NS Parliament Chamber [IC]

[The Archipelago Territory]

“Mr. Speaker, the honorable member can amend the bill if he wants.”

Anna Nilsson begins writing furiously on a slip of paper, glancing every so often at a copy of the bill in her other hand. After a few minutes, she hands the slightly smudged result to a clerk, who hands it to the Speaker. It reads as follows:

Mr Speaker I'd like to propose the following amendments:
First: That subclauses as follows be added to clause 1:
g. The Environment Committee shall be responsible for matters of policy on forests, wildlife, conservation, pollution and any other matter related to the environment.
h. Further committees may be established as necessary by an absolute majority vote in Parliament.

Second: That clause 2 be amended as follows, leaving its subclauses in place:
There shall be not less than four members staffing each committee, their composition reflecting, as far as possible, the strength of the government, opposition and independents in Parliament. The minister responsible for the jurisdiction of every committee shall be part of it. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

Third: That the following subclause be added to clause 3:
d. Parliament, by a simple majority, may request a committee to examine a matter falling within its jurisdiction, and report its findings to Parliament. However, these matters should not be impossible or impractical for the committee to examine, and should not usurp the jurisdiction of courts.

“Mr. Speaker, while I support the following amendments, I would like to raise a point of order: the honorable member must propose a separate bill to amend this.”

[Roosevetania]

Anna Nilsson begins writing furiously on a slip of paper, glancing every so often at a copy of the bill in her other hand. After a few minutes, she hands the slightly smudged result to a clerk, who hands it to the Speaker. It reads as follows:

Mr Speaker I'd like to propose the following amendments:
First: That subclauses as follows be added to clause 1:
g. The Environment Committee shall be responsible for matters of policy on forests, wildlife, conservation, pollution and any other matter related to the environment.
h. Further committees may be established as necessary by an absolute majority vote in Parliament.

Second: That clause 2 be amended as follows, leaving its subclauses in place:
There shall be not less than four members staffing each committee, their composition reflecting, as far as possible, the strength of the government, opposition and independents in Parliament. The minister responsible for the jurisdiction of every committee shall be part of it. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

Third: That the following subclause be added to clause 3:
d. Parliament, by a simple majority, may request a committee to examine a matter falling within its jurisdiction, and report its findings to Parliament. However, these matters should not be impossible or impractical for the committee to examine, and should not usurp the jurisdiction of courts.

“Madame Speaker, while I support the following amendments, I would like to raise a point of order: the honorable member must propose a separate bill to amend this.”

"Mister Speaker, no separate bill is necessary."

[Martune]

Anna Nilsson begins writing furiously on a slip of paper, glancing every so often at a copy of the bill in her other hand. After a few minutes, she hands the slightly smudged result to a clerk, who hands it to the Speaker. It reads as follows:

Mr Speaker I'd like to propose the following amendments:
First: That subclauses as follows be added to clause 1:
g. The Environment Committee shall be responsible for matters of policy on forests, wildlife, conservation, pollution and any other matter related to the environment.
h. Further committees may be established as necessary by an absolute majority vote in Parliament.

Second: That clause 2 be amended as follows, leaving its subclauses in place:
There shall be not less than four members staffing each committee, their composition reflecting, as far as possible, the strength of the government, opposition and independents in Parliament. The minister responsible for the jurisdiction of every committee shall be part of it. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

Third: That the following subclause be added to clause 3:
d. Parliament, by a simple majority, may request a committee to examine a matter falling within its jurisdiction, and report its findings to Parliament. However, these matters should not be impossible or impractical for the committee to examine, and should not usurp the jurisdiction of courts.

“Mr. Speaker, while I support the following amendments, I would like to raise a point of order: the honorable member must propose a separate bill to amend this.”

“Mister Speaker, may I remind the honourable member that the new standing orders have changed the process for introducing amendments.”

[Martune]

“Mr. Speaker, the honorable member can amend the bill if he wants.”

Anna Nilsson begins writing furiously on a slip of paper, glancing every so often at a copy of the bill in her other hand. After a few minutes, she hands the slightly smudged result to a clerk, who hands it to the Speaker. It reads as follows:

Mr Speaker I'd like to propose the following amendments:
First: That subclauses as follows be added to clause 1:
g. The Environment Committee shall be responsible for matters of policy on forests, wildlife, conservation, pollution and any other matter related to the environment.
h. Further committees may be established as necessary by an absolute majority vote in Parliament.

Second: That clause 2 be amended as follows, leaving its subclauses in place:
There shall be not less than four members staffing each committee, their composition reflecting, as far as possible, the strength of the government, opposition and independents in Parliament. The minister responsible for the jurisdiction of every committee shall be part of it. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

Third: That the following subclause be added to clause 3:
d. Parliament, by a simple majority, may request a committee to examine a matter falling within its jurisdiction, and report its findings to Parliament. However, these matters should not be impossible or impractical for the committee to examine, and should not usurp the jurisdiction of courts.

“Mister Speaker, I second these amendments.”

