[SJoyce's Fixer Amendment]

SJoyce's Fixer Amendment

Article I

4. Regular elections should be held on the third weekend of the month beginning within 12 hours after midnight Central Eastern time on Friday morning and ending once 72 hours have elapsed.

5. In the case of a tie vote for any election, a runoff election shall be held beginning within 24 hours after the end of the previous election. If the second runoff ends up in a tie, the term in question shall be split evenly and the candidate with the screen name that comes first alphabetically shall serve first split term, the second candidate alphabetically shall serve the second term, etc. Tie votes in any election shall be resolved under the procedures set out in the Consolidated Electoral System Reform Act Sections 2 to 4 unless the Legislature shall provide otherwise by law.

6. The Primary responsibility of the Emperor shall be to work with the regional Senators and the Forum President to ensure that the rights, liberties, and interests of Imperial Dominion of the South citizens are protected. The Emperor shall have the authority to propose any Initiative, which shall be voted upon at the next Initiative election introduce any legislation for debate in the Legislature.

Article II

6. Elections to the Legislature shall take place on the second to last weekend of the month, and the Legislature shall determine by law which seats of the Legislature are elected in which months. This election shall coincide with the elections of other regions, if applicable.

Article III

4. By petition of three citizens 15% of the voters within seven days of the enacting of a Law, that Law may be put to a referendum.

Article IV

1. The Citizens of the Imperial Dominion of the South shall have the right to petition their government to gain access to the ballot for any issue. Such a petition shall have at least three the signatures of 15% of registered Imperial voters in order to be added to the ballot at the next Initiative election. Initiative elections should be held on the third weekend of each month beginning within 12 hours after midnight Central Eastern time on Friday morning and ending at 11:59pm Central time on the following Sunday night after 72 hours have elapsed. Initiatives that receive a tie vote shall be voted upon again in the next Initiative election without the need to be reproposed. Every initiative shall relate to but one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title. However, the Emperor, or 35% of the Citizens of the Imperial Dominion of the South in a petition may declare a certain initiative to be of emergency character. When that happens, said initiative shall be put to vote in the 24 hours after emergency status has been atributed to it. The voting shall last the regular voting period.

Article V

1. "Ain't", "yonder", "y'all", "fixin to", "figure", "howdy", "reckon", "skedaddle", "tarnation", and "yankee" shall be considered an official word proper for use in the governance of the Imperial Dominion of the South.
2. "Yonder" shall be considered an official word proper for use in the governance of the Imperial Dominion of the South.
3. "Y'all" shall be considered an official word proper for use in the governance of the Imperial Dominion of the South.

Article IX

1. Duration of voting: All elections and referendums conducted shall last at least 60 72 hours and shall conclude at the first occurence of 11:59pm Central Time after 60 hours of voting has occurred after 72 hours have elapsed.
2. Opening of the polls: Polls shall be opened by the Emperor between midnight and 11:59am Central Eastern Time on the day appointed for the election to begin. In the event that the polls shall not have been opened by 6:00 am Central Eastern Time on the day appointed for the election to begin, any official authorized by the seventh section of Article I of the Constitution to act in the event of the inability of the Emperor shall be authorized to open the polls and conduct the vote.
3. Declaration of Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial Candidacy: In order to be listed on the ballot, a candidate must have announced an intention to run before noon Central Eastern Time on the day before the day appointed for the election to begin.
4. Valid ballots:
   ▪   (a) A voter's ballot is valid only if the voter -
   1.   is registered with the Atlasian Registrar General as a voter of a Southern state during the entire time that the poll is open;
   2.   makes only a single post in that election thread;
   3.   does not edit or delete the post more than one hour after the post has been made; and
   4.   clearly identifies the contest in which a vote is intended to be applied unless there is only one contest on the ballot
   ▪   (b) Posts made by an election official in an election thread to administer that election must be separate from a post used to cast that official's ballot and do not count as posts for the purposes of subsection (a).

