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Here is the section on Polling from our CODE OF LAWS (Constitution).
It's pretty good so far but I have some suggested changes, especially since a Justice system may be coming online. these are just some preliminary ideas so I admit not all are entirely well thought out. please comment.
also, does anyone else have anything they would suggest?
This thread is JUST for discussion before posting an amendment for voting on - or perhaps it would be included in the amendment for the Justice System.
This is vague. So 'unofficial' polls cannot be used in official decisions? What does that mean? That the results must be ignored? Or does it mean that the results can be ignored?
Official polls may or may not be used as official results? So then what is the difference between official and unofficial? Unofficial polls should be labeled? No, official polls should be the ones labeled. All others should be assumed to be unofficial.
I recommend 3 levels.
Unofficial polls:
For infogathering that can be used to help decision making but CANNOT be used as justification by the government for a course of action (ex. unofficial poll endorsed some trade, minister can use that as encouragement and go for it, but the minister cannot claim that he had no choice but to endorse that trade). Ministers can disregard at whim. No quorum is necessary since such polls do not count. Polling standards need not apply. Polls are unofficial by default. Unofficial results CAN never be law on their own nor can they be used as justification for a law. Such polls only count for public opinion.
Official polls:
Can be used as justification for a course of action. A minister following such a poll cannot be accused of wrongdoing. Generally, a minister must follow the official results. In rare exceptions, a minister can disregard official polls but must be able to defend this to the voters (judges?). Results of polls become law unless ministers invoke "Notwithstanding Clause" (allows Minister to temporarily disregard the law - they will be called to account for this later). Must abide by polling standards. Official poll must be labeled so. Quorum of 50% of active citizens.
Referendum polls:
Binding polls that can NEVER be disregarded unless considered INVALID. Should only be used for VERY serious questions. Results are law. Must indicate poll is a Referendum poll. Quorum of 2/3 of active citizens.
Everything below should apply only to OFFICIAL POLLS and REFERENDA.
No changes.
This is vague. If "someone" feels... then it "may" be deemed invalid? Who is someone? anyone? may or may not? based on that person's feeling? Later, a validity vote is mentioned but it is vague in itself. Furthermore, with a possible Justice system in the works, this may prove to be a good place for Judges to make decisions.
No changes.
As above, who deems it invalid? There will be a poll posted to determine the validity of the previous poll? Is that a 50% or a 2/3 vote? Is the validity vote for all citizens or a ministerial decision? Should this be the jurisdiction of the Justice dept. if so established?
No changes.
We should add that:
The repoll is valid if the original poll was deemed invalid, regardless of the elapsed time. This statute supercedes the time restriction on repolling.
In other words, if the original poll is invalid, you don't need to wait 3 weeks anymore.
No changes.
The vote amongst elected officials should be stated explicitly as either 50% or 2/3.
(This could be subject to change depending on if we adopt a Judicial system clause where Judges may make such decisions).
This should be rewritten as:
A poll that is deemed invalid must be repolled as soon as a proper repoll can be constructed.
Invalid polls should be then locked by mods (does this prevent voting in locked polls?).
It's pretty good so far but I have some suggested changes, especially since a Justice system may be coming online. these are just some preliminary ideas so I admit not all are entirely well thought out. please comment.
also, does anyone else have anything they would suggest?
This thread is JUST for discussion before posting an amendment for voting on - or perhaps it would be included in the amendment for the Justice System.
ARTICLE III: Polling
General Rules:
Polls may be conducted in an ‘unofficial’ format to simply gain information, but CANNOT be used in any official decisions. All of the following rules are regarding ‘official’ polls, which may or may not be used as official results for the actual game. Any unofficial polls must be labeled as so within the first post.
General Rules:
Polls may be conducted in an ‘unofficial’ format to simply gain information, but CANNOT be used in any official decisions. All of the following rules are regarding ‘official’ polls, which may or may not be used as official results for the actual game. Any unofficial polls must be labeled as so within the first post.
Official polls may or may not be used as official results? So then what is the difference between official and unofficial? Unofficial polls should be labeled? No, official polls should be the ones labeled. All others should be assumed to be unofficial.
I recommend 3 levels.
Unofficial polls:
For infogathering that can be used to help decision making but CANNOT be used as justification by the government for a course of action (ex. unofficial poll endorsed some trade, minister can use that as encouragement and go for it, but the minister cannot claim that he had no choice but to endorse that trade). Ministers can disregard at whim. No quorum is necessary since such polls do not count. Polling standards need not apply. Polls are unofficial by default. Unofficial results CAN never be law on their own nor can they be used as justification for a law. Such polls only count for public opinion.
Official polls:
Can be used as justification for a course of action. A minister following such a poll cannot be accused of wrongdoing. Generally, a minister must follow the official results. In rare exceptions, a minister can disregard official polls but must be able to defend this to the voters (judges?). Results of polls become law unless ministers invoke "Notwithstanding Clause" (allows Minister to temporarily disregard the law - they will be called to account for this later). Must abide by polling standards. Official poll must be labeled so. Quorum of 50% of active citizens.
Referendum polls:
Binding polls that can NEVER be disregarded unless considered INVALID. Should only be used for VERY serious questions. Results are law. Must indicate poll is a Referendum poll. Quorum of 2/3 of active citizens.
Everything below should apply only to OFFICIAL POLLS and REFERENDA.
