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Procedure of Debate and Vote
Topic Started: Nov 2 2006, 03:27 PM (448 Views)
St Jello Biafra
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I must say, the current system of debating and voting troubles me. It's all very confusing, and I feel that issues are being brought up for vote before discussion has a chance to occur (a major problem, seeing as there's no way to change your vote via the poll option). I therefore propose the following procedure for debate and vote:

1) A topic for discussion is submitted to Proposed Discussions.

2) The Founder/Speaker/Whoever it is that approves topics will in turn send the topic to Current Discussions.

3) Once in Current Discussions, the topic will be debated for whatever length of time the RA has decided (something currently being hashed out, I believe).

4) After that length of time has expired, the RA Member who initially proposed the discussion will start a poll in the Voting Chamber. The poll will include a statement saying exactly what it is the members are voting on. In addition, commentary in this topic would not be accepted; the time for debate has passed, and the time to vote has arrived.

So, what do you all think?
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Rael One
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I like your proposal overall, one change I would make would be in respect to the actual voting. Instead of a forum poll, let's have a voice vote. The members state their vote AYE,NAY or ABSTAIN the the leader of the RA keep a running tally.

A Regional assembly vote isn't like a secret election vote, it is a public forum vote and the members have a right to see how the votes are cast. This is the standard procedure for legislatures.
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Via Bestiae
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Unofficial Court Jester/Slightly to the Left of LOL

The only change I would suggest is to have the Speaker be the one to call the vote, not the original member who proposed the idea.

And I agree with R1, it should be a "voice" vote. That way we can be sure that it is truly one vote per person.
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St Jello Biafra
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I fully agree with both of you that a voice vote would be better, both for correct counting and for the public forum principle.

My only concern with having the speaker call the vote is this: the course of debate will certainly produce a number of varied opinions and suggested changes to the original proposal. Whose decision should it be as to what changes are adopted and how the final proposal for vote should read? This is a question that I will admit to not yet knowing the answer to, but I'm confident that further discussion will make all things clear.

Oh, and thank you both for your support!
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Dr Strange Love
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"Rabble Rouser"

Quote:
 
And I agree with R1, it should be a "voice" vote. That way we can be sure that it is truly one vote per person.


Agreed!
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Rael One
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If during the discussion and before the vote changes are made to the Issue they can be debated and a general conscious reached, the original presenter can modify the issue as necessary and the vote will held on the modified issue. If a conscious can not be reached the Speaker can declare a no conscious and withdraw it from consideration.

It could be be redrafted and presented again at a later date.

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Ds Rainbow Phoenix
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I agree with you all. This needs streamlining and I think then written up as a sticky thread that all RA members can read.

The RA is still very new so now is the time to eliminate these kind of lil bugs. Jello great ideas and thanks for having them and bringing them to the forum :-)
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Joshua
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The Original Founder

I would like to submit this draft in regards top this topic, and hopefully have it moved to the voting stage:

Quote:
 
Debate/Voting Procedure for The Regional Assembly:

1) A topic for discussion is submitted to Proposed Discussions by a member of the Regional Assembly.

2) If The Speaker of Nations approves the proposed topic will in turn be sent to the Current Discussions part of the law making process.

3) Once in Current Discussions, the topic will be debated for one week (7 days) by the Regional Assembly.

4) After that length of time has expired, the RA Member who initially proposed the discussion will start a poll in the Voting Chamber. The poll will include a statement saying exactly what it is the members are voting on. In addition, commentary in this topic would not be accepted; the time for debate has passed, and the time to vote has arrived. The voting period will last for one week as well.
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St Jello Biafra
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After further consideration, we would like to amend Clause 4 to have the Speaker of Nations OR the RA Member who initially proposed the discussion be able to start the poll in the Voting Chamber.
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rode afro
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red as hell

Quote:
 
Instead of a forum poll, let's have a voice vote. The members state their vote AYE,NAY or ABSTAIN



AYE

Quote:
 
