NSG Senate Coffee Shop: 50% off Americanos [NSG Senate]

[Haelunor]

Is there any evidence suggesting that making school harder helps children to learn more?

I think Aurentina needs a total overhaul of it's schooling system.

[Great Nepal]

I'm not disputing that skills from IT aren't enough, I'm merely saying that presentation skills and those sort of things shouldn't be covered in IT, they should be covered in other subjects.

Where though. I would argue mixing IT with business would be best course of action.

Nepal, I think I understand where you are coming from with the entire maths things. You are suggesting that we introduce students to complex ideas and mathematics earlier on so at higher level maths, they do not have as much to cover. This seems your attitude or education n general to be honest.

Yes, on both counts.
Reasoning behind this is two fold: firstly early concepts are relatively easy and they will be used naturally latter on anyway. I mean, students finishing reception would not need to be masters at multiplications merely have idea of how to do it because in year one, two and for rest of the school year they will be using that and practising in multiplications until they master multiplication long before they finish school. Second part is focusing on the latter part; they are harder and you will never use say integration by substitution so practice you get in that hour per day is pretty much all the practice you get. So it makes sense to ensure students get more practice of these concepts than of multiplication.

I don't know where you went to school, but you are obviously bright and understand complex ideas well. I'm guessing you went to a relatively good school - I suppose I did as well. I went to a grammar school that was ranked about 100th in the country, and I was happy there. If I had to guess, I'd say that was the level of education you received or you received better. I don't know, and it's wrong of me to judge, but I can't help it. I don't doubt you could cope with the curriculum you proposed, I'm pretty sure I could. However, a large portion of pupils would struggle. Over 40% of people in the UK in 2013 failed to get grades A*-C. That is a massive amount. They would not be able to deal with your curriculum if they were 16, let alone younger. I appreciate your views, but I must reject the idea that your proposal is the right option for Aurentina's young.

Yes however I think that represents the flaw with searching for lowest common denominator. For instance in June 2013 O-level, which I think are harder than GCSE ,in June 77.1% got C or above and in same series of exam, additional mathematics had 84.8% getting C or above.
Also, for students it wont stop at end of year 11 (or at lest our aim should be to ensure it isn't) and I would imagine almost universally agreed that jump between GCSE to A level is just massive. For instance and yes an anecdote, I got B in GCSE maths and A in GCSE stats when my revision schedule was to play games day before exam. One year latter, despite revising for much longer my grade dropped down to a D. I think that gap should be closed so that there is much more natural progression from end of year 11 to start of year 12 and unless we introduce two separate curriculum based on academic ability of the student (with fluid procession between them) but that would be wayy to complex; only real way to do it would be to push simpler stuff together early on.
In regards to students who struggle, how about introducing mandatory free extra school sessions for students who upon teacher's recommendation is struggling in class?

[The New World Oceania]

Is there any evidence suggesting that making school harder helps children to learn more?

I think Aurentina needs a total overhaul of it's schooling system.

It's a well-drafted system. I'd reconsider that argument. Besides that, there is a less-well-drafted system....

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Though the current voting system is viable, it has occurred to many Senators that it isn't the most effective one possible, and ultimately devalues a large number of voters by means of campaigning strategies.

Thus, a solution is presented: changing the voting system so that it becomes similar to an Electoral method, with several major differences: the Constituencies are evenly divided into Districts, and a candidate must win a majority of Districts rather than voters.

Every Senator will be required to have a Constituency (running out isn't a foreseeable issue, and has easy resolution), the Interactive Map Project will start up again, and each vote will still be equal to every other vote in the District. Since each District vote is equal to each District vote, individual votes are equivalent overall. This helps even when Senators refrain from voting.

Why the votes are unequal
Votes are currently unequal for reasons twofold:
1. When a Senator does not vote or has their vote rejected, the result becomes imbalanced, no longer reflecting a true majority of opinions and rather one of the votes. This is solved by dividing Senators into groups, so that votes are linked to each other. This way, if one vote can no longer account for a majority, it has at least one vote backing it up.
2. When politicians campaign, they have targeting strategies. Though a candidate will ideally reach out to all the voting Senators, this is impossible, so they prioritize. First, they will aim for the majority parties. If these add up to about 100 votes, and the campaign can sway half, they've essentially come close to winning. Next, they target Independents, and then Senators with similar platforms. Because of these strategies, parties have more voting power than individuals, being able to use size to push platforms.

Finally, the District lines are redrawn every few elections by a non-partisan committee. They maintain an equal number of Constituencies in each District, as they did previously. Thus, reorganizing Districts isn't a power-play.

