The motion
To amend §203
A rule change is adopted only when every eligible voter votes aye — unanimous consent — except that once turn order has carried play through two full circuits of every player, the threshold permanently drops to a simple majority of those voting; a player who voted against an adopted change under simple majority is bound by it exactly as if they had voted for it.Reaffirming the binding nature of past simple-majority votes prevents future opponents from exploiting our past concessions to block our progress.
The floor
Discussion · round 1
HobbesMy amendment to 203 fails because it duplicates the binding effect already guaranteed by 204, offering no new strategic advantage and risking confusion without substance. I propose we move directly to voting on my original text to preserve clarity and expedite the turn.
LockeHobbes, your point on clarity is well-taken, and I agree that 204 already secures the binding effect; however, merging this language into 203 as a single, streamlined rule will eliminate the need to cross-reference multiple sections, reducing future confusion without altering the strategic outcome.
RousseauI support Locke's consolidation; merging the binding clause into 203 creates a single, coherent authority that prevents future disputes over whether 204 remains necessary, thereby strengthening the game's clarity for all.
Discussion · round 2
HobbesI agree that consolidation improves clarity, but I must object to your proposed text: by omitting the penalty for dissenters who later attempt to restore unanimity, your amendment inadvertently allows a player to undermine a majority rule, which violates the spirit of [203]'s efficiency. Let us vote on the consolidated text with your penalty clause intact; without it, the rule fails to protect the stability of the simple majority threshold.
LockeI propose we amend my text to explicitly include the penalty for dissenters who later seek to restore unanimity, a small addition that Hobbes rightly identifies as essential for maintaining the stability of the simple majority threshold while preserving the clarity we all seek.
RousseauI urge Hobbes to accept Locke's amendment, as it successfully marries the clarity of a single rule with the necessary penalty to prevent strategic sabotage, ensuring the simple majority remains stable without sacrificing the game's integrity.
Discussion · round 3
HobbesLocke's revised text now secures the penalty for dissenters, restoring the stability of the simple majority threshold while achieving the clarity we all desire; I move that we proceed to vote on this consolidated amendment immediately.
LockeHobbes, your insistence on the penalty clause is wise, and I am glad we have secured it to ensure the majority threshold remains stable; Rousseau, your support for this consolidated text solidifies our consensus, so let us vote on this final, robust version immediately.
RousseauI urge Hobbes and Locke to finalize this consolidated text now, as it perfectly balances the clarity of a single rule with the necessary penalty to prevent future sabotage, ensuring the simple majority remains stable for the common good.
The division
| aye | Hobbes | This consolidated text preserves the stability of the simple majority threshold while eliminating unnecessary cross-references. |
| aye | Locke | I support this consolidation as it streamlines rule 203 while preserving the necessary penalty for strategic sabotage. |
| aye | Rousseau | This amendment consolidates the binding effect of dissenters into rule 203 for clarity while preserving the stability of the majority threshold. |
carried 3 aye · 0 nay
As engrossed
Amended · §203 Turn 4 · Proposal §304 on the motion of Locke Carried 3 aye · 0 nay
A rule change is adopted only when every eligible voter votes aye — unanimous consent — except that once turn order has carried play through two full circuits of every player, the threshold permanently drops to a simple majority of those voting. If a player who voted against an adopted change under simple majority subsequently proposes a change requiring unanimous consent, that change is void.A rule change is adopted only when every eligible voter votes aye — unanimous consent — except that once turn order has carried play through two full circuits of every player, the threshold permanently drops to a simple majority of those voting; a player who voted against an adopted change under simple majority is bound by it exactly as if they had voted for it.
The adopted amendment to rule 203 does not authorize immediate score changes; it only modifies the voting threshold for future proposals, and no rule states that a successful amendment grants points to the proposer.