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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 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 Bill failed to pass - a crushing defeat for EVIL-YSP coalition.

Following the 2008 elections, the new Government returned to the issue. On August 5, 2008, Parliament passed the 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. If this bill is passed, it will transform AH.com’s legislature into a bicameral body.

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 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 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 Deputy Prime Minister Demosthenes (E), LordInsane (E), VulcanTrekkie45 (YSP), TheDarkServant (E), Gladi (E), Steffen (FFF) and Susano (FFF). On August 28, President Sargon declared the bill sent back to committee.

On September 2, Comitee 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.

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 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)

This bill is still pending before Parliament.

Currently, LordInsane (E), Kidblast (YSP), TheDarkServant (E), VulcanTrekkie (YSP), Demosthenes (E), Susano (FFF), Steffen (FFF), 09camaro (E) voted for the bill.

LightInfa (E) and Keenir (E) voted against it.

Prime Minister Demosthenes declared on September 4, 2008 that the bill had reached 8 votes, enough to pass, and said he “awaits President Sargon's signiture for passage of the bill into law”. Demosthenes then stated his plans to draft legislation that would set(fix) the date for the Laandrad Election. However, the Crisis of 2008 happened before he was able to do so, and not it appears the Landsraad may in fact not be defined by this bill, but by the constitiution to be established by the planned Constitutional Convention.

AH.com Politics

2008 - 2009 Legislation

AH.com Peerages