| Bicameral-ness |
Quote:So, basically, the main reason for not doing this is because people clearly already have access to the forums and can vote and discuss at will? Personally, I think that just sounds dumb. I've been a member of TSP for 41 days exactly: I still have Tsu's welcome telegram. But I didn't do a single thing in regional politics until a few days ago. Now, I tried to be politically active; I joined the WA. But that was not the same. The only way for people to get more than a taste of regional politics is to join the forums at this point. I'm ready to see that change. Thanks for speaking up, Darkstrait.
I'm a very new citizen of TSP and have only had a nation for a few months. I'll be honest and say that I was a bit wary about joining the off-site forum originally because it seemed a very small community everyone seemed to know everyone else and know so much about the history of TSP that it was quite intimidating. I therefore welcome the Great Council as a chance to get involved and understand how TSP works a bit better (thank you to Tsunamy for calling one!).
In terms of the proposals, I support them as set out. It still leaves the veto powers with the citizen only upper chamber and offers a great opportunity for people to get involved (for the first time for many nations) in the lower chamber. If it was a proposal for a unicameral legislature open to all in the TSP or a bicameral legislature with the bulk of the power in the lower chamber (as in the UK parliament) then I'd have concerns about such a radical change. However, this seems to be more about evolutionary than revolutionary change. If there were concerns about how it works in practice, could the new structure be introduced with a review date and some form of sunset clause to enable a reversion back to the old form if the new bicameral chamber fails? In terms of the questions posed at the start: Treaties and Declarations of War. Should they be ratified in both houses? And, if so, how do we deal with sensitive information? I would be happy to have these voted on by both houses, but I'm not sure what the general sentiment is here. Do we go to war often? My personal view would be that the Delegate and Cabinet should have the power to declare war but the upper chamber have the right to be consulted on any such declaration. A damaging vote of no confidence in the delegate from the upper chamber would be a deterrent to ignoring its views. This could also be contained within the off-site forum to keep sensitive information from the public domain. Treaties would seem to be something that would be more public assuming TSP doesn't have secret treaties (which I kinda hope it doesn't), so I'd be happy for both chambers to have to approve them. Elections: Right now we have provisions for the Legislative Chair. Should we have other provisions? We'd need an active party system for House Minority / Majority Leaders which from looking at the forum I'm not sure TSP has. Does there need to be provision for a deputy Legislative Chair to bring new people up through the ranks of office holding?
TSP doesn't go to war very often. The only official Declarations of War I've seen so far was against Gatesville Inc and The Greater German Reich Back in March 2014. I've searched the archives for quite a while and have yet to see any actual declarations of war before these. There IS the possibility that formal declarations weren't used until recently or they were made on past NS forums which no longer exist I think.
It seems unnecessary, but if you want to promote activity, Im cool with it, as long as it is non-binding. But if you want people want to join the forums, then I suggest that you promote the forums in the RMB, I do not know. There are many people surging in the in-game region, and we need all the techniques to recruit them and to keep them active in some way. As long as the General Congregation is non-binding, or the General Assembly's vote is final, its a good idea.
Deputy Regional Minister of the Planning and Development Agency(March 8-May 19, 2014)
Local Council Member(April 24-August 11) Court Justice of TSP(August 15-December 7) (01-12-2015, 07:06 PM)Hopolis Wrote: If it was a proposal for a unicameral legislature open to all in the TSP or a bicameral legislature with the bulk of the power in the lower chamber (as in the UK parliament) then I'd have concerns about such a radical change. However, this seems to be more about evolutionary than revolutionary change. The UK Parliament's Lower House (House of Commons) has almost all the power. The Upper House can only advise the Commons and delay bills and laws for one year, they can also make the Commons rethink something. However if the Commons don't like this they could abolish the House of Lords just it would take a wee while longer as the House of Lords would delay this for one year before the bill (or whatever it would be called) is passed. So yes here the Upper House would have to have the most power. The other power the Commons doesn't have is the fact that the Queen must say she approves the bill. However if she refuses to back the bill the Commons can just get rid of her and form a Republic. Europeian Ambassador to The South Pacific
Former Local Council Member Former Minister of Regional Affairs Former High Court Justice (01-12-2015, 06:39 PM)TAC Wrote: 1.) It is my inherit right to NOT vote and for you to criticize my opinion in favor of your own is wrong. Stick to the facts. 1. I don't really get your point. 2. It's not that they don't always choose. Some as I said don't want or have an e-mail address to add into anything when they sign up to something. Other times yes you could say it's there own fault. 3. Well it's good we agree on something. Europeian Ambassador to The South Pacific
Former Local Council Member Former Minister of Regional Affairs Former High Court Justice
Wait. I've just realized something. If the Upper House has more power, and you can only join the Upper House by being a citizen, and you can only become a citizen by joining the forums...
Darkstrait :ninja:
Former Justice, Former Local Councilor, Roleplayer, Former SPSF Deputy for Recruitment, Politically Active Citizen, Ex-Spammer Supreme, and Resident Geek "Hats is very fashion this year." (01-12-2015, 07:35 PM)Darkstrait Wrote: Wait. I've just realized something. If the Upper House has more power, and you can only join the Upper House by being a citizen, and you can only become a citizen by joining the forums... I like to think of the changes in a Neil Armstrong 'one small step' kind of way. It brings the potential for greater democratic participation for the whole region and if the lower chamber is used actively and responsibly we could well find ourselves in a future Great Council talking about further changes. At the same time it's hopefully not so radical a change that those who oppose change couldn't over time come to accept and embrace it. Vive la evolution! 
I'm all for trying to make the region all inclusive. One issue that HAS to be addressed is the security of RMB polls. As someone who creates puppets almost nightly, I see a HUGE issue with the fact that RMB pols can be stacked rather easy since the only limit is a nation in the region. I can have over 100 nations in the region tonight, all being able to vote and I see a nightmare in determining what is a "legal" RMB vote and what came from a nation mved into or founded just before or during a vote.
(01-12-2015, 07:34 PM)Punchwood Wrote: 1. I don't really get your point. 2. It's not that they don't always choose. Some as I said don't want or have an e-mail address to add into anything when they sign up to something. Other times yes you could say it's there own fault. 3. Well it's good we agree on something. 1.) I'm not surprised. 2.) That IS choosing. They choose not sign up. The reasons for that are irrelevant. 3.) Paradox ensues and the universe ceases to exist 
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