Hi everyone, sorry in advance if this post looks a bit long. I assure you I've tried to cover all the bases, and I've tried to make it easy to read. Enjoy.
Proposal to create the Senate of VillageCraft:
Proposal:
In my ongoing efforts to make VillageCraft more democratic, I have decided to write up this proposal to create the Senate of VillageCraft.
The Senate would become the main body that creates Official Parliament Votes on VC, and it would be filled with Senators.
Becoming a Senator:
The CM would be offered a Senate seat, and all other seats would be filled by sortition (random selection from a list that any MP can put their name on). This gives everyone a chance to be selected to be a Senator if they so choose, and if they want to be part of this process.
This means that the Senate will be occupied by regular people who want to get involved, without needing an election process. To be confirmed to the Senate, there will be a straightforward Competency Test to make sure any person selected is active and able.
Alteration to the CM Guidelines:
The current text of section D of the CM Guidelines (the Parliament Vote Initiative process) would be removed and instead replaced with text reflecting the CM's potential role in the Senate. This alters the process of the community creating Parliament Votes by putting it into the hands of a specific rotating team (the Senate), which the CM always has the option to join.
Lastly, text would be added to clarify the CM's ability to certify Simple Parliament Votes when 3 MPs nominate a proposal (this is currently in the Parliament Guidelines). Simple votes are what I've named votes in Parliament that aren't at the level of Official Parliament Votes. I've tried to write this to reflect the historical precedents and reality of the Parliament into clear words everyone can understand.
I've organized this proposal into 2 major sections below.
Section 1 is creating the Senate, Section 2 is changing the CM Guidelines to sync with the change.
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Proposal Section 1 - Create the Senate of VillageCraft:
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The Senate of VillageCraft:
The Senate is a democratic body, made up of Senators, that creates legislation for the Parliament of VillageCraft to vote on.
Any MP may be selected to join the Senate through sortition (rather than election) if they self-nominate their name to the Sortition List and get randomly selected (rather than elected).
Senators strive to serve in the best interests of VillageCraft, conduct debates and participate in Senate Votes, and may serve until the end of the Session. Senate Sessions last 4 months.
Quick-Read Version:
A - The Senate discusses, debates, and votes on legislation to send to the VC Parliament for Official Parliament Votes. The Senate can also investigate Staff Members of wrongdoing.
B - Senate Sessions last 4 months on a fixed schedule. All Senators are removed at the end of a Session. A new Senate may begin proceedings once 5 Senators are confirmed.
C - New Senate Sessions have 5 seats and can be increased to 7 by vote. Vacant seats can be filled from the Sortition List by the Speaker or by vote. Senators can be removed by Simple Parliament Vote.
D - Senators are selected from the Sortition List. Any MP may self-nominate their name to the Sortition List. The CM can choose to be a Senator. A Competency Test must be passed to be confirmed to the Senate.
E - The Speaker of the Senate runs the Senate proceedings and votes. The Speaker is a Senator who is elected and can be removed by fellow Senators. If there is no Speaker, one must be elected.
F - The Senate Procedure and Senate Votes are how the Senate operates on a day-to-day basis to pass legislation such as Official Parliament Vote Proposals.
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Senate of VillageCraft Official Guidelines:
All Senate participants must be Members of Parliament.
A
The Senate:
1. Roles
i. The Senate of VillageCraft is made up of Senators. The Senate discusses, debates, and votes on proposing legislation to send to the Parliament of VillageCraft for binding Official Parliament Votes.
ii. The Senate may pass Senate internal rules, without needing a Parliament Vote, which are binding on the Senate and remain in force between Senate Sessions. Internal rules cannot conflict with this document.
iii. The Senate can also investigate Staff Members of wrongdoing if there is reasonable suspicion a rule was broken, and without needing a Parliament Vote. The Staff must comply with the investigation. Senators may not participate in Senate Votes that involve investigations into themselves.
2. Exclusions
i. The Senate cannot not pass binding legislation on VC without Official Parliament Votes, except for internal rules which govern the Senate themselves, starting investigations into Staff Members, filling seat vacancies, or increasing the total seats to 7.
ii. The Senate does not pass or propose legislation regulating the internal rules of the VillageCraft Staff, appoint or remove Staff Members, or participate in Staff Votes.
B
Senate Sessions:
1. Sessions Last 4 Months
i. Senate Sessions last 4 calendar months.
ii. Sessions end and begin at Noon on the first Wednesday of the respective 4th month after the Session began. (Toronto-Montreal-New York Noon is used.)
2. Ends of Sessions
i. Once a Session ends, in-progress proceedings are stopped and removed, and all current Senators are removed. The next Senate Session starts anew. Senate internal rules remain in force.
3. New Sessions
i. Immediately once a Senate Session ends, a new one begins. The CM is offered a seat, followed by Sortition List selection of the remaining seats.
ii. The new Senate may begin proceedings once 5 Senators are confirmed.
