Mideast Assembly Thread

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

The Libel and Slander Penalization Act has passed with 2 ayes and 1 abstain. I will pass the legislation on to the Governor.

Next, I would like to discuss an Amendment to the new Constitution. As the legislation section is currently written a Governor is not required to sign or veto a law, essentially giving him the right not to let it through nor to send it back.

I propose the follow Amendment for discussion:

First Amendment

1. Article 3, Section 2, Clause 4 of the Third Mideast Constitution shall hereby be Clause 5.
2. Article 3, Section 2 of the Third Mideast Constitution shall be amended to include the following as Clause 4: "The Governor shall have seven days to sign or veto ordinary legislation passed by the Assembly. After seven days, legislation which the Governor has not signed or vetoed shall be considered as Law."

I'm supportive of checks and balances and would support an amendment. However I would amend the second part to read 'Any legislation vetoed by the Governor shall be returned to the Assembly and shall become Law if the veto is overulled by a unaminous vote by the Senate.'

As 2 is the quota to allow the bill to pass, the veto quota should be higher. Essentially all 3 in favour of overulling. However the wording has to be careful, hence the use of 'unanimous' - in case one member is absent etc. An unprincipled governor could use the absense of a member to go on a 'veto spree' otherwise.

That should be "unanimous vote by the Assembly" not "Senate," fyi.

EDIT: Actually, I forgot that in the new Constitution, we have a clause that allows the Assembly to override a veto.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

The revote won't be necessary.  I feel really foolish for missing that, and I've revoked the veto.  My apologies for overlooking that.  Again, I feel utterly dumb right now.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

2. On the matter of updating the Wiki, I think what would be best is starting with what we have and going backwards to make sure that current legislation gets up there.

If you want, I can do that, but I was going to start at the beginning and try to do a numbering system (similar to the U.S. government, so instead of H.R. 1, it'd be A.R. 1 [A for assembly]).

But, I'm open to suggestions

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Afleitch will be gone all week, he said, just for your information.

Wasn't sure if he emant this week or next week.

In that case I will end the voting on both the legislation and the Amendment.

The First Cleaning the Books Act and First Amendment both pass with 2 votes Aye and no opposition. I will bring it to the Governor to start a voting booth for the Amendment tomorrow (together with the Assembly elections).

Anyone else plan on running for those?

The legislation has been signed.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Just so I can get this right - is the purpose of this to be like a mid-term election?  Because if it is, it looks good, otherwise, I'd move the date that we hold them to the 3rd Thursday of the month.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

No worries.

The Second Amendment passes by a unanimous vote of 2 Ayes. The Third Amendment passes by a vote of 2 Aye, 1 Nay. I request that the Governor bring these to a vote of the people on the next available Thursday.

So shall it be written, so shall it be done.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I don't understand the purpose of this.  Why wouldn't we just settle compensation stuff like this in civil court, where the victim takes the guilty party to court for a civil case.

I just don't see the need to spend government money on this, unless we set up a government system as compensation of last resort.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I don't understand the purpose of this.  Why wouldn't we just settle compensation stuff like this in civil court, where the victim takes the guilty party to court for a civil case.

I just don't see the need to spend government money on this, unless we set up a government system as compensation of last resort.

That's why we have a clause indicating that if claims can be obtained in another way that must happen first. I am actually wondering what case could not be taken to civil court that this would cover? Could anyone explain this?

Oftentimes, people who suffer the injuries of the crime are not necessarily covered under the strictest form of the law. Very often, a criminal is not taken to civil court because the charges are too trivial, or the courts want to avoid double jeopardy. The victims go uncompensated, and the felons go to jail. The government just sits there.

Double jeopardy never applies to a criminal and then civil court (not important to the law, just thought I'd mention it).

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Both bills have been signed.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

How does this look? Any thoughts?

The Mideast Gun Safety Act

1. All automatic firearms, rocket projectiles, and grenades shall be banned from sale or use in the Mideast.
2. The following restrictions shall be implemented for all firearms sold in the Mideast upon purchase:
   a. The firearm must be registered to a residency occupied by the owner
   b. The owner must be fingerprinted
   c. The owner must supply a current Driver's License or government issued identification
   d. The owner must supply a confirmed Social Security Number
   e. The owner mus submit to a government-run physical and mental examination for approval to own a firearm
   f. Any change of ownership through private or public sale must be reported
   g. Reasonable assurances and precautions must be provided to ensure that no person under the age of 21 shall have access to the firearm
3. Failure to comply with any of the above restrictions shall result in imprisonment for no more than one year per infraction.
4. This law shall not apply to any on-duty military or police personnel, or in the event that a citizen has received a written waiver approved by the Assembly and signed by the Governor.

Lower the age to 18, or I'm not signing it.  And, what does the physical examination entail?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/First_Amendment_to_the_Second_Constitution

The right to keep and bear arms and low potency explosives shall not be infringed. It's unconstitutional.

It doesn't infringe upon that right. It creates certain guidelines for increased safety under the Constitution. Just as we have libel and slander laws despite the right to free speech.

