We are working on a brand new version of the game! If you want to stay informed, read our blog and register for our mailing list.
Bill: Equal Representation Act
Details
Submitted by[?]: Freedom Party
Status[?]: defeated
Votes: This bill asks for an amendement to the Constitution. It will require two-thirds of the legislature to vote in favor. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: January 2146
Description[?]:
The purpose of this bill is to ensure for equal representation of the people in Parliament. Currently, the peoples of the smaller regions, Gavonshire, Krentori, and Sildar, are in a position unequal to that of the larger regions of Ultran and Kurmal. To further convince you, let me present my full case:
Combined, Kurmal and Ultran control a total of 188 seats in Parliament.
The two smallest Regions of Aloria control a total 139 seats.
Even if Gavonshire and Krentori could pressure Sildar to vote with them, they would barely have a majority (212 seats). Sildar, however, is far closer in size to Kurmal than it is to Gavonshire.
In a nation in which most powers of government are devolved to the regions, we cannot afford to have the larger sections of the nature imposing their will upon the smaller regions. It is, therefore, in the interest of the smaller regions of Aloria that we present this legislation. |
Proposals
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 04:51:38, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Libertarian Capitalist Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | We cannot support this - this spits in the very face of democracy. A region's seats in the national parliament is based upon their population, which is only fair. And please, before anyone suspects me of doing this for my own reasons, given my support base, I would serve only to gain if this passed. I will reject it because it is an affront to a representative democracy, where population dictates voice - as is only right. |
| Date | 04:57:14, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Independent Capitalist Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | I stand to lose if this is passed. Only 2 people in the whole region voted for me. This bill is just a way for FP to gain more seats and take it from the smaller parties. |
| Date | 05:09:15, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Capitalism Now! Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | And you all call me power mad, while our good freedom loving friends there are trying to take seats away from smaller parties. |
| Date | 05:11:52, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | Yes, the Freedom Party stands to gain if this passes. We will not deny this. However, the fact that the FP stands to gain seats is merely a secondary reason for us to support this. Furthermore, Our goal is not to take away seats from smaller parties.
The Freedom Party views the Confederated Regions of Aloria as similar to the United Countries, except with federal legislation superceding, for the most part, regional legislation. As a result, the FP believes that each region should have equal representation. We will not stand for larger regions taking advantage of smaller regions. |
| Date | 05:13:58, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Libertarian Capitalist Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | That's what happens in a democracy - the majority wins over the minority. If the minority doesn't like it, maybe they should convince the majority... not whine until they get what they want, thereby destroying the very idea of the democratic process. |
| Date | 05:15:04, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | The FP also reminds the Independent Centrist Party that it will only serve to gain seats, should this legislation pass. The region in which your party did the best, Krentori, is the second-smallest region in Aloria. In Krentori, you recieved 534,522 votes, or 11.92% of the vote. |
| Date | 05:16:57, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Libertarian Capitalist Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | I like the political backscratching going on. "Come to the dark side of fascism, get a free cookie!"
I'm sorry, how can you call yourself the freedom party when you're proposing we make one man's vote worth less than another man's? |
| Date | 05:17:13, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | "That's what happens in a democracy - the majority wins over the minority. If the minority doesn't like it, maybe they should convince the majority... not whine until they get what they want, thereby destroying the very idea of the democratic process."
Do not accuse us of whining, good sir. We demand nothing but equal representation in the legislature. Other parties have been known to resort to armed resistence when they lose an election. To this, we will not stoop to, but *that* is the destruction of the democratic process. |
| Date | 05:18:34, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | "I'm sorry, how can you call yourself the freedom party when you're proposing we make one man's vote worth less than another man's?"
I beg your pardon? The FP advocates the sovereignty of each region. We view the Parliament as a congress of representatives of the regions. When the larger regions have a clear-cut majority, we have a dangerous situation. |
| Date | 05:25:23, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Independent Capitalist Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | 400 seats divided equally into 5 regions would lead to 80 seats per region. Also, I calculated that I would stand to gain 2 seats. However, this is a federal system, not a confederate system. Should not the majority of seats go for the majority of votes as it is now? |
| Date | 05:27:26, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | That's actually, *not* how it is now. Currently, the more one concentrates one's electorate, the more one stands to gain. As a result, elections are decided by gerrymandering and strategies, not the will of the people. |
| Date | 05:34:21, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Independent Capitalist Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | If it became as you proposed, people would appeal more to individual regions than the country as a whole and one man's vote in the smallest region would count more than one man's vote in the largest. One man, one vote. Is that not a free and democratic principal? |
| Date | 05:39:20, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | But that is not how our nation is run. Our nation devolves most powers to the regions. Regional elections, therefore, are the most important.
The smaller regions can not, must not, and shall not allow a continued dictatorship of the larger regions. We demand equality.
Like we said before, Parliament is merely a congress of regional representatives. We cannot continue to allow the larger regions to retain their stranglehold on the majority. Regions must have equal and full representation. |
| Date | 05:40:58, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Libertarian Capitalist Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | But the regional elections have NOTHING to do with their representation in the parliament - for federal matters, an equal representation system is neither fair nor democratic. |
| Date | 05:42:52, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | The Freedom Party has stated its opinion on this matter. It seems we shall have to agree to disagree, then. |
| Date | 05:48:03, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | Well, I've lost then. Even if all of the other parties vote for this, we won't be able to get the 2/3 needed to get it to pass. |
| Date | 05:52:55, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | Let me recap my arguments:
1) this legislation will help the smaller regions of Aloria
2) this legislation will help the smaller parties of Aloria
3) this legislation will help to cultivate equality amongst the regions of Aloria
The Freedom Party views the Confederated Regions of Aloria as similar to the United Countries, except with federal legislation superceding, for the most part, regional legislation. As a result, the FP believes that each region should have equal representation. We will not stand for larger regions taking advantage of smaller regions.
In a nation in which most powers of government are devolved to the regions, we cannot afford to have the larger sections of the nature imposing their will upon the smaller regions. It is, therefore, in the interest of the smaller regions of Aloria that we present this legislation. |
| Date | 05:53:52, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Independent Capitalist Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | Hold on. The current method isn't being very democratic either, it says itself that it gives larger regions an advantage. I don't see any good options here. |
| Date | 05:55:57, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Independent Capitalist Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | *slaps self on head*
It *is* a confederacy, not a federal system. Even the name of Aloria expresses it. Thus in a system with great regional power, giving larger regions an advantage makes no sense. This legislation does. |
| Date | 05:56:31, November 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Equal Representation Act | | Message | Exactly. This is why we advocate equal representation. It is the closest to equality that we can find. If it were possible, we would propose a bicameral legislature to satisfy both the larger regions and the smaller parties, but, alas, this is not possible.
When it is possible, however, you can be sure that the Freedom Party will be one of its key supporters. |
subscribe to this discussion -
unsubscribeVoting
| Vote |
Seats |
| yes | Total Seats: 196 |
| no | Total Seats: 196 |
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
| Random fact: Zardugal is a nation based on the old Byzantine Empire, with a modern twist and the Esperanto language. Zardugal is located on the continent of Majatra. |
| Random quote: "A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example." -
Niccolo Machiavelli |
Aloria Green Socialist Party