The White House: The Joseph Cao Administration

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

I was made to understand the six no-shows on the final vote were out on a fact-finding trip to their local Home Depots that was of some relevance to the bill being debated, so I will excuse their playing hooky this time. But really, shouldn't y'all be, you know, voting?

S.T.O.V.E. ACT

1. This act shall be referred to as the Stop Trying to Obsessively Villify Energy Act or S.T.O.V.E. Act.

2. No Federal agency may propose, implement, or finalize a rule or guidance that restricts or bans the use and purchase of gas-powered stoves, cooktops, ranges, or ovens in Atlasia without first attaining approval of the Atlasian Senate.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 12-0-0-6 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Thank you to the Senate for approving this bill!

This brings a much-needed update to an aspect of our foreign policy that hasn't been touched since about 2018. With the 2016 reset we really still have far too many operational bases with overlapping jurisdictions that are essentially a money sink, and we can do our basic duties of keeping the peace and walking softly and carrying the big stick for less expenditure. Closing the bases that have been internally determined to be redundant won't compromise that ability. We can keep strength abroad and bring our men and women home at the same time.

BASED ACT

TITLE I: FOREIGN BASES

1. Within one hundred twenty (120) days of the enactment of this law, the Secretary of State shall conduct a review of all foreign military bases owned, leased, operated, or used by the Atlasian military and identify opportunities for the elimination of redundant, costly, wasteful, surplus, or otherwise unnecessary foreign military bases.

2. The Secretary shall use the following criteria in determining the necessity of foreign military bases:

A. Effectiveness in protecting Atlasian national security and strategic advantage;

B. Cost efficiency and management challenges;

C. Whether allies of the Republic of Atlasia feel that the base is essential to satisfying mutual security interests between them and the Republic of Atlasia, and whether the base is needed to fulfill a mutual defense agreement;

D. How the presence of an Atlasian military base affects the nation's image and relationship with inhabitants of people living where a base is located;

E. Strategic and practical ramifications of closing a military base;

F. Whether or not there are duplicative or overlapping base coverage; and

G. Any other relevant consideration as identified by the Secretary.

3. At the conclusion of the review, the Secretary shall publish a report identifying those foreign bases identified as unnecessary and shall phase out operations at the base and begin preparations to close the base as soon as is safely and efficiently practicable.

4. The Secretary shall not be permitted to close greater than 50% of all foreign bases without the approval of the President and Senate.

5. The Senate may reject any particular planned base closing upon the passage of a resolution to such effect.

6. Included in the Secretary's final report of foreign military bases to close shall be any and all bases in France, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali.

TITLE II: DOMESTIC BASES

1. Within one hundred twenty (120) days of the enactment of this law, the Secretary of State shall conduct a review of all domestic military bases owned, leased, operated, or used by the Atlasian military and identify opportunities to reduce redundancy, inefficiency, waste, or otherwise unnecessary costs related to the operation of such bases.

2. The Secretary shall use the following criteria in determining cost reduction for domestic military bases:

A. Effectiveness in protecting Atlasian national security and strategic advantage;

B. Cost efficiency and management challenges;

C. Whether certain operational duties, responsibilities, and activities conducted at each base are essential to satisfying the national security;

D. Opportunities to reduce waste, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and financial risk and liability;

E. Strategic, practical, and civilian ramifications of implementing any policy change or closing any military base;

F. Whether or not there are duplicative or overlapping operations and whether or not consolidation or fragmentation of such operations may be strategically advatngeous;

G. Opportunities to save or offset costs; and

H. Any other relevant consideration as identified by the Secretary.

3. At the conclusion of the review, the Secretary, with the consent of the President shall publish a report identifying those strategies and operational and policy changes identified by the review and shall implement such changes as soon as is safely and efficiently practicable.

4. The report shall also identify any domestic military bases or other military property deemed unnecessary or surplus and shall phase out operations at the base and begin preparations to close the base as soon as is safely and efficiently practicable.The Secretary shall not be permitted to close greater than 10% of all domestic bases or property without the approval of the President and Senate.

5. The Senate may reject any particular planned base closing upon the passage of a resolution to such effect.

6. No more than 1,000 foreign soldiers shall be stationed in Atlasia, excluding at foreign diplomatic property, without an express waiver passed by a Senate resolution.

TITLE III: CIA BLACKSITES

1. Within one hundred twenty (120) days of the enactment of this law, all bases or other properties owned, lessed, or operated at or by the CIA in foreign countries at which the detention of persons occurs or at which drones are operated out of shall be closed.

Passed 10-3-0-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

I work in an area that thank goodness is not substantially affected by ChatGPT and its ilk, at least for now, but there is plenty out there that could still see its fingerprints so to speak. In a game already much more transparent and citizen-involved than its RL counterpart with bills that are generally far easier to write and comprehend I think it is enough to ask that we keep the understanding that bills are written by representatives elected to serve the people, rather than being delegated to bots or to anonymous aides as happens IRL. This is an open game, and apart from the exception to extend its openness to people with a weaker command of English, it is vital that we keep it that way.

