NSG Senate Archives [Admins and Senate PpT Only]

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Proper Procedure and Unacceptable Behavior Act (2013)
Drafted by Polvia (RG)
Sponsors: Maklohi Vai (LD), Yanalia (RG), Aeken (LD), Mishmahig (TR), Osea 767 (CP)

Article I – Unacceptable Behavior

(1) Remarks directed specifically at another Member which question that Member’s integrity, honesty or character are not in order.
(2) A Member will be requested to withdraw offensive remarks, allegations, or accusations of impropriety directed towards another Member.
(3) It is unacceptable to question the integrity of impartiality of a Presiding Officer, or the Administrators of the Senate, and if such comments are made, the Administrators shall call for the withdrawal of the statements by the Member. Only with a call to question the impartiality of a specific Presiding Officer, confirmed and approved by five other Senate members via motion, may the impartiality of Presiding Officers, or the Administrators, be called into question.
(4) The use of offensive, provocative or threatening language in any Senate thread is strictly forbidden.
(5) Personal attacks, insults and obscenities are not in order.
(6) A direct charge against a Member may be made only by way of a motion for which is confirmed by five other Senate Members.
(7) If language used in debate appears questionable to the Administrators, they will intervene. Nonetheless, any Member who feels aggrieved by a remark or allegation may also bring the matter to the immediate attention of the Administrators on a Point of Order.

Article II – Points of Order

(1) A Point of Order is an intervention by a Member who believes that the rules or customary procedures have been incorrectly applied or overlooked during proceedings. Members may rise on Points of Order to bring to attention of the Administrator any breach of any rule or unacceptable remarks.
(2) Points of order respecting procedure must be raised promptly and before the remark has passed to a stage at which the objection would be out of place. The time period on which a Point of Order may be raised shall be up to forty-eight hours after the statement in question has been made.
(3) As a Point of Order concerns the interpretation of the rules of procedure, it is the responsibility of the Administrators to determine its merits and to resolve the issue.
(4) One Point of Order must be disposed of before another one is raised.
(5) Any Member can bring to the Administrators’ attention a procedural irregularity the moment it occurs. When recognized on a Point of Order, a Member should only state which Standing Order or practice he or she considers to have been breached; if this is not done, the Administrators may request that the Member do so.
(6) A brief debate on the Point of Order is possible at the Administrators' discretion.
(7) A Member may not direct remarks to separate issues or engage in debate by raising a matter under the guise of a Point of Order.

Article III – The Administrators

(1) The Administrators shall be charged with the moderation of all threads under Senate jurisdiction.
(2) The Administrators shall have no authority to rule on statements made outside of threads not under the jurisdiction of the Senate by one Member against another.
(3) The Administrators, and all Presiding Officers, are subject to all subject articles of this act, as are all Members who post on the Senate threads.
(4) The Administrators have the duty to preserve order and decorum and to decide any matter of procedure that may arise.
(5) The Administrators are bound to call the attention of a thread, under Senate jurisdiction, to an irregularity in debate or procedure immediately, without waiting for the intervention of a Member.
(6) When a Point of Order is raise, The Administrators attempt to rule on the matter immediately. However, if necessary, the Administrators may take the matter under advisement and come back to the issue later (within twenty-four hours) with a formal ruling.
(7) In doubtful cases, the Administrators may also allow discussion on the Point of Order before coming to a decision but the comments must be strictly relevant to the point raised.
(8) When a decision on a question of order is reached, the Administrators support it with quotations from the Standing Orders or other Senate Policy, or simply by citing the number of the applicable Standing Order(s).
(9) Once the decision is rendered, the matter is no longer open to debate or discussion and the ruling may not be appealed.

Article IV – Punishment

(1) Should the Administrators find the utterances of a particular Member offensive or disorderly, that Member will be requested to post on the thread and to withdraw the unacceptable word or phrase unequivocally. The Member’s apology is accepted in good faith and the matter is then considered closed.
(2) However, if the Member persists in refusing to obey the directive of the Administrators to retract his or her words, the Administrators may then take action in punishment of the Member in question.
(3) The Member who has refused to withdraw their statements shall be warned of the punishment that will be given should they not withdraw their statements in their next immediate post on the Senate thread in question.
(4) Upon the first offense the Member shall be temporarily banned from the Senate, and all Senate threads, for five days, and shall lose all voting and Senate privileges, if they have such privileges, until three days of good behavior after returning to the Senate.
(5) Upon the second offense the Member shall be banned from the Senate, lose all claim of membership and all Senate threads for ten days. The Member must then reapply to the Senate, and shall not have any voting and Senate privileges, if they have such privileges, until seven days of good behavior after returning to the Senate.
(6) Upon the third offense the Member shall be permanently banned from the Senate and Senate threads, and have their name added to a blacklist.

Article V – Definitions

(1) Standing Order – the rules and procedures governing the Senate
(2) Member(s) – any NationStates account
(3) Senate threads – any thread under the jurisdiction of the Senate
(4) Presiding Officer - Any official of the NSG Senate Administration

[NSG Senate Administrators]

First Amendment to the Limiting Legislation Act
Urgency: High | Authors: Ainin [TR], Polvia [RG]
Sponsors: Free South Califas [C], Jetan [NCP], Fulflood [LD], The Realm of God [PC], Agritum [CSP], Wolfmanne [PC], Britcan [CSP], TaQud [IND]

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The Aurentine Senate,

Noting that Section VII of the Limiting Legislation Act guarantees a "right to own, trade, and produce firearms and ammunition, as well as use them in situations deemed as necessary self defense, in recreational practice against inanimate objects, and when hunting wild animals for game, food or sport",

Remarking that no country in the world, save for the United States of America and Mexico, has such a right,

Appalled the right to bear arms is marked as a "basic human right",

Believing that the right to possess and use firearms is not a right by any sense of the word,

Affirming the Aurentine National Gendarmerie and local police forces to be perfectly capable of handing violent crime,

However not affirming any stance upon the regulation of firearms or weapons,

Hereby strikes out and renders null and void the clause preventing legislation changing, suppressing, or otherwise tampering with these human rights, followed by the striking out and cancelation of Sections VII and VII (a) of the Limiting Legislation Act.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

First Amendment to the Republican Executive Act

Drafted by: Wolfmanne (P-CP)
Co-Sponsors: Divair (CSP), Regnum Dominae (LFP), Malgrave (USLP), Maklohi Vai (LDP), Glasgia (LDP), Ainin (TR)
Urgency: Necessary, but not vital

Office of Vice President

1a. The office of Vice President of Aurentina shall be formally established.
1b. The Vice President of Aurentina shall be appointed by the President upon his immediate election.
1c. The Vice President is to take over the role of President, in periods in which the President is unavailable.
1d. The Vice President may only assume his role if the President is unavailable or is inactive.
1e. If the President has been unavailable or inactive for a long period of time, the Vice President is to ascend to the office of President of Aurentina.
1f. In a regular period of time, the President is permitted delegate his powers and responsibilities to the Vice President and may establish limits to how much power the Vice President gets in a regular period of time.
1g. Upon the resignation of the President, if he does the Vice President is to take over and continue the remainder of the President's term time.

Council of State

2a. The Council of State shall be formally established as a non-executive advisory council to the President.
2b. The Council of State shall be formally headed by the Vice President of Aurentina and shall provide advise to the President, whether on or whether not on request.
2c. The Council of State may not consist of a number of individual exceeding the number of 20, including the Vice President however it is not mandated for all 20 seats to be occupied.
2d. The Council of State is mandated to include the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of the Interior, Minister of Treasury and Finance (Exchequer) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in addition to the regular holders in the Council of State; these five offices are collectively to be referred to as the Great Offices of State.
2e. The Council of State, whilst it may hold elections regarding a decision on what advice to give to the President, the President, or any individual for that matter, is not legally obliged to follow the orders of an elected decision of the Council of State and their role is purely advisory only.

