Senate Resolution Calling for a Constitutional Convention (Debate open)

[Meeker]

Senate Resolution Calling for a Constitutional Convention

Section 1: Consent
The Senate of Atlasia hereby gives its consent to the President of Atlasia to call a Constitutional Convention.

Section 2: Delegate Selection
a. The SoFA shall compiled a list of registered voters

b. Each region shall receive on delegate for every ten residents, and one for every five voters in the last election.

c. Each region shall then vote for representation based on the candidates put forth by a deadline imposed by the SoFA

Section 3: Leadership
The Senate of Atlasia shall elect a Presiding Officer for the Convention. The Presiding Officer shall be tasked with running the Convention and shall be given the power to break ties in votes conducted by the Senate. Nominations shall be accepted from any citizen of Atlasia.

Section 4: Rules of Order
The Convention shall adopt rules of order as their first order of business. The rules of order must contain, but should not be limited to:

a. Any citizen will be allowed to propose ideas to the Convention.

b. Only the delegates of the Convention will be allowed to vote.

c. Vacancies, should they occur, will be filed at the discretion of the governor of the region in which the vacany occured

d. The Convention may only adjourn with ³/₄ support.

Section 5: Timing and Location
1. The Convention shall begin one week after every member has been selected.

2. A Child Board will be requested for the Convention to operate in. If the request is not made then the Convention shall conduct it's business in the Atlas Fantasy Government sub-forum.


Sponsor: DWTL

(PPT Discretion slot)

[Meeker]

I'd also like to note an alternative delegate selection criteria that I had thought of:

1. The Convention's membership shall consist of the following:

a. Three members selected from amongst the Senators of Atlasia. The Senate shall conduct an election amongst themselves for these positions, similar to the election of the President Pro-Tempore.

b. Three members selected from amongst the regional officers. The regional officers are defined as the Governors and Lt. Governors of the five regions (or their regional equivalent) and the members of the Mideast Assembly. The regional officers shall conduct an election amongst themselves for these positions, similar to the election of the President Pro-Tempore.

c. One member selected from amongst the judicial officers of Atlasia. The judicial officers are defined as the members of the Supreme Court of Atlasia and the Superior Court Judges. The judicial officers shall conduct an election amongst themselves for these positions, similar to the election of the President Pro-Tempore.

d. The Chairman or each political party consisting of 10 or more members at the start of the Convention.

e. One member elected from each region of Atlasia. These members shall not currently hold any elected office. These members shall be elected two weeks after passage of this Resolution as directed by the Secretary of Forum Affairs. The elections shall be conducted using IRV.

2. No individual shall be allowed to hold two of these positions.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

I'd also like to note an alternative delegate selection criteria that I had thought of:

1. The Convention's membership shall consist of the following:

a. Three members selected from amongst the Senators of Atlasia. The Senate shall conduct an election amongst themselves for these positions, similar to the election of the President Pro-Tempore.

b. Three members selected from amongst the regional officers. The regional officers are defined as the Governors and Lt. Governors of the five regions (or their regional equivalent) and the members of the Mideast Assembly. The regional officers shall conduct an election amongst themselves for these positions, similar to the election of the President Pro-Tempore.

c. One member selected from amongst the judicial officers of Atlasia. The judicial officers are defined as the members of the Supreme Court of Atlasia and the Superior Court Judges. The judicial officers shall conduct an election amongst themselves for these positions, similar to the election of the President Pro-Tempore.

d. The Chairman or each political party consisting of 10 or more members at the start of the Convention.

e. One member elected from each region of Atlasia. These members shall not currently hold any elected office. These members shall be elected two weeks after passage of this Resolution as directed by the Secretary of Forum Affairs. The elections shall be conducted using IRV.

2. No individual shall be allowed to hold two more than one of these positions.

[SPC]

Amendment offered as friendly:

Senate Resolution Calling for a Constitutional Convention

Section 1: Consent
The Senate of Atlasia hereby gives its consent to the President of Atlasia to call a Constitutional Convention.

Section 2: Delegate Selection
a. The SoFA shall compile a list of registered voters

b. Each region shall receive one delegate for every ten residents, and one for every five voters in the last election.

c. Each region shall then vote for representation based on the candidates put forth by a deadline imposed by the SoFA

Section 3: Leadership
The Senate of Atlasia shall elect a Presiding Officer for the Convention. The Presiding Officer shall be tasked with running the Convention and shall be given the power to break ties in votes conducted by the Senate. Nominations shall be accepted from any citizen of Atlasia.

Section 4: Rules of Order
The Convention shall adopt rules of order as their first order of business. The rules of order must contain, but should not be limited to:

a. Any citizen will be allowed to propose ideas to the Convention.

b. Only the delegates of the Convention will be allowed to vote.

c. Vacancies, should they occur, will be filed at the discretion of the governor of the region in which the vacany occured

d. The Convention may only adjourn with ³/₄ support.

Section 5: Timing and Location
1. The Convention shall begin one week after every member has been selected.

