Amendment to the Constitution: Voting Regulation
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Amendment to the Constitution of the European Union
Proposed by Cllr. Edward Firoux (Inquista)
ARTICLE III. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Section III. Election Procedures
VII. Only member states which have joined the European Union prior to the nomination period of a Commission election shall be allowed to vote in that specific Commission election.
ARTICLE IV. THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
Section III. Electing the European Court of Justice
II. The European Court of Justice shall be elected in the same manner as the European Commission, omitting the seven days of debate, and using the Single Transferable Vote system.
III. In the absence of one or more judges, as determined by the European Council, the Chief Justice may appoint temporary judges for a period of fourteen days. In the event of the Chief Justice’s absence, the remaining judges shall elect from among themselves a temporary Chief Justice. After fourteen days, if an absent judge has not returned to their post, the post shall be considered vacant and subject to a by-election.
IV. Only member states which have joined the European Union prior to the nomination period of a European Court of Justice election shall be allowed to vote in that specific European Court of Justice election.
In the last Commission election, there were some complaints about brand new member states participating in the Commission and European Court of Justice elections. For example, after seven hours of being a member state, the delegation from Sunkist voted for Eilidh Whiteford to become the next Premier of the European Union. While voting is a right within the European Union, it is also a privilege, which should only be extended to member states which have the full amount of available knowledge at their availability. As Commission campaigning already begins during the nomination phase, and then we have a debate phase, we cannot expect new member states which miss any of these phases to cast a responsible and educated vote.
The other amendment featured here corrects a mistake which we have left in the Constitution. The ECoJ follows the old Single Transferable Vote system, which the Commission used to follow before we reformed it. The Commission now uses the Alternative Vote system, which the ECoJ would be unable to use in any scenario given it's a single 5 member body. We ought to clarify that the ECOJ still uses the Single Transferable Vote system.
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Debate starts NOW and will last until 04:45 GMT on August 14th, 2020.
Edward Firoux
Council Speaker and Councillor of Inquista -
I have no concerns, this is standard practice in regions throughout the world. What constitutes "have joined" the European Union could be up for debate, though. I'd assume this means they must be approved for EU membership to qualify. Applicant nations shouldn't be considered to have joined yet.
Wesley Greene
Councillor of the Duxburian Union -
I very much agree on the contents of these amendments. I fully support this motion Mr. Speaker.
Friedrich van Allen
Councilor, Kingdom of Reitzmag -
Quick correction, it was Tournis which voted for Eilidh Whiteford after being in the EU for 7 hours, not Sunkist. Eilidh Whiteford appreciates Sunkist's vote nonetheless.
Councillor Greene, I don't believe the EU has an application phase. Article I, Section II, Clause I states that "All sovereign states are free to join the European Union. No approval is necessary."
((OOC: Technically you are right, but the application phase is totally OOC and not IC. ICLy they are free to join without approval! ))
Edward Firoux
Council Speaker and Councillor for Inquista -
Mr. Speaker, it was not just that. Many nations such as the People Republic of Taltovia and many more voted during the last elections. With that I am very supportive of this motion.
Friedrich van Allen
Councilor, Kingdom of Reitzmag -
I'm for this amendment as it will avoid rigging the elections.
Donald D. Tusk
Councillor for Spain -
The debate period has ended. It is now time for final voting. Voting begins NOW and will last until 05:30 GMT on August 17th, 2020.
On behalf of the Most Blessed State of Inquista, I vote FOR this amendment.
Edward Firoux
Council Speaker and Councillor for Inquista -
On behalf of the Union of Duxburian Dominions, I vote FOR the amendment.
Wesley Greene
Councillor of the Duxburian Union -
On behalf of the Kingdom of Reitzmag, I vote FOR this amendment.
Friedrich van Allen
Councilor, Kingdom of Reitzmag -
On behalf of the Kingdom of Fremet, I vote FOR this amendment.
Charles Michel
Councillor for the Kingdom of Fremet -
On behalf of the Republic of Nofoaga I vote FOR this amendment.
Mrs. Azaya Dubecq
EU Councilor for the Republic of Nofoaga -
On behalf of the Commonwealth of Leagio, I vote FOR this Amendment.
Francis Plessis
EU Councilor for Leagio -
The Empire of Inimicus votes FOR this Amendment.
Cllr Sir Augustus Barrington
Empire of Inimicus -
On behalf of the Kingdom of Montenbourg, I vote FOR this amendment.
Emma Granger
Councillor for Motenbourg -
On behalf of the United Kingdoms of Mennrimiak, I vote FOR this amendment.
Adam Karlssen
Councillor for Mennrimiak -
With 9 votes for, this amendment to the Constitution has been PASSED.
Edward Firoux
Council Speaker and Councillor for Inquista
The Kingdom of Spain