Officers of the Senate

3a. Whilst it has been established that the office of 'President of the Senate' exists in previous acts, the powers of President of the Senate are yet to be defined.
3b. The President of the Senate is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, monitor the amount of votes recorded and announce the results of votes.
3c. The office of President of the Senate is mandated to be held simultaneously by the Vice President of the Senate.
3d. The office of Vice President of the Senate has also been established through previous acts. This position has hereby been renamed to President pro tempore of the Senate to avoid confusion with the President of the Senate, who simultaneously holds the office of Vice President of Aurentina.
3e. The President pro tempore of the Senate shall act in the place of the President of the Senate and carry out his responsibilities on his behalf. He shall be formally appointed by the President of the Senate and he must have the confidence of a supermajority of the Senate to be defined as 75% of all voting senators.
3f. The President pro tempore of the Senate shall be legally delegated all powers of the President of the Senate, however he may not be delegated the powers of Vice President of Aurentina.
3g. The President of the Senate, or the President pro tempore of the Senate acting on his behalf, shall appoint a Secretary of the Senate, who is responsible for administrative tasks such as counting votes, organising or recording down the official legislative queue and any other administrative tasks. The President of the Senate, or the President pro tempore of the Senate acting on his behalf, is permitted to appoint a number of Assistant Secretaries of the Senate (referred to in singular form as Assistant Secretary of the Senate), to aid in the task of the Secretary of Senate.
3h. The office of Administrator of the Senate is hereby established. An Administrator of the Senate shall be defined as Senators formally permitted to ensure that discipline is maintained among the Senators. Being an Administrator of the Senate is a hallowed privilege and new Administrators can only be selected by current Administrators. Administrators can only be fired by the consent of other Administrators.
3i: The office of Founder of the Senate is established and shall be eternally held by Denecaep, who is also recognised as the only Senator for Life, for his extremely important role in the founding of the Senate. He shall hold the position even in his death and no one else may hold the position.
3j. In the absence of the President of the Senate, President pro tempore, the Secretary of the Senate, an Assistant Secretary of the Senate or an Administrator of the Senate, are permitted to act in the place of the President of the Senate.
3k. It is recommended by this act that the President of the Senate, as he can be delegated the powers of Presidency, does not take an active role as the Presiding Officer of the Senate and instead recommends that the President pro tempore of the Senate leads proceedings.
3l. The Prime Minister is to be recognised as the Majority Leader of the Senate and the Deputy Prime Minister as the Deputy Majority Leader. Meanwhile, the Opposition is permitted to designate a Leader of the Opposition, who is to be recognised as the Minority Leader of the Senate, who may appoint a Shadow Cabinet with a shadow minister for each Minister in the Council of Ministers. The Shadow Cabinet must include a Deputy Leader of the Oppposition, who is to be recognised as the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate and is to be the shadow ministers of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Leader of the Opposition is required to be a Senator with a simple majority of opposition Senators (defined as Senators that the current government doesn't recognise as part of the Majority or as a Senator who voted against the appointment of this Prime Minister) supporting the Senator appointed to Leader of the Opposition. A plurality is not considered acceptable.
3m. The President of the Senate or the President pro tempore of the Senate may extend the debating period for 12 hours if at least 7 Senators move for an extension.

Legislative queuejumping

4a. Establishes a new power to the President of Aurentina, referred to as legislative queuejumping.
4b. Senators are permitted to petition to the President of Aurentina to rearrange the queue to allow a number of bills, include those that have been omnibused, to be voted on at a sooner time. A formal petition with a minimum of seven Senators signing it is required before any legislative queuejumping can commence. Alternative methods includes a Letter of Recommendation from a member of the Council of Ministers.
4c. Usage of legislative queuejumping is to be at the discretion of the President and it is strongly recommended that he seeks advice of the Council of State before he makes a decision.
4d. The President of Aurentina then rearranges the queue to how he see fits and the President of the Senate, or the President pro tempore acting in his place, formally posts the new queue.
4e. This act strongly recommends that the President of Aurentina expresses extreme discretion before using his power of legislative queuejumping and recognises that improper usage of it is a cause of his immediate Impeachment.
4f. If the Vice President is carrying out the duties of the President of Aurentina due to his absence or inactivity, then he can not be the one who formally posts the new queue; only the President pro tempore may do so.

Senatorial Committees

5a. This bill permits Ministers to establish Senatorial Committees, which are recommended to be multipartisan, to advise them on issues regarding their portfolio.
5b. A committee is to be titled Senatorial Committee on [PORTFOLIO OF THE MINISTER]'. The Minister is to be the Chairman and he may appoint a Deputy Chairman to carry out his duties on his behalf.
5c. A Minister is not required to listen to the elected decision of a Senatorial Committee.
5d. It is permitted for a permanent committee under the authority of the relevant Minister to be established if 2/3 of Senators voting approves of it's status of permanence.
5e. Non-permanent committees may be dismissed at will by the Chairman, whilst permanent committees can only be disbanded with the approval of 2/3 of voting Senators.

Constitution of Aurentina

6a. In the Republican Executive Act, provisions for remanding or vetoing a bill is established as a power for the President; he may do this once if a bill is unconstitutional and it require a full explanation. However, this is an inefficient system and hereby Article 1, Section EI, is repealed.
6b. An alternative system for a constitutional veto is proposed by this bill, with the President having the ability to make one veto to the Senate if he or she believe that it breaks the constitution. The second time is comes up, if the President believes it's still unconstitutional, then the bill is passed over to the the highest court in the land delegated with the ability to trial cases regarding constitutional law, upon the establishment of a judicial system.
6c. It is mandated that all acts signed into law by the President undergoes judicial review by the highest court in the land delegated with the ability to trial cases regarding constitutional law and reviews whether it is indeed constitutional. If not, it may issue a decree mandating that the President formally vetoes it. If so, then the act is to be formally recognised as being part of the law of the land.
6d. A formal document referred to as the 'Constitution of Aurentina', consisting of the codification of acts that are deemed to define the constitution of this nation, is to be created.
6e. Upon the passing of this amendment, the Constitution of Aurentina is to consist of the Judicial Act, the Republican Executive Act, the Ministry Foundation Act, the National Symbols Act, First Amendment to the Republican Executive Act and the Constitution of the New Senate.
6f. Bills must specify on whether they are to be amended to the Constitution of Aurentina; if so then, they require a 2/3 supermajority of Senators voting to be added to the Constitution of Aurentina.

Regarding the Second Constitution of the Senate

7a. Repeals Article 1, Section 6 of the Second Constitution of the Senate, on the condition that the Second Constitution of the Senate due to the fact that it sees the President of the Senate as being a Majority Leader rather than a speaker (in light of this, Article 3l Section L has been added to this bill), Article 2, Section 3 as it allows the queue to be changed with only the approval of one Administrator; this bill has a fairer system, as the President is the one who changes the queue and if he does it in poor faith, he is accountable to the Senate and can be impeached and Article 2, Section 5, as it is fairer for the President of the Senate or the President pro tempore to decide this.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Second Amendment to the Republican

Executive Act
Drafted by: Yanalia [RG]
Sponsors: Maklohi Vai [LD], Oneracon [RG], The Nihilistic View [LD], Haelunor [RG], Free South Califas [CP], Venaleria [RG]

1. The Deputy Prime Minister shall be appointed by the Prime Minister and may perform the duties of the Prime Minister in case of resignation or a physical inability to complete duties on the part of the Prime Minister.

2. Clause 1-A of the REA is hereby struck out and rendered null and void. It shall be replaced with the following clause. "The President shall be the Head of State, elected by the Senate in a two-round system, in which the top two candidates from the first round shall be voted on, unless one candidate attains a majority of 50%+1 of the total votes in the first round, upon which that candidate assumes the Presidency without a second round of voting."

