Atlasians United for a Parliamentary System

[Jake]

In that case, maybe we could let the Senate elect anyone, and have them join the Senate and participate as a Senator after their election. Whatever the way he is elected, it is essential that the PM is a member of the Senate and has a vote.

[Jake]

I'm not officially changing anything until we get some consensus on the matter, however, I will begin passing around possible amendments.

How should the head of state be chosen? If they are popularly elected, the election controversy and thrice yearly bs remains. We could allow him to be elected by the Governors, or have it be a rotating power among the five Governors, or have him be elected by the Senate, or even have the PM nominate someone who is confirmed by the Senate.

[Jake]

With all due respect Mr. President, the equivalent of our little problems in the US would be if Al Gore boarded a plane for Europe on election night after Bush was declared the winner in Florida and then his supporters destroyed ballot boxes in response. A number of Senators would have to join him in exile also. The US also has never had state secede because of voting irregularities.

Afleitch, that's why I proposed above that the Senate should be granted the power to choose any citizen it wishes for PM, with the stipulation that that citizen become a Senator if they aren't already.

[Jake]

Are people scared to let the people decide on anything anymore?

I think they way the "people" have reacted to three of the last four elections is as good a reason as any to either reduce their power, or reduce the power of the man they elect President. Remember, the basic tenet of a republican form of government is allowing elected representatives to decide almost all issues. Anyway, I'm drafting the President amendment right now. Multiple versions will be submitted.

[Jake]

Hopefully, this amendment will meet your approval in that case.
Article IX (or III): The Head of State

Section 1:

1. The Head of State of Atlasia shall be the President, who shall hold office for a term of approximately four months.

2. No person shall serve as President unless they have accumulated 250 posts, and are a registered voter.

3. The President shall at least once a month give to the nation Information of the State of the Forum, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.

Section 2:

1. The President shall have the power of veto over any bill passed by the Senate. All bills will be presented to the President upon passage in the Senate. If the President does not approve, he shall return the Bill with his objections to the Senate, and it shall not become Law. Upon reconsidering the Bill, if the Senate shall approve the legislation by two-thirds of its number, it shall become Law. If a Bill is not returned to the Senate by the President within seven days after it shall have been presented to him, it shall become Law regardless.

2. The President shall also have the Line Item Veto Power. Once a bill drawing money from the Treasury shall pass the Senate, it shall be presented to the President; if he does not approve of some of those clauses that draw money from the Treasury, he shall remove them from the bill via his Line Item Veto Power. In order for the revised bill to become Law it must be passed by the Senate. If the revised bill is not passed by the Senate, they shall return the original bill to him, and it shall be handled in the same way as a bill under Clause 1 of this Section. If the Senate shall not approve of the revisions made by the President, they may override his Line Item Veto with the concurrence of two-thirds of its number, and the original bill shall become Law.

3. The President shall also have the power to order any bill to be placed before the people in a national referendum. All bills will be presented to the President upon passage in the Senate. If the President wishes the bill to be voted on by the people, he shall notify the Prime Minister and Secretary of Forum Affairs of his intentions. Within seven days, a national referendum shall begin under regulations the Senate may determine by legislation. All votes shall be made by public post. A majority of all citizens voting, minus those abstaining, shall be required to approve a bill. No veto power may be used on a bill following a national referendum.

Section 3:

1. Presidential elections shall be held in the months of February, June and October. Elections shall be held from noon Eastern Standard Time on the second to last Thursday of a given month and shall conclude exactly 72 hours later.

2. The Senate shall have necessary power to determine regulations for the procedure of and the form of Presidential elections and shall have necessary power to determine a procedure for declaration of candidacy for such elections. All elections to the Presidency shall be by public post.

3. The President shall take office at noon Eastern Standard Time on the first Friday in the month after his election.

[Jake]

Does anyone like the idea of a national referendum? Seemed like a fairly decent idea when Colin brought it up. I forsee it as a tool the President can use to give the people a chance to rule on controversial legislation.

[Jake]

Me for King

Or Archduke.  Archduke>King.

Or leave while the adults discuss things.

[Jake]

The first is addressed in the amendment. The final two are addressed by current legislation. I've yet to see serious movement for a system other than IRV or FPTP w/ a run-off.

[Jake]

Support seems to have coalesced around a split Head of State/Gov't. Simply having a powerless figurehead hardly makes any sense. This also makes it much easier for the transition of power to occur, as we already have a President in office and need only to elect two additional Senators in April and then pick a PM.

Also, is everyone in agreement over eliminating Regional Senators. It is necessary unless we want seven districts elected at one time and five regions elected at another. Feedback is requested.

[Jake]

So we get another pointless position in Atlasia and run the risk of having Verin find himself in government again. No thanks.

[Jake]

To summarize the proposals, because I few of y'all are missing key points:

1. Introduce a Prime Minister, elected by the Senate and a member of the Senate, who has the powers of the current President, minus veto power.

2. Remove all of the current President's powers except his veto powers, and also add the ability for him to order a national referendum on a Senate bill.

3. Combine State and Defense, and Justice and Treasury as two briefs can be handled.

4. Increase Senators to twelve because of the elimination of the VP and two cabinet members.

5. Possibly remove Regional representation, or have an unequal number of districts and regions. I could go for either.

Comments?

[Jake]

National referendum for any Senate bill the president approves of? That's going to really dilute the importance of the Senate.

No, a national referendum on any bill the President wishes the people to decide on as well. Only dickheads would send every bill passed to a referendum.

[Jake]

There would be no need for a PPT with a PM. However I would suggest another Senator is nominated as a Speaker to mediate, basically undertaking the old PPT role.

Yep, that's provided for as well.

I would also strongly disagree with having varying Senate terms, or having terms last longer or shorter than already.

[Jake]

I'll agree to four month terms, but if this were really a parliamentary system, shouldn't the head of government (President in this case), be able to call for elections any time he wants.

No. Simply put, that would be exceedingly complicated. We're not trying to duplicate a Westminster System here, just some parts and apply them here to solve problems. Having elections at random will create more problems and solve none.