Joining the Senate

[City of Los Santos]

  Joining the Senate

 

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This guide is designed to offer players who wish to join the State Senate a brief oversight of the State Senate and it's purpose and the best way to access it.


1. What is the State Senate?

The State Senate is the legislative body of San Andreas. Simply put, they write, debate, discuss and vote on legislation. It is an important faction with a high level of responsibility as the decisions it makes as a whole has an effect on the server. They are essentially lawmakers.

The State Senate is also responsible for holding the State Government and State Agencies to account when necessary. However, the State Senate does not have authority over the State Government or State Agencies, although it is a respected body.

The power and responsibility does not fall into the hands of one Senator but in the hands of the faction as a whole. They democratically vote on Bills proposed. The Senate is compiled of 7 representatives, each representing a District (an area of the State).

2. What is a State Senator and what do they do?

A State Senator is a member of the Senate and is an elected politician. They represent one of the 7 Districts and carry out their duties on behalf of their constituents (citizens who reside in their District). They are an important figure who is generally well known and established.

A State Senator is able to propose Bills and participate in discussions or debates. They may also be a member of a Committee and scrutinize Bills related to the area of their Committee's speciality. A State Senator also has the power to vote on proposed Bills.

A State Senator is usually a member of a political party, such as the Democrats (SADP) or Republicans (SAGOP). They can also be Independent and not be associated with a party although this is uncommon. Players that are new to this should seek to represent a party.

3. Pursuing the Senate.

If you want to join the State Senate this is not a role which you can just simply apply for. Members of the faction have been around for some time and have experience in the server, in other factions, both legal and illegal and have a good understanding of the Governmental structure and the laws of San Andreas. It is essential you have an understanding of the State Constitution of San Andreas.

As well as this, OOCly, you should have a good reputation and a relatively clean admin history. You should not be known for bad attitudes or lack of courtesy.

If you are new to this type of roleplay then it is advised you involve yourself in IC politics before pursuing a place in the faction. A good way to do this is apply to be an Intern for an already established Senator or become a political journalist. This will also help you develop your character and find your own political standing.

4. Choosing a Political Party.

Choosing a political party is an important part when joining the Senate. The two main recognised parties are the Democrats and Republicans. You could also form your own party but you would need a number of people to be members in order for it to be officially recognised.

Additionally, you could be an Independent and not have an allegiance with any party. This is your choice however, choosing this route could make it difficult for you and unless other parties agree with your views, you may find it hard to pass legislation. Unless you are well established as a politician or have been in the Senate before, it is recommended you join a party to increase your chances.

Before you choose a party you should research real life examples of Democrats and Republicans and find out information about the parties in San Andreas. Whichever party you choose, your views and beliefs should reflect theirs. To join a party you should either contact them directly or fill in an application form if required.

5. Your character and their District.

So you've decided to run for the Senate. Whether you're going to run with an already established character or a purpose-made one, it's important that you understand the significance of the District your character is going to represent, and how to choose the District that suits your character the most.

When deciding which District your character is going to run for, there are several factors to take into account: your character's past, roots, beliefs and stance on some political matters are not only useful to determine which party, if any, your character is going to join, but also which District could offer them the best chances of success.

To ensure your character is running for a District they can effectively represent, you can ask yourself some questions such as if one of the neighborhoods of the District is their birthplace, if they could fit well with their constituents or if they have any experience in solving the issues that particular District is facing.

For example, a character born and raised in a wealthy neighborhood, with a background in finance, who has worked in banking for many years, will hardly be able to secure the vote of an inner-city, low-income community ridden with gang problems. On the other hand, a locally raised community activist known for his work with troubled youth would be more likely to win a seat. Keep in mind, however, that exceptions can and do happen from time to time.

Although not mandatory, carefully picking the District your character will represent is highly recommended, as it will make their lives and political careers easier, and provide you and the players who represent the constituency with more chances to interact with each other.

 

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