[Kowani]

Anna Nilsson begins writing furiously on a slip of paper, glancing every so often at a copy of the bill in her other hand. After a few minutes, she hands the slightly smudged result to a clerk, who hands it to the Speaker. It reads as follows:

Mr Speaker I'd like to propose the following amendments:
First: That subclauses as follows be added to clause 1:
g. The Environment Committee shall be responsible for matters of policy on forests, wildlife, conservation, pollution and any other matter related to the environment.
h. Further committees may be established as necessary by an absolute majority vote in Parliament.

Second: That clause 2 be amended as follows, leaving its subclauses in place:
There shall be not less than four members staffing each committee, their composition reflecting, as far as possible, the strength of the government, opposition and independents in Parliament. The minister responsible for the jurisdiction of every committee shall be part of it. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

Third: That the following subclause be added to clause 3:
d. Parliament, by a simple majority, may request a committee to examine a matter falling within its jurisdiction, and report its findings to Parliament. However, these matters should not be impossible or impractical for the committee to examine, and should not usurp the jurisdiction of courts.

“Mister Speaker, I second these amendments.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would second the seconding of these amendments. If my memory is wrong and we only needed one second…Well, my support is now visible.”

[The Archipelago Territory]

“Mister Speaker, I second these amendments.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would second the seconding of these amendments. If my memory is wrong and we only needed one second…Well, my support is now visible.”

“Mr. Speaker I second the amendments.”

[Alozia]

Parliament Chamber - Chair

Filip pulled out a pair of reading glasses from a pocket in his jacket and put them on before rising from his seat with a peace of paper in hand.

"Order!"

"I rise to clarify certain matters to this house. Firstly: The point of order raised by the Honorable Member for New Karlskrona has been noted. I must, however, agree with the Honorable Member for Nysveg. A seperate bill is no longer needed in order to amend a bill and I think that this has been made clear to the Honorable Member. Secondly: Another member of this House suggested that a single 'second' is needed in order to proceed with the consideration of an amendment. That is not true. Standing Orders of Parliament dictate that and I quote: 'Amendments to a bill may be proposed and shall be considered if they receive five seconds other than the author. Should they be considered, they shall be put to a vote after debate concludes'. As things stand the current bill has not recieved the required support in order to be considered."

[Crylante]

“Mr. Speaker, the honorable member can amend the bill if he wants.”

Anna Nilsson begins writing furiously on a slip of paper, glancing every so often at a copy of the bill in her other hand. After a few minutes, she hands the slightly smudged result to a clerk, who hands it to the Speaker. It reads as follows:

Mr Speaker I'd like to propose the following amendments:
First: That subclauses as follows be added to clause 1:
g. The Environment Committee shall be responsible for matters of policy on forests, wildlife, conservation, pollution and any other matter related to the environment.
h. Further committees may be established as necessary by an absolute majority vote in Parliament.

Second: That clause 2 be amended as follows, leaving its subclauses in place:
There shall be not less than four members staffing each committee, their composition reflecting, as far as possible, the strength of the government, opposition and independents in Parliament. The minister responsible for the jurisdiction of every committee shall be part of it. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.

Third: That the following subclause be added to clause 3:
d. Parliament, by a simple majority, may request a committee to examine a matter falling within its jurisdiction, and report its findings to Parliament. However, these matters should not be impossible or impractical for the committee to examine, and should not usurp the jurisdiction of courts.

"I second, third, fourth, whatever these amendments."

[Merni]

"I second, third, fourth, whatever these amendments."

OOC: that's fourth - one more needed

[Roosevetania]

"Mister Speaker, seeing as the Ministry of Home Affairs covers environmental matters, I'd assume that the Home Affairs Committee would do the same. Furthermore, this amendment is incompatible with the bill, seeing as there is no Minister of the Environment to chair the committee."

[The Archipelago Territory]

"Mister Speaker, seeing as the Ministry of Home Affairs covers environmental matters, I'd assume that the Home Affairs Committee would do the same. Furthermore, this amendment is incompatible with the bill, seeing as there is no Minister of the Environment to chair the committee."

“We could establish a minister of environment, it wouldn’t guarantee any powers to them however.”

[Merni]

"Mister Speaker, seeing as the Ministry of Home Affairs covers environmental matters, I'd assume that the Home Affairs Committee would do the same. Furthermore, this amendment is incompatible with the bill, seeing as there is no Minister of the Environment to chair the committee."

"Mister Speaker, a Minister does not need to chair the committee under my amendment. As the Minister of Home Affairs has responsibility over the environment, he would be part of the Environment Committee. Unfortunately, this falls foul of clause 2a, since the same Minister would also need to be part of the Home Affairs Committee. In my rather hasty drafting of these amendments, I seem to have overlooked this point. My sincere apologies.

Therefore, Mister Speaker, I intend to retract my proposal for an Environment Committee, the rest of my proposed amendments staying in place, if they recieve the one more second they need. I leave it to other honourable members to draft a non-contradictory amendment to include an Environment Committee if they so wish. Thank you Mister Speaker.