Swing-states and American problems
The issues of the United States' Electoral College are avoided with the District Act. In the Electoral College, some states have more votes than others. Additionally, swing-states consistently draw attention from candidates because of their balance of political parties.
Because of the District rearrangement, these issues cease to exist in the new system. See the resolution below.

District Act
Urgency: Moderate | Author: The New World Oceania [LP] | Category: Senate Procedures
Co-sponsors:

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The Senate of the Aurentine Commonwealth,

APPLAUDING the sustenance brought by the current voting system,

RESOLVING to improve the foundations upon which the Aurentine Commonwealth stands;

OBSERVING the Republican Executive Act, the Foundations of the State, and the Presidential Elections Procedure Act,

REGRETTING that the current voting procedures devalue the essence of voters due to partisan considerations;

UNDERSTANDING that Presidential Candidates focus campaigning on Majority Parties and Independent Senators,

FURTHER UNDERSTANDING that campaigns disregard political views and concern themselves to a greater degree with political associations;

ACKNOWLEDGING that this causes a variation of Gerrymandering, in which Parties seek to gain members in order to secure votes,

NOTING that these these campaign strategies devalue the votes of many Senators;

COGNIZANT of the division of the nation over minute differences in popular votes,

APPALLED that no Democracy, direct or indirect, exists in Aurentina;

HEREBY declares the following.

1. An electoral system is established.
   
   1. 37 Districts shall exist.
      
      1. A District is defined as a collection of Constituencies.
      2. Each District shall have 13 Constituencies.
      3. There are 481 Constituencies recognized by the Commonwealth of Aurentina. Constituency 469, A, is effectively illegitimate.
   2. Every Senator must represent a Constituency.
2. Senators shall vote as defined by the Presidential Election Procedures Act.
   
   1. Votes shall be tallied for each District individually.
      
      1. Senator votes within Districts will be counted equivalently to other Senator votes within the same District and within other Districts.
   2. The District votes are counted as would be individual votes.
      
      1. District votes will be counted equivalently to other District votes.
3. Districts will be redrawn every four months.
   
   1. At least 4 of the Constituencies within a given District must be separated from each other.
   2. At least 8 of the Constituencies within a given District must be removed from their former District.
   3. This shall be done by a non-partisan committee (Senate admins).
4. District laws shall be applicable only to Presidential Elections.
   
5. Presidential Election Procedures Act, Schedule II will be amended with these procedures.
   
6. The Interactive Map Project will be restarted to organize the representation of Constituencies.

This has the following benefits:
•Equal votes are maintained.
•The majority of Aurentina is recognized in voting, even when some Senators choose not to vote.
•Gerrymandering is non-existent.
•Politicians can no longer target a majority party and win.
—For example, Independent Senators are currently campaigned on especially. Candidates will often target not only parties they are in agreement with, but the largest parties.
•Since candidates focus on all voters, every vote becomes truly equal.
•Parties cannot take control of District Groups by calling on members to apply for a set of districts due to the rearrangement of Groups.
•It produces a clear winner. Recounts are no longer difficult. The country is no longer divided in radically different views due to merely one vote.

In entirety, the new system would make voting objective, equal, and easy.

[Haelunor]

Is there an actual problem with the current voting system, or are we just trying to make this all insanely hard and complicated?

[Geilinor]

Is there an actual problem with the current voting system, or are we just trying to make this all insanely hard and complicated?

We don't have campaigning ICly anyway, so whatever the legislation says on campaigning and candidates makes no difference.

[Dangelia]

Opinions? Sponsors?

Honorary Membership Act
Urgency: High | Author: Dangelia [CMP] | Category: Senate Procedure
Co-sponsors: United States of Devonta, Dendart, The New World Oceania, [nation][/nation]

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RECOGNIZING that for many senators, one party does not fully represent that senator's political, economic, and social views, causing a plurality of senators to hold multi-partisan membership.

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that different parties may order contradicting whips and it is dishonorable to ignore one whip while accepting the other.

APPLAUDING the establishment of Honorary Membership within the Classical Monarchist Party

HEREBY enacts the following:

---

Section 1- Abolishment of Multi-Partisan Membership
1. All senators are henceforth prohibited from holding multi-partisan membership.
2. All senators who currently are members of two or more parties are henceforth required to commit oneself to only one party.

Section 2- Establishment of Honorary Membership
1. Honorary Memberships shall be established within all parties of the senate.
2. If a senator wishes to retain formal ties with a party of which they are not a member, they may apply for Honorary Membership in that party.
3.) A senator may be an Honorary Member in as many parties as he or she desires.

