NE3: Ratification Process Alteration Resolution (Failed)

[SWE]

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Sponsor: Speaker SomebodyWhoExists

Debate on this bill will last for 72 hours, or until 2:51 on Sunday, September 7, unless modified or extended. The sponsor has 36 hours to advocate for this proposed legislation. If he does not, this bill will be tabled as there is other pending legislation in the queue.

[Talleyrand]

I would be fine with this- it would increase the responsibilities given to representatives and force voters to think more cautiously about who they elect.

The current method of referendum is probably prone to low turnout and can occasionally lead to misinformed votes as many voters are simply PMed to vote a certain way or manipulated into doing so. That said, I can see the argument for keeping the current system; some would argue that it might simply might be more democratic in theory, but in practice, it seems to be working poorly in all regions.

[bore]

Its worth pointing out that the last region to try this (the pacific) thought this was a mistake and later changed it back to a public vote.

You'll also need to repeal Article VIII of the regional constitution, I don't think a resolution will do:

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[#CriminalizeSobriety]

[Talleyrand]

Its worth pointing out that the last region to try this (the pacific) thought this was a mistake and later changed it back to a public vote.

You'll also need to repeal Article VIII of the regional constitution, I don't think a resolution will do:

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This actually raises an interesting constitutional question.

According to the federal constitution.

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Does that mean our constitution violates the federal one?

[Adam Griffin]

I'm pretty sure that this would only apply to regional amendments and not to federal ones by virtue of it being the regional Constitution, but I could be mistaken. Obviously, a federal constitutional amendment supersedes anything the region has in its Constitution on the matter.

[Deus Naturae]

Its worth pointing out that the last region to try this (the pacific) thought this was a mistake and later changed it back to a public vote.

You'll also need to repeal Article VIII of the regional constitution, I don't think a resolution will do:

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This actually raises an interesting constitutional question.

According to the federal constitution.

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Does that mean our constitution violates the federal one?

Why would it? The Federal Constitution states that Regions are free to select their own methods of ratification. Our Regional Constitution states that our method must be popular vote. The Federal Constitution delegates the power to choose a method of ratification to Regional legislatures, but it doesn't abrogate their duty to operate within the confines of their own Regional constitutions.

Anyway, I'm strongly opposed to this. The people elect Representatives to deal with Regional matters, not Federal ones. If this passes, very few Northeast citizens who are passive voters rather than active participants will even know about it or factor it into their vote for Assembly. This is just an attempt to transfer power from average voters to politicians in order to make it easier to pass consolidation schemes and other like attempts to centralize power and make it more difficult for new players to displace incumbents.

[bore]

I can see how that argument could be made:

1. The federal constitution overrides the regional constitution.
2 The federal constitution says that the choice of how amendments are ratified must be made  by the legislature.
3. If it's in the constitution then the choice can not be made by the legislature, because it has to go through the people.

[SWE]

The debating period is now over. Representatives will now vote on this bill as written:

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Voting on this bill will last for 48 hours or until all Representatives have voted.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Nay

[rpryor03]

Nay

[SWE]

Aye

[SWE]

The  voting period is now over. By a vote of 1-2, this bill fails.