5. Method of Voting:
   ▪   (a) In non-runoff Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections, approval voting shall be used with voters listing in any order all candidates, including any who may not be listed on the ballot, who they approve of.
   ▪   (b) In runoff Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections, plurality voting shall be used with voters listing a single candidate that is on the ballot as their favored choice.
   ▪   (a) The method of election shall be PR-STV, as specified in Sections 4 to 17 of the Atlasian Proportional Representation Act (F.L. 21-2), unless the Legislature shall provide otherwise by law.
   ▪   (b) In referendums and confirmation votes, voters shall vote either yes or no.
   ▪   (d) Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5 shall also apply to Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections.

Only a person who voted or attempted to vote in an election has the right to dispute the determination of the official conducting that election. In the event that the resolution of a dispute could affect the outcome of a runoff, then the runoff shall be delayed until the dispute is resolved. The chief judicial officer, or in his absence, the Viceroy Emperor of the Imperial Dominion of the South shall make a determination of both fact and law. Appeals to the Supreme Court of Atlasia are only allowed if there is a question of federal law involved.

This is what I have for the non-sexy part of it - it doesn't deal with names nor constitutionally protected rights.

As for the names, if we really are scrapping the Imperial regalia, then shouldn't we just go back to Governor/Speaker/Legislature/Magistrate/The South? Simplify things?

I think we should include a right to a job.

You mean a right to work?

[1]Write-in: Pingvin99
[2]Dereich
[3]Hashemite
[4]Alfred F. Jones

Most: gay marriage & other such social issues

Least: FoPo.

Sounds better than Richard Burr. 

Mike Haridopolos voice was a major surprise.

"And now sees the opportunity to run against Ben Nelson next year." I'd love to see Haridopolos try to run against Ben Nelson.

Disappointingly not his father. Still an FF for stuff like the Read the Bills Act, opposing the PATRIOT Act, opposing intervention in Libya, pro-gun, and of course his drones filibuster with Wyden and such. He's also one of a few to have the balls to call for reducing foreign aid to Israel.

He wants to completely destroy the US government,

No.

he's isolationist

Actually no - he supports some foreign bases.

against gay mariage

Why is this a problem? He's good where it really matters: he wants to repeal DOMA and have equal treatment for gay couples in the tax code and in healthcare.

against drugs (though I don't support it, i'm neutral on this issue).

He believes marijuana is a states' rights issue and the federal government shouldn't interfere - that's to Obama's left. He also opposes mandatory minimum sentences for marijuana possession.

Same order as Scott.

[Nader/Ventura]

Cathcon is probably right, and not just because he's God. Considering just how entrenched the Democrats have become in this timeline, groups outside of the political establishment are probably willing to work across ideological lines to push them out. I expect that some kind of Naderite/Perotist coalition will win this election.

Nader/Ventura? Perot/Sanders?

In 2004: President The Body?

This is shaping up to be a fine election. Most of these choices are good options, and it's good to see a multitude of third party options - in particular I'd like to single out Ralph Nader, who has a lot of good ideas and is running a very sharp campaign. However, in this election, I have to support the candidate I agree with the most, and we're lucky that the Democrats nominated such a good candidate. Governor Dean would make a great President, and I'm proud to offer him support. If he ever wants to come up to Anchorage for an appearance with me, Mark (he's running against Young), Tony, and Ethan, I think we really do stand a chance of making this state blue. That's what I'm trying to do with my Senate campaign, and I think Howard's exactly the right kind of Democrat - still principled, still opposed to the war, but with fiscal responsibility and a respect for individual liberty - that can really stand a chance of winning here in Alaska. - Former US Senator, former 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, and now 2008 US Senate candidate Mike Gravel (D-AK).

Signing in as the new representative from the South.

In the time-honored update tradition I sat on a couch and watched baseball on TV.

Stevens because series of tubes.

