An Act to amend Article IV of the constitution

[Eðo Grischun]

For immediate consideration by the Estats Xhenerais:
An Act to amend Article IV of the constitution

Following passage of this bill by the Estats Xhenerais of The United Provinces and then following ratification by two-thirds of the voting population of the province, the provincial constitution shall be amended as follows:


Article IV: Passing Legislation, which currently reads as:

SECTION 1
Any provincial legislation in effect is known as a United Provinces Byelaw.

SECTION 2
United Provinces Byelaws are passed by a simple majority of the Estats Xhenerais.

SECTION 3
Each Grand Session of the Estats Xhenerais shall be made of six legislative sessions and shall mirror the schedule of the national Ziu. This includes any months of recess.

SECTION 4
Legislative sessions are convened and conducted by the Presiding Officer.

SECTION 5
Bills that have passed must be signed by the Cunstaval. Bills are silently assented to after 30 days.

SECTION 6
The Premier may make a 'United Provinces Decree' (UPD). A UPD takes full force of United Provinces Byelaw. The Estats Xhenerais may repeal a UPD by 2/3 majority.

is hereby amended to read as:

SECTION 1
Each Grand Session of the Estats Xhenerais shall convene and prorogue with each Cosa session of the National Ziu.

SECTION 2
Draft legislation may be proposed by Councillors at any time during a Grand Session. Draft legislation shall become eligible to be voted on by the Estats Xhenerais once it has been publicly displayed and/or debated on for a period of no less than 21 days. Legislation shall be passed by a simple majority of the Estats Xhenerais. Legislation that has been passed by the Estats Xhenerais must receive ascension by the Cunstaval before achieving active status. Legislation is silently assented to after 14 days regardless of the Cunstaval's actions. All active provincial legislation shall be known as United Provinces Byelaws.

SECTION 3
The Premier may make a 'United Provinces Decree' (UPD). A UPD takes full force of United Provinces Byelaw as soon as it is issued. The Estats Xhenerais may repeal a UPD by 2/3 majority. Such repeals shall follow the same procedure as all other legislation as outlined in Section 2 above.

[Viteu Marcianüs]

Is there an implicit "no legislation may be introduced in the last 21 days" of a cosa? How would that work if the Cosa dissolves prematurely?

Or is it that the the EX continues for any outstanding legislation that is introduced within 21 days, even if that would prolong the EX beyond the Cosa, but only for that legislation (i.e., you have to be in line by this time)?

[Eðo Grischun]

Interesting question. I'd say it's implied that voting can only take place while the XE is in session, ie. In between each formation and proroguement. If an XE isn't sitting, then how could it be voting? I think.

If it needed to be written then I would change the above to say something like "Legislation shall be passed by a simple majority of the Estats Xhenerais and shall only be voted on during active Grand Sessions".

A question we should answer and write in is whether draft legislation from a previous XE can be voted on by a new XE without having to be resubmitted and spend a new 21 day period in debate.

(21 days is also not set in stone for me. I followed a suggestion you made in a previous thread for the timeline).

[Viteu Marcianüs]

What if we amended Section 1 to say, "Each Grand Session of the Estats Xhenerais shall convene and prorogue with each Cosa session of the National Ziu to the extent practicable. A Grand Session may continue as an Extraordinary Session for the sole purpose of resolving pending legislation if the national Cosa is dissolved prior to the last, possible clark as outlined in the Organic Law. No new legislation may be introduce during an Extraordinary Session."

The idea being that the Organic Law may change the number of clarks. But a voc or a call for an early election would hurt Vuode. So we make it flexible. No new legislation within 21 days of the last, possible final clark. But if we're on the 4th Clark, and it's like day 3 before the election,and I introduce legislation, then the GS can extend to resolve that legislation. Absolutely no new legislation is permitted (i.e., we can't keep extending; it's really to prevent rollover).

[Eðo Grischun]

Jul 30, 2019 7:55:32 GMT -6 Viteu Marcianüs said:

What if we amended Section 1 to say, "Each Grand Session of the Estats Xhenerais shall convene and prorogue with each Cosa session of the National Ziu to the extent practicable. A Grand Session may continue as an Extraordinary Session for the sole purpose of resolving pending legislation if the national Cosa is dissolved prior to the last, possible clark as outlined in the Organic Law. No new legislation may be introduce during an Extraordinary Session."

The idea being that the Organic Law may change the number of clarks. But a voc or a call for an early election would hurt Vuode. So we make it flexible. No new legislation within 21 days of the last, possible final clark. But if we're on the 4th Clark, and it's like day 3 before the election,and I introduce legislation, then the GS can extend to resolve that legislation. Absolutely no new legislation is permitted (i.e., we can't keep extending; it's really to prevent rollover).

I like it.