DA August National Convention - Welcome to Everett, WA

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Everett, with Snohomish River
Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Apologies for being late here, been a bit distracted. Sign in now, delegates!

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Democratic Alliance Bylaws

Article 1. Membership and Voting

Section 1. Registration

All voters registered under “Democratic Alliance” or “Democratic Alliance Party” shall be considered full members of this party, unless they have been expelled via the procedures detailed in Article 1, Section 5.

Section 2. Voting

All voters registered under “Democratic Alliance” or “Democratic Alliance Party” shall have any vote cast of theirs in the convention counted, unless they have been expelled via the procedures detailed in Article 1, Section 5..

Section 3. Instant-runoff Voting

In votes using instant-runoff voting, an “X” shall count as the highest and only preference, and ties shall be broken through either which ballot choice got the most first preferences, or through a runoff in the event of tied first preferences, unless in the case of a leadership election, if one candidate concedes by posting in the convention thread.

Section 4. Vote Abstentions

Abstain votes are not counted in the vote totals or percentage requirement for any election.

Section 5. Expulsion
1. Members whose actions are judged inappropriate or unbecoming of the Party may be subject to expulsion, initiated by a motion consisting of two (2) Party Members.

2. A simple majority of those Party Members voting in favor of expulsion shall be sufficient to expel a Member, assuming the total number of Members voting in favor of and against expulsion is at least one-quarter (25%) of the Party's Membership.

Article 2. Conventions

Section 1. Schedule

The Democratic Alliance Convention shall take place in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December, beginning on the first day of such month, and closed on the last day of the month following such month.

Section 2. Location

The Democratic Alliance Convention shall take place in a nominated city in the Region of Fremont in the months of February and August, the Region of Lincoln in the months of April and October, and the Region of the South in the months of June and December.

Section 3. Business

Each Democratic Alliance Convention shall have the following business: voting on party bylaws and platform amendments, voting on party endorsements, nominating the city for the next convention, and electing party officers.

Section 4. Location Nomination Process

The city for the next Democratic Alliance Convention shall be nominated during the last week of the convention as follows: party members shall have 48 hours to nominate one or more cities of their choice, all nominated cities located in the region as determined in Article 1, Section 2 shall be put on a ballot, and party members shall have 48 hours to vote to determine the nominated city through instant-runoff voting.

Article 3. Officers

Section 1. Officer Structure

The Democratic Alliance Convention shall have an elected Chair and Vice Chair, with other roles appointed at the discretion of the Chair.

Section 2. Officer Elections

The Democratic Alliance Convention shall hold an election for Chair and Vice Chair during the second to last week of the conventions that start in the months of April, August, and December as follows: party members shall have 48 hours to nominate one or more members of their choice for either of the positions, all nominated members shall be put on a ballot, and party members shall have 48 hours to vote to elect the Chair and Vice Chair through instant-runoff voting.

Section 3. Chair Powers

The Democratic Alliance Convention Chair shall be the official leader of the party, manage the convention and any votes that take place, and create additional positions as they see fit and appoint party members to them.

Section 4. Vice Chair Powers

The Democratic Alliance Convention Vice Chair shall temporarily assume the powers of the Chair in the case of the Chair’s absence for 48 hours during party business, a leave of absence, or resignation, until they return; the Vice Chair shall become the Chair if the current Chair is absent for more than 168 hours during party business without a posted leave of absence, or if the Chair resigns.

Article 4. Endorsements

Section 1. Automatic Endorsements

A Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket running for an office shall be automatically endorsed, unless there is an objection raised by a party member against such endorsement, if they are the only candidate/ticket running in a single-seat election, or if the number of Democratic Alliance candidates running is equal to or less than the number of seats needed to hold a majority in such legislature in a multi-seat election.

Section 2. Endorsements of Candidates From Other Parties

A candidate who is not a member of Democratic Alliance may request an endorsement for an upcoming election that is taking place no more than 30 days later.

Section 3. Endorsement Vote Schedule

All endorsement votes shall begin 3 weeks before such election is scheduled to take place; in the case no Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket running for an office, the endorsement vote for such office shall be held 1 week before such election is scheduled to take place.

