The White House

[Ebowed]

Executive Order to Establish GiftAid

1. The GiftAid program is hereby formed, as part of the Department of State.
2. Citizens and Atlasian-based charities will be able to contribute any monetary amount they wish to go towards foreign aid programs in the Department of State; these contributions will not be eligible for taxation.
3. The government will pledge 1 cent to this effort for every dollar that is donated.
4. Governmental money used to match contributions will come from the money saved by F.L. 10-4, Foreign Aid Reduction Act.

[Ebowed]

The following proposal, written by Cosmo Kramer and edited by myself, will establish uniform rules for the appointment, confirmation, removal, and roles of the Game Moderators.  This is a matter that we feel should be best kept out of the law and constitution, but these uniform rules will provide a reference for future administrations and game moderators.  I'll leave this here for a period of 24 hours where any debate and changes or suggestions can be proposed, and then we may hold a vote on the resolution.


A Resolution to create a code for the management of all game functions in Atlasia.

The Game Management Board (GMB) shall hold the full power in defining the nature of the reality of the world in which Atlasia exists, dictating over all scenarios of occurance within and outside of Atlasia, projecting economic conditions, representing all foreign powers in the world, representing segments of the Atlasian public and people of the world in general, among other duties falling within this area.

The GMB shall consist of three members, or Game Managers.  Each member shall be appointed by the President of Atlasia, and to be confirmed, two-thirds of those registered voters casting ballots must vote in favor of the appointment, the confirmation being valid if that vote lasts for 72 hours and at least one-third of citizens vote.  All ballots must be by public post.  This confirmation poll should be administered by the Chief Justice, or in his absence, the Vice President, and finally, in his absense, the Dean of the Senate.  No one may hold Atlasian office, federal or regional, while serving as GM and no former GM can hold elected office for four weeks after they have stopped serving as GM, nor may they announce candidacy for office while holding the position of GM.

A Game Manager is considered to be holding said job immediately upon the confirmation of the result that he has been confirmed with a sufficient number of votes by the presiding officer administering the voting booth.

A Game Manager can be removed if eight citizens sign a petition calling for his removal, or if the President requests that a vote be held on the subject of removal.  A vote under the condititions stipulated above will be held.  Alternatively, should a GM be convicted of treason against Atlasia for any action deemed worthy of said sentencing, they will cease to be a GM upon the handing down of the sentence.

The decisions of the GMB shall be indisputable and uncontested.  Each GM shall have the power to make decisions without consulting the other GMs; however, two GMs can veto the decision of one if there is a conflict.

The ratification of this code shall occur with two-thirds of those registered voters casting ballots voting in favor of the adoption of this code under previously stipulated conditions.  This document may be may be amended with the petition of such an amendment signed by either four citizens or the President; a vote under the same conditions will be administered on whether to adopt the proposed changes.  This code shall take effect one month after it has been certified as ratified in order to allow for a transition period.

It is so resolved.

[TomC]

 No one may hold Atlasian office, federal or regional, while serving as GM and no former GM can hold elected office for six weeks after they have stopped serving as GM.

It is so resolved.[/i]

My suggestion is to chuck everything except the above sentence and make it a proposal for a constitutional amendment.

The resolution is not bad, but there's too much there.

[True Democrat]

One thing isn't clear.  If eight citizens petition to have the GM removed, does he leave, or is there a vote on it?

[Democratic Hawk]

Just a quick call, Mr President, welcoming your Executive Order establishing the GiftAid program

'Hawk'

[jokerman]

One thing isn't clear.  If eight citizens petition to have the GM removed, does he leave, or is there a vote on it?

Read the next sentence

[Emsworth]

no former GM can hold elected office for six weeks after they have stopped serving as GM.

This seems to be a little too strict.

[TomC]

 No one may hold Atlasian office, federal or regional, while serving as GM and no former GM can hold elected office for six weeks after they have stopped serving as GM.

It is so resolved.[/i]

My suggestion is to chuck everything except the above sentence and make it a proposal for a constitutional amendment.

The resolution is not bad, but there's too much there.

I can see TCash's point, but I also like the idea of the people having the ability to get rid of the GM and playing a part in the approval process.