C
Senate Seats:
1. New Sessions Have 5 Seats
i. The Senate shall have 5 total seats at the start of a new Senate Session.
2. Increase to 7 Seats
i. The Senate may vote to increase the total seats to 7 for the remainder of the current Session. If this vote fails, it may not occur again for 7 days.
ii. 7 is the maximum possible number of seats.
3. Vacant Seats During a Session
i. The Senate may vote to fill vacant seats via the Current Sortition List at any time. If this vote fails, it may not occur again for 7 days.
ii. The Parliament of VillageCraft may use a Simple Parliament Vote to fill vacant seats via the Current Sortition List at any time. If this vote fails, it may not occur again for 7 days.
iii. The Speaker of the Senate may bypass voting and choose to fill vacant seats via the Current Sortition List at any time.
4. Removal
i. Removed Senators cannot return to the Senate until the next Session. Senators may remove themselves at any time by resigning.
ii. The Parliament of VillageCraft may use a Simple Parliament Vote to remove one or more Senators at any time. If a removal vote fails, another vote to remove the Senator(s) in question may not occur again for 7 days.
iii. All Senators are removed at the end of a Senate Session.
D
Senators:
1. Must Be MPs
i. All Senators must be VillageCraft Members of Parliament.
2. Community Minister Senate Seat
i. At the start of a Senate Session, before Sortition, the Community Minister chooses whether to sit as a Senator for that Session.
ii. The CM can indicate their choice up to 7 days before a new Senate is formed, and up to 24 hours after.
iii. If the CM does not choose, declines the seat, fails the Competency Test, resigns from the Senate, or ceases being CM, the choice is not offered again until the start of the next Senate Session.
iv. If the CM is a Senator and ceases to be the CM, that individual is removed from the Senate, creating a vacant seat.
3. All Other Senators Selected by Sortition
i. After the CM chooses whether to be a Senator, all remaining Senate seats are selected by Sortition from the Current Sortition List and are confirmed upon successful completion of the Competency Test.
4. Sortition List (and Self-Nominations)
i. Each Senate Session has a Current Sortition List attached to it, from which Senators are selected.
ii. Any MP may self-nominate their name to the Upcoming Sortition List for possible selection in the next Senate.
iii. When a Senate Session begins, the "Upcoming Sortition List" becomes the new "Current Sortition List", and is closed to new names being added. A new "Upcoming Sortition List" is opened for self-nominations to the next Senate Session. The Current Sortition List is used to select Senators for the active Session.
5. Competency Test and Confirmation
i. Anyone offered a Senate seat must pass the Competency Test to be confirmed to the Senate. The test must be completed within 5 days and 2 attempts.
ii. The Test includes simple math, assurance the person is active, able to serve, and understands the rules and role of the Senate and Senators. The test will be written and administered by the VC Staff.
E
Speaker of the Senate:
1. Role of the Speaker
i. The Speaker runs the proceedings of the Senate, and conducts Senate Votes.
ii. The Speaker must run proceedings in a timely manner without significant delay.
2. Elected by the Senate
i. The Speaker of the Senate is a fellow Senator who is majority elected by the Senate. Election votes may occur infinitely until a Speaker is chosen.
3. Removal
i. The Speaker may step down at any time. The Speaker may be removed from their role at any time by a majority Senate Vote. If a removal vote fails, another may not occur for 7 days.
ii. If the Speaker breaches procedure and fails to hold a removal vote, they are automatically removed at the request of any Senator.
4. There Must Be a Speaker
i. If there is no Speaker of the Senate at any time, the Senate must elect one. No procedure or votes may occur until there is a Speaker.
F
Senate Procedure and Votes:
1. Discussion
i. Senators shall discuss ideas to bring to a Senate Vote. The Speaker shall moderate the discussion to keep it constructive if needed.
ii. If an idea is decided upon, Senators may write a Draft of the legislation to be debated. “Legislation” can include Senate internal rules, proposals for Official Parliament Votes, Staff Member investigations, removal of the Speaker, filling seat vacancies, increasing to 7 seats, or anything else within the scope of the Senate.
2. Draft
i. Based on Senate discussions, Senators shall write Draft legislation and request a Debate on it.
ii. The Speaker shall make sure the Draft is acceptable within the Role of the Senate, and if it is, hold to a Debate on it.
3. Debate Draft Legislation
i. The Speaker shall hold a Debate on submitted Draft legislation. The Speaker shall respect the chronological order in which Drafts were submitted, including Speaker removal vote requests, holding Debates in the order of their submission.
ii. Debates shall be whether to improve upon the current wording, scrap the idea, or keep the current wording.
iii. Senators shall take these ideas and consider submitting improved Drafts, or Nominating Draft Legislation for a Senate Vote.
4. Nominate Draft Legislation for Senate Vote
i. Based upon the proceedings of a Debate, Drafts may be nominated by 2 or more Senators to proceed to a Senate Vote.
ii. The Speaker shall respect the chronological order in which nominations and Nominated Draft Legislation is submitted, holding Senate Votes in the order of their submission.
