HR 18-7: Including Overlooked Constitutional Powers Amendment (Passed)

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Including Overlooked Constitutional Powers Amendment

As the Congress does not have the power to establish, consolidate, alter, or terminate executive departments, be it resolved that these powers shall, and additional powers that were overlooked in the drafting of the Constitution be included in the Constitution

Section 1: Short Title

This Act shall be cited as the "Including Overlooked Constitutional Powers Amendment".

Section 2: Amendment

Article III, Section 6 of the Fourth Constitution shall be amended to read as follows:

1. The Congress shall have the power, except where limited elsewhere by this Constitution, to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, and to distribute the revenue thus collected;

1. to regulate foreign trade and inter-regional commerce;
2. to establish uniform laws of immigration and naturalization;
3. to regulate the value and coinage of the national currency;
4. to establish a uniform system of weights and measures;
5. to establish post offices and post roads;
6. to define and punish crimes committed on the high seas;
7. to declare war, issue letters of marque and reprisal, and make laws governing the capture of land and water;
8. to raise, support, and regulate the national armed forces;
9. to admit new states and territories to the Union;
10. to make laws governing borrowing, lending, and the selling of stocks and bonds;
11. to confirm or reject nominations for the Supreme Court and the officers of executive departments;
12. to establish a central national bank;
13. to make laws necessary for the enforcement of the Constitution and federal law; and
14. to regulate voter registration and federal elections.;
15. Tto impeach the President, Vice President, Justices and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, and other officers of this government for high crimes and gross negligence.;
16. to establish, consolidate, alter, or terminate independent agencies led by non-playable officials, leaving it to the discretion of the President to control department structure and the existence of any playable principle officers, if any at all, which the President may appoint to roles in the agency, with the advice and consent of the Senate;
17. to make uniform rules for bankruptcies;
18. to temporarily grant inventors, authors, and artists exclusive patents or copyrights for their creations; and
19. to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court of Atlasia.

This Constitutional amendment give Congress the power to establish uniform laws relating to immigration, impeach federal officeholders, to manage independent agencies, to make laws relating to bankruptcy, grant patents and copyright, and establish tribunals.

People's House of Representatives
Passed in the House of Representatives 7-0-0-2

Sponsor: Jimmy7812
House Designation: HR 18-7

[Esteemed Jimmy]

H-18.7 is now on the House floor. Debate on this legislation has begun and shall last for no less than 72 hours.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

This amendment is greatly needed, as it includes important powers Congress must have:

This Constitutional amendment give Congress the power to establish uniform laws relating to immigration, impeach federal officeholders, to manage independent agencies, to make laws relating to bankruptcy, grant patents and copyright, establish tribunals, and guarantee the right to vote to those living in Nyman.

[Sestak]

Reactionary-Jimmy Amendment, Take 2. Hopefully this goes better than last time.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Yeah, so basically everyone from the Constitutional Convention says pre-reboot real life laws are binding in Atlasia. The Constitution does not have an identical list of powers as the real life Constitution so as a result several bodies of federal law which rest on those missing powers may or may not be valid. This includes all federal intellectual property law, bankruptcy law, DC law, administrative law pertaining to Article 1 tribunals, article 3 control over federal subject matter jurisdiction, and arguably immigration laws, including those passed post reboot. I think it would be prudent to reconcile the intent of the drafters with the actual text of the Constitution.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Looks good! Since there's no debate can I move to go ahead with voting?

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Looks good! Since there's no debate can I move to go ahead with voting?

Representatives have 24 hours for objections.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

§20 would nullify D.C. statehood, which has been the de facto status of the District since 2016.

[Sestak]

§20 would nullify D.C. statehood, which has been the de facto status of the District since 2016.

Well then we should probably make it the de jure status as well if we want to keep it that way. Does the southern constitution refer to it on equal levels as the legal states of the region?

[JGibson]

§20 would nullify D.C. statehood, which has been the de facto status of the District since 2016.

This is my worry about this bill. DC ought to be a state in real life.

[Mr. Reactionary]

§20 would nullify D.C. statehood, which has been the de facto status of the District since 2016.

The capital doesn't have to be in DC. The alternative is that there can be no National capital.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

§20 would nullify D.C. statehood, which has been the de facto status of the District since 2016.

The capital doesn't have to be in DC. The alternative is that there can be no National capital.

Not sure I follow this line of reasoning. How would that work, exactly? (Also, if that's the intent, why even include the provision?)

[Mr. Reactionary]

§20 would nullify D.C. statehood, which has been the de facto status of the District since 2016.

