Tracking the laws

[ravensfire]

So I had this crazy thought while cooking dinner. It's about our laws/rules, and how we track them and organize them.

Look at most countries - the official version can be disorganized and chaotic. This opens the way for private individuals/companies to create better, more organized versions.

So let's do just that!

We'll have two "official" threads. The Constitutional thread contains the Constitution (fully edited) and a list of all passed amendments. The Initiative list contains all initiatives ever passed. No edits. See the potential for chaos? However, the benefit IS there in that we'd have a full list of the unedited text of every Initiative ever passed.

Both of these threads, at the top, will have a link to the better, more organized version. This will be maintained by citizens, and contain not just the edited text of the rules, but notes explaining how various sections have been interpreted by Initiative or Judicial ruling.

Why do this? Why not just have the edited version? Main reason - the need for a primary source for the rules. A place where you can go to see exactly what was passed, and in what order. Secondary reason - this is a Government simulation - this legal stuff is interesting for people. Here's a chance to keep them more involved in the DG.

-- Ravensfire

 

[Lockesdonkey]

I can help with that. If I want to study law...well, no time like the present.

 

[DaveShack]

I like the idea, but I'd rather have the official initiative part organized as an edited main section with the laws currently in effect followed by a trail of each and every initiative as written along with its effects.

Example:
=================
Current Laws (post 1)
Intiative 1 : DP Pool
Text of Initiative 1 (edited)
Initiative 2 : Playing the Save
Text of Initiative 2 (edited)
================
Initiative 1 post 2
Original text of Initiative 1
================
Initiative 2 post 3
Original text of Initiative 2
================
Initiative 3 post 4
Original text of Initiative 3
Effect: This initiative superceded initiative 1 - DP Pool, in its entirety.

Doing it this way has the benefit of having just one place to look to determine what the current law says.

 

[ravensfire]

So put that nicely edited version in the main forum, and like to the static list.

A big pro for this is it gets the process AWAY from the mods, and in the hands of the citizens, where it should be. We have had issues in the past with things not being updated. The official list of all initiatives and amendments can be posted to by any citizen, eliminating the need for mod action.

There might be need for mod action if the citizen formatted version is started by someone who then leaves the DG. So long as we have an active person make that main post, and then coordinate the other volunteers, we'll be in good shape.

-- War

 

[DaveShack]

We can assume a storage location where it is possible to give multiple people edit access. No further details are available at this time.

 

[ravensfire]

So this proposal then is acceptable to you?

There are two volunteers already to handle the edited version - Lockesdonkey and myself. More will certainly be welcome!

-- Ravensfire

 

[Bertie]

Good idea.

Would the second, organized version have initiatives arranged so at-a-glance one could see which initiatives pertained to relevant offices. For example, if initiatives 1, 2, 8, 12, & 25 pertained to the DP, they'd all be gathered together in a DP section?

 

[DaveShack]

So this proposal then is acceptable to you?

It's acceptable as long as folk like me are eligible to volunteer.

 

[Methos]

I was just creating a list for my own personal use when I came across this thread, so I'll gladly volunteer. As you can see from the links in my signature I like doing things like this.

Until this is further discussed (especially with Dave's implication above, I'll stop my own version. In case your interested, this is what I've started. The name of the Act is the link to the discussion thread. If there are two discussion threads I've labeled them by numbers.

Our Constitution

Term 0, 4000 BC:
Election Act (Poll)
Playing the Save Act (Poll)
The Tribal Government Act (1^st thread, 2^nd thread) (Poll)

Whether you like the above or not, I'll gladly help.

 

[dutchfire]

The election act poll links to the discussion, poll's here, but hasn't closed yet.
I'd change the second link to this one, the text is there. Again, I would wait until the poll has finished.

 

[Methos]

The election act poll links to the discussion, poll's here, but hasn't closed yet.

I'm confused on this statement. Are you saying the poll links you to the discussion thread? I just checked it and the discussion thread link and poll link take you to the correct thread.

I'd change the second link to this one, the text is there. Again, I would wait until the poll has finished.

IMO I thought it would be best to link to the entire discussion thread, rather than the most recent version. This is just a preference really. Hopefully the OP will link each version to the first post.

 

[dutchfire]

I'm confused on this statement. Are you saying the poll links you to the discussion thread? I just checked it and the discussion thread link and poll link take you to the correct thread.

It worked correctly this time, but I'm pretty certain that I didn't work correctly a few minutes ago.

 

[DaveShack]

Don't wait on account of my earlier comment. If a better way of hosting the edited versions comes along, we'll just adapt to it.

 

[Methos]

Don't wait on account of my earlier comment. If a better way of hosting the edited versions comes along, we'll just adapt to it.

Okay, I'm finishing it up now and will post it when its finished.

 

[Methos]

The thread has been posted. Please indicate any changes or adjustments you want or feel should be made. I don't mind totally adjusting the structure if that is what is preferred. It took several attempts before getting my own history and Team Smurkz history before I liked it enough to leave it alone.

 

[ordinaryguy]

This is a good idea. Thanks a lot.