LRA bill

[cleopatraxigalia]

Election of the LRA - amendment bill

This amendment establishes the election of the Leader of the RA (LRA) . The aim of this amendment is to:

a) define the procedure for the election of a LRA

Historically LRA has been appointed directly following the elections six monthly to the RA. The party with the largest vote and the elected member with the largest personal vote within that party has been appointed LRA.

The current 2008 January election created the situation where 3 parties were elected to 2 seats each and a fourth to a single seat. There is no overall obvious lead party/ faction within the RA albeit that parties did get slightly more or less of the vote as will always happen in any election.

It is also not necesarily the case that the party or the member with the highest proportion of the vote is the best skilled person to lead the RA administratively.

This amendment responds to the concerns raised.

Amendment

1. The LRA is elected from within the ranks of the RA members by a simple majority vote of the RA at the start of the term of each six month RA session or at such time as the LRA post falls vacate for whatever reason.

2. The election for LRA shall be from candidates amongst RA member volunteers.

3. The LRA is permitted to resign from the post of LRA but may retain their seat in the RA.

4. The LRA may be removed from post prior to the expiration of the term of office by at least a two thirds vote of the Representative Assembly. This represents a vote of no confidence in the LRA.

[mtlundquist]

Unfortunately the final part of the bill was missed in posting please see the transitional arrangements at the end

Election of the LRA - amendment bill
This amendment establishes a change to the appointment of the Leader of the RA (LRA) . The aim of this amendment is to:
a) define the procedure for the election of a LRA
Historically LRA has been appointed directly following the elections six monthly to the RA. The party with the largest vote and the elected member with the largest personal vote within that party has been appointed LRA.
The current 2008 January election created the situation where three parties were elected to two seats each and a fourth to a single seat. There is therefore no overall obvious lead party/ faction within the RA albeit that parties did get slightly more or less of the vote, as will always happen in any election.
It is also not necessarily the case that the member with the highest proportion of the vote in the party with the highest proportion of the vote is the best skilled person to lead the RA administratively.
It does not allow for the resignation of an LRA if that person wishes to remain a RA member.
This amendment responds to the concerns raised.
Amendment
1. The LRA is elected from within the ranks of the RA members by a simple majority vote of the RA at the start of the term of each six month RA session or at such time as the LRA post falls vacate for whatever reason.
2. The election for LRA shall be from candidates amongst RA member volunteers.
3. The LRA is permitted to resign from the post of LRA but may retain their seat in the RA.
4. The LRA may be removed from post prior to the expiration of the term of office by at least a two thirds vote of the Representative Assembly. This represents a vote of no confidence in the LRA.
Transition
It is recognised that adoption of this amendment creates a problem of transition from one method of appointment to another. It is not the intention of this amendment to raise concerns about any current incumbent LRA. Therefore the following transition arrangements are proposed.
a. That the current incumbent LRA continues to serve as LRA.
b. That clauses 3 and/or 4 above take immediate effect upon the adoption of this bill into legislation and therefore provide a mechanism, should it be needed, for the resignation or removal of the LRA subject to the terms in clauses 3 and 4.