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Bill: Official Programme of the Opposition
Details
Submitted by[?]: Constitutional Monarchy 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: July 3849
Description[?]:
| The Labour Party will form the official Opposition as all other parties in Parliament will be joined in Coalition. We therefore put forward our programme which we would implement if we were in government. This enables to public to see what the alternative vision for our country is. As the other Members of this House will see, we are proposing the largest transfer of powers to local government in Beluzia's history. This will truly create a Federal country, and give the local governments the power to make decisions that are right locally. Laws that suit one part of the country may not be suitable for others, therefore we need to give that power back to the people in the position to know what is best. - Viktoria Wardlaw, Leader of the Opposition |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change The professional retirement age.
Old value:: 65
Current: 60
Proposed: 62
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The salaries of members of parliament and/or government.
Old value:: Members of parliament and/or government are entitled to a comparatively large salary.
Current: Members of parliament and/or government have all their expenses paid for by the state.
Proposed: Members of parliament and/or government are entitled to a comparatively average salary.
Article 3
Proposal[?] to change Government-issued identity card policy.
Old value:: All citizens are issued with identity cards but are not required to carry them.
Current: Citizens are issued with identity cards on a voluntary basis.
Proposed: Citizens are not issued with identity cards.
Article 4
Proposal[?] to change Health care policy.
Old value:: There is a public health care system, but private clinics are allowed.
Current: There is a free public health care system and a small number of private clinics, which are heavily regulated to ensure they treat their patients well and provide good care.
Proposed: There is a free public health care system and a small number of private clinics, which are heavily regulated to ensure they treat their patients well and provide good care.
Article 5
Proposal[?] to change The recreational drug policy.
Old value:: There are no laws regulating what citizens can put into their bodies.
Current: The use of cannabis is legal.
Proposed: Recreational drug use is regulated by local governments.
Article 6
Proposal[?] to change Government policy towards smoking.
Old value:: Smoking is legal everywhere, at the discretion of the property owner. However, service/employer property owners that allow smoking must provide a separate non-smoking section.
Current: Smoking is legal outdoors and in private homes and clubs, but illegal indoors in all places of employment.
Proposed: Smoking regulations are to be determined by local governments.
Article 7
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy towards daily working hours.
Old value:: Daily working hours are regulated by the government.
Current: The government obligates trade unions and employers to negotiate the daily number of working hours.
Proposed: Local governments regulates the daily working hours.
Article 8
Proposal[?] to change Energy regulation.
Old value:: Energy is provided by private companies but the prices they can charge are regulated.
Current: Energy is provided by nationalised companies.
Proposed: Energy is provided by nationalised companies.
Article 9
Proposal[?] to change The right to gamble.
Old value:: Gambling is legal across the nation, no regulation whatsoever.
Current: Gambling is illegal unless taking place in a licensed casino.
Proposed: The legality of gambling is a matter of local governments.
Article 10
Proposal[?] to change The government's stance on a salary cap.
Old value:: The government has no stance on a salary cap.
Current: Labour unions and organizations of employers negotiate a salary cap.
Proposed: There is a national maximum wage but local governments may enforce stricter salary caps.
Article 11
Proposal[?] to change Policy on monopolies (this general law is superceded by other laws relating to specific parts of the economy).
Old value:: There is no policy on monopolies, they are unregulated.
Current: Monopolies are actively enforced in all sectors of the economy.
Proposed: Monopolies are only forbidden in specific sectors of the economy.
Article 12
Proposal[?] to change Trade union strike ballots.
Old value:: Trade unions must by law hold a ballot of all members before going on strike, a majority of all members, regardless of if they vote or not must approve the strike action.
Current: Trade unions must by law hold a ballot of all members before going on strike, a majority of all members, regardless of if they vote or not must approve the strike action.
Proposed: Trade unions must by law hold a ballot of all members before going on strike, majority approval of those that vote is needed from its members.
Article 13
Proposal[?] to change Policy on the organization of police/law enforcement
Old value:: There is a national police department funded by the national government and there are local police departments, funded by local governments.
Current: There is a national police department funded by the national government and there are local police departments, funded by local governments.
Proposed: The operation and funding of the police is left to local governments.
Article 14
Proposal[?] to change Higher education institutions.
Old value:: The government maintains a system of universities, vocational schools, and colleges nationwide.
Current: The government maintains a system of universities, vocational schools, and colleges nationwide.
Proposed: The government leaves the development and funding of all higher education institutions up to local governments.
Article 15
Proposal[?] to change The education system.
Old value:: There is a free public education system alongside private schools.
Current: There is a free public education system and a small number of private schools, which are heavily regulated to ensure they teach adequate skills and information.
Proposed: Education is entirely public and free; private schools are banned.
Article 16
Proposal[?] to change Guarantee of minimum income.
