STV Congress Legislation Committee

[Republican_Man]

The FIRST Legislation was mine and my decision, but from here on out, whether or not a legislation will be approved will be the decision of this committee, lead by the Speaker of the Congress. No, for now this does not coincide with the Congress time. You can be in "two places at once" in this sense. If you wish to gain membership to the comittee, please send me a PM, addressing me as Speaker and such, requesting this. Tell me your name and political party, and you will be allowed.

Rules/Regulations:
1. To propose legislation, you MUST PM ME, addressing me as Speaker. I will then proceed to post it when the time is right (it WILL get approved, unless derogotory language is involved)
2. The Committee meeting will begin with the Speaker giving an opening address and speaking of a legislation (saying what it is).
3. The Committee will proceed to discuss the quality of the legislation, etc--not merely content, but the entire quality of the legislation.
4. A vote will pass, and only a majority is required for approval of a legislation. This is where the Speaker tie will come in (although eventually the Speaker won't be running the Committee, unless VOTED in (he takes precidence in terms of leadership for seniority, however), and whoever runs the committee will get a 1.5 vote, no matter WHO it is. The leader of the committee will be a Congressman from the Majority party. If there is a tie in the majority, then there will be JOINT leadership, in which case there will be no 1.5 vote (unless it's the Speaker, which will most likely change in the future).
5. To prevent monopoly of the committee (or ANY committee, for that matter), there can be only a maximum of TWO members from a specific party, unless that party has a Congressional Majority of at least 1/3 (then they can have three members)
6. In between each legislation, motions may occur.
7. Three legislations will occur, and then the ceremony will end.
8. Keep in mind that this does NOT correlate with the timing of the Congress. Committees are SEPARATE in timing.

MORE INFORMATION TO COME!

Committee Members:
Speaker of the Congress Republican_Man; Congressman James O'Reilly; Republican
Exalya; Sydney Cooper; Republican
Zeke Zabertini; Ezekiel Edwardo Zabertini; Party Internationale

[Republican_Man]

Please stickie this topic.

[Republican_Man]

Welcome to the


The Legislation Committee is now open for business. A few things, first.
1. ANY Congressman may submit legislation for approval. Please note that it will MOST LIKELY be approved. Also note that I am considering allowing outside legislation for consideration in the future...
2. We NEED more than 3 members, so Congressmen, sign up!
3. As of now, you will NOT need to be voted into this position. The Committee will eventually be made up of 8 people that will have been CHOSEN by the Congress.
4. In the future, note, if and when we get a forum, there will be a number of committees.
5. If you wish to join the Committee, PLEASE PM me! I WILL approve you!


1. To propose legislation, you MUST PM ME, addressing me as Speaker. I will then proceed to post it when the time is right (it WILL get approved, unless derogotory language is involved)
2. The Committee meeting will begin with the Speaker giving an opening address and speaking of a legislation (saying what it is).
3. The Committee will proceed to discuss the quality of the legislation, etc--not merely content, but the entire quality of the legislation.
4. A vote will pass, and only a majority is required for approval of a legislation. This is where the Speaker tie will come in (although eventually the Speaker won't be running the Committee, unless VOTED in (he takes precidence in terms of leadership for seniority, however), and whoever runs the committee will get a 1.5 vote, no matter WHO it is. The leader of the committee will be a Congressman from the Majority party. If there is a tie in the majority, then there will be JOINT leadership, in which case there will be no 1.5 vote (unless it's the Speaker, which will most likely change in the future).
5. To prevent monopoly of the committee (or ANY committee, for that matter), there can be only a maximum of TWO members from a specific party, unless that party has a Congressional Majority of at least 1/3 (then they can have three members)
6. In between each legislation, motions may occur.
7. Three legislations will occur, and then the ceremony will end.
8. Keep in mind that this does NOT correlate with the timing of the Congress. Committees are SEPARATE in timing.

--EDIT--
Legislations will now be posted in the SECOND post of this thread, EVERY time a new one has been put of for debate on the Congress floor.

