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Post by Vista Major, MP on Jan 6, 2018 13:34:36 GMT -5
The Confederate Parliament
Parliament Bill # 013
A Bill For An Act Entitled: The Census Act
06 January 2018
Vista Major
Parliament Proposal
Resolved by the Confederate Parliament of the Confederacy of Free Nations, that the following article is proposed as a law under the jurisdiction of the Confederacy of Free Nations, enforceable by all of its institutions.
Be it enacted by the Confederacy of Free Nations, in Confederate Parliament assembled, that
Section 1
The Regional Census ss.1.In order to record the demographics of the Confederacy of Free Nations for the purposes of historical preservation and policy information, the Government of the Confederacy, every six months, shall conduct a Regional Census ("the Census") to collect demographic information on citizens and residents within the region. ss.2.The Census shall be composed and conducted by the Minister of Internal Affairs and their staff in whatever way and medium seen fit, on the advice and consent of the Cabinet, in which the Cabinet must approve the final draft of the Regional Census to be released to the public by a 3/5 vote and its ministers shall be allowed to advise and assist the Minister of Internal Affairs on the composition of the Census. The entire process of the Census shall not last more than one month (and within a single administration), with at least one week being allocated for data collection from the public, and any individual data collected during the Census shall be discarded or archived (and properly redacted, if needed for confidentiality) at the discretion of the Cabinet. In the event that the Census cannot be completed within a single administration, its functions shall be suspended until a new administration is appointed, at which time the Census' operations shall continue and its one month time allocation shall be restarted (and begin immediately). ss.3.Participation in the Census shall be required of all citizens and residents; however, citizens and residents may appeal to the Court to exempt from answering certain Census questions (or participating in the Census entirely). Failing to complete the Census without a court-acceptable excuse will be called before the Supreme Court for minor infraction of Confederacy law, with punishment not exceeding the degree of such an offense. Furthermore, to the extent allowed by the law, the Government may provide equal incentives for citizens and residents to participate in the Census. All those who participate in the survey and their data shall be treated equally, without discrimination. Additionally, all data collected from the Census, while it shall be recorded and released to the public in a Census Report, shall be anonymous of all its participants. ss.4.The Census shall not ask of its participants for any information that may compromise a person's real life identity, including legal name, legal address (asking for locality and/or nation of residence shall be allowed), government information, etc. ss.5.While the results of the Census may be used to inform policy and reform, it may not be used to target or otherwise disadvantage any person or community.
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Post by merc on Jan 6, 2018 14:07:07 GMT -5
Order.
Three day debate lasting through Tuesday 9 January.
Order, order.
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Post by Peng on Jan 6, 2018 14:30:53 GMT -5
How long will the single data of a Citizen be stored? Like not the final results but each citizen sheet.
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Post by Unfallious on Jan 6, 2018 14:36:21 GMT -5
Making the census optional is quite counter-intuitive imo. This seems like a rather weak bill if the aim is to gain accurate information about the demographics of the region. I would say that, so long as the data is anonymised, things like gender, age range (eg. 18-24, 25-30 etc.), and country should be compulsory for all active citizens to provide with other more advanced questions being rendered optional.
Overall, I have no real problems with this bill, I just believe it's rather weak and not at all going to be an accurate representation of the region in its current form.
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Post by Peng on Jan 6, 2018 14:37:59 GMT -5
Making the census optional is quite counter-intuitive imo. This seems like a rather weak bill if the aim is to gain accurate information about the demographics of the region. I would that, so long as the data is anonymised, things like gender, age range (eg. 18-24, 25-30 etc.), and country should be compulsory for all active citizens to provide with other more advanced questions being rendered optional. Overall, I have no real problems with this bill, I just believe it's rather weak and not at all going to be an accurate representation of the region in its current form. Agreed.
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Post by Vista Major, MP on Jan 6, 2018 14:40:58 GMT -5
To Penguania: Individual responses will be kept until the final Census Report is made. After that, they will be discarded or kept in an archive; whichever option is to be made is dependent on the Census Bureau (or the Cabinet, if a Census Bureau hasn't been established).
To Unfallious: I had figured that optionality would be an issue; I initially made the Census optional because I feared outright backlash if it were initially compulsory. But I see your point; I'll make adjustments.