Regarding the honourable member's first point, I believe that the number of committees should not be limited by the number of ministries, nor should their jurisdictions be tied to those of ministries. Parliament should be free to create as many committees as necessary, without an excess of them."

[New Lindale]

Mr Speaker, I wish to enquire on a scenario that might occur under this bill. I had proposed a bill to jumpstart public infrastructure, so if the committee's act were to be passed, would my bill still be able to be brought to vote, or would the issue be addressed by a committee?

[Merni]

Mr Speaker, I wish to enquire on a scenario that might occur under this bill. I had proposed a bill to jumpstart public infrastructure, so if the committee's act were to be passed, would my bill still be able to be brought to vote, or would the issue be addressed by a committee?

"Mister Speaker, my understanding is that members would be free to propose bills as usual, by the provisions of clause 7."

[Roosevetania]

Alexander looks around, wondering if business will proceed.

[Kowani]

Mr Speaker, I wish to enquire on a scenario that might occur under this bill. I had proposed a bill to jumpstart public infrastructure, so if the committee's act were to be passed, would my bill still be able to be brought to vote, or would the issue be addressed by a committee?

“Mr. Speaker, this raises a salient point-would such a Bill be brought under a committee, so that they may enforce it, or would it be under the jurisdiction of this chamber?

[Pere Housh Alpha]

"Mister Speaker, I ask that we being this bill to a vote immediately as we have other bills to discuss."

[Merni]

"Mister Speaker, I ask that we being this bill to a vote immediately as we have other bills to discuss."

"Mr Speaker, I'd like to request that we be given time for questions to the government after voting on this bill, before proceeding to the other bills on the docket."

[Martune]

Lucia stands and stretches

[Pere Housh Alpha]

Lucia stands and stretches

Michael starts playing Angry Birds on his phone to alleviate the boredom.

[Alozia]

"The proposed amendment has failed to gather the necessary support. The house will now vote on the bill at hand as is. Lock the door!"

Committees Establishment Act
Author: Eloise Eliasson (NPP)
Sponsors: Austin Miller (NPP), Lance Darrow (FPP)

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A bil to establish the committees of Parliament of Saint Hilda, as well as to define their composition, roles, and authority, and to define the role of the committee chairman, among other matters

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED, as follows:

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1. The following committees shall be established by the Parliament of Saint Hilda:
   
   1. The Foreign Affairs Committee shall be responsible for matters of foreign relations and diplomacy;
   2. The Finance and Economy Committee shall be responsible for matters of the treasury, banking, taxation, business law, budgeting, economic stimulation, and fiscal and monetary policy;
   3. The Defense Committee shall be responsible for matters relating the Saint Hilda Armed Forces, as well as the defense of the nation;
   4. The Justice Committee shall be responsible for matters relating to the courts, barristery, and criminal law;
   5. The Home Affairs Committee shall be responsible for matters of internal security, policing, the environment, administrative law, and immigration;
   6. The Public Services Committee shall be responsible for matters of healthcare, education, and other such public provisions.
2. There shall be four members of Parliament staffing each committee: one selected by the Prime Minister, two selected by the Leader of the Opposition, and the Government minister with duties analogous to a committee shall sit and chair that committee.
   
   1. No person shall sit more than two committees, and no Government minister shall sit any committee other than the committee that pertains to their purview.
   2. The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Speaker of Parliament shall not sit any committee.
   
   
3. The committees shall be responsible for drafting and proposing bills, as well as counseling and reporting to the Parliament on issues that pertain to the committees' purview:
   
   1. Any member of the commission may propose a bill;
   2. A bill may be amended with the vote of at least three of the members;
   3. A bill shall be considered a committee bill if at least three members vote to bring the bill before Parliament. Such bills shall be labeled as committee bills and shall require no sponsors.
   
   
4. The committee chairman shall organize a meeting of their committee at least once a week (OOC: on Discord) to discuss business and draft proposals. The committee chairman shall set the agenda for each session:
   1. Rulings and decisions of the committee chairman may be overruled with the vote of all three other members;
   2. The committee chairman shall address Parliament on all official matters of the committee unless Parliament decides otherwise.
5. Each committee shall submit at least one bill each parliamentary session, and it shall publish its findings in a report to the chamber and the government after every session.
   
   
6. All records of the committee shall be audited and made available at the request of a majority vote of Parliament.
   
   
7. The Committees Establishment Act shall not be interpreted to prohibit members from writing laws about such subjects that do not concern their committee or to prohibit members who are not part of committees from authoring laws, or to require that all laws pertaining to a certain purview be approved by a committee.

Code: Select all

[color=#008000]Aye:[/color] [ ]
[color=#FF0000]No:[/color] [ ]
[color=grey]Abstain[/color]

[Martune]

Aye: [ ]
No: [ ]
Abstain [X]

[Van Hool Islands]

Aye: [ ]
No: [ ]
Abstain [X]

[Crylante]

Aye: [ ]
No: [X]
Abstain

[Kowani]

Aye: [X]
No: [ ]
Abstain