[Republican_Man]

FIRST LEGISLATION:
Submitted by Congressman Zabertini, I now present to you the FIRST legislation up for APPROVAL or REJECTION by this Committee. The proceedings will begin on February 18th, 2005.

Guest Worker Program
1. Whereas America must control its borders to protect against illegal immigration and importation of contraband,
2. Whereas immigration laws should serve the economic needs of our country,
3. Whereas unfair rewards should not be given to illegal immigrants to disadvantage those who come into the country legally, and
4. Whereas laws should provide incentives for temporary, foreign workers to return permanently to their home countries after their period of work in the United States has expired,
5. Be it resolved by this Congress assembled that the Guest Worker Program be adopted as law by the government of the United States of America.
6. Section 1: Employers must make every reasonable effort to find an American to fill a job before extending job offers to foreign workers.
7. Section 2: Companies that break the law and hire illegal workers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
8. Section 3: The U.S. will work with other countries to allow aliens working in the U.S. to receive credit in their nations' retirement systems and will support the creation of tax-preferred savings accounts they can collect when they return to their native countries.
9. Section 4: Temporary workers wanting to remain in America and pursue citizenship shall not receive an unfair advantage over those who have followed the law, and will placed in line for citizenship behind those who are already in line. Those who choose the path of citizenship will have an obligation to learn the facts and ideals that have shaped America's history and fulfill the same requirements as other candidates to receive citizenship.
10. Section 5: A reasonable increase in the annual limit of legal immigrants will be extended to benefit those who follow the lawful path to citizenship.
11. Therefore be it resolved by this Congress assembled that the Guest Worker Program be adopted as law by the government of the United States of America.

Respectfully submitted,
Congressman Ezekiel Edwardo Zabertini

[Zeke Zabertini]

Zeke clears his throat. "Well Mister Speaker? Will you begin the proceedings?"

[Republican_Man]

"I apologize for my absence. All rise at the face of the STV logo and STV Congress sign and repeat after me."
"I pledge to serve the people of STV with honor and dignity.
"I pledge to obey the rules of the proceedings and that of the World News forum.
"I pledge to do my best when choosing the correct legislation to use.
"And most of all
"I pledge to have fun."

After saying this, with each person in the committee repeating, O'Reilly stands up. "Here ye, here ye! The First Legislation up for discussion is one that, in my opinion, would only increase illegal immigration, and statistics show this. That is my opinion. But now we bring it up for debate, for our decision. The Bill on your DataPads, entitled "Guest Worker Program," which would be Bill 2A, discusses making the President's Guest Worker Program law.
"Is there an authorship speech here at the committee?"

[Zeke Zabertini]

Zeke stands. "I neither support nor oppose the current bill. However, I pledged before the Congress that I would introduce it so that they could decide for themselves whether or not to instate the Guest Worker Program. I submit the legislation in hopes that it will go before the full congress for a vote, and so that this issue may be decided once and for all as a result.
"Whether you support or oppose the GWP, I submit to you that it is the STV Congress' right to choose what is best, not this small committee. Approve the legislation for presentation before the full Congress. Rally support to defeat it or to pass it, I do not care. However, do approve it. For this committee's first action to be the witholding of a bill from a full vote simply because it does not agree politically with the text would be a blemish on the name of the STV Congress itself. Do not let your personal views interfere with the representatives' right to decide. To interfere with that would be a violation of democratic principle in its truest form." He sits again.

[Republican_Man]

"The problem with this," O'Reilly stands up, "is that there is no proponent authorship speech. That is somewhat of necessity. Otherwise, I would be inclined to approve of it, despite the fact that I am opposed to the very nature of this bill."

[Zeke Zabertini]

Zeke speaks from his seat. "With all due respect Mister Speaker, I'll argue either side if you wish. Or both, if it will help the legislation to reach the full Congress. You see Sir, my concern is for my ideals, and they don't include this Guest Worker Program. Thus, I'll be inclined to vote for whichever side seems most convincing. If that means I must argue the case myself I'll be glad to do so, just so long as the Congress has the final say."

[Republican_Man]

"A valid point. However, it is your duty as the author to give an authorship speech on the bill. Now, is there any opposition to or discussion about this bill that anyone would like to bring up?"

