The Senate Chamber: Make the Senate Great Again

[Ainin]

"What is a Kansas?" wondered Amman Singh, as likely did most people watching the debate on their TVs at home.

[Tectonix]

"What is a Kansas?" wondered Amman Singh, as likely did most people watching the debate on their TVs at home.

"If it would please the Dais, Madam President, I'd like to submit this article for the record."

[Lykens]

"We will now begin debate on the National Defense Act."

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National Defense Act

Sponsor: David Lyons [House of Judah|RGA]
Co-Sponsors: Stephan Dannon [Paketo|CU], Alexios Viel [Tectonix|RGA], Alexander Barrowdale [Ethane|RGA], Narcisa Cruyff [Eshan|RGA, Draven Aldean [Martune|CU]

An act to provide for the national defense of Fernão and organize her armed forces and establish military law.

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Full Text

[Paketo]

"I rise in full support of this bill. For too long have we relied on foreign powers to keep Fernão safe. We must form our own defense forces to secure our own borders. We are responsible for our people and delaying the formation of the military any farther would be a direct insult to the citizens we claim to represent."

[Davincia]

"I rise in full support of this bill. For too long have we relied on foreign powers to keep Fernão safe. We must form our own defense forces to secure our own borders. We are responsible for our people and delaying the formation of the military any farther would be a direct insult to the citizens we claim to represent."

"Hear hear!"

[Roosevetania]

"Madam President, I would remind the Senate that plenty of countries function perfectly fine without a military. Fernão is not threatened in any way by any nation or military, and creating an excessive military only adds to the tension and conflict and death in this world. Furthermore, Madam President, this bill utilizes the appalling practice of conscription, forcing our young people to serve in the military. Senators should be ashamed for supporting the draft. I oppose this bill in its current form for its contribution to the world's problems and its use of the horrid idea of the draft."

[House of Judah]

"Madam President, I would remind the Senate that plenty of countries function perfectly fine without a military. Fernão is not threatened in any way by any nation or military, and creating an excessive military only adds to the tension and conflict and death in this world. Furthermore, Madam President, this bill utilizes the appalling practice of conscription, forcing our young people to serve in the military. Senators should be ashamed for supporting the draft. I oppose this bill in its current form for its contribution to the world's problems and its use of the horrid idea of the draft."

"My esteemed colleague is sadly mistaken in many respect. We are in an extremely volatile area of the world and while no other nation is currently threatening us, that is in part due to the fact that our security is currently being assured by the Republic of India, a state of affairs that will not last forever. India has no stomach for empire. They have come to our aid once, but we cannot rely upon them forever. We must be able to stand on our own. As for conscription, this bill establishes a system to allow our government to enact such provisions when we are in extremus. It falls to the legislature, in its resolution declaring a war, to grant the President the wartime power of conscription. This power is further limited by restricting those who can be subjected to a draft, granting a large number of grantable exemptions which must be granted. This is not enacting a conscription. It is laying the infrastructure for a system we hope we'll never need, but which we should be prepared for if we do."

[Tectonix]

"I'm afraid I'll have to side with my colleague Senator Lyons, Madam President. It is clear that our defense situation needs this bill, and I stand in favour of its passage."

[Roosevetania]

"I'm afraid I'll have to side with my colleague Senator Lyons, Madam President. It is clear that our defense situation needs this bill, and I stand in favour of its passage."

"Even with the provision of conscription, while claiming to be a progressive?"

[Davincia]

"Madam President, I would remind the Senate that plenty of countries function perfectly fine without a military. Fernão is not threatened in any way by any nation or military, and creating an excessive military only adds to the tension and conflict and death in this world. Furthermore, Madam President, this bill utilizes the appalling practice of conscription, forcing our young people to serve in the military. Senators should be ashamed for supporting the draft. I oppose this bill in its current form for its contribution to the world's problems and its use of the horrid idea of the draft."

"The only nations without a military are weak. Weakness is not an attribute applicable to Fernao, and should our way of life be at risk, a draft may be the only thing standing between us and total collapse."