2. A Child Board will be requested for the Convention to operate in. If the request is not made then the Convention shall conduct it's business in the Atlas Fantasy Government sub-forum.


Sponsor: DWTL

(PPT Discretion slot)

[Purple State]

I'd also like to note an alternative delegate selection criteria that I had thought of:

1. The Convention's membership shall consist of the following:

a. Three members selected from amongst the Senators of Atlasia. The Senate shall conduct an election amongst themselves for these positions, similar to the election of the President Pro-Tempore.

b. Three members selected from amongst the regional officers. The regional officers are defined as the Governors and Lt. Governors of the five regions (or their regional equivalent) and the members of the Mideast Assembly. The regional officers shall conduct an election amongst themselves for these positions, similar to the election of the President Pro-Tempore.

c. One member selected from amongst the judicial officers of Atlasia. The judicial officers are defined as the members of the Supreme Court of Atlasia and the Superior Court Judges. The judicial officers shall conduct an election amongst themselves for these positions, similar to the election of the President Pro-Tempore.

d. The Chairman or each political party consisting of 10 or more members at the start of the Convention.

e. One member elected from each region of Atlasia. These members shall not currently hold any elected office. These members shall be elected two weeks after passage of this Resolution as directed by the Secretary of Forum Affairs. The elections shall be conducted using IRV.

2. No individual shall be allowed to hold two of these positions.

I support this version. It is important to allow for fresh faces to be included as part of the Convention. One of Atlasia's major problems is a general lack of energy and activity and involving the people could spark some renewed interest in the good of the nation.

[Meeker]

DWTL's call on the friendly

[DownWithTheLeft]

Accept, its merely grammatical

[minionofmidas]

Senate Resolution Calling for a Constitutional Convention

Section 1: Consent
The Senate of Atlasia hereby gives its consent to the President of Atlasia to call a Constitutional Convention.

Section 2: Delegate Selection
a. The SoFA shall compile a list of registered voters

b. Each region shall receive one delegate for every ten residents, and one for every five voters in the last election.

I need to check the actual figures, but this is likely to result in overrepresentation of larger regions. I'm understanding it to mean for every completed 10/5, not rounded?

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Uh, we have write-ins in this country. These are regional elections. The SoFA's constitutional authority to impose rules on them is doubtful.

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Over my dead body. Nobody with a shred of respect for the Convention's rights, or for Region's rights, or for Atlasia, or for federalism, could have come up with that idea. Obviously the Convention shall elect Presiding Officers as it shall see fit.

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There are no such votes (unless you mean he takes over the VP's current role of breaking ties in Senate votes, in which case that's obviously unconstitutional. But I doubt you meant that.). Do you mean ties in votes in the Convention?

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Could do with a rewrite: "Vacancies, should they occur, shall be filled by the Governor of the region in which the vacacy occurred."

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Meaning what?
Also, worth pointing out the Constitutional text here: "Upon application of the citizens of a majority of the Regions, the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall call a Constitutional Convention to amend or replace this Constitution. The Convention shall be constituted under regulations determined by the Senate. Such amendments or the replacement proposed by the Convention shall become operative when ratified by two-thirds of the Convention and the citizens of three-quarters of the Regions, in a public poll administered by the Governor or other officer as Regional Law may provide. All public polls mandated under this section shall be via public post and shall last for exactly one week." Article VII, Section 2. If your para. means what I think it means, it is once again unconstitutional.

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Why should that be? It should begin immediately after all members have been selected.

[qute]2. A Child Board will be requested for the Convention to operate in. If the request is not made then the Convention shall conduct it's business in the Atlas Fantasy Government sub-forum.

[quote]There would be the alternative of hosting a forum somewhere else, as was done in the past. Certainly far superior to using the Government board. I agree that a new Child Board would be best, though.

[Bacon King]

I propose Meeker's idea to replace section two of the bill.

[minionofmidas]

I propose Meeker's idea to replace section two of the bill.

I oppose that. (just ftr)

[Meeker]

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Fine, the Convention can choose them. The significant part is that they choose someone from outside their membership. Keep in mind that the Constitution only gives the Convention the rights that the Senate chooses to give it.

And are you questioning my commitment to the core values of the RPP? What a silly notion.

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Meant Convention, my bad.

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Obviously depends on which form of delegate selection we end up going with, but I'd support that if it was the DWTL plan.

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They can pass amendments or an entirely new Constitution all they want under the current Constitutional rules. All I mean by that is that the thing won't officially end and stop business without 3/4 support.

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To give everyone time to get their bearings? I thought that was easier than just saying "as soon as the results are certified we begin." If you want to change that it's fine; I don't really care.

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A separate forum could be an acceptable alternative as well. I'd prefer to have it here so it's more accessible to the citizens as a whole (which goes back to the child board).

[Associate Justice PiT]

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To give everyone time to get their bearings? I thought that was easier than just saying "as soon as the results are certified we begin." If you want to change that it's fine; I don't really care.

     I think it would be good to have some time for people to wind down before the convention, but a week might be too long. I would probably like 48 hours after all delegates have been chosen for the convention to start.