The capital doesn't have to be in DC. The alternative is that there can be no National capital.

Not sure I follow this line of reasoning. How would that work, exactly? (Also, if that's the intent, why even include the provision?)

The real life constitution has federal powers A - R. The in-game constitution word for word copies text from the real life constitution but seemingly purposefully omits federal powers M - R. From an interpretation standpoint, the purposeful deviation from the text of the source material suggests the changes were done for a reason; to remove that grant of power from the federal government. By deleting all references to having a National capital, the federal government arguably no longer has the power to have a National capital. While DC is the current capital in real life, Congress can move the capital to other locations. Your argument is that because DC is no longer a fit capital in-game, Congress should not have the power to have a capital anywhere, even if its not DC.

This again represents a large area where the claim from the in-game constitution drafters that pre-reboot real life laws are binding in Atlasia appears to have been a lie. We have been acting like there is a national capital even though there is no grant of power ... and yes we have also been treating Nyman like the capital overseen by the feds and not a State in-game. We passed an entire law governing DC as though it was a capital subject to federal jurisdiction last year (https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/MAKE_NYMAN_A_PARADISE_ACT) and no one objected at the time. It passed the Senate 4-0 (including an aye from Adam Griffin) and passed the House 7-0 (including an aye from Weatherboy), so it certainly appeared that Congress once thought it had the power to oversee DC law as in real life.

Especially in-game where the partisan pressures aren't as bad as real life it seems strange to make a mere City and entire State without that new City-State even passing so much as a new Constitution. Im guessing DC was just stuck in the list of States during the Con Con and it was assumed this by itself made DC a magical State with full State powers and a State government? Did Congress approve anything separately granting statehood by like approving a state constitution?

Edit: If DC is presumed to be a State I guess the bright side is that DC no longer has any gun control laws and the Southern region can voucherize public schools without ANY federal oversight...

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Proposing this amendment for until a solution to the DC problem is found:

Including Overlooked Constitutional Powers Amendment

As the Congress does not have the power to establish, consolidate, alter, or terminate executive departments, be it resolved that these powers shall, and additional powers that were overlooked in the drafting of the Constitution be included in the Constitution

Section 1: Short Title

This Act shall be cited as the "Including Overlooked Constitutional Powers Amendment".

Section 2: Amendment

Article III, Section 6 of the Fourth Constitution shall be amended to read as follows:

1. The Congress shall have the power, except where limited elsewhere by this Constitution, to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, and to distribute the revenue thus collected;

1. to regulate foreign trade and inter-regional commerce;
2. to establish uniform laws of immigration and naturalization;
3. to regulate the value and coinage of the national currency;
4. to establish a uniform system of weights and measures;
5. to establish post offices and post roads;
6. to define and punish crimes committed on the high seas;
7. to declare war, issue letters of marque and reprisal, and make laws governing the capture of land and water;
8. to raise, support, and regulate the national armed forces;
9. to admit new states and territories to the Union;
10. to make laws governing borrowing, lending, and the selling of stocks and bonds;
11. to confirm or reject nominations for the Supreme Court and the officers of executive departments;
12. to establish a central national bank;
13. to make laws necessary for the enforcement of the Constitution and federal law; and
14. to regulate voter registration and federal elections.;
15. Tto impeach the President, Vice President, Justices and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, and other officers of this government for high crimes and gross negligence.;
16. to establish, consolidate, alter, or terminate independent agencies led by non-playable officials, leaving it to the discretion of the President to control department structure and the existence of any playable principle officers, if any at all, which the President may appoint to roles in the agency, with the advice and consent of the Senate;
17. to make uniform rules for bankruptcies;
18. to temporarily grant inventors, authors, and artists exclusive patents or copyrights for their creations; and
19. to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court of Atlasia.;
20. to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over a district not exceeding 100 miles square that shall serve as the capital of the government of Atlasia, however nothing shall prevent persons domiciled in this district from voting for any at-large federal election or any Senate election for the Region in which the district is located.

This Constitutional amendment give Congress the power to establish uniform laws relating to immigration, impeach federal officeholders, to manage independent agencies, to make laws relating to bankruptcy, grant patents and copyright, and establish tribunals.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

With no objections, the amendment is adopted. The bill currently stands as:

Including Overlooked Constitutional Powers Amendment

As the Congress does not have the power to establish, consolidate, alter, or terminate executive departments, be it resolved that these powers shall, and additional powers that were overlooked in the drafting of the Constitution be included in the Constitution

Section 1: Short Title

This Act shall be cited as the "Including Overlooked Constitutional Powers Amendment".

