[DEFEATED] National Sovereignty Act

[Bananaistan]

Category: Political Stability
Strength: Mild

The General Assembly,

Noting the inviolable right of sovereign nations to choose their own form of government,

Hereby:

1) Acknowledges the exclusive right of member nations to legislate on all matters pertaining to elections within their jurisdictions which have not already been legislated upon by extant international law,

2) Urges member nations to ensure that only those entitled to vote are granted access to polling stations,

3) Clarifies that nothing in this resolution requires or encourages member nations to hold elections for any public office.

Perhaps we'll keep trying with different titles until one sticks.

Also please note that Brian will now be running back and forth from the canteen with fresh pots of tea for delegates' refreshment.

1) Non-interference in Elections
2) Electoral Freedoms
3) National Control of Elections

1) Added clause 3 "clarifies that nothing in this resolution requires or encourages nations to hold elections for any public office" based on Wrapper's suggestion
2) Draft #2 posted

Category: Political Stability
Strength: Mild

The General Assembly,

Noting the inviolable right of sovereign nations to choose their own form of government,

Hereby:

1) Reserves to individual member states, limited only by the requirements of international law existing at the time of the implementation of this resolution and subsequently unrepealed, the right to create, implement, amend and/or repeal any and all laws, rules, regulations and/or guidelines regarding elections held within their jurisdiction,

2) Urges member nations to ensure that only validly registered voters are granted access to polling stations,

3) Clarifies that nothing in this resolution requires or encourages nations to hold elections for any public office.

[Kenmoria]

I'm not quite seeing any active clauses here. Clause 1 doesn't force nations to actually do anything, merely let them do what they are already doing. Whereas clause 2 uses "urges" which seems to be optional.

[Bananaistan]

I'm not quite seeing any active clauses here. Clause 1 doesn't force nations to actually do anything, merely let them do what they are already doing. Whereas clause 2 uses "urges" which seems to be optional.

OOC: The optionality rule explicitly mentions: "for 'Mild' strength proposals, terminology such as "URGES", "RECOMMENDS" is acceptable."

IC: "Well that is the idea. We wish to protect the peoples' rights to decide for themselves how such affairs are conducted in their own nations."

- Ted

[States of Glory WA Office]

Neville: What happened to the requirement that hot beverages be served at every polling station?

[Bananaistan]

Neville: What happened to the requirement that hot beverages be served at every polling station?

"Alas, as much as I love drinking tea (who doesn't just love a nice cup of tea?), regrettably I don't see that any tea related requirement could be considered to be a restriction of political freedoms in the interests of law and order."

- Ted

[Greater Cesnica]

Neville: What happened to the requirement that hot beverages be served at every polling station?

"Alas, as much as I love drinking tea (who doesn't just love a nice cup of tea?), regrettably I don't see that any tea related requirement could be considered to be a restriction of political freedoms in the interests of law and order."

- Ted

Slick yawns:

"But I'm tired... I want tea..."

[Wrapper]

OOC: Oooh. Clever title. This will pass in a landslide.

[Bananaistan]

"Alas, as much as I love drinking tea (who doesn't just love a nice cup of tea?), regrettably I don't see that any tea related requirement could be considered to be a restriction of political freedoms in the interests of law and order."

- Ted

Slick yawns:

"But I'm tired... I want tea..."

"I believe Brian has just arrived with some now. Please feel free to have some."

Ted pauses and starts rooting around in his satchel and produces a rather battered looking, half empty packet of digestives.

"Also, would you like a biscuit?"

OOC: Oooh. Clever title. This will pass in a landslide.

OOC: I hope so!

Barring major objections or suggestions, let's say I intend to submit this in 87 hours and 35 minutes time.

[New Catoldy]

*stumbles into thread, looks around*
"Ehh, jumping into proposal writing, scared of bureaucracy and populism the GenSec and the actual votes. Sooo...tbh I kinda like that....but it could be better. (Idk how I will explain my thoughts on a phone at 11:45PM)

[Errana]

"Friend, to combat the harmful effects of voter suppression, Errana operates same-day registration, which means unregistered citizens enter the polling station to register and then vote. Could you please clarify whether this would be permissible under your proposal? We do have problems with foreign and corporate interests interfering with our election, but for this purpose heavy advertisement outside polling stations is more of an issue."
-Antonio

[Bananaistan]

"We are pleased to present draft no 2. The first clause has been completely rewritten. I hope that the current version infers that nations already have the right to do as they wish regarding elections in their jurisdiction. The implication in the previous version was that the WA was merely granting the right.

"As well as this change in tone by acknowledging the notionally pre-existing right, we have simplified the substantive point. Instead of dealing with "the right to create, implement, amend and/or repeal any and all laws, rules, regulations and/or guidelines regarding elections held within their jurisdiction" we have the simpler "[the right to] legislate on all matters pertaining to elections within their jurisdictions", and instead of "limited only by the requirements of international law existing at the time of the implementation of this resolution and subsequently unrepealed" we have the also simpler "[matters pertaining to elections] which have not already been legislated upon by extant international law". These changes have reduced the word count and we hope will lead to a better understanding of the primary point.

