Democracy in Democratia City
In Democratia City The People connect with their Government through the Community Opinion Terminals. Citizens aged about 16, and resident for six months are eligible to vote. That age was chosen because by this age many young people are shouldering social responsibilities. Age, however is an arbitrary yardstick for ability to exercise the right to vote. Young people take a civics course when they feel ready, to show they have an understanding of matters political. A Certificate of Enfranchisement is awarded.
The Community Opinion Terminal
This is the nerve centre of Democratia's system of self-government. It identifies where the real power lies - with the People of the Community. Each electoral community has a main terminal and may have several satellite terminals. It is built and owned by the state on a permanent basis. It also houses the offices of the Community Representatives.
The Central C.O.T. is open 14 hours every day, staffed from 8.00am to 10.00pm. One of its functions is to have, on touch-screen computers, a Reference Library, where Bills going through the House of Representatives are available for scrutiny. This information is also available on a government TV channel. Background information on the economy of Democratia is also available, as is any information necessary to help people make informed decisions.
An important feature is a list of subjects on which the House of Representatives wants public input, and also on which the local Community Representative wants opinions. Statistical information on local and national opinions on all listed subjects would be continuously updated in the Opinion Data Bank. C.O.T's send validated opinions to the Central Opinion Data Bank each week. At elections, votes are sent from satellite C.O.T's to the main C.O.T, where they are consolidated and sent to the Main Opinion Data Bank at the close of the Poll.
The Civil Service
This is the administrative arm of government. Since there is no party structure, it is staffed according to merit by competition. It is independent of the government. It carries out the administration of government decisions at all levels of authority. issues statements of government bills and policies for lay consumption. It publishes a monthly newsletter for issue by Community Representatives, with an insert of local news.
The House of Representatives
In Democratia House of Representatives, the House Leader (i.e. the Chief Executive Officer of Government) is elected by the Members for a four-year term with defined dates. The House Speaker is elected for one year. The Committee Chairs are elected for two-year terms. Members of Legislative Committees are appointed by the House. They stay on a Committee for two-, or three-year terms, to maintain continuity of expertise.
The House works in three distinct ways:-
1. Legislative Committee
House Committees are formed to deal with legislative matters usually under Cabinet positions such as Finance, Education, etc. Representatives serve on three committees, making it possible for them to be aware of what other Committees are discussing. A Committee may have sub-committees of its members who specialise in specific aspects of a Committee's work. For example, the Economics Committee could have sub-committees on Renewable Resources, Non-renewable Resources, The Manufacturing Industry, The Service Industry, Financial Services,etc.
1. A Law comes into effect by going through the following process:- A Legislative Committee produces a Study Paper.
2. The Executive Committee (i.e. all Committee Chairpersons under the House Leader) formulates a Green Paper.
3. This Bill is given its First Reading in the House, and published. At this point the Community Representatives study it and get public input through meetings and their C.O.T's.
4. After a Second Reading there is Parliamentary Debate.
5. Amendments from the Debate go to the Legislative Committee that introduced the Bill.
6. The Bill returns to the House as a White Paper. There is a YES/NO vote and passage of the Bill as an Act - or it is returned to the Executive Committee for re-assessment
A private Representative's Bill goes to the Executive Committee which then appoints an ad hoc committee chaired by the Representative to produce a Study Paper. The Paper then follows the procedure from Step 2.
2. Parliamentary Debat
A return to high quality debate in most parliaments is long overdue. So-called debate at present has degenerated into a low-grade slanging match where members try to score brownie points by being obnoxious to other 'Honourable Members'. This is especially true where debates are televised. In Democratia there is full television coverage of Second Reading debates. There is a Grand Debate once a week, on a subject announced previously by the Speaker. Subjects of this debate deal with problems of moment, and the speeches are published.
3. Investigation
Every organization needs to examine problems that occur within the body. Complaints of misdemeanours can be introduced at a Speaker's Discretionary Period by Community Representatives. The facts are placed on the Table for study, then a debate is held, in camera. A 'NO' vote brings dismissal of the complaint. A 'YES' vote causes the formation of an Investigation Committee.
The Voting System in Democratia
All citizens, over 16 years of age and resident in Democratia for 6 months are eligible to vote. They are issued with a Voter's Registration Card and a Personal Voting Number. A new Voter's Card is issued every four years, or on request. Voting can be done by proxy, on application, and absent voting can be done at any Community Terminal. Early voting can be done at the local C.O.T. The vote is final, but not activated until the election date. The C.O.T is used for indicating opinions in polls. Changes of opinion can be made until a set cut-off date.