TERMINATE CYBERDYNE ACT

1. Beginning five (5) days from the date this law is enacted, it shall be unlawful for any Atlasian Senator, GM official, or other Atlasian official to utilize any robot, algorithim, or artificial intelligence, including but not limited to ChatGPT, to write any legislation, regulations, executive orders, storylines, or other legally binding content.

2. The failure of any Senator or other officer to affirmatively declare a bill, regulation, order, story, or other content as having been written or partially written by any robot, algorithim, or artificial intelligence, including but not limited to ChatGPT, shall be a crime punishable by a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for no less than ten (10) days and no more than one (1) year per bill, regulation, order, story, or other content. Lying about whether or not a bill, regulation, order, story, or other content as having been written or partially written by any robot, algorithim, or artificial intelligence, including but not limited to ChatGPT, shall be considered perjury, and shall be punishable by expulsion, a fine of $10,000, and imprisonment for no less than ten (10) days and no more than one (1) year per lie.

3. It is the position of Atlasia that potentially having a robot draft hundreds of bills, regulations, orders, stories, or other content within minutes without any human interaction greatly defeats the point of this game and renders the continuation of Atlasia pointless.

4. The Official Senate Procedures and Rules for Operation shall be amended as follows:

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Article 2: Introducing Legislation

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2.) If the PPT determines that a piece of legislation is functionally impractical, frivolous, was written using the assistance of A.I. such as ChatGPT, or is directly unconstitutional, they may, in a public post on the Legislation Introduction thread, remove said legislation from the Senate floor. The sponsoring Senator of the legislation shall have ninety-six (96) hours to challenge this action in a public post, and with the concurrence of one-third (1/3) of office-holding Senators in the affirmative, may override the actions of the PPT. (Nasolation clause)

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9.) No legislation shall be written using the assistance of A.I. such as ChatGPT and other language model algorithms. This does not apply to the use of A.I. for sole purposes of grammatical corrections.


Article 3: Amendments

1.) During the course of debate on legislation, any sitting Senator may offer amendments to the legislation. The President Pro Tempore may in good faith remove amendments from consideration that are functionally impractical, frivolous, repetitive, was written using the assistance of A.I. such as ChatGPT,  directly unconstitutional, entirely non-germane to the broader subject of the bill, or lack clear intent regarding the changes to be made. The amendment sponsor shall have 24 hours to object to the decision by the PPT and may overturn the action with the concurrence of 1/3rd of his fellow Senators. Unless stated otherwise in the amendment, components of the underlying legislation not referenced in an amendment will remain unchanged.

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6.) No amendments shall be written using the assistance of A.I. such as ChatGPT and other language model algorithms. This does not apply to the use of A.I. for purposes of grammatical corrections.

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Article 4: Debate

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5.) No debate on the Senate floor shall be conducted or written using the assistance of A.I. such as ChatGPT and other language model algorithims.

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5. Any existing law prohibiting discriminatory conduct against certain classes or groups of persons shall not be interpreted as applying to beings in the following categories:

A. Humans who possess non-medically required artificial enhancements that allow such person to perform tasks exceeding human capabilities;

B. Prohibited human-animal chimeras;

C. Non-human animals; and

D. Artificial intelligence.

6. Every school, college, or university receiving federal funds shall be required by July 1, 2023 to adopt a plagiarism policy prohibiting the use of robots, algorithims, or artificial intelligence, including but not limited to ChatGPT, in the completion of any paper, test, assignment, or other student work product.

Passed 10-3-0-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Anyone else remember that maroon avatar who was in the House in early 2021 and kept warning us that this or that would incur the terrible wrath of China? This one's dedicated to you, buddy.

REJECT FOREIGN INFLUENCES ACT

1. No private corporation or other business entity shall be eligible to raise a defense of sovereign immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act for any civil claim, regardless of if the private corporation happens to be acting on behalf of a foreign government in giving rise to the claim.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Atlasian government shall not draw down and sell petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to any entity that is under the ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese Communist Party; or except on the condition that such petroleum products will not be exported to the People’s Republic of China.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 13-0-0-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

So I'm not gonna lie, I personally find Pi to be a rather subtly annoying film of the pseudo-psycho-mystical pop math variety. Something about moviemakers repeating their internal state. But as a matter of art and technical work it speaks for itself and so do all the others on this list. Maybe that's why the sponsor didn't bother advocating. Would be somewhat fitting at least?

PATRONAGE OF THE ARTS ACT
To preserve good films in the Library of Congress's National Film Registry

Be it enacted by the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia assembled,

Section I. Title

1. This bill may be known as the Patronage of the Arts act.

Section II. NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY AMENDMENT

NOTE: The National Film Registry is the Atlasia National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board was established in 1988. Each year, 25 "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films" are preserved, to increase awareness for its preservation. To be eligible for inclusion, a film must be at least ten years old but it is not required to be feature-length, nor is it required to have been theatrically released.