Definition
1. Honorary Membership- Same as normal membership but is not limited to one party and party whips don't apply to honorary members.

[United States of Devonta]

Opinions? Sponsors?

Guild of Aspiring Artists Act
Urgency: High | Author: Dangelia [CMP] | Category: Senate Procedure
Co-sponsors: [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation]

---

RECOGNIZING that for many senators, one party does not fully represent that senator's political, economic, and social views, causing a plurality of senators to hold multi-partisan membership.

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that different parties may order contradicting whips and it is dishonorable to ignore one whip while accepting the other.

APPLAUDING the establishment of Honorary Membership within the Classical Monarchist Party

HEREBY enacts the following:

---

Section 1- Abolishment of Multi-Partisan Membership
1. All senators are henceforth prohibited from holding multi-partisan membership.
2. All senators who currently are members of two or more parties are henceforth required to commit oneself to only one party.

Section 2- Establishment of Honorary Membership
1. Honorary Memberships shall be established within all parties of the senate.
2. If a senator wishes to retain formal ties with a party of which they are not a member, they may apply for Honorary Membership in that party.
3.) A senator may be an Honorary Member in as many parties as he or she desires.

Definition
1. Honorary Membership- Same as normal membership but is not limited to one party and party whips don't apply to honorary members.

Sounds good, Wont hurt no one... I will sponsor.

[Dangelia]

Opinions? Sponsors?

Guild of Aspiring Artists Act
Urgency: High | Author: Dangelia [CMP] | Category: Senate Procedure
Co-sponsors: [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation]

---

RECOGNIZING that for many senators, one party does not fully represent that senator's political, economic, and social views, causing a plurality of senators to hold multi-partisan membership.

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that different parties may order contradicting whips and it is dishonorable to ignore one whip while accepting the other.

APPLAUDING the establishment of Honorary Membership within the Classical Monarchist Party

HEREBY enacts the following:

---

Section 1- Abolishment of Multi-Partisan Membership
1. All senators are henceforth prohibited from holding multi-partisan membership.
2. All senators who currently are members of two or more parties are henceforth required to commit oneself to only one party.

Section 2- Establishment of Honorary Membership
1. Honorary Memberships shall be established within all parties of the senate.
2. If a senator wishes to retain formal ties with a party of which they are not a member, they may apply for Honorary Membership in that party.
3.) A senator may be an Honorary Member in as many parties as he or she desires.

Definition
1. Honorary Membership- Same as normal membership but is not limited to one party and party whips don't apply to honorary members.

Sounds good, Wont hurt no one... I will sponsor.

Great, I added you.

[Haelunor]

Why is it called the Guild of Aspiring Artists Act? How is that remotely relevent to the actual subject matter of the bill?

[Ainin]

Didn't Oneracon already write something to this effect?

[Geilinor]

Why is it called the Guild of Aspiring Artists Act? How is that remotely relevent to the actual subject matter of the bill?

He took the format from one of his old bills and forgot to change the title.

[Dendart]

Opinions? Sponsors?

Guild of Aspiring Artists Act
Urgency: High | Author: Dangelia [CMP] | Category: Senate Procedure
Co-sponsors: United States of Devonta, [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation]

---

RECOGNIZING that for many senators, one party does not fully represent that senator's political, economic, and social views, causing a plurality of senators to hold multi-partisan membership.

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that different parties may order contradicting whips and it is dishonorable to ignore one whip while accepting the other.

APPLAUDING the establishment of Honorary Membership within the Classical Monarchist Party

HEREBY enacts the following:

---

Section 1- Abolishment of Multi-Partisan Membership
1. All senators are henceforth prohibited from holding multi-partisan membership.
2. All senators who currently are members of two or more parties are henceforth required to commit oneself to only one party.

Section 2- Establishment of Honorary Membership
1. Honorary Memberships shall be established within all parties of the senate.
2. If a senator wishes to retain formal ties with a party of which they are not a member, they may apply for Honorary Membership in that party.
3.) A senator may be an Honorary Member in as many parties as he or she desires.

Definition
1. Honorary Membership- Same as normal membership but is not limited to one party and party whips don't apply to honorary members.

Sponser

[The New World Oceania]

Is there an actual problem with the current voting system, or are we just trying to make this all insanely hard and complicated?

I wrote an explanation for the following to accompany, but I decided that this example makes the point of the resolution well enough. It's designed to stop unequal voting in the simplest possible way, without changing anything, merely adding the concept of Districts. A simple addition isn't "insanely hard and complicated," far as I've been explained.

See this example:

The problems exist. Do they need to be solved? That's up for debate.
Can they be solved without adverse effects? Yes.

