Petitions Reform

[Sheepy]

Approx. one petition a week gets 100,000 signatures, but they never seem to get accepted. I've concocted a plan Don't worry, there's a clause to stop another Brexit!

- Petition requesting definite, non-interpretable action getting over 100,000 signatures triggers referendum
- Petition requesting vague, interpretable action getting over 100,000 signatures to be debated in Parliament
- Approved motions to be written into bill format by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (after all, they're already doing it)
- Petitions Committee checks interpretability
- Petitions Committee to produce accessible report on projected quantifiable costs/benefits for every petition of over 100k signatures
   - Report must be made available at least a fortnight before the debate/referendum (to Parliament/the public)

- Loop Clause: a petition meant to reverse another cannot be considered unless Parliament rules that it is reasonable
- Budget Clause: interdiction of extra-budget spending (must suffer a tax hike, this would be in the cost/benefit report)
- Safety Clause: if Petitions Committee cannot reasonably project quantifiable outcome, no referendum (one Brexit is quite enough!)
- Pay-to-Win Clause: businesses and charities are forbidden from campaigning in any way
   - Non-profit activist and political groups may campaign, the news may report

So what do you think? I'm hoping this would drive more interest in petitioning and, above all, stop Parliament just sweeping them aside like they do now.

On the whole politicians are running scared of referendums, one because it might go against what is best for them and their feelings of how important they are and two it might well show just out of touch they are.

[DirectDemocrat]

Approx. one petition a week gets 100,000 signatures, but they never seem to get accepted. I've concocted a plan Don't worry, there's a clause to stop another Brexit!

- Petition requesting definite, non-interpretable action getting over 100,000 signatures triggers referendum
- Petition requesting vague, interpretable action getting over 100,000 signatures to be debated in Parliament
- Approved motions to be written into bill format by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (after all, they're already doing it)
- Petitions Committee checks interpretability
- Petitions Committee to produce accessible report on projected quantifiable costs/benefits for every petition of over 100k signatures
   - Report must be made available at least a fortnight before the debate/referendum (to Parliament/the public)

- Loop Clause: a petition meant to reverse another cannot be considered unless Parliament rules that it is reasonable
- Budget Clause: interdiction of extra-budget spending (must suffer a tax hike, this would be in the cost/benefit report)
- Safety Clause: if Petitions Committee cannot reasonably project quantifiable outcome, no referendum (one Brexit is quite enough!)
- Pay-to-Win Clause: businesses and charities are forbidden from campaigning in any way
   - Non-profit activist and political groups may campaign, the news may report

So what do you think? I'm hoping this would drive more interest in petitioning and, above all, stop Parliament just sweeping them aside like they do now.