1. Outside of the established films in the Library of Congress's National Film Registry and the films added included in Promoting the Arts Act, the following films shall be preserved in the National Film Registry:

a. Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
b. John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)
c. Stand By Me (1986)
d. Miracle Mile (1988)
e. Heathers (1989)
f. My Own Private Idaho (1991)
g. Aladdin (1992)
h. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
i. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
j. True Romance (1993)
k. Clueless (1995)
l. Face/Off (1997)
m. Jackie Brown (1997)
n. Gattaca (1997)
o. American History X (1998)
p. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
q. Pi (1998)
r. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
s. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
t. Sin City (2005)
u. Gran Torino (2008)
v. The Wrestler (2008)
w. Black Swan (2010)
x. Drive (2011)
y. Django Unchained (2012)

Passed 13-0-0-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Veto statement

Five senators not bothering to vote is one thing. Six more abstaining is another. And when it takes the only Nay vote to explain why over half the Senate has some sort of problem with this bill there is something up, I think. We have plenty of restrictions on the kind of lobbying that actually happens in-game – the kind driven by players and people of relevance. I delivered two to the Oval Office as PPT, and I just signed another a few weeks ago! Both the left and the right agreed pretty early on from the reset that this country doesn't have money in politics, corporate donations, meddling by lobbyists in administration or congressional matters. So I really don't see where this one is going aside from "We did it, Patrick"ing a problem that we generally agreed doesn't exist in-game.

2023 ANTI-LOBBYING ACT

SECTION I: DEFINITIONS

"Lobbying" refers to the act of soliciting legislators or executives to use the power of their office for a favor in exchange for donations.

"Lobbyist" refers to any individual who lobbys legislators or executives for payment.

SECTION II: CONTENT
The practice of professional lobbying is hereby prohibited.

SECTION III: PUNISHMENT
Any individual found guilty of lobbying may be punished by imprisonment between five and ten years and/or a fine of no more than $100,000.00.

Passed 6-1-6-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

VETOED

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

I mean, I'd much rather debate this kind of thing, you know? Even if nobody else really wants to. the kind of boring but essential bill that saves lives in regions like New Orleans and the Great Lakes when natural disasters hit, when people are dislocated and need immediate help – and even the fastest mobilization is far from immediate. This is the kind of thing we can all get behind. Maybe that's why nobody wants to debate it, but that makes it that much more important. Extremely happy to sign this.

EMERGENCY SHELTERS ACT

1. $40 Billion is hereby authorized to be expended through FY 2025 to acquire and construct emergency shelters and critical supplies reserves for use by the federal government during an emergency. The President shall determine the best locations in each Region for such shelters and supply reserves. An emergency shelter may be co-located on or at the property or facilities of a State or local government with the consent of the Region thereof.

2. The following items shall be stockpiled in amounts determined by the President to minimize disruption and dislocation during a crisis.

A. Inputs required to process and refine petroleum oil.

B. Batteries

C. Potable water purification technology and chemicals

D. Shelf-stable, high caloric food

E. Shelf-stable Baby formula

F. Medicine identified on the WHO Essential Medicines list

G. Motor Vehicle parts and components

H. Motor Vehicle Tires

I. Tents, tarpaulins, wool blankets, and cordage

J. Portable Cookstoves and fuel therefore

K. Handtools, chainsaws, and parts and lubricants therefore

L. Flashlights

M. Generators and parts and components thereof

3. All items purchased shall be packaged and stored so as to maximize shelf life and minimize degradation, as well as to provide Faraday shielding where appropriate. Any item that is within one (1) year of its shelf life or expiration date shall be disposed of or donated with any revenue resulting therefrom being deposited in the treasury. New purchases shall be made to replace stock that is rotated out pursuant to this paragraph.

4. All emergency shelters and emergency stockpiles shall be designed so as to withstand natural disasters and direct physical attacks.

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 13-0-0-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

An executive order to commemorate a longtime supporter of the industry that put Colonel Sanders, purveyor of 11 secret herbs and spices and a jolly fine Atlasian, on the map.

EXECUTIVE ORDER
To assuage my slight guilt about being partially responsible for one of these very silly actions

1. Lincoln General Court Deputy Dwarven Dragon, also known as Wulfric, is hereby granted a full and unconditional pardon for any federal crimes which he may have committed or may commit in the future as a result of fulfilling the conditions of bets made with another Atlasian citizen, including but not limited to indecent exposure.

2. The aforementioned is hereby gently but firmly encouraged to refrain from taking any more bets established to have deleterious effects on his physical, mental, or emotional wellbeing, including but not limited to ingestion of articles of clothing.


Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

EXECUTIVE ORDER
To designate new and highly deserving inductees into the Order of Atlasia

1. The following players are awarded the Silver Star of the Order of the Star of Atlasia (OSA(S)):

Brother Jonathan and KaiserDave, for their substantive but often unsung contributions to our region and on Vermont politics even as they find time to excel in their offline lives.

Khuzifenq, on behalf of some hundreds of voters, for managing to put up with nearly three years of my nonsense.

Lfromnj and Louisville Thunder, for helping out a young 2020 newbie. I can independently confirm that he appreciates their guidance very much.

Lumine, for over a decade of creative and meticulous service to the nation in areas too numerous to mention and who, to paraphrase a predecessor of mine, has received enough glory in gold that I feel a tad less guilty about one additional silver.

Mayor Hernandez, for serving the people of Chicago with distinction.

North Carolina Yankee, Thumb21, Devout Centrist, Tack50, and Scott for their pivotal roles in assembling five years’ worth of federal budgets, because each one of them knows that process may be necessary but geez is it painful.