Old value:: All adults not supported by another person shall be guaranteed a very basic subsistence income by the government. However, the provision of this is not to exceed a certian period of time.
Current: All adults not supported by another person shall be guaranteed a very basic subsistence income by the government.
Proposed: All adults not supported by another person shall be guaranteed a reasonable, though not high, standard of living by the government.
Article 17
Proposal[?] to change The nation's capital city.
Old value:: 3382
Current: Cirrane
Proposed: 3368
Article 18
Proposal[?] to change Food safety policy.
Old value:: The government introduces, and actively enforces, food standards provisions.
Current: The government introduces, and actively enforces, food standards provisions.
Proposed: Local governments determine food safety standards.
Article 19
Proposal[?] to change Health and safety legislation for industry.
Old value:: The government introduces and actively regulates health and safety legislation in all areas of industry.
Current: The government introduces and actively regulates health and safety legislation in all areas of industry.
Proposed: Health and safety laws are to be determined by local governments.
Article 20
Proposal[?] to change Pharmaceutical drugs policy.
Old value:: The government pays partially for all citizens' pharmaceutical drugs, and pays entirely for those of low income citizens.
Current: The government supplies free pharmaceutical drugs to those on low incomes.
Proposed: The government pays for all citizens' pharmaceutical drugs.
Article 21
Proposal[?] to change The funding of sports clubs.
Old value:: The government funds some sports clubs side-by-side with private ones.
Current: The government funds some sports clubs side-by-side with private ones.
Proposed: All sports clubs are government owned and run.
Article 22
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy on advertising
Old value:: All advertising is permitted.
Current: Only advertising that meets certain set standards is permitted.
Proposed: Only advertising that meets certain set standards is permitted.
Article 23
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy towards fireworks.
Old value:: The sale of fireworks is unregulated, anyone may buy them.
Current: Local governments determine fireworks laws.
Proposed: Local governments determine fireworks laws.
Article 24
Proposal[?] to change Employer's rights in regards to firing striking workers.
Old value:: Employers can fire workers who are deemed to have gone on strike without reasonable reasons.
Current: Employers cannot fire workers who have gone on strike.
Proposed: Government approval is needed before strikers can be fired.
Article 25
Proposal[?] to change Policy concerning industrial hemp.
Old value:: There are no regulations on industrial hemp.
Current: There are no regulations on industrial hemp.
Proposed: Industrial hemp regulations are left up to local governments.
Article 26
Proposal[?] to change Secondary strike action.
Old value:: Only closely related trade unions can walk out on a sympathy strike in support of other striking workers.
Current: Any trade union can go on a sympathy strike in support of other striking workers.
Proposed: Any trade union can go on a sympathy strike in support of other striking workers.
Article 27
Proposal[?] to change The government's position towards the stock exchange(s).
Old value:: Stock exchanges are allowed and are unregulated.
Current: Stock exchanges are allowed but are regulated.
Proposed: Stock exchanges are allowed but are regulated.
Article 28
Proposal[?] to change The government's position towards the use of forensic DNA databases.
Old value:: Only DNA from persons convicted of crime is recorded.
Current: Only DNA from persons convicted of crime is recorded.
Proposed: The decision on forensic DNA databases is left to local governments.
Article 29
Proposal[?] to change
The government's stance on illegal aliens.
Old value:: The government actively searches houses for illegal aliens and expels them from the country.
Current: The government does not actively search for illegal aliens, but puts them in integration centers when discovered.
Proposed: Dealing with illegal aliens is left to local governments.
Article 30
Proposal[?] to change Malpractice suits.
Old value:: Malpractice suits may be brought against doctors.
Current: Malpractice suits may be brought against doctors.
Proposed: Malpractice regulations are left to the locality of the practicing doctor.
Article 31
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy towards police presence.
Old value:: The police patrol public property at all times.
Current: Presence of the police is left to the local governments.
Proposed: Presence of the police is left to the local governments.
Article 32
Proposal[?] to change Higher education tuition policy.
Old value:: The government subsidizes higher education tuition to a certain amount, the rest is covered by the individual students. This includes scholarship programs.
Current: The government subsidizes tuition only for students from families classified as low-income or poor.
Proposed: The government fully subsidizes tuition.
Article 33
Proposal[?] to change Government funding for private schools.
Old value:: Only charter schools are given government funding.
Current: Private educational institutions receive no government funding whatsoever.
Proposed: The funding of private schools is the responsibility of local governments.
Article 34
Proposal[?] to change National, cultural and historic sites and monuments.
Old value:: The state actively protects scenery, localities, cultural, and historical sites; it maintains an agency to preserve them untouched if public interest so requires.
Current: The state actively protects scenery, localities, cultural, and historical sites; it maintains an agency to preserve them untouched if public interest so requires.
Proposed: This matter is left up to the local governments.
