I'm putting this in a seperate thread as this is how we can start the game as soon as possible with as minimal a fuss.
RulesParliament operates in 'real time' with the exception that we have elections say every 3/4 months. Therefore there is set business on certain days of the week. It has to work differently from what we have in Atlasia.
There is a
Parliament Thread where more general discussion is located. This takes the form of a continuing 'narrative' of debate. This is also where ceremonial and procedural matters are discussed. Every Wednesday (at least to start) will be Prime Ministers Questions, probably the highlight of the week which should hopefully need no explanation
Importantly, this is also where the
final reading of each bill takes place; there is a short period of discussion/abuse allowed but this is where the final bill has to be voted on. The Speaker will announce the results of each division(vote)
However (and this is what makes it different from Atlasia)
there will also be seperate threads for legislation. These will be 'Committees'; threads opened up for different concerns, where the details of the bills are discussed and amendments debated and voted on. We can run these side by side. There is no need for those playing to be involved in each and every one of them. You may never contribute to something about Foreign Affairs, but you may end up chairing the Arts Committee, When the final amended draft is decided upon, then the vote takes place in the main Parliament Thread.
For example we would have the Parliament Thread.
Education Committee (where all Education related bills are discussed)
Health Committee
Foreign Affairs Commitee...
and so on.
Each Committee can only discuss one piece of legislation at a time unless in an emergency. Each Committee has a 'chair'; a sponsor who acts a bit like the 'PPT' for each thread.
It's a different way of doing things, but it allows the game to be more focussed. Serious stuff can be found in the Committee threads, while the rough and tumble and fun can take place in the Parliament Thread.