Post by EM Vürinalt on Jul 15, 2012 9:08:40 GMT -6
I came up with this radical idea the other day:
Since our province has less than 15 active citizens, and as a way to promote more active citizenry in our own province, what if we just did away with the Provincial Chancellery and made our legislative branch 100% direct from the people?
Every month, we hold a Forum where people can discuss policies they'd like to see enacted, and at the end of the month vote on everything as a referendum.
Then new citizens who come into our province can be immediately engaged in our politics without having to navigate around a legislative body that, for all intents and purposes, is too extreme for a political body so small.
A representative body like the Provincial Chancellery, with its 11 seats, is overkill for a province with less than 15 active members..
Our legislative process could look like:
- First Monday of the Month at midnight, open the Provincial Forum.
- Third Monday of the Month at midnight, close the Provincial Forum.
- Fourth Monday of the Month at midnight, begin voting.
- Final day of the month, close voting.
Legislation would be proposed in weeks 1 and 2.
In week 3, the final versions of bills would be submitted by Wednesday at midnight and formally presented by Friday so citizens can have ample time to read them and make informed decisions.
Votes occur in week 4.
Any citizen of Benito is able to submit legislation and vote on legislation. Laws are passed in the legislature if at least 30% of the total population votes (if not a whole number, round down. That means right now, only 7 people need to vote), and with at least 51% voting PER.
Sure, only 7 people would need to vote. That's barely different than the number of people who would be in the Provincial Chancellery right? That is correct, however, in this proposed system, any citizen may "jump right in", without having to appeal to a representative.
I think by embracing this form of direct democracy, our citizenry has a reason to become active, because everyone can fully participate in our provincial politics. It would be a good place for new citizens to try on their political shoes before taking on the Cosa, and, new citizens who arrive in the middle of a legislative term would still be able to take part- they'd just need to wait for the opening of the next Forum.
The powers of the Executive Branch remain unchanged except that the Maestro is elected by the people during the first month of the legislative process instead of the Provincial Chancellery. The Maestro also formally opens and closes each Forum. The Maestro could convene a Provincal Chancellery in emergency situations where circumstances inhibit the fluid functioning of a direct democracy.
Since our province has less than 15 active citizens, and as a way to promote more active citizenry in our own province, what if we just did away with the Provincial Chancellery and made our legislative branch 100% direct from the people?
Every month, we hold a Forum where people can discuss policies they'd like to see enacted, and at the end of the month vote on everything as a referendum.
Then new citizens who come into our province can be immediately engaged in our politics without having to navigate around a legislative body that, for all intents and purposes, is too extreme for a political body so small.
A representative body like the Provincial Chancellery, with its 11 seats, is overkill for a province with less than 15 active members..
Our legislative process could look like:
- First Monday of the Month at midnight, open the Provincial Forum.
- Third Monday of the Month at midnight, close the Provincial Forum.
- Fourth Monday of the Month at midnight, begin voting.
- Final day of the month, close voting.
Legislation would be proposed in weeks 1 and 2.
In week 3, the final versions of bills would be submitted by Wednesday at midnight and formally presented by Friday so citizens can have ample time to read them and make informed decisions.
Votes occur in week 4.
Any citizen of Benito is able to submit legislation and vote on legislation. Laws are passed in the legislature if at least 30% of the total population votes (if not a whole number, round down. That means right now, only 7 people need to vote), and with at least 51% voting PER.
Sure, only 7 people would need to vote. That's barely different than the number of people who would be in the Provincial Chancellery right? That is correct, however, in this proposed system, any citizen may "jump right in", without having to appeal to a representative.
I think by embracing this form of direct democracy, our citizenry has a reason to become active, because everyone can fully participate in our provincial politics. It would be a good place for new citizens to try on their political shoes before taking on the Cosa, and, new citizens who arrive in the middle of a legislative term would still be able to take part- they'd just need to wait for the opening of the next Forum.
The powers of the Executive Branch remain unchanged except that the Maestro is elected by the people during the first month of the legislative process instead of the Provincial Chancellery. The Maestro also formally opens and closes each Forum. The Maestro could convene a Provincal Chancellery in emergency situations where circumstances inhibit the fluid functioning of a direct democracy.
