NationStates

To my knowledge, there have been no issues on the topic of judicial review, so here goes:

Name: Judicial Review on Trial

Description: Following a controversial ruling by the Supreme Court that a clause in the nation's constitution forbidding "cruel and unusual punishment" requires prisons to provide convicts with luxury accommodations, critics are beginning to question the role of judicial review in @@NAME@@'s governance.

Validity: Valid for nations with a democratic form of government and a high civil rights rating

Options:

[option]"Could somebody please explain to me why a few unelected codgers in black robes are allowed to dictate public policy?" exclaimed @@RANDOMNAME@@, an infuriated backbencher MP. "Judges are supposed to enforce the law, not legislate from the bench. The notion that Parliament should have any sort of checks and balances on its power is absurd. After all, we were elected by the people of @@NAME@@, so we know what's best for them."
[effect]copies of the constitution are used as toilet paper
[stats]political freedoms increases, civil rights decreases, Law & Order budget decreases

[option]"Democracy is nothing more than a tyranny by majority without constitutional safeguards," declares Chief Justice @@RANDOMNAME@@. "All bills should be approved by the judiciary before they become law, so that even temporary breaches of civil rights are prevented. Yes, this might make the legislature's job a little more difficult, but what is the expediency of the political process compared with the fundamental freedoms of @@NAME@@'s citizens?"
[effect]political gridlock ensues as even the most innocuous legislation is vetoed by the Supreme Court for potential civil rights violations
[stats]political freedoms decreases, civil rights increases, Law & Order budget increases

Does anyone have any comments or suggestions?

This is a slow moving forum and issue drafting take a considerably longer time than, say, resolution drafting.

Sanctaria wrote:This is a slow moving forum and issue drafting take a considerably longer time than, say, resolution drafting.

As an Issue Editor, do you have any comments or suggestions?

I've decided to submit this issue.