Article 35
Proposal[?] to change The research and development of pharmaceutical drugs.
Old value:: The government subsidizes research and development of prescription drugs but does not regulate their prices.
Current: The government subsidizes research and development of prescription drugs and regulates their prices.
Proposed: The government subsidizes research and development of prescription drugs and regulates their prices.
Article 36
Proposal[?] to change Government policy towards space exploration.
Old value:: The government shall issue permits to private space-exploration companies.
Current: The government shall fully fund a state-owned space agency which controls all national space-related activity.
Proposed: The government shall fully fund a state-owned space agency which controls all national space-related activity.
Article 37
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning forest protection.
Old value:: Forests are protected. Logging is allowed by licence only.
Current: Forests have strictly enforced protection. Felling is limited to fire breaks.
Proposed: Forest protection is left to local governments.
Article 38
Proposal[?] to change Government policy regarding a national park system.
Old value:: The government funds and maintains a network of national parks and/or marine protected areas.
Current: The government funds and maintains a network of national parks and/or marine protected areas.
Proposed: The government devolves park policy to local governments.
Article 39
Proposal[?] to change Government regulation of pollution in industry.
Old value:: The government enforces highly restrictive industrial pollution standards.
Current: The government enforces highly restrictive industrial pollution standards.
Proposed: The government provides pollution prevention guidelines, but does not enforce them.
Article 40
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy on tree plantation.
Old value:: The government requires tree plantation at higher than replacement levels for all logging or clearance operations.
Current: The government requires tree plantation at higher than replacement levels for all logging or clearance operations.
Proposed: Local governments may set plantation policy.
Article 41
Proposal[?] to change Waste disposal responsibility.
Old value:: The government is responsible for waste disposal.
Current: Private companies are responsible for disposing of their own waste. The government disposes of residential waste.
Proposed: It is the responsibility of local governments to decide on waste disposal regulation.
Article 42
Proposal[?] to change Regulation of the quality of drinking water.
Old value:: The government sets a single standard to ensure all tap water is drinkable.
Current: The government sets a range of standards dependant on water usage. (grey water regulation, etc.)
Proposed: Local government is responsible for drinking water quality regulation.
Article 43
Proposal[?] to change Government agricultural and farming subsidies policy.
Old value:: The government subsidises the operations of low-income farming families.
Current: The government subsidises the operations of low-income farming families.
Proposed: The government allows local governments to craft agricultural subsidy policy.
Article 44
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning farm size.
Old value:: Farm size is not regulated.
Current: Farm size regulations are determined by local governments.
Proposed: Farm size regulations are determined by local governments.
Article 45
Proposal[?] to change Commercial fishing regulation.
Old value:: There are no limits on the amount of fish that may be caught.
Current: The government establishes fishing quotas.
Proposed: Local governments can establish fishing quotas
Article 46
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning the use of pesticides.
Old value:: Farmers are required to list chemicals used on their crops.
Current: Chemical pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are banned.
Proposed: Local governments may choose to regulate pesticides certification programs.
Article 47
Proposal[?] to change Forced marriages.
Old value:: Forced marriages are legal and binding.
Current: Forced marriages are illegal.
Proposed: The legality of forced marriages lies with local governments.
Article 48
Proposal[?] to change Weapon concealment.
Old value:: Some categories of weapon must be carried openly, others may be concealed.
Current: People must first obtain a permit in order to carry concealed weapons.
Proposed: Local governments may set and enforce concealed carry laws.
Article 49
Proposal[?] to change The government's stance on population control.
Old value:: The government does not engage in population control.
Current: The government does not engage in population control.
Proposed: Population control is left to local governments.
Article 50
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning immigration.
Old value:: Quotas are based on individual applicant's qualifications.
Current: Quotas are based on individual applicant's qualifications.
Proposed: Everyone is allowed to reside permanently in this nation.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 07:51:55, May 20, 2015 CET | From | Constitutional Monarchy Party | To | Debating the Official Programme of the Opposition |
| Message | OOC: in the old days it was traditional to explain your objections? |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||
| yes | Total Seats: 121 | ||
| no |
Total Seats: 200 | ||
| abstain |
Total Seats: 129 |
| Random fact: "Game mechanics comes first." For example, if a currently-enforced bill sets out one law, then a player cannot claim the government has set out a contradictory law. |
| Random quote: On 7th February 4281 a group of renowned Metzist experts from all across Terra met in Haldor to form the International Committee for the Estimation of the End Date of Capitalism (ICEEDC). With the assistance of a powerful computer, they calculated that capitalism will terminate Terra-wide on 6th November 4320, and in Dorvik on April 17th 4310. We have no reason whatsoever to believe these very eminent and learned scholars are wrong. They have never been wrong about anything before. ~ Friedrich Pfeiffer, General Secretary of the Dorvish Communist Party |