Post by Vista Major on Sept 4, 2015 3:41:03 GMT
THE DUO-STATE INITIATIVE ACT
A resolution to restructure the Parliament
AUTHOR: Vista Major, MP
DATE: September the 4th, 2015 AD
PREAMBLE
In order to reform government into a more efficient and opportune system, this resolution of law is hereby established with the dominant goal of recreating the Parliament, making two separate, cooperative houses of legislature, and change how the Cabinet is elected.ARTICLE I:
The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Free Nations shall become a bicameral legislature with two houses; the Assembly and the Senate.
ARTICLE II:
The Assembly of the Parliament shall be installed as the lower house and is responsible for writing new/original legislation. The Assembly shall be composed of all citizens who do not serve in the Senate.
ARTICLE III:
In writing legislation, resolutions must be original and have minimal "amendment-complex" (the power to override sections or wholes of previous bills). Bills that seek to enact minor reforms of previous bills are considered to have minimal amendment-complex, and thus within the jurisdiction of the Assembly.
ARTICLE IV:
Members of the Assembly who desire to ascend to the Senate need only call a 4-day vote of the Parliament and receive a simple-majority vote of approval.
ARTICLE V:
If a Member of the Assembly (M.A) wishes to propose a resolution that is a repeal of a previous law or an amendment to the Constitution, or otherwise have major amendment-complex, they must have a sponsor in the Senate to propose the resolution on the M.A's behalf.
ARTICLE VI:
Likewise, if a Member of the Senate (M.S) wishes to propose an original bill, they must be sponsored by a Member of the Assembly, who will introduce the legislation to the Assembly on the senator's behalf.
ARTICLE VII:
A bill in the Assembly must pass with at least a simple-majority (51%) in order to be brought before the Speaker of the Parliament, who shall pass the bill into law or veto. In the case of a veto, the Assembly must override it with a supermajority vote. However, if a bill in the Assembly reaches supermajority originally, it cannot be vetoed, and thus automatically becomes law.
ARTICLE VIII:
The Senate of the Parliament shall be installed as the upper house and is responsible for writing constitutional amendments and major revisions of previously-passed bills (major amendment-complex).
ARTICLE IX:
The Senate shall compose of Assemblymen who have ascended to the house via Parliament vote beforehand. Likewise, senators may choose to demote themselves to the Assembly, upon notifying the Speaker. If a senator steps down to the Assembly, they are tethered there for 2 months before becoming eligible to rejoin the Senate, unless a vote of the Assembly overrides the tethering.
ARTICLE X:
Amendments in the Senate must pass with at least a supermajority (2/3) in order to be brought before the Speaker of the Parliament, who shall sign the bill into law. However, at any time, the Assembly can call a referendum for a vote on a bill in the Senate, rendering a regionwide vote.
ARTICLE XI:
The Speaker of the Parliament shall be officially installed as the Head of Parliament, assuming the parliamentary powers granted to the Cabinet ministers.
ARTICLE XII:
This law shall expire on November 15th, unless a vote of Parliament restores the law to indefinite-standing status, as with other laws.