Overall I give this plan a thumbs up, even though it is somewhat complex it is still pretty good.

I agree that we may want more oversight but believe we should break this up and vote on things individually. The more complex a "bill" gets, the more reason there is for citizens not to approve. In my opinion removing the conflict of interest is the most important aspect. I'd hate for it to not be approved because there are other parts of this plan citizens don't approve of. We need to break this proposal up.

no former GM can hold elected office for six weeks after they have stopped serving as GM.

This seems to be a little too strict.

I agree with this too- six weeks is a lifetime here. I'd argue that maybe any time limit for elected should parallel the time between a declaration deadline and the election- or scrap an actual time limit and say that no GM may run for or serve an office while GM.

[jokerman]

I agree that we may want more oversight but believe we should break this up and vote on things individually. The more complex a "bill" gets, the more reason there is for citizens not to approve. In my opinion removing the conflict of interest is the most important aspect. I'd hate for it to not be approved because there are other parts of this plan citizens don't approve of. We need to break this proposal up.

No, that's not going to happen.  We're going to vote on this thing as one solid package and finally settle this matter.  And to call this a "complex" plan is laughable.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

This could be compromised, but, looking at how long Presidential campaigns, for example, last, can be no lower than 4 weeks.

[Emsworth]

This could be compromised, but, looking at how long Presidential campaigns, for example, last, can be no lower than 4 weeks.

Four weeks is a very long time in Atlasia. I would prefer a rule that states that no GM may serve in office, or declare his candidacy for any office. This would effectively mean that a GM must resign before beginning his campaign. For presidential election, the GM would normally resign earlier (because the campaign is usually longer), while for other elections he could resign later.

[jokerman]

This could be compromised, but, looking at how long Presidential campaigns, for example, last, can be no lower than 4 weeks.

Four weeks is a very long time in Atlasia. I would prefer a rule that states that no GM may serve in office, or declare his candidacy for any office. This would effectively mean that a GM must resign before beginning his campaign. For presidential election, the GM would normally resign earlier (because the campaign is usually longer), while for other elections he could resign later.

We will add that, but there still needs to be some sort of time limit.

[TomC]

I agree that we may want more oversight but believe we should break this up and vote on things individually. The more complex a "bill" gets, the more reason there is for citizens not to approve. In my opinion removing the conflict of interest is the most important aspect. I'd hate for it to not be approved because there are other parts of this plan citizens don't approve of. We need to break this proposal up.

No, that's not going to happen.  We're going to vote on this thing as one solid package and finally settle this matter.  And to call this a "complex" plan is laughable.

Excuse me? Is it going to be standard practice for the Attorney General to tell citizens what they can and cannot propose as laws? That you seem to be inflexible on this further reinforces my belief that citizens or the Senate should settle this matter, as they are charged with making laws rather than executing them.

[Emsworth]

We will add that, but there still needs to be some sort of time limit.

The time limit will, effectively, be tied to the candidacy declaration deadline. In order to enter a race, the GM must resign before the deadline passes.

[jokerman]

I agree that we may want more oversight but believe we should break this up and vote on things individually. The more complex a "bill" gets, the more reason there is for citizens not to approve. In my opinion removing the conflict of interest is the most important aspect. I'd hate for it to not be approved because there are other parts of this plan citizens don't approve of. We need to break this proposal up.

No, that's not going to happen.  We're going to vote on this thing as one solid package and finally settle this matter.  And to call this a "complex" plan is laughable.

Excuse me? Is it going to be standard practice for the Attorney General to tell citizens what they can and cannot propose as laws? That you seem to be inflexible on this further reinforces my belief that citizens or the Senate should settle this matter, as they are charged with making laws rather than executing them.

The citizens are going to settle this matter - whenever we vote on the measures.  My opposition to dividing this up is for clear practical reasons.  I'm not proposing these as reforms to complement our existing structure but as a whole new code of doing things.  We can compromise on some of the quanitive areas that are of dispute before we vote, but once we do, we need the whole thing to pass as one and act as one, solid system.