But an automatic weapon is still a fire-arm.  I really don't see how it's Constitutional.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/First_Amendment_to_the_Second_Constitution

The right to keep and bear arms and low potency explosives shall not be infringed. It's unconstitutional.

And for the record, that isn't current. The Third Constitution of the Mideast states: "The right of the people to keep and bear arms of a nature reasonable for self defense shall not be infringed."

This law just goes forward in defining exactly what that means.

That's the national Constitution he quoted, not the Mideast.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I think that the time has come to change the region's capital.  College Park seems like a small and arbitry choice.  I would propose some place in the center of our region such as Columbus or Indianapolis.

I had actually just been thinking about this, especially how tucked away the capital is. How about we give each incoming Governor the right to move the capital wherever he so chooses. This can only be done once by each non-incumbent Governor. Or we could setup a roaming thing where it changes each month or each gubernatorial election cycle.

Wouldn't that incur massive amount of debt from constantly moving your capitol, the people stationed there, and all the buildings?

The cool thing is the fact that this is a sim and that doesn't matter.

If we all had that mentality, nothing would get done here.

Besides, Atlasia is real, just like Santa!

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Also if either of you are in any need of assistance I am always available as a former assemblyman, Speaker, Governor, and Regional Judge

Same here.  Just let me know if you guys need anything.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Just to weigh in on the Constitutionality of all of this.  It would require an amendment if you wanted an automatic recall; however, if you simply remove the person from office, you could argue that it falls under the "judge the qualifications" clause of the powers of the Assembly.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Mideast Abortion Law

1. All forms of abortion are banned in the Mideast.
     i. Abortion is defined as the premature termination of a pregnancy not due to a risk that could cause serious damage to the mother or the fetus.

Just a note - you should probably change that to have some sort of medical terminology, otherwise an accidental termination (miscarriage) would be illegal.

Also, what would the punishment for abortion be?

EDIT: Also, Roe v. Wade would have to be overturned by the court for this to be valid (unless there's been a more recent case in Atlasia).

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

If all of you supported the motion, why didn't you just accept it as a friendly amendment?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I feel I deserve recognition

Then perhaps I should get one too.  No I am only kidding of course, however I do feel Inks does deserve one after he departs office.

I find it funny that you think I'm ever going to leave. 

But seriously - thank you for the kind words.

Also, the bill has been signed.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I feel I deserve recognition

Then perhaps I should get one too.  No I am only kidding of course, however I do feel Inks does deserve one after he departs office.

I find it funny that you think I'm ever going to leave. 

But seriously - thank you for the kind words.

Also, the bill has been signed.

By the way Inks I am sorry I ran againest you all those years ago and expelled you from office.  However I did need something to start me off in Atlasia right?   And I think I have done some admirable service for the Mideast.

It has been an honor to have you serving in the Senate on our behalf.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

That's unconstitutional becaue it violates the federal constitution which states you can't hold more than 2 elected offices, even on the regional level.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I fully oppose this.  It provides the Governor no incentive to find a replacement, and is a clear violation of the separation of powers.  It should be voted down, immediately.

Well, the constitution current doesn't have any in it now that gives the governor incentive to find a replacement. It just say that the Governor appoint an Assembly member if there is a vacant seat. It doesn't say what happens if he doesn't do it. Also it isn't violation of the separation of powers because our current Atlasia constitution gives the right for the Vice President to vote in case of a tie in the senate. This would be the same thing but only when it is a tie when there is a vacant seat.

He could be recalled for failing to do his constitutional duties.

Personally, I'm opposed to this, but if you decide to go through with it, I'd ask the Attorney General for an opinion on the constitutionality of this.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I fully oppose this.  It provides the Governor no incentive to find a replacement, and is a clear violation of the separation of powers.  It should be voted down, immediately.

Well, the constitution current doesn't have any in it now that gives the governor incentive to find a replacement. It just say that the Governor appoint an Assembly member if there is a vacant seat. It doesn't say what happens if he doesn't do it. Also it isn't violation of the separation of powers because our current Atlasia constitution gives the right for the Vice President to vote in case of a tie in the senate. This would be the same thing but only when it is a tie when there is a vacant seat.

He could be recalled for failing to do his constitutional duties.

Personally, I'm opposed to this, but if you decide to go through with it, I'd ask the Attorney General for an opinion on the constitutionality of this.

He would be recalled, but there is no need to pass a bill which provides governors the incentive to do something that could get them recalled.

No - I was talking about the current constitution, not the amendment.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Ok, I got a little bit lost in all of this - Mr. Speaker, could you submit to my office any bills which I have yet to sign or veto.

Thank you.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Mideast Pornography Statute II
All those persons of 14 years of age or older not incarcerated for crimes shall have the right to buy, possess and view pornography depicting only persons of 18 years of age or older.

There having been no substantive debate in 24 hours, the vote is on the bill above.

The Ayes have it. The Ayes have it.
The bill is submitted to the Governor for his signature or veto.

The bill has been vetoed.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Also since this is a new Assembly term we need to go ahead and elected a Speaker.

The new term doesn't start until noon on Friday.  And don't forget to reswear yourselves in.