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Poll Only
What is your position?
Aye 4 (66.7%)
Abstain 0 (0%)
Nay 2 (33.3%)
Total Votes: 6
The Elections and Opposition Act
Topic Started: Jan 12 2014, 08:23 AM (289 Views)
Libraria and Ausitoria
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Prime Minister & Speaker of the Senate

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The Elections and Opposition Act


Noting the considerable turmoil over the recent elections,

Noting with delight the creation of a multi-party system,

Determined to facilitate greater political discourse in the Senate,

Determined to facilitate greater scrutiny of the government,

Noting also that the polling system could be used more effectively by the government to design popular legislation,


THE SENATE OF PANESSOS ASSEMBLED hereby:

1. Repeals the Exceptional Elections Act,
2. Declares its right to call new elections for any Ministerial post at any time if it is unsatisfied with either the election or minister,
3. Declares its right to impeach Ministers for wrongdoing,
4. Declares its right to direct and administer any elections should the Senate deem it necessary,
5. Directs the Cabinet to appoint acting Ministers whenever there is a vacancy, and inform the Senate,
6. Declares its right to appoint interim acting Ministers if the Cabinet fails to do so first,
7. Directs the Delegate to run polls in a manner decided by the Prime Minister,
8. Directs the Government to support the creation of a Loyal Opposition,
9. Declares its right to pass a motion of no-confidence in the entire government, and establishes that if done so the Loyal Opposition will automatically accede,
10. Directs the Speaker to arrange for an established time for questions to be put to the Prime Minister; and other Ministers when the Speaker deems it appropriate, and
11. Resolves that it has the constitutional right to summon witnesses and demand truthful testimony.
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Bavaria-Saxony
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Leader of the Socialist Coalition

sounds good
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Libraria and Ausitoria
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Prime Minister & Speaker of the Senate

I would like to ask if members could perhaps make their votes for this known publicly in addition to voting by poll. This is a relatively divisive and interesting resolution, and I feel that this is the sort of act which will determine what parties people end up in. The divide would be between those who have more support for the Senate, individual liberty, and democratic ideals; and those who have more support for the Executive with people on the top in charge and maintaining order.

This act would clearly give extensive powers to us Senators; making us more important both in terms of our debates (the Loyal Opposition will be much bolstered) and also more important in terms of our power over the Executive. The introduction of no-confidence votes would be a distinct swing towards a Westminster system and direct democracy: no longer would we have to wait for an incompetent Minister to do something wrong; we could simply remove him for not being good enough.

However, I believe this act would actually simultaneously strengthen any Executive willing to interact with the people. Since the Executive would need the support of the senate, any government will have that support or be replaced by an executive which does have the support: support for their policies, support for their ideals, and support for their maintaining order.

In short I think this proposal will both strengthen our ability to make our individual opinions heard and simultaneously strengthen the support the government gets.

And I would be very interested to see who falls on what side of the ideological divide.
Edited by Libraria and Ausitoria, Jan 13 2014, 01:07 PM.
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Nerod
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Emperor of the GNNE.

I don't like this proposal. I just can't like it, I just can't agree with this:
"2.Declares its right to call new elections for any Ministerial post at any time if it is unsatisfied with either the election or minister,"
this "3. Declares its right to impeach Ministers for wrongdoing,"
this "4. Declares its right to direct and administer any elections should the Senate deem it necessary,"
or this "9. Declares its right to pass a motion of no-confidence in the entire government, and establishes that if done so the Loyal Opposition will automatically accede,"

Why?
Well, I've never liked democarcy, I think it's the "less bad system" on our world right now. But I really think that many other systems could be a lot better, like some kind of Meritocracy. I'm missing the point.
I can't like those points, because I don't like Democracy. And I really think that giving that amount of power to the Senate, which is almost everyone on Panessos, is too much. The power to impeach
the whole Cabinet, or a single minister for "wrongdoing" (I think you should at least try to define what you will consider as "wrongdoing").
And I think point 2 is just stupid. Calling for new elections if the Senate doesn't like the Minister? I think that's just stupid. The Senators should be the same people that voted for that Minister, so if they voted for him in the first place why would they be unsatisfied with the Minister?

I think that if we are going to be a Democracy we should respect elections as the way of appointing Ministers. If the "people" of Panessos elected someone in any position, then he should end the term even if he did a little bad, that should be a lesson for the "people", who should vote conscientiously the next time.
Impeachment should be just in extreme cases, or at least that's my opinion.
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Libraria and Ausitoria
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Prime Minister & Speaker of the Senate

And I respectfully disagree for all the reasons I stated.

What does everyone else think?
Edited by Libraria and Ausitoria, Jan 13 2014, 04:34 PM.
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Libraria and Ausitoria
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Prime Minister & Speaker of the Senate

Again, given the speed at which things have been moving, and given that there is a supermajority against this proposal, I shall call the vote early. However you are welcome to continue expressing your opinion and the vote shall be reopened if found to have closed to early.

Vote passed 4-0-2.
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