"Is it going to be standard practice for the Attorney General to tell citizens what they can and cannot propose as laws?"  What the hell is this?  This isn't a law.  And I'm not the Attourney General.  I'm proposing this as a member of atlasia, not as an executive figure.  The reason we're taking charge in administering everything is that there are no precedents for what we're doing .

[TomC]

I agree that we may want more oversight but believe we should break this up and vote on things individually. The more complex a "bill" gets, the more reason there is for citizens not to approve. In my opinion removing the conflict of interest is the most important aspect. I'd hate for it to not be approved because there are other parts of this plan citizens don't approve of. We need to break this proposal up.

No, that's not going to happen.  We're going to vote on this thing as one solid package and finally settle this matter.  And to call this a "complex" plan is laughable.

Excuse me? Is it going to be standard practice for the Attorney General to tell citizens what they can and cannot propose as laws? That you seem to be inflexible on this further reinforces my belief that citizens or the Senate should settle this matter, as they are charged with making laws rather than executing them.

The citizens are going to settle this matter - whenever we vote on the measures.  My opposition to dividing this up is for clear practical reasons.  I'm not proposing these as reforms to complement our existing structure but as a whole new code of doing things.  We can compromise on some of the quanitive areas that are of dispute before we vote, but once we do, we need the whole thing to pass as one and act as one, solid system.

If you refuse to consider breaking the proposal up, you are not fully allowing citizens to decide this matter.

"Is it going to be standard practice for the Attorney General to tell citizens what they can and cannot propose as laws?"  What the hell is this?  This isn't a law.  And I'm not the Attourney General.  I'm proposing this as a member of atlasia, not as an executive figure.  The reason we're taking charge in administering everything is that there are no precedents for what we're doing .

"I'm, proposing this as a member of Atlasia"- then why was this introduced in the White House thread, by the President, with White House letterhead at the top, in the same 24 hour period that the Senate opened up a thread for your nomination as AG??

If individual citizens are able to make this kind of proposal and hold a vote on "legislation," and say we're going to make some rules here, but we're not going to do it in the traditional way we make rules, then I take huge issue with your comment that

"No, that's not going to happen.  We're going to vote on this thing as one solid package and finally settle this matter."

That is quite an uncompromising statement from someone who is proposing reform in this quite unusual manner as a private citizen.

I'd like some GM reform too. But I truly believe if it's all or nothing, it will be nothing. I'm not satisfied with that.

And I am still quite clueless as to why the Senate (hello??) would allow itself to be bypassed and completely ignored in such a manner. Senators- you make the laws here- maybe free trade with Mynmarekistan is fun for you to pass- but we've got some real needs here in this system- and again, it's YOUR job to "make all laws necessary and proper" for making this nation work. You, according to Peter Bell, initially inserted the GM into our constitution via the Budget stuff, yet you have not MADE laws to settle the matter of how this GM you mention gets into "office" (if it is an office). The President has been criticized for this most recent appointment, but all we have had to go on is precedent. I'm sorry if this sounds rude and disrespectful, but I'm not sure how else to get your attention on this matter.

[jokerman]

The problem is that this isn't a law.  This has nothing to do with atlasia.  This isn't concerning the world in which atlasia exists; that would be like having a debate

And what's there to break up.  This isn't a controversial matter.  That's as if we we're voting on a law code and you say you want to break it up.  You can't break it up.  If one part doesn't pass then its incomplete.  Like I said, we're working on a clean slate here.

[Ebowed]

OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL AGENDA FOR THE FOURTEENTH SENATE SESSION
A weekly sample of legislative proposals for the Senate to consider

Copyright Reform Bill

1. Copyrights shall not extend beyond the life of the work's author, or 25 years in case of a corporate authorship.
2. Existent copyrights shall either be removed if they do not meet the demands of this bill, or reduced accordingly.


Wage Enforcement Bill

1. This bill will only apply in the District of Columbia and in federal territories which do not form part of any region.
2. The minimum wage shall be set at $7.20 per hour.
3. The federal territory minimum wage shall be indexed annually to the Consumer Pricing Index (CPI).
4. Any employer found to be paying any of his employees below the minimum wage shall be sentenced to a prison term of up to five years, depending on the severity of the offense, and/or a fine of up to $10,000.


