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Debate: Sixth Constitutional Amendment
Topic Started: 21st June 2014 - 12:18 AM (455 Views)
Elpidia
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The Rt. Hon.
The following bill shall be up for vote until at least 6/23/14.

Explanation of the act provided by the submitter, CGJ:

This act:
- Reduces the time for nominations from 96 hours to 72 hours, and for elections from 72 hours to 48 hours
- Allows the Premier, at their discretion, to rename ministries (e.g. renaming the Minister of Justice the 'Attorney General')
- Removes the requirement for the Premier and Vice Premier to occupy a portfolio
- Ends the 'candidates available' part in Speaker elections – since we haven't used a nomination system in...well ages
- Removes Section (14), which would invalidate the Senate Expansion Act
- Fixes some wording to make it easier to understand

Quote:
 
Constitutional Amendment Act – Sixth Amendment (2014)

An act to amend the Constitution of the Independent Order.

Be it enacted by His Excellency the Grand Chancellor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Short Title

(1) This act may be referred to as the Constitutional Amendment Act – Sixth Amendment (2014).

Amendments

(2) Section (15) shall be amended thusly:

“(15) The Senate shall vote for a Speaker from their own ranks upon the commencement of the legislative term. Should the Senate be unable to determine a Speaker, after a period of seven (7) days, the Grand Chancellor shall appoint a member of the Senate to serve as Speaker for the remainder of the legislative term.”

(3) Section (26) shall be amended thusly:

“(26) The term of the Premier shall be forty-five (45) days. Nominations shall be opened 120 hours before start of the next Premier term, or immediately following a vote of no confidence, and shall last 72 hours. Elections shall be held immediately following the end of nominations . The Premier shall be elected by the members of the Independent Order.”

(4) Section (30) shall be amended thusly:

“(30) The Cabinet shall be made up of a number of portfolios. The Premier may create and/or abolish portfolios at their discretion, however, it must consist of justice, cultural, foreign and armed forces portfolios.

(5) Section (33) shall be amended thusly:

“(33) Both the Premier and Vice Premier may occupy a portfolio themselves.”

(6) Section (34) shall be amended thusly:

“(34) At the discretion of the Premier, a minister may occupy more than one portfolio.”

(7) Section (40) shall be amended thusly:

“(40) Upon the submission of a case to the High Court, the Premier, with the consent of the Senate, shall appoint a Judge to oversee the case. The Judge will serve until the case has reached a conclusion. A Judge may be appointed to oversee more than one case.”

(8) Section (14) shall be removed.

(9) Where not already provided, a single space should be added to separate the Section number from the Section text.
Edited by Elpidia, 21st June 2014 - 12:19 AM.
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Beatrice
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I'm sorry to say that in its current form I would be forced to vote against this.

I feel that shortening the nomination and voting windows would be detrimental to the voters as well as opposition and independent candidates alike. Considering that party candidates have a built-in advantage at the polls shortening these windows could create additional hardships for opposition/independent candidates and decrease the choices before the voters. While I'm certain these aren't the intentions of this provision they're still concerns which need to be addressed.

Aside from that I have no issue with the remaining provisions of the Amendment.
Edited by Beatrice, 21st June 2014 - 04:31 AM.
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Beatrice Anselmo
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CGJ
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Franz Kaufmann (1886-1944)
Quote:
 
I feel that shortening the nomination and voting windows would be detrimental to the voters as well as opposition and independent candidates alike. Considering that party candidates have a built-in advantage at the polls shortening these windows could create additional hardships for opposition/independent candidates and decrease the choices before the voters. While I'm certain these aren't the intentions of this provision they're still concerns which need to be addressed.


I disagree with this. The combined 48 hours is simply wasteful. I compiled this spreadsheet to show how many people either nominate or vote in the last day of voting/nomination. Only 1 person nominated, and only 3 people voted, on the last day since January.

Alternatively, I would support an addition 24/48 hour 'election notice' before nominations begin, to allow smaller or non-party candidates to start prepping their campaign.
Edited by CGJ, 22nd June 2014 - 01:35 AM.
Posted ImageThe Most Honourable Marquess CGJ PC
Vice Chancellor


Coauthor of the Order's most viewed vignette series: Beaxander, as well as BeaXtra, 50 Shades of Chalk and Beaxotica.