[Is Our Children Learning Act Part II]

Is Our Children Learning Act Part II

Section 1: Schools

1.   All public up to university level will be exclusively funded and administered by municipalities of the IDS. All public and private schools shall be administered by the IDS Department of Education.
2.   The founding of a new private school will require approval from the IDS Department of Education.
3.   When founded, private schools will be given a state grant comparable to that given to a municipal school of the same size.
4.   The use of tuition fees by private schools will be strictly prohibited.
5.   Private schools will be required to admit all their pupils on the same basis as the corresponding municipal school.
6.   Private schools will be required to give their students all the social entitlements that are offered to the students of municipal schools.
7.   All schools below college shall be required to be open to students for at least 190 days per year for at least eight hours a day, for no more than thirteen years unless the student is retained in a grade.  Two hours each day must be reserved to study hall periods and recess, which shall be required in all schools.
8.   All students will be entitled to health care (including mental health) and daily lunch.  If a student is of an income level below $25,000, their lunches shall be at no cost.
9.   Counties are granted full administrative, curricula and extracurricular jurisdiction over all school districts within their boundaries so long as they do not violate regional or federal law.
10.   All schools where 5% or greater of students do not speak English as their first language shall be required to have teachers certified in teaching English for speakers of other languages.

Section 2: Teachers

1.   The right of teachers to unionize shall be guaranteed.
2.   All teachers shall be accorded a great deal of autonomy in their respected professions and will be allowed to choose their own textbooks in accordance with the Is Our Children Learning Act of 2012.
3.   All teachers, public and private, shall be required to hold a master’s degree in their field in order to enter the education profession.
3a.  Existing teachers who have a degree below Master’s may retain their jobs, but are highly encouraged. Tuition will be covered under the provisions of the Is Our Children Learning Act of 2012.
4.   All school principals will be required to, through any means necessary, assess their teachers for competence and expertise in their field of study and send their reports to the Department of Education.  The Department of Education will be authorized to set its own guidelines on how each individual teacher will be paid and terminate the jobs of those deemed incompetent.
5.   Teachers shall assign letter grades when assessing student educational development, but must also individually assess students and identify strengths, weaknesses, and determine if each student is understanding the material.  These assessment reports may either be published and accessed on the internet by each student or mailed to parents.

Section 3: Exams

The annual standardized test, which shall be the only government-prescribed test in the IDS, shall be named the IDS Matriculation Exam (or the IME), and will be assigned to all high school students in the middle of their senior years.  Questions in this test (which must pertain to math, science, English, social studies, and foreign language) will be determined by the Department of Education, as shall any exemptions to the test.

Section 4: Implementation

The provisions of this legislation shall take effect at the beginning of the 2014 school year.

IDS Firearm Policy Act of 2013

1. The entire matter of firearms and knives is reserved to the regional legislature. Municipalities may not adopt ordinances regulating the possession, transportation, sale, transfer, or ownership of firearms or knives, firearm or knife components, or ammunition. However, they may regulate the discharge of firearms or the open carrying of firearms or knives in public spaces, or the use of firearms or knives in cases of disaster, insurrection, or riot, and they may regulate the possession of firearms or knives by felons, minors, illegal aliens, and the mentally incompetent

2. All persons shall have the right to openly carry firearms in public areas without obtaining a license or paying a fee, unless they are under eighteen, insane, or have had their right to bear arms suspended as a punishment for the commission of a crime. Any person may disallow the open carry of firearms on their private property, and the government may disallow the open carry of firearms in any government-owned building. This does apply to vehicles so long as the firearm is kept clearly visible.

3. There is no duty to retreat from any place where you have a legal right to be. The legal presumption shall be that an intruder poses a deadly threat if you are in your own home or property that is owned and controlled by yourself. A legal resident of a property has the right to use deadly force to defend themselves, other occupants, and property from an unlawful forced intrusion into their home or place of business. There shall be civil immunity for the use of reasonable force in self-defense - a person is justified in using or threatening force against another when they reasonably believe that force is necessary to defend themselves or a third person against another's imminent use of unlawful force. They are justified in using force intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily injury only if they reasonably believe that force is necessary to prevent death or seriously bodily injury to himself or a third person as a result of the other's imminent use of unlawful force or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

4. Regional restrictions on transport and possession of firearms shall not apply to non-residents traveling to and from other jurisdictions and who are permitted to possess firearms in their home region.