Each official poll should have its rules laid out, as well as a form of expiration, either when a certain event takes place (i.e. ‘when the game starts’), or a time limit (i.e. ‘5 days’). This is to prevent the occurrence of an incident such as if doesn’t include an expiration, and says 3 weeks later "well this poll said this" kind of thing, and use its results officially. Each poll should lay out the potential options, as well as the question in a clear format. The required inclusions for the post are: an expiration date/event, a fair, clear and concise, unbaised question which addressed the issue of the poll, and a general description of what your poll entails. Instead of a description if you wish to post a link to another thread to give a description, that is acceptable as well.
Those who wish to put up a poll are strongly recommended to first discuss the issue in another thread, and bounce around possible options for voting. If someone feels that a poll could have been better made as a 'grouping' poll, or a 'yes/no' poll, then it may be deemed invalid.
Length of a Poll:
Each poll must be open for a minimum of 3 days. This allows enough time for the majority of our members to see the poll and vote in it. Any poll open or taking results in less than 3 days is invalid. This includes 'spur of the moment' polls, that say something like 'This poll ends when turn 5 starts', but turn 5 starts in 2 days instead of 3 - this poll would be invalid.
Each poll must be open for a minimum of 3 days. This allows enough time for the majority of our members to see the poll and vote in it. Any poll open or taking results in less than 3 days is invalid. This includes 'spur of the moment' polls, that say something like 'This poll ends when turn 5 starts', but turn 5 starts in 2 days instead of 3 - this poll would be invalid.
Fairness and Neutrality:
The first post in a poll thread should be completely neutral. No options are to be suggested for voting, just what each option entails in an unbiased format. The same is true for the voting options. While poking fun at an option will probably be acceptable, if someone thinks that it interferes with a voter’s decision, then they may deem it invalid. If you show bias in your options, then it is no longer fair. So be warned, if your poll is a landslide one way and should win but someone feels that the options you presented are unfair and calls for a validity vote, if it’s deemed invalid your poll is useless.
The first post in a poll thread should be completely neutral. No options are to be suggested for voting, just what each option entails in an unbiased format. The same is true for the voting options. While poking fun at an option will probably be acceptable, if someone thinks that it interferes with a voter’s decision, then they may deem it invalid. If you show bias in your options, then it is no longer fair. So be warned, if your poll is a landslide one way and should win but someone feels that the options you presented are unfair and calls for a validity vote, if it’s deemed invalid your poll is useless.
Poll Format:
Each official poll MUST include either a ‘yes/no’ format, or a ‘group’ format, where similar options are grouped together, where the winning option within the group with the most votes is the official winner. The only time these formats do not have to be followed is in true multiple-choice polls, i.e. ‘Which Civilization should we be: Egyptians, Persians. Etc.’ In these cases, a simple ‘yes/no’ or ‘grouping’ poll does not suffice.
Each official poll MUST include either a ‘yes/no’ format, or a ‘group’ format, where similar options are grouped together, where the winning option within the group with the most votes is the official winner. The only time these formats do not have to be followed is in true multiple-choice polls, i.e. ‘Which Civilization should we be: Egyptians, Persians. Etc.’ In these cases, a simple ‘yes/no’ or ‘grouping’ poll does not suffice.
Repolling:
If someone wants to conduct a repoll, then it must be created at least 3 weeks following the initial poll. If a repoll is created before 3 weeks has passed, then that poll is immediately invalid. If a poll is an alternative poll, offering alternatives to decisions made in a previous poll, then it also must be conducted at least 3 weeks following the first poll, or be immediately deemed invalid. Any poll that's general purpose is the same or similar as another poll will be considered a repoll.
If someone wants to conduct a repoll, then it must be created at least 3 weeks following the initial poll. If a repoll is created before 3 weeks has passed, then that poll is immediately invalid. If a poll is an alternative poll, offering alternatives to decisions made in a previous poll, then it also must be conducted at least 3 weeks following the first poll, or be immediately deemed invalid. Any poll that's general purpose is the same or similar as another poll will be considered a repoll.
The repoll is valid if the original poll was deemed invalid, regardless of the elapsed time. This statute supercedes the time restriction on repolling.
In other words, if the original poll is invalid, you don't need to wait 3 weeks anymore.
Length of Validity:
Poll results are valid until either a repoll is conducted, or an optional expiration on the results of the poll is included (either from an event or a time limit). In any other case, the results of a poll are official until the end of the game.
Poll results are valid until either a repoll is conducted, or an optional expiration on the results of the poll is included (either from an event or a time limit). In any other case, the results of a poll are official until the end of the game.
Invalidity of a Poll:
If these rules are not abided by, anyone may consider the poll invalid. If someone believes a poll to not be following these rules and declares it invalid, then a vote may be conducted among the elected officials listed above to be either ‘valid’ or ‘invalid’. If the poll is deemed invalid, then its results cannot be used for any official purposes regarding the game.
If these rules are not abided by, anyone may consider the poll invalid. If someone believes a poll to not be following these rules and declares it invalid, then a vote may be conducted among the elected officials listed above to be either ‘valid’ or ‘invalid’. If the poll is deemed invalid, then its results cannot be used for any official purposes regarding the game.
(This could be subject to change depending on if we adopt a Judicial system clause where Judges may make such decisions).
A poll deemed invalid cannot be voted on again unless it abides by the rules regarding a repoll.
A poll that is deemed invalid must be repolled as soon as a proper repoll can be constructed.
Invalid polls should be then locked by mods (does this prevent voting in locked polls?).
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