Proposed NL 6-4: Bill to Establish a Citizenship Commission

[michelmanen]

The proposed Bill below has been drafted and is sponsored by Michel Manen, CARE Chaiperson

[size=150:1wc8bmcs][b:1wc8bmcs]NL 6-4: A Bill to Establish a CDS Citizenship Commission [/b:1wc8bmcs][/size:1wc8bmcs]

[b:1wc8bmcs]
1.0 CDS Representative Assembly declaration of policy [/b:1wc8bmcs]

1.1 The paradox of the contemporary situation in the Confederation of Democratic Simulators is that we require a fuller, richer, yet more subtle understanding and practice of citizenship than Real Life nation-states require. That richer citizenship is required because what the CDS needs from its citizenry cannot be secured by coercion, but only by cooperation and self-restraint in the exercise of both public and private power.
1.2 The claim to belong to a particular political association has been a prevalent theme of political discourse since the beginning of human civilization. But the issue of who is allowed to belong to a particular polity, and under what conditions, is no less a political question than the issue of who should determine membership.
1.3 As the qualitative differences between various communities and sims in Second Life continue to increase, and as the mobility of avatars between such sims remains virtually absolute, the ability to claim citizenship within well-ordered and progressive sims will grow more valuable and contested.
1.4 Crucial to any specification of citizenship, however, is an understanding not only of what citizenship must entail, but also why these rights are granted and obligations required.
1.5. The RA concludes that it is appropriate to seek wide public input regarding these issues centered on the notion of CDS Citizenship beyond that which occurs in weekly RA meetings, faction discussions, or on the CDS forums, and therefore appoints a CDS Citizenship Commission (“CDS CC”), to be co-chaired by three qualified CDS citizens appointed by the RA.

[b:1wc8bmcs]2.0 Mandate, Mission, Duties [/b:1wc8bmcs]

2.1 The mandate of the CDS CC is that of Rethinking Citizenship in the CDS in light of the exponential growth of SL and its increasing importance as a tool of information, communication, participation and action in the Real World.
2.2 The mission of the CDS CC is to Inform, Educate, Debate, Listen and Report.
2.3 The CDS CC, in cooperation with the RA, will define the key issues at stake in rethinking the notion of citizenship in the CDS and summarize them in a clear and concise manner.
2.4 The CDS CC, in cooperation with the RA, will define various options and types of CDS citizenship in light of the above principles, and summarize them in a clear and concise manner.
2.5 The CDS CC will provide each citizen, via RL e-mail, with a text including the information detailed above, as well as all additional information regarding the timetable and activities of the CDS CC so as to ensure, to the extent possible, the participation of all CDS citizens in its proceedings and deliberations.
2.6 The CDS CC shall open a thread on the CDS Forums specifically dedicated to its proceedings, where it shall post the information included on the above-mentioned e-mail and allow both CDS citizens and non-citizens to contribute their views and opinions on these matters.
2.7 The CDS CC shall publicize in the CDS sims, by means of prominently-displayed notices, the timetables of its consultation process and of its in-world consultation times and places; as well as the URL of the CDS Forums thread allocated for such purposes.
2.8 Public consultations shall last for a period of four weeks, starting on May 20th and finishing on June 17th 2007, during which weekly meetings, hearings and debates will be held in a manner such as to accommodate all citizens wishing to participate, taking into account their various disponibilities and time zones.
2.9 Each citizen wishing to address the CDS CC shall be afforded the opportunity to speak uninterrupted for up to five minutes, following which testimony the hearing shall be open for dialogue. Public testimony may also be made by written submission to the forums or to the Commission Chairs.
2.10 The CDS CC shall devise a simple questionnaire regarding key citizenship issues and choices which it shall distribute to all CDS citizens at the end of the third week of consultations, via RL e-mails.
2.11 Upon receipt of the completed surveys, the CDS CC shall use the results thereof in addition to the summaries of all consultation, discussion, and debate sessions in order to draft a Report for the RA summarizing the views and opinions of CDS citizens on issues pertaining to CDS citizenship.
2.12 The CDS CC shall, in addition to a summary of citizens’ views as detailed above, provide the RA with a set of recommendations regarding the nature, scope and application of CDS citizenship, as well as a draft Citizenship Act text based on such recommendations.
2.13 The results of the CDS CC Survey, Report, Recommendations, and draft Citizenship Act shall be posted on the appropriate thread of the CDS Forums.
2.14 Any participant or group of participants in the CDS CC may submit dissenting opinions on the CDS forums.
[b:1wc8bmcs]

3.0 Representative Assembly Action[/b:1wc8bmcs]

3.1 The RA shall, in light of the CDS CC Report, recommendations, draft Citizenship Act, and dissenting opinions (if any), debate, discuss and draft a Citizenship Bill which shall be submitted to a vote in the RA no later than July 1st, 2007.

