1st Parliament of South America

[Barnes]

Mr. Speaker, sir, if I may rise on the indulgence of the chair, I would like to thank you for your exemplary service to the previous parliament and the foundation of our republic.  Before this new parliament becomes consumed in the many tasks that lay ahead of us, I think it is fitting that we recognize you, Mr. Speaker, for your service to our nation.

[Barnes]

Mr. Speaker, I accept the nomination for speaker.

[Barnes]

Is there any rule that states that the Speaker must be an MP?

Oh look: Atlasian-style legalism. It doesn't take long does it? But implicitly the chair of any assembly or group is a member of that assembly or group.

Yes, and we most certainly don't want to get ourselves immersed in that again, do we?

[Barnes]

I was unaware that I was anything otherwise. Let's just not get bogged down in endless minutia, that's all.

[Barnes]

Should we get the speakership elections running? I'm worried we're losing steam before we leave port

That was the entire point of my contribution. Let's just get the thing rolling and have lots of very robust and interesting debates on the many issues before us.

Referencing back to the statement that the Prime Minister gave to the house, many of those currently displeased with the present state of affairs should look forward to the agenda ahead.

[Barnes]

Given that Barnes is the only person who actually accepted his nomination for the post, I'm willing to just skip the vote and declare him as Speaker, if there are no objections to doing so.

That is certainly the standard procedure in these situations, however, if the right honorable member, Mr. Sibboleth, wishes to contest a ballot, I would have absolutely no objection.

[Barnes]

If the House has no objection, I hope that it would not take me as being too presumptuous in accepting the election now.

I would like to thank the House for the high honor and privilege that it has seen fit to bestow onto me.

I have had the pleasure of knowing many honorable members throughout a shared public life and I know them to be highly adept and skilled statesmen and politicians.  To the honorable members with whom I have yet to speak, I earnestly look forward to fostering a productive working relationship. 

In my opinion, Speaker of this most honorable House is the greatest honor that may be bestowed upon a citizen of this country.  I am acutely aware that I have great power and authority within the administration of this House, and I must assure you all now that I will administer my duties ably and in the most impartial manner that I may.

I am, obviously, a partisan - I was elected as a Member of Parliament for my political party.  However, as Speaker of this House, my constituency are fellow honorable members.  I pledge before you now that I intend to take no part in active political debate before the House and will strive to preserve the rights of both the government and the opposition parties. 

I can further assure the House that I will only use my vote as a casting vote in the event of a tie on a division.  When so required, I will employ the precedent of Speaker Denison's rule in casting my vote.

As the first Speaker of our nation's first Parliament, I realize that my actions will form and shape precedence for my successors.  I must exercise the duties that you have so graciously bestowed upon me as my conscience dictates; that being said, I do not wish to bind any future incumbent of this chair. 

With that being said, order, order!

[Barnes]

Order, order.

I am pleased to inform the House that in preparation for the sitting (read: boredom in the middle of the night), I have drafted Standing Order for the rules of procedure and debate in the House.  As I have previously stated, I will not participate in debates before the House, even on bills that I have drafted - I will leave such duties to other honorable members.

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As the manager of government business before the House, I call the Prime Minister

[Barnes]

I open the floor to all honorable members to speak on the proposal.

[Barnes]

On the motion moved by the Prime Minister, is there a second?

[Barnes]

Division! I will give twenty-four hours to this vote.

The Ayes will pass to the right of the chair, the Noes to the left.

[Barnes]

The Ayes to the right: sixteen. The Noes to the left: two.

The Ayes have it, the Ayes have it.

I will open the appropriate threads required under the Standing Orders by later today.

[Barnes]

Division No. 1 -- Called August 24, 2015, at 10.39 am.
Question -- That the Standing Orders be adopted.

Ayes -- 16
Blair
oakvale
Simfan34
SJoyce
Potus2036
rpryor03
spamage
Talleyrand
Goldwater
Al Sibboleth
Xahar
Murica
Politics Junkie
Cassius
Vega
Dereich

Noes -- 2
TNF
Turkisblau

Majority: 14
Motion agreed to.

Members not in attendance: Crabcake and ChairmanSanchez


This is the general way in which divisions will be recorded -- I just think it's nice to have them laid out this way.

[Barnes]

I apologize for missing a vote on such an important matter.

No apologies necessary.  I invite you to look through the Standing Orders and take part in the open threads before the House: Question Time, Private Members Bills, and motions.

[Barnes]

Title: The Constitution of South America Act
Status: Third Reading
Sponsor: Mr. Oakvale (Minister for Justice)
Seconder: Mr. Goldwater
Proposed Amendments:

• No. 1 by Mr. TNF
• No. 2 by Mr. ChairmanSanchez

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[Barnes]

I have decided to make use of this thread as the proper floor of debate for the Parliament.  Seeing as the Standing Orders does allow for multiple debates, secondary threads will be opened for "overflow" when necessary.

Seeing as the Minister has made his introductory remarks, I remind the House that one other member must second the bill for it to move to the amendment stage.

[Barnes]

Amendment Stage

Members now have twenty-four hours to propose any amendments to the bill.  The number of amendments that may be introduced is linked to the size of the opposition parties, as follows:

The Socialist Party (the Official Opposition): Maximum of two amendments
The Workers' Party: Maximum of one amendment
The Pioneers: Maximum of one amendment

[Barnes]

I am opposed to requiring a two-thirds majority to amend a bill that is not itself passed by a two-thirds majority. I would also question whether such a clause could be enforced, as it would appear that Parliament cannot bind a future Parliament.

I would advise the Honorable Member to propose an amendment to that effect if that is his desire.

[Barnes]

Can non government members amend government bills?

Does the question refer to members of opposition parties or to members of government parties not holding a ministerial position?

Only members of opposition parties are allowed to propose amendments to government bills.

The Second Reading debate on the main bill and any amendments will be conducted simultaneously to allow for the widest-possible discussion of the topic while not consuming an undue amount of time. 

The sponsor of the bill (in this case the Minister for Justice) may accept any proposed amendments, thereby eliminating the need for a division on the particular amendment.

Following the Second Reading, a division will be held on any amendments.  If there are multiple amendments, I will conduct separate votes simultaneously to allow for a speedy process.

[Barnes]

Remember also that there is a cap on the amount of amendments that each party can propose.  The Honorable Member, Mr. TNF, has proposed the one amendment allowed for the Workers' Party.

[Barnes]

I would like to ascertain from the Minister if he accepts the amendment proposed by Mr. ChairmanSanchez.

[Barnes]

I thank the Minister for updating the House.

[Barnes]

I thank the Honorable Member for his comments. I am sure the House will live up to its standards and conduct a robust debate on the proposals before it on the Second Reading.

[Barnes]

I remind members of the Socialist Party that they have a few more hours to lodge up to two amendmemts to the bill.

[Barnes]

Second Reading

The bill is now open for general debate for the Second Reading. I remind members that both the bill and all proposed amendments will be debated at this stage.

I will also say that debates in the Parliament are one of the central features of this game. I except everyone to make their own contributions (and not simple empty quoting) in keeping with the styles of parliamentary debate - that includes addressing all remarks to the Speaker.