===== Landsraad Act of 2008 ===== ==== Overview ==== In April 2008, [[Susano]] took the time to compile a complete listing of [[AH.com Peerages]]. Shortly afterward, members of the nobility began to float suggestions of allowing some sort of direct participation in His Administratorness' Government in the form of an Upper House in [[ahcom parliament|Parliament]], called a Landsraad, similar in concept to the British House of Lords. While there appeared to be strong support for a Landsraad, the [[landsraad act|Landsraad Bill]] failed to pass - a crushing defeat for [[Evil party|EVIL]]-[[yorkshire socialist party|YSP]] coalition. Following the [[ah.com elections 2008|2008 elections]], the new Government returned to the issue. On August 5, 2008, Parliament passed the [[Landsraad Committee bill|Landsraad Committee Act]] creating a parliamentary committee, the Committee for the Preparation of a New Landsraad Act, for the specific purpose of drafting a new Landsraad Bill. The Landsraad Act of 2008 was finally passed by Parliament on September 4, 2008 and signed into law by [[ahcom president|President]] [[Sargon]] on September 5, 2008, transforming AH.com’s legislature into a bicameral body. As of January 26, 2009, though, the [[Landsraad of AH.com]] has not yet been officially convened. ==== History ==== [[Vulcantrekkie45]] (YSP) of the Committee for the Preparation of a New Landsraad Act presented a draft bill to the Parliament on August 15, 2008. Shortly afterwards, Prime Minister [[fenkmaster|Douglas]] revealed that no agreement had been reached by the committee on a Landsraad Bill and urged all [[Evil Party]] MPs to vote against any such measure until it received the approval of either himself or [[ahcom president|President]] [[Sargon]]. On August 16, [[09camaro]] (E) motioned for the bill to be referred back to committee, to extend the debate time until a final form could be accepted by the committee and re-introduced. This motion was seconded by [[ahcom deputypm|Deputy Prime Minister]] [[Demosthenes]] (E), [[LordInsane]] (E), [[VulcanTrekkie45]] (YSP), [[TheDarkServant]] (E), [[Gladi]] (E), [[Steffen]] (FFF) and [[Susano]] (FFF). On August 28, [[ahcom president|President]] [[Sargon]] declared the bill sent back to committee. On September 2, Committee reached a consensus, and on its behalf, VuclanTrekkie45 (YSP) reintroduced the bill in its changed form. The bill found wide support, except for Keenir (E) and LightInfa (E), who opposed it. While Keenir disagreed with the entire system of nobility, LightInfa's objections were that in the current form of the bill, the Landsraad would merely be a ceremonial body without any real power and that all laws should by default have to pass the Landsraad. A third objection concerning vote weighting was soon found out to be due to a misunderstanding. Susano (FFF) moved to amend the specific passage to clarify the matter, which found wide support. ==== History after bill passed==== On February 14th, 2009, Susano proposed the [[Landsraad Elections Bill of 2009]], which set the first elections date and specified the rules for coming Landsraad Elections, too. [[Acting President]] [[Thande]] signed the bill into law March 1st. On March 14th, 2009, Susano, having discovered a serious flaw in the bill, proposed to Parliament the [[Landsraad Amendment Bill]], which is to supercede part of the Landsraad Bill of 2008. ==== Proposed Text of Legislation ==== WHEREAS Susano has created a peerage system for the denizens of AH.com; and WHEREAS This system has been widely accepted and praised by the larger community of AH.com; and WHEREAS Several members of the AH.com community have called for a Landsraad to be formed; and WHEREAS Many of the aforementioned members hold seats in the Parliament of AH.com; therefore BE IT ENACTED that the Parliament forms a legislative body to be known as the Landsraad of AH.com; and be it further ENACTED that the Landsraad shall consist of 11 seats, to be divided as such: · 3 British seats · 3 American seats · 2 German seats · 2 Chinese seats · 1 Miscellaneous seat; and be it further ENACTED that these seats shall have a one-year term; and be it further ENACTED that one the various peerages shall elect who will represent them; and be it further ENACTED that the various peerage ranks shall hold voting weights