does or not, would be a matter for the courts - I aim to remove this confusion now.

[MasterJedi]

I believe we should all vote for this amendment. It justs cuts down on the confusion and lets everyone who carpetbagged already and running a chance to stay in the race even though I feel they shouldn't have done it in the first place.

[Gabu]

As there isn't really any debate, I hereby open voting on this amendment:

This Amendment shall not have effect upon those persons who moved prior to the passage of this Amendment.

All senators in favor, vote "aye"; all against, vote "nay".

[Sam Spade]

Aye, for practicality above all.

[12th Doctor]

Aye

[MasterJedi]

Aye

[jokerman]

Aye

[Colin]

Aye

[DanielX]

Abstain.

[Gabu]

Aye.

With six in favor to none against, and with one abstaining, this amendment has passed.

[PBrunsel]

Aye for the record.

[King]

Aye. 


P.S.  I still plan on voting against this, but if it does pass might as well make it decent.

[Sam Spade]

Considering this bill has been around for five days and debate has stopped for 24 hours, and it still needs a 2/3rds majority to pass anyway, I motion that we bring this legislation to a vote.

[Gabu]

Okay, here is the amendment in its final form:


Senate Residency Requirement Amendment

Section 1

The Senate shall require that all non-newly registered persons who register to vote in a different region or district than the one they currently reside in, and who wish to run for either a Class A or a Class B Senate seat, must wait until they have resided in their new region or district for at least 2 months prior either to the election or to an appointment by the governor of that region.

Section 2

This Amendment shall not have effect upon those persons who moved prior to the passage of this Amendment.

I hereby open voting on this amendment.

All senators in favor, vote "aye"; all against, vote "nay".

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Nay.