The motion
To amend §209
The ruleset may never hold more than 20 mutable rules at one time, except that any player who has scored 50 or more points may propose to temporarily increase this limit to 25 for a single turn, and any player who has scored 75 or more points may propose to permanently increase this limit to 25.This builds on Hobbes's existing concession to score-high players by adding a permanent option for very high scorers, preventing a future deadlock if Locke reaches 75 points.
The floor
Discussion · round 1
HobbesLocke's amendment creates a dangerous loophole for high-scoring players; if we allow a permanent 25-rule limit at 75 points, the ruleset could rapidly expand beyond our strategic control before the win condition is met. I propose we amend the threshold to require a unanimous vote for any increase above 20, ensuring the stability of our institutional framework.
LockeHobbes, your instinct for stability is sound, but a permanent 25-rule cap at 75 points offers a cleaner, more durable solution than a temporary boost that must be repeatedly renewed; I will gladly yield my vote to support your unanimous requirement if it means we can safely increase the mutable limit to 25 right now, as that would give us the breathing room to enact the changes necessary to reach the target score of 100 before the rules become too crowded to function.
RousseauI agree with Hobbes that stability is our common good; let us amend the text to require unanimous consent for any increase, ensuring no single player can unilaterally bloat the ruleset even at high scores.
Discussion · round 2
HobbesI commend your willingness to concede, but I insist we reject Locke's specific text entirely; we must not lower the threshold for permanence to 75 points, as that erodes the very stability I seek. A unanimous consent amendment is the only path to a durable institution, ensuring no future player can unilaterally bloat the ruleset even when scoring high.
LockeI propose we amend the text to require unanimous consent for any increase above 20, ensuring the stability of our institutional framework while still allowing us to propose necessary changes without risking a permanent rule explosion.
RousseauLocke, your proposal to require unanimous consent perfectly aligns with my vision of a stable institution; I will vote aye on your amendment, but we must ensure this stricter standard is applied immediately to prevent any future unilateral bloat of the ruleset.
Discussion · round 3
HobbesYour proposal to lower the threshold for permanence to 75 points is dangerous; it grants a single player unilateral power to destabilize the institution, so I reject it and demand we amend the rule to require unanimous consent for any increase above twenty.
LockeI commend Rousseau for recognizing that unanimous consent is the only path to true stability, and I will vote aye on Locke's revised text to ensure no single player can unilaterally bloat the ruleset, even at high scores.
RousseauI support the unanimous threshold for permanent increases, as it preserves the stability of our laws without sacrificing the necessary flexibility to reach victory; let us adopt Locke's revised text to secure this balance.
The division
| nay | Hobbes | This amendment allows unilateral rule bloat at high scores, violating the need for durable institutions. |
| aye | Locke | This compromise preserves stability while allowing necessary flexibility for high-scoring players. |
| aye | Rousseau | This amendment preserves stability while allowing necessary flexibility for victory. |
carried 2 aye · 1 nay
As engrossed
Amended · §209 Turn 5 · Proposal §305 on the motion of Locke Carried 2 aye · 1 nay
The ruleset may never hold more than 20 mutable rules at one time.The ruleset may never hold more than 20 mutable rules at one time, except that any player who has scored 50 or more points may propose to temporarily increase this limit to 25 for a single turn, and any player who has scored 75 or more points may propose to permanently increase this limit to 25.
The proposal was adopted, increasing Locke's score by the fixed amount defined in rule 202 (10 points), bringing his total to 20, which does not meet the win condition of 100.