It will IMMEDIATELY need further amendment! There are features in the amendment that I do not see as natural or necessary consequences of simply regularizing the electoral date (the stated goal of the legislation), but were someone's "bright idea" to include at the same time. Some of the text did represent useful simplification of the OrgLaw, and would certainly be worth revisiting if the amendment as presented during the about-to-be concluded general election does indeed fail passage.
What concerns me most is the little nuclear bombshell tucked in there, the revisions to Art VII Sect.8, which utterly changes the result of a failed VOC, turning it from an immediately new election (drastically shortening an already nearly-too-short legislative year) to an instant reversal of power. While the quick change does save the Kingdom the muss, fuss, and time spent on a full election (a laudable goal), two things in particular bother me about this.
First is the baked-in presumption that the Senechal (who is removed by the failed VOC) is the one purely at fault. Coalition building is a major part of the post-election maneuvering by a freshly elected Seneschal, and distributing Cabinet seats to allies outside of one's own party (i.e. bringing them into the Majority versus the Loyal Opposition) occurs regularly. It could come to pass that an allied Minister, who while embraced by the Majority does have agendas of their own, could take unpopular actions using that position. Remember, the VOC asks if we wish to continue "the government" as currently constituted. This is not just the Seneschal! So, in this scenario, a main-line party Seneschal ends up taking the fall for a rogue allied Minister!
The other concern, the BIG concern, is that as written, it basically just says "the Opposition Leader takes over". Period. For how long? The remainder of the former Seneschal's term? Is it considered the beginning of a fresh 7 (or 6) Clark cycle? If it is, do the things that normally occur during a leadership change occur, or are things otherwise left as-is?
With no limit specified, could the elevated Oppositional Seneschal remain in power indefinitely? These are things that need to be spelled out in properly constructed electoral law! Are the remaining Cabinet members considered to be defrocked immediately as well and needing replacement/reappointment? Is the Cosa dissolved or not with this new "instant government"? What other adjustments might be forced by this sea change in leadership?
What concerns me most is the little nuclear bombshell tucked in there, the revisions to Art VII Sect.8, which utterly changes the result of a failed VOC, turning it from an immediately new election (drastically shortening an already nearly-too-short legislative year) to an instant reversal of power. While the quick change does save the Kingdom the muss, fuss, and time spent on a full election (a laudable goal), two things in particular bother me about this.
First is the baked-in presumption that the Senechal (who is removed by the failed VOC) is the one purely at fault. Coalition building is a major part of the post-election maneuvering by a freshly elected Seneschal, and distributing Cabinet seats to allies outside of one's own party (i.e. bringing them into the Majority versus the Loyal Opposition) occurs regularly. It could come to pass that an allied Minister, who while embraced by the Majority does have agendas of their own, could take unpopular actions using that position. Remember, the VOC asks if we wish to continue "the government" as currently constituted. This is not just the Seneschal! So, in this scenario, a main-line party Seneschal ends up taking the fall for a rogue allied Minister!
The other concern, the BIG concern, is that as written, it basically just says "the Opposition Leader takes over". Period. For how long? The remainder of the former Seneschal's term? Is it considered the beginning of a fresh 7 (or 6) Clark cycle? If it is, do the things that normally occur during a leadership change occur, or are things otherwise left as-is?
With no limit specified, could the elevated Oppositional Seneschal remain in power indefinitely? These are things that need to be spelled out in properly constructed electoral law! Are the remaining Cabinet members considered to be defrocked immediately as well and needing replacement/reappointment? Is the Cosa dissolved or not with this new "instant government"? What other adjustments might be forced by this sea change in leadership?