Section 4. Endorsement Vote Process

If two or more Democratic Alliance candidates/tickets running in the same single-seat election, if the number of Democratic Alliance candidates running greater than the number of seats needed to hold a majority in such legislature in a multi-seat election, or if an objection was raised by a party member against an automatic endorsement of a Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket, a primary hall be held as follows: the applicable candidates for each office should each be put on a ballot, and party members shall have 48 hours to vote to determine which candidate or candidates shall receive full support in the election from the party through instant-runoff voting; a Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket needs a simple majority of support, and a non-party candidate needs a 60% majority of support to be endorsed, unless there is no Democratic Alliance candidate/ticket running for such office, where in such case a non-party candidate only needs a simple majority of support to be endorsed.

Article 5. Platform and Amendments

Section 1. Platform Adoption

Democratic Alliance shall adopt a platform at the beginning of each convention with input from party members, using the amendment process described in Section 3 of this Article.

Section 2. Amendment Proposals

Any party member may propose an amendment to the party bylaws or platform.

Section 3. Amendment Process

Amendments to the party bylaws or platform shall happen as follows: party members shall have 24 hours to object to a proposed amendment; if there are no objections, the amendment shall be adopted; otherwise, if there is an objection, a vote lasting 48 hours shall be held on whether to adopt or reject the amendment, requiring a simple majority to pass.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

x WB

[ZMUN M441]

x ZMUN M441

[T'Chenka]

x King T'Chenka

[Utah Neolib]

x Utah Neolib

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Opening the floor to endorsement requests. Unless a member raises an objection the following candidates are endorsed:

WB for At-Large Senate

ZMUN M441 for Lincoln GC

[rpryor03]

I would again like to request the DA's endorsement for At-Large Senate.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Opening the floor to endorsement requests. Unless a member raises an objection the following candidates are endorsed:

WB for At-Large Senate

ZMUN M441 for Lincoln GC

Adding UT Neolib for Great Lakes senate

[West_Midlander]

[Spark]

Humbly requesting an endorsement for national Senate.

[AGA]

Requesting an endorsement for Lincoln governor.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Last chance for declarations!

[RC (a la Frémont)]

X ReaganClinton

[Continential]

Requesting an endorsement for MP.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Apologies for tardiness here, classes just started back up so I’m adjusting my schedule for that at the moment.

FOR AT-LARGE SENATE
Rpryor03 (JES) [ ]
Spark498 (FED) [ ]
West_Midlander (FED) [ ]
NO ENDORSEMENT [ ]

FOR LINCOLN GOVERNOR
AGA (LIB) [ ]
NO ENDORSEMENT [ ]

FOR FREMONT PARLIAMENT
Ishan (LIB) [ ]
NO ENDORSEMENT [ ]

[ZMUN M441]

FOR AT-LARGE SENATE
Rpryor03 (JES) [ 1 ]
Spark498 (FED) [ 3 ]
West_Midlander (FED) [ 2 ]
NO ENDORSEMENT []

FOR LINCOLN GOVERNOR
AGA (LIB) [ 1 ]
NO ENDORSEMENT []

FOR FREMONT PARLIAMENT
Ishan (LIB) [ 1 ]
NO ENDORSEMENT []

[RC (a la Frémont)]

FOR AT-LARGE SENATE
Rpryor03 (JES) [3]
Spark498 (FED) [2]
West_Midlander (FED) [1]
NO ENDORSEMENT [ ]

FOR LINCOLN GOVERNOR
AGA (LIB) [X]
NO ENDORSEMENT [ ]

FOR FREMONT PARLIAMENT
Ishan (LIB) [ ]
NO ENDORSEMENT [ ]

[Utah Neolib]

FOR AT-LARGE SENATE
Rpryor03 (JES) [2]
Spark498 (FED) [ ]
West_Midlander (FED) [1]
NO ENDORSEMENT [ ]

FOR LINCOLN GOVERNOR
AGA (LIB) [1]
NO ENDORSEMENT [ ]

FOR FREMONT PARLIAMENT
Ishan (LIB) [1]
NO ENDORSEMENT [ ]

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

FOR AT-LARGE SENATE
Rpryor03 (JES) [ 2 ]
Spark498 (FED) [ 3 ]
West_Midlander (FED) [ 1 ]
NO ENDORSEMENT []

FOR LINCOLN GOVERNOR
AGA (LIB) [ 1 ]
NO ENDORSEMENT []

FOR FREMONT PARLIAMENT
Ishan (LIB) [ 1 ]
NO ENDORSEMENT []

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

bump

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Sorry for my absence all, I’ve been spending time with family the past few days.

A bit late but may as well end the endorsement vote:
WM, Rpryor and Spark endorsed for at large, AGA endorsed for gov, Ishan endorsed for MP

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Does anyone have platform or bylaw changes?