Squirrel Jesus, for his wise words.

UlmerFudd, who aside from being a dependable presence in the party also receives this award just to let him be absolutely sure that I haven’t been killed and replaced with a Labor clone.

Utah Neolib, for being the voice of calm that we needed at a critical juncture, and for not letting that interfere with a trailblazing achievement in the Presidency or with handling what needs to be handled in the real world.

2. The following players are awarded the Gold Star of the Order of the Star of Atlasia (OSA(G)):

Battista Minola, aside from being a fine officeholder and a finer friend, for his proven facility with numbers, even though he’ll object to that characterization – some things are true no matter how you spin them.

Mr. Reactionary, for an absolutely prodigious legislative output both in the Southern Chamber and federally.

Peebs, for tackling the thankless work of running the elections and census offices with aplomb in a run of service still unparalleled in Atlasian history and in our hearts.

Poirot, for his indefatigable optimism for a game brighter and more hospitable to moderates than the one he entered, and for which he has never given up the fight.

ReaganClinton, for his levelheaded service at all levels of the game, for his independent mind and steady hand throughout his time here, and for a Vice-Presidency of which the nation and I could not be prouder.

3. The following posthumous inductions are made to the Silver Star of the Order of the Star of Atlasia (OSA(S)):

Andrew Donaldson and Kristin Devine, for insightful and culturally significant commentaries on politics, faith, community, and sandwiches.

P.J. O’Rourke, for always telling it like it was.

Harold Pierce, for his lasting culinary legacy, on behalf of a grateful Chicago.

John Denver and Billy Joel, for significant contributions to the Atlasian zeitgeist.

Luba Lukova, who aside from far more important visual work and activism for deserving causes is indirectly responsible for me being born, which I can’t say I begrudge.

Bill Watterson and Jeff Smith, for showing the world that great talent and art and storytelling and insights into the human condition and inspiration for younger generations can, contrary to popular belief, come out of Ohio in spades.

4. The following posthumous inductions are made to the Gold Star of the Order of the Star of Atlasia (OSA(G)):

Chien-Shiung Wu, Darleane Hoffman, and Vera Rubin, for plumbing the earth and the sky.

Hu Shih, for his championship of ideals transcending borders and times, and his tireless efforts to reach out and work toward their fruition.

John Williams, for his outstanding greatness.

June Huh, Dennis Sullivan, Daniel Spielman, Barry Mazur, Joel Nagloo, Ingrid Daubechies, Yunqing Tang, Noga Alon, and Eitan Tadmor, a small selection of all those richly deserving, for demonstrating the exceptional talent of the Atlasian mathematical community.

Martin Gardner, for developing this nation’s mind for mathematics and inspiring generations after him to join the challenge of investigating and explaining the field.

Studs Terkel, for giving a voice to countless common folks who would otherwise have been forgotten and swept up in the tide of history.

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Mr. Reactionary]

Last call

Protecting Human Inventions Act

Section I: Definitions

For the purposes of this act, the following definitions apply:

"AI system" means a computer system or program - such as AI software like ChatGPT - that is designed to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, including machine learning and deep learning systems.

"AI individual" means an entity or organization that creates, designs, or operates an AI system.

"Inventor" means a person or persons who have made a significant contribution to the conception of an invention that is claimed in a patent.

Section II: Content

2.1 An AI system or an AI individual shall not be recognized as an inventor on a patent.

2.2 Only human inventors shall be listed as inventors on a patent.

2.3 If an AI system or an AI individual contributes to the invention process, they shall not be recognized as inventors on the patent.

Section III: Implementation

3.1 The responsible services within Atlasia shall issue regulations consistent with this act within six months of its enactment, while providing guidance to patent applicants and examiners regarding the application of this act.

3.2 This act shall apply to all patent applications filed on or after the date of its enactment.

Section IV: Enforcement

4.1 A person who knowingly lists an AI system or an AI individual as an inventor on a patent application or patent shall be subject to penalties.

4.2 The penalties shall include the invalidation of the patent and fines up to $100,000

Section V: Effective Date

This act shall take effect immediately upon its passage by the Atlasian Senate.

Passed 9-0-1-8 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Last call

An Act to Increase Support for Individuals with Eating Disorders

Section 1: Short Title

This act may be cited as the "Eating Disorder Support Act."


Section 2: Purpose

The purpose of this act is to provide increased support for individuals suffering from eating disorders through the allocation of funding, resources, and infrastructure for the development and implementation of effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment methods.


Section 3: Funding and Resources

1. The government shall allocate $1 billion annually in additional funds and resources to increase the accessibility of psychologists for individuals suffering from eating disorders. These funds shall also be used to provide affordable psychological support for students and minors, and to increase the number of psychologists available in eating disorder clinics.

2. The government shall allocate $1 billion annually in funds for the establishment of additional eating disorder clinics, the employment of healthcare professionals specializing in eating disorders, and the provision of training and resources for these professionals to ensure they meet the required standard of care.

3. The government shall also provide $100 million annually funding for the development and implementation of outreach programs and public awareness campaigns to increase the understanding of eating disorders and promote early detection and treatment.


