HR 20-7: Forced Labor Isn't Good Amendment (Passed)

[YE]

FORCED LABOR ISN'T GOOD AMENDMENT

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Abolishes all forms of slavery and forced conscription in Atlasia

Be it resolved by two-thirds of each chamber that the Constitution be amended, as follows, upon ratification by the regions

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Forced Labor Isn't Good Amendment”.

SECTION 2.

Article I, Section 6, of the Fourth Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crimes of which the accused has been duly convicted, shall exist within the Republic of Atlasia, nor in any place under its jurisdiction, nor may any draft or other form of compulsory service be instituted, unless approved by a public referendum in all three regions with a sixty percent threshold. The President shall have the sole authority to authorize the draft referendum.

This amendment abolishes legalized forced labor (including forced prison labor and the possibility of a draft) once and for good by striking out parts of the Constitution that allow it.

Sponsor: Razze
72 hours to debate.

[Dr. MB]

People shouldn't be forced to serve the government against their will - putting other peoples' lives into the hands of voters is a bad idea. And slavery is never a justifiable punishment no matter the circumstance.

[Dr. MB]

Anyone have anything else to say?

[Poirot]

Forced prison labor doesn't have to equal slavery conditions of work. It can be to help inmates prepare to reintegrate society, or get them something to do of their days. The text said as punishment for crimes. At first I imagined forcing people to work hard 20 hours of day but it could be inmates having to choose work in the kitchen or cleaning or making objects that will be sold to the public a few hours a day. So I'm not sure if I want to totally erase this in the constitution.

[Dr. MB]

Forced prison labor doesn't have to equal slavery conditions of work. It can be to help inmates prepare to reintegrate society, or get them something to do of their days. The text said as punishment for crimes. At first I imagined forcing people to work hard 20 hours of day but it could be inmates having to choose work in the kitchen or cleaning or making objects that will be sold to the public a few hours a day. So I'm not sure if I want to totally erase this in the constitution.

Usually prisoners are paid (even if it's a very low wage) for jobs like that; this would eliminate unpaid labor. There are plenty of prison farms such as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where inmates are forced to work hard field labor for no pay. Sound familiar?

[Poirot]

I'm not a fan of a draft. Maybe it is not needed in modern wars but removing the possibility could the country in trouble if it is ever needed. A drat would need to be approved by referendum with a treshold so it's no easy thing to impose. I would like to be sure a drat will never be needed in the future.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

As 168 hours have elapsed, motion for a final vote.

[Poirot]

This is amending the constitution and there was not many comments.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

This is very commonsense. Forced labor is bad, and changing our constitution to match that idea is a good thing.

[Dr. MB]

motion for a final vote.

[Poirot]

A possible draft is not the same as slavery. It would be to defend the nation. It must be approved by the public with more than simple majority. It is a possibility in the constituion but not easily enacted. We could leave it there in case it's needed sometime in the future but hope it would never happen.

[YE]

A final vote is now open.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Nay

[Poirot]

Nay

I prefer the draft provision stays in the tiny chance it is useful in the future.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Aye

[RC]

Aye

[Dr. MB]

Aye

[fhtagn]

Abstain

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Aye

[SWE]

Aye

[YE]

Aye

[YE]

Passes 6-3.

[YE]

FORCED LABOR ISN'T GOOD AMENDMENT

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Abolishes all forms of slavery and forced conscription in Atlasia

Be it resolved by two-thirds of each chamber that the Constitution be amended, as follows, upon ratification by the regions

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "Forced Labor Isn't Good Amendment”.

SECTION 2.

Article I, Section 6, of the Fourth Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crimes of which the accused has been duly convicted, shall exist within the Republic of Atlasia, nor in any place under its jurisdiction, nor may any draft or other form of compulsory service be instituted, unless approved by a public referendum in all three regions with a sixty percent threshold. The President shall have the sole authority to authorize the draft referendum.

This amendment abolishes legalized forced labor (including forced prison labor and the possibility of a draft) once and for good by striking out parts of the Constitution that allow it.

House of Representatives
Passed the House of Representatives 6-3-0-0
X YE