SB 120-02: Sequoyah Statehood Amendment (Failed)

[PPT Spiral]

prefiling this version of the amendment. As this removes the objectionable area regarding Puerto Rico, it should pass. Any conversation regarding Puerto Rico can be addressed in a different bill or amendment.

Sequoyah Statehood Amendment

1. Effective July 1, 2024 Anno Domini the new State of Sequoyah is hereby authorized to be created consisting of the territory of the following existing counties of the State of Oklahoma:

Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coal, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Garvin, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Niwata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Watie, Wagoner, Washington, and Washington.

2. Until such time as a new State Constitution may be adopted or enacted, the Constitution of Oklahoma, all existing State and local laws, and all Tribal governing documents and laws shall remain in effect, and all office holders shall remain in office for the duration of any existing term. Until a special election may be conducted, the chief executive of the State of Sequoyah shall be the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

3. The title to all property belonging to the State of Oklahoma located within the new State of Sequoyah shall escheat to the State of Sequoyah. The current debt, obligations, and funds of the State of Oklahoma shall be shared with the State of Sequoyah on a per capita basis.

4. For purposes of Art. VII, Sec. 2, Cl. 1 of the Atlasian Constitution, the ratification of the Constitutional Amendment adopted herein by the Southern Region shall be considered to fulfill the requirement that the State of Oklahoma consents to the creation of such new State.

5.

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

Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the Atlasian Constitution shall be amended as follows:

Section 1. The Regions.

...

3. The southern Region shall consist of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Sequoyah, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

The Upper Southern Subregion shall consist of the states of Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Sequoyah, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Amendment Explanation

This amendment creates the new State of Sequoyah.

Sponsor: Weatherboy

Debate has commenced and the Senator is recognized.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I urge all Senators to support this bill.

[reagente]

Offering this Amendment to fix some typos, make the state border more accurate, and making it clear that state borders won't change if counties are renamed.

Grady, Stephens, and Jefferson were entirely or mostly in the historic Sequoyah statehood proposal, while I do not believe Pottawatomie was. If someone wants to double check the list of counties, please feel free to.

Sequoyah Statehood Amendment

1. Effective JulyMay 1, 2024 Anno Domini the new State of Sequoyah is hereby authorized to be created consisting of the territory of the following existing counties of the State of Oklahoma as constituted on January 1, 2023:

Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coal, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Haskell, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Love, Marshall, Mayes, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Nowata Niwata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Stephens, WatieTulsa, Wagoner, Washington, and Washington.

2. Until such time as a new State Constitution may be adopted or enacted, the Constitution of Oklahoma, all existing State and local laws, and all Tribal governing documents and laws shall remain in effect, and all office holders shall remain in office for the duration of any existing term. Until a special election may be conducted, the chief executive of the State of Sequoyah shall be the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

3. The title to all property belonging to the State of Oklahoma located within the new State of Sequoyah shall escheat to the State of Sequoyah. The current debt, obligations, and funds of the State of Oklahoma shall be shared with the State of Sequoyah on a per capita basis.

4. For purposes of Art. VII, Sec. 2, Cl. 1 of the Atlasian Constitution, the ratification of the Constitutional Amendment adopted herein by the Southern Region shall be considered to fulfill the requirement that the State of Oklahoma consents to the creation of such new State.

5.

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

Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the Atlasian Constitution shall be amended as follows:

Section 1. The Regions.

...

3. The southern Region shall consist of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Sequoyah, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

The Upper Southern Subregion shall consist of the states of Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Sequoyah, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Amendment Explanation

This amendment creates the new State of Sequoyah.

[/quote]

[PPT Spiral]

Due credit to Senator Reagente for addressing the scourge of typos. Among the goals I most hope to tackle in my time as PPT.

24 hours for objections to the proposed amendment.

[YE]

Can’t the PPT unilaterally fix typos?

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

No objections, those typos were carried over from the original amendment that failed.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

No objection and the bill has my full support.

[PPT Spiral]

The amendment is adopted.

[Adam Griffin]

Maybe someone - before I can get around to it - would consider offering an amendment giving the Eastern Band of the Cherokee its own statehood? After all, it's the origin point and arguably the worst erosion of sovereign territory throughout American history.

[reagente]

Maybe someone - before I can get around to it - would consider offering an amendment giving the Eastern Band of the Cherokee its own statehood? After all, it's the origin point and arguably the worst erosion of sovereign territory throughout American history.

I would be interesting in co-sponsoring that as a separate amendment. I think the question of borders is somewhat trickier with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee so it might not make sense to use this amendment as the vehicle for that.

[PPT Spiral]

Senators, who here is brave, or bored, enough to step forward with further amendments?

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I think just get Sequoyah done here and then we can have a separate vote later on Puerto Rico and Eastern Cherokee.

Motion for a final vote

[reagente]

Since the above poster's status as a "Senator" is currently the subject of two court cases and thus any actions on their part here are likely illegitimate, I will motion for a final vote in my own capacity as Senator.

[PPT Spiral]

A final vote will now be open for the next 96 hours. Senators, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[PPT Spiral]

Aye

[reagente]

Aye

[RFayette]

Aye

[Ragnaroni]

Aye

[YE]

Aye

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Aye

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Aye

[Saint Milei]

Aye

[OSR stands with Israel]

aye

[Pyro]

Aye

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

Aye