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Senatorial Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Enforcement Act

Author: New Waterford [LD] Urgency: Low Sponsors: Ainin [TR], Gothmogs [TR], Beta Test [LD], Maklohi Vai [LD], Kouralia [USLP], Rumostan [CM], Malgrave [USLP]

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The Senate of Aurentina,

APPALLED that some bills which are passing through our Senate contain excruciating grammar, spelling and punctuation errors,

BELIEVING that we, as Senators and leaders of the Aurentine people, ought to set an example to them in all aspects,

RECOGNISING that the Senators who commit such errors often do so through no fault of their own,

ESTABLISHES the position of proof-readers to correct errors in following legislation before they enter the chamber,

MANDATES that spelling errors should be corrected according to the spelling rules of British English,

MANDATES that the proof-readers shall be appointed by the Minister of Interiors, based on their knowledge of the spelling, punctuation and grammar rules of the English language,

HEREBY PASSES the Senatorial Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Enforcement Act.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Second Constitution of the Senate

Drafted by Othelos (PC)

Co-Sponsors: Byzantium Imperial (NIFP), Venaleria (RG), Yanalia (RG), The Realm of God (PC), Mishmahig (TR), Maklohi Vai (LD), Evraim (PC), Glasgia (LD), and Belmaria (LFP)

Noting that the current constitution includes confusing and awkward wording,

Understanding that the current constitution is inefficient and disorganized,

Hereby repeals the current constitution of the Senate and replaces it with this one.

Powers of the Senate and its Members

1. Each Senator shall have the ability to draft legislation such as this.
2. Each Senator shall have the ability to vote on drafted legislation in the chamber.
3. The Senate shall have the ability to repeal passed legislation, with a majority vote in favor.
4. The Senate shall have the ability to regulate the total quantity of seats available in the senate, with a majority vote in favor.
5. Each Senator shall have the ability to create a political party.
6. The Senate shall have the ability to elect a President of the Senate, with a plurality or majority in favor, depending on the current requirements.
7. Parties in the minority shall have the ability to jointly create an opposition. The opposition shall have the ability to select an opposition leader and second officer.
8. The Senate shall have the ability to eject unruly members of the Senate with a 90% majority vote in favor, or through unanimous administrative action.
9. The Senate shall have the ability to amend this constitution, with a two thirds majority vote in favor.

Legislation and Other Requirements

1. A queue of legislation to be voted upon shall be established, which shall include all legislation drafted and approved by five Senators in chronological order.
2. A majority shall be defined as 50%+1 votes, unless mentioned otherwise in a specific section, and legislation may only pass with a majority in favor.
3. Only one bill may be voted on at a time in the chamber. This may be overridden if seven Senators move for similar bills to be placed up for vote at the same time and an administrator approves. Bills up for vote at the same time may be individually voted upon. Combined bills shall be called an omnibus bill.
4. The layout of legislation should mimic this one.
5. Once a bill becomes the first in the queue, it must be debated on for 24 hours before going up for vote. The debate period may be extended only once for up to 12 more hours if seven Senators move for an extension and an admin approves.
6. 48 hours must elapse before a bill is passed or rejected. This excludes cases when, after 24 hours, 90% of votes or more are in favor or opposed to a bill. In order for the voting period to end early, five Senators must move to end the voting period early, with administrator approval.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Prime Minister and President's Questions Act

Co-Sponsors: Geilinor, Great Nepal, Arglorand, Ainin, Eliasonia, Fulfflood

UNDERSTANDING that many senators may have questions they would like to ask their Prime Minister or President.

REALISING the need that all senators should have the right to question the Prime Minister or President regarding anything government related.

HEREBY;

1. Orders that once a fortnight two separated threads will be created, one for Prime Minister's Questions and one for President's Questions.

2. Orders that the Prime Minister and President must respond to every question asked.

3. Allows the Prime Minister or President to reply with “No Comment” if they do not wish to answer a question.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Universal Healthcare Act

Urgency: High

Originally Written by: Chestaan[C]

Firstly Modified by: Lemanrussland[LD]

Secondly Modified by Wolfmanne[PC]

Original bill Co-Sponsored by: Shrillland[RG], Argorland[TR], Maklohi Vai[LD], TerraPublica[C], Wolfmanne[PC]

First Modified bill Co-Sponsored by: Greater Pokarnia[C], Othelos[PC], Soviet Canuckistan[LD], Britcan[TR], Chestaan[C]

Second Modified bill Co-Sponsored by: Chestaan[C]

Recognising that healthcare is a right that must be provided to all in our great and unnamed nation.

Realising that this can only be achieved by providing low cost and easily accessible hospital care to all our citizens.

Understanding that many citizens may be unable to afford the care of a GP and that these people must be provided for.

Stating that in the long run, such provisions will only benefit our people and also the economy, as a healthy population is a necessity for a healthy economy.

This Act establishes the following:

(i) A national healthcare system will provide free healthcare at the point of service to all citizens. Expenses shall be covered by government taxation revenue. All health care includes, but is not limited to: hospital care, GP care, dentistry, orthodontics, specialist care, psychiatric care, all necessary surgery, home help, all necessary treatments, counselling, prescription mecidines etc.

(ii) The National Health Board (NHB), subordinate to the Ministry of Health, shall be set up to oversee our healthcare system. The responsibilities of the NHB include, but are not limited to, the building of government hospitals, the hiring of medical staff, the setting of standards for our health industry, and the regulation of all healthcare professionals.

(iii) All citizens shall be free to purchase private health services, outside of the national health system, if they wish to do so.

(iv) A series of National Health Board Regional Authorities will be established to commission health services on behalf of the NHB and to ensure that regional priorities can be set. Each individual National Health Board Regional Authorities shall be run by a board consisting of health care professionals and paid Directors to ensure that the balance between a professional opinion and monetary pragmatism is maintained. The National Health Board Regional Authorities are to be allocated a budget set by the National Health Board, based upon need, which is factored by things such as population, sickness rate etc.

(v) The National Health Board Regional Authorities are to co-ordinate strategy for primary care, secondary and emergency medical services to Ambulance Services Trusts and Medical Care Trusts but shall not take a direct role, for that is the responsibility of the relevant trusts. They are to provide tertiary care and quaternary care, plus maintain an Air Ambulance and if necessary, a Sea/River Ambulance.

(vi) The National Health Board Regional Authorities are to have a series of trusts under them: the Ambulance Service Trusts and the Medical Care Trusts. The Ambulance Services Trusts shall provide emergency medical services within their assigned area. Ambulance Services Trusts will be overseen by a board of Paramedics, executive and non-executive Directors. The Medical Care Trusts shall oversee all primary and secondary care within their assigned area, with all polyclinics, hospitals, clinics, general practices etc coming under them. The Medical Care Trusts will be overseen by a board of medical professionals, executive and non-executive Directors.

(vii) The Office of Medical Care and Ambulance Service Regulation (Ofmed) is established to regulate the NHB Regional Authorities, trusts and institutions of medical care. Ofmed shall inspect all Regional Authorities, trusts and institutions of medical care, on behalf of the National Health Board, the Ministry of Health and the Senate to ensure that they meet regulations by these three bodies. The National Health Board shall establish a series of gradings that Ofmed inspectors will award once they conclude an inspection. If a Regional Authority, trust or institution of medical care fails to obtain a reasonable, Ofmed are permitted to step in and temporarily administrate the said body until it's grade is raised to a more acceptable level. Ofmed shall also regulate an economic activities by the medical private sector to ensure that they comply with national law and they will grade institution of medical care, however in the event of a poor standard of care, Ofmed may not administrate private medical providers should they fail to meet national standards but it may issue a lawsuit against the said institution and should the lawsuit be successful, then another company is to step in and take over. If no buyer can be found, then relevant NHB trust shall take over all assets.

(viii) The National Health Board Regional Authorities, the Medical Care Trusts and the Ambulance Services Trusts are permitted to contract or subcontract qualified providers from the private sector and charities in order to improve efficiency. Ofmed reserves the right to end a contract or subcontract by a private medical provider if it fails to improve efficiency in the service that it's providing. The St John's Ambulance in Aurentina and the Aurentinian Red Cross are to provide additional staffing and vehicles to the National Health Board Regional Authorities and the Ambulance Service Trusts and they shall receive special status in recognition for their work.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Universal Credit
Urgency: High| Drafted by: Great Nepal| Co-sponsors: Malgrave (USLP), Lemonius (C), Ainin (TR), Welsh Cowboy (IND), Geilinor (LD), Bleckonia (NCP)

Recognising that certain income is nessecery to survive, and this income must be guaranteed to every citizen while ensuring that work always pays and work is never disincentived. This, by power granted to this senate by the people, hereby enacts universal credit bill,
Section 1- Definition
When used in this act, following terms will have meaning as stated in this section and any other disputes as to meaning of terms shall be dealt with by Oxford dictionary (http://oxforddictionaries.com/))
Living income shall be defined as minimum income required for an individual to subsist.
Other income shall be defined as income an individual gets from any other source, except from universal credit.

