Emsworth's Draft

[Emsworth]

I don't wish to complicate the matter further, but I have formed the following draft on the basis of Demrepdan's proposal. I did, however, make some changes: I firstly took into account all of the votes we've had so far, and I also assumed for now that supersoulty's proposal for two separate types of Senate constituencies would pass, as would any related proposals made by the gentleman from Pennsylvania. I have also left some parts undone, labeling them "[to be determined]." Finally, in several cases, one might find material such as [XXX] (within square brackets). This is to indicate where something is yet to be decided; for instance, the regional boundaries. I would ask that these omissions aforestated be forgiven.
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We the people of the United States Election Atlas Forum, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, support equality for all forum members, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States Election Atlas Forum.

Article I

Section 1

All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in the Senate of the Atlas Forum.

Section 2

There shall be five regions and five districts, each of which shall elect for a term of six months a Senator, provided that, after the first election, Senators for [XXX] shall have a term of two months, and Senators for [YYY] shall have a term of four months.

No person shall be Senator who shall not have attained thirty or more posts at the forum, does not have an avatar indicating a state within his or her region, or does not declare his or her candidacy within twenty days of the election.

The Vice President of the forum shall be the President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, save when the Senate shall be equally divided.

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, who shall act during the absence of the Vice President.

If there shall be a vacancy in the Senate, then it shall be filled up by [to be determined].

Section 3

[Impeachment - To be determined]

Section 4

The Senate shall establish its own rules and proceedings, but no vote taken in the Senate shall be valid unless a majority of the Senators shall have cast votes.
 
The Senate may, by a vote of two-thirds, expel one of its members, but no expelled member shall be disqualified from being reelected to the Senate, or being elected or appointed to any other position.

Section 5

 The Senate may pass a bill for the purpose of making laws, or a resolution for the purpose of declaring war, a majority of the Senators voting concurring. But all such bills and resolutions shall first be submitted to the President before taking effect; and the President may either declare his or her approval or veto it. If the President approves, or if he or she neither approves nor vetoes the bill or resolution within seven days, the bill or resolution shall take effect. But if he shall veto it, the bill or resolution shall be of no effect unless the Senate shall vote, two-thirds of the Senators concurring, to override the President's veto.

Article II

Section 1

The executive power shall be vested in the President of the Atlas Forum, who shall hold office for a term of four months.

Section 2

The President and Vice President shall be chosen by the registered voters of the forum at each general election from amongst those pairs of persons who shall have consented to the joining of their names on one ticket within twenty days of the election, one of the persons being indicated as the Presidential candidate, and the other as the Vice Presidential one: Provided that in no case shall a ticket consist of two persons from the same [state/ region].

No person shall be President or Vice President who shall not have attained fifty-one or more posts at the forum, does not have an avatar indicating a state within the United States, or does not declare his or her candidacy within twenty days of the election.

The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the forum, shall be removed from
Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, Abusing Power, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.  

The President, Vice President, and all other executive officers shall be sworn in no earlier noon Eastern Time on the Friday immediately following their election or appointment, but no later than noon Eastern Time on the Sunday next ensuing.

No person shall serve as President, or as Vice President, for more than two consecutive terms. Terms lasting less than one month shall be ignored for the purpose of this clause.

The Vice President and a majority of officers of the executive departments established by law may declare to the Senate that the President is unable to perform his duties, and in such a case the Vice President shall assume office as Acting President until either he or she certifies that the President is again able to continue in office, or the President declares that he is able to continue in office and the Senate does not override the President’s declaration, two-thirds of the Senators concurring.

If there shall be a vacancy in the office of Vice President, the President shall, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint a Vice President who shall not be from the same state as him.

If there shall be a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall immediately become President and shall be sworn in. But if there shall be no Vice President to take office, then the President pro tempore of the Senate shall become President, and if there shall similarly be no President pro tempore, or the President pro tempore shall not be qualified, then the officer of the executive department established earliest by law, excluding such departments whose officers shall not be qualified to become President, shall become President.

Section 4

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Armed forces of the Atlas Forum.

The President shall, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint judges to the Supreme Court and officers of such executive departments as shall be ordained by law.

The President shall each month give an address State of the Forum to the Senate.

Article III  (Supreme Court)

Section 1

The Judicial Power of the Atlas Forum shall be vested in the Supreme Court, which shall be consist of a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices.

Section 2

The Supreme Court may order that an unconstitutional act cease or be reversed, and may make any other ruling necessary to uphold the constitution, but they shall in no case usurp the authority of the Senate to make laws.

Article IV (Elections)

Section 1

The United States shall be divided into the following regions:

[To be determined]

The United States shall be divided into the following districts:

[To be determined]

The Senate may, by a vote of two-thirds, amend the districts such that every district includes, as nearly as practicable, an equal number of registered voters.

Each region shall elect a Governor in such a manner as its residents shall see fit.

Section 2

No person shall vote who shall not have attained eighteen posts at the forum. shall not have an avatar indicating a state of residence, or shall not have registered within ten days of the election.