[RC (a la Frémont)]

The platform amendments below are submitted for consideration and approval.

Democratic Alliance Platform
I.) Economic Policy

1.) Democratic Alliance is a firm believer in capitalism with regulations necessary to protect consumers and ensure fair business practices.

2.) Democratic Alliance supports a progressive tax system that promotes financial equity. Tax loopholes need to be closed so that no person can avoid paying the taxes they are supposed to. At the same time, the tax system should be made easier to understand and more efficient.

3.) Welfare and social programs must be protected from harmful funding cuts.

4.) We believe strong stimulus measures are needed in times of economic recession or hardship.

5.) Expand trade agreements with countries that share Atlasia's values of liberal democracy, strong workers' rights, and environmental protection.

6.) The enforcement of anti-monopoly laws should be strengthened and the government should prevent large corporate mergers that are harmful to the consumer.

7.) Immediately expand assistance programs for struggling businesses and start-up businesses, with emphasis on small businesses and non-corporate farms.

8.) Rural areas of Atlasia continue to be lacking in basic social services such as healthcare and education. We support increasing investments in rural development programs and providing subsidies and relief to ensure that all citizens have access to this.

9.) Investment in infrastructure development and maintenance to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure will create jobs and modernize Atlasia.

10.) Increase investments into programs that help communities suffering from economic decline to rebound.

11.) We support the establishment of an affordable public option for healthcare, that any Atlasian may choose to buy into.
II.) Foreign Policy

1.) The Democratic Alliance recognizes Atlasia has a role to play in the security of countries around the world, however, Atlasia should choose pacifism over bloodshed whenever possible through the use of diplomacy and avoid foreign and regime-change wars costly in both lives and resources.

2.) The Democratic Alliance actively promotes Atlasian values of liberal democracy, free and fair markets and elections.

3.) The Democratic Alliance maintains that the nation should stand firmly with our allies, however, will not turn a blind eye to those who commit major offenses against human rights or international law.

4.) Atlasia should expand its partnerships with fellow democratic nations and create competitive incentives for nations to democratize and cooperate with the greater democratic community.

5.) Atlasia should implement a major economic support program for developing countries to improve living conditions throughout the world, promote democracy, and build new alliances.
III.) Social Issues

1.)The Democratic Alliance fully stands behind the solemn existence of the state of Atlasia. All who attempt to insurect or abolish the government of our nation deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

2.) Our nation’s democracy is sacred, the right to vote should be protected and violated under no circumstance.

3.) The Democratic Alliance believes in the constitutional right to own firearms and supports responsible gun ownership for uses of self-defense and sport alongside reasonable measures to prevent gun violence such as comprehensive background checks and reformed sentencing laws for gun-related crimes.

4.) Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. The right to have access to abortion services should not be restricted to women during their first 20 weeks of pregnancy. All Atlasians should also have the right to readily available and accessible contraception and reproductive health care.

5.) Every Atlasian deserves equal rights and treatment, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. The Democratic Alliance believes in protecting the civil rights of each and every one of our citizens.

6.) All children have the right to a thorough and secular public education. We support the establishment of a quality 21st-century curriculum, classroom innovation, flexibility for students’ learning needs, and higher quality and better-paid teachers. Furthermore, we oppose reactionary efforts to prevent diversity in teaching, stop discussion of social issues, prevent the teaching of scientific consensus, limit access to age-appropriate reading material, and undermine sexual education, as these efforts stand in the way of a complete education.

7.) The Democratic Alliance believes that drug abuse should be treated as a health issue, and thus supports the decriminalization of the purchase, possession, and use of drugs for Atlasian adults. The party also supports the establishment and maintenance of addiction support centers for those who need to get clean and avoid endangering themselves or others.
IV.) Environmental Policy

1.) The Democratic Alliance views global warming as an existential threat to humanity, and believes actions must be taken to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses. This includes investment in clean energy development and production, especially in areas with economies based around fossil fuels.

2.) By incentivizing private businesses, Atlasia can continue to innovate and develop more green infrastructure and technologies, and create good-paying jobs.

3.) Protecting public lands and waters, and the wildlife that live in them is important for the future of Atlasia. Balancing development with these goals will be key to ensuring our environment will be protected for future generations.

4.) The Democratic Alliance supports expanding high-speed rail systems and continual expansion of access to public transportation and reducing our carbon footprint. The party supports passing a variation of the High-Speed Rail Act of 2018.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

48 hours to object to amendments