Section 2 - Creation and Administration of Universal Credit System
a) Living wage commission shall be created, which shall be tasked with dividing the nation into "income zones", based on cost of living.
b) Living wage commission shall also be tasked with calculating living income for each income zone, which is to be updated every 31,536,000 seconds (1 year).
c) Living wage commission shall also be tasked with creating one claim form required to claim universal credit, this form shall be called "Universal Credit Claim Application - F".
d) Living wage commission shall also be tasked with authorising universal credit payments.
e) Universal credit payments shall be calculated as "UCP = LI - II", where UCP refers to universal credit payment, LI refers to living income calculated as established in section 2b, II refers to income of individual. If the value calculated is lower than zero, no universal credit payments will be made nor will any deductions be made.
f) Claimant of universal credit payment shall be required to fill out the "Universal Credit Claim Application - F" before payments are begun and this form must be filled out every year, or when there is any change in circumstances, which ever is earlier.
g) Universal credit payment shall be paid into private bank account, which claimant will be required to have.
h) No further payments shall be granted by future bills, unless such benefit is for shall be pregnant women, carers, disabled and war veterans.
i) Claimant must be a permanent resident in Aurentina or its dependencies.

Section 3 - Declaration and Fraud
a) All claimants of universal credit payments shall be required to declare their total other income as part of the form mentioned in section 2. This must be done every three months, or when there is change in income, which ever is earlier.
b) Failure to comply with section 3a or section 2f, within fifteen days of the change shall be considered fraud of second degree.

i) If wrongfully claimed amount is below £7500, this shall be considered delict and punishable by prison sentence between two and seven years and fine equivalent to 200% of the payments made to individual by living wage commission.
ii) If wrongfully claimed amount exceeds £7500, this shall be considered felony and punishable by fine equivalent to 200% of the payments made to individual by living wage commission upto £1,000,000 and appropriate prison sentence as established by judicial act.

c) Providing living wage commission with false information or failure to comply with section 3a or section 2f within ninety days of the change shall be considered serious fraud of first degree.

i) If wrongfully claimed amount is below £5000, this shall be considered delict and punishable by prison sentence between five and ten years and fine equivalent to 300% of the payments made to individual by living wage commission.
ii) If wrongfully claimed amount exceeds £5000, this shall be considered felony and punishable by fine equivalent to 300% of the payments made to individual by living wage commission upto £1,000,000 and appropriate prison sentence as established by judicial act.

d) Once an individual has committed fraud under either section 3b or section 3c, there shall be more intensive search before authorising universal credit payment in future.

Section 4 - Requirement to work
a) Unless there is special exceptions, as granted by living wage commission, claimant shall be required to actively seek work to increase their income. Failure to do this shall be considered valid reason for withdrawal of universal credit payments.
b) Unemployed claimant will also be required to take any job offered by living wage commission, or volunteer in local charity. Failure to do this is valid reason for withdrawal of universal credit payment.
c) Special exception shall include but shall not be limited to:

i) Severely disabled preventing from working.
ii) Over retirement age, which shall be determined by future legislation.
iii) Enrolled in formal education or vocational training.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Public Education Act

Proposed by: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Original co-sponsors: Costa Algeria (PC), The Realm of God (PC), Geilinor (LD), Zweite Alaje (NI)

Author and current sponsor: Greater Pokarnia (C)
Current co-sponsors: Saul Califas (C), Wulukuno Maklohi Porunalakai (LD), Pesda (RG), Rupert Weinthal (LD)

1. A public educational system will be formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, which will provide free enrollment to people between the age of 5-18.

2. It will mandatory for children to attend at least 10,500 instructional hours of school, be it at either public, private, or home school. Parents who knowingly prevent their children from meeting this requirement may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each 1,500 hours of school missed, and either 3,000 hours of community service to begin as soon as feasible or 3 months of jail to begin as soon as the parent's obligation to directly care for, support the care of, or raise funds for the child has ended or as soon as it becomes impossible for the parent to reasonably provide same for each 1,500 hours of school missed.

2a. The minimum number of hours required for each particular student may be reduced by consensus of at least two professionals, currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical or ability-related needs, who have a substantial history of working directly with the student, as necessary to prevent the student's needless suffering. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.

3. Private schools and home schools must register with the Ministry of Education.

4. Public schools will be funded by the state, and it's employees are to be considered state employees.

5. The Ministry of Education shall be in charge of deciding the curriculum of all public schools.

6. A minimum curriculum shall be drafted by the Ministry of Education for private schools and home schools. Private schools and home schools may teach whatever they want so long as they teach the minimum curriculum. Subdistricts may expand upon this minimum curriculum.

7. The Ministry of Education shall monitor private schools to ensure they are teaching the minimum curriculum. If they fail to do so they will lose recognition by the Ministry of Education and students may not meet their mandatory number of instructional by attending that school.

8. Employees of the Ministry of Education shall administer tests to home-schooled children every 3 months to ensure that they are being taught the minimum curriculum sufficiently. If they fail to pass these tests the home school will lose recognition from the Ministry of Education and student may not meet their mandatory number of instructional hours from that home school.

9. Nobody above the age of 20 may attend a public school described as such in this Act.

10. Students attending public schools must enroll with the public education system before age 8.

11. No age restrictions are to be placed by the state onto private or home schools.

12. All recognized schools, be they public, private, or home schools, shall have 10 grade levels comprised of at least 1,050 instructional hours.

13. The Ministry of Education shall administer a Grade Advancement Test (GAT) at all recognized schools based on the minimum curriculum, which a student must pass before advancing to the next grade level.

14. The Ministry of Education shall provide funding to to public schools as they see fit, but there may never be larger than a 15% funding gap per student enrolled at public schools.

15. There shall be 5 days in the school week, each comprising of 7 hours of instruction per day. Lunch and recess don't count towards this number of hours. Schools must have at least 30 school weeks per year. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

15a. The following exceptions shall be provided on an individual basis as necessary to prevent that student's needless suffering, by consensus of at least two professionals currently licensed in fields relevant to evaluating that student's individual medical- or ability-related needs who have a significant history of working directly with the student. To the greatest legally and medically possible extent, the same minimum standards of academic achievement must be retained in any case.

15a1. The minimum number of days attended in each week may be reduced to no fewer than three (3).

15a2. The minimum number of instruction hours attended in each week may be reduced as little as required to achieve this goal.

15a3. More frequent breaks may be allowed which might not be subtracted from the number of instruction hours reported, although it is recommended that this only be used in cases of autism, developmental disorders, attentional or post-traumatic stress conditions being treated, chronic pain conditions, emotional dysfunctions which could otherwise disrupt the learning environment, etc.

16. Hereby allows students to avoid attending school for national and religious holidays that will not be counted against a students attendance. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

17. Hereby places a 3 month interval between schooling years to occur at the beginning of June, to carry through the end of August. This shall only be enforced at public schools.

18. Subdistricts may enforce their own educational standards so long as they do not conflict with the national standards and the minimum curriculum is still taught.

19. Subdistricts may enforce their own restrictions on private or home schools.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Commonwealth Fire Services

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Authors: New Zepuha [IND]
Sponsors: Byzantium Imperial [NIFP], Torsiedelle [NIFP], Haelunor [RG], Kouralia [USLP], Rumostan [CMP], Eliasonia [NIFP]

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REALIZES the need to formally establish a Fire Service for the Commonwealth of Aurentina, being essential to the protection of the people from Fire/Accident/Explosion etc.

