PiT/HappyWarrior for President June '09

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Thank you for the congratulations, everybody.

[MaxQue]

Congratulations, PiT.

Happy than you are elected.

[Хahar 🤔]

You know what I have to say. So I'll save space and leave it unsaid.

[DownWithTheLeft]

9 days til you take office

[Ronnie]

I just skimmed throughout the forum, and saw this.  Good job!

[Associate Justice PiT]

I just skimmed throughout the forum, and saw this.  Good job!

     Thank you. Also, this reminds me that I need a better name for this thread.

[Smid]

Sorry for showing up late for the party. Congratulations, Senator.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Well, down to business I guess. So far, I've introduced one bill:

Gubernatorial Amendment

1. The Preamble to Article 1 of the Constitution is amended to replace "Senate" with "Legislature".

2. The Legislature shall be composed of the Senate and the Council of Governors.

3. Each region shall have one vote in the Council, which shall be cast by its head of state.

4. This body shall have the power to veto legislation passed by the Senate, by a majority vote.

5. By a two-thirds vote, the Senate may choose to override a veto of the Council and present legislation directly to the President.

6. In order to maintain activity within the Senate, the Governors shall have the power to appoint a Senator to keep them informed of all bills that pass the Senate.

7. Any other powers of this body may be granted by the Senate, upon request of that power by any Governor.

     If any of my constituents has a comment or suggestion to make, I would be glad to hear it.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     After the Somaliland Recognition Bill, I'm thinking about writing a bill that will vest the powers of foreign relations exclusively in the SoEA. Would anyone be interested in me doing that?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

     After the Somaliland Recognition Bill, I'm thinking about writing a bill that will vest the powers of foreign relations exclusively in the SoEA. Would anyone be interested in me doing that?

I think that would be good.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Atlasia doesn't have a separation of powers clause in its constitution, right? Anyway, here's a rough draft:

Separation of Powers Act

1. The following powers shall be the perogative of the Office of the Secretary of External Affairs:

1a. The power to bestow recognition of sovereignty upon any foreign nation.

1b. The power to propose economic sanctions against another sovereign nation, subject to the approval of the President.

1c. The power to propose military action against another sovereign nation, subject to the approval of a quorum of Senators, as well as the other members of the cabinet, of the Vice-President, and of the President.

1d. The power to engage in formal alliances with other sovereign nations, provided that those nations have been in good standing with the Republic of Atlasia for at least one year.

1d_i. Section 1d shall not become active until one year after the passage of this bill.

1e. The power to engage in formal alliances with other sovereign nations, subject to the approval of the President.

1e_i. Section 1e shall become inactive one year after the passage of this bill.

2. If the Secretary of External Affairs is not active for a period of 72 hours, the dutiess of the office shall devolve upon the President, until the Secretary of External Affairs reassumes his post.

     Any suggestions?

[Hash]

Define not active. I have problems with a few other sections, too.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Sorry, by not active, I mean not logged in.

     Also, I appreciate constructive criticism. I just wrote that up so there would be a starting point to work from. Feel free to propose any other powers you would like to have as well.

[Hash]

     Also, I appreciate constructive criticism. I just wrote that up so there would be a starting point to work from. Feel free to propose any other powers you would like to have as well.

For one, I believe that a quorum of Senators should also approve, along with the President, economic sanctions. I don't think 1d is necessary.

I do, however, support 1a.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Okay, I made the suggested changes. I also clarified activity. Perhaps I should also include an activity requirement for performing actual duties as well.

Separation of Powers Act

1. The following powers shall be the perogative of the Office of the Secretary of External Affairs:

1a. The power to bestow recognition of sovereignty upon any foreign nation.

1b. The power to propose economic sanctions against another sovereign nation, subject to the approval of a quorum of Senators, as well as the President.

1c. The power to propose military action against another sovereign nation, subject to the approval of a quorum of Senators, as well as the other members of the cabinet, of the Vice-President, and of the President.

1d. The power to engage in formal alliances with other sovereign nations, subject to the approval of the President.

2. If the Secretary of External Affairs is not logged in for a period of 72 hours, the duties of the office shall devolve upon the President, until the Secretary of External Affairs reassumes his post.

[Hash]

I support the bill as it currently is.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I'll wait a day in case anybody else wants to comment. After that, I'll introduce it.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     The International Criminal Court bill has just reached the Senate floor. From what I gather on Wikipedia, it would create a permanent international tribunal.

     I don't really have any strong leanings on this, so I'd like to know what my constituents think of it.

[Daniel Adams]

     The International Criminal Court bill has just reached the Senate floor. From what I gather on Wikipedia, it would create a permanent international tribunal.

     I don't really have any strong leanings on this, so I'd like to know what my constituents think of it.

I am always weary of international law written and interpreted by unelected bureaucrats rather than elected legislators or judges. The ICC does not guarantee some rights which we consider fundamental, such as a trial by a jury of peers, the right to confront one's accusers,  protection against double jeopardy, right to a speedy trial, etc. Its powers are broad and vague. Furthermore, as Bolton explained, "the ICC does not, and cannot, fit into a coherent, international structural 'constitutional' design that delineates clearly how laws are made, adjudicated or enforced, subject to popular accountability and structured to protect liberty. There is no such design, nor should there be. Instead, the Court and the Prosecutor are simply 'out there' in the international system." The Court is, of course, financed by the member states, so our membership would create an additional and unnecessary burden on taxpayers (although I'm still unsure how taxes work in Atlasia).

Therefore, I urge you to vote against it.

[Brandon H]

On the link you provided there is a link to the U.S. and the ICC. I would suggest reading that. I would urge a Nay vote on this bill.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Okay, I appreciate the input. International treaties are not a strong suit of mine.

[DownWithTheLeft]

As a constituent as well as a collague, a strong Nay

[SPC]

I urge a Nay vote on this bill as well.

[The Populist]

As with everyone else, I urge you to vote nay.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I was looking through the statute & I noticed this bill:

F.L. 10-2: Protection Act (Textiles, Clothing, Footwear & Steel)

1. Companies, co-operatives or self-employed individuals in the textiles, clothing, footwear and iron & steel industries shall receive a 5% cut in all corporate income tax and capital gains tax that that company, co-operative or individual pays.

2. Companies in the retail sector that only stock textiles, textile products and clothing made in Atlasia shall receive the same tax cut of 5%.

     I'm thinking about introducing a bill to repeal it, but I wanted to hear from the constituents first.