[minionofmidas]

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To give everyone time to get their bearings? I thought that was easier than just saying "as soon as the results are certified we begin." If you want to change that it's fine; I don't really care.

     I think it would be good to have some time for people to wind down before the convention, but a week might be too long. I would probably like 48 hours after all delegates have been chosen for the convention to start.

"As soon as all members have been selected and [a quorum, say 50% or whatever] have sworn in"?

[minionofmidas]

They can pass amendments or an entirely new Constitution all they want under the current Constitutional rules. All I mean by that is that the thing won't officially end and stop business without 3/4 support.

The thing ends when it presents its draft for a new Constitution (or list of amendments). Which requires 2/3 support. That's not something the Senate is free to legislate on.

[Associate Justice PiT]

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To give everyone time to get their bearings? I thought that was easier than just saying "as soon as the results are certified we begin." If you want to change that it's fine; I don't really care.

     I think it would be good to have some time for people to wind down before the convention, but a week might be too long. I would probably like 48 hours after all delegates have been chosen for the convention to start.

"As soon as all members have been selected and [a quorum, say 50% or whatever] have sworn in"?

     That could work too.

[ilikeverin]

Senate Resolution Calling for a Constitutional Convention

Section 1: Consent
The Senate of Atlasia hereby gives its consent to the President of Atlasia to call a Constitutional Convention.

Section 2: Delegate Selection
a. The SoFA shall compile a list of registered voters

b. Each region shall receive one delegate for every ten residents, and one for every five voters in the last election.

I need to check the actual figures, but this is likely to result in overrepresentation of larger regions. I'm understanding it to mean for every completed 10/5, not rounded?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Uh, we have write-ins in this country. These are regional elections. The SoFA's constitutional authority to impose rules on them is doubtful.

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Over my dead body. Nobody with a shred of respect for the Convention's rights, or for Region's rights, or for Atlasia, or for federalism, could have come up with that idea. Obviously the Convention shall elect Presiding Officers as it shall see fit.

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There are no such votes (unless you mean he takes over the VP's current role of breaking ties in Senate votes, in which case that's obviously unconstitutional. But I doubt you meant that.). Do you mean ties in votes in the Convention?

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Could do with a rewrite: "Vacancies, should they occur, shall be filled by the Governor of the region in which the vacacy occurred."

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Meaning what?
Also, worth pointing out the Constitutional text here: "Upon application of the citizens of a majority of the Regions, the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall call a Constitutional Convention to amend or replace this Constitution. The Convention shall be constituted under regulations determined by the Senate. Such amendments or the replacement proposed by the Convention shall become operative when ratified by two-thirds of the Convention and the citizens of three-quarters of the Regions, in a public poll administered by the Governor or other officer as Regional Law may provide. All public polls mandated under this section shall be via public post and shall last for exactly one week." Article VII, Section 2. If your para. means what I think it means, it is once again unconstitutional.

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Why should that be? It should begin immediately after all members have been selected.

[qute]2. A Child Board will be requested for the Convention to operate in. If the request is not made then the Convention shall conduct it's business in the Atlas Fantasy Government sub-forum.

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What he said.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Calling a final vote on this.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Aye

[ilikeverin]

Err, oh dear.

Yup.  I guess.  A flawed system for a flawed constituion.

[SPC]

Abstain for now.

[Meeker]

I propose Meeker's idea to replace section two of the bill.

There was an amendment on the floor.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I propose Meeker's idea to replace section two of the bill.

There was an amendment on the floor.

Bah. Missed it for the massive quotings.

---

Vote on the final resolution cancelled.

Vote called on Bacon King's amendment.

[minionofmidas]

Good thing that.

I call on all Senators to introduce something like I outlined before while this vote lasts.

[HappyWarrior]

Nay

[ilikeverin]

Nope to Bacon King's amendment.


I'd like to propose an amendment to the bill:

Section 1: Consent
The Senate of Atlasia hereby gives its consent to the President of Atlasia to call a Constitutional Convention.

Section 2: Delegates
a. 20 delegates will be selected from the regions proportionally to the population of each region.
b. Regions are required to choose their delegates using some form of popular vote.
c. Vacancies, should they occur, shall be filled by the Governor of the region in which the vacacy occurred.

Section 3: Orders of Business
a. The first order of business of the Convention will be choosing from among its membership a Presiding Officer, who will have the power to break ties should they arise during the Convention.
b. The second order of business of the Convention will be establishing the rules of order of the convention.

Section 4: Timing and Location
a. The Convention will begin immediately after the final certification of delegates from each region.
b. A Child Board will be requested for the Convention to operate in. If the request is not made then the Convention shall conduct it's business in the Atlas Fantasy Government sub-forum.


Subsequently, depending on how my amendment goes, I'd like to propose either adding a separate section to DWTL's version or a new clause to the end of Section 3 of my version with the text:

The next order of business will be a vote on whether the new Constitution will abolish the federal government or the regional governments of the Republic of Atlasia.