AFFIRMS the necessity of having such an organization as a benefit to public safety.

MANDATES the following points:

• The Fire Service will be controlled by each municipality, as well as a national Special Fire Service for the case of special disaster.
• Chiefs of each Fire Department must be elected by the people.
• Firemen/Women must pass physical evaluations, and be re-evaluated every FIVE [5] years.
• Fire gear such as, air bottles, masks, gloves, jackets, and associated material; should be replaced every FOUR [4] years.
• Fire vehicles must be replaced or retro-fitted every TEN [10] years.
• Firemen/Women will serve a 24 hour shift in their assigned firehouse.
• One firehouse minimum must be in an area per ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND [100,000] people or below.

ESTABLISHES the following Departments/Divisions within the Fire Service:

General Fire Department: Serves as the first line of defense against fire mishaps and general accidents. Fire Engines will be assigned to each general station, alongside a Rescue Truck. These will be the standard block of the Fire Service.

Volunteer Fire Department: For small rural communities, affording a large fire service may not be applicable. Volunteers would be an unpaid force of trained fire fighters that are on call, but not required to be at the station 24 hours. Though TWO [2] Firefighters must be at the station during the night time hours.

Hazardous Material Unit: HMUs would be the specially trained units tasked with detoxing people and areas of hazardous material such as: Radiation, Toxic Gas, Acid, and various explosives. These units will be assigned to areas that are deemed high traffic for hazardous material, or in most danger.

Air Rescue Unit: Trained pilots and paramedics that fly into either express situations or people trapped in areas that regular ambulances cannot get to immediately. The pilots should receive extended training for emergency landings and take offs.

Tactical Support Unit: TSUs also known as Rehab units, are deployed on scene to large fires and operations to do the following: Refill air tanks, hand out bottled water, keep snack foods to keep firefighters from exhausting their bodies, and repair or replace hose lines when needed.

Brush Fire Unit: BFUs would be only assigned to municipalities that are deemed prone to brush fires and the like. These will be special units requiring the certs to be deemed by the future fire code.

This bill should also form an education program and fire experience, to educate the public on how to prevent fires in their own homes. This would create the following:

A. Creates a Fire Education program,
a. Creates the ability for Fire Departments to create an education program in their local area.
b. Allows for Municipalities to also create curriculum for what is to be instructed.
c. Creates the position of Fire Safety Instructor
I. Instructors are to receive 6 weeks of training at the Fire Academy
II. Instructors will have overtime opportunities to instruct school students and members of the public.
B. Mandates that a Fire Code to be drafted amongst selected members from the Fire Services Chief upon passing of this bill.

ESTABLISHES the National Fire Academy

A. The NFA will be established on a sector of land no less than 60 acres of land owned by the government.
B. Training should consist of three phases and curriculum to be determined by the Fire Service's future fire code.
a. First, a Physical training portion should focus on the aspects of physical duties of a firefighter.
b. Second, a class room setting should educate them on first aid, medical, and fire code related materials.
c. Third, fire related training should focus on the fighting of fires, and tactics used to fight certain fires.
C. Establishes the Special Training Course.
a. Allows for Firefighters wishing to receive special training to do certain specialty roles, to come back for additional training in said fields.
b. Requires for separate training dates from the regular academy courses.



HEREBY establishes the Commonwealth Fire Service.

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Definitions
Volunteer Firefighter: An unpaid on call firefighter.
Fire Department: Municipal level fire units consisting of multiple firehouses and firefighters, usually has a Chief and two Assistant Cheifs.
Special Fire Service: Response units tasked with responding to certain situations that regular Firefighters are not equipped/trained for.
Fire Service: The entirety of each Department/Division/Battalion and Special Units tasked with combating fires and threats by nature or accident to the public.
NFA: The training academy used for Firefighters.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Research and Astronomy Improvement Act
Urgency: Low | Drafted By: Ainin (Minister of Research of Astronomy) | Sponsors: Strykla, Yanalia, Greater Pokarnia, Vistulange

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The Senate of Aurentina,

Noting that the executive cabinet ministry by the name of the Ministry of Research and Astronomy is tasked with the duty of managing and sponsoring scientific research in Aurentina, providing funding to specialized research agencies alongside providing oversight to the space program and facilitating funding for research and space programs,

Reaffirming that the Ministry of Research and Astronomy is to promote and support scientific developments and aerospatial exploration through financial, social and diplomatic channels,

Section I: Funding
A) 7% of the annual budget of the Ministry is to be held in trust by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance as a "rainy-day fund"
B) A rainy-day fund is defined for the purpose of this law as a reserved amount of money to be used in times when regular income is decreased in order for typical operations to continue
C) The minister responsible or the prime minister may activate the fund at any time if they feel that operations may severely be affected without the additional funding

Section II: Accounting
A) The office of Ombudsman for the Ministry of Research and Astronomy is created to investigate rights violation and maladministration complaints filed by Aurentine citizens and enterprises
B) The Ombudsman is appointed by the Minister of Justice and approved by the President of Aurentina
C) The Ombudsman is to have a university degree in accounting and is responsible for auditing the ministry at least twice a year

Section III: Astronaut Selection
A) The term astronaut is defined for the purpose of this law as an Aurentine public servant trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft
B) Astronauts are selected among any candidates who present their names, along with the appropriate forms, less than 30 days after the job offering is posted
C) Candidates must not have any history of violent or uncontrollable mental or physical disorder, a derelict or felony on their criminal record
D) Candidates may not be rejected on basis of sex, race, religion or any category that does not impede the ability or performance of the person
E) Selected candidates must finish the two-month training camp and pass a written test

Section IV: Security and Protection
A) All astronauts are to be trained in emergency situation management in case of incident onboard a spacecraft
B) Attempts to sabotage a spaceship is classified as (attempted) manslaughter, treason, and/or vandalism, depending on the circumstances and the assessment of the material and human damage
C) Accidentally disabling functions of a spacecraft leading to fatalities is classified as reckless endangerment
D) Scientists and contractors found to be deliberately misleading ministry officials with the aim of receiving money from the government will be charged with fraud
E) The Ministry of Transportation is tasked with investigating accidents and incidents onboard or involving spacecraft

Concluding that this act provides an adequate plan for scientific development in Aurentina,

Hereby Passes the Research and Astronomy Improvement Act

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Prevention of Corruption Act
Sponsors: Gallup, Kouralia, Liberated Countries, Wolfmanne, Strykla, Byzantium Imperial

SHOCKED that there is no current legislation to prevent corruption.

DEFINES corruption as dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.

DEFINES bribery as an act of giving money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient.

HEREBY makes it illegal for any government official to obtain a bribe from any other person or company, including other government officials.

PUNISHES senators who accept bribes by suspending them from the senate chamber for one week and if a minister, being forced to step down from their position. As well as the suspension, the senator or minister will be fined.

PUNISHES individuals or companies who attempt to bribe a government official by a large fine, whether the bribe was successful or not.

FORCES the senate to announce to the public if a government official was bribed. The public must be informed the government official that was bribed and by whom.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Proxy Voting Act
Author: Oneracon [RG] | Co-sponsors: Ainin [TR], Venaleria [RG], Mitonesia [TR], Wolfmanne [PC], Bleckonia [NCP], Byzantium Imperial [NIFP], The Grand Republic of Hannover [CPP], Free South Califas [C]

The Senate of the Aurentine Commonwealth,

RECOGNISING the importance of all Senator's being able to exercise their right and responsibility to vote in presidential elections and in the Senate Chamber;

NOTING that some Senators may not be present for the duration of some votes;

DESIRING to clarify requirements for fair proxy voting;

HEREBY STRIKES OUT AND RENDERS NULL AND VOID section (a) of the Voting Reform Act; and,

HEREBY establishes the Office of Proxy Voting as an office of the Ministry of the Interior; and,

HEREBY ENACTS the following:

Definitions
"Motion" is defined as a formal proposal by a member of the Senate that the Senate take certain action or actions.
"Voting" is defined as a formal expression of a Senator's choice for or against some motion or presidential candidate.
"Proxy" is defined as a Senator voting on behalf of another Senator.
"Principal" is defined as a Senator delegating their voting power to another Senator.
"Proxy voting" is defined as the delegation of voting power by one or more principals to a proxy.

