SB 2018-177: Transparency is a Right Act (Passed)

[Associate Justice PiT]

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Atlasian People's House of Representatives
Passed 7-0 in the Atlasian House Assembled,

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Sponsor: Not_Madigan, Pericles

     I hereby open the floor for debate.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Senators have 24 hours to object to Senator Not_Madigan assuming sponsorship of the bill.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     With no objections, Senator Not_Madigan is the sponsor. Senator Pericles can be co-sponsor if Senator Not_Madigan is fine with it. Both Senators are invited to speak in favor of the bill.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Are there any other comments on this bill? A majority of the Senate has responded, though the bill is still quite young in its cycle.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Are we permanently ruling out another Joint Session of Congress, then? Because this bill as written would make such practically impossible to organize, even if all motions and votes were posted on the forum (as the text mandates they must be made on the forum "alone," and so not in two places simultaneously).

I would also urge the Senate to offer a definition for what constitutes a formal "motion." It seems to me it would be very easy to misconstrue someone asking on Discord if/when a vote will be held as moving for such a vote, and if we're going to be throwing people out of office over this, the parameters of the offense ought to be very clear.

Finally, I would question the constitutionality of enacting this as a provision of federal Law rather than as an amendment to the Senate Rules. Under Article III, both Houses have the exclusive right to determine their own methods of proceeding; this bill amounts to the executive and the Senate mandating that the House conduct business in a certain way (and from the opposite perspective, the executive and the House mandating that the Senate conduct business in a certain way). I don't think any of these provisions would be inoperable as part of the House/Senate rules (I'd argue an expulsion provision would be on firmer constitutional ground in that context), but the distinction is important.

     This post makes good points. Would the sponsor or any other Senator like to respond?

[Associate Justice PiT]

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Status: Awaiting sponsor feedback
Sponsor feedback: Pending

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Senators have 24 hours to object to the amendment.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     With no objections the amendment is adopted.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I will give Senators 24 hours to object before opening the final vote.

[Associate Justice PiT]

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     A final vote is now open on the bill. Senators have 72 hours to vote aye, nay, or abstain.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     This bill has enough votes to pass. Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[Associate Justice PiT]

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Atlasian People's House of Representatives
Passed 7-0 in the Atlasian House Assembled,


As Amended:
People's Regional Senate:
Passed 5-0-1 in the Atlasian Senate assembled

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