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Bill: Devolution Act
Details
Submitted by[?]: Pnték Znkak Prta 'Bastardry'
Status[?]: passed
Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: May 2198
Description[?]:
We cannot allow this centralised stranglehold over the populace to continue. As representatives of the people we should act to ensure that we serve the wishes of as many of them as possible. Does it not stand to reason? (Where local curfews are to be implemented, their times are situation dependent. No earlier than 6pm, no later than 10pm) |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning adoption.
Old value:: Adoption is regulated by the government. Applicants can adopt after a routine check-up.
Current: Adoption is regulated by private, recognised organisations.
Proposed: Adoption policy is to be established by local governments.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding child benefit.
Old value:: The state does not provide child benefit.
Current: The state guarantees child benefit to families classified as low-income or poor.
Proposed: Child benefit policies are left to local governments.
Article 3
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning child labour.
Old value:: Child labour is allowed, but with additional regulations to those of adult labourers.
Current: Child labour is mandatory; all children must seek employment.
Proposed: Child labour is regulated by local governments.
Article 4
Proposal[?] to change Civil defence is the government's policy on providing shelters to be used in the event of attacks on major cities, mainly nuclear attacks and bombing.
Old value:: No new buildings may be constructed unless they feature provisions for civil defence.
Current: The government builds and maintains a network of shelters across the nation.
Proposed: Local authorities are responsible for building and maintaining shelters.
Article 5
Proposal[?] to change Weapon concealment.
Old value:: People must first obtain a permit in order to carry concealed weapons.
Current: Any legal weapon may be concealed when carried.
Proposed: Local governments may set and enforce concealed carry laws.
Article 6
Proposal[?] to change Government position in respect to crossdressing policy.
Old value:: Crossdressing is allowed.
Current: Crossdressing is allowed.
Proposed: Local governments determine the legality of crossdressing.
Article 7
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 8
Proposal[?] to change Curfew policy (curfew time to be determined in the bill description).
Old value:: No curfew policies may be established.
Current: Local governments may impose curfews, but only if a state of emergency has been declared.
Proposed: Local governments may impose curfews, but only if a state of emergency has been declared.
Article 9
Proposal[?] to change The legality of divorces (if marriages are recognised).
Old value:: Divorces are legal, be it mutual consent, grounded cause or if one partner wants it.
Current: The government has no policy on the legality of divorces.
Proposed: Divorces are prohibited.
Article 10
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding the initiation of divorces (if allowed).
Old value:: Either partner may initiate a divorce.
Current: Only male partners may initiate a divorce.
Proposed: Local governments decide who can initiate a divorce.
Article 11
Proposal[?] to change Eminent Domain.
Old value:: The government may not seize private property.
Current: The government may seize private property for any reason.
Proposed: The policy regarding eminent domain is left to local governments.
Article 12
Proposal[?] to change Energy regulation.
Old value:: Energy is provided by private companies which are not subject to any special regulations.
Current: Energy is provided by nationalised companies.
Proposed: Energy provision is left to local governments.
Article 13
Proposal[?] to change Government agricultural and farming subsidies policy.
Old value:: The government denies subsidy assistance to farmers.
Current: All agricultural operations are state-owned and operated.
Proposed: The government allows local governments to craft agricultural subsidy policy.
Article 14
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning farm size.
Old value:: Farm size is not regulated.
Current: Small farms are encouraged to merge together into larger ones.
Proposed: Farm size regulations are determined by local governments.
Article 15
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy towards fireworks.
Old value:: The sale of fireworks is unregulated, anyone may buy them.
Current: Only professionals may run licensed fireworks shows, fireworks are illegal to the general public.
Proposed: Local governments determine fireworks laws.
Article 16
Proposal[?] to change Firefighting services.
Old value:: The government competitively subcontracts firefighting services.
Current: There is a national fire department, funded by the government.
Proposed: Fire prevention and management is left to the local governments.
Article 17
Proposal[?] to change
The government's policy regarding foreign marriages.
Old value:: Only foreign marriages that comply with domestic policy regarding marriage are recognised.
Current: All foreign marriages are recognised, regardless of domestic policy regarding marriage.
Proposed: Local governments regulate the recognition of foreign marriages.
Article 18
Proposal[?] to change The right to gamble.
Old value:: Gambling is legal across the nation, no regulation whatsoever.
Current: Gambling is illegal.
Proposed: The legality of gambling is a matter of local governments.
Article 19
Proposal[?] to change Government regulation of hunting.
Old value:: Hunting and fishing is not regulated.
Current: Hunting and fishing is not regulated.
Proposed: The matters of hunting and fishing are handled by local governments.
Article 20
Proposal[?] to change
The government's stance on illegal aliens.