[Salzie Sachertorte]

The idea of a commission to address specific issues is always a good one. But I think we need to step back a bit more and do some strategic planning first, so as to get everyone on the same page.

See my post on this last year, [url:3aj0gbds]http://forums.neufreistadt.info/viewtop ... =strategic[/url:3aj0gbds]

I believe that having a unified vision for the CDS will help to solve the problems Michal seeks to address via his proposed commissions.

[michelmanen]

I agree. How do you propose we can acheive this? One way is to look at specific problems, involve as many citizens as possible in the decision-maling process, and out of these consultations a coherent picture of our strategic vision will emerge.

I am a big believer in a bottom-up, practical approach based on the active participation of as many citizens as possible, rather than a top-down approach that deals only with theory and principles.

That being said, we should all be willing to listen to each other's ideas and be persuaded as to validity of new methods and approaches.

[Salzie Sachertorte]

Well, you go through a planning process. Hopefully led by someone who knows how to do it.

I agree with you in that a traditional linear model would probably not work well, but I feel an organic process would work well with the CDS even though it would take longer.

[michelmanen]

Can you suggest such a process, based on principles of openness, active public participation, accountability and efficiency? CARE certainly would be willing to support and take part in such a project.

[Claude Desmoulins]

Placing all the explanation of the rationale for the bill in the bill text makes for a long and dense read. Previous CDS tradition has been to attach the rationale as an explanatory statement/gloss outside the text of the bill.

As to the actual content I have two concerns. First the requirement that the proposed commission submit an act to the RA presumes that it will recommend changes which require legislative action. Let's let the commission make up its own mind on these issues. Second the establishment of a fixed deadline for an RA vote bothers me. What if no real consensus emerges, for example?

The way Michel has drafted the commission bill seems to exclude wu wei (do nothing). While many are concerned about various aspects of citizenship, I'm not yet ready to declare that what we have at the moment is so broken that it must be repaired. I believe Michel's bill takes the need for significant reform of citizenship as a given that it may not yet be.

[michelmanen]

[quote:2jclm73r]Placing all the explanation of the rationale for the bill in the bill text makes for a long and dense read. Previous CDS tradition has been to attach the rationale as an explanatory statement/gloss outside the text of the bill.[/quote:2jclm73r]

Section 1 of the current draft can become a preamble, with the text of the bill starting with Section 2.

[quote:2jclm73r]As to the actual content I have two concerns. First the requirement that the proposed commission submit an act to the RA presumes that it will recommend changes which require legislative action. Let's let the commission make up its own mind on these issues.[/quote:2jclm73r]

Agreed. We can amend the text of the draft so as to leave this option open to the Commision.

[quote:2jclm73r] Second the establishment of a fixed deadline for an RA vote bothers me. What if no real consensus emerges, for example?[/quote:2jclm73r]

The fact the a number of citizenshp-related amendments are now being drafted by the RA indicate that there is, among a certain section of the CDS population, and not not least the RA itself, the perception that such changes are indeed neccessary. The vote on the Patroklus-Sudane amendments will be suspended pending the Commission Report. I very much doubt that no vote at all will be held on this issue after the Commission report - even if only on the reintroduced Patroklus - Sudane Amendments.

That being said, I see no problem in amending the text of the draft Bill to specifiy that, should the RA decide to introduce legilsation following the Commission Report, such a vote must take place by July 1st, 2007. This would address your concern that no bill need be introduced if not consensus emerges -as well as CARE's accountablity and openness concerns -namely that such a vote, if any, must take place well in advance of the next CDS elections and not, as has previously happened on other matters, minutes before the election debate and hours before the opening of the polls.

[quote:2jclm73r]The way Michel has drafted the commission bill seems to exclude wu wei (do nothing). While many are concerned about various aspects of citizenship, I'm not yet ready to declare that what we have at the moment is so broken that it must be repaired. I believe Michel's bill takes the need for significant reform of citizenship as a given that it may not yet be.[/quote:2jclm73r]

I agree that the wu wei option should remain open and will amend the draft bill to reflect this.