Liberalization Act of 2013

1. The federal Legalization of Prostitution Act is recognized as applying to the IDS.
2. Gambling in the forms of bingo, poker, lottery, pari-mutuel betting, and sports betting shall be legal throughout the region. All forms of gambling in order to raise money for charities and all forms of gambling conducted on Native American reservations or at racetracks shall be legal throughout the region.
3. Individuals may possess up to: any quantity of marijuana, hashish, or cannabis oil, 40 pieces of magic mushrooms, 5 plants of peyote, 5 tablets of LSD, 4 tablets of ecstasy, 2 grams of amphetamine, 1 gram of MDMA, 2 grams of methamphetamine, 1.5 grams of heroin, 2 grams of morphine, 10 grams of opium, 0.1 grams of PCP, 0.5 grams of pure THC, 5 plants of coca, and 2 grams of cocaine with no legal punishment. Possession of larger than these amounts can result in a fine of up to $1000. This article does not apply to minors and does not legalize illegal activities committed while under the influence of such drugs.
4. The possession, sale, and purchase of pornographic materials by individuals older than the age of sixteen years shall be fully legal.
5. Genital exposure with intent to shock those who do not want to see them shall be subject to a fine of up to $1000. This law does not apply to nude sunbathing, streaking, nude swimming, toplessness, or similar activities.
6. Child pornography depicting real children is recognized as harmful and shall not be decriminalized or legalized by this legislation.
7. The act of sending or receiving nude or sexual images between two people between the ages of 13 and 18 where both individuals consent shall be fully legal. Sending the images to other persons without the consent of the person in the image shall be a misdemeanor but shall not result in the individual being labeled a sex offender.
8. Individuals under the age of 12 in all seats and under the age of 18 in front seats must wear seatbelts when traveling in a motor vehicle. Violations of this law carry a fine of $100, but a law enforcement officer cannot stop or ticket an individual solely for not wearing a seatbelt, but only when the driver has committed another primary violation.
9. Nobody shall be compelled to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle; however, in a lawsuit after an accident, a person may have their damages reduced if they were not wearing a helmet. This law does not affect riders of scooters, mopeds, and other small motorcycles.

I'm still waiting for SJoyce. Honestly, given that Constitutional reform was in SJoyce agenda in the last campaign, I though that it was the first issue to deal with and not because I'm waiting proposals from our Gov, but because I think it's a gubernatorial prerogative to open the debate in a specific thread of his election (we talked something about this issue before).

I have already issued a proposal for some Constitutional changes I would like to see made in both my office and the introduction thread. If anybody would like to sponsor them then go right ahead.

The debate should be open to all the citizens of the South, which should be encouraged to submit their proposals like legislators and any Southerner official.

All citizens are welcome to give input.

Your proposals are welcome but I was talking about opening the debate in a specific thread, as we talked in the Legislature. You are the one who has the duty and the prerogative. Use the Imperial Almanac or a new thread, but open the debate giving a public announcement in order that every citizen in the South is informed.

Ah, that makes sense. Well, if we pass the legislation that's currently under debate in the Legislature and someone sponsors my amendment, then the amendment would be opened in a new thread anyways - if it does get sponsored, when it comes up for debate I'll remember to put up a notification post in my office on the AFE board so that everyone sees it.

As for Legislator Hashemite, he has not spoken in the Legislature for the last 13 days.

I don't spend my entire life on this forum and I have lots of other stuff to do in my life, which might not be the case for you. Over the past 10 or so days, I needed to read 5 books, write a 10-page essay, prepare a presentation and do regular weekly assignments all for the same class. So I hope you will excuse me for not dedicating my whole free time (what was left of it) to the legislature. On the other hand, it would have been nice if you had been intellectually honest enough to point out that I was the one who introduced the very long procedural bill which, when it will pass, will hopefully increase activity significantly. Nobody else proposed anything to counter inactivity, but I did. I also introduced an education bill which is next in the queue. So at least have the intellectual honesty to point that out. Jesus Christ.

I'm not demanding nor expecting that you dedicate your entire free time to this legislature, but, under the procedural bill that you introduced (which I thank you for writing - I believe I mentioned in my office how its passage is one of my priorities for this session) your legislative seat would be vacated automatically by 9 PM tomorrow night if you didn't post on legislative business. When people go missing from the Legislature, it's a problem.

I'm still waiting for SJoyce. Honestly, given that Constitutional reform was in SJoyce agenda in the last campaign, I though that it was the first issue to deal with and not because I'm waiting proposals from our Gov, but because I think it's a gubernatorial prerogative to open the debate in a specific thread of his election (we talked something about this issue before).

