Proposal 1

[Eluvatar]

Gulliver did most of the work, but we've come up with a proposed Constitution.

It's based off of the original in several fundamental ways:

• Three classical US-style branches
• The Executive is led by the Delegate
• Ministries are appointed by the Delegate and do stuff
• Citizens have to register with the government

But it's also radically different legislatively:

• The Senate is small and elected rather than large and self-selecting.
• The citizens get to vote on amendments and can petition for laws.
• The Court administers elections.
• The Executive's decision to reject a citizen can be overriden by the Senate
• No Vice Delegate-- the Delegate selects a succession list of Ministers.
• There is a Chief Justice in charge of the Court.
• There is a separation of powers clause that applies to Cabinet, Court, and Senate.

I like this draft, but the Citizen Rights section still needs review.

Discuss

[Gulliver]

As a final note, things in brackets are tentative ideas.

[St Oz]

The Executive's decision to reject a citizen can be overriden by the Senate

Sounds bothersome

The Court administers elections.

This is good.

The Senate is small and elected rather than large and self-selecting.

I'm not sure why we did it that way in the first place.

[Towlie]

The number of senators will be seven unless determined otherwise by law.

i think 9 would work the thirds better considering a third of seven ends up being 2 and a high likelihood of tie

The Executive's decision to reject a citizen can be overriden by the Senate

if this is kept it should go both ways
other that that a pretty good start

[HEM]

A few things I noticed right away:

   

Any citizen who has held their citizenship continuously for at least four weeks and has registered on the official regional forums may run for the office of senator.

I've never liked the idea of preventing people from running until they have been in a region x ammount of time. It de facto creates a second class citizen and limits democracy. We should trust voters to know when a member isn't experienced enough or isn't suitable.

   

4. Vacancies occurring between elections will be filled by recounting the ballots of the last election as if the absent senator were not running.

I prefer by-elections, but that's just me

[Myroria]

   

Any citizen who has held their citizenship continuously for at least four weeks and has registered on the official regional forums may run for the office of senator.

I've never liked the idea of preventing people from running until they have been in a region x ammount of time. It de facto creates a second class citizen and limits democracy. We should trust voters to know when a member isn't experienced enough or isn't suitable.

I agree. I think the kind of people who would be active enough to consider voting for a senator should be able to evaluate the voters carefully enough where newbieness isn't an issue.

[Eluvatar]

I'd be fine with dropping those requirements. Gulliver?

[Gulliver]

I would also be fine with dropping these requirements and making it simple citizen. Certainly it would simplify the language.

i think 9 would work the thirds better considering a third of seven ends up being 2 and a high likelihood of tie

Actually, a third of 7 is 2.3 repeating, which means quorum is 3. We did however have 9 originally, and I do prefer it as a bit of a cleaner number, but we were concerned that it would be difficult to find enough candidates to fill all the seats. Keep in mind, the size of the Senate can be changed by law under the current proposal.

I prefer by-elections, but that's just me Wink

Having a by election would kinda distort the proportional representation that we were hoping to achieve.

[Eluvatar]

The Executive's decision to reject a citizen can be overriden by the Senate

if this is kept it should go both ways
other that that a pretty good start

What do you mean?

Also I've updated the proposal.

[kor]

I believe he means if the Senate rejects a citizen it can be overturned by the Delegate.

Edit: Also if we make any rights to privacy about IRC, as owner of the esper one it shouldn't apply there. Just the new one.(but cant be used in court cases either as it is no longer the official channel)

[Eluvatar]

Oh good point, the Criminal Codex should allow for channels with different rules...

[kor]

What about making a Vice Delegate position and having it like the way USA used to do elections? Where the second place becomes VD. You could still have the succession of ministers; just amend it with VD as second in line. Just a thought.

[Eluvatar]

Let's have a poll.

[Gulliver]

I really don't like the idea. I don't think it lends any functional gain and the chances are the second place person is likely to be the central opponent of the winner.

[kor]

Potentially provides a balance of ideas in the administration.