Midwest Universal Alþing Official Thread

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

NOTE: Forgot Puerto Rico.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Here's my map, which doesn't require us to invade multiple other nations... The Midwest for the most part merges with the Pacific, the Mideast is split up between the Northeast and the South (sorry bout that, but geography), and you have three basic regions. We really don't have the population at this time to make regional and national levels competitive; more people per region=more competition=more excitement. Senate could just shift to two per region and four at-large.

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

AZ & NM to IDS, dammit!

[Emperor SJoyce]

AZ & NM to IDS, dammit!

Apart from the "little Texas" region of New Mexico, neither of them are really Southern culturally/politically. I'd expect the IDS to have closer ties to Maryland/Delaware.

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

Exchange: MD & DE to North, AZ & NM to South.
PUH-LEEZE!

[Emperor SJoyce]

Exchange: MD & DE to North, AZ & NM to South.
PUH-LEEZE!

Why do we even particularly need AZ & NM? The South lost those at Glorieta Pass. If they had won there and survived and there was a lot of subsequent immigration to those areas from the rest of the South, then it'd make sense, but that didn't happen. Plus in mine the population is more balanced...

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

Exchange: MD & DE to North, AZ & NM to South.
PUH-LEEZE!

Why do we even particularly need AZ & NM? The South lost those at Glorieta Pass. If they had won there and survived and there was a lot of subsequent immigration to those areas from the rest of the South, then it'd make sense, but that didn't happen. Plus in mine the population is more balanced...

Well, it is time for revenge! These states were in Pacific too long!
And one more idea: Lets create three new states: Superior, Lincoln and Jefferson.

[Governor Scott]

The Northeast is the last region that needs states added onto it.   The Midwest-Pacific merger itself should do the trick.

[ilikeverin]

The Northeast is the last region that needs states added onto it.   The Midwest-Pacific merger itself should do the trick.

I have no idea why you keep saying that over and over again without any support for it whatsoever.

I also have no idea why everyone keeps saying we need to merge the Midwest into the Pacific when proposing that idea rather than the other way around

[ilikeverin]

I'd like to propose an amendment to the current constitution.  It is clear that the parliamentary setup in the Midwest, as we know it now, is a failure.  I'd like to keep certain aspects of it (I love our universalism!), but it's clear that it's not working for us.  If the below passes, I'd like to also amend the short names of the Prime Verin and Deputy Verin

Section II
1. The official title of the head of government of the Midwest shall be "By the grace of Dave, Governor of the Midwest Region; Mayor of Confusion, Shock, and Denial; Alderman of Happiness, Awe, Exhilaration, Curiosity, Elation, and Enthusiasm; Clerk of Optimism; and Administrator of the Irridential Lands".  Hereinafter, they shall be referred to as the "Prime Verin".  The Prime Verin shall be elected by the Alþing and shall serve at its pleasure.
2. The Prime Verin shall preside over the Alþing, and be its official spokesperson.
3. The Deputy Verin shall be elected whenever there is also an election for Prime Verin. The Deputy Verin shall preside over the Alþing in the case of the absence of the Prime Verin, and shall become Acting Verin if the office is vacated.

Section IV
1. The election of the Governor shall take place on the third weekend of the months of April and August and on the second weekend of the month of December on the Gregorian calendar. The election will begin on the Friday of that weekend, and will end one week later.
2. During an election for the Verinship, all citizens of the Midwest shall be considered nominees for Prime and Deputy Verin unless they specifically say otherwise.
3. Voting shall occur in a separate thread in the Voting Booth forum. The election shall be conducted by the Deputy Verin, who shall be responsible for counting the ballots at the close of the election. If the Deputy Verin is unable or unwilling to conduct the election, the Prime Verin shall be empowered to appoint another Atlasian Citizen to conduct the election.
4. Voting will be preferential and counted by means of the Condorcet method.
5. Reasonable determination of voter intent shall apply in construing ballots for counting purposes.
6. The Prime Verin and Deputy Verin shall take office immediately after the certification of the election results.

