Northern Regional Committee

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I'd like to let the Lieutenant Governor run the Assembly if the Speaker takes over twelve hours.

Over twelve hours of what?  The Speaker shouldn't be micromanaged, especially if he or she is only gone for half a day.

In any event, isn't that something for the new SOAP, not the constitution?

I agree with cinyc - we should leave this matter to the elected legislature.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I offer the following amendment:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Delegates have 24 hours to object.

[cinyc]

I agree with the change in principle, but perhaps we should wait or revisit this after the Congress sets election dates.  It looks like the Senate is headed toward holding elections the second week of the month, not the penultimate week.

FYI - this is not a formal objection to the proposed amendment, just a note that we might have to revisit the text before we ratify the final draft.

[Blair]

Could we pass something to get the Governors election to happen on the next weekend in line with the Presidential election?

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

Could we pass something to get the Governors election to happen on the next weekend in line with the Presidential election?

well, until we ratify, there technically is no such thing as the office of governor as of yet. unless you want to do something like this:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Blair]

On second thoughts it does seem fair to wait until we establish the actual office; as long as we can get the Governor elections done within the next 3-4 weeks

[cinyc]

Looking at the draft constitution, I don't see a provision for what to do if there is a vacancy in the Assembly.  Perhaps we should hold a concept vote on what to do for ALL vacancies.  It's best to have one uniform rule.  I propose the following:

-All vacancies that occur within 2 weeks of the start of the next regularly scheduled election be filled by the Governor. 
-All vacancies that occur 2 or more weeks from the start of the next regularly scheduled election may be temporarily filled by the governor until a special election is held the following Friday (as long as the vacancy occurs before Wednesday).
-We'd also hold a special election for all Gubernatorial vacancies that occur 2 or more weeks from the start of the next regularly scheduled gubernatorial election.  I don't think an unelected Lt. Governor or worse, Speaker or senior Assemblyman, should get to serve a full term.

What do you think?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Article II grants the governor the power to "fill vacancies in the Assembly," but I'm fine with a principle vote on the matter. Cinyc's plan looks good to me.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Anything else, or can we get this show on the road and head to ratification?

[Kingpoleon]

Are we going to do a special gubernatorial election in post-July 5 or before June 28?

I'd slightly prefer the latter, and doing it between June 28-July 5 would probably encourage low turnout due to the holidays. While that might benefit me a bit, I'd prefer a high turnout for democratic sake. Either way, this Committee may be the effective governing body unless we establish something else temporary fast.

[cinyc]

Are we going to do a special gubernatorial election in post-July 5 or before June 28?

I'd slightly prefer the latter, and doing it between June 28-July 5 would probably encourage low turnout due to the holidays. While that might benefit me a bit, I'd prefer a high turnout for democratic sake. Either way, this Committee may be the effective governing body unless we establish something else temporary fast.

It depends when we're done with the Constitution, doesn't it?  We still need a bill of rights, and I don't think anyone has gone through it extremely closely.  I named my major concerns, and they are in the process of being addressed.  Everyone else has been pretty silent since the proposed constitution was tabled.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Are we going to do a special gubernatorial election in post-July 5 or before June 28?

I'd slightly prefer the latter, and doing it between June 28-July 5 would probably encourage low turnout due to the holidays. While that might benefit me a bit, I'd prefer a high turnout for democratic sake. Either way, this Committee may be the effective governing body unless we establish something else temporary fast.

It depends when we're done with the Constitution, doesn't it?  We still need a bill of rights, and I don't think anyone has gone through it extremely closely.  I named my major concerns, and they are in the process of being addressed.  Everyone else has been pretty silent since the proposed constitution was tabled.

What would this Bill of Rights include beyond what already exists in the federal Constitution?

[cinyc]

What would this Bill of Rights include beyond what already exists in the federal Constitution?

That is a subject for debate.  The Northeast and Mideast constitutions had different bills of rights.  We would probably start from there.  We can always offer our citizens more rights than the federal constitution.

[Blair]

So what's the current issue on the agenda? I'm a bit confused as to what we're discussing/formally voting on

[cinyc]

So what's the current issue on the agenda? I'm a bit confused as to what we're discussing/formally voting on

Basically, we should be debating how to handle vacancies.  The issue is whether to hold special elections when seats become vacant within 2 months of the next regularly scheduled election or just let the governor appoint Assemblymen and Senators, and the Lt. Governor/Speaker become permanent governor in the event of a gubernatorial vacancy.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Okay, I'm going to give y'all 24 hours to review cinyc's proposal for filling vacancies. If there are no objections by this time tomorrow, I will consider it adopted.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Do the impeachment rules stand in the event that only three Representatives serve in the Assembly?  We might want to consider revising the Constitution to require a unanimous vote on impeachment, should the occasion arise that the Assembly gets two very partisan legislators who want to start a power coup.

[cinyc]

Do the impeachment rules stand in the event that only three Representatives serve in the Assembly?  We might want to consider revising the Constitution to require a unanimous vote on impeachment, should the occasion arise that the Assembly gets two very partisan legislators who want to start a power coup.

I don't see the problem here.  Under the proposed constitution, impeachment requires a four-fifths vote.  That would require unanimity if the Assembly has only 3 members, as two-thirds is less than four-fifths.  So all 3 Assembly members would have to vote to impeach in an Assembly of 3.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Do the impeachment rules stand in the event that only three Representatives serve in the Assembly?  We might want to consider revising the Constitution to require a unanimous vote on impeachment, should the occasion arise that the Assembly gets two very partisan legislators who want to start a power coup.

I don't see the problem here.  Under the proposed constitution, impeachment requires a four-fifths vote.  That would require unanimity if the Assembly has only 3 members, as two-thirds is less than four-fifths.  So all 3 Assembly members would have to vote to impeach in an Assembly of 3.

4/5 of 3 still (barely) rounds to 2.  I think the Assembly should modify this section so that this doesn't become an issue of dispute.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Do the impeachment rules stand in the event that only three Representatives serve in the Assembly?  We might want to consider revising the Constitution to require a unanimous vote on impeachment, should the occasion arise that the Assembly gets two very partisan legislators who want to start a power coup.

I don't see the problem here.  Under the proposed constitution, impeachment requires a four-fifths vote.  That would require unanimity if the Assembly has only 3 members, as two-thirds is less than four-fifths.  So all 3 Assembly members would have to vote to impeach in an Assembly of 3.

4/5 of 3 still (barely) rounds to 2.  I think the Assembly should modify this section so that this doesn't become an issue of dispute.

Ah, but for legal purposes, one always rounds up regardless of the value of the remainder.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Okay, I'm going to give y'all 24 hours to review cinyc's proposal for filling vacancies. If there are no objections by this time tomorrow, I will consider it adopted.

Seeing no objection, cinyc's proposal has been adopted.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

An amendment incorporating cinyc's (previously adopted) proposal:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

What else is there, now?

[cinyc]

An amendment incorporating cinyc's (previously adopted) proposal:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

That doesn't seem to cover special elections for the regional Senate seat.  Are we not allowed to have them under the federal constitution?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

That doesn't seem to cover special elections for the regional Senate seat.  Are we not allowed to have them under the federal constitution?

An oversight on my party. Amendment forthcoming.