Midwest Universal Alþing Official Thread

[Vasall des Midas]

[Yelnoc]

You guys might want to update your wiki.  It would be a shame to have Barnes' of a bill get lost in a megathread.

[hawkeye59]

bill passes 5-0
Anybody here a AFE wiki editor?

[hawkeye59]

Anybody here a AFE wiki editor?

[Yelnoc]

Anybody here a AFE wiki editor?

PM AG Teddy and see if he can give you access.  I thought all regional executives had access?

[Thomas D]

Anybody here a AFE wiki editor?

PM AG Teddy and see if he can give you access.  I thought all regional executives had access?

I didn't when I ran this ship.

[hawkeye59]

I am appointing Barnes (if he has wiki access) Official Midwest Wiki Editor

[Senator Barnes]

I am appointing Barnes (if he has wiki access) Official Midwest Wiki Editor

Thanks, Mr. PV. Oh lord, what a daunting task.

[Senator Kalwejt]

I am appointing Barnes (if he has wiki access) Official Midwest Wiki Editor

Thanks, Mr. PV. Oh lord, what a daunting task.

Back to the public duty

[hawkeye59]

Debate this

Third Midwest Constitution
Section I: The Alþing
1. The legislative body of the Midwest shall be the Midwest Universal Alþing, commonly know as the Alþing.
2. The Alþing is a universal body, and is thus composed of all registered citizens of the Midwest.
3. The Alþing may establish rules for its own proceedings, and with the concurrence of two-thirds of its voting number, suspend such rights of such members as it may deem appropriate, except in the case of voting on legislation.
4. The Alþing may elect a Presiding Verin pro tempore, who shall preside over the body in the case of the absence of the Prime Verin or Deputy Verin. The method of election, and the term of office, shall be determined by the Alþing.

Section II: The Verinship
1. The head of government of the Midwest shall be the Prime Verin, who is elected by the Alþing, and shall serve at its pleasure.
2. The Prime Verin shall preside over the Alþing, and be its official spokesperson.
3. The Deputy Verin shall be elected whenever there is also an election for Prime Verin.  The Deputy Verin shall preside over the Alþing in the case of the absence of the Prime Verin, and shall become Acting Prime Verin if the office is vacated.
 
Section III: Elections
1. The Prime Verin shall continue his verinship for so long as he shall retain the confidence of the Alþing. After 3 months in office, the Alþing must hold an election for the Prime Verinship.
2. When the office of Prime Verin is vacated, a new election shall take place within five days of the vacancy occurring.
3. During an election for the Verinship, all citizens of the Midwest shall be considered nominees for Prime and Deputy Verin unless they specifically say otherwise.
4. Voting shall occur in the Alþing thread.
5. The election shall last for seventy-two (72) hours. Voting will be preferential and counted by means of the Condorcet method.
6. Voters will be entitled to vote ‘None of the Above’ as per any other candidate. Should NOTA be deemed the winner of the election, nominations shall be re-opened but such candidates as lost to NOTA shall be disqualified from being nominated on that occasion.
7. Reasonable determination of voter intent shall apply in construing ballots for counting purposes.

Section IV: Motions of Confidence
1. When a confidence motion is proposed for or against an officer, it shall take precedence amongst the order of business of the Alþing
2. A motion must have the signatures of at least three (3) Midwest citizens.
3. If the Alþing resolves confidence in an officer, such citizens which may have proposed no confidence in the officer will be prohibited from proposing a further confidence motion against the same officer for a period of three (3) weeks.
4. The Deputy Verin shall have responsibility for the officiating of confidence motions brought against the Prime Verin.

Section V: The Judiciary
1. The Supreme Court of Atlasia shall be the judiciary of the Midwest Region.

Section VI: Amending Procedure
1. An amendment to this Constitution must be proposed in the Alþing and must have the signatures of at least five (5) citizens.
2. The proposed amendment shall then be debated in the Alþing like a regular piece of legislation.
3. Once debate has concluded, the Prime Verin shall open a separate voting booth for the approval or rejection of the amendment.  The booth shall stay open for five (5) days.
4. To be successfully approved, the amendment must be voted on by an absolute majority (50% + 1) of the registered Midwest population, and must have an absolute majority (50% + 1) of votes in favor.

[ilikeverin]

We need to have a clause in there saying we'll hold elections at least every six months, by order of the federal constitution.  Or, at least, that's what the federal constitution said at some point, because Midwesterners tried and failed to make me Governor-for-life.

[Senator Barnes]

We need to have a clause in there saying we'll hold elections at least every six months, by order of the federal constitution.  Or, at least, that's what the federal constitution said at some point, because Midwesterners tried and failed to make me Governor-for-life.

Doesn't Part 1 of Section III already cover that?

[Senator Kalwejt]

I think we deserved our own judiciary and I propose this:

Section V: The Judiciary
1. The Midwest Supreme Court shall be the judiciary of the Midwest Region.
2. The Tribunal shall be composed of Chief Verin and two Associate Verins, all elected by the Althing for a period of maximum half of a year, with maximum length of an uninterrupted service shall be two years.
3. The Midwest Supreme Court verdicts can be appeal to the Supreme Court of Atlasia.

[ilikeverin]

We need to have a clause in there saying we'll hold elections at least every six months, by order of the federal constitution.  Or, at least, that's what the federal constitution said at some point, because Midwesterners tried and failed to make me Governor-for-life.

Doesn't Part 1 of Section III already cover that?

Oh, whoops, I was looking for that part.

