HB 18-46: Screwing Around with Borders Amendment

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

As Deputy Speaker I am managing introduction of legislation during Jimmy's leave of absence. Since I can't edit Jimmy's noticeboard OP myself, consider this bill as filling Slot 9.

SCREWING AROUND WITH BORDERS AMENDMENT

HOUSE BILL

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Screwing Around with Borders Amendment”.

SECTION 2.

Article VII, Section 2, of the Fourth Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

1. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union, and apportioned among the several Regions as may be appropriate; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned as well as of the Congress.
2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the Republic of Atlasia.
3. The Regional legislatures may alter the boundaries of states and counties located within their respective Region at will.
4. Congress may also alter the boundaries of states and counties with the consent of the Regions concerned.

Sponsor: MB
House designation: HB 18-46

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

HB 18-46 is now on the House floor. Debate on this legislation has begun and shall last for no less than 72 hours.

[fhtagn]

So for "consent of the Regions concerned", would this go to a region-wide referendum on the boundaries altered?

[Dr. MB]

So for "consent of the Regions concerned", would this go to a region-wide referendum on the boundaries altered?

Approval by regional legislatures but I could see how the wording may be a little awkward.

[Dr. MB]

Introducing an amendment:

SCREWING AROUND WITH BORDERS AMENDMENT

HOUSE BILL

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Screwing Around with Borders Amendment”.

SECTION 2.

Article VII, Section 2, of the Fourth Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

1. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union, and apportioned among the several Regions as may be appropriate; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned as well as of the Congress.
2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the Republic of Atlasia.
3. The Regional legislatures may alter the boundaries of states and counties located within their respective Region at will.
4. Congress may also alter the boundaries of states and counties with the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

With no objections, the bill now stands as:

SCREWING AROUND WITH BORDERS AMENDMENT

HOUSE BILL

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Screwing Around with Borders Amendment”.

SECTION 2.

Article VII, Section 2, of the Fourth Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

1. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union, and apportioned among the several Regions as may be appropriate; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned as well as of the Congress.
2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the Republic of Atlasia.
3. The Regional legislatures may alter the boundaries of states and counties located within their respective Region at will.
4. Congress may also alter the boundaries of states and counties with the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned.

[fhtagn]

For consent of the regional legislatures, will that be a majority of the legislature that has to vote in favor, 2/3, unanimous? Or would we be placing that responsibility on the regions to decide the threshold if boundaries are altered by Congress? How would this apply to states that border another region?

[Dr. MB]

Introducing an amendment to fix formatting:

SCREWING AROUND WITH BORDERS AMENDMENT

HOUSE BILL RESOLUTION

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Screwing Around with Borders Amendment”.

SECTION 2.

Article VII, Section 2, of the Fourth Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

1. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union, and apportioned among the several Regions as may be appropriate; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned as well as of the Congress.
2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the Republic of Atlasia.
3. The Regional legislatures may alter the boundaries of states and counties located within their respective Region at will.
4. Congress may also alter the boundaries of states and counties with the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned.

Amendment Explanation
Allows regional legislatures (and Congress with their consent) to change state boundaries.

[Dr. MB]

For consent of the regional legislatures, will that be a majority of the legislature that has to vote in favor, 2/3, unanimous? Or would we be placing that responsibility on the regions to decide the threshold if boundaries are altered by Congress? How would this apply to states that border another region?

Simple majority (I assume, I just went off of what's already in the Constitution but I'm not sure if that's been tested before).

And it says "Regions concerned", so if it affects more than one region it would need the consent of both.

[Sestak]

For consent of the regional legislatures, will that be a majority of the legislature that has to vote in favor, 2/3, unanimous? Or would we be placing that responsibility on the regions to decide the threshold if boundaries are altered by Congress? How would this apply to states that border another region?

I mean the phrase “consent of the legislatures of the regions concerned” already appears in the existing Clause 1 of this section - I’m assuming referencing a majority - so this should be the same criterion.

[fhtagn]

Do we even have any scenarios in game where redrawing state lines is even a necessary thing to add?

[Dr. MB]

Do we even have any scenarios in game where redrawing state lines is even a necessary thing to add?

I introduced a bill to fix some messy state borders earlier and it was shot down because apparently that’s a judicial power, so that’s why I introduced this amendment.

[fhtagn]

Do we even have any scenarios in game where redrawing state lines is even a necessary thing to add?

I introduced a bill to fix some messy state borders earlier and it was shot down because apparently that’s a judicial power, so that’s why I introduced this amendment.

But what exactly is wrong with keeping that as a judicial power? The important part of that bill (recognition of tribes iirc) was passed by the chamber.

[Dr. MB]

Do we even have any scenarios in game where redrawing state lines is even a necessary thing to add?

I introduced a bill to fix some messy state borders earlier and it was shot down because apparently that’s a judicial power, so that’s why I introduced this amendment.

But what exactly is wrong with keeping that as a judicial power? The important part of that bill (recognition of tribes iirc) was passed by the chamber.

Well, there’s the little problem of the entire judiciary being made up of NPCs (besides the Supreme Court, but that’s not really something the Supreme Court would be getting involved in).

[Esteemed Jimmy]

With no objections, the bill now stands as:

SCREWING AROUND WITH BORDERS AMENDMENT

HOUSE BILL RESOLUTION

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Screwing Around with Borders Amendment”.

SECTION 2.

Article VII, Section 2, of the Fourth Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

1. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union, and apportioned among the several Regions as may be appropriate; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned as well as of the Congress.
2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the Republic of Atlasia.
3. The Regional legislatures may alter the boundaries of states and counties located within their respective Region at will.
4. Congress may also alter the boundaries of states and counties with the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned.

Amendment Explanation
Allows regional legislatures (and Congress with their consent) to change state boundaries.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I motion for a final vote. Representatives have 24 hours for objections.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

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

SCREWING AROUND WITH BORDERS AMENDMENT

HOUSE BILL RESOLUTION

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Screwing Around with Borders Amendment”.

SECTION 2.

Article VII, Section 2, of the Fourth Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

1. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union, and apportioned among the several Regions as may be appropriate; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned as well as of the Congress.
2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the Republic of Atlasia.
3. The Regional legislatures may alter the boundaries of states and counties located within their respective Region at will.
4. Congress may also alter the boundaries of states and counties with the consent of the legislatures of the Regions concerned.

Amendment Explanation
Allows regional legislatures (and Congress with their consent) to change state boundaries.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Aye

Congress and the Regions should have this powers.

[fhtagn]

Nay

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Aye

[Dr. MB]

Aye

[JGibson]

AYE

[Coastal Elitist]

Nay

I see no reason to alter current borders

[YE]

Aye

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Aye