[michelmanen]

[b:2acl9bhk]Preamble: CDS Representative Assembly declaration of policy[/b:2acl9bhk]

1. The paradox of the contemporary situation in the Confederation of Democratic Simulators is that we require a fuller, richer, yet more subtle understanding and practice of citizenship than Real Life nation-states require. That richer citizenship is required because what the CDS needs from its citizenry cannot be secured by coercion, but only by cooperation and self-restraint in the exercise of both public and private power.
2. The claim to belong to a particular political association has been a prevalent theme of political discourse since the beginning of human civilization. But the issue of who is allowed to belong to a particular polity, and under what conditions, is no less a political question than the issue of who should determine membership.
3. As the qualitative differences between various communities and sims in Second Life continue to increase, and as the mobility of avatars between such sims remains virtually absolute, the ability to claim citizenship within well-ordered and progressive sims will grow 4. Crucial to any specification of citizenship, however, is an understanding not only of what citizenship must entail, but also why these rights are granted and obligations required.
5. The RA concludes that it is appropriate to seek wide public input regarding these issues centered on the notion of CDS Citizenship beyond that which occurs in weekly RA meetings, faction discussions, or on the CDS forums.

[b:2acl9bhk]Therefore, the RA states and decides as follows:[/b:2acl9bhk]

[size=150:2acl9bhk][b:2acl9bhk]NL 6-4: A Bill to Establish a CDS Citizenship Commission [/b:2acl9bhk][/size:2acl9bhk]

1. The RA establishes a CDS Citizenship Commission (“CDS CC”), to be co-chaired by three qualified CDS citizens appointed by the RA.
2. The mandate of the CDS CC is that of Rethinking Citizenship in the CDS in light of the exponential growth of SL and its increasing importance as a tool of information, communication, participation and action in the Real World.
3. The mission of the CDS CC is to Inform, Educate, Debate, Listen and Report.
4. The CDS CC, in cooperation with the RA, will define the key issues at stake in rethinking the notion of citizenship in the CDS and summarize them in a clear and concise manner.
5. The CDS CC, in cooperation with the RA, will define various options and types of CDS citizenship in light of the above principles, and summarize them in a clear and concise manner.
6. The CDS CC will provide each citizen, via RL e-mail, with a text including the information detailed above, as well as all additional information regarding the timetable and activities of the CDS CC so as to ensure, to the extent possible, the participation of all CDS citizens in its proceedings and deliberations.
7. The CDS CC shall open a thread on the CDS Forums specifically dedicated to its proceedings, where it shall post the information included on the above-mentioned e-mail and allow both CDS citizens and non-citizens to contribute their views and opinions on these matters.
8. The CDS CC shall publicize in the CDS sims, by means of prominently-displayed notices, the timetables of its consultation process and of its in-world consultation times and places; as well as the URL of the CDS Forums thread allocated for such purposes.
9. Public consultations shall last for a period of four weeks, starting on May 20th and finishing on June 17th 2007, during which weekly meetings, hearings and debates will be held in a manner such as to accommodate all citizens wishing to participate, taking into account their various disponibilities and time zones.
10. Each citizen wishing to address the CDS CC shall be afforded the opportunity to speak uninterrupted for up to five minutes, following which testimony the hearing shall be open for dialogue. Public testimony may also be made by written submission to the forums or to the Commission Chairs.
11. The CDS CC shall devise a simple questionnaire regarding key citizenship issues and choices which it shall distribute to all CDS citizens at the end of the third week of consultations, via RL e-mails.
12. Upon receipt of the completed surveys, the CDS CC shall use the results thereof in addition to the summaries of all consultation, discussion, and debate sessions in order to draft a Report for the RA summarizing the views and opinions of CDS citizens on issues pertaining to CDS citizenship.
13. The CDS CC shall, in addition to a summary of citizens’ views as detailed above, provide the RA with a set of recommendations regarding the nature, scope and application of CDS citizenship, describing the changes (if any) it recommends to the existing CDS citizenship legislation.
14. Should it conclude that any such changes are indeed necessary, the CDS CC may draft a Citizenship Act text based on its recommendations as detailed above.
15. The results of the CDS CC Survey, Report, Recommendations, and draft Citizenship Act (in any) shall be posted on the appropriate thread of the CDS Forums.
16. Any participant or group of participants in the CDS CC may submit dissenting opinions on the CDS forums.
17. The RA shall consider the CDS CC Report, recommendations, draft Citizenship Act (if any), and dissenting opinions (if any) at its session immediately following receipt thereof.
18. The RA may debate, discuss and draft a Citizenship Bill or Citizenship Amendments Bill.
19. Should it choose to draft such a Citizenship Bill or Citizenship Amendments Bill, the RA shall hold a vote thereon no later than July 1st, 2007.

[Salzie Sachertorte]

I would suggest you amend this to require transcripts be taken and posted at the website of any inworld meetings, hearings, etc., so that those unable to attend can keep up with what is going on.