I have already issued a proposal for some Constitutional changes I would like to see made in both my office and the introduction thread. If anybody would like to sponsor them then go right ahead.

The debate should be open to all the citizens of the South, which should be encouraged to submit their proposals like legislators and any Southerner official.

All citizens are welcome to give input.

[JANUARY 2016]

JANUARY 2016

Florida Democratic Primary



With Castro picking up support among Hispanics, Warner concentrating on the Panhandle and the north, O'Malley attempting to get votes in Broward and Palm Beach, and Schweitzer and Biden touring the state, the primary is very close - however, a clear victor does emerge. Joe Biden wins the Sunshine State, with Brian Schweitzer in a close second and the rest of the field trailing.

RESULTS:
Biden: 29.3%
Schweitzer: 26.6%
Castro: 17.6%
Warner: 15.7%
O'Malley: 10.8%

Florida Rs



A pretty easy victory for Marco Rubio - Florida's favorite son nets a commanding margin and looks very strong going into the later primaries.

RESULTS:
Rubio: 41.7%
Portman: 14.8%
Santorum: 14.4%
Ryan: 11.4%
Walker: 9.9%
Ayotte: 7.8%


Major support coalescing around Buckhorn



Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn picked up some major support - he has officially announced his bid for the US Senate in 2016, though it remains to be seen if he will face a primary challenger. To forestall that, top Democrats, including Governor Charlie Crist, Lt. Gov. Pam Iorio, CFO Alex Sink, Ag. Commissioner Rod Smith, Attorney General Buddy Dyer, and US Senator Bill Nelson have announced their strong support for Buckhorn. Avoiding a primary would allow the party to focus on the general election and other elections, especially if the Republicans have a messy duel.


True Conservatives



^RINO. Yep. Rick Scott, he who ran as a conservative challenger to Bill McCollum (who's not running, by the way), is facing a challenger from the right - former Rep. Allen West. To the conservatives, Scott is just another big-spending, pay-raising, Medicaid-expanding liberal. As such, he'll be drawing some challengers, and certainly won't walk right in to the Senate, even without Buckhorn. He may not even have the moderate wing locked up - rumors of a challenge by former CFO Jeff Atwater are intensifying as well. The ever-present Tebow rumors are looming as well.



We need some real conservatives in the Senate to fight the commies! Vote Allen West! - Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Gainesville), introducing Allen West at his announcement speech.



We need some experienced leadership in the Senate, yet someone who still holds conservatives values. That's why I'm running for Senate.--State Sen. John Thrasher (R-St. Augustine).

Polling

West: 28%
Scott: 27%
Thrasher: 18%
Undecided: 28%


Elections for 2016 will include Presidential, US Senate, US House, State Senate [in abstract], State House [in abstract], and the Orlando Mayoral election.

[IDS Legislative Election Tracker]

IDS Legislative Election Tracker

Quota: 3

First count:

Alfred F. Jones: 3
Dereich: 3
Pingvin99: 1
Hashemite: 1

Alfred F. Jones and Dereich are elected. Hashemite has 4 2nd preferences to Pingvin's 0, so he is elected.

[Further education reform]

Also, I thought it'd be useful to try to post a list of executive priorities for this Legislative session. Format will be executive priority followed by some general ideas for legislation in those areas.

I. Further education reform: Hash's bill is excellent, but I'd also like some broader reform modeled off of what the Northeast has already done and have introduced legislation accordingly.

II. Operating procedures: Passage of the current legislation would suffice.

III. Constitutional reform: I've posted my proposal for reform of our Constitution in my office - if a Legislator wishes to undertake name reform as well, that's another debate we should have.

IV. Victimless crime reform: I'd like to undertake a comprehensive review of regional drug, prostitution, gambling, pornography, public nudity, sexting, seatbelt, sodomy (no idea if we have any on the books - we're using Georgia's legal code IIRC though), assisted suicide, helmet, alcohol, etc. laws.

V. Labor: It could be interesting to repeal our right-to-work law, just to scrap that free rider problem. I also can't find any laws on our books about striking - we could establish a right to strike (excluding certain essential services as well).