Section VII
1. An amendment to this Constitution must be proposed in the Alþing and must have the signatures of at least three (3) citizens.
2. The proposed amendment shall then be debated in the Alþing like a regular piece of legislation.
3. To be successfully approved, the amendment must have at least 50% of the votes in favor if the Prime Verin supports the measure, and 60% if the Prime Verin does not.

Unfortunately, the current Constitution makes it very, very difficult to amend the Constitution...

[hawkeye59]

I'd like to propose an amendment to the current constitution.  It is clear that the parliamentary setup in the Midwest, as we know it now, is a failure.  I'd like to keep certain aspects of it (I love our universalism!), but it's clear that it's not working for us.  If the below passes, I'd like to also amend the short names of the Prime Verin and Deputy Verin

Section II
1. The official title of the head of government of the Midwest shall be "By the grace of Dave, Governor of the Midwest Region; Mayor of Confusion, Shock, and Denial; Alderman of Happiness, Awe, Exhilaration, Curiosity, Elation, and Enthusiasm; Clerk of Optimism; and Administrator of the Irridential Lands".  Hereinafter, they shall be referred to as the "Prime Verin".  The Prime Verin shall be elected by the Alþing and shall serve at its pleasure.
2. The Prime Verin shall preside over the Alþing, and be its official spokesperson.
3. The Deputy Verin shall be elected whenever there is also an election for Prime Verin. The Deputy Verin shall preside over the Alþing in the case of the absence of the Prime Verin, and shall become Acting Verin if the office is vacated.

Section IV
1. The election of the Governor shall take place on the third weekend of the months of April and August and on the second weekend of the month of December on the Gregorian calendar. The election will begin on the Friday of that weekend, and will end one week later.
2. During an election for the Verinship, all citizens of the Midwest shall be considered nominees for Prime and Deputy Verin unless they specifically say otherwise.
3. Voting shall occur in a separate thread in the Voting Booth forum. The election shall be conducted by the Deputy Verin, who shall be responsible for counting the ballots at the close of the election. If the Deputy Verin is unable or unwilling to conduct the election, the Prime Verin shall be empowered to appoint another Atlasian Citizen to conduct the election.
4. Voting will be preferential and counted by means of the Condorcet method.
5. Reasonable determination of voter intent shall apply in construing ballots for counting purposes.
6. The Prime Verin and Deputy Verin shall take office immediately after the certification of the election results.

Section VII
1. An amendment to this Constitution must be proposed in the Alþing and must have the signatures of at least three (3) citizens.
2. The proposed amendment shall then be debated in the Alþing like a regular piece of legislation.
3. To be successfully approved, the amendment must have at least 50% of the votes in favor if the Prime Verin supports the measure, and 60% if the Prime Verin does not.

Unfortunately, the current Constitution makes it very, very difficult to amend the Constitution...

I like it!
x hawkeye59

[Fritz]

I'd like to propose an amendment to the current constitution.  It is clear that the parliamentary setup in the Midwest, as we know it now, is a failure.  I'd like to keep certain aspects of it (I love our universalism!), but it's clear that it's not working for us.  If the below passes, I'd like to also amend the short names of the Prime Verin and Deputy Verin

Section II
1. The official title of the head of government of the Midwest shall be "By the grace of Dave, Governor of the Midwest Region; Mayor of Confusion, Shock, and Denial; Alderman of Happiness, Awe, Exhilaration, Curiosity, Elation, and Enthusiasm; Clerk of Optimism; and Administrator of the Irridential Lands".  Hereinafter, they shall be referred to as the "Prime Verin".  The Prime Verin shall be elected by the Alþing and shall serve at its pleasure.
2. The Prime Verin shall preside over the Alþing, and be its official spokesperson.
3. The Deputy Verin shall be elected whenever there is also an election for Prime Verin. The Deputy Verin shall preside over the Alþing in the case of the absence of the Prime Verin, and shall become Acting Verin if the office is vacated.

