SB 112-49: Atlasian Referendum Amendment (Failed)

[Mr. Reactionary]

Atlasian Referendum Amendment

The following Section is to be incorporated under Article IX of the Fifth Constitution:

Section 2. National Referendums

1. Certain legislation may be subject to the full authority of the eligible voting populace through federally sanctioned referendums.

2. Federal referendums are to be sanctioned under any of the following methods:

a.) Citizens may submit legislation under the Senate Legislation Introduction Thread with the expressed intent that it be reviewed as a potential referendum. Upon its ascension to the Senate for consideration, voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed.

b.) Upon the veto of a bill by the President of the Republic of Atlasia, the Senate has the right to request that the legislation be forwarded to the Atlasian populace in lieu of a veto override. Voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed. Once the motion to consider a referendum moves to a vote, a veto override on the particular legislation is no longer possible.

c.) The President of the Republic of Atlasia, in lieu of a declaration in favor or in opposition, may instead defer any passed legislation to the Atlasian people's judgment at personal discretion.

3. Upon the approval of a national vote, the Secretary of Federal Elections is to sponsor and certify said event. A minimum of one week for a campaign period is required to be allotted prior to the referendum. The duration of referendums are not to exceed 72 hours and may be held in concurrence with other, regularly scheduled federal elections.

4. Referendums are to be considered as passed should they receive a majority of votes in favor. Implementation is to occur immediately following certification unless otherwise noted in the text.

Sponsor: Spiral
Debate on this bill is now open.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Could the sponsor please explain the amendment? Thanks. Looks interesting.

[PPT Spiral]

This amendment has been introduced with the high hopes that it will serve as a catalyst for reinvigorating public debate and general interest in Atlasia. I am a strong believer in the principle of direct democracy. Our citizens have a right to make their ideas and influence put on the record. This is especially valuable in instances when elected officials fail them, whether through dereliction of duty, corruption, or other negative externalities. In recent times, we have seen a waning of in-game participation. You can look to our latest at-large election as one example of a drop in interest, or the more prevalent absentee votes recorded in nearly every Senate roll call lately.

By providing the option to host binding national referendums, it puts everybody's skin in the game on certain issues in contrast to a more distant feeling when confined to whomever currently occupies our elected seats. This amendment would ideally serve to route some of our most controversial contemporary issues and let the public decide after debates are aired out. A greater degree of legitimacy could also be granted for any outcome knowing that it is backed by at least a majority of the populace and not just by how many Senators decide to vote on time. There is much to appreciate about the Swiss model in my opinion when it comes to their flexibility on how public policy can originate.

I have drafted the amendment to allow multiple avenues for a referendum to potentially take place. The Senate would have the power to assess whether a citizen's proposal bears legitimacy to undergo a national vote. A vote to approve the legislation for a referendum would not be a vote on whether members necessarily agree with it, as conventional voting on bills is like; this would ideally be based on whether the proposal is serious enough on merit to have such a referendum take place. In cases when the President vetoes a Senate-passed bill, the divided verdict between the branches could warrant the Senate to bring it nationwide as well. For an additional, interesting curveball, I also believe there is value in the President having great discretion in introducing referendums as well.

With all of this said, my intention has been to introduce a new aspect of the game that could engage more players while placing enough controls in the process to avoid countless, frivolous referendums from taking place. I truly hope that this can earn your consideration and support.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Thank you.

Now all we need before we can vote is a formal amendment explanation per the rules:

All resolutions seeking to amend the constitution must be introduced along with a passage detailing what is being changed in the Constitution and why, called the Amendment Explanation. All amendments to the resolution, must change the explanation if they change the resolution so as to be inconsistent with it. This shall not infringe on the presiding officer's ability to correct for grammar and formatting issues, nor impede the presiding officer's ability to update and maintain a mission statement in the outer quote box of a given bill or resolution.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Echoing Mr. R's concerns. The amendment explanation provision was adopted in response to citizen complaints about Amendments being presented for ratification without clear understanding of what is being voted on. I strongly recommend the inclusion of such not just for the sake of compliance, but also for the voters.

