SB 104-02: Senate Terms Amendment (Tabled)

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AN AMENDMENT
To extend term lengths of At-Large Senators and modify the calendar for the elections of Regional Senators.


Be it enacted by two-thirds of the Senate and of the Regions concurrently

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Senate Terms Amendment or the Nebraska Amendment.

Section 2. Amendment to the Fifth Constitution

1. Section 2 of the Constitution is hereby amended:

Section 2. Elections to the Senate.

1. The manner of election for at-large Senators shall be as follows:

i. The nine at-large Senators shall be elected for a term of two four months by the eligible voters of the Republic according to a method of proportional representation prescribed by the Senate. Elections for the seats shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, and October, and December.
ii. If no other method of proportional representation is prescribed by law, at-large Senate elections shall operate on single transferable vote.
iii. At-large Senate vacancies shall be filled through appointment by the executive of the former Senator’s Party; but should a vacancy occur as the result of the death, expulsion, or resignation of an at-large Senator not being a member of a major Party, then a special election shall be held within twenty days of the vacancy to choose a replacement to serve the remainder of the existing term.

2. The manner of election for Regional Senators shall be as follows:

i. Each region shall elect a Senator for a term of four months by popular election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. Regional Senate elections shall be held in the months of February, June, and October April, August, and December.
ii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by special election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term, as well as the interim between a vacancy and a prescribed special election, may be filled in accordance with the laws of the region in question; should no such law exist then the region’s executive shall have the power to make such an appointment.

3. The manner of election for Subregional Senators shall be as follows:
i. Each subregion shall elect a Senator for a term of four months by popular election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. Subegional Senate elections shall be held in the months of April, August, and December.
ii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by a special election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term shall be filled by the subregional Senator elected for the following term immediately upon conclusion of their election.

Section 3. Referendum Date

1. Each region shall vote on this change concurrently with the elections of August 2021.

Amendment Explanation: This amendment extends at-large terms by two months and changes the calendar for the election of regional senators to coincide with those of subregional senators.

Sponsor: Scott

The gentleman from Wyoming is recognized.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

As the Amendment Explanation says, this restructures the Senate terms so that half the chamber is up every two months, in a similar manner to the RL Nebraska unicameral legislature, which elects half its members every two years.

Simply put, it makes little sense to give At-Large senators shorter terms than Regional and Subregional ones, given that every senator has equal power. This amendment simplifies the calendar by merging the timing of the Regional elections with the Subregional elections to be held in the middle of the President's term, while At-Large Senators are elected with the President.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Having the At-large elections in the midterms is actually beneficial on its own merits, even leaving aside the concern about lengthing the terms, cutting the number of elections there by half.

Right now, you have essentially an election every two months that is federal of some note in nature and gets people back focused again. However, with this proposal you would lose that aspect and have to hobble across a four month span with no such election.

Remember even pre-reset, the At-large Elections were always in the midterms going back to their inception, while Regional ones were in the Presidential years.

What if we switched the At-Large elections to the midterms and scheduled the regional/subregional elections to go with the presidential?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Having the At-large elections in the midterms is actually beneficial on its own merits, even leaving aside the concern about lengthing the terms, cutting the number of elections there by half.

Right now, you have essentially an election every two months that is federal of some note in nature and gets people back focused again. However, with this proposal you would lose that aspect and have to hobble across a four month span with no such election.

Remember even pre-reset, the At-large Elections were always in the midterms going back to their inception, while Regional ones were in the Presidential years.

What if we switched the At-Large elections to the midterms and scheduled the regional/subregional elections to go with the presidential?

I actually prefer it as you had it. It makes voting easier when you have only a single voting booth to worry about.

I agree, and I'm also personally not very convinced that we should hold the At-Large elections during the midterms simply for sticking to tradition, but I'm willing to compromise if necessary to get the two-thirds the amendment needs.

Also, for the record: since this is legislation that directly affects all of us, I would like input from as many senators as possible.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I would rather have two-month terms for everyone than half with four months and half with two months. That makes no sense in a unicameral body where everyone has equal voting powers, irrespective of past precedent.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

The amendment is friendly. Senators have 24 hours to object.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Hearing an objection, a vote is now open on WB's amendment. Senators, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

AN AMENDMENT
To extend term lengths of At-Large Senators equalize the term lengths of all Senators and modify the calendar for the elections of Regional and Subregional Senators.


Be it enacted by two-thirds of the Senate and of the Regions concurrently

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Senate Terms Amendment or the Nebraska Amendment.

Section 2. Amendment to the Fifth Constitution

1. Section 2 of the Constitution is hereby amended:

Section 2. Elections to the Senate.