Elections shall be held every second month, with general elections being held on [XXX] and midterm elections being held on [XXX].

Section 3

The President, Vice President, Senator, executive officers and Justices of the Supreme Court shall swear the following oath: I do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will faithfully execute the office of [office name], and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Atlas Forum, so help me Dave.

Article VI (Amendment Ratification); Bill of Rights; Other Articles

[To be determined]

[Emsworth]

What the hell?

Would you care to elucidate?

[Emsworth]

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Perhaps I should reinforce my statement that the constitution above works under the assumption that supersoulty's plans will pass. If they don't, I would change the constitution. (The President, if I may point out, and his administration, endorsed supersoulty's proposal, which included 6-month terms.)

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I would respectfully suggest, not intending to give offense, that the Nym administration has failed to offer too much leadership in this matter. Also, I would hope that I would be free to offer my own views without being accused of usurping the authority of the President: indeed, why not have Nym make the constitution on his own if the proposals of others are to be ignored.

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Then treat this as a different draft. I actually posted a message in a separate thread, in which I said, "Might I be permitted to propose a re-worded draft of the present Constitution?" Then, there was no objection suggesting that the authority to propose changes lay only in the hands of the honorable Secretary. So I naturally presumed that I could continue.

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These are on a temporary basis. It was your own Vice President who said that the proposal had to be up no later than 3 Eastern tomorrow. This is before any of the votes conclude, so I have no choice. I do have an alternate version, which would exclude supersoulty's changes, but as currently, his proposals are winning, I've (for the time being) written them in to the constitution: it is not a stagnant draft, but one that will change with the votes.

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Perhaps I should describe the above as a "Work in Progress," the publication of which was hastened by your own Vice President.

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Vital and irrelevant? A rather oxymoronic pair, I would think... In any event, some changes are absolutely necessary. The phrasing of the former constitution was rather - for lack of a better term - unforunate (not that I mean to insult the Forum Affairs Secretary), as several redundancies and other problems presented themselves.

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I've only counted three.

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Then I commend you for it.

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If you are responsible for framing this constitution, I would suggest that all votes be abandoned, and you put forth a constitution that is voted up or down.

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I can only offer my profound apologia, as well as an indication that the feeling is mutual.

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I hardly think that a step so drastic is necessary.

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Perhaps I will be permitted by the Democrats to explain what this is. It is an attempt to revise the proposal of Demrepdan, eliminating redundancies and other undesirable elements. However, thanks to the Vice President's deadline, I have been forced to put this up before the conclusion of the vote on supersoulty's plan. Now, I find it very interesting that I am attacked for including supersoulty's plan. The President said, "I endorse Supersoulty's plan." If I did not include the plan, then would not the Forum Affairs Secretary have accused me of undermining the President's authority?

Now, I find it necessary to offer a recapitulation of my points. Firstly, the constitution proposed is not a final draft; I would have waited until the votes were complete before offering it - therefore, it is only a work that is currently unfinished. The Vice President hastned the proceedings, and the dutiful citizen that I am, I hardly sought to undermine him by offering more drafts after the deadline he has set. Also, when I earlier asked if I would be permitted to post this constitution, no objection was raised: but after it has been put, certain elements of the Democratic Party seem to offer tremendous objections to it. And finally, I do not wish to undermine the Administration or the authority delegated to the Forum Affairs Secretary, but do suggest that my views be considered, and not be trampled upon under the guise of attempting to uphold the Administration.

[Emsworth]

This is only a rewording of Demrepdan's constiution, taking into account supersoulty's plan (endorsed by the Administration) and the votes that have taken place since the publication of the original. Why, then, should a proposal for rewording be so controversial?

[Emsworth]

I felt like Emsworth was essentially saying I'm inept and INCAPABLE of making these changes myself...thus it must be made by someone who can.... and I kinda took that as an insult

Well, it was most certainly not my intention. I had actually thought that you approved, as you had said in a previous message (here), "If you have any other suggestions for me on how to reword the Constitution to eliminate redundancies ... please let me know ... It’s fine if you wish to give suggestions on the rewording...but I hope you don’t change the overall message of the Constitution in the process." But, I did not wish to convey upon you any impression of ineptness or other undesirable quality, and I therefore do offer my humble apologia and beg your forgiveness.

[Emsworth]

Because of the vociferous opposition to this draft, and also due to the impression it appears to convey, I hereby withdraw it, but I hope that the relevant authorities would consider its wording when revising their own drafts.

[Emsworth]

That's right I did say that....and you violated my request by changing the terms to 6 months......

I beg to disagree. I included all elements of supersoulty's plan, which you yourself have endorsed! The President's endorsement was forthcoming, as was that of the rest of the administration; the measure seemed likely to pass - so it was included. This six-month term is not something I have concocted myself: it is a part of supersoulty's plan, which your own administration has agreed to.

[Emsworth]

Oh man, the progressives are stating to make accusations now --- I don't know, if I were those party's voters I'd switch over to the Democrats. Fast.

As a Progressive, who would naturally be shocked by such remarks, I think that I can only confirm the veracity of three words in your statement: "I don't know."