Consolidated Criminal Justice Bill

Introduction
Whereas previous Criminal Justice statutes contain references to obsolete Law and have become out of date, and whereas some statutes are not entirely discursive of their subject matter, the Senate resolves to update and consolidate existing Criminal Justice Law.

Section 1: Crimes against Atlasia
The following shall be crimes against Atlasia:
1. The impersonation, or attempted impersonation, of another Atlas Forum member on the Atlas Forum.
2. The "hacking" or taking over control of another Atlas Forum members personal account without their permission.
3. Voter fraud, defined as the creation of identities other than ones primary identity in Atlasia and subsequently entering this identity into the tally of registered voters.
4. Posting pictures, other media, or links to the same of a pornographic nature on the boards provided for the purposes of Atlas Fantasy Elections.
5. Maliciously editing the AtlasWiki to remove legitimate content or create off-topic pages.
6. Posting threads on the boards provided for the purposes of Atlas Fantasy Elections of a sexual nature that contribute nothing to political or philosophical discussion.

Section 2: Punishment of Crimes against Atlasia
Sentencing of the crime shall be by the presiding Justice; He may use any combination of the following as punishment, depending upon the severity of the offense:
1. For offences described in Clauses 1 through 3 of Section 1:
          i. Up to a one year ban from voting in any Atlasian elections.
          ii. Up to two years ban from holding any office under the Republic of Atlasia.
2. For offences described in Clauses 4 through 6 of Section 1:
          i. Up to a two month ban from voting in any Atlasian elections.

Section 3: Acts of Treason
The following acts are hereby declared Acts of Treason:
1. Rebellion, defined as the use of military forces to overthrow the Federal or any Regional government of Atlasia.
2. Aiding of a rebellion, defined as the fully knowing and intentional direction of funds, military aid, or strategic advice to a person or group seeking to engage in rebellion.
3. Terrorism, defined as the unlawful or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating civilians and/or the federal and/or regional governments of Atlasia.
4. Destruction of a Voting Booth, defined as deleting the thread in which a voting booth, or absentee voting booth, for an active election is contained.

Section 4: Punishment of Acts of Treason
Sentencing of Acts of Treason shall be by the presiding Justice; He may use any combination of the following as punishment, depending upon the severity of the offense:
1. Up to a lifetime ban from voting in any Atlasian elections.
2. Up to a lifetime ban from holding any office under the Republic of Atlasia.

Section 5: Trial Rules
Trial of all these crimes and Acts of Treason shall be done in full compliance with the provisions of Article III, Section 2 of the Second Constitution.

Section 6: Admissibility of Evidence
The presiding Justice may admit the following as evidence of the crime at his own discretion:
1. The actual statements made on the Atlas Forum itself
2. Screenshots of the statements made.
3. A quotation of the statement in a post by another Atlas Forum user.
4. The testimony of forum users who viewed the statement itself.
5. An admission by the accused in a thread on the Atlas Forum, or in a place viewed or heard by multiple persons, with recordings or testimony attributing to the same.
6. Evidence obtained through investigation of the IP address from which the offence was perpetrated.
7. Evidence given to the Court by the Forum Moderators or the Forum Owner, Dave Leip obtained in their capacity in that position.

Section 7: Rights of the Defendant at Trial
1. The defendant shall not be denied access to adequate legal counsel in the form of an upstanding, active citizen of Atlasia. The defendant also has the right to waive their right to legal counsel. If the defendant requests legal counsel, but is unable to secure his own adequate legal counsel according to the stipulations above, the presiding Justice shall request the chief judicial officer of the Region which said Defendant resides in, to serve as legal counsel to represent the defense. The chief judicial officer of the Region shall have the right to refuse such a request.
2. If there is no chief judicial officer of said Region or if the chief judicial officer refuses this request, the Senior Senator of the Region shall be appointed as chief legal counsel, or if there is no Regional senator, the Senior Senator of the District in which Defendant resides in shall be appointed as chief legal counsel. If the Senior Senator of the Region or District, as stated above, and the Defendant are the same person, then the Junior Senator of the Region shall be appointed as chief legal counselor, or if there is no Regional senator, the Junior Senator of the District in which Defendant resides in shall be appointed as chief legal counsel.
3. For this clause, active citizen is defined as someone who voted in the last federal election and upstanding citizen is defined as someone who is presently, or who has previously, held elected office in Atlasia.
4. The defendant shall have the right to a speedy trial as defined in Article III, Section 2. In addition to this provision, the following section will be used as definition of a speedy trial:
          i. If a brief by the Plaintiff is not filed within one week (7 days) of the presiding Justice opening the trial against the defendant, the case will be dismissed and all charges will be dropped.
          ii. A one week (7 days) leniency period may be granted by the presiding Justice by request of the Plaintiff, but any further delays may not be granted by the presiding Justice, except in the case of grave illness or publicly announced absence from the forum.