Section 2: Amendment

Article III, Section 6 of the Fourth Constitution shall be amended to read as follows:

1. The Congress shall have the power, except where limited elsewhere by this Constitution, to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, and to distribute the revenue thus collected;

1. to regulate foreign trade and inter-regional commerce;
2. to establish uniform laws of immigration and naturalization;
3. to regulate the value and coinage of the national currency;
4. to establish a uniform system of weights and measures;
5. to establish post offices and post roads;
6. to define and punish crimes committed on the high seas;
7. to declare war, issue letters of marque and reprisal, and make laws governing the capture of land and water;
8. to raise, support, and regulate the national armed forces;
9. to admit new states and territories to the Union;
10. to make laws governing borrowing, lending, and the selling of stocks and bonds;
11. to confirm or reject nominations for the Supreme Court and the officers of executive departments;
12. to establish a central national bank;
13. to make laws necessary for the enforcement of the Constitution and federal law; and
14. to regulate voter registration and federal elections.;
15. Tto impeach the President, Vice President, Justices and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, and other officers of this government for high crimes and gross negligence.;
16. to establish, consolidate, alter, or terminate independent agencies led by non-playable officials, leaving it to the discretion of the President to control department structure and the existence of any playable principle officers, if any at all, which the President may appoint to roles in the agency, with the advice and consent of the Senate;
17. to make uniform rules for bankruptcies;
18. to temporarily grant inventors, authors, and artists exclusive patents or copyrights for their creations; and
19. to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court of Atlasia.

This Constitutional amendment give Congress the power to establish uniform laws relating to immigration, impeach federal officeholders, to manage independent agencies, to make laws relating to bankruptcy, grant patents and copyright, and establish tribunals.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Since there has been no debate, I motion for a final vote. Representatives have 24 hours for objections.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

A final vote has begun on this resolution. Please vote AYE, NAY, or ABSTAIN.

Including Overlooked Constitutional Powers Amendment

As the Congress does not have the power to establish, consolidate, alter, or terminate executive departments, be it resolved that these powers shall, and additional powers that were overlooked in the drafting of the Constitution be included in the Constitution

Section 1: Short Title

This Act shall be cited as the "Including Overlooked Constitutional Powers Amendment".

Section 2: Amendment

Article III, Section 6 of the Fourth Constitution shall be amended to read as follows:

1. The Congress shall have the power, except where limited elsewhere by this Constitution, to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, and to distribute the revenue thus collected;

1. to regulate foreign trade and inter-regional commerce;
2. to establish uniform laws of immigration and naturalization;
3. to regulate the value and coinage of the national currency;
4. to establish a uniform system of weights and measures;
5. to establish post offices and post roads;
6. to define and punish crimes committed on the high seas;
7. to declare war, issue letters of marque and reprisal, and make laws governing the capture of land and water;
8. to raise, support, and regulate the national armed forces;
9. to admit new states and territories to the Union;
10. to make laws governing borrowing, lending, and the selling of stocks and bonds;
11. to confirm or reject nominations for the Supreme Court and the officers of executive departments;
12. to establish a central national bank;
13. to make laws necessary for the enforcement of the Constitution and federal law; and
14. to regulate voter registration and federal elections.;
15. Tto impeach the President, Vice President, Justices and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, and other officers of this government for high crimes and gross negligence.;
16. to establish, consolidate, alter, or terminate independent agencies led by non-playable officials, leaving it to the discretion of the President to control department structure and the existence of any playable principle officers, if any at all, which the President may appoint to roles in the agency, with the advice and consent of the Senate;
17. to make uniform rules for bankruptcies;
18. to temporarily grant inventors, authors, and artists exclusive patents or copyrights for their creations; and
19. to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court of Atlasia.

This Constitutional amendment give Congress the power to establish uniform laws relating to immigration, impeach federal officeholders, to manage independent agencies, to make laws relating to bankruptcy, grant patents and copyright, and establish tribunals.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Aye

[Dr. MB]

Aye

[fhtagn]

Aye

[JGibson]

AYE

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Aye

[Coastal Elitist]

Aye

[alancia]

Aye

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Voting has closed. The final vote stands as:

Aye: 7 (Alancia, fhtagn, JGibson, Jimmy7812, MB, Tea Party Hater, TheShadowyAbyss)
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Missed: 2 (KoopaDaQuick, razze)

Therefore, voting has closed and this resolution passes 7-0-0-2.