[PPT Spiral]

Would this work?

Senate Resolution

To amend the Constitution to allow national referendums on issues facing Atlasia and for the will of the people to decide certain policy.

Be It Resolved in the Atlasian Senate Assembled, that upon ratification by 2/3rds of the Regions, the Constitution shall be amended as follows:

Atlasian Referendum Amendment

The following Section is to be incorporated under Article IX of the Fifth Constitution:

Section 2. National Referendums

1. Certain legislation may be subject to the full authority of the eligible voting populace through federally sanctioned referendums.

2. Federal referendums are to be sanctioned under any of the following methods:

a.) Citizens may submit legislation under the Senate Legislation Introduction Thread with the expressed intent that it be reviewed as a potential referendum. Upon its ascension to the Senate for consideration, voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed.

b.) Upon the veto of a bill by the President of the Republic of Atlasia, the Senate has the right to request that the legislation be forwarded to the Atlasian populace in lieu of a veto override. Voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed. Once the motion to consider a referendum moves to a vote, a veto override on the particular legislation is no longer possible.

c.) The President of the Republic of Atlasia, in lieu of a declaration in favor or in opposition, may instead defer any passed legislation to the Atlasian people's judgment at personal discretion.

3. Upon the approval of a national vote, the Secretary of Federal Elections is to sponsor and certify said event. A minimum of one week for a campaign period is required to be allotted prior to the referendum. The duration of referendums are not to exceed 72 hours and may be held in concurrence with other, regularly scheduled federal elections.

4. Referendums are to be considered as passed should they receive a majority of votes in favor. Implementation is to occur immediately following certification unless otherwise noted in the text.

[Mr. Reactionary]

17 more hours to object to the amendment

[Utah Neolib]

Atlasian Referendum Amendment

The following Section is to be incorporated under Article IX of the Fifth Constitution:

Section 2. National Referendums

1. Certain legislation may be subject to the full authority of the eligible voting populace through federally sanctioned referendums.

2. Federal referendums are to be sanctioned under any of the following methods:

a.) Citizens may submit legislation under the Senate Legislation Introduction Thread with the expressed intent that it be reviewed as a potential referendum. Upon its ascension to the Senate for consideration, voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed.

 b.) Upon the veto of a bill by the President of the Republic of Atlasia, the Senate has the right to request that the legislation be forwarded to the Atlasian populace in lieu of a veto override. Voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed. Once the motion to consider a referendum moves to a vote, a veto override on the particular legislation is no longer possible.

c.) The President of the Republic of Atlasia, in lieu of a declaration in favor or in opposition, may instead defer any passed legislation to the Atlasian people's judgment at personal discretion.

3. Upon the approval of a national vote, the Secretary of Federal Elections is to sponsor and certify said event. A minimum of one week for a campaign period is required to be allotted prior to the referendum. The duration of referendums are not to exceed 72 hours and may be held in concurrence with other, regularly scheduled federal elections.

4. Referendums are to be considered as passed should they receive a majority of votes in favor. Implementation is to occur immediately following certification unless otherwise noted in the text.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Still 9 hours left to object to the Spiral Amendment.

24 hours to object to the UNL Amendment.

[PPT Spiral]

I object to the amendment from UNL.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Hearing an objection, we shall now vote on the UNL Amendment. 48 hours. Please vote aye, nay, or abstain.

[PPT Spiral]

Nay

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Would this work?

Senate Resolution

To amend the Constitution to allow national referendums on issues facing Atlasia and for the will of the people to decide certain policy.

Be It Resolved in the Atlasian Senate Assembled, that upon ratification by 2/3rds of the Regions, the Constitution shall be amended as follows:

Atlasian Referendum Amendment

The following Section is to be incorporated under Article IX of the Fifth Constitution:

Section 2. National Referendums

1. Certain legislation may be subject to the full authority of the eligible voting populace through federally sanctioned referendums.