Old value:: The government does not actively search for illegal aliens, but expels them from the country when discovered.
Current: The government actively searches houses for illegal aliens and expels them from the country.
Proposed: Dealing with illegal aliens is left to local governments.
Article 21
Proposal[?] to change Policy concerning industrial hemp.
Old value:: There are no regulations on industrial hemp.
Current: Industrial hemp is illegal.
Proposed: Industrial hemp regulations are left up to local governments.
Article 22
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy towards the funding of libraries.
Old value:: The national government controls a vast and comprehensive system of public libraries.
Current: The national government controls a vast and comprehensive system of public libraries.
Proposed: Funding and operation of libraries is left entirely to local governments.
Article 23
Proposal[?] to change Government policy toward marriage.
Old value:: The government allows all consenting adults to obtain civil marriage contracts.
Current: The government only recognises civil marriages between a man and a woman.
Proposed: Civil marriages are defined by local governments.
Article 24
Proposal[?] to change The use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Old value:: Cannabis is legal as a sedative for patients in pain.
Current: Cannabis is legal as a sedative for patients in pain.
Proposed: The legality of medicinal cannabis is established by local governments.
Article 25
Proposal[?] to change The state's intervention in the appointment of ministers of religion.
Old value:: The state does not intervene in the appointment of ministers of any religion whatsoever.
Current: The state has the right to veto the appointment of any ministers of religion.
Proposed: The state has the right to veto the appointment of any ministers of religion.
Article 26
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning museum funding.
Old value:: The government does not fund or manage museums. This is left to the private sector.
Current: The national government maintains a system of museums nationwide.
Proposed: The government leaves funding and operation of museums to local governments.
Article 27
Proposal[?] to change Government policy regarding a national park system.
Old value:: The government does not have a national park system policy.
Current: The government does not have a national park system policy.
Proposed: The government devolves park policy to local governments.
Article 28
Proposal[?] to change Government policy on nuclear power.
Old value:: The government encourages nuclear power (subsidies, tax relief etc).
Current: The government encourages nuclear power (subsidies, tax relief etc).
Proposed: The decision is left up to local governments.
Article 29
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy on public nudity.
Old value:: Public nudity is illegal, but private nudist colonies and beaches are permitted.
Current: There are no laws with regards to public nudity, it is allowed.
Proposed: Public nudity laws are left to local governments.
Article 30
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning parental qualifications.
Old value:: The government does not hold qualifications for new parents.
Current: The government does not hold qualifications for new parents.
Proposed: Parental qualifications are left to local governments.
Article 31
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning the use of pesticides.
Old value:: There is no government oversight or regulation of pesticides.
Current: Farmers are required to list chemicals used on their crops.
Proposed: Local governments may choose to regulate pesticides certification programs.
Article 32
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 33
Proposal[?] to change Positive discrimination.
Old value:: No form of positive discrimination is permitted.
Current: The government encourages positive discrimination and enforces it for government hiring.
Proposed: Hiring policies are regulated by local governments.
Article 34
Proposal[?] to change Pre-school education.
Old value:: The government maintains a system of free publically owned nursery and pre-school educational centres.
Current: Pre-school education is private, but the government covers the schoolcosts of poor families.
Proposed: The government leaves the pre-school education policy to local governments.
Article 35
Proposal[?] to change The right for a person to prostitute himself or herself.
Old value:: Prostitution is illegal.
Current: Prostitution is illegal.
Proposed: Prostitution regulation decisions are left up to local governments.
Article 36
Proposal[?] to change Funding of public transport (where applicable).
Old value:: Public transport is fully user-pays.
Current: Public transport is fully subsidised for people with low-income, with the remainder "user-pays".
Proposed: Local governments decide upon the funding policy.
Article 37
Proposal[?] to change
Taxation of religious institutions.
Old value:: No religions are taxed.
Current: All religious income, despite the use, is taxed.
Proposed: Religious taxation policy is left to the local governments.
Article 38
Proposal[?] to change Remuneration of ministers of religion.
Old value:: The state does not intervene in the remuneration of ministers of religion.
Current: The state does not intervene in the remuneration of ministers of religion.
Proposed: The remuneration of ministers of religion shall be left up to the local governments.
Article 39
Proposal[?] to change Renewable energy sources (eg. solar power, wind power).
Old value:: The government does not take any position with regards to renewable energy.
Current: Government subsidies are provided for research and generation of energy through renewable sources.
Proposed: The decision on renewable energy sources is left up to local governments.
Article 40
Proposal[?] to change Government policy on sexual relations.
Old value:: Sexual relations of all types are legal for consenting adults.
Current: Sexual relations of all types are legal for consenting adults.