as such: · Duke/Maharajah/Kung: 4 · Landgrave/Margrave/Marquis/Emir/Hou: 3 · Prince: 2 · Count/Earl/Jarl/Po/Shi: 1 · Nan: 0; and be it further ENACTED that all ranks and titles shall be represented according to this list; and be it further ENACTED that the Landsraad shall be chaired by the highest ranking noble currently serving in said Landsraad; and be it further ENACTED that the Landsraad shall serve as the upper house in the newly bicameral government of AH.com; and be it further ENACTED that no member may sit in both the Landsraad and the Parliament of AH.com; and be it further ENACTED that a member of the Peerage of AH.com may pass his/her title to another should they wish to serve in Parliament; and be it further ENACTED that the Landsraad shall answer to the President of the Parliament of AH.com; and be it further ENACTED that a joint resolution of the Landsraad and Parliament of AH.com may impeach the President of AH.com should said president be judged unfit for duty. Respectfully submitted, The undersigned ==== Final Text of Legislation ==== WHEREAS Susano has created a peerage system for the denizens of AH.com; and WHEREAS This system has been widely accepted and praised by the larger community of AH.com; and WHEREAS Several members of the AH.com community have called for a Landsraad to be formed; and WHEREAS Many of the aforementioned members hold seats in the Parliament of AH.com; therefore BE IT ENACTED that the Parliament forms a legislative body to be known as the Landsraad of AH.com; and be it further ENACTED that the Landsraad shall consist of 11 seats, to be divided as such: * 3 British seats * 3 American seats * 2 German seats * 2 Chinese seats * 1 Miscellaneous seat; and be it further ENACTED that these seats shall have a one-year term; and be it further ENACTED that one the various peerages shall elect who will represent them; and be it further ENACTED that the various peerage ranks shall hold voting weights in the election of the Landraad members as such: * Duke/Maharajah/Kung: 4 * Landgrave/Margrave/Marquis/Emir/Hou: 3 * Prince: 2 * Count/Earl/Jarl/Po/Shi: 1 * Nan: 0; and be it further ENACTED that all ranks and titles shall be represented according to [[offtopic:ah.com_peerages|this list]]; and be it further ENACTED that the Landsraad shall be chaired by the highest ranking noble currently serving in said Landsraad; and be it further ENACTED that the Landsraad shall serve as the upper house in the newly bicameral government of AH.com; and be it further ENACTED that no member may sit in both the Landsraad and the Parliament of AH.com, though all Members of Parliament will retain their titles and active vote in the election of the Landsraad; and be it further ENACTED that at the objection of at least three Landraad members any measure taken by parliament may be brought for vote to the Landsraad; and be it further ENACTED that the Landsraad may veto any measure by parliament brought before it with a simple majority; and be it further ENACTED that parliament can turn over this veto in a second reading of the measure at least one week after the veto; and be it further ENACTED that the Landsraad shall answer to the President of the Parliament of AH.com; and be it further ENACTED that a joint resolution of the Landsraad and Parliament of AH.com may impeach with a 2/3 majority in both houses the President of AH.com should said president be judged unfit for duty. Respectfully submitted, The undersigned (VulcanTrekkie45) (TheDarkServant) (Susano) (Sargon) ==== Result ==== Final voting on this bill began on September 2, 2008 and ended on September 4, 2008. [[LordInsane]] (E), Opposition Leader [[Kidblast]] (YSP), [[TheDarkServant]] (E), [[VulcanTrekkie45]] (YSP), [[ahcom pm|Prime Minister]] [[Demosthenes]] (E), [[Susano]] (FFF), [[Steffen]] (FFF), and [[09camaro]] (E) voted IN FAVOR. [[LightInfa]] (E) and [[Keenir]] (E) voted AGAINST. [[Ran Exilis]] (E), [[Haggis]] (E), [[Gladi]] (E), [[Nekromans]] (YSP), and [[Pkmatrix]] (YSP) did not vote. Thus, the 2008 Landsraad Act passed with 8 votes in favor, 2 against, and 5 abstaining. The bill was signed into law by President Sargon (E) on September 5, 2008. ==== See Also ==== [[AH.com Politics]] [[2008 - 2009 Legislation]] [[AH.com Peerages]] [[Landsraad Elections Bill of 2009]] [[Landsraad Amendment Bill]]