In order to ensure that this is a transparent process, I would also suggest that you have a page at the website presenting any and all emails, transcripts, meeting minutes, links to the appropriate forum, etc., so that those who are interested in the process can follow along.

[Salzie Sachertorte]

[quote="michelmanen":3vfz5qhi]Can you suggest such a process, based on principles of openness, active public participation, accountability and efficiency? CARE certainly would be willing to support and take part in such a project.[/quote:3vfz5qhi]

Well, strategic planning is done to help a governing board see the overall vision of an organization and plan for its future. The actual work is largely an adminsitrative process, so I would think it would fall under the Chancellor's control. The Chancellor could pull upon the resources within the CDS - there a number of RL Public Servants who do these types of things - and come up with a process.

[Patroklus Murakami]

I'd like to suggest a shorter, simpler proposal for a Citizenship Commission. As Claude has pointed out we don't tend to include a great deal of argumentation in CDS Bills, we keep that for the debate around the proposal. I think it's best to keep most of the explanation out of the text, especially when this is ambiguous. For example, the CDS Declaration of Policy says: "The paradox of the contemporary situation in the Confederation of Democratic Simulators is that we require a fuller, richer, yet more subtle understanding and practice of citizenship than Real Life nation-states require." I think this is a statement of opinion, and a rather contestable one. I'm not comfortable with the RA being asked to make sweeping declarations of 'policy' when deciding to set up such a Commission.

[b:ln7vj7bs]Bill to Establish a Citizenship Commission[/b:ln7vj7bs]

1. Pursuant to the procedures set forth in NL 5-21, this Act establishes a citizenship commission.

2. The Commission is charged with considering how citizenship should be defined in the CDS.

3. The Commission will hold a full and participative set of discussions inworld and on the CDS forums starting on 20 May and finishing on 17 June 2007.

4. The Commission will present a report to the RA within a week of the completion of the Commission's work with recommendations (and draft legislation if needed).

5. The Commission will be chaired by [insert name of RA member selected].

6. Citizens wishing to serve on the Citizenship Commission should make themselves know to [insert name] by 20 May.

[Beathan]

Pat --

Yours is a much better, cleaner and simpler proposal. You have my full support on your language.

Beathan

[Samantha Fuller]

I'm not a big fan of these type of Comisions, I beleve we shoud use these fourms instead. But I have an extra consern with this one now. To the best of my understanding Michel has resigned the RA and is blocking the replacement with the next higest ranking CARE member unles this bill or a simlar one goes through. And promises to return to the RA when it dose. If you think this Comision is necary [u:3vlhceok]Please, please[/u:3vlhceok]wait untill after the special election to fill the CARE seat least "I we resign untill we get what we want" becomes standard political procedure. We simply dont have enough people to play that silly game.

[Beathan]

Samantha --

I share your concerns. However, I think I can say that the RA has come to an understanding, after debating the relevant code and Constitutional principles amongst ourselves, that Michel cannot hold policy hostage or block the filling of a seat by a person associated with CARE. Factions in the CDS are Western-European/American-style associations of like-minded individuals, not Eastern-European organizations of totalitarian control by party oligarchs. For that reason, I understand that Mizou will be filling the CARE seat, as she is the Constitutionally mandated replacement representative.

With regard to the commission, there has been significant heartburn over the way Michel presented his proposals. During his service on the RA he failed to present a single proposal or policy initiative. Then he resigns and presents 4 (some of which are actually good ideas) as if they were parting ultimatums.

This leaves us with a quandary. Do we simply thumb our collective noses at Michel (which was the first instinct of many of us), or do we take up the good ideas he presented (while disregarding the bad ones) even though his method of presentation was offensive? My instinct is to take up the good, even when badly presented -- and to dismiss the bad, even when all polished up and shiny. I think it would be shame to reject the citizen commission merely because of the gracelessness of its proponent and presentation.

Beathan

[Aliasi Stonebender]

[quote="Samantha Fuller":3mrr7x6r]I'm not a big fan of these type of Comisions, I beleve we shoud use these fourms instead. But I have an extra consern with this one now. To the best of my understanding Michel has resigned the RA and is blocking the replacement with the next higest ranking CARE member unles this bill or a simlar one goes through. And promises to return to the RA when it dose. If you think this Comision is necary [u:3mrr7x6r]Please, please[/u:3mrr7x6r]wait untill after the special election to fill the CARE seat least "I we resign untill we get what we want" becomes standard political procedure. We simply dont have enough people to play that silly game. [/quote:3mrr7x6r]

Resign until I decide to come back doesn't work, anyway. If you resign, you [i:3mrr7x6r]resign[/i:3mrr7x6r].