Section 4: Recognising All Eating Disorders

1. The following changes will be made in the DSM-V category I: Feeding and Eating Disorders

a. There will be no longer be a BMI requirement for diagnosing any ED.

2. Atlasian clinics will not reject people access to full treatment to people diagnosed with EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) and atypical anorexia.


Section 5: Effective Date

This act shall take effect upon passage.

Passed 7-0-3-8 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Last call

Europa Clipper Act

Section I - Title
This bill may be cited as Europa Clipper Act

Section II - Europa Clipper
In order to stimulate sciences, Atlasia will fund a specific space project, and 5 billion will be provided for the proposed Europa Clipper project, that will be developed and executed by NASA.

The goals of Europa Clipper are to explore Europa, investigate its habitability and aid in the selection of a landing site for the future Europa Lander. This exploration is focused on understanding the three main requirements for life: liquid water, chemistry, and energy. Specifically, the objectives are to study:

A. Ice shell and ocean: Confirm the existence, and characterize the nature, of water within or beneath the ice, and processes of surface-ice-ocean exchange
B. Composition: Distribution and chemistry of key compounds and the links to ocean composition
C. Geology: Characteristics and formation of surface features, including sites of recent or current activity.

The specific components of the mission will be:

Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System (E-THEMIS)
The Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System will provide high spatial resolution as well as multi-spectral imaging of the surface of Europa in the mid to far infrared bands to help detect geologically active sites and areas, such as potential vents erupting plumes of water into space.

Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE)
The Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa is an imaging near infrared spectrometer to probe the surface composition of Europa, identifying and mapping the distributions of organics (including amino acids and tholins), salts, acid hydrates, water ice phases, and other materials. From these measurements, scientists expect to be able to relate the moon's surface composition to the habitability of its ocean.

Europa Imaging System (EIS)
The Europa Imaging System is a visible spectrum wide and narrow angle camera instrument that will map most of Europa at 50 m (160 ft) resolution, and will provide images of selected surface areas at up to 0.5 m (20 in) resolution.

Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph (Europa-UVS)
The Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph instrument will be able to detect small plumes and will provide valuable data about the composition and dynamics of the moon's exosphere. The principal investigator Kurt Retherford was part of a group that discovered plumes erupting from Europa while using the Hubble Space Telescope in the UV spectrum.

Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON)
The Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) is a dual-frequency ice penetrating radar instrument that is designed to characterize and sound Europa's ice crust from the near-surface to the ocean, revealing the hidden structure of Europa's ice shell and potential water pockets within. This instrument will be built by Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM)
Replacing the ICEMAG instrument, Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) will be used to characterize the magnetic fields around Europa. The instrument consists of three magnetic flux gates placed along a 25ft boom, which will be stowed during launch and deployed afterwards. By studying the strength and orientation of Europa's magnetic field over multiple flybys, scientists hope to be able to confirm the existence of Europa's subsurface ocean, as well as characterize the thickness of its icy crust and measure the water's depth and salinity.

Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS)

Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS).
The Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) measures the plasma surrounding Europa to characterise the magnetic fields generated by plasma currents. These plasma currents mask the magnetic induction response of Europa's subsurface ocean. In conjunction with a magnetometer, it is key to determining Europa's ice shell thickness, ocean depth, and salinity. PIMS will also probe the mechanisms responsible for weathering and releasing material from Europa's surface into the atmosphere and ionosphere and understanding how Europa influences its local space environment and Jupiter's magnetosphere.

Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration (MASPEX)
The Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration (MASPEX) will determine the composition of the surface and subsurface ocean by measuring Europa's extremely tenuous atmosphere and any surface materials ejected into space.

Surface Dust Analyzer (SUDA)
The SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) is a mass spectrometer that will measure the composition of small solid particles ejected from Europa, providing the opportunity to directly sample the surface and potential plumes on low-altitude flybys. The instrument is capable of identifying traces of organic and inorganic compounds in the ice of ejecta.

Gravity/Radio Science
While not intended for use specifically as an instrument, Clipper will be using its radio antenna to perform additional experiments and learn about Europa's gravitational field. As the spacecraft performs each of its 45 flybys, its trajectory will be subtly altered by the moon's gravity. By sending radio signals between earth and the moon and characterizing the Doppler Shift in the return signal, scientists at JPL will be able to create a detailed characterization of the spacecraft's motion. This data will help to determine how the moon is flexing in relation to its distance from Jupiter, which will in turn reveal information about the moon's internal structure and tidal motions.

Section III - Effective Date
This act shall take effect 30 days from the date of passage. Development will start immediately. The Mission will be launched on October 10th of 2024 and the probe will arrive in april 2030 on Europa.

Passed 10-0-0-8 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Courtesy notice that this amemdment was approved by the Senate and now proceeds to the Regions.

Judicial Reform Amendment

The following additions, deletions, and changes are to be incorporated under Article V of the Fifth Constitution:

Section 1. The Judiciary.