[Tectonix]

"I'm afraid I'll have to side with my colleague Senator Lyons, Madam President. It is clear that our defense situation needs this bill, and I stand in favour of its passage."

"Even with the provision of conscription, while claiming to be a progressive?"

"Madam President, conscription is a tool that should be used in dire circumstances such as all-out war to ensure victory. I am no warhawk — I would never go to the lengths of neoconservatives to ensure that military contractors are able to reap millions of dollars that should've gone towards public spending. But, if Fernão comes to the point where we are actually in a danger requiring a war resolution passed by the Senate, noting also that the state of Fernãoan politics would make it near impossible for a war declaration like we saw with the US and Iraq, I believe that a level of conscription is justified. If the Senator wishes to use this sole opinion to attack me for not being a progressive, despite my countless fights for labour rights, government transparency, infrastructure spending and income inequality, she certainly has the freedom of speech to do so. However, I call upon this assembly to take the necessary steps to ensure that our country is safe from foreign threats — after all, a war is a pie in the sky until it becomes a bomb in the sky."

[Beta Test]

"It has come to my attention that this legislation before us is apparently plagiarized."

[Tectonix]

"It has come to my attention that this legislation before us is apparently plagiarized."

Secretary Viel frowned. "Madam President, I raise a point of information to the honourable Senator in asking: what exact plagiarism do you believe took place?"

[House of Judah]

"It has come to my attention that this legislation before us is apparently plagiarized."

Secretary Viel frowned. "Madam President, I raise a point of information to the honourable Senator in asking: what exact plagiarism do you believe took place?"

"The claim is inaccurate. Much of the language used was crafted in consultation with US military law experts, which have been keeping order and discipline in their force for over 200 years, which is why so much of it closely resembles their own law with regards to the armed forces."

[Lykens]

"We will now begin debate on the Fernão Language Rights Act of 2017 prior to voting on all debated bills."

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Fernão Language Rights Act of 2017

Author: Beto Goncalves (PA)
Sponsors: Peter Janzen (UA), Vishal Vig (RGA), Alexios Viel (RGA), Shankara Khatri (Ind), Iyasu Isaias Mengistu (Ind)

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Affirming that minority rights are a crucial part of humanitarian development,
Further affirming that language rights are a crucial component of minority rights,
Recognizing that Fernão is a multilingual and multicultural society,
Believing that all peoples should have a right to expect reasonable accommodation of their language of choice,

§1 - National and Minority Languages Designation

1. The official languages of Fernão shall consist of the national languages, which are used broadly across the country, and of the minority languages, which are used in particular areas of Fernão.
2. Portuguese, English, Arabic, Swahili, and Hindi shall be recognized as the five national languages of Fernão,
A. A sixth language may be elevated to the status of national language only through an act of the Senate;
3. The minority languages of Fernão shall be determined by the Minority Languages Community Service established in Section 2 of this legislation, and shall include the following:
A.The languages of the indigenous and aboriginal peoples of Fernão,
B. The creole and patois languages of Fernão,
C. Any other languages spoken by an established residential community in Fernão, including, but not limited to, the following:
i.Malayalam,
ii.Gujarati,
iii.French,
iv.Dutch,
v.Danish,
vi.Spanish,
vii.Yiddish,
viii.Oromo,
ix.Somali,
x.Tigray.

§ 2 - Ordinance of the Minority Language Communities Service (MLCS)

1. The Minority Language Communities Service is hereby ordained as an executive department of the national government.
2. The Minority Language Communities Service shall be under the purview of the Ministry of Culture, which is required to provide administration and funding to the Service.
3. The Minority Language Communities Service shall be headed by an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Minister of Culture and approved by a majority of a panel consisting of the Ministers of Health, Education, and Justice;
A. The Executive Director shall appoint a Director of Domestic Programs and a Director of International Outreach, who shall:
i. be equivalent in rank,
ii. report to the Executive Director;
B. The Executive Director shall serve a single two year term and will then be required to be approved by the aforementioned panel of Ministers to renew a term;
C. The Executive Director may be forcibly removed before the end of their term at the discretion of the Minister of Culture, but only for proven maladministration or incompetence.
4. The Minority Language Communities Service shall operate under the following principles:
A. To assist the inclusion of minority language communities, and their individual members, into Fernãoese society if so desired,
B. To assist minority language communities who wish to be independent of mainstream Fernãoese society to maintain their independence.
5. The Minority Language Communities Service shall have two divisions:
A. The Domestic Programs Division, which shall be:
i. headed by the Director of Domestic Programs,
ii. in charge of executing and enforcing the mandates to be elucidated in Sections 3 and 4 of this act,
B. The International Outreach Division, which shall be:
i. headed by the Director of International Outreach,
ii. in charge of executing and enforcing the mandates to be elucidated in Section 5 of this act.