VI. Infrastructure and development: I touched on this a lot in my campaign - upgrading and creating roads, railroads, bridges, sidewalks, pipelines, canals, ports, airports, and other such things, as well as public places like schools, hospitals, public squares, parks, and beaches, and upgrading our public services like water, sewage, electricity, and dams. I'd also like to create a program of establishing special tax districts to pay for tax bonds for public utlities in areas that are being renewed. Improving LEED certification, and streetcar and light rail & bus services, stuff like that. New sports stadiums, performing arts centers, and botanical gardens, and creation of research parks could all be interesting projects. We also need to take steps to promote more high-density and mixed-use zoning. We should any new urban projects to be built according to the principles of New Urbanism, and to that end we should reduce the minimum amount of parking, require spaces for parks and such, make it easy to build on brownfield/grayfield land, and mandatory environmental impact assessments conducted by independent groups.

VII. Climate change: This is a long-term one that I'm working on - it'll take a while to write up and contains a lot of stuff, but should be a comprehensive strategy for environmental preservation.

VIII. Imperial Almanac: I need to keep the almanac updated. This is more of a personal note.

IX. Firearms: I'd like to establish some more laws on firearms in our region - we have laws on concealed carry but we haven't dealt with a variety of other topics - legislation on this has been posted.

X. Immigration: I've already posted some legislation for this too.

XI. Healthcare: Not sure how much regional authority we have RE healthcare. Something to search on the wiki. I'm a personal Bismarck fan, but I don't know how much authority we have there.

Mr. GM, how far along is implementation of this legislation?

This specific legislation was repealed in 2009 and replaced by the High Speed Rail Act. I'll look into it, though.

So it was, but with 4 years in, is it possible that there might be the tracks there in some places (or even just the land corridors purchased) in a way that would reduce the costs of other projects?

FC. The local Target is far nicer than the local Wal-Mart and the local Kmart. I don't believe we have a Kroger either, so those are the options. Products are pretty decent, prices pretty decent, and I don't care about its politics nearly as much as that (I still eat Chick-Fil-A).

[Promoting Education Act of 2013]

Some Legislation I've drawn up, if anyone in the Legislature wishes to introduce them so that they can be debated.

Promoting Education Act of 2013

1. Unauthorized immigrants who have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor such as violence, assault, burglary, obstruction of justice, bribery, or DUI, or multiple misdemeanors and have earned a full high school diploma or GED from an IDS high school or are presently attempting to acquire such a diploma or have received a certificate of honorable discharge from the Atlasian military and who entered this country under the age of 17 and are presently under the age of 32 shall be eligible for in-state tuition, financial aid, and scholarships at public postsecondary institutions upon the condition of signing an affidavit promising to seek legal immigration status.

2. Unauthorized immigrants who have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor such as violence, assault, burglary, obstruction of justice, bribery, or DUI, or multiple misdemeanors, and who have or are working towards a GED or full high school diploma in an IDS high school or have received a certificate of honorable discharge from the Atlasian military and who entered this country under the age of 17 shall be eligible for the same regional welfare and education benefits as a normal citizen.

3. Unauthorized immigrants who meet the conditions established in Article II shall also be eligible to receive a driver's license.

SJoyce's Fixer Amendment

Article I

4. Regular elections should be held on the third weekend of the month beginning within 12 hours after midnight Central Eastern time on Friday morning and ending once 72 hours have elapsed.

5. In the case of a tie vote for any election, a runoff election shall be held beginning within 24 hours after the end of the previous election. If the second runoff ends up in a tie, the term in question shall be split evenly and the candidate with the screen name that comes first alphabetically shall serve first split term, the second candidate alphabetically shall serve the second term, etc. Tie votes in any election shall be resolved under the procedures set out in the Consolidated Electoral System Reform Act Sections 2 to 4 unless the Legislature shall provide otherwise by law.

6. The Primary responsibility of the Emperor shall be to work with the regional Senators and the Forum President to ensure that the rights, liberties, and interests of Imperial Dominion of the South citizens are protected. The Emperor shall have the authority to propose any Initiative, which shall be voted upon at the next Initiative election introduce any legislation for debate in the Legislature.