1. The judicial power of the Republic of Atlasia shall be vested in the Supreme Court, the membership of which shall consist of two Justices and three Associate Justices chosen in the following manner:

i. The Justices of the Supreme Court shall be nominated by the President of the Republic of Atlasia and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate.

ii. The chief executive officer of each of the several Regions shall nominate from among their constituents a candidate for Associate Justice. Upon the assent of a majority of the legislative power thereof, the nomination shall proceed to the President. If they the President approves of the nomination they should the President shall grant their Assent and the nominee shall assume the office of Associate Justice; but if they should the President disapproves they should the President shall veto it and the nomination will be annulled. If then two thirds of the Senate should vote to override the President's veto, the nominee shall take office regardless of the opinion of the President.

2. The Justices and Associate Justices thus chosen shall hold their offices for life in good behavior for a term of four consecutive years;.

3. The President shall designate a Chief Justice from among the appointed Justices, who shall continue in that capacity until such time as they shall resign the designation, or else cease to be a member of the Supreme Court.

4. The term for any Supreme Court Justice or Associate Justice that, at the time this amendment is ratified, exceeds four consecutive years, shall follow a process as follows:

i. Ninety days after the ratification of this amendment, all Justices or Associate Justices who have served for more then four consecutive years shall vacate their seat, in order of seniority every ninety days. No such justice shall be eligible for reappointment until one hundred twenty days have elapsed since having vacated their seat.

Section 2. Regional Courts

The judicial power of each of the several Regions shall be vested in a Circuit Court composed of the Associate Justice chosen from that Region, and no Region shall establish any other court or judicial authority to hear a case with original jurisdiction lying with the Supreme Court.

Section 3. Jurisdiction.

1. The original and mandatory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court shall extend to :

i. all actual cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution and all official acts made under its authority;

ii. to all cases affecting ambassadors and other public ministers; and

iii. to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction.

2. The appellate, concurrent, and discretionary jurisdiction of the Supreme Court shall, as permitted by law, extend to controveries:

i. to controversies to which this Republic shall be a party;

ii. to controversies between two or more Regions, or between a Region and citizens of another Region;

iii. between citizens of different Regions;

iv. between citizens of the same Region claiming lands under grants of different Regions;

v. between a Region, or the citizens thereof, and foreign States, citizens, or subjects; and

vi. to which an NPC unrepresented by a player shall be a party.

2.3. The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the Region where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any Region, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Senate may by law have directed.

This Constitutional Amendment establishes a four year term limit for Justices and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and establishes a staggered process for the expiration of the terms of existing Justices and Associate Justices who already exceed the term limit. This Constitutional Amendment also clarifies the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court by identifying which cases and controversies the Supreme Court must hear and which they may, by discretion, hear.

Passed 13-3-0-2 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

[Mr. Reactionary]

Courtesy notice that this rules change was adopted by the Senate

ADEQUATE CONSIDERATION RESOLUTION

1. Article II, section 3 of the Official Senate Rules and Procedures shall be amended as follows:

...

d.) The twenty-third and twenty-fourth slots shall be reserved for the President of the Republic of Atlasia for bills, appointments, treaties, and Constitutional Amendments and administered by either the President of the Senate or the PPT.

e.) The twenty-fifth slot shall be reserved for public bill and Constitutional Amendment submissions and shall be introduced by the President of the Senate PPT.

...

2. Article VI of the Official Senate Rules and Procedures shall be amended by adding the following:

...

5. ) Any bill that seeks to repeal two (2) or more federal laws adopted after June 1, 2016 in the same bill shall not be able to be brought to a final vote without a two-thirds vote of the whole Senate. Any bill that seeks to amend two (2) or more federal laws adopted after June 1, 2016 in the same bill shall not be able to be brought to a final vote without a two-thirds vote of the whole Senate. This rule shall expire ninety (90) days after the date of enactment.


...

Passed 6-4-3-5 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

I guess the robots got the eight senators who didn't vote. A real shame about them, a crying shame. Will the next of kin let me know where I should direct my flowers/condolences/financial remunerations to?

Protecting Human Inventions Act

Section I: Definitions

For the purposes of this act, the following definitions apply:

"AI system" means a computer system or program - such as AI software like ChatGPT - that is designed to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, including machine learning and deep learning systems.

"AI individual" means an entity or organization that creates, designs, or operates an AI system.

"Inventor" means a person or persons who have made a significant contribution to the conception of an invention that is claimed in a patent.

Section II: Content

2.1 An AI system or an AI individual shall not be recognized as an inventor on a patent.

2.2 Only human inventors shall be listed as inventors on a patent.

2.3 If an AI system or an AI individual contributes to the invention process, they shall not be recognized as inventors on the patent.

Section III: Implementation

3.1 The responsible services within Atlasia shall issue regulations consistent with this act within six months of its enactment, while providing guidance to patent applicants and examiners regarding the application of this act.

3.2 This act shall apply to all patent applications filed on or after the date of its enactment.

Section IV: Enforcement

4.1 A person who knowingly lists an AI system or an AI individual as an inventor on a patent application or patent shall be subject to penalties.

4.2 The penalties shall include the invalidation of the patent and fines up to $100,000

Section V: Effective Date

This act shall take effect immediately upon its passage by the Atlasian Senate.

Passed 9-0-1-8 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

For $2.1 billion annually I hope the Subdepartment of Health knows what it's doing to tackle these. At any rate I'm glad this issue was brought to the Senate's attention and we shall see what comes of it, although two years after the lifting of lockdowns is rather a time to start considering postpandemic measures. I would assume this goes into the FY2024 allocation.