2. Federal referendums are to be sanctioned under any of the following methods:

a.) Citizens may submit legislation under the Senate Legislation Introduction Thread with the expressed intent that it be reviewed as a potential referendum. Upon its ascension to the Senate for consideration, voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed.

b.) Upon the veto of a bill by the President of the Republic of Atlasia, the Senate has the right to request that the legislation be forwarded to the Atlasian populace in lieu of a veto override. Voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed. Once the motion to consider a referendum moves to a vote, a veto override on the particular legislation is no longer possible.

c.) The President of the Republic of Atlasia, in lieu of a declaration in favor or in opposition, may instead defer any passed legislation to the Atlasian people's judgment at personal discretion.

3. Upon the approval of a national vote, the Secretary of Federal Elections is to sponsor and certify said event. A minimum of one week for a campaign period is required to be allotted prior to the referendum. The duration of referendums are not to exceed 72 hours and may be held in concurrence with other, regularly scheduled federal elections.

4. Referendums are to be considered as passed should they receive a majority of votes in favor. Implementation is to occur immediately following certification unless otherwise noted in the text.

They are formatted like this:
https://talkelections.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=533000.msg8901206#msg8901206

[PPT Spiral]

D'oh. Here's the new and improved version:

Senate Resolution

To amend the Constitution to allow national referendums on issues facing Atlasia and for the will of the people to decide certain policy.

Be It Resolved in the Atlasian Senate Assembled, that upon ratification by 2/3rds of the Regions, the Constitution shall be amended as follows:

Atlasian Referendum Amendment

The following Section is to be incorporated under Article IX of the Fifth Constitution:

Section 2. National Referendums

1. Certain legislation may be subject to the full authority of the eligible voting populace through federally sanctioned referendums.

2. Federal referendums are to be sanctioned under any of the following methods:

a.) Citizens may submit legislation under the Senate Legislation Introduction Thread with the expressed intent that it be reviewed as a potential referendum. Upon its ascension to the Senate for consideration, voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed.

b.) Upon the veto of a bill by the President of the Republic of Atlasia, the Senate has the right to request that the legislation be forwarded to the Atlasian populace in lieu of a veto override. Voting members must provide at least two-thirds approval for the motion to proceed. Once the motion to consider a referendum moves to a vote, a veto override on the particular legislation is no longer possible.

c.) The President of the Republic of Atlasia, in lieu of a declaration in favor or in opposition, may instead defer any passed legislation to the Atlasian people's judgment at personal discretion.

3. Upon the approval of a national vote, the Secretary of Federal Elections is to sponsor and certify said event. A minimum of one week for a campaign period is required to be allotted prior to the referendum. The duration of referendums are not to exceed 72 hours and may be held in concurrence with other, regularly scheduled federal elections.

4. Referendums are to be considered as passed should they receive a majority of votes in favor. Implementation is to occur immediately following certification unless otherwise noted in the text.

This Constitutional Amendment creates the right for nationally held referendums, sponsored by the Department of Federal Elections, to take place. Citizens are able to submit legislation as potential referenda, and the Senate will vote on whether to move forward with holding one. A referendum can also be approved by the Senate for a President-vetoed bill, or the President can approve a bill for a referendum instead of signing or vetoing the legislation.

[West_Midlander]

Abstain

[Mr. Reactionary]

Spiral heading amendment adopted

18 hrs to object to explanation amendment

Vote still open on the UNL Amendment

[Utah Neolib]

Aye

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

Nay

[Enduro]

Aye

[OSR stands with Israel]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Aye

[Mr. Reactionary]

Nay

[Mr. Reactionary]

UNL Amendment is adopted.

Spiral Explanation is adopted.

[Mr. Reactionary]

I will go ahead and make the motion for a final vote (to occur after Christmas break). 24 hours to object.

[Mr. Reactionary]

No objections so vote will occur January 2.