Section 8: Right to Appeal
In addition to any Rights of Appeal the Supreme Court may find under the Constitution, the defendant retains the following statutory rights of appeal against their conviction:
1. Procedural Appeals
          i. Should the defendant wish to appeal his conviction on grounds of errors of procedure during the trial, he may do so to the full Supreme Court provided the appeal is filed within one month of conclusion of the trial.
          ii. If the Supreme Court does find errors of procedure in the trial, vacation of the conviction shall not be automatic, but at the discretion of the Supreme Court.
2. Substantive Appeals
          i. Should new evidence come to light, the defendant may appeal his conviction to the Supreme Court on the grounds that the evidence no longer supports his conviction or severity of his sentence.
          ii. In reviewing the appeal, the Supreme Court may refer the question of guilt to a new jury in a new trial (without vacating the original conviction).
          iii. The Supreme Court may also reduce the sentence if it determines that the severity of the offence is reduced in light of the new evidence.

Section 9: Repealed Legislation
The following Acts are repealed: Voter Fraud Act, Omnibus Criminal Law Act, and Treasonous Rebellion Act.


Tax Increase Bill

1. All income up to $500,000 shall be subject to social security taxes.
2. Clause 5 of F.L. 11-6, National Sin Tax Act, is amended to read: "The taxes implemented by this act are an addition to, not an overriding of, any existing federal and regional taxes that are placed on the aforementioned products."
3. An estate tax is established. Each portion of the value of the estate shall be taxed at the following rates, with each rate corresponding to the tax rate on only the portion of the estate that falls in the appointed range:
a) $0-$5,000,000 – 0%
b) $5,000,001-$10,000,000 – 3%
c) $10,000,001-$17,500,000 – 4%
d) $17,500,001-$25,000,000 – 5%
e) $25,000,001-$50,000,000 – 7.5%
f) $50,000,001-$100,000,000 – 10%
g) $100,000,001 and above – 12.5%


Writing help on various legislation is credited to Peter Bell, Bono, Cosmo Kramer, Emsworth, True Democrat

[Ebowed]

OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL AGENDA FOR THE FOURTEENTH SENATE SESSION
A weekly sample of legislative proposals for the Senate to consider

(Part 2; 10,000 character limit was exceeded)

Child Labor Restriction Bill

Section 1: Applicability
1. This statute shall only apply in the District of Columbia and in federal territories which do not form part of any region.

Section 2: Definitions
1. The following definitions shall apply throughout this statute:
a.) A "school day" is defined as a day that contains more than two hours of classroom instruction.
b.) A "school week" is defined as any week (beginning noon Sunday) that contains two or more school days.
c.) "Work" is defined as receiving financial compensation for services rendered.

Section 3: Minors aged 15 to 17
1. Minors aged fifteen to seventeen years may not:
a.) Work more than 40 hours in a non-school week, and no more than 20 hours in a school week.
b.) Work more than 8 hours in a non-school day, and no more than 4 hours in a school day.
c.) Work more than 6 days in a non-school week, and no more than 4 days in a school week.

Section 4: Children aged less than 15
1. Employment of children aged less than fifteen years is prohibited, except those over the age of 13 years, who may work only as a newspaper carrier, and for no more than 10 hours in a week.

Section 5: Hours of Work
1. Employment of any person under the age of eighteen years between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. is prohibited.

