Please scrutinise all the proposed amendments and replies before commenting or voting. Short comments are most often read and must not exceed 100 words. You can propose an Amendment at the bottom of this page - please read the guidelines .
Note that the original wording appears again first below and sustains the same comment & voting regime as all other amendment proposals.
Section 5.8. Section 5.8. The Head of State, on the instruction of the Presiding Officer, will sign and thus enact as law, all bills passed by Parliament.
Section 5.8. This doesn't make sense in a Popular Sovereignty (Direct Democracy) constitutional model where the the majority of People voting ALWAYS has the last word. This is important when controversial legislation is adopted by a majority government contrary to public opinion. Recent examples are the Gender Recognition and Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bills where a signifcant portion of the population was / is opposed to the proposal. In such cases, the possibility to launch a national referendum – e.g. by obtaining signatures of 40,000 registered voters (1% of the electorate) in 100 days - should first be available to the People.
Section 5.8. In a Direct Democracy model, the People and Regions are de-facto Heads of State. The model text ignores the right of culturally differing and geographically decentralised Regions to object to such controversial legislation as the Gender Recognition Reform and Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bills where a significant portion of the population (and probably also the Regions) is opposed to the proposal. In such cases, the possibility to propose a national referendum – such as by obtaining the formal objections of any twelve Regions (e.g. collectively, the Highlands, Islands and Borders) - should be available to the Regions prior to enactment.
Section 5.8. Other than in times of Emergency (Article 15) the Head of State shall after thirty days of instruction by the Presiding Officer, sign and thus enact all bills passed by Parliament. If within these thirty days there is formal notification of a public petition materially affecting the legislation then the enactment of the Bill will be delayed pending due process in terms of Section s 5.3, 6.4 &13.4 as amended.
People+Regions jointly control Parliament+Government
Section 5.8. If within 100 days of the official publication of all Bills passed by Parliament, any 40,000 eligible voters or any twelve Regions formally request it, such Bill shall be submitted to a majority vote of the People prior to enactment.
Section 5.8. I agree with this Amendment as it provides a mechanism whereby the people can challenge bad/inappropriate legislation and it illustrates the strength of Popular Democracy / Popular Sovereignty. Currently, there is no such safety mechanism that can prevent a political party with a majority undertaking a programme of legislation that has neither the support of their own members nor the support of the people.
Section 5.8. The Head of State will sign and thus enact as law all bills passed by Parliament within 30 days of passage; but he or she may veto a bill during that time, by returning it to Parliament together with his or her objections.
If Parliament affirms a vetoed bill by an absolute majority, or if the 30 days have passed without the bill being signed or veto, that bill will become law automatically.
Section 5.8. A right by the head of state to veto bills subject to parliamentary override isn't just "a United States thing". It exists in many European countries with a parliamentary system, including Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Estonia.
Proposed Amendments to Section
Please scrutinise all the proposed amendments and replies before commenting or voting. Short comments are most often read and must not exceed 100 words.
You can propose an Amendment at the bottom of this page - please read the guidelines .
Note that the original wording appears again first below and sustains the same comment & voting regime as all other amendment proposals.
Original Version
Section 5.8. Section 5.8. The Head of State, on the instruction of the Presiding Officer, will sign and thus enact as law, all bills passed by Parliament.
Section 5.8. This doesn't make sense in a Popular Sovereignty (Direct Democracy) constitutional model where the the majority of People voting ALWAYS has the last word. This is important when controversial legislation is adopted by a majority government contrary to public opinion. Recent examples are the Gender Recognition and Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bills where a signifcant portion of the population was / is opposed to the proposal. In such cases, the possibility to launch a national referendum – e.g. by obtaining signatures of 40,000 registered voters (1% of the electorate) in 100 days - should first be available to the People.
Section 5.8. In a Direct Democracy model, the People and Regions are de-facto Heads of State. The model text ignores the right of culturally differing and geographically decentralised Regions to object to such controversial legislation as the Gender Recognition Reform and Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bills where a significant portion of the population (and probably also the Regions) is opposed to the proposal. In such cases, the possibility to propose a national referendum – such as by obtaining the formal objections of any twelve Regions (e.g. collectively, the Highlands, Islands and Borders) - should be available to the Regions prior to enactment.
Proposed Amendment to Section 5.8.
To Accommodate Due Process
Section 5.8. Other than in times of Emergency (Article 15) the Head of State shall after thirty days of instruction by the Presiding Officer, sign and thus enact all bills passed by Parliament. If within these thirty days there is formal notification of a public petition materially affecting the legislation then the enactment of the Bill will be delayed pending due process in terms of Section s 5.3, 6.4 &13.4 as amended.
Proposed Amendment to Section 5.8.
People+Regions jointly control Parliament+Government
Section 5.8. If within 100 days of the official publication of all Bills passed by Parliament, any 40,000 eligible voters or any twelve Regions formally request it, such Bill shall be submitted to a majority vote of the People prior to enactment.
Section 5.8. I agree with this Amendment as it provides a mechanism whereby the people can challenge bad/inappropriate legislation and it illustrates the strength of Popular Democracy / Popular Sovereignty. Currently, there is no such safety mechanism that can prevent a political party with a majority undertaking a programme of legislation that has neither the support of their own members nor the support of the people.
Proposed Amendment to Section 5.8.
Veto power
Section 5.8. The Head of State will sign and thus enact as law all bills passed by Parliament within 30 days of passage; but he or she may veto a bill during that time, by returning it to Parliament together with his or her objections.
If Parliament affirms a vetoed bill by an absolute majority, or if the 30 days have passed without the bill being signed or veto, that bill will become law automatically.
Section 5.8. A right by the head of state to veto bills subject to parliamentary override isn't just "a United States thing". It exists in many European countries with a parliamentary system, including Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Estonia.