Submitted Legislation

The Kingdom of Dartfordia (Factbook - Vignettes - News - Press Office)
Founding member of the Cross-Straits Treaty Alliance (CSTO), Commonwealth Treaty Organisation (CTO) and Congress of Albion (PAC).
Member of the Cultural Exchange Treaty Organisation (CETO).
Signatory to the Mundus Convention on Universal Rights (MCUR), Fair Seas Concordat (FSC) and Uppsala Convention.
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Beatrice
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I would support a 'compromise' of eliminating the extra day of nominations (being replaced with the addition of the proposed 24-48hour 'election notice' before they begin) while retaining the present 72-hour period for elections. With the notice period my concerns over nominations would be satisfied.

Retaining the 72-hour voting period is also necessary, not only for voter's concerns but also as a measure to prepare for future elections with greater turn-outs.
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Beatrice Anselmo
Marchioness, Grand Chancellor of the Independent Order
Empress of the First Empire of Rokkenjima

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CGJ
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Franz Kaufmann (1886-1944)
I'm not so sure maintaining the 72 hour period is required, but I'll accept it with a notice period of 24 hours.

Quote:
 
“(26) The Premier shall be elected by the members of the Independent Order for a term of forty-five (45) days. Nominations shall be opened one hundred and forty-four (144) hours before start of the next Premier term, or immediately following a vote of no confidence, and shall last seventy-two (72) hours. A formal notice shall be posted by the Grand Chancellor twenty-four (24) hours prior to the opening of of nominations, and elections shall be held immediately following the end of nominations until the start of the new Premier term.”


Edit: Maths was never my strong point...
Edited by CGJ, 22nd June 2014 - 02:46 AM.
Posted ImageThe Most Honourable Marquess CGJ PC
Vice Chancellor


Coauthor of the Order's most viewed vignette series: Beaxander, as well as BeaXtra, 50 Shades of Chalk and Beaxotica.

Submitted Legislation

The Kingdom of Dartfordia (Factbook - Vignettes - News - Press Office)
Founding member of the Cross-Straits Treaty Alliance (CSTO), Commonwealth Treaty Organisation (CTO) and Congress of Albion (PAC).
Member of the Cultural Exchange Treaty Organisation (CETO).
Signatory to the Mundus Convention on Universal Rights (MCUR), Fair Seas Concordat (FSC) and Uppsala Convention.
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Elpidia
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The Rt. Hon.
I support CGJ's latest. Although if you want to push for a longer election notice, B, I'll support that.
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Dijel
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I think 24 hours of prior notice is more than enough - effectively giving 96 hours for candidates to get their campaign together. Any longer, and we'd just end up sitting around to run down the clock.

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DaveIronside
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I think that the compromise we have in place now various people have made suggestions is sufficient. I think it gives enough time for people to be aware and organise themselves.
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Beatrice
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My concerns are satisfied by C's latest. The nominations proposal is sound along with the preservation of the current voting time period. I have no further issues to bring forth, and support the amended Amendment. :P
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Beatrice Anselmo
Marchioness, Grand Chancellor of the Independent Order
Empress of the First Empire of Rokkenjima

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Elpidia
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The Rt. Hon.
I move that the bill, including CGJ's amendment in Post #5, be put to vote as soon as the debate period has elapsed (7:18 EST).
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Beatrice
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Seconded, E.
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Beatrice Anselmo
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DaveIronside
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Seconded
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CGJ
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Franz Kaufmann (1886-1944)
Seconded.
Posted ImageThe Most Honourable Marquess CGJ PC
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Coauthor of the Order's most viewed vignette series: Beaxander, as well as BeaXtra, 50 Shades of Chalk and Beaxotica.

Submitted Legislation

The Kingdom of Dartfordia (Factbook - Vignettes - News - Press Office)
Founding member of the Cross-Straits Treaty Alliance (CSTO), Commonwealth Treaty Organisation (CTO) and Congress of Albion (PAC).
Member of the Cultural Exchange Treaty Organisation (CETO).
Signatory to the Mundus Convention on Universal Rights (MCUR), Fair Seas Concordat (FSC) and Uppsala Convention.
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Elpidia
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May we get a fourth second?

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KaiserAdolf
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Seconded.

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Elpidia
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With four seconds the motion carries. Moved to vote.
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