Annual Elections Amendment

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Note: This is an adapted version of an amendment previously suggested by current senator @mpf
Posting here as a placeholder when the new Cosa convenes.

WHEREAS there were talks about creating fixed dates elections, in order to provide reliability and predictability for the electors, and

WHEREAS there has been talk of expanding the space for the growth of non-political activity, and

WHEREAS this proposal provides a single election per year, on January 15th, skipping the holiday season, and

WHEREAS this proposal still has the option for an earlier election through the monthly votes of confidence.

THEREFORE the Ziu resolves to put in a referendum the following changes to the Organic Law

Section 3 of article 6 which currently reads:

All elections to the Cosa are to be conducted during a period beginning from the fifteenth day of the calendar month following the dissolution of the prior Cosa until 7:30 p.m. on the first day of the subsequent month. The first day of this period (the fifteenth) is called the "Balloting Day" and the final day is called the "Election Deadline."

Is replaced with:

All elections to the Cosa are to be conducted during a period beginning from the fifteenth day of the calendar month of January until 7:30 p.m. on the first day of February. The first day of this period (the fifteenth) is called the "Balloting Day" and the final day is called the "Election Deadline."

Section 1 of Article XIII which currently reads:

Duration of the Cosâ. The Cosâ convenes on the first day of the month after general elections, to coincide with the publication of the first Clark. Its term is roughly six months, each month coinciding with a Clark. During its last month, the King shall issue a Writ of Dissolution ending its term. At the time the Cosâ is dissolved, all its members shall resign, but any Members holding positions in the Government may remain in those positions till the outcome of the election is resolved.

Is replaced by:

Duration of the Cosâ. The Cosâ convenes on the first day of the month after general elections (March), to coincide with the publication of the first Clark. Its term is exactly 9 months, each month coinciding with a specific Clark (for example, September is Clark #5). During its last month (December) the King shall issue a Writ of Dissolution ending its term. At the time the Cosâ is dissolved, all its members shall resign, but any Members holding positions in the Government may remain in those positions till the outcome of the election is resolved.  When this amendment is ratified, a transition period, of appropriate necessity, will be applied so that the following Cosa will have its election during the first of the following two events: After its 6th Clark is published, or in July of that year.

Section 3 of Article XIII which currently reads:

The Seneschál may insert between any two Clarks, or after the final Clark, a "month of recess" in which no Clark is published and no Cosâ or Senäts business is conducted. No more than one "month of recess" may be declared during any one term of office.

Is amended to read as:

The Seneschál may insert between any two Clarks, a month of recess, in which no Clark is published and no Cosâ or Senäts business is conducted. No more than one "month of recess" may be declared during any one term of office.

Section 4 of Article XIII is removed

The part of Section 6 of Article XIII which currently reads:

the King shall dissolve the Cosâ and call new elections.

Is replaced by (unless another bill is ratified which proposed a similar mechanic in which case it would take priority over this replacement):

the Cosa shall elect and the King shall select that electee as a new Seneschal he feels would be best able to succeed at a Vote of Confidence

Section 3 of Article IV which currently reads:

Each time the Cosa shall be dissolved, there shall be an election for one-third of the total Senate seats (rounded to the nearest whole number). The exact fixed order of rotation of provinces for elections shall be set by law and shall require two-thirds vote in the Cosa with approval by the King and the Senäts to be modified.

Is replaced by:

Each time the Cosa is dissolved, there shall be an election for approximately one-half of the total Senate seats (rounded to the nearest whole number) so that each Senator is elected for 2 years. The exact fixed order of rotation of provinces for elections shall be set by law and shall require two-thirds vote in the Cosa with approval by the King and the Senäts to be modified.

TBD

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

It might be a good idea to make elections more predictable, but there's no reason to make them less frequent. We very regularly see governments burnout on activity before the end of our current cycles, and the revealed preference of the country is that they actually pretty much enjoy elections generally.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Thank you Baron. Looking forward to others chiming in with their thoughts.