Section 6: Type of Employment
1. Employment of minors in any place that sells alcohol, except a supermarket or other general provisions store, is prohibited.
2. Employment of minors in work that requires the use of heavy machinery is prohibited.
3. The Secretary of the Treasury may additionally prohibit employment of minors in certain jobs that it considers hazardous as he or she finds necessary.

Section 7: Penalties
1. Any employer in violation of Sections 3, 5 or 6 shall be fined between $500 and $1000 for each infraction.
2. Any employer in violation of Section 4 shall be fined between $2000 and $10000 for each infraction.

Section 8: Exemptions
1. Parents may employ their own children to work in the home or at the place of their own business, except in prohibited types of employment specified in Section 6.


Writing help on various legislation is credited to Peter Bell, Bono, Cosmo Kramer, Emsworth, True Democrat

[Brandon H]

First, I think Preston's proposal is definitely going in the right direction. Some thing needs to be definte as a set of rules pertaining to the GM. I also agree that the rules of the game should be seperate from the political laws that exist inside of Atlasia.

Second, I agree with TCash that if this was proposed as a citizen then this was not the proper thread for it. Besides being voted on by all citizens, all citizens should have the right to offer modifications. For example, maybe 6 weeks is too long. Too some, maybe it is too short. But the citizens should have the right to make the decision instead of having a take it or leave package with not change to improve it.

[jokerman]

First, I think Preston's proposal is definitely going in the right direction. Some thing needs to be definte as a set of rules pertaining to the GM. I also agree that the rules of the game should be seperate from the political laws that exist inside of Atlasia.

Second, I agree with TCash that if this was proposed as a citizen then this was not the proper thread for it. Besides being voted on by all citizens, all citizens should have the right to offer modifications. For example, maybe 6 weeks is too long. Too some, maybe it is too short. But the citizens should have the right to make the decision instead of having a take it or leave package with not change to improve it.

Well, that's why we have it hear for citizen examination.  Because of the comments received on it we are now going to amend the section at hand.  We do plan to hold a vote soon, however.

[TomC]

The problem is that this isn't a law. 

Rule, guiding principal, call it whatever you want- it's setting forth standards of conduct. I'm arguing a small part of it needs to be law.

This has nothing to do with atlasia.  This isn't concerning the world in which atlasia exists;

You seem to have decided so, and I'm still trying to figure out on what authority it's based, but "GM" is mentioned in the Constitution so a legal basis for this position does exist, in fact, some might say there is a need to define the nature of the position since there is defined resonsibility. We have Senators serving as GM, and in fact, you have proposed a - well it's not a law- but I guess an agreement that includes disallowing Atlasian officials- positions created and defined by our constitution- from serving as GM. So this part of your proposal is based in Atlasian law- it is necessary to limit federal officers, and this most certainly does enter the Atlasian world. I think you agree or you wouldn't have written it into your proposal to eliminate the conflict of interest. The rest of it, more arguably, could be left out of the Constitution. But no, "we can't won't and shant break it up." I'm telling you how to keep a lot of it out of the Constitution; ignore me if you want to.

that would be like having a debate

And what's there to break up. 

I believe I've explained my opinion on this already:
1. limiting of federal officials from serving as GM and
2. everything else.

This isn't a controversial matter.  That's as if we we're voting on a law code and you say you want to break it up.  You can't break it up.  If one part doesn't pass then its incomplete.  Like I said, we're working on a clean slate here.

[jokerman]

As long as that is the only part of it that would be seperated from the rest, I'm comfortable with breaking it up that way.

[Ebowed]

Just to be clear- the confirmation hearings for Preston and Bono will continue as scheduled, and JerusalemCar5 and EarlAW are NOT fired from the Senate or from the Game Moderatorship.

Any more complaining will be ignored.

[Speed of Sound]

Well done Ebowed, but Ive still got my eye on you....

[Hatman 🍁]

Just to be clear- the confirmation hearings for Preston and Bono will continue as scheduled, and JerusalemCar5 and EarlAW are NOT fired from the Senate or from the Game Moderatorship.

Any more complaining will be ignored.

Thanks Ebowed. Is True Dem a GM too though?