I think we deserved our own judiciary and I propose this:

Section V: The Judiciary
1. The Midwest Supreme Court shall be the judiciary of the Midwest Region.
2. The Tribunal shall be composed of Chief Verin and two Associate Verins, all elected by the Althing for a period of maximum half of a year, with maximum length of an uninterrupted service shall be two years.
3. The Midwest Supreme Court verdicts can be appeal to the Supreme Court of Atlasia.

To my knowledge, the Midwest has never had a court case.

[Senator Barnes]

I think we deserved our own judiciary and I propose this:

Section V: The Judiciary
1. The Midwest Supreme Court shall be the judiciary of the Midwest Region.
2. The Tribunal shall be composed of Chief Verin and two Associate Verins, all elected by the Althing for a period of maximum half of a year, with maximum length of an uninterrupted service shall be two years.
3. The Midwest Supreme Court verdicts can be appeal to the Supreme Court of Atlasia.

To my knowledge, the Midwest has never had a court case.
[/quote]


Yeah.  While having our own Court would be kind of cool. I seriously don't think they would ever have anything to do.

[Senator Barnes]

Also, do y'all think that the amendment section is too strict? I just don't think we should have constitutional amendments being approved with literally ONE person voting.

[ilikeverin]

I think we should officially designate someone as ballot counter.  Do we want to give this responsibility to the Deputy Verin, to give them something to do?

Also, do y'all think that the amendment section is too strict? I just don't think we should have constitutional amendments being approved with literally ONE person voting.

I agree, but I think it does look a little strict, right now.  At the very least, I think we want to equalize the "vote of confidence" and "amendment introduction" signature numbers.  Perhaps mandate at least 33% turnout?  How many citizens do we have now?

Here's an idea for a Preamble:

We the people of the Midwest Region recognize the necessity of a codified constitution for the formation of civilized governance, and do hereby promulgate the following constitution, created to form a government capable of championing the rights and liberties of the Midwestern people, to reflect the international importance of the Region for which it is designed, and to safeguard the uniqueness and independence of the Midwest Region.

[Senator Barnes]

I think we should officially designate someone as ballot counter.  Do we want to give this responsibility to the Deputy Verin, to give them something to do?

I think giving the Deputy Verin that responsibility would be fine.

Amendment:

Section III

4. Voting shall occur in the Alþing thread.  The election shall be conducted by the Deputy Verin, who shall be responsible for counting the ballots ast the colse of the election.  If the Deputy Verin is unable or unwilling to conduct the election, the Prime Verin shall be empowered to appoint another Midwest Citsen to conduct the election.

I agree, but I think it does look a little strict, right now.  At the very least, I think we want to equalize the "vote of confidence" and "amendment introduction" signature numbers.  Perhaps mandate at least 33% turnout?  How many citizens do we have now?

The current populate (per the RG) is 24, so one-third of that would be seven. I think that's good enough.

Amendment:

Section VI

4. To be successfully approved, the amendment must be voted on by an absolute majority (50% + 1) of the registered Midwest population one-third of the registered Midwest population at the time of the opening of the voting booth, and must have an absolute majority (50% + 1) of votes in favor.

Amendment:

Preamble:

We the people of the Midwest Region recognize the necessity of a codified constitution for the formation of civilized governance, and do hereby promulgate the following constitution, created to form a government capable of championing the rights and liberties of the Midwestern people, to reflect the international importance of the Region for which it is designed, and to safeguard the uniqueness and independence of the Midwest Region.

All amendments are friendly, so they be inserted immediately.

[hawkeye59]

I think we should officially designate someone as ballot counter.  Do we want to give this responsibility to the Deputy Verin, to give them something to do?

I think giving the Deputy Verin that responsibility would be fine.

Amendment:

Section III

4. Voting shall occur in the Alþing thread.  The election shall be conducted by the Deputy Verin, who shall be responsible for counting the ballots ast the colse of the election.  If the Deputy Verin is unable or unwilling to conduct the election, the Prime Verin shall be empowered to appoint another Midwest Citsen to conduct the election.

I agree, but I think it does look a little strict, right now.  At the very least, I think we want to equalize the "vote of confidence" and "amendment introduction" signature numbers.  Perhaps mandate at least 33% turnout?  How many citizens do we have now?

The current populate (per the RG) is 24, so one-third of that would be seven. I think that's good enough.

Amendment:

Section VI

4. To be successfully approved, the amendment must be voted on by an absolute majority (50% + 1) of the registered Midwest population one-third of the registered Midwest population at the time of the opening of the voting booth, and must have an absolute majority (50% + 1) of votes in favor.

Amendment:

Preamble:

We the people of the Midwest Region recognize the necessity of a codified constitution for the formation of civilized governance, and do hereby promulgate the following constitution, created to form a government capable of championing the rights and liberties of the Midwestern people, to reflect the international importance of the Region for which it is designed, and to safeguard the uniqueness and independence of the Midwest Region.

All amendments are friendly, so they be inserted immediately.

Good! *hughughug*

[Senator Barnes]

I propose a friendly amendment:

Amendment:

Section III
8. The Prime Verin and Deputy Verin shall take office immediately after the certification of the election results.

I don't accept Kal's Amendment as friendly, so shouldn't we vote on it?

[hawkeye59]

Section V: The Judiciary
1. The Midwest Supreme Court shall be the judiciary of the Midwest Region.
2. The Tribunal shall be composed of Chief Verin and two Associate Verins, all elected by the Althing for a period of maximum half of a year, with maximum length of an uninterrupted service shall be two years.
3. The Midwest Supreme Court verdicts can be appeal to the Supreme Court of Atlasia.

[Senator Barnes]

[hawkeye59]

[ilikeverin]

[Vasall des Midas]