SB 106-20: Proportional Party Majorness Agreeable Gateway Act (Failed)

[Joseph Cao]

A BILL FOR AN ACT
Establishing a legal threshold for federal party status

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE RESOLVED.

Section 1, TITLE.
i. The title of this Act shall be, the “Proportional Party Majorness Agreeable Gateway Act.”
ii. This Act shall not be referred to using the title's acronym.

Section 2, THRESHOLD.
i. A federal political party shall be considered a "major party" when the party in question either obtains a membership that consists of at least 10% of the federal electorate or has a member of their party place at least third place or higher in the most recent race for president.

Section 3, ENACTMENT.
i. This bill shall take effect starting with the first census held after either signature by the President or a veto override.

Sponsor: Spark on behalf of Koopa
Status: Debating

72 hours to debate. Both Spark and Koopa are invited to speak on the bill's behalf.

(It was immensely tempting to vandalize the thread title, let me tell you.)

[Continential]

There are currently 181 people in Atlasia, this bill would make Labor and the Federalists and the Revcoms major parties while everyone else would be classified as Others.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

There are currently 181 people in Atlasia, this bill would make Labor and the Federalists and the Revcoms major parties while everyone else would be classified as Others.

Yeah, frankly, I think 5% would be a much more reasonable threshold than 10%. After all, 5% is the same threshold that other obscure forum game, "America," I think it's called, uses for its major parties.

[KoopaDaQuick 🇵🇸]

If you wish to change the threshold to something lower, I won't budge. I just think that it wouldn't be a terrible idea to have the major parties be determined proportionally, fluctuating as the game grows and shrinks. 5% is reasonable in hindsight, 10% was really just a placeholder. I also thought the "3rd or higher in the last presidential election" was a good qualification as it (a) encourages more participation in the political process, (b) is similar to IRL American major party laws, and (c) allows small parties that don't have the numbers but clearly have the popularity to be included.

I yield my time.

[FrancoAgo]

i don't see the needs of this Act

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Introducing this amendment:

A BILL FOR AN ACT
Establishing a legal threshold for federal party status

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE RESOLVED.

Section 1, TITLE.
i. The title of this Act shall be, the “Proportional Party Majorness Agreeable Gateway Act.”
ii. This Act shall not be referred to using the title's acronym.

Section 2, THRESHOLD.
i. A federal political party shall be considered a "major party" when the party in question either obtains a membership that consists of at least 10%5% of the federal electorate or has a member of their party place at least third place or higher in the most recent race for president.

Section 3, ENACTMENT.
i. This bill shall take effect starting with the first census held after either signature by the President or a veto override.

With this change I think the bill is far more reasonable, and also allows Peebs to not have to deal with a new reform party popping up, getting 3 members and falling apart.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

As someone who is in favor of making Peebs's life easier, I will sign this bill provided it has her stamp of approval.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

1. What purpose does this definition for "major party" actually achieve?

2. Supplementary to the above, I'd like a better rationale regarding PP-MAGA for the seemingly arbitrary figure of 5 or 10 percent.

[Joseph Cao]

24 hours to object to WB's amendment.

Wouldn't making the major party threshold based on a proportional formula be giving an extra step for Peebs to work out and thus be more work by definition? Peebs is welcome to correct me if it turns out to be more work tracking the minor major parties that are currently included in the census.

[Spark]

I support the amendment of 5% as it is a more reasonable number and a similar threshold to IRL. This bill will also determine who has major party status.

[Dr. MB]

Awful bill. The party threshold for major should be at 3 as it has been ever since reset.

As someone who is in favor of making Peebs's life easier, I will sign this bill provided it has her stamp of approval.

If Peebs doesn't want to do the job she's assigned to do then give it to someone else. I'd be happy to do it if need be. It's really such a minimal effort to catalogue however many extra parties each week.

If this passes as is I'd consider leaving the game. It would be a death blow to all third parties.

[Dr. MB]

If it ain't broke don't f**king fix it.

Introducing this amendment:

A BILL FOR AN ACT
Establishing a legal threshold for federal party status

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE RESOLVED.

Section 1, TITLE.
i. The title of this Act shall be, the “Proportional Party Majorness Agreeable Gateway Act.”
ii. This Act shall not be referred to using the title's acronym.

Section 2, THRESHOLD.
i. A federal political party shall be considered a "major party" when the party in question either obtains a membership that consists of at least 5% of the federal electorate or has a member of their party place at least third place or higher in the most recent race for president. 3 registered members.

Section 3, ENACTMENT.
i. This bill shall take effect starting with the first census held after either signature by the President or a veto override.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

Awful bill. The party threshold for major should be at 3 as it has been ever since reset.

Awful amendment. The party threshold for major should be at 5 as it has been ever since the beginning.

If Peebs doesn't want to do the job she's assigned to do then give it to someone else.

If you want me gone so bad, you should impeach me. It's not like I don't deserve it, and even if I don't deserve it, from an objective point of view, my continued presence is pointless.

[Dr. MB]

Awful bill. The party threshold for major should be at 3 as it has been ever since reset.

Awful amendment. The party threshold for major should be at 5 as it has been ever since the beginning.

If Peebs doesn't want to do the job she's assigned to do then give it to someone else.

If you want me gone so bad, you should impeach me. It's not like I don't deserve it, and even if I don't deserve it, from an objective point of view, my continued presence is pointless.

If you’re still happy in your role then no reason you should leave.

[S019]

I object to the amendment, it would undermine the entirety of the legislation, at that point, you'd be better off just tabling this and leaving it at the status quo.

[Continential]

I object to the amendment, it would undermine the entirety of the legislation, at that point, you'd be better off just tabling this and leaving it at the status quo.

There is no status quo as the legislation for it has been repealed on accident and replaced with nothing.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

MB has a point, but we don't need to be getting into fights with the SoFE. This is not meant to be a personal point of contention but one that is the most appropriate approach to major party status.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Peebs originally introduced this after she tried, unsuccessfully, to dissolve the Peace Party, which is actually against the law even if a majority of members are in favor. These inactive, headless carcass parties don't need their own section.

[Joseph Cao]

Weatherboy’s amendment is adopted.

A vote is open on MB’s amendment:

A BILL FOR AN ACT
Establishing a legal threshold for federal party status

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE RESOLVED.

Section 1, TITLE.
i. The title of this Act shall be, the “Proportional Party Majorness Agreeable Gateway Act.”
ii. This Act shall not be referred to using the title's acronym.

Section 2, THRESHOLD.
i. A federal political party shall be considered a "major party" when the party in question either obtains a membership that consists of at least 5% of the federal electorate or has a member of their party place at least third place or higher in the most recent race for president. 3 registered members.

Section 3, ENACTMENT.
i. This bill shall take effect starting with the first census held after either signature by the President or a veto override.

72 hours to vote — please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

S019 objected to my amendment, I believe.

[Joseph Cao]

S019 objected to my amendment, I believe.

S019’s language was “undermine the entirety of the legislation”, which applies more obviously to the amendment that strips the main body out of the bill text and was also made after the amendment in question, and on both counts that applies to MB’s amendment and not yours.

In any case, even if it was for your amendment, he technically made it outside the 24-hour window.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Got it. Anyway, nay on the amendment, personally I’m fine with the status quo but if Peebs is having trouble (which seems to be the case) then the 5% threshold makes more sense to me.

[Joseph Cao]

In view of the holiday season and also my not being able to PM folks about this yesterday, I'm going to extend this by 72 hours. Carry right on.

[WD]

Aye

[OBD]

Aye