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Dear citizens of The eNetherlands,

First of all I want to congratulate congress, for allowing a referendum regarding the fishy subject, The Senate. All information about where the referendum can be found, and how you can vote in it (whether it's 'yes' or 'no') can be found here: Here! Thanks Head of Congress, artemivanov, for organizing the referendum, as it's sure a longtaking job!

In the same article can be found what the Senate is, and what it's tasks are. One of the reasons I proposed a referendum; to inform the general public about this body, as this article finally informs our ingame players about this subject. Another reason, which is closely related to this one, is to get players involved on our forum and in our community/politics. But there are far more reasons, which I'll try to clarify in the rest of this article.

Activity
First of all, our current Senate is inactive. It consists of five members, three of them being inactive. Although a job as senator doesn't am awfully lot of activity, it's unexplainable why one senator last logged in 2010. There are enough instution which require our activity, like congress and a program to start a babyboom. We would be better of by concentrating our activity, instead on dividing it.

Appointment
article 22 - appointment

A) anyone who at least has a ´officer in the order of de Nederlandse Leeuw medal´ or higher can apply for senator by sending a request to be admitted to the Head of the Senate
😎 Current senators vote on the proposed admissions internally
C) senators also choose who represents them as ´Head of Senate´ for the next 3 months,
this appointment must be acknowledged by the congress with a majority in a official congress-vote
D) in the case of (suspected) misconduct the congress can remove any senator (including head of senate) from their position by holding a vote of no confidence in the congress, this vote will be considered as an emergency vote instantly.

article 23 - duration

A) Senator appointment is for a minimum of 3 months
😎 Head of Senate is for a minimum of 3 months


This is the paragraph in our constitution regarding the appointment of The Senate. First of all, senators can only be removed by their own; who is going to vote it's self away? Another thing, but just as wrong; senators can only be approved by senators. I can only imagine a group of friend taking the Senate, and never ever leaving it. Also, the duration is too vague and smells like autocracy; it says we can't remove senators for a minimum of three months, which is quite a lot in eRepublic.

Rights
Last argument, but probably the most important one, are it's rights.
A) to help moderate the enetherlands.nl forum
😎 to help moderate the official IRC channels
C) to propose emergency-procedure debates and votes in congress
D) Head of the Senate is also a maintainer of the government password list, as is the Country President.

First; why are we giving people tasks which were being carried out by others already? This is quite useless in my opinion. Secondly; why are we putting our community to so many danger? More people having those rights, means more chance on abuse. It is true this way we have a check on our moderators, but we shouldn't risk our community because of a 'check' which only will be applied after possible abuse is conducted. Adding people to our administration doesn't solve the lack of control we have over it, as we are still left with administrators we don't have control of.

You may laugh this argument away, as senators are the people who build up our country and players for a long time, they are trustable, right? Well, most of the cases they are, but sometimes they don't. In fact, abuse did happen when a senator edited someone's post unlawfully. I quotate congressmember Pierre_Delvaux, victim of this abuse;

Just so we know what we're talking about, I'd like to recall what happened.
"My original post was written in response to Auggusts calling Shakerr ignorant. It rea😛

"If you're going to call someone ignorant Auggustus, it's always a good idea to make sure you spell the following word correctly."

It was a one line post which broerjse quoted shortly afterward.
After Auggustus intervened it became:

"If you're going to call someone ignorant, it should be me Auggy. I'm a big pussy who has no original ideas to contribute.
EDIT: Don't be too hard on yourself, buddy."

I dont think Senators should be allowed to do this; he was celebrated.

Last but not least, I want to react on a possible boycot, announced by antiko in this article: Here!
One wor😛 disgusting

Please contribute in our community, and vote in our referendum, whether your voting 'yes' or 'no'

Thanks,
NoTie112