5. Senate Votes
i. The Speaker shall hold a Senate Vote for Nominated Draft Legislation, which must include a clear question, clear answers, and the ability to abstain. Votes pass with a majority. The Speaker shall run the Senate Vote for at least 5 days, or until all Senators have voted.
ii. All Senate votes are recorded and made public.
iii. If the Senate Vote is defeated, it cannot be voted on again for 7 days if the text is not meaningfully changed.
6. Successful Senate Votes
i. If a Senate Vote succeeds and creates, amends, or revokes an internal Senate rule, it is effective immediately and becomes Senate internal legislation.
ii. If a Senate Vote succeeds in increasing Senate seats to 7, filling vacant seats, removing the Speaker, or commencing an investigation of a Staff Member, it is effective immediately.
iii. If a Senate Vote succeeds and proposes an Official Parliament Vote, it moves on to the Consent of the Staff stage. A Senator shall deliver the final text of the proposal to the Staff.
7. Consent of the Staff (for Official Parliament Vote Proposals)
i. The final text of the Official Parliament Vote Proposal must be approved by 3 Staff members based solely on feasibility, viability, and ability to implement the proposal if successful. This shall not be based on personal approval or disapproval.
ii. In the case where a System Admin must be involved in the implementation, consent of at least 1 must be gained.
iii. If there is genuine reasonable disapproval from a Staff member, the proposal may be put to Staff vote. If it fails, and/or if needed, Staff may request a rewrite of the Official Parliament Vote Proposal before they give consent, in which case the process returns to Stage "F. 3. i."
iv. If Consent of the Staff has been given, the Staff shall inform the Senate. The initiative can then proceed to an Official Parliament Vote, which shall be initiated by the Speaker of the Senate, the Community Minister, or the Staff, at the request of any Senator.
All Senate participants must be Members of Parliament.
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Proposal Section 2 - Change the CM Guidelines:
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Remove the current text of Section D of the VillageCraft Community Minister Official Guidelines.
Old Text:
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D
Parliament Vote Initiative Process:
The CM is given local moderator status on the VC Forum Parliament Board, and can gather player signatures to trigger Parliament votes. The following process can be followed, in order, to start a Parliament vote.
1. Gather Player Signatures and Staff Sponsorship
i. 5 signatures from players who want to propose a discussion and vote take place on a specific initiative. The players must be MPs, and must not be Staff or the CM.
ii. 1 signature from a member of Staff who is willing to help implement the initiative if successful.
2. Parliament Discussion
i. The CM shall create a Parliament Forum thread, announcing the proposal, the signatures, and the Staff sponsorship. The thread shall include the first draft of the text to be put to vote.
ii. Based on feedback from players and Staff, the text may be updated and improved upon.
iii. Given enough interest, the final version of the text can be clearly written and delivered to the VC Staff.
3. Consent of the Staff
i. The final text of the initiative must be approved by 3 Staff members based solely on feasibility, viability, and ability to implement the initiative if successful. This shall not be based on personal approval or disapproval.
ii. In the case where a System Admin must be involved in the implementation, Consent of at least 1 must be gained.
iii. If there is genuine reasonable disapproval from a Staff member, the proposal may be put to Staff vote. If it fails, and/or if needed, Staff may request a rewrite of the initiative before they give consent, in which case the process returns to Stage "2. ii."
iv. If Consent of the Staff has been given, the Staff shall inform the Parliament in the relevant forum thread. The initiative can then proceed to an official Parliament Vote.
4. CM Initiative Parliament Vote
i. This is an official and binding Parliament Vote. The final text of the initiative shall be displayed for MPs to vote on. The MPs shall be given clear voting choices, as well as the option to abstain.
ii. The vote shall run for an initial 5 days. The vote may be shortened by 2 days if the decision is overwhelmingly one-sided. The vote may be extended several times if there is ongoing discussion or votes are still coming in to allow everyone a chance to participate.
iii. At the conclusion of the vote, the results shall be published. If it was successful, the VC Staff will move to implement it as soon as possible, and will announce when they do.
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Add new text to Section D of the VillageCraft Community Minister Official Guidelines.
New text:
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D
Community Minister Seat in the Senate of VillageCraft:
The CM can join any new Senate Session and become a Senator without needing to be selected through sortition. This allows the CM to represent VC members and participate in the democratic process easily if they choose to do so.
1. Community Minister Senate Seat
i. At the start of a Senate Session, before Sortition, the Community Minister chooses whether to sit as a Senator for that Session.
ii. The CM can indicate their choice up to 7 days before a new Senate is formed, and up to 24 hours after.
iii. If the CM does not choose, declines the seat, fails the Competency Test, resigns from the Senate, or ceases being CM, the choice is not offered again until the start of the next Senate Session.
iv. If the CM is a Senator and ceases to be the CM, that individual is removed from the Senate, creating a vacant seat.
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