§ 3 - Reasonable Accommodation of Minority Language Communities

1. In municipalities where more than five percent of the population speaks a recognized minority language, reasonable accommodation must be made for them in some public settings, including the following:
A. Communication and interaction, direct or indirect, with any level of the Government of Fernão, including, but not limited to:
i. In-person government services such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, driver’s licenses, etc. must be provided in every national language and every relevant minority language;
ii. Ballots must be available in every national language and every relevant minority language;
iii. All Fernãoese accused of a crime shall have the right to be tried in a court of law in the national language of their choice, with translation provided to any minority language;
iv. All road and street signs shall be listed in both the majority language and the relevant minority language(s), and
a. Municipalities have the power to add any additional language to street signs;
B. Hospitals and other health services must offer services in both the majority language and the relevant minority languages, and provide translation services to any national language;
C. Educational provisions for relevant minority language communities, including, but not limited to:
i. Primary and secondary schools with teaching entirely in the minority language,
ii. Textbooks printed in the minority language,
iii. Teachers fluent in the minority language to teach children of the community,
iv. Curricula which promote the inclusion of minorities,
D. Cultural preservation and expansion of the relevant minority language and its community through:
i. the establishment of local and regional cultural centers,
ii. local telecommunications, such as TV and radio broadcasts, in the minority language,
iii. academic programs on the study of the minority language in Fernãoese public universities.

§ 4 - Additional Domestic Mandates

1. The Minority Language Communities Service Domestic Programs Division (MLSCDPD) shall conduct an annual survey of current language policy in Fernão which will:
A. Have a particular focus on active legislation and policies addressing minority rights,
B. Be concluded with a briefing presented to the Minister of Culture at the end of the survey period,
C. Be publicized;
2. The Minority Language Communities Service Domestic Programs Division will engage and seek to utilize the resources of Fernãoese universities, academics, and policy experts with a vested interest in language policy, including:
A. Potential consultation when forming policy,
B. Assistance in conducting the annual survey of Fernão's language policy.

§ 5 - International Language Policy Outreach

1. The Minority Language Communities Service International Outreach Division (MLSCIOD) shall operate under the following additional principles, in addition to those prescribed to the Minority Language Communities Service as a whole:
A. To use the knowledge of the international community to improve language policy and minority language rights in Fernão,
B. To enter into the international dialogue of language policy, both in academic and governmental settings,
C. To establish a picture of Fernão as a forerunner in progressive language policy.
2. The Minority Language Communities Service International Outreach Division will engage and seek to utilize the resources and assistance of the following actors:
A. global organizations,
i. prioritizing those of which Fernão is a member,
a. the United Nations, of which Fernão is a member and its subordinate bodies, including, but not limited to:
1. the Commission on Human Rights
2. the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
3. the Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Committee (SOCHUM)
4. the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
ii. as well as engaging those organizations of which Fernão is not a member, or those which are international non-governmental organizations, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. Minority Rights Group International (MRGI),
b. Amnesty International,
c. Human Rights Watch (HRW),
d. the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH);
B. African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian regional organizations;
C. Other regional organizations which have dealt with minority language rights elsewhere, and may be capable of lending assistance to Fernão, including the following:
i. the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI),
ii. the European Association for the Defense of Human Rights (AEDH);
D. Various academic bodies and individual academics concerned with language rights and policy
4. The Minority Language Communities Service International Outreach Division will present to the Minister of Culture, and make public, a monthly brief of its activities.

