B-001: Constitutional Amendment to Secure Liberties Act

[Speaker Rejo]

Constitutional Amendment to Secure Liberties Act
An Act to provide to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Alduria to Secure the Liberties of the People

BE IT ENACTED by the duly elected Parliament of the Republic of Alduria assembled, 

ARTICLE 1: CITATION

This Act shall be cited for all purposes as the Constitutional Amendment to Secure Liberties Act

ARTICLE 2: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

The following articles are added to Title VIII of the Constitution:

"Article 80. Any person charged with a criminal offense with a maximum penalty of thirty days or more of imprisonment or a fine of 5,000 ecus or more shall be entitled to a trial by an impartial jury of no less than twelve citizens for felonies and no less than nine citizens for misdemeanors. Any party to in a civil proceeding shall be entitled to a trial by jury of six citizens if the contested amount is greater than 10,000 ecus.

Article 81. All civilian trials shall be open to attendance by the general public. All Defendants in criminal matters shall have a right to trial within 6 months if detained pending trial and within 1 year if released pending trial.

Article 82. The right of citizens who have technical and mental fitness to possess firearms shall not be infringed, providing that they have not been convicted for a felony or a crime involving domestic violence.

Article 83. No person may be discriminated against or privileged on the basis of sex, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, race, language, origin, parentage, creed, faith, or nobility. Measures for the advancement of persons are admissible to remedy past discrimination."

ARTICLE 3: RENUMBERING SUBSEQUENT ARTICLES

Existing articles in the Constitution from Title IX Article 80 through Title XI Article 89 shall be renumbered to reflect their proper article number after the incorporation of the aforementioned amendments.

ARTICLE 4: COMMENCEMENT

In accordance with Title X, Article 85, these amendments shall come into immediate force upon the signature of the President of the Republic after its Constitutional passage by Parliament. 

Parliament will now come to order to consider B-001: Constitutional Amendment to Secure Liberties Act, presented by the Prime Minister on behalf of the Government. 

The Chair now recognizes The Prime Minister.

[Alfonso Velez]

Madam Speaker,

As we promised in our manifesto, these amendments to our Constitution are needed to protect the liberties of our citizens long after our Government has come and gone. These rights are fundamental. 

The right to a jury trial that may be observed by any member of the public, and the right for that trial to happen expeditiously, is an essential cornerstone of any free society such as ours. It is important that we ensure that anyone accused of all but the most minor criminal offenses and individuals who are in a suit over a significant amount of money should have a right to have their case decided by a jury of their peers. 

This bill further extends the right to equal protection under the law ensuring that no one is discriminated against based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, race, language, origin, parentage, creed, faith, or nobility. This is an important protection to help ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law and that no person is treated unfairly by the Government simply for being who they are. This important constitutional protection will ensure that everyone is treated fairly by the Government and under our law.

Finally, this bill provides the important protection of allowing citizens who have a sufficient technical understanding of firearms and safety concerning their use to possess firearms, provided they are mentally fit and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving domestic violence. The way this article is written carefully balances the right of all free citizens to own a firearm, but also ensuring that the safety of the community is protected by prohibiting persons with certain criminal offenses or who are not mentally fit from owning firearms.

This bill is ambitious in setting out important amendments to the Constitution to ensure the freedom of the Citizens of Alduria. I ask each and every MP here to support and embrace these liberties for all of our citizens and to support these Constitutional amendments.

[Speaker Rejo]

The Chair now opens the floor for general debate. All members may offer debate or amendments at this time. Debate shall last for no less than 48 hours.

[Speaker Rejo]

All time for debate has now expired. The question is: Shall Parliament pass the pending bill? Voting shall last for no less than 48 hours

DIVISION: CLEAR THE LOBBIES!

[Alfonso Velez]

AYE

[Alduria]

NPC VOTES:

• National-Liberal Party: 7 AYE, 10 NAY, 6 ABSTAIN
  
• National Congress for Social Democracy: 21 AYE
  
• Communist Party of Alduria: 5 AYE
  

[Seydlitz]

Seydlitz votes Aye

[Tzvi Barak]

New Center is AYE

[Speaker Rejo]

All time for voting has expired. On this vote, the result is as follows:

AYE: 170

L&D: 80
NC: 57
NCSD: 21
N-LA: 7
CPA: 5

NAY: 10

N-LA: 10

ABSTAIN: 72

EDP: 55
MFA: 11
N-LA: 6

So the Ayes have it and the bill is passed. The bill now goes to the President for his consideration. Unlock!