Section IV
1. The election of the Governor shall take place on the third weekend of the months of April and August and on the second weekend of the month of December on the Gregorian calendar. The election will begin on the Friday of that weekend, and will end one week later.
2. During an election for the Verinship, all citizens of the Midwest shall be considered nominees for Prime and Deputy Verin unless they specifically say otherwise.
3. Voting shall occur in a separate thread in the Voting Booth forum. The election shall be conducted by the Deputy Verin, who shall be responsible for counting the ballots at the close of the election. If the Deputy Verin is unable or unwilling to conduct the election, the Prime Verin shall be empowered to appoint another Atlasian Citizen to conduct the election.
4. Voting will be preferential and counted by means of the Condorcet method.
5. Reasonable determination of voter intent shall apply in construing ballots for counting purposes.
6. The Prime Verin and Deputy Verin shall take office immediately after the certification of the election results.

Section VII
1. An amendment to this Constitution must be proposed in the Alþing and must have the signatures of at least three (3) citizens.
2. The proposed amendment shall then be debated in the Alþing like a regular piece of legislation.
3. To be successfully approved, the amendment must have at least 50% of the votes in favor if the Prime Verin supports the measure, and 60% if the Prime Verin does not.

Unfortunately, the current Constitution makes it very, very difficult to amend the Constitution...

x Fritz

[ilikeverin]

Actually, if I could, I'd like to withdraw my proposal and introduce the following:

Fourth Constitutional Convention
1. The Midwest Region shall call a constitutional convention in a separate thread in the Atlas Fantasy Elections board.
2. The constitutional convention shall be empowered with the ability to create the Fourth Midwestern Constitution, which shall succeed the Third Midwestern Constitution upon a majority vote by participating Midwestern citizens.
3. All Midwestern citizens are invited to be delegates to the constitutional convention, and shall indicate their participation by signing their name in the thread.

(The currently way to amend the constitution would require 12(!) votes total, including 8 in favor, to approve the Amendment.  Creating a new constitution makes things easier for us, especially because we can work on everything at once.)

[hawkeye59]

x hawkeye59

[Fritz]

x Fritz

[Redalgo]

x Redalgo

[Redalgo]

*constitutional bump*

We need more signatures! Get out your [Inks]ign pens, people!

And yes. That was a terrible pun.

[Emperor SJoyce]

*constitutional bump*

We need more signatures! Get out your [Inks]ign pens, people!

And yes. That was a terrible pun.

Maybe you could try PMing people (dead0, Marokai, Gustaf, Hans, Kal, BRTD, MaxQue)? I'd bet a lot of them don't even check Regional Government and don't even know this is going on.

[ilikeverin]

We need more signatures! Get out your [Inks]ign pens, people!

Do we?  It's not an amendment, it's a proposal.  In fact, what are our rules of order?  I've tried looking back a few pages and I can't really see any rhyme or reason to when bills were opened or closed.

By the authority vested in me as Honorary Governor-for-life, I hereby bring my bill to a vote.  Citizens have 72 hours in which to vote.

I vote , of course.

[Redalgo]

Rules of order are more like guidelines anyway. I vote as well!

[hawkeye59]

[ilikeverin]

By a vote of 3-0, this motion passes.  I'll try to create a ConCon thread later today and PM people to participate

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your region for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Midwest?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

In the name of God, go!

[Redalgo]

I will kindly ask the members of this body to remain calm. The President has already been informed of the incident unfolding and I have requested assistance from local law enforcement officials. I am issuing orders at this time to lock down the building. Take refuge immediately, arm yourselves if you can, and await further instructions from first responders. Until more can be learned about the events at hand I must insist all legislators and their aides take all due precautions to defend themselves from assault or unlawful detention, and avoid contact with Kalwejt until the situation has been resolved.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

Fool, I have keys for this building.

Now, you are all locked here.