NSG Senate House of Representatives: Shutdown Dilemma

[Soviet Canuckistan]

A senator walks in, clutching an industrial-sized bottle of Windex.

[Hindia Belanda]

Senator Ioannis Papakonstantinou walked into the chamber and took his seat.

[Lamaredia]

"I, also, nominate Senator Lilika Samaras. We're so similar."

"I, Alexis Gianopoulos, also nominate Senator Lilika Samaras for the position of speaker"

Andrea leans towards her microphone, speaking into it.
"I too nominate Senator Lilika Samaras for the Speaker position."

Niccolo smiles at the amateurs. "You don't have to all nominate her, you can just 'Second" it."

"Saying "Second" does not have enough flair" Alexis jokingly responds.

[Martune]

Senator Tyreea walks in the Senate quietly. He just wishes to get his business done

[Roosevetania]

Senator Fallaci puts his feet up on his desk and eats another slice of pizza.

[Lamaredia]

Senator Fallaci puts his feet up on his desk and eats another slice of pizza.

Senator Gianopoulos runs by, steals a slice of pizza, shouts "SORRY NOT SORRY" and runs out of the chamber, on his way to pick up his sons and daughter from school.

[Martune]

Gary has brought his own pizza and is offering any senator who wants a slice...a slice.

[Roosevetania]

Senator Fallaci puts his feet up on his desk and eats another slice of pizza.

Senator Gianopoulos runs by, steals a slice of pizza, shouts "SORRY NOT SORRY" and runs out of the chamber, on his way to pick up his sons and daughter from school.

A parliamentary aide throws a pair of scissors like a ninja star, lodging in his back. A second aide apprehends him and stabs him with a pen and retrieves the pizza.

[Lamaredia]

Gary has brought his own pizza and is offering any senator who wants a slice...a slice.

Senator Gianopoulos pulls the scissor out of his back and crawls over, gets a slice, thanks the man, and crawls out the door to his car.

[Malgrave]

Alexandra ignored the chaos unfolding around her and rose to speak! "Madame Speaker, I am incredibly proud to stand here as an elected representative of the Galatean people and I look forward to working with everyone in this legislative body. Of course we must move forward from the painful struggles of the past and unite to build a brighter future, but we also shouldn't forget the sacrifices that brought us to this point and I say that we should also work to ensure that those that committed crimes against the Galatean people are brought to justice."

[Roosevetania]

Alexandra ignored the chaos unfolding around her and rose to speak! "Madame Speaker, I am incredibly proud to stand here as an elected representative of the Galatean people and I look forward to working with everyone in this legislative body. Of course we must move forward from the painful struggles of the past and unite to build a brighter future, but we also shouldn't forget the sacrifices that brought us to this point and I say that we should also work to ensure that those that committed crimes against the Galatean people are brought to justice."

"Hear, hear!" Niccolo shouts.

[Galendia]

"Hear, hear!"" Marinos also shouted, mostly because he liked shouting.

[Crylante]

Andreios stood up to give his maiden speech. “Friends, Galateans, Countrymen, we gather here today to put into action a democratic Galatea, one where the military does not rule us, but one where the government derives its sovereignty from the people it rules over! But there are still threats to our democratic government. We must put to justice those who oppressed us, those who took away our liberties for their own personal gain, those who held our country at gunpoint to benefit themselves, while treating us, the Galatean people, as nothing more than something to trample over! We need to address these wrongs, and we need to secure a Galatea where everyone, no matter their gender, race, religion, orientation, class or ability, is granted their inalienable rights and is listened to in government! We need to overthrow the tyranny of our predecessors, and establish a Galatea for the people! The winds of change are blowing across the Mediterranean, and have blown away the shackles that keep the Galatean people at bay! It is time that we establish a new Galatea, and for this we must be united for change! As my party’s motto says, we must look forwards, not backwards!”

[Roosevetania]

Andreios stood up to give his maiden speech. “Friends, Galateans, Countrymen, we gather here today to put into action a democratic Galatea, one where the military does not rule us, but one where the government derives its sovereignty from the people it rules over! But there are still threats to our democratic government. We must put to justice those who oppressed us, those who took away our liberties for their own personal gain, those who held our country at gunpoint to benefit themselves, while treating us, the Galatean people, as nothing more than something to trample over! We need to address these wrongs, and we need to secure a Galatea where everyone, no matter their gender, race, religion, orientation, class or ability, is granted their inalienable rights and is listened to in government! We need to overthrow the tyranny of our predecessors, and establish a Galatea for the people! The winds of change are blowing across the Mediterranean, and have blown away the shackles that keep the Galatean people at bay! It is time that we establish a new Galatea, and for this we must be united for change! As my party’s motto says, we must look forwards, not backwards!”

"Hear, hear!"

[Galendia]

"Hear, hear!"

[Tectonix]

Galatis smirked at the grandiose speeches being made by his colleagues. Shooting daggers at another senator about to get up, he stood from his desk and took the podium.

"Distinguished members of the Galatean Senate, I believe that the people of Galatea have heard enough elaborate speeches from our silver tongues — let us take those words to action, post-haste! Madam Speaker, noting the lack of established rules of parliamentary procedure and debate, I move to bring the Sovereignty Act proposed by Senator [Ainin] to the floor for 48 hours of debate." Taking note of the large commotion near the further desks, he added, "As well, Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and allow for the Speaker to appoint a serjeant-at-arms pro tempore, so we may continue debate...unimpeded."

[Roosevetania]

Galatis smirked at the grandiose speeches being made by his colleagues. Shooting daggers at another senator about to get up, he stood from his desk and took the podium.