Proposed: Sexual relation laws are set by local governments.
Article 41
Proposal[?] to change The funding of sports clubs.
Old value:: The government does not fund sports clubs; only private ones are allowed.
Current: The government funds some sports clubs side-by-side with private ones.
Proposed: Local governments decide the funding policy of sports clubs.
Article 42
Proposal[?] to change The teacher's right to discipline children.
Old value:: Teachers are forbidden from striking children and may only use non-contact discipline (detention, expulsion etc).
Current: Discipline levels are set by schools.
Proposed: Discipline levels are set by local governments.
Article 43
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy on tree plantation.
Old value:: The government does not intervene with regard to the replantation of trees.
Current: The government encourages, but does not require new and replacement plantation.
Proposed: Local governments may set plantation policy.
Article 44
Proposal[?] to change Waste disposal responsibility.
Old value:: Waste disposal is left entirely to the private sector and is unregulated.
Current: The government is responsible for waste disposal.
Proposed: It is the responsibility of local governments to decide on waste disposal regulation.
Article 45
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 46
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding the keeping of wild animals as pets.
Old value:: The government maintains a list of dangerous wild animals which may not be kept as pets; other wild animals may be kept as pets.
Current: Wild animals may be kept as pets; the owners of dangerous wild animals must take the necessary measures to ensure they can't escape.
Proposed: This matter is left up to the local governments.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
Date | 00:39:46, February 23, 2006 CET | From | Pnték Znkak Prta 'Bastardry' | To | Debating the Devolution Act |
Message | As deplorable as some of these rights retractions may seem, we must give local governments the right to choose for themselves as we have smothered our nation with in the years gone by. So as the more conversative regions can choose to restrict themselves, the liberal regions can free themselves of restrict, whilst all being covered in the blanket of a Pontesi that cares for its people, grants them a better chance to live happily, and if their region fails them, they can always elect to move to one that suits them more. Our democratic Pontesi must be eponymous, and not a despotism in disguise as proposed by some, a Robin Hood society as proposed by others, or a money-above-workers society as one region will be sure to object. We must let them choose what they desire of the choices all of our parties, however different, contradicting or opposed, choose to present to them in their regions. |
Date | 00:46:06, February 23, 2006 CET | From | Pnték Znkak Prta 'Bastardry' | To | Debating the Devolution Act |
Message | By no means does the policy of Cynical Bastards ourselves condemn all of the previous decisions by devolving them, but by all means we seek to bring all of them into the hands of our local governments for them to decide upon. |
Date | 15:59:00, February 23, 2006 CET | From | Georgeonian Centrist Party | To | Debating the Devolution Act |
Message | The GCP opposes this bill. We feel that many of these right should be available to all citizens regardless of where they live and are too important to be left to regional governments. |
Date | 18:35:58, February 24, 2006 CET | From | Labour Party | To | Debating the Devolution Act |
Message | We oppose this as it may undo much of the legislation currently in effect to the detriment of the country. We should strive for civic unity, not split Pontesi up into autonomous blocs. There is a place for devolution in some areas, but this goes too far. |
Date | 18:44:20, February 24, 2006 CET | From | Pontesi Fascist Coalition | To | Debating the Devolution Act |
Message | Once again, the CBP is trying to split Pontesi and fracture our national unity. We will aggressively fight this bill. |
Date | 03:26:50, February 25, 2006 CET | From | Pnték Znkak Prta 'Bastardry' | To | Debating the Devolution Act |
Message | This is only because the selfish acts of the other parties want to shape the entire country to their way of thinking and aren't prepared to accept that whilst some will support them, regional variance of opinion will prevent their grossly generalised and simple minded dreams from becoming manifestations. This bill will help you achieve your ideals in some areas so long as you have the cranial capacity to admit that not everyone thinks as your party leader does. Anyone may seek to rule the world but only a foolhardy idiot will believe that they will have the support of the entire populace - trying to succeed in blanketing a nation with one mantra for millions of minds will not find favour with the people; doing this in the supposed name of the people under the label of a "democratic society" is a laughably flawed ambition. "By the people, for the people" and yet against the people. For shame. |
Date | 19:10:37, March 10, 2006 CET | From | Libertarian Party | To | Debating the Devolution Act |
Message | The Libertarian party's only response to this bill is that changes to many areas of the law combined in a single bill with no opportunity to vote for or reject specific articles should be discouraged. While there are some things the Libertarian party agrees with, there are many things that the Libertarian party does not wish to introduce into law. |
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Voting
Vote | Seats | ||||
yes |
Total Seats: 141 | ||||
no |
Total Seats: 118 | ||||
abstain | Total Seats: 40 |
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