Requirements for a Political Party Bill

[PBrunsel]

I vote nay on the amendment.

[Ebowed]

We are voting on final passage.

Requirements for a Political Party Bill

Findings

There are 18 Political Parties (including Independent) and 71 citizens in Atlasia, which would average roughly 4 members per party. Many of the current parties have had minimal activity. This legislation shall attempt to make political parties act like a party.

Designations

A party shall have one of the following designations:

• 1. New - A party shall be designated as "New" upon the time that the first person registers as a member of that party. It shall keep this designation until it meets the requirements for an "Organized" Party or until 60 days or a Presidential Election pass in which it shall become a "Unorganized" Party.
• 2. Organized - A party shall be designated as "Organized" as long as it continues to meet the requirements stated in the Requirements section of this Act.
• 3. Unorganized - A "New" Party that fails to meet the requirements of an "Organized" Party after 60 days of its formation or by the following Presidential Election, whichever comes later, shall be designated as an "Unorganized" Party.
• 4. Disorganized - A party that was "Organized" but failed to meet to requirements to remain an "Organized" Party shall be designated as a "Disorganized" Party.
• 5. Comedic - A party may designate itself a "Comedic" or Joke party in which the party has no serious political agenda. (Examples include the Atlasian Monster Raving Loony Party, Birthday Party, and King's Joke Parties.)

Requirements

In order to be an Organized Party, a party must have:

• 1. an ideological summary (such as Neo-Conservatism, Paleo-Libertarianism, Social Liberalism, Socialism, Hawkish Foreign Policy, Nationalism, Federalism).
• 2. a 50 word statement briefly explaining their political view points or a platform of 200 words or more.
• 3. a chairperson. (A party is free to have other officers as it so chooses.)
• 4. a convention between every Presidential Election.
• 5. more than one member.

Mergers

If two parties merge, than the new party shall have the designation of the party that was higher (New - Unorganized - Disorganized - Organized). It shall have 60 days to re-meet the Requirements.


Nay

[Brandon H]

Aye

[minionofmidas]

As there are now no benefits accruing from being an organized party, I have no reservations about this bill, and do not care whether my representatives vote for or against it.

[Colin]

Aye though there is now basically no use for this bill.

[PBrunsel]

I vote aye.

[Gabu]

Just a random question that I noticed is not addressed in any way that I can see in this bill... will it be the job of the SoFA to keep track of the status of parties?  If not, whose will it be?

[Brandon H]

In its original form, I believe this would fall into the job of the SoFA. The purpose of this bill is to make the SoFA's job easier as well as new participants, but one of the key provisions, the eventual nonrecognition of parties that fail to meet its requirements, was removed as it would more than likely have been unconstitutional. (Article V, Section 1, Clause 8)

In its current form, I'm really not sure it's worth the SoFA's time to keep track of this. I would say that each party can keep track of this itself. If they lie about it, someone can take them to Court. It's not like the Supreme Court is overloaded with things to do. In the event another list of parties page gets stickied, I would let the person maintaining that page keep track.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Wow, we've spent a month and a half on this bill

[minionofmidas]

Just a random question that I noticed is not addressed in any way that I can see in this bill... will it be the job of the SoFA to keep track of the status of parties?  If not, whose will it be?

It is already part of the SoFA's job to keep track of the status of parties.

[Јas]

Abstain

[Ebowed]

The tally is 3 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 abstention.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Aye

[Rob]

Nay.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Nay


For reasons that I believe that any measure that might hinder growth is a bad measure at this time.

[Ebowed]

For reasons that I believe that any measure that might hinder growth is a bad measure at this time.

I agree.  People shouldn't be discouraged from starting new parties or leaving established ones, even if that is an unintentional side effect of this bill.

[Јas]

It has been pointed out to me that the bill may be unconstitutional being a breach of Article V, Section 1, Clause 8:
"Any political party of five or more members is considered to be an organized political party. The benefits of being an organized political party may be determined by the Senate by appropriate legislation."

This bill would appear to allow an organised political party have less than 5 members, so I'm inclined to agree that it may not be constitutional.

On this basis, I change my vote to Nay.

[Colin]

It has been pointed out to me that the bill may be unconstitutional being a breach of Article V, Section 1, Clause 8:
"Any political party of five or more members is considered to be an organized political party. The benefits of being an organized political party may be determined by the Senate by appropriate legislation."

This bill would appear to allow an organised political party have less than 5 members, so I'm inclined to agree that it may not be constitutional.

On this basis, I change my vote to Nay.

I must agree with Jas on this. While I support the bill in what it is trying to achieve I can, in no way, see how it is constitutional  as it would go against the above mentioned section.

I change my vote to Nay, as well.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

I am glad to see the correct decision is being made.

[Ebowed]

The bill has enough votes to fail.  Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[Brandon H]

I feel that the amendment that removes two of the clauses removed the unconstitutional parts but at the same time resulted in this bill doing almost nothing if it were to pass.

At this point I'm really not that disappointed.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Nay

[Ebowed]

The bill has failed