If during the discussion and before the vote changes are made to the Issue they can be debated and a general conscious reached, the original presenter can modify the issue as necessary and the vote will held on the modified issue. If a conscious can not be reached the Speaker can declare a no conscious and withdraw it from consideration.It could be be redrafted and presented again at a later date.
Quote:
 


I agree with this completely

I was also wondering when we would call an issue passed, should we use the simple majorety system or somthing like a 2/3 of votes? I personally like the second option since if we are dealing with more difficult options 7 votes against 6 might be a bit close to implement a law espessialy in the event of changing parts of the constitution.

if ennyone thinks this should pe a seperet treat i will gladly move it.

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St Jello Biafra
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I think that the only votes that should be required to be 2/3 majority are constitutional amendments. For everything else, a simple majority should be fine.
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Dr Strange Love
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"Rabble Rouser"

Quote:
 
I think that the only votes that should be required to be 2/3 majority are constitutional amendments. For everything else, a simple majority should be fine.


I agree with that.
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rode afro
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red as hell

I think that's fair
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Rael One
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I agree that a simple majority will work on all except amendments.
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Via Bestiae
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Unofficial Court Jester/Slightly to the Left of LOL

I agree with that as well.
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Ds Rainbow Phoenix
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Jello brilliant work on this so far. Currently on the consitutional convention thread we are discussing the RA and RS sections. Could you do me and the entire region a huge favor and make the agreed changes to this proposal and then post the final draft here? I will then repost it on the CC thread unless you want to. I think your proposal MUST be included in RA section of the consitution.

WELL DONE FOLKS!
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St Jello Biafra
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Here it is, but you should thank Josh as well. I had completely forgotten about this until he bumped the thread and made it all nice and pretty.

You'll note here that I've added a Clause 5; I'm not sure of proper procedure once something is passed, so this is just something I've slapped together that can be worked out either here or in Current Discussions.

Debate/Voting Procedure for The Regional Assembly:

1) A topic for discussion is submitted to Proposed Discussions by a member of the Regional Assembly.

2) If The Speaker of Nations approves, he/she will send the proposed topic to the Current Discussions part of the law making process.

3) Once in Current Discussions, the topic will be debated for one week (7 days) by the Regional Assembly.

4) After that length of time has expired, the RA Member who initially proposed the discussion OR the Speaker of Nations will start a poll in the Voting Chamber. The poll will include a statement saying exactly what it is the members are voting on. In addition, commentary in this topic will not be accepted; the time for debate has passed, and the time to vote has arrived. The voting period will last for one week (7 days) as well.

5) When the voting period has ended, the Speaker of Nations will tally the votes and issue a statement both to the Regional Assembly and the Founder, informing each of the results of the vote.
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Joshua
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The Original Founder

Does it have to be included in the constitution or can we simply hold a vote on this, and if it passes then it be added to the law section?

Also, can I start adding laws that have been passed in the RA?
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Ds Rainbow Phoenix
Unregistered

Joshua
Nov 19 2006, 05:52 PM
Does it have to be included in the constitution or can we simply hold a vote on this, and if it passes then it be added to the law section?

Also, can I start adding laws that have been passed in the RA?

Josh yes it does need to be included in the constitution as it directly relates to how the RA works. At the same time once the RA has a leader again after the election, putting this to a vote of RA members seems the logical step before it is added to the constitution now that you mention it. :D

Also can you hold off on moving anything in the RA thread until such time as we have a RS and Deputy RS elect then they can decide?
Thanks!
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Avolon
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Don't ever count me out!

I would tend to agree. The voting will begin shortly and once we have an RS we can get things in order.
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Joshua
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The Original Founder

I hold off Ds, no problem at all. ^_^ Why are weincluding it in the constitution and having a vote on it? Shouldn't we just do one or the other? :blink:
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Ds Rainbow Phoenix
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Good point, lets just debate it in the convention and then have it up for vote with the rest of the constitution.
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