SR 115-33: Fair Democracy Amendment (Debating)

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

AN AMENDMENT
To ensure fair represention in local government

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

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Fair Democracy Amendment
  
Section 2. Amendment for electoral reform

Section 4 of the Constitution is hereby amended:

1. No regional-administered election shall admit as eligible voters any person having resided in any other region within the fifty-six days prior to the commencement of the election.

2. In addition, no subregional senate election shall admit as eligible voters any person having resided in any other region within the fifty-six days prior to the commencement of the election.

3. Aside from the exceptions as laid out by this section, no region-wide or subregional election may deny any person the right to vote who would, if a federal election were held concurrently, be eligible to vote in such an election.

4. Term lengths for regional legislators and executives shall not exceed four (4) months.

5. Each legislative body shall elect at least one (1) at-large member. This clause may not be suspended, unless a region adopts a direct democratic system.

This Constitutional Amendment removes the possibility of imposing year-long or indefinite term lengths for regional officials, and requires at least one legislator to be elected at-large, unless a region chooses to adopt a direct democratic system.

Sponsor: Scott

The gentleman from Alaska is recognized.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Yup, another amendment to undo the damage created by some individuals.

While I generally prefer a hands-off approach to regional governments, the fact of the matter is that the South as it currently exists is an oligarchy. The Senate, the Supreme Court, and the Atlasian people have each affirmed the integrity of our union.

I cannot stress enough that under different circumstances, I would not introduce this amendment. However, it's clear that one of our regions has rejected democracy and disenfranchised its people as a result. While I oppose term limits, there should be no year-long terms for any non-judicial officer in the game.

Let's bring democracy back to the South. Reconstruction 3 is going to be much harder to overcome than the Kansas fiasco, but we have to start somewhere.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

I think we should go for mandating that all members of regional legislatures to be elected at large rather than just one.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

I think we should go for mandating that all members of regional legislatures to be elected at large rather than just one.

When I was IDS Emperor (good old days, Yankee!) we had districts and there didn't seem to be any problems at the time. I'm open to eliminating them at this point, though. I'll give other senators the opportunity to read the amendment and give their input - since it's kind of a BFD.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

When I was IDS Emperor (good old days, Yankee!) we had districts and there didn't seem to be any problems at the time.

Good times!

I'm open to eliminating them at this point, though. I'll give other senators the opportunity to read the amendment and give their input - since it's kind of a BFD.

The At-Large minimum could be raised to 3. The IDS system would be legal under that arrangement.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

At the same time, with recent events, the argument could be made that all at-large is better for a variety of reasons.

In the time of the IDS, the districts had vastly different political compositions, so rather than compound a lean of the region, they accentuated the existing divides and ensured more diverse representation thus than would be the case now.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

I will be deferring to Yankee and LT quite a bit, since it's their region we're trying to fix and both have put tremendous effort into resolving these problems. Here's an amendment that requires all legislators to be elected at-large:           

Section 2. Amendment for electoral reform

Section 4 of the Constitution is hereby amended:

1. No regional-administered election shall admit as eligible voters any person having resided in any other region within the fifty-six days prior to the commencement of the election.

2. In addition, no subregional senate election shall admit as eligible voters any person having resided in any other region within the fifty-six days prior to the commencement of the election.

3. Aside from the exceptions as laid out by this section, no region-wide or subregional election may deny any person the right to vote who would, if a federal election were held concurrently, be eligible to vote in such an election.

4. Term lengths for all regional legislators and executives shall not exceed four (4) months.

5. Each legislative body shall be composed of only elected at-large members. This clause may not be suspended, unless a region adopts a direct democratic system.

Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

That phrasing leaves he door slightly ajar to non at-large members with the absence of the word "all" or maybe "only".

I can see someone electing two at-large members and saying "the constitutional requirement is satisfied" while then proceeding to elect 4 by districts. 

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

That phrasing leaves he door slightly ajar to non at-large members with the absence of the word "all" or maybe "only".

I can see someone electing two at-large members and saying "the constitutional requirement is satisfied" while then proceeding to elect 4 by districts. 

Hopefully the wording here is more clear:

5. Each legislative body shall be composed of only elected at-large members. This clause may not be suspended, unless a region adopts a direct democratic system.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

A "direct democratic system" is also too vague since having any sort of citizen's initiative system could satisfy the constitutional requirement. A universal legislature of all registered voters or an initiative system without a regional legislature should be options.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Let's try this again.

5. Each legislative body shall be composed of only elected at-large members. This clause may not be suspended, unless a region adopts a universal legislature composed of all registered citizens.

How's this?

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

This looks good.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Good, good! The revised amendment is formally submitted. Senators have 24 hours to object.             

[West_Midlander]

I object. I prefer the "at least three members" language.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

I object. I prefer the "at least three members" language.

Letting the South go back to a 3 at large and 2 subregional system would only further enable supermajorities to be won by the disgraced secessionists who fully intend to abuse them.

[West_Midlander]

Objection withdrawn

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Change SR 115-32 to 115-33 (counting error), there's a SB 115-32 thread already.

[Vice President Christian Man]

Can I add an amendment that would allow for direct democracy at the federal level or would that remain better at a regional level?

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Can I add an amendment that would allow for direct democracy at the federal level or would that remain better at a regional level?

Yes you can.

It never hurts to propose an amendment, it stimulates debate.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Can I add an amendment that would allow for direct democracy at the federal level or would that remain better at a regional level?

Well, this amendment only pertains to what the regions can do. If you want to propose direct democracy at the federal level, I'd introduce a separate resolution.

[Vice President Christian Man]

Direct Democracy Amendment

THE  DIRECT DEMOCRACY Amendment; adjusted from the proposed LGC Direct Democracy Act

SECTION I — Title
This legislation may be cited as the Direct Democracy Act.

SECTION II — Power To The People
1. Atlasia shall allow for all those registered to vote to vote on legislation agreed to by the Senate.


SECTION III — Implementation
1. The process of laws will not change, just that the people including the representatives can vote in favor or against in the Ballot box.
2. The overall model will be most similar to the model used in Switzerland as well as introduce a People's Council which will decide on and vote on matters impacting Atlasia once every four months on a date agreed to by the Senate and President.
3. Will introduce weekly Fireside Chats where concerned and/or curious citizens can publicly contact the President's office regarding certain policies or make proposals that can be debated by the senate.
4. Citizens will not be deregistered or face other legal consequences for not voting.

 
Stature I: Allowing for citizen-ballot iniatives
1. Any registered voter can propose a law but proposals can be nullified if 4/5 of the senate disagrees to it. 

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

With all due respect, Christian Man, I would rather you introduce a separate resolution, in the legislation thread. That is not relevant to what this amendment is trying to accomplish. Also, you can't simply codify "The overall model will be most similar to the model used in Switzerland" because that is legally baseless.

If you insist on that amendment, I'll object and we'll have a vote on it. But I would implore writing an improved amendment and submitting that to the queue.

[Vice President Christian Man]

Tabling my amendment

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

To add to his point, typically you firmly declare "something is or is not".

Phrases like "Will introduce" should be more like "X will be" or "X shall be"

In this case "the President shall hold weekly fireside chats".

As presently composed, it reads more like an outline for what you will do in a campaign post, rather than an actual bill or constitutional amendment.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

There needs to be something explicitly specifying a minimum number of legislators for a legislative chamber. Personally, I feel 4, but do 3 if that is what can pass. The current language doesn't specify a minimum and could allow the South to have a legislative chamber of only 2 members, which favors the SNP even more than the old 3/2 system did.