Legality of Proxy Voting
Proxy voting shall be fully legal in the Senate of Aurentina.
Principals delegating their voting power to a proxy must specify the motions/candidates to be voted on and/or the duration of time that the delegation of voting power is valid.
Specifying a particular vote on a motion/candidate may be done for additional clarity at the principal's discretion.

Proxy Voting Procedure
Any principal wishing to delegate voting power to a proxy shall register the following statement with the Office of Proxy Voting:
I, <Principal's Name>, give <Proxy's Name> permission to vote on my behalf for <name of motion(s)/candidate(s) or duration of time>.
Any principal wishing to delegate voting power to a proxy and specify one or more specific votes on one or more motions shall also register the following statement with the Office of Proxy Voting:
I, <Principal's Name>, give <Proxy's Name> permission to vote <for/against> on my behalf for <name(s) of motion(s)>.
Vote counters shall verify the permission of a Senator to proxy vote with the Office of Proxy Voting before counting said Senator's proxy vote(s).

Relation to Political Parties
No political party shall implement mandatory proxy voting for Chamber motions or presidential elections.
Provisions in this Act do not apply to proxy voting for internal party matters, though parties are encouraged to establish similar internal regulations.

Coming Into Force
The provisions of this Act shall come into force no earlier than 17 July 2013 at 00:01 UTC.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Impartial Polling Places Act
Author: Oneracon [RG] | Co-sponsors: Fulflood [LD], Venaleria [RG], Yanalia [RG], Ainin [TR], New Zepuha [Ind], Battlion [CPP], Byzantium Imperial [NIFP]

The Senate of the Aurentine Commonwealth,

RECOGNISING the importance of free and fair elections to the maintenance of Aurentine democracy,

CONCERNED that the practice of passive electioneering threatens the right of citizens of this nation to vote free from interference,

APPALLED that some political groups try to campaign in polling places,

AFFIRMING the Senate's commitments to impartial administration of elections,

HEREBY ENACTS the following:

Definitions
"Polling place" is defined as any building, room, or location where voters cast their ballots in an election or referendum.
"Campaign paraphernalia" is defined as any worn or visibly carried object that indicates membership in a political party and/or support or opposition for any candidate, political party, or cause.
"Campaign literature" is defined as any printed material distributed, posted, or intended to be distributed or posted to gain support or opposition for any candidate, party, or cause."Voter" is defined as any individual is permitted to vote according to relevant laws.
"Election officer" is defined as any individual working in a polling place who is in the employ, whether paid or volunteer, of a body that administers elections and/or referenda.
"Partisan official" is defined as any individual who represents and/or campaigns for or on the behalf of a candidate, political party, or cause.

Prevention of Passive Electioneering
No person shall bring campaign paraphernalia or campaign literature into a polling place, and election officers shall not permit persons in possession of campaign paraphernalia or campaign literature to enter a polling place.
Persons who have been not permitted to enter a polling place shall have the option to remove all campaign paraphernalia and/or campaign literature from their person and place it in the care of an election officer until they leave the polling station.
Polling places shall provide temporary changes of clothes for the use of persons deemed to be in the possession of one or more articles of clothing considered to be campaign paraphernalia.

Exemption for Small Campaign Paraphernalia
Buttons or stickers smaller than 2.5" in diameter in the possession of a voter and deemed by an election officer to be not extraordinarily noticeable shall be excepted from campaign paraphernalia restrictions.

Representatives of Political Parties
Representatives of political parties may be present at a polling place to ensure an open and fair electoral process.
Representatives of political parties at polling places shall abide by all restrictions on campaign paraphernalia and campaign literature.
Representatives of political parties at polling places shall not influence or attempt to influence voters.

Election Officers
Election officers shall perform their work with the highest degree of non-partisanship possible, including making efforts to not wear overtly partisan colours.
Election officers shall abide by and enforce all restrictions on campaign paraphernalia and campaign literature.
Election officers shall, at regular intervals and when no person is using them, inspect private voting areas to ensure there is no attempt to influence voters.

Partisan Officials
Partisan officials may not campaign within a 500m radius of polling places.
Partisan officials may enter a polling place provided they are entering as a voter and abiding by all restrictions on campaign paraphernalia and campaign literature

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Presidential Election Procedures Act
Authors: Oneracon [RG], Battlion [NLP] | Co-Authors: Aeken [LD], Mishmahig [Ind.], The Realm of God [PC]
Sponsors: Gallup [NIFP], Ainin [TR], United Soviet Jason Republic [LFP], Fulflood [LD], New Zepuha [Ind.]

The Senate of the Aurentine Commonwealth,

RECOGNIZING the importance of regular fair elections for the preservation of Aurentine democracy;

NOTING the many issues which emerged during the last election;

SEEKING to establish firm and cohesive rules on the administration of presidential elections;

HEREBY ESTABLISHES the Electoral Commission as an arms-length agency of the Ministry of the Interior.

HEREBY ENACTS the following:

SCHEDULE I: ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission shall be the administering body for all elections in the Aurentine Commonwealth.
The Electoral Commission shall always conduct itself in as neutral a manner as possible.
The Minister of the Interior shall not, in any way, attempt to impose partisan or government bias on the Electoral Commission.

Commissioner of Elections
The Electoral Commission shall be headed by a Commissioner of Elections.
The Commissioner of Elections shall be appointed by Senate Administrators upon the advice of the leaders of all official parties.
The Commissioner of Elections shall not vote in presidential elections.

SCHEDULE II: ELECTIONS

Timing of Elections
A presidential election shall take place no more than two (2) months after the previous election.

Registration of Candidates
The Electoral Commission shall begin registering candidates for president two (2) weeks before the scheduled election date and cease formally registering candidates once the election begins.
Candidates may register or de-register as a candidate at any time during this period.

Structure of First Round
For the purposes of this Act "voting directly" shall be defined as a senator voting for themselves and not as a proxy.
The first round of a presidential election shall be open to all registered candidates.
Any candidate who receives a number of votes greater than or equal to 50% of all votes cast + 1 shall be declared the winner.
Write-in votes shall only be permitted in the first round and only if they are entered by senators voting directly.

Structure of Second Round
Should no candidate meet the conditions to be declared the winner, a run-off round of voting shall commence consisting of only the top two (2) candidates.
The candidate who receives a number of votes greater than or equal to 50% of all votes cast + 1 shall be declared the winner.

Voting Procedure
Voting shall be open for 96 hours each round.
Votes may be written out in any format, provided that the name of the candidate being voted for is prominently noted.
A Senator may change their vote at any time before the election ends.
The only posts made in election threads shall be votes or counts of votes.
Abstentions shall not be counted as part of the total number of votes, but may be counted separately for informational purposes.

Counting of Votes
After the end of the voting period the Commissioner of Elections shall, with the assistance of the Senate Administrators, count all votes entered in the election thread.
The Commissioner of Elections may, at their discretion, call for as many recounts as they see fit to determine the results accurately.
The Commissioner of Elections shall proclaim the winner of the election or (if applicable) the candidates that will move on to the second round.

SCHEDULE III: ELECTION-RELATED OFFENCES

False and Misleading Political Advertising
For the purposes of this Act "false and misleading political advertising" shall be defined as any individual, party, coalition or other group that posits that another individual, party, coalition, or group will undertake any actions or policies that are not stated in their platform or in official statements made on any Senate thread.
For greater clarity, the definition of "false and misleading political advertising" includes the conflation of the statements of individual coalition/party members with coalition/party policy or platforms.
The use of false and misleading political advertising shall not be permitted during a presidential election and the candidate registration period.
The Commissioner of Elections shall require any individual, party, coalition, or group that engages in false or misleading political advertising to cease said advertising and publish an immediate retraction.