[Zeke Zabertini]

Zeke takes a few notes down on his datapad, then looks up. "I believe I've said all I have to say on the matter. I'll be prepared to give a proponent authorship speech when the bill reaches the full Congress."

[Scapegoat Bob]

*bobs are confused*

[Zeke Zabertini]

After a long pause, Zeke ventures a suggestion. "So, shall we vote on accepting the bill?"

[Republican_Man]

"As there is no opposition, I am now open to a vote." ::Votes Aye on his datapad::

[Zeke Zabertini]

A small grin pulls at the side of Zeke's face as he votes aye. "With three people, we still use datapads. One wonders that we talk at all anymore. We could almost run this whole Congress on an internet forum somewhere."

[Republican_Man]

((Lol, I got mixed up. Yes, let's make that a voice vote ))

[Zeke Zabertini]

OOC: Well, that's a majority. You can put the GWP on the floor when you wish. I look forward to your comments on the BIA, too.

[Republican_Man]

((lol, yes))

"Alright," O'Reilly stands up, "the vote is AYE for this bill. It will soon be placed on the Congress floor. The next legislation will be that of Congressman Moritz, who had sent me his legislation some time ago."

[Zeke Zabertini]

Zeke nods. "Let's hear it then Sir."

[Republican_Man]

"The following bill is submitted by Congressman Moritz:" ::Sends to DataPads.::

The political compass act of 2005 "Freedom to know your legislator."
1. Whereas it is important for citizens to understand the political stance of their legislators or candidates in a Democracy.
2. Whereas a "political compass" is the best way of determining one's stance over a variety of issues.
3. Whereas such a test's results will give any third party a vague understanding of the level of a legislators' biases.
4. Whereas [url]http:\www.politicalcompass.org[/url] has an accurate and free political compass test, which should take less than ten minutes to complete.
5. Be it resolved by this Congress assembled that the Political compass act of 2005 be adopted as law by the government of the United States of America.
6. Section 1: The official political compass test would be the [url]http:\www.politicalcompass.org[/url] test.
7. Section 2: Anyone participating in congress, in any congressional form, would be requrired to take said test.
8. Section 3: The Results of said test must be made public immediately, by PM'ing LightningBoy with the results which can then be listed on the official congressional chart.
9: Section 4: The Results of said test will be displayed in coordinates example "Up/Down -1.67, Left/Right +4.98" (For More information on the coordinates system, visit http:\www.politicalcompass.org.
10: Therefore be it resolved by this Congress assembled that the Political compass act of 2005 be adopted as law by the government of the United States of America.

[Zeke Zabertini]

Zeke considers a moment. "Hmm.... I can't agree with this, but I suppose we'd be wrong not to put it to a vote." He looks up from reading. "Anyone who thinks political views can be accruately summarized into a two-dimensional scale underestimates the complexities of the field in my opinion. I'd be more inclined to agree to a test that graphs views on particular subjects rather than just another dime-a-dozen overall scale." He returns to his datapad, accessing the internet. "Do either of you know of a more specific test that could be used?"

[Zeke Zabertini]

Zeke lowers the datapad and shrugs. "I can't find anything at the moment. Ideally, I'd suggest that we instead be compelled to write short essays of our opinions on political, economic, and civil liberties, but the quality would be so inconsistent...." He takes a moment more to think, then nods in decision. "All right, I suppose this is the best we can do for a standard for now. I suggest, however, that the tracking and posting of the results not be left up to Mister Moritz. It should be an individually-taken action, the results of which can be posted on a special board. Either that, or it should be added to our congressional profiles by you, James. If Dan wishes to make a chart, he can do so as a third party. Agreed?"

[Republican_Man]

"Are you stating your opposition to the clearance of this bill to the Congress, Congressman?"

[Zeke Zabertini]

Zeke shakes his head. "Not at all. I'm suggesting that we amend the bill before it goes to the floor. Do we have that power in committee?"

[Republican_Man]

"It is not in the rules, but one may propose a motion to amend the rules of the Congress as a whole to allow this."