Bill: Draft Town Rights Expansion Act

[End]

A
BILL
To

Amend the Constitution​

The people of the Commonwealth of Redmont, through their elected Representatives in the Congress and the force of law ordained to that Congress by the people through the constitution, do hereby enact the following provisions into law:

1 - Short Title and Enactment

(1) This Act may be cited as the 'Town Rights Expansion Act.'

(2) This Act shall be enacted immediately upon its signage.

(3) This Act has been authored by End with excerpts from the failed constitutional amendment.

(4) This Act has been co-sponsored by Talion

2 - Reasons

(1) The veto of the Town Rights Act and failure to overturn it by Congress necessitate a less ambitious and pragmatic approach to protecting towns, rather than expanding their remit.

(2) Rather than investing state-like rights and responsibilities on local government, this bill aims to protect what they already have.

(3) This bill is minimalistic, principle-based, and will be supplemented by law and executive policy.

3 - Amendment
(1) The Constitution's preamble is amended to include:

We the people, of the Commonwealth of Redmont, in order to form a more perfect country, establish this Constitution to guarantee the preservation and protection of Justice, promote the general welfare of our citizens, and secure the liberty of our participation in the governance of this country. All citizens and the Government of the Commonwealth of Redmont will abide by these here set principles to unite as an indissoluble nation, the Commonwealth of Redmont.

This Constitution is the highest law of the Commonwealth. It binds all institutions, people, and overrides any law or authority that conflicts with it.

(1) The Constitution shall be amended by inserting the following in as Part IV: Local Government and renumbering all parts and sections thereafter:

32. Local Governments
Towns are autonomous local governments of the Commonwealth.

(1) Establishment & Dissolution
A Town may be established or dissolved only by an amendment to this Constitution. No Town may be dissolved by Executive action nor by ordinary statute. The current recognised towns are:

(a) Town of Aventura

(b) Town of Oakridge

(2) Structure
Each Town shall have a Constitution that establishes its basic representative and democratic system of local government. Executive authority may be assigned to a Mayor or another local office as determined by the Town’s Constitution. Legislative authority over local matters rests with the Town’s legislature.

(3) Bylaws
Town bylaws apply within the Town’s jurisdiction. All bylaws must be consistent with this Constitution.

• land use, zoning, building standards, and property administration;
• local taxes, fees, and revenues arising from Town property or bylaws;
• local services, permits, and enforcement, including municipal fines;
• business regulation within Town limits (excluding financial services);
• public spaces, events, transport, roads, and traffic;
• public safety and local welfare matters (excluding Federal Criminal Code);
• town governance, elections, and offices;
• matters predominantly internal to the Town’s jurisdiction.

(4) Territorial Integrity
The Commonwealth may not remove territory from a town’s jurisdiction without a Town bylaw authorising such removal.

33. Express, Narrow Preemption Only
Field or implied preemption is prohibited. Only an Act of Congress and or Executive Order may displace a Town bylaw within Town jurisdiction when it:

(a) expressly states an intent to displace Town bylaws;
(b) states the national interest necessitating displacement; and
(c) is narrowly tailored.

34. Elections
Town elections shall be free and fair, facilitated by Federal departments as provided by law. Towns may set reasonable candidacy and voting requirements consistent with Commonwealth law.

35. Appropriations
Towns retain full authority over their treasuries and budgets. While they may receive federal grants as provided by law, they are not entitled to ongoing or guaranteed federal funding.

4 - Continuity
Existing Towns, their constitutions, and their bylaws remain in force unless they are inconsistent with this Part or other constitutional provisions, or are later amended or repealed by the Towns.