"Friend, to combat the harmful effects of voter suppression, Errana operates same-day registration, which means unregistered citizens enter the polling station to register and then vote. Could you please clarify whether this would be permissible under your proposal? We do have problems with foreign and corporate interests interfering with our election, but for this purpose heavy advertisement outside polling stations is more of an issue."
-Antonio

"This is not unreasonable and we changed this clause in the present draft. Rather than referring to "validly registered voters" we now refer to "those entitled to vote". We hope you approve. In any case, I would note that this is only a mild urges clause, and member nations would not be obliged to follow through on it."

- Ted

[States of Glory WA Office]

Neville: Why isn't Clause Two a requirement?

[Fauxia]

"Full support. I would suggest changing the name, however. This sounds a bit too much like a resolution written by the World Assembly Delegation of Omigodtheykilledkenny."

[Errana]

"This is not unreasonable and we changed this clause in the present draft. Rather than referring to "validly registered voters" we now refer to "those entitled to vote". We hope you approve. In any case, I would note that this is only a mild urges clause, and member nations would not be obliged to follow through on it."

- Ted

Excellent, with this change the suggestion falls in line with our current national legislation, and we would also happily support a version with stronger phrasing. We have recently introduced national legislation banning foreign nationals from our polling stations out of fear of digital attacks on our voting terminals, but do note that the current location-based phrasing of this proposal may also, if implemented, exclude non-eligible carers for the disabled and elderly, and administrative staff. If intended, that's fine with us.
- Antonio

[Cedoria]

"We are pleased to support this proposal as a means of ending the various attempts of Ambassadors of nations opposed to ours to force their own socio-economic and political systems upon our own country under the guise of "promoting democracy". Our own nation has always maintained it's right to develop it's own democratic forms and practices without interference from foreigners or WA bodies, and we have always encouraged others to do the same. This resolution will protect that and end this pointless dispute we have seen in this assembly over proposal and counter-proposal going back and forth in this area over recent weeks, ultimately achieving nothing but votes, repeals, and counter-votes. The WA should promote basic human rights of course, but it should not get into the business of rendering different styles and systems of government functionally inoperable as it has recently been attempting to do."

[Imperium Anglorum]

Elsie Mortimer Wellesley

This delegation is against the ceding of the World Assembly's plenary authority for little reason but minor whinging on the part of minority parties. One may note that this disclaims past attempts to enact similar goals with regard to percentage declarations of government expenditure. Such an interpretation would be correct.

[Bananaistan]

Neville: Why isn't Clause Two a requirement?

"Do you think it should be? I think that would be too much of an imposition on member states. That clause is only there to have the proposal comply with the standing orders of this institution.

"Full support. I would suggest changing the name, however. This sounds a bit too much like a resolution written by the World Assembly Delegation of Omigodtheykilledkenny."

"It is an honour to be compared to such a legendary delegation. The title was specifically chosen to maximise the chances of this passing. Unless someone can suggest a better one, we're unlikely to change it.

Elsie Mortimer Wellesley

This delegation is against the ceding of the World Assembly's plenary authority for little reason but minor whinging on the part of minority parties. One may note that this disclaims past attempts to enact similar goals with regard to percentage declarations of government expenditure. Such an interpretation would be correct.

Ted mutters under his breath, "damn hypocrites.

"We note and appreciate the support from other delegations."

- Ted

[States of Glory WA Office]

Neville: Why isn't Clause Two a requirement?

"Do you think it should be? I think that would be too much of an imposition on member states. That clause is only there to have the proposal comply with the standing orders of this institution."

Neville: What reasonable member state would object to ensuring that only individuals who are allowed to vote can vote?

[Araraukar]

OOC: How isn't this a category blocker?

[Aclion]

OOC: How isn't this a category blocker?

Because NS's idea political freedoms covers all sorts of things that aren't related to elections or form of government. Right to assemble, right to petition, right to political speech, etc. The manner in which elections are held is just a part of the category.

[Araraukar]

OOC: How isn't this a category blocker?

Because NS's idea political freedoms covers all sorts of things that aren't related to elections or form of government. Right to assemble, right to petition, right to political speech, etc. The manner in which elections are held is just a part of the category.

OOC: There's no "political freedoms", though. There's Furtherment of Democracy and its counterpart, Political Stability.

[Bananaistan]

OOC: How isn't this a category blocker?

Already ruled legal.

[Araraukar]

OOC: How isn't this a category blocker?

Already ruled legal.

OOC: Ok. I still agree with the dissenters.

[Kaputer]

"The people of Kaputer frequently ask of WA Resolutions "why?" This is very true of this resolution. It is apparent that it is largely bare of substance. It appears to simply serve the purpose of wasting paper, and employing a few more bureaucrats in the World Assembly. Or maybe just an over eager country seeking a small little notch on their belt."

Paul Reubens
Ambassador to The World Assembly.

[Deropia]

"Nothing objectionable that I can find, full support!"