Opinions? Sponsors?

Guild of Aspiring Artists Act
Urgency: High | Author: Dangelia [CMP] | Category: Senate Procedure
Co-sponsors: United States of Devonta, [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation], [nation][/nation]

---

RECOGNIZING that for many senators, one party does not fully represent that senator's political, economic, and social views, causing a plurality of senators to hold multi-partisan membership.

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that different parties may order contradicting whips and it is dishonorable to ignore one whip while accepting the other.

APPLAUDING the establishment of Honorary Membership within the Classical Monarchist Party

HEREBY enacts the following:

---

Section 1- Abolishment of Multi-Partisan Membership
1. All senators are henceforth prohibited from holding multi-partisan membership.
2. All senators who currently are members of two or more parties are henceforth required to commit oneself to only one party.

Section 2- Establishment of Honorary Membership
1. Honorary Memberships shall be established within all parties of the senate.
2. If a senator wishes to retain formal ties with a party of which they are not a member, they may apply for Honorary Membership in that party.
3.) A senator may be an Honorary Member in as many parties as he or she desires.

Definition
1. Honorary Membership- Same as normal membership but is not limited to one party and party whips don't apply to honorary members.

Save the title, sponsor.

[Dangelia]

Okay, I edited the title and added sponsors. I just need one more, and I'll add it to the que.

[Ainin]

Didn't Oneracon already write something to this effect?

[Dangelia]

Didn't Oneracon already write something to this effect?

I don't think he did. I mean, we still have multi-partisan membership.

[Ainin]

I don't think he did. I mean, we still have multi-partisan membership.

viewtopic.php?p=19072462#p19072462
Still in queue

[President Pro-Tempore of the Senate]

Is there an actual problem with the current voting system, or are we just trying to make this all insanely hard and complicated?

It also creates a situation where the side with a minority of the vote could win the election.

[Ainin]

The Official Senate Grammar Nazi (that's actually a thing) reminds everyone that bills should be in British English (en-GB).

[The New World Oceania]

Is there an actual problem with the current voting system, or are we just trying to make this all insanely hard and complicated?

It also creates a situation where the side with a minority of the vote could win the election.

The minority of a vote can already win through abstentions. See the slideshow.

[Mkuki]

Opinions? Sponsors?

Honorary Membership Act
Urgency: High | Author: Dangelia [CMP] | Category: Senate Procedure
Co-sponsors: United States of Devonta, Dendart, The New World Oceania, [nation][/nation]

---

RECOGNIZING that for many senators, one party does not fully represent that senator's political, economic, and social views, causing a plurality of senators to hold multi-partisan membership.

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that different parties may order contradicting whips and it is dishonorable to ignore one whip while accepting the other.

APPLAUDING the establishment of Honorary Membership within the Classical Monarchist Party

HEREBY enacts the following:

---

Section 1- Abolishment of Multi-Partisan Membership
1. All senators are henceforth prohibited from holding multi-partisan membership.
2. All senators who currently are members of two or more parties are henceforth required to commit oneself to only one party.

Section 2- Establishment of Honorary Membership
1. Honorary Memberships shall be established within all parties of the senate.
2. If a senator wishes to retain formal ties with a party of which they are not a member, they may apply for Honorary Membership in that party.
3.) A senator may be an Honorary Member in as many parties as he or she desires.

Definition
1. Honorary Membership- Same as normal membership but is not limited to one party and party whips don't apply to honorary members.

I would like to sponsor.

[Dangelia]

I don't think he did. I mean, we still have multi-partisan membership.

viewtopic.php?p=19072462#p19072462
Still in queue

Damn that's a month old. You guys just can't give me a break can't you.

[President Pro-Tempore of the Senate]

It also creates a situation where the side with a minority of the vote could win the election.

The minority of a vote can already win through abstentions. See the slideshow.

Elections don't have abstentions. Derp. One either votes or one does not vote. The Candidate with 50%+1 of the popular vote wins. The candidate with the majority of the vote always wins.

[The New World Oceania]

The minority of a vote can already win through abstentions. See the slideshow.

Elections don't have abstentions. Derp. One either votes or one does not vote. The Candidate with 50%+1 of the popular vote wins. The candidate with the majority of the vote always wins.

Counting a lack of vote as an abstention.

Note that Districts already exist: we call them parties.

[President Pro-Tempore of the Senate]

Elections don't have abstentions. Derp. One either votes or one does not vote. The Candidate with 50%+1 of the popular vote wins. The candidate with the majority of the vote always wins.

Counting a lack of vote as an abstention.

Note that Districts already exist: we call them parties.

Districts don't exist.