[Davincia]

"What the devil does 'curricula which promote the inclusion of minorities' mean? Madam President, this bill has nothing to do with rights, but instead dumps resources into dying languages."

[Liberated Territories]

Languages are interesting to be studied...but they alone do not have 'rights.' The only way a language can be brought back is if the members themselves voluntarily decided to pick it up again, no amount of government resources can convince people otherwise. Otherwise as a medium of communication I think English is doing a fine job...why do so many people pick it up as a language?

[Maklohi Vai]

"What the devil does 'curricula which promote the inclusion of minorities' mean? Madam President, this bill has nothing to do with rights, but instead dumps resources into dying languages."

"Madam President, perhaps the honorable member has had the luxury of his mother tongue being one which is upheld in this land. I do not bear ill will against him, for he does not have the experience which would allow him to understand the plight of minority linguistic communities. These communities struggle to preserve their culture while giving themselves and their children opportunities to succeed in our country. This is a struggle repeated across the world. So if you want to respect every citizen of this country, then you must allow them room to succeed, both at home and in our broader society."

Languages are interesting to be studied...but they alone do not have 'rights.' The only way a language can be brought back is if the members themselves voluntarily decided to pick it up again, no amount of government resources can convince people otherwise. Otherwise as a medium of communication I think English is doing a fine job...why do so many people pick it up as a language?

"Madam President, this is empirically incorrect. Take the example of Wales, where English nearly predominated to the extent of killing the Welsh language. It was in fact only after a major government investment in Welsh language preservation that the language made a revival. That revival has been extraordinarily successful. And yes, Madam President, languages themselves do not have rights, but their speakers do.

"Madam President, let me conclude by speaking to the value of language preservation. Languages are the vectors of human communication. They contain multitudes of information about the way that we relate to each other, and how we view the world. They are fundamental parts of culture, as a community's language is how they talk about their traditions and practices. Indeed, many traditions may only be preserved with a language's existence; they are not accessible otherwise.

"Madam President, if the honorable members wish for the government to not have any role in preserving culture, and to not have any role in reducing the hardships of minorities in our country, and to not promote a peaceful, inclusive, multicultural Fernão, then they may vote against this bill. If their concerns are with the mechanisms of this legislation, let them raise those concerns now, but what I have heard only recommends to me their unwillingness to support those in our country who are most in need."

[Davincia]

"What the devil does 'curricula which promote the inclusion of minorities' mean? Madam President, this bill has nothing to do with rights, but instead dumps resources into dying languages."

"Madam President, perhaps the honorable member has had the luxury of his mother tongue being one which is upheld in this land. I do not bear ill will against him, for he does not have the experience which would allow him to understand the plight of minority linguistic communities. These communities struggle to preserve their culture while giving themselves and their children opportunities to succeed in our country. This is a struggle repeated across the world. So if you want to respect every citizen of this country, then you must allow them room to succeed, both at home and in our broader society."

"I have no qualm with this country's minorities, but times are changing. Languages come and go throughout history, and we are doing a disservice by standing in the way of lingual unity. Unfortunately, every man, woman, and child in Fernao does not speak Portuguese. Madam President, our nation's children will thank us if we can destroy the language barrier once and for all."

[Natanians and Nosts]

Senator Públio Ion wonders in how many ways mr. Agramonte is wrong.

"Madame president,I stand in favor of this bill that is a tool to unite our nation and spread the knowledge of the languages of our country!"

[Lykens]

"We will now begin voting on the LPA, NDA, LRA, DNA, and AICOPA."

[Ainin]

Nay to the NDA. Abstain on LPA. Aye to everything else.

[House of Judah]

LPA    AYE
NDA    AYE
LRA    AYE
DNA    NAY
AICOPA AYE

[Tectonix]

LPA - AYE
NDA - AYE
LRA - AYE
DNA - ABSTAIN
AICOPA - AYE

[Hindia Belanda]

LPA: Abstain
NDA: Abstain
LRA: Aye
DNA: Aye
AICOPA: Aye