Electoral Fraud
For the purposes of this Act "electoral fraud" shall be defined as illegal interference with the process of an election including, but not limited to, submitting multiple votes or purposeful misrecording of votes.
The Commissioner of Elections shall investigate all claims of electoral fraud.
Should the Commissioner of Elections be themselves accused of electoral fraud, they shall submit to investigation by the Senate Administrators.
Any senator found to have engaged in electoral fraud shall be suspended from voting for three (3) following presidential elections.
In the event of widespread electoral fraud the Commissioner of Elections may, at their discretion and with the approval of the Senate Administrators, declare the results of an election to be invalid.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

First Amendment to the Ministry Foundation Act | Author: Ainin [TR] | Sponsors: Maklohi Vai [LD], Mishmahig, Yanalia [RG], Wolfmanne [PC] | Urgency: Low

The Senate of Aurentina,

Lauding the intentions of the Ministry Foundation Act,

However noticing several odd names for the ministries,

Enacting the following clauses:

The Ministry of Interiors shall henceforth be known as the Ministry of the Interior.

The Ministry of Defense shall henceforth be known as the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry of Environment shall henceforth be known as the Ministry of the Environment.

The Ministry of Work shall henceforth be known as the Ministry of Labour.

The Ministry of Treasury and Finance shall henceforth be known as the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury.

All laws and statutes mentioning the previous names remain valid.

Hereby passes this amendment to the Ministry Foundation Act.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

First Amendment to the Second Constitution of the Senate
Urgency: High | Author: Maklohi Vai [LD] | Category: Senatorial Procedures
Sponsors: Free South Califas [CP], Venaleria [RG], Blassland [TR], Yanalia [RG], Aeken [LD], Beta Test [LD], Fulflood [LD], Geilinor [LD]


The Aurentine Senate,

Applauding the passage of the SIMBEDS Omnibus Act and the expedition of the voting process that it brings,

Believing that current debating mandates, specifically those about required times, are inadequate to serve this new method of voting and debating,

1. Strikes the fifth clause of the article “Legislation and Other Requirements” from the Second Constitution of the Senate;

2. Creates the procedure for debating time following the proceeding guidelines:
-If an omnibus category has 1-3 bills in it, it receives a minimum of 24 hours of debate time,
-If an omnibus category has 4-6 bills in it, it receives a minimum of 48 hours of debate time,
-If an omnibus category has 7+ bills in it, it receives a minimum of 72 hours of debate time,
-In order to extend the debating time, one must motion to do so; the motion must receive 10 seconds and approval from either the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, or the President pro Tempore.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Third Amendment to the Republican Executive Act | Author: Otrenia [RG] | Revised by: Wolfmanne [PC] | Sponsors: Battlion [NLP], Free South Califas [CP], Rumostan [NLP], Venaleria [RG], Wolfmanne [RG] | Urgency: Moderate

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The Senate of Aurentina,

Applauding the intentions of the Republican Executive Act,

However noticing that the impeachment process is left vague,

Hereby adds clarity with the following:

"The Senate may, by a 2/3rds vote of members present, remove the President from office for criminal actions. If the Council of State, by majority vote, deems the President incapable of carrying out the duties of the office, due to mental or physical incapacitation, they may present a motion for the President's removal to the Senate. The Senate may then remove the President by majority vote."

[NSG Senate Administrators]

SIMBEDS Omnibus Procedure Act
Urgency: High | Author: Maklohi Vai [LD]
Sponsors: Free South Califas [C], Aeken [LD], Wolfmanne [P-C], Rumostan [NLP], Venaleria [RG], Beta Test [LD], Yanalia [RG], Kouralia [USLP], Malgrave [USLP], Britanno [P-C], Battlion [NLP]


The Aurentine Senate,

Noting the continually growing backlog of bills to be voted on,

Believing that current omnibus procedures are inadequate to maintain a properly efficient queue of bills,

1. Creates the following new set of seven (7) omnibus categories, to be referred to collectively as SIMBEDS, to be used for all bills in the senate:
-Safety and Order, to deal with issues pertinent to the Interior, Health, and Justice ministries.
-International Relations, to deal with issues pertinent to the International Development, Defence, and Foreign Affairs ministries.
-Miscellaneous, to deal with issues that do not fit under any other category provided.
-Business and Finance, to deal with issues pertinent to the Work, Commerce, and Treasury ministries.
-Environment and Energy, to deal with issues pertinent to the Environment and Energy ministries.
-Domestic Development, to deal with issues pertinent to the Transportation, Agriculture, Education, Research, Telecommunications, and Culture ministries.
-Senate Procedures, to deal with issues pertinent to the procedures and actions of the senate.
2. Mandates that all bills are to be sorted into one of these seven (7) categories as they enter the chamber and its queue. The proper designation shall be determined by the author of the bill.
3. Calls upon all authors of current bills in queue to select a SIMBEDS category in which to place their bill,
4. Mandates that once a category has been voted on, it automatically moves to the bottom of the category queue.
5. Mandates that if a category reaches the top of the queue without a bill in it, it is automatically moved to the bottom of the category queue.
6. Affirms the procedure for moving a category to the top of the queue is the same as for a bill as stated in the most recent and relevant amended version of the Republican Executive Act, i.e. queuejumping

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Bump, bills will be edited in later.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Bump, bills will be edited in later.

[NSG Senate Administrators]

Bump, bill later.

[Senate President pro Tempore]

Repeal Most of the Commerce Ministry Act
Urgency: Very High | Author: Free South Califas [RG] | Category: Business & Finance
Co-sponsors: Jozef van Oostvoorne [C] | Ainin [TR] | Mytannion [RG] | Desmond C. Mac Suibhne [RG]

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The Senate of the Aurentine Commonwealth,

NOTING that the Commerce Ministry Act is unclear, i.e. failing to define 'businesses' yet implying some separation between them and workers' associations of production including "cooperatives";

1. DISTURBED that "businesses" may "be free to...deny recognition of such groups", including presumably all workers' cooperatives, which are also businesses by any sensible definition, e.g.
A. Worker unions, associations, and cooperatives are freely to be formed/established. However, businesses can also be free to recognize or deny recognition of such groups, depending on the working environment of the establishment, but shall have no right to deny their workers of their duly given rights.

2. AGITATED by its circular clauses stretching the limits of sensible meaning, for example:
A. REALIZING that businesses must not be overrun nor be accounted as one of the agencies of the government.
B. MANDATES that the Ministry will work under the following responsibilities: 5.) The gate-keeping of the Ministry in its inert aim to separate the businesses and the government in the state's political affairs 6.) The cooperation between the businesses and the Government through the Ministry of Commerce. 7.) The assurance of the Ministry that such responsibilities are done efficiently and effectively to avoid future problems such as corporatocracies, privatization and business-government rivalries.
C. MANDATES that the Ministry shall uphold impartial and unbiased service for the NSG in order for the responsibilities to be done in its maximum extent of effectivity.

3. EMBARRASSED by the possibility that such an Act might pass because of being bundled with the important Acts establishing a transportation ministry and census bureau, despite its problematic grammar which makes it even harder to understand, for example:
A. WHEREAS, businesses have their own rules and regulations and remains uncontrolled by the NSG Government.
B. MANDATES that the Ministry will work under the following responsibilities:
C. OBSERVING that there are less or no regulations of the government concerning the rights and welfare of business institutions.