An Act to Increase Support for Individuals with Eating Disorders

Section 1: Short Title

This act may be cited as the "Eating Disorder Support Act."


Section 2: Purpose

The purpose of this act is to provide increased support for individuals suffering from eating disorders through the allocation of funding, resources, and infrastructure for the development and implementation of effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment methods.


Section 3: Funding and Resources

1. The government shall allocate $1 billion annually in additional funds and resources to increase the accessibility of psychologists for individuals suffering from eating disorders. These funds shall also be used to provide affordable psychological support for students and minors, and to increase the number of psychologists available in eating disorder clinics.

2. The government shall allocate $1 billion annually in funds for the establishment of additional eating disorder clinics, the employment of healthcare professionals specializing in eating disorders, and the provision of training and resources for these professionals to ensure they meet the required standard of care.

3. The government shall also provide $100 million annually funding for the development and implementation of outreach programs and public awareness campaigns to increase the understanding of eating disorders and promote early detection and treatment.


Section 4: Recognising All Eating Disorders

1. The following changes will be made in the DSM-V category I: Feeding and Eating Disorders.

a. There will be no longer be a BMI requirement for diagnosing any ED.

2. Atlasian clinics will not reject people access to full treatment to people diagnosed with EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) and atypical anorexia.


Section 5: Effective Date

This act shall take effect upon passage.

Passed 7-0-3-8 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Signing statement

Okay, like, genuinely, this is the kind of thing that should be debated thoroughly and in bygone times congressmen would hold up appropriations and conduct sneaky floor manoeuvres to get their way on finer points and things, and if not for the fact that it wouldn't prolong debate anyway I would be strongly tempted to veto. Really, I still am. But my first veto was for the noble cause of prodding you people up actually show up to vote and I don't want to spend the last signing on a meaningless gesture.

In any case this is the furthest thing from meaningless – it is our next step into space, of which again I am proud to say the regions are once more taking the lead with Lincoln's recent program launch. With what is probably going to be my final signing I am thrilled to be with you all on this next step.

YOU WILL GO TO SPACE TODAY!

Europa Clipper Act

Section I - Title
This bill may be cited as Europa Clipper Act

Section II - Europa Clipper
In order to stimulate sciences, Atlasia will fund a specific space project, and 5 billion will be provided for the proposed Europa Clipper project, that will be developed and executed by NASA.

The goals of Europa Clipper are to explore Europa, investigate its habitability and aid in the selection of a landing site for the future Europa Lander. This exploration is focused on understanding the three main requirements for life: liquid water, chemistry, and energy. Specifically, the objectives are to study:

A. Ice shell and ocean: Confirm the existence, and characterize the nature, of water within or beneath the ice, and processes of surface-ice-ocean exchange
B. Composition: Distribution and chemistry of key compounds and the links to ocean composition
C. Geology: Characteristics and formation of surface features, including sites of recent or current activity.

The specific components of the mission will be:

Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System (E-THEMIS)
The Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System will provide high spatial resolution as well as multi-spectral imaging of the surface of Europa in the mid to far infrared bands to help detect geologically active sites and areas, such as potential vents erupting plumes of water into space.

Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE)
The Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa is an imaging near infrared spectrometer to probe the surface composition of Europa, identifying and mapping the distributions of organics (including amino acids and tholins), salts, acid hydrates, water ice phases, and other materials. From these measurements, scientists expect to be able to relate the moon's surface composition to the habitability of its ocean.

Europa Imaging System (EIS)
The Europa Imaging System is a visible spectrum wide and narrow angle camera instrument that will map most of Europa at 50 m (160 ft) resolution, and will provide images of selected surface areas at up to 0.5 m (20 in) resolution.

Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph (Europa-UVS)
The Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph instrument will be able to detect small plumes and will provide valuable data about the composition and dynamics of the moon's exosphere. The principal investigator Kurt Retherford was part of a group that discovered plumes erupting from Europa while using the Hubble Space Telescope in the UV spectrum.

Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON)
The Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) is a dual-frequency ice penetrating radar instrument that is designed to characterize and sound Europa's ice crust from the near-surface to the ocean, revealing the hidden structure of Europa's ice shell and potential water pockets within. This instrument will be built by Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM)
Replacing the ICEMAG instrument, Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) will be used to characterize the magnetic fields around Europa. The instrument consists of three magnetic flux gates placed along a 25ft boom, which will be stowed during launch and deployed afterwards. By studying the strength and orientation of Europa's magnetic field over multiple flybys, scientists hope to be able to confirm the existence of Europa's subsurface ocean, as well as characterize the thickness of its icy crust and measure the water's depth and salinity.

Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS)

Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS).
The Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) measures the plasma surrounding Europa to characterise the magnetic fields generated by plasma currents. These plasma currents mask the magnetic induction response of Europa's subsurface ocean. In conjunction with a magnetometer, it is key to determining Europa's ice shell thickness, ocean depth, and salinity. PIMS will also probe the mechanisms responsible for weathering and releasing material from Europa's surface into the atmosphere and ionosphere and understanding how Europa influences its local space environment and Jupiter's magnetosphere.

Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration (MASPEX)
The Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration (MASPEX) will determine the composition of the surface and subsurface ocean by measuring Europa's extremely tenuous atmosphere and any surface materials ejected into space.

Surface Dust Analyzer (SUDA)
The SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) is a mass spectrometer that will measure the composition of small solid particles ejected from Europa, providing the opportunity to directly sample the surface and potential plumes on low-altitude flybys. The instrument is capable of identifying traces of organic and inorganic compounds in the ice of ejecta.

Gravity/Radio Science
While not intended for use specifically as an instrument, Clipper will be using its radio antenna to perform additional experiments and learn about Europa's gravitational field. As the spacecraft performs each of its 45 flybys, its trajectory will be subtly altered by the moon's gravity. By sending radio signals between earth and the moon and characterizing the Doppler Shift in the return signal, scientists at JPL will be able to create a detailed characterization of the spacecraft's motion. This data will help to determine how the moon is flexing in relation to its distance from Jupiter, which will in turn reveal information about the moon's internal structure and tidal motions.

Section III - Effective Date
This act shall take effect 30 days from the date of passage. Development will start immediately. The Mission will be launched on October 10th of 2024 and the probe will arrive in april 2030 on Europa.

Passed 10-0-0-8 in the Atlasian Senate assembled.

- R, PPT

Joseph Cao, President of the Republic of Atlasia

[Joseph Cao]

Farewell Address

Nyman, DC

The movie never ends; it goes on and on and on and on…

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve, y’all. A wonderful ride. Fhtagn told me a little while ago it was something to see anyone not be burnt out after two terms of being president, but it has been great, and I don’t think I can thank you all enough for the opportunity.

I think my inaugural address about taking action emphasized much more the kind of action I wanted seen taken not just by me, but by all players, as opposed to the exact content of the action. People were justifiably burned out and unwilling to engage after an administration that wanted to throw off accountability. Even if there are many more steps needed, we have come far since then and taken good steps toward restoring the debate and engagement that the AFE board desperately needs. There is more debate going on in AFG – at this point I think it has touched just about every facet of the game – and we will have to continue strengthening the ties between the two boards as some people have tried to do in recent months. None of this has been by any direct action of my own, but of your own volition, just as you all of your own volition kept me accountable to you with your feedback and your concerns every day of this presidency. Long may it continue.

A small part of this was written back in October when I went into the election, as with this past one, fully expecting to lose. At that time we had just about gotten the federal budget to hand and were on track to dispense with it within a month, as we did end up doing. I was ready to rest easy having done that, but you gave your confidence in this ship to get more done, and so not only did we become the first administration in several years to complete and pass a budget, with the first surplus since the original post-reset budget, for which I really cannot express how proud I am of the team that got it done – we also implemented a goodly bit of measures to combat inflation and provided for greater economic opportunities on the other side of that squall. In all this administration has been blessed beyond its imaginings with legislative opportunities.

Thanks to them Atlasians are, unequivocally, freer and better off and able to enjoy more robust constitutional rights and protections from violation of the same. They are in position to enjoy an economy that has ridden through a rough patch and come out the other side intact, a more streamlined federal government, a society with a greater focus on the environment and what needs protecting among the natural wonders with which we share this country, and a country that better projects strength through peace and multilateral cooperation abroad. They and the regions and the fundamental and immutable philosophy of restraint are back at the table where they rightfully belong, again on the willing part of regional leaders who took up their offices and made use of them to engage and better the rest of the nation. If the regional leader who will succeed me bears that to heart, I will rest that much more easily for the future of this game.

There is still much to do that we can do, right now, with what we have, and the responsibility to do it and blame for not having done it yet falls on me as much as on anyone else. I tried regularly to stimulate debate and will continue to do so now that I don’t have to deal with the perception (and apparently long tradition) of presidents picking fights and whatnot. I will continue to try and ensure the AFG minutiae are relevant to AFE; my personal biggest regret is not having the time to do so more. If rumors that people intend to repeal about three dozen laws passed under this administration are true I suppose I will have to hold back a bit longer on updating the statute page on the wiki, at least for laws that we’ve passed, but I will do what I can to fill in the gaps for previous administrations and promote better upkeep of the wiki in general.

And of course, we are still in need of more activity, engagement, discussion of what matters on the forum and in the game instead of the latest Discord du jour, coming together instead of choosing to participate in being driven apart. I will see where the road takes me, but boosting all of that will be a top priority of mine, a watchword and a dream, as I hope it can be to you all.

And naturally I will be here to make sure the next administration sticks to the schedule for the FY 2024 budget. Used to be these things would first be presented in April so we could have adequate debate before the deadline. Tick tock, Tack.

To all those who have served under this administration, to those who put their trust in us with their vote in the first place in June and October and this past February, it would not have done even a tenth of what it did without your help. Never forget that you contribute much more that is good and wise to this game than you think. I had a blast these eight months; let’s keep that rolling for everyone, and make the next era of this game as fun for all of us as it can possibly be. We can all give of our best – together.

May the road rise up to meet all of you.

Thank you, every one of you, Dave bless you all, and Dave bless the Republic of Atlasia.