FT 4-02: Measure of Parliamentary Seniority Act

[Kamala]

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The Chair calls the Prime Minister.

[Coraxion]

FYI, this would be the list by seniority if this was passed:
Kamala
Cora
Ted Bessell
Pericles
Canis

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I thank the Speaker.

This is not, I should hope, a particularly provocative article of legislation. Its sole purpose is to establish a clear and objective standard for determining the seniority of Members of the House of Commons. This is not an exciting proposal, perhaps, but it is a necessary one: our Constitution states that when both the Premiership and the Speakership of the House of Commons are vacant, the most senior sitting MP becomes "Interim Prime Minister." At present, however, there is no established method to determine seniority, creating the potential for an unnecessary constitutional crisis.

The system for determining seniority, as defined by this act, is as follows:

(1) The most senior MP is he/she who has the longest record of continuous service in office, from date of election
(2) If two or more MPs have an equally long and continuous tenure, then he/she who has previously held the highest public office (beginning with Prime Minister and continuing on down to ministerial officers) is the most senior
(3) If two or more MPs are equal in all of the above respects, he/she who swore the oath of office first is the most senior.

I would happily welcome questions or comments from any who have them to offer.

FYI, this would be the list by seniority if this was passed:
Kamala
Cora
Ted Bessell
Pericles
Canis

Not quite. As Ted is a former Senator for the region, he would be the most senior MP per Sectin 2(ii); as the rest of y'all have never held public office before, it then goes in order of oath-swearing. So, the list would look like this:

1. Ted Bessell
2. Kamala (Speaker)
3. Cora
4. Pericles
5. Canis

[Mike Thick]

This seems fair.

[Canis]

I support this seems fair

[Coraxion]

Not quite. As Ted is a former Senator for the region, he would be the most senior MP per Sectin 2(ii); as the rest of y'all have never held public office before, it then goes in order of oath-swearing. So, the list would look like this:

1. Ted Bessell
2. Kamala (Speaker)
3. Cora
4. Pericles
5. Canis

I made that mistake because SOMEONE didn't keep his wiki page up-to-date >_>

[Kamala]

I am planning to vote against this legislation.

I would rather see it that our constitution is changed so that, in case of a vacancy of the Prime Minister's office, the members of this House cooperate as a multi-headed executive, with a special election to elect a Prime Minister be scheduled on the earliest available date.

I would not like to see the entrenchment and rewarding of long-serving politicians with more power.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I would rather see it that our constitution is changed so that, in case of a vacancy of the Prime Minister's office... a special election to elect a Prime Minister be scheduled on the earliest available date.

This is already the case. Article II, Section 5 specifically mandates a vacancy in the premiership be filled by special election; the senior member only acts as prime minister in the interim (hence interim prime minister). At most, the transfer of power from temporary executor to elected premier should take two days to a week.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Seeing no further debate, I motion for a final vote on this bill.

[Kamala]

Seeing no objections, I call the floor to a vote on FT 4-02.


I vote NAY.

[Coraxion]

Nay.

[Canis]

Nay

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

AYE.

Nay

Didn't you support this last week? What changed your mind?

[Mike Thick]

AYE

[Pericles]

NAY

[Canis]

AYE.

Nay

Didn't you support this last week? What changed your mind?

Kamala brought up a good argument about not rewarding entrenched politicians

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

AYE.

Nay

Didn't you support this last week? What changed your mind?

Kamala brought up a good argument about not rewarding entrenched politicians

How do you propose we determine seniority, then? In all honesty, I don't see that "entrenchment" is a particularly relevant concept in Atlasia — our current president wasn't even a citizen one year ago — but regardless, I wish you had said something before this came to a vote, as I would have been willing to propose an amendment had I known a majority of the Commons was of that opinion.

EDIT: I would also point out that the only practical application of the seniority system is to prevent a succession crisis like the one that destroyed the last government back in January, and that literally the only practical application of said system would be to designate someone as acting head of government long enough to open the voting booth, but whatever.

[Canis]

AYE.

Nay

Didn't you support this last week? What changed your mind?

Kamala brought up a good argument about not rewarding entrenched politicians

How do you propose we determine seniority, then? In all honesty, I don't see that "entrenchment" is a particularly relevant concept in Atlasia — our current president wasn't even a citizen one year ago — but regardless, I wish you had said something before this came to a vote, as I would have been willing to propose an amendment had I known a majority of the Commons was of that opinion.

EDIT: I would also point out that the only practical application of the seniority system is to prevent a succession crisis like the one that destroyed the last government back in January, and that literally the only practical application of said system would be to designate someone as acting head of government long enough to open the voting booth, but whatever.

I'm unsure on how exactly seniority should be determined but responding to your edit I would prefer if the speaker takes over during a succession crisis

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

AYE.

Nay

Didn't you support this last week? What changed your mind?

Kamala brought up a good argument about not rewarding entrenched politicians

How do you propose we determine seniority, then? In all honesty, I don't see that "entrenchment" is a particularly relevant concept in Atlasia — our current president wasn't even a citizen one year ago — but regardless, I wish you had said something before this came to a vote, as I would have been willing to propose an amendment had I known a majority of the Commons was of that opinion.

EDIT: I would also point out that the only practical application of the seniority system is to prevent a succession crisis like the one that destroyed the last government back in January, and that literally the only practical application of said system would be to designate someone as acting head of government long enough to open the voting booth, but whatever.

I'm unsure on how exactly seniority should be determined but responding to your edit I would prefer if the speaker takes over during a succession crisis

So would I; as a matter of fact, that is what happens if the premiership falls vacant. This bill was to decide what happens if there is no speaker when the vacancy occurs.

[Kamala]

The votes were 2 AYEs and 4 NAYs. Thus, this item does fail.