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Post by Minnesota Dakota on Jan 6, 2018 14:42:23 GMT -5
Making the census optional is quite counter-intuitive imo. This seems like a rather weak bill if the aim is to gain accurate information about the demographics of the region. I would that, so long as the data is anonymised, things like gender, age range (eg. 18-24, 25-30 etc.), and country should be compulsory for all active citizens to provide with other more advanced questions being rendered optional. Overall, I have no real problems with this bill, I just believe it's rather weak and not at all going to be an accurate representation of the region in its current form. I agree.
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MP Oelesa
Former Members
I'm in retirement but I'll continue to cast my vote.
Posts: 29
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Post by MP Oelesa on Jan 6, 2018 20:40:34 GMT -5
I echo Unf
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Post by Lex Caledonia on Jan 7, 2018 9:56:51 GMT -5
One of my questions before hasn't really been assuaged. What would we utilise this data for? Also seeing as we're pretty low nation and citizenship-wise, would this census really accomplish much? I'd imagine it would be more effective once we sorted out our decline in the total number of present nations. I concur with Unf as well, I don't think it would allow for an accurate representation of the region at this point in time.
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Post by Jaslandia on Jan 7, 2018 19:26:15 GMT -5
I can understand wanting data on the region's citizens, and on its own it could be a fun experiment. But I have two big problems with this bill as is.
First, I don't think it should be mandatory. We're an online region; we just don't need a mandatory census. And if someone doesn't complete the mandatory parts of the census, what are we going to do about it? Take away their citizenship? Because to me, taking away someone's citizenship because they didn't answer some questions seems pretty stupid.
My second concern is that the process seems too complicated and bureaucratic. I can understand the whole Cabinet approving the questions to make sure they aren't too intrusive, but beyond that, the census should be under the sole purview of either the Internal Affairs Ministry or the Office of the Vice-Chancellor (plus their respective staffs). Either that, or create an appointed position of Census Director (because I see no reason to elect a purely administrative position like Census Director), with the Census Director being allowed to appoint deputies and a staff just like a minister. My point is that the census doesn't require a whole bureau; just one minister/director and a small assisting staff.
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Post by Bearlong on Jan 7, 2018 19:54:17 GMT -5
Mr Speaker; Ignoring the queries regarding the conduct of this process, I must concur with my fellow - Caledonia - and enquire as to the point of creating such a census. Why is it necessary to waste Government resources over the course of one entire month to find information that is not pertinent to its functioning? Now, the proposing member may say that I made an assumption in my previous sentence -- "Of course," they will say, "of course, the information collected during censuses will be pertinent to the functioning of the Government and the tailoring of its agenda thereof!" Should this be the case, I must enquire as to what such information will entail because -- last I checked -- the Government keeps a Register of all citizens, In fact -- Mr Speaker -- to even be recognised by you in this Chamber, one must be on that register! And from that Register, the Government has access to each and every bit of information regarding the policies, the people, the government, and the economy of each and every member state. Not to mention, of course, the World Assembly assessments of a myriad of policy areas from average incomes to the status of Pizza Delivery industry. Again, freely available for the Government to access! It is only idiosyncratic, Mr Speaker, for the government to demand information that is readily available to them. Despite this, I know the point that I've spent the past few moments droning about has been for naught. Why? Because we already know that the information collected during these censuses will not be pertinent to the functioning of the Government! How do we know this? Mr Speaker, I direct you to ss4 in the Bill's only Section. While I appreciate the Government's concern for the private security of members, I must ask to what extent will knowing even my nation of residence assist the Government in governing? There is no need for it! They do not need -- they do not deserve -- to know this information! Put simply, Mr Speaker, the idea that such a count will bring any sort of real benefit to the Government is simply untrue. This is merely a poor attempt of certain members to gain access to information they have no right to get, and we -- as simultaneously the Parliament and the caucus being counted -- owe it to ourselves and to our fellow citizens to deny them such a chance.
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Post by Vista Major, MP on Jan 7, 2018 21:05:32 GMT -5
Apocalyptic and conspiratorial rhetoric shall not so easily tempt this Parliament. There is no intent or plot by this government do mischief or immorality from any data to be collected by this Census, should this Parliament be generous enough to allow this bill to pass into law. I wholly disavow any notion that the information of Census participants that should be collected are undeserving of government analysis and use, and I further frown upon any criticism or opposition that does not provide any suggestion or endorsement of change to this bill. While I am here, I would like to thank those who have given their thoughts beforehand. Hopefully, I will be able to clarify some things regarding the proposed Census.