1. The manner of election for at-large Senators shall be as follows:

i. The nine at-large Senators shall be elected for a term of two months by the eligible voters of the Republic according to a method of proportional representation prescribed by the Senate. Elections for the seats shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
ii. If no other method of proportional representation is prescribed by law, at-large Senate elections shall operate on single transferable vote.
iii. At-large Senate vacancies shall be filled through appointment by the executive of the former Senator’s Party; but should a vacancy occur as the result of the death, expulsion, or resignation of an at-large Senator not being a member of a major Party, then a special election shall be held within twenty days of the vacancy to choose a replacement to serve the remainder of the existing term.

2. The manner of election for Regional Senators shall be as follows:

i. Each region shall elect a Senator for a term of four two months by popular election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. Regional Senate elections shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
ii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by special election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term, as well as the interim between a vacancy and a prescribed special election, may be filled in accordance with the laws of the region in question; should no such law exist then the region’s executive shall have the power to make such an appointment.

3. The manner of election for Subregional Senators shall be as follows:
i. Each subregion shall elect a Senator for a term of four two months by popular election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. Subegional Senate elections shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
ii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by a special election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term shall be filled by the subregional Senator elected for the following term immediately upon conclusion of their election.

Section 3. Referendum Date

1. Each region shall vote on this change concurrently with the elections of August 2021.

Amendment Explanation: This amendment extends at-large terms by two months and changes the calendar for the election of regional senators to coincide with those of subregional senators. changes the terms of regional and subregional Senators to two months and changes the calendar for the election of regional and subregional Senators to coincide with those of at-large senators.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Aye

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Don't forget about this, folks.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

With seven votes in favor, six opposed, one abstention, and four not voting, the amendment is adopted.

Debate resumes.

AN AMENDMENT
To equalize the term lengths of all Senators and modify the calendar for the elections of Regional and Subregional Senators.


Be it enacted by two-thirds of the Senate and of the Regions concurrently

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Senate Terms Amendment.

Section 2. Amendment to the Fifth Constitution

1. Section 2 of the Constitution is hereby amended:

Section 2. Elections to the Senate.

1. The manner of election for at-large Senators shall be as follows:

i. The nine at-large Senators shall be elected for a term of two months by the eligible voters of the Republic according to a method of proportional representation prescribed by the Senate. Elections for the seats shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
ii. If no other method of proportional representation is prescribed by law, at-large Senate elections shall operate on single transferable vote.
iii. At-large Senate vacancies shall be filled through appointment by the executive of the former Senator’s Party; but should a vacancy occur as the result of the death, expulsion, or resignation of an at-large Senator not being a member of a major Party, then a special election shall be held within twenty days of the vacancy to choose a replacement to serve the remainder of the existing term.

2. The manner of election for Regional Senators shall be as follows:

i. Each region shall elect a Senator for a term of two months by popular election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. Regional Senate elections shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
ii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by special election of the region’s residents administered by the regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Regional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term, as well as the interim between a vacancy and a prescribed special election, may be filled in accordance with the laws of the region in question; should no such law exist then the region’s executive shall have the power to make such an appointment.

3. The manner of election for Subregional Senators shall be as follows:
i. Each subregion shall elect a Senator for a term of two months by popular election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government in a manner prescribed by the legislature thereof. Subegional Senate elections shall be held in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
ii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring more than thirty days prior to the end of the term shall be filled by a special election of the subregion’s residents administered by its constituent regional government within twenty days of the vacancy.
iii. Subregional Senate vacancies occurring within thirty days of the end of the term shall be filled by the subregional Senator elected for the following term immediately upon conclusion of their election.

Section 3. Referendum Date

1. Each region shall vote on this change concurrently with the elections of August 2021.

Amendment Explanation: This amendment changes the terms of regional and subregional Senators to two months and changes the calendar for the election of regional and subregional Senators to coincide with those of at-large senators.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Honestly, for the reasons Yankee stated, I'm actually having reservations about this now.

It's still a very unusual makeup for half the senators having half the term lengths as the others, despite having the exact same voting powers as every other senator. We are also giving half the chamber an advantage in becoming entrenched.

The only alternative I can think of at this point would be to only allow regional and subregional senators to vote on, say, nominees and treaties. But that kind of defeats the spirit of unicameralism and only serves to disenfranchise public opinion.

I might withdraw sponsorship or motion to table and let this die, because I don't see anything passing anyway.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

The only alternative I can think of at this point would be to only allow regional and subregional senators to vote on, say, nominees and treaties.

Who would run for Regional or sub regional Senate at that point? You are just sitting and watching the wheels go round and round as John Lennon once said.

Imagine if you couldn't do anything on health care, anything on education, anything on making college more affordable, anything on climate, etc etc etc.

Would you have run for your current office?

I meant in addition to proposing legislation; the four-month senators having more power than the two-month senators in a unicameral legislature.

But that defeats the purpose of unicameralism if it's essentially just a perpetual joint session of the old House and Senate.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Seconding the motion to table.

Senators, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Aye

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

With a sufficient number having voted in the affirmative, the bill is now tabled.