"Distinguished members of the Galatean Senate, I believe that the people of Galatea have heard enough elaborate speeches from our silver tongues — let us take those words to action, post-haste! Madam Speaker, noting the lack of established rules of parliamentary procedure and debate, I move to bring the Sovereignty Act proposed by Senator [Ainin] to the floor for 48 hours of debate." Taking note of the large commotion near the further desks, he added, "As well, Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and allow for the Speaker to appoint a serjeant-at-arms pro tempore, so we may continue debate...unimpeded."

Niccolo rises. "Madam Speaker, I second both motions. I also motion that all AfC hooligans who have stolen pizza from the FDP benches be arrested."

[Galendia]

Galatis smirked at the grandiose speeches being made by his colleagues. Shooting daggers at another senator about to get up, he stood from his desk and took the podium.

"Distinguished members of the Galatean Senate, I believe that the people of Galatea have heard enough elaborate speeches from our silver tongues — let us take those words to action, post-haste! Madam Speaker, noting the lack of established rules of parliamentary procedure and debate, I move to bring the Sovereignty Act proposed by Senator [Ainin] to the floor for 48 hours of debate." Taking note of the large commotion near the further desks, he added, "As well, Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and allow for the Speaker to appoint a serjeant-at-arms pro tempore, so we may continue debate...unimpeded."

Niccolo rises. "Madam Speaker, I second both motions. I also motion that all AfC hooligans who have stolen pizza from the FDP benches be arrested."

"Veto!'' Marinos yelled up from his phone, where he was tweeting under the desk.

[Collatis]

Senator Joseph Sartori walks into the chamber. He wonders why parliamentary security has yet to apprehend the FDP parliamentary aides who appear to be on a stabbing spree.

[The Miaphysite Church of Coptic Archism]

It was an hour early, but Lilika could sense the growing restlessness for action in the senate, and tapped the gavel on the desk. "This house will come to order. The period for maiden speeches is ended, and any more antagonizing or violence, related to foodstuffs or not, will result in temporary expulsion from the chamber. I appoint Agapios Alatas (me) as Sergeant-at-Arms. We will begin a twenty-four hour debating period on the subject of the National Symbols Act, which was the first bill submitted, in chronological order. After this period, we will vote on the act."

EDIT: Copies of the bill are handed out to senators who are incapable of clicking links.

National Symbols Act
Author: Speaker Lilika Samaras (AfC)
Sponsors: Senators Andreios Argyris (AfC), Alexis Gianopoulos (DP), Andrea Michelakos (FDP), Alexandra Malgrave (Ind.), Niccolo Fallaci (FDP), Joseph Sartori (DP)

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An act to establish new national symbols for the nation of Galatea; to replace the tainted symbols of the dictatorial juntas of 1952-2017; to create a fresh and hopeful spirit for the nation.

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED, as follows:

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§1 - National Flag

1. The national flag of Galatea shall be a horizontal tricolour of Yellow (#ffd94a), White (#ffffff) and Blue (#209e9a), each of equal width,
   with a Red (#e9464b) vertical bar along the hoist, of equal length to the width of a horizontal bar.
2. The national flag of Galatea shall have proportions of 2:3.
3. The general tricolour shall represent Galatea's liberal republicanism.
4. The colour of Yellow shall represent the wealth and prosperity of Galatea's nation and people.
5. The colour of White shall represent both the peaceful nature of Galatea, and it's unity of peoples.
6. The colour of Blue shall represent Galatea's thalassocratic history and connection via the ocean.
7. The colour of Red shall represent the sacrifices made by the people of Galatea to secure freedom and liberty.

§2 - National Anthem

1. The national anthem of Galatea shall be Epitaph of Seikilos.
2. The national anthem shall represent the natural hopefulness and joyfulness of Galatea's people.

§3 - National Motto

1. The national motto of Galatea shall be "Eureka!"
2. The national motto shall represent the innovative and forward-thinking culture of Galatea.

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Supplementary Material

1. 
2. Epitaph of Seikilos

[Galendia]

"Aye!'' Marinos shouted, pressing a non-existent green button on his desk.

[Lamaredia]

"Aye!'' Marinos shouted, pressing a non-existent green button on his desk.

"Marinos, we're debating, not voting..." Gianopoulos sighed, exasperated.

[Galendia]

"Aye!'' Marinos shouted, pressing a non-existent green button on his desk.

"Marinos, we're debating, not voting..." Gianopoulos sighed, exasperated.

''Oh, right.''

[Roosevetania]

Senator Fallaci sighs at the AfC.
"Madam Speaker, I am in full support of this bill. It establishes a flag, anthem, and motto, things necessary for forming our national identity. A beautiful flag with horribly clashing colors has been proposed, with a strong national anthem and a motto representing our haughty intelligence. Frankly, I see no reason that any of my Honorable Colleagues would oppose this bill. Thank you."
He sits back down.

[Kamchastkia]

"The obvious intent of the proposed flag is to disassociate our people from our ancestral homeland, Hellas in the name of pro-European liberalism. Labeling turquoise as blue in the obvious attempt to make distinctions between the one and sovereign Hellenic peoples. Does the author of this legislation believe that such distinctions would go unnoticed by the public? While distinctions are made between the Hellenic and proposed flag, no distinction is proposed between the Italian and proposed flag.

The proposed flag appears to be no more than a modified flag of the Italo-Fascists who compelled our separation from Hellas by force, the intent of the author is clear, to align ourselves with the interests of Italo-Fascism against the name of Freedom, Liberty, and our true Homeland."