4. ANNOYED at clauses whose verbs seem to contradict their relevant noun phrases, or carry otherwise unclear meanings, such as:
A. WHEREAS, there is no existing government agency to protect the boundary between businesses and government institutions.
B. MANDATES that this Ministry must be created to solidify the aim in placing boundaries and bridges between businesses and the government.
C. MANDATES that the Ministry will work under the following responsibilities: 4.) The cultural and social barrier between the businesses and the government
D. MANDATES that the Ministry shall spearhead all economic activities by encouraging friendly foreign nations and states to initiate trade and communication with us and helping to facilitate investment in the country.
i. NOTING that this project of the Ministry to "spearhead all economic activities" seems contradictory to earlier passages; which appear to limit government control of business;

5. CONFUSED and annoyed at the prospect of having its time wasted by passing an Act which does not even clearly create the Ministry it proposes, e.g.
A. PROPOSES that this new Ministry shall be called the "Ministry of Commerce". MANDATES that this Ministry must be created to solidify the aim in placing boundaries and bridges between businesses and the government.
i. NOTING that the above clauses do not follow any mention of such a new Ministry

6. HOPING for clarity of law, so that all citizens generally know how to comport themselves at most times; thus, rejecting metaphorical language with no inherent relevant meaning, because we should not have to speak the same foreign dialect as the author in order to understand the bill, and some people have difficulty understanding metaphor anyway, e.g.
A. WHEREAS, there is no existing government agency to protect the boundary between businesses and government institutions.
B. MANDATES that this Ministry must be created to solidify the aim in placing boundaries and bridges between businesses and the government.
C. MANDATES that this Ministry shall be the open ground between the two aforementioned institutions.
D. MANDATES that the Ministry will work under the following responsibilities: 5.) The gate-keeping of the Ministry in its inert aim to separate the businesses and the government in the state's political affairs
E. Overtime pay shall be paid as well.
F. ESTABLISHES the Ministry of Commerce to be in charge of checking the bounds between businesses and the State,

7. INDIGNANT at clauses which are impossible to carry out, to the extent that they have any sensible meaning, and therefore may have been included merely as propaganda or to enable later exploitation of the law, e.g.
A. MANDATES that this Ministry shall forward the rights and welfare of both the workers and employees, the businesses and the government.
B. MANDATES that the Ministry will work under the following responsibilities: 6.) The cooperation between the businesses and the Government through the Ministry of Commerce.
i. The Senate notes that this vague and nearly meaningless clause could in fact allow the government to draw unlimited tax money for directly aiding the profit of private businesses, without even giving a justification for why taxpayers should "cooperate" with such entities.
C. All government benefits established at the time being this Act is passed shall be granted to the workers' side of compensation. And these include health discounts, insurances, loan programs and the like.
D. the freedom of the free market from government involvement and control,
i. NOTING that Aurentina commonly licenses private businesses to: hire employees, pay them less in wages than gained by the product of their labor, wait for up to two weeks to pay such wages without allowing employees to charge interest, provide loans to such businesses, etc.; and, as such, that the concept of a market free from government involvement and control is ideological, utopian and irrelevant at best;

8. WORRIED by the Act's sexist assumptions, e.g. "manpower";

9. DISAPPOINTED by the Act's insistence on using two unclear nouns instead of one for emphasis:
A. GRANTING that the workers' rights must be also upheld by the Ministry with importance and concern through the following privileges and bounds

10. DISMAYED by the possibility that vagueness of language in the Act would mean workers shall be paid at no greater rate for overtime work, and may be denied three weeks of vacation for their entire period of employment, perhaps their entire lives, and that representatives of all businesses could be barred from even publically discussing decisions being made by the government, e.g.
A. Overtime pay shall be paid as well.
B. Workers shall be guaranteed 2 weeks of paid vacation
C. PROHIBITS the businesses to influence government decision-making processes and related affairs of the State.

11. UNCONVINCED that a separate Ministry of Commerce is required to perform such poorly-defined functions when the law already provides for a Ministry of Work and a Ministry of Business Safety;

12. HEREBY REPEALS almost all of the Commerce Ministry Act (CMA), and renders its text null and void, EXCEPT for the following parts:
-A. The following shall remain in CMA and function as standing law:
1.) Workers shall be given minimum wage per hour they work. Minimum wage for both private and public sector workers will be $15/hr.
-B. The following shall be amended as such:
2.) Overtime pay shall be paid as well, at rates equivalent to at least 150% the rate of normal pay.
4.) Workers shall be guaranteed 2 weeks of paid vacation per year at each place of employment.
-C. The following exact text shall remain in CMA and function as standing law:
3.) Workers may have a maximum workload of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week of work unless the employee agrees to have an extra/overtime.
5.) Employers are responsible for the safety and security of the workplace.
7.) Worker unions, associations, and cooperatives are freely to be formed/established.

13. INTERPRETING Clause 12 in good faith to the fullest possible extent with regard to removing the main text of CMA from consideration,
A. ADDITIONALLY forbidding any de jure or de facto discrimination which is generally in good faith considered illegal, but which would otherwise be enabled by literally interpreting certain words in such a way as to imply such discrimination, i.e. interpreting "manpower" as limiting any right of workers other than men to participate equally.
B. CLARIFYING that nothing in this bill shall be interpreted as discouraging or disallowing a Ministry of Commerce, which may be provided through a more clear and well-justified bill.
C. HOWEVER lamenting that it is too tempting to usurp the commerce-related powers of the Minister of Work for no clearly expressed reason.

14. FINALLY CLARIFIES that the Commerce Ministry Act shall be revised to include only the following:
1.) Workers shall be given minimum wage per hour they work. Minimum wage for both private and public sector workers will be $15/hr.
2.) Overtime pay shall be paid as well, at rates at least equivalent to 150% the rate of normal pay.
3.) Workers may have a maximum workload of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week of work unless the employee agrees to have an extra/overtime.
4.) Workers shall be guaranteed 2 weeks of paid vacation per year at each place of employment.
5.) Employers are responsible for the safety and security of the workplace.
6.) Worker unions, associations, and cooperatives are freely to be formed/established.

[Senate President pro Tempore]

Military Pensions Act
Urgency: None | Author: New Sapienta [PC] | Category: Business & Finance
Co-sponsors: Byzantium Imperial [NIFP] | Kalmath [PC] | Hathradic States [NIFP] | Wolfmanne [LD] | New Zepuha [Ind.] | CTALNH [USLP] | Unicario [SFP] | Liberated Counties [CFE]

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The Senate of the Aurentine Commonwealth,

RECOGNIZING the valiant service the men and women have given Aurentia in it's time of need.

LAMENTING that such men and women can suffer problems in the civilian world.

RESOLVING to aid them in their time of need.

Article I- Definitions
1a. "Military" shall be defined as anyone who has served in any branch of the Commonwealth military, the police force, or the fire service.
1b. "Serviceperson" shall be defined as any man or woman who has served in the Commonwealth military for a full tour, or has served in the police forces or fire service for an equal amount of time.

Article II- Pensions
2a. Creates the Serviceperson's Pension Program, or (SPP), which shall serve to offer $50,000 a year in disposable income to serviceman who have retired at or past the legal retirement age, and have served 10 years, been critically wounded preventing further service or a full tour in an active combat role. This amount shall be subject to cuts or raises by the Senate's budget.
2b. Creates the Serviceperson's Automobile Program, or (SAP), to provide free automobile insurance to retired serviceman.
2c. Creates the Serviceperson's Homeowner's Program, or (SHP), which shall provide free homeowner's insurance to retired serviceman.
2d. Creates the Serviceperson's Life Program, or (SLP), providing free medical insurance unless already covered by any system of universal healthcare.
2e. Creates the Serviceperson's Job Program, or (SLJ), to aid physically and mentally impaired veterans to find jobs in the civilian economy.
2e. Any member of the SPP, SAP, SHP, SLP, or SLJ shall be appointed by the government.
2f. Creates the Serviceperson's Business Alliance, or (SBA), which shall be in charge of encouraging business to give discounts to veterans as charity. Participation by business shall be entirely voluntary.
2g. The SPP, SAP, SHP, SLP, SLJ, and SBA shall not receive private investments or in any way act like a business other than help veterans.
2h. The SPP, SAP, SHP, SLP, SLJ, and SBA shall be ministered by the Ministry of Interiors.

Article III- Ethics
3a. It shall be punishable by 10 years in jail and suitable amounts of fines to be a member of the SPP, SAP, SHP, SLP, SLJ, or SBA and embezzle money into one's own possession.
3b. Such punishments shall be handed out by the civilian judicial system.
3c. It shall be illegal for any serviceperson to knowingly exploit the SPP and rig the system to receive more than $50,000 per year unless such amount is raised by the Senate.