Expanded Legislative Measures Act 2020

10th CONGRESS, 23nd SESSION
S. 20060379
To provide for additional legislative measures, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE HABBO WHITE HOUSE
JUNE 3, 2020
Ms. --Maxitaxi-- (for herself, and Mr. Martin-:) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Joint Committee on Government and Oversight

A printed version of this bill is available HERE.

This bill draws upon the practices and procedures of the real-life U.S. Congress to introduce Concurrent Resolutions. Stated simply, a concurrent resolution is a resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that lacks the force of law and does not require the approval of the chief executive (president). Concurrent resolutions are typically adopted to regulate the internal affairs of the legislature that adopted them, or for other purposes, if authority of law is not necessary (such as in the cases of awards or recognitions). (Wikipedia, 2020)

Next to enhancing our procedures, this bill would also revise the legislative motions system by introducing various other purposes next to simply awards or censures, such as expressing the general sense of the Congress on a certain issue and designating a special day (for celebratory purposes) on the White House calendar. To stress the difference between primary legislation and these extra measures and prevent a confusing mix, a new separate space on the SLR would be introduced.

It is the expectation of the sponsors that this bill would overall provide for fun and new interesting ways to conduct our legislative business and that the government simulation aspect of this body in particular would be enhanced.

Legislative Branch of the White House

At the Twenty-eighth Session of Twenty-Twenty

To Enact an Act of Law

Be it enacted by the Legislative Branch of the Habbo White House in Congress assembled, that the Expanded Legislative Measures Act 2020 is enacted.

Approved

July 8th 2020

Committee Meetings

Chamber Events

Assent

Response

• 

  Martin-:

  HOUSE SPEAKER 4iC FP FVP

Amendments

Repeals

Expanded Legislative Measures Act 2020

#20060379

An Act to provide for additional legislative measures, and for other purposes.

[08/JUL/2020]

This Act will take effect upon the day of its proclamation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Habbo White House in Congress assembled,

PART 1 - Establishment

1. Any member of Congress shall be able to submit a Concurrent Resolution;
2. Concurrent Resolutions may be submitted for the purpose of:
   1. Enacting a Censure;
   2. Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal;
   3. Expressing the Sense of the whole Congress;
   4. Designating a special day or period on the White House calendar;
   5. Proposing changes to the Standing Orders.
3. Concurrent Resolutions shall lack the force of law and, upon adoption, shall therefore not be presented to the President for signature or to the Supreme Court for review.
4. No individual can be persecuted, face detriment, fired, demoted, striked or coerced into resigning for supporting, writing, discussing, voting or lack of voting on a Concurrent Resolution, nor may anyone be coerced into withdrawing the resolution or their support or co-sponsorship for the resolution.
   1. Breaching this provision shall be subject to a Class A offense.
5. There is to be established a new section under the Statute Law Register, to be titled “CR - Concurrent Resolutions”, which shall house all Concurrent Resolutions adopted by the Congress.

PART 2 - Structure

1. Title
   1. Concurrent Resolution titles must be clearly labeled.
2. Preamble
   1. The preamble shall state clearly the purpose of the proposed resolution.
3. Body
   1. The body shall contain a justification for the purpose for which the resolution was submitted;
   2. The body shall contain a declaration of the stance of the Congress and any recommended action.
4. Summary
   1. The summary may contain any explanatory notes as deemed appropriate by sponsor, but must provide a list of co-sponsors of the resolution, if required.
5. Concurrent resolutions may not contain provisions that aim to enact or amend statute law.

PART 3 - Procedure

1. Censures and awards
   1. Resolutions that aim to enact a Censure or award the Congressional Gold Medal shall require a minimum co-sponsor count of 20% of members of Congress, including at least 1 member of Congressional Leadership.
      1. The figure of 20% shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
      2. If the required amount of co-sponsors has not confirmed their co-sponsorship within 1 (one) week, the resolution shall be tabled and sent to the graveyard.
   2. If all co-sponsors have confirmed their co-sponsorship, the President Pro Tempore or their designee shall schedule a debate on the resolution within 1 (one) week.
      1. The debate shall adhere to the rules specified under the Congressional Standing Orders.
   3. Upon completion of the debate, the resolution shall be put to vote for the whole Congress for a period of 72 hours;
   4. The resolution shall require a supermajority of at least 70% of votes cast to be passed;
      1. If the required threshold has not been reached, the resolution shall be tabled and sent to the graveyard.
      2. If the required threshold has been reached, the resolution shall be entered into the Statute Law Register under Stage CR.
         1. If it concerns a Censure, an appropriate annotation shall be entered into the censured individual’s EE:DB (if applicable);
         2. If it concerns a Award, an appropriate annotation shall be entered into the awarded individual’s EE:DB (if applicable) and the Congressional Gold Medal shall be presented to the individual in question. 
2. Other Concurrent Resolutions
   1. Any resolution submitted for another purpose than to enact a Censure or award the Congressional Gold Medal shall be subject of a period of debate for 2 days from the moment of submission, followed by a vote lasting 24 hours;
      1. The period of debate may be waived if the sponsor has obtained the leave from the relevant committee via a majority vote.
   2. The resolution shall require a simple majority of votes cast to be passed;
      1. If the required threshold has not been reached, the resolution shall be tabled and sent to the graveyard.
      2. If the required threshold has been reached, the resolution shall be entered into the Statute Law Register under Stage CR.
   3. Any resolution submitted for another purpose than to enact a Censure or award the Congressional Gold Medal may be graveyarded by the President Pro Tempore if the resolution is deemed as trolling and/or spam, and/or unjustly targetting a certain group or individual.

PART 4 - Consequential amendments and site changes

1. The Legislative Motions Act 2019 and all amendments made to it shall be repealed;
2. The National Archives and Records Administration shall be responsible for the proper implementation of site changes to accomodate this Act.
3. In the Legislation Act 2019, strike the entirety of Part 15, Section 4(1) and replace it with the following:
   1. Any member of the Congress may propose an amendment to the Senate Standing Orders in the form of a concurrent resolution.

PART 5 - Secondary powers

1. The Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore reserve the right to amend Parts 1 through 3 via order with consent of the Congress.