SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE: Gov't Oversight and Reform (Recommendations)

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

Harass Senator Wormyguy for being inactive?

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

That would probably be up to the Judiciary Committee to do.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

Yes, but the Judiciary Committee is also delegated jurisdiction over federal courts and judges.  Perhaps both committees could take the issue up?

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

Though the number of Supreme Court cases we have in Atlasia is quite small, I believe that appointing an additional two judges to the Court will help stimulate debate and involvement when the cases occur.  Overall, I don't see any down sides to this proposal with the exception of the possibility that finding potential judges will be hard to find.  However, on the other hand, this may entice former players or people with busy schedules (such as, for example, Keystone Phil) to sign up for Atlasia and be able to contribute to the game in a small way.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

Do you agree, Scott?

Absolutely.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I concur with Ben.  I fail to see how expanding the court politicizes it in any way.  However, I also agree with Seatown's suggestions because all of our justices should be obligated to present their own opinions, whether they stand alone or are in the majority.  The justices have a very limited role as things currently stand.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I was being semi-sarcastic and suggesting that reducing the court would make more sense than expanding it, but I don't support either obviously.

Obviously it wouldn't, but why, exactly, are you against expanding it?

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

In addition to my first post, I read you talk about how there would be more debate . Justices, IRL and here in Atlasia, typically have most of their debate and discussions in private. How do you know we don't have enough debate? And how would you know whether or not there was an increase if we increased the size?

Well, then perhaps we could amend the Constitution so that justices are required to debate the cases in public rather than in private, in addition to adding more justices.  I don't see how there wouldn't be more debate if justices were required to debate in public as well as write their own opinions.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I also concur with mandated opinion drafts if such is possible. I inquired about legal ways to address this matter with the Chief Justice and haven't recieved a response. Since the Justices have been invited to testify here I would like it if they may also opine on this matter as well.

Sorry, I think I must have missed that.  One idea could be re-confirmation hearings if a member of the Court fails to attach their name to an opinion twice without explanation, as unlike re-confirmations relating to fixed term lengths it would have less of a political aspect, and would likely be an effective method of requiring participation from every member of the Court.

This proposal becomes significantly less feasible if we are to expand the size of the Court, however, working under the assumption that people will be less inclined to participate if one of the other, say, four Justices can do their questioning and/or discussion for them.  I remain convinced that the reason for stagnation in the Court's activity is a simple lack of lawsuits in the last several years rather than any inherent flaws within the judicial system.

Admittedly, a new addition of justices wouldn't create any new court cases (feel free to dispute that, Yankee and Ben, if either of you think otherwise); however, as previously stated, the inclusion of more people on the bench would encourage better participation and create more diverse opinions when cases do, in fact, come up.  I simply don't understand how one justice would be inclined to do all the work for the remaining justices, especially if we go forward with something like your idea to reconfirm members of the Court.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I think that the requirement for all judges to write opinions might be the only thing we can get public support for, at this point.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I think we should get to a vote soon, though.  If possible, I'd like to schedule the Judiciary Committee's recommendation vote around the same time as this committee's recommendation vote.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I think we should get to a vote soon, though.  If possible, I'd like to schedule the Judiciary Committee's recommendation vote around the same time as this committee's recommendation vote.

I was under the impression that your committee would work out the details of the draft opinion issue for a period of time after we wrapped on the matter?

TJ and I kind of figured we may as well start with the court issue first and then move onto the next topic.  I didn't think that the time that we would work out the details would be a huge issue.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

In opinion should the Supreme by expanded by the addition of two more members?
Nay.

Should all the Supreme Court Justices be required to post opinions on each case considered by the court?
Aye.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

If I am allowed to vote here...

If we pursue both ideas, I would also suggest making them separate amendments so one does not doom the other.

In opinion should the Supreme by expanded by the addition of two more members?
Nay.

Should all the Supreme Court Justices be required to post opinions on each case considered by the court?
Aye.

You're not allowed to vote in committees that you aren't a member of.

The Judiciary Committee could possibly be voting on something right now, though.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I think it would be more appropriate to discuss Ben's legislation while it's still on the queue.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I think this act is appropriate.  Obviously, we don't really have ways of "fining" or "jailing" officials who refuse to testify, and as harsh as the penalty may be, it's probably necessary.

My only suggestion is that maybe, if such a situation arises in which a private citizen is called to testify and they refuse, their voting rights be rescinded for a period of time?

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I think that's all that's necessary, yeah.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

1. Aye
2. Aye

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

The next thing on the agenda is an investigation into gov't policies relating to the economy in recent times. Who all should we drag before us in chains?

I think Shua would best be suited for that department, and maybe previous GMs as well.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

What about the SoIA?

Him, too.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

Mercy mercy me.  That'll take a while.

Yup.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

The entire first month or so of my term was spent on constitutional amendments and resolutions, which didn't exactly give the SoIA much to work with.

Still, I think it would be helpful if the SoIA wrote news stories every now and then.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

From the international side, I echo Marokai's concerns about continuity.  When Joyce replaced me, he followed through on my stories, which was a good thing.  Unfortunately, I don't think there's any legislative way to force a new office holder to follow through.

I agree.  Unless we threaten impeachment or call upon the person in charge to be reconfirmed more often (not likely), there's really no way of enforcing this.  However, I think the president ought to appoint people who openly intend on continuing on the storyline.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

Could we, perhaps, require an outgoing GM/SoIA/SoEA to prepare a list of their story lines, publish them publicly, and require the incoming officeholder to adhere to the stories, under threat of impeachment?

I don't think a list of storylines is necessary when all the stories can conveniently be found in the threads themselves.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

To be fair, however, we can all "write stories."  If I were to write about me promising Felipe Calderón support for restoring lost territories to Mexico, thereby potentially jeopardizing Atlasian-Mexican relations, that would probably be accepted as part of the 'timeline.'  Not that I would ever consider doing something like that, of course.