Fair Democracy Compliance Amendment
The following changes are made to the Lincoln Constitution
Modify Article I, Section II as follows:
2. The General Court shall consist of a number of deputies chosen at-large every second month by the eligible voters of Lincoln according to a method of proportional representation prescribed by law. When the number of candidates is five or fewer, that number shall be chosen; when it is greater than five but less than nine, five deputies shall be chosen; when it is nine or greater, seven shall be chosen. Write-in candidates shall not be considered in determining the number to be chosen, except as specified in the write-in amendment. However, in no circumstance shall fewer than three deputies be elected. If there is a lack of activity such that three deputies absolutely cannot be selected, special election(s) will be held each weekend until three deputies have been elected.
Modify Article I, Section III as follows:
3. No person shall be a deputy of the General Court who is not a citizen of this region, and no person shall remain a deputy who is found by a vote of three-fourths of their peers of the entire LGC to be guilty of gross negligence, high crimes, or misdemeanors. When the LGC consists of 4 deputies or fewer, a unanimous vote to remove shall be required, except for the individual to be removed. Anyone who is removed may immediately seek a return to the General Court in the next election to be held, which may be a special election.
Modify Article II, Section II as follows:
2. The governor shall be elected every fourth month by the entire body of eligible voters. No person shall be governor who is not a citizen of Lincoln, and no elected governor shall be a deputy of the General Court, nor who has been impeached by 3/4 of the entire LGC, or a unanimous LGC when such body has 4 deputies or fewer. Impeachment from the governorship shall result in a six-month officeholding ban for all contests decided on regional ballots, unless an impeachment resolution specifies a shorter ban.
Modify Article IV, Section I as follows:
1. The right to vote in all elections and referendums called according to the provisions of this Constitution shall be exclusive to those persons being eligible to vote in elections for President of the Republic of Atlasia who have been registered to vote in one of the states of this Region for a period of at least 72 hours prior to the commencement of the election. The General Court shall have the right to pass further residency requirements through legislation. are registered in one of the states of this region and are not otherwise prohibited from voting in a given contest by the federal constitution or an order of the Supreme Court.
Add to Article IV the following new section:
9. A group of 12 citizens that are registered in and eligible to vote in the Lincoln Region may at any time launch a petition to recall any official elected by this region. A successful petition will result in a region-wide Yes/No referendum on the recall of the official, held according to the same schedule used for other referendums, except that no more than 1 recall will be held each weekend. A 3/5 majority of those voting Aye or Nay is required for removal. Abstentions shall not affect the results. If the recall is successful, the official is immediately removed, and the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the normal procedure for the given office. If the recall is unsuccessful, the official is immune from recall for the next 30 calendar days. Recalled individuals are not subject to an officeholding ban and may immediately try to reclaim their office or obtain another office in any upcoming regular or special election.
Modify Article VI, Section I as follows:
1. The General Court shall have the power to propose amendments to this constitution by a two-thirds vote, except when it is composed of fewer than 4 deputies, in which case a unanimous vote is required. Amendments may also be proposed by a citizen petition containing at least 12 signatures from registered and eligible voters of the Lincoln Region.
Modify Article VII, Section III-IV as follows:
3. Any vacancy created by 1. or 2. shall be filled by the same method previously prescribed for other vacancies on the General Court. Nothing shall prevent the removed individual from seeking a return to the General Court in any future election, including the special election immediately following their removal. via a gubernatorial appointment, which shall be from the same political party as the incumbent who forfeited their office. If the incumbent was an independent, or their party has ceased to exist, or their party is not a major party for census purposes, the governor shall not be restricted by party in making an appointment. No special election shall be required.
4. If the governor cannot make an appointment within 168 hours, the seat shall go to a special election, which shall begin on the first Friday after the expiration of the 168 hours, or if such time expires on a Wednesday or Thursday, on the second Friday after the expiration of the 168 hours. If such special election would be concurrent with or later than the next general election, it shall be cancelled and the seat will be vacant for the rest of the term.
Add to Article VIII the following new section:
3. In a situation where there are fewer than three on-ballot candidates, the need to create additional seats pursuant to the Fair Democracy Amendment shall not create a circumstance where write-ins "double-boost" the chamber size. Thus, notwithstanding the previous two sections:
a. If there are/is 0 or 1 on ballot candidate(s), 3 deputies are to be elected, 2 of which can be write-ins.
b. If there are 2 on ballot candidates, 4 deputies are to be elected, 2 of which can be write-ins.
Modify Article IX, Section III to read as follows:
3. Any referendum authorized under this article, or any referendum relating to a gubernatorial redraft, shall be held concurrently with the next regularly held election, which may be a special election under the same schedule used for amendments to the regional or federal constitution.
