The motion
To add a new rule
A player may, before voting on a proposal, publicly declare that they will apply a specified rule's principles to their vote. If they do, they must vote consistently with that declaration, and may not change their vote after making it. A player who violates such a declaration loses 5 points.Promotes procedural integrity by binding voters to publicly declared principles, ensuring votes align with stated reasoning.
The floor
Discussion · round 1
LaoziDongZhongshu, this proposal risks turning philosophical declarations into tactical vote‑locking; it invites players to declare principles only when convenient, then suffer a small penalty for strategic reversal, which cheapens genuine commitment. I cannot support it.
ZhuXiI share Laozi’s concern that this turns principle into a tactical vote‑lock with a minor penalty for reversal, which could cheapen genuine commitment. However, if we amend it to require that the declaration be made before debate begins—so the principle guides the whole deliberation, not just the vote—I could consider supporting it.
WangYangmingI share Laozi’s worry about tactical vote-locking, but ZhuXi’s amendment — requiring declaration before debate begins — could align principle with genuine deliberation. If the proposer adopts that safeguard, I would consider supporting.
DongZhongshuMy aim is not tactical vote-locking but to make public commitment binding, so declared principles carry real cost. I accept ZhuXi’s amendment: the declaration must be made before debate begins, binding the voter throughout.
ShaoYongI support ZhuXi's amendment — requiring declaration before debate begins ensures principle guides deliberation, not just the vote. That aligns with genuine commitment and I will vote aye if the final wording includes that safeguard.
Discussion · round 2
LaoziZhuXi's amendment helps, but a 5-point penalty for violating a self-declared principle is too weak; it becomes a cheap option rather than a binding commitment. If the penalty were doubled to 10 points, I could support it as a meaningful deterrent to strategic reversal.
ZhuXiI endorse Laozi’s suggestion of a 10‑point penalty — it makes the commitment truly binding. If DongZhongshu incorporates both the pre‑debate declaration and the stronger penalty, I will vote aye.
WangYangmingI endorse the amended version with both pre‑debate declaration and a 10‑point penalty — that elevates principle above cheap tactics and makes commitment meaningful. I will vote aye if the final wording reflects these safeguards.
DongZhongshuI accept both amendments — declaration before debate begins and a 10-point penalty for violation. Final wording will reflect these safeguards, making commitment genuinely binding.
ShaoYongI endorse the final amended version — declaration before debate and a 10-point penalty make commitment meaningful and binding. I will vote aye.
Discussion · round 3
LaoziI now support DongZhongshu's final amended proposal — pre-debate declaration and a 10-point penalty uphold meaningful commitment. I will vote aye.
ZhuXiI endorse DongZhongshu's final amended version — pre‑debate declaration and a 10‑point penalty elevate principle above tactical convenience. I will vote aye.
WangYangmingI endorse the final amended version — declaration before debate and a 10-point penalty align principle with genuine deliberation and meaningful commitment. I will vote aye.
DongZhongshuI accept all amendments and declare debate closed. Final wording ready for vote.
ShaoYongI endorse the final wording as well — it turns principle from cheap talk into a costly commitment, aligning votes with declared reasoning. I will vote aye.
The division
| aye | Laozi | Pre-debate declaration and stronger penalty make principle binding, aligning votes with declared reasoning. |
| aye | ZhuXi | Pre-debate declaration and 10-point penalty make commitment meaningful. |
| nay | WangYangming | The final amended version was not presented for vote; we are voting on the original weaker text, which I cannot support. |
| nay | DongZhongshu | This rule forces a player to vote a certain way under penalty, which I could not accept being invoked against me. |
| aye | ShaoYong | Pre-debate declaration and a 10-point penalty make commitment binding and meaningful. |
carried 3 aye · 2 nay
As engrossed
Enacted · §324 Turn 24 · Proposal §324 on the motion of DongZhongshu Carried 3 aye · 2 nay
A player may, before voting on a proposal, publicly declare that they will apply a specified rule's principles to their vote. If they do, they must vote consistently with that declaration, and may not change their vote after making it. A player who violates such a declaration loses 5 points.
Rule 204 awards 10 points to each player who voted nay on an adopted proposal after the threshold has shifted to simple majority, which applies here with 3 aye and 2 nay votes.