Article II

6. Elections to the Legislature shall take place on the second to last weekend of the month, and the Legislature shall determine by law which seats of the Legislature are elected in which months. This election shall coincide with the elections of other regions, if applicable.

Article III

4. By petition of three citizens 15% of the voters within seven days of the enacting of a Law, that Law may be put to a referendum.

Article IV

1. The Citizens of the Imperial Dominion of the South shall have the right to petition their government to gain access to the ballot for any issue. Such a petition shall have at least three the signatures of 15% of registered Imperial voters in order to be added to the ballot at the next Initiative election. Initiative elections should be held on the third weekend of each month beginning within 12 hours after midnight Central Eastern time on Friday morning and ending at 11:59pm Central time on the following Sunday night after 72 hours have elapsed. Initiatives that receive a tie vote shall be voted upon again in the next Initiative election without the need to be reproposed. Every initiative shall relate to but one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title. However, the Emperor, or 35% of the Citizens of the Imperial Dominion of the South in a petition may declare a certain initiative to be of emergency character. When that happens, said initiative shall be put to vote in the 24 hours after emergency status has been atributed to it. The voting shall last the regular voting period.

Article V

1. "Ain't", "yonder", "y'all", "fixin to", "figure", "howdy", "reckon", "skedaddle", "tarnation", and "yankee" shall be considered an official word proper for use in the governance of the Imperial Dominion of the South.
2. "Yonder" shall be considered an official word proper for use in the governance of the Imperial Dominion of the South.
3. "Y'all" shall be considered an official word proper for use in the governance of the Imperial Dominion of the South.

Article IX

1. Duration of voting: All elections and referendums conducted shall last at least 60 72 hours and shall conclude at the first occurence of 11:59pm Central Time after 60 hours of voting has occurred after 72 hours have elapsed.
2. Opening of the polls: Polls shall be opened by the Emperor between midnight and 11:59am Central Eastern Time on the day appointed for the election to begin. In the event that the polls shall not have been opened by 6:00 am Central Eastern Time on the day appointed for the election to begin, any official authorized by the seventh section of Article I of the Constitution to act in the event of the inability of the Emperor shall be authorized to open the polls and conduct the vote.
3. Declaration of Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial Candidacy: In order to be listed on the ballot, a candidate must have announced an intention to run before noon Central Eastern Time on the day before the day appointed for the election to begin.
4. Valid ballots:
   ▪   (a) A voter's ballot is valid only if the voter -
   1.   is registered with the Atlasian Registrar General as a voter of a Southern state during the entire time that the poll is open;
   2.   makes only a single post in that election thread;
   3.   does not edit or delete the post more than one hour after the post has been made; and
   4.   clearly identifies the contest in which a vote is intended to be applied unless there is only one contest on the ballot
   ▪   (b) Posts made by an election official in an election thread to administer that election must be separate from a post used to cast that official's ballot and do not count as posts for the purposes of subsection (a).

5. Method of Voting:
   ▪   (a) In non-runoff Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections, approval voting shall be used with voters listing in any order all candidates, including any who may not be listed on the ballot, who they approve of.
   ▪   (b) In runoff Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections, plurality voting shall be used with voters listing a single candidate that is on the ballot as their favored choice.
   ▪   (a) The method of election shall be PR-STV, as specified in Sections 4 to 17 of the Atlasian Proportional Representation Act (F.L. 21-2), unless the Legislature shall provide otherwise by law.
   ▪   (b) In referendums and confirmation votes, voters shall vote either yes or no.
   ▪   (d) Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5 shall also apply to Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections.

Only a person who voted or attempted to vote in an election has the right to dispute the determination of the official conducting that election. In the event that the resolution of a dispute could affect the outcome of a runoff, then the runoff shall be delayed until the dispute is resolved. The chief judicial officer, or in his absence, the Viceroy Emperor of the Imperial Dominion of the South shall make a determination of both fact and law. Appeals to the Supreme Court of Atlasia are only allowed if there is a question of federal law involved.

NOTA.

Mr. GM, how far along is implementation of this legislation?

Positive (Theist)

Awful.