A Census is, by nature, generally mandatory, with some exceptions. The original version of this bill did make this Census optional; however, with input of other citizens, I came to make it mandatory, with mechanisms to opt-out. Furthermore, I also specified that the Census Bureau is an optional body; taking into account that other members of the Cabinet may be too busy within or without of the Confederacy to be an active part of the development of the Census, the Census Bureau shall serve as the Minister of Internal Affairs' advisory council for the duration of the Census.
The main purpose of this survey is both for records and for policy, as established in subsection one. Though it may be seen as trivial, knowing more about what makes the Confederacy the way it is, truly, is a fair endevour. Now that we are again, finally, permenantly settled, we can do more to make this region unique and special, as well as diverse, which leads to the second reason, which is admittedly slightly self-serving. I did a survey with the region a while back while I was Minister of Internal Affairs, and I got many responses from participants that they want to see more from the government, particularly in the realm of recruitment, which is now my purview. Though in the minority, a couple other comments stated that the Confederacy seems homogeneous. In order to dispute and resist such claims, I wish for this Census to boost regional morale by verifiably promoting our diversity and seeking to improve it by targeting regions which can balance any demographic area we may be lacking it, without outward discrimination or any sort of tokenization. It is one thing to know someone's name; it's another to know one's identity, to make it seem like an individual's components in all spheres matter.
I believe that this Census will be a building block from which the government may achieve greater heights, and take the Confederacy with and higher than itself.
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Post by merc on Jan 7, 2018 22:01:47 GMT -5
Order.
There was a question from Jaslandia that the author of this bill failed to answer, regarding what should be done about those who fail to fill in this census. This was a clear question and it must be clearly answered.
It should be noted that failures to answer questions, across the House, will be hereafter dealt with forcefully. Members don't ask questions for no reason.
Order.
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Post by Anglia Imperium, MP on Jan 8, 2018 15:13:23 GMT -5
Mr. Speaker, Allow me to make my opinion clear.
I join the Hon. Lex Caledonia MP and the Hon. Bearlong MP in the questions they have asked. I share their concerns. I do not consider that private data such as age or residence are of much value to our Government. What I do consider important to ask, and make mandatory to answer, is questions about the Citizens' opinion on the Region, on what reforms shoukd be made, etc. The Honourable Member -Bearlong- put it just the right way. I couldn't agree more Mr. Speaker. I also echo my Honourable friend Jaslandia on the point raised by him on bureaucracy. Clearly involving a whole new Bureau, two Cabinet Members and their staff is just too much. Expecially now. I suggest that only the MoIA and their staff manage the Census. Thank you.
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Post by Unfallious on Jan 8, 2018 17:42:54 GMT -5
Quite frankly, the ministers, bar the Internal Affairs with their citizenship dealings, don't have a whole lot on their plate. And even then, citizenship applications aren't all that demanding. It's subjective whether this data is useful to hold, those historically inclined may believe that it is intrinsically valuable in terms of graphing the composition of the region's population over time. However, it can be conceded that it has no practical use. However, as Jaslandia says this is an internet game where nothing really has practical use. The government don't do much, they preside, they add citizens and they forget to hold elections. That's pretty much it, right?
So why not have them do something that's interesting in the long term and graph citizenship composition? It's not going to hurt anyone, and it's not extracting data that most of us don't already give already. Looking at Bearlong here, the government may not have a right to your country of origin, but they bloody know it anyway and any minister could have obtained it by simply asking you anyway. All this bill does is create something of historical value and gives the government something else to do so maybe this time they'll remember to actually govern and do things that the constitution mandates, like elections for instance.
As for those who _fail_ to fill in the census, well yes obviously our options are limited. I, for one, believe any citizen who fails to contribute to the census should be sent to court where the Justices shall be given the option to decide their punishment, from warning, through to prevention of speaking rights on the RMB, to suspension of ability to hold public office until they complete a census. I believe this is a just progression allowing the judiciary the leeway to decide on a proper way of punishing nations to ensure the census is carried out and those found to be repeatedly refusing are deprived of some of their civic rights just as they deprive the region of a accurate information that may be useful in the future.
(Also since when has the Speaker decided to force people to answer questions, lol?)
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