Merge pull request 'Update README.md' (#12) from kingtyler1-patch-1 into main

Reviewed-on: #12

2025/AMEND-2025-4: Proposal to Eliminate Compulsory Voting.md

@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-Title: Proposal to Eliminate Compulsory Voting  
-Amendment Number: AMEND-2025-4  
-Author: HM King Tyler I  
-Sponsors:  
-Enacted By: Parliament  
-Date Ratified: TBD  
-NAD Date: TBD  
-Status: Proposed 
-
-#### **A Bill to Amend the New Athens Constitution to Eliminate Compulsory Voting**
-
-#### **Purpose:**
-
-To affirm that voting in elections and on legislation within the Free Nation of New Athens is a civic right, not a legal obligation, by removing compulsory voting language from the Constitution.
-
-#### **Section 1: Findings and Justification**
-
-1.1 Participation in elections and legislative decisions is a fundamental democratic right, but it must remain voluntary to be meaningful and inclusive.
-
-1.2 The current constitutional requirement that citizens must vote in all elections for office is unrealistic and burdensome, particularly for those who may be disinterested, unavailable, or otherwise unable to participate at the time of voting.
-
-1.3 A system that respects the right to abstain encourages more thoughtful and intentional participation, rather than compliance driven by obligation.
-
-1.4 Voluntary voting upholds personal liberty while preserving the legitimacy of democratic outcomes, as those who choose to vote do so with purpose and awareness.
-
-1.5 The removal of mandatory voting provisions ensures that citizens retain autonomy over their level of political engagement without fear of violating the Constitution.
-
-1.6 This amendment modernizes the nation's civic expectations, aligning its democratic values with principles of freedom, accessibility, and respect for individual choice.
-
-#### **Section 2: Amendments to the Constitution**
-
-**Article XV of the Constitution of the Free Nation of New Athens shall be amended to remove the following statement:**
-
-1. "Citizens may not abstain from voting in elections for office."
-
-#### **Section 3: Limitations and Clarifications**
-
-3.1 None
-
-#### **Section 4: Effective Date**
-
-This amendment shall take effect immediately upon passage in accordance with Article XV of the Constitution.

Constitution of the Free Nation of New Athens.md

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ This document is certified through the signature of the founding citizens below.
 
 1. The Speaker of the People will oversee all legislative meetings.
 2. All legislative meetings are public to all citizens.
-3. All parliamentary procedure will proceed in keeping with Robert’s Rules of Order. \[See **Article XV \[VI\]\]**
+3. All parliamentary procedure will proceed in keeping with Robert's Rules of Order. \[See **Article XV \[VI\]\]**
 4. All citizens of the Free Nation of New Athens may attend legislative meetings and maintain full voting powers.
 5. All citizens of the Free Nation of New Athens may propose legislation to be discussed, voted on, or both.
 6. All voting must proceed in keeping with Article XV.
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ This document is certified through the signature of the founding citizens below.
 
 **Article XV: Voting Procedure**
 
-1. Parliamentary voting of any kind must be overseen by the Speaker of the People and in keeping with Robert’s Rules of Order to be valid. \[II\]\[VI\]
+1. Parliamentary voting of any kind must be overseen by the Speaker of the People and in keeping with Robert's Rules of Order to be valid. \[II\]\[VI\]
 2. Only citizens of the Free Nation of New Athens may vote.
 3. For a vote to take place, quorum must be met.\[VI\]
     1. Quorum is defined as the minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid.
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ This document is certified through the signature of the founding citizens below.
 3. Citizens who are unable to attend a scheduled parliamentary vote may submit an absentee vote to the Speaker of the People or presiding speaker that includes their vote regarding the matters to be voted on in the scheduled parliamentary meeting.
 4. Absentee voters will be counted as present for quorum of that vote.
 5. An absentee vote must be submitted before the conclusion of the vote to be valid.
-6. Parliamentary meetings and business may take place virtually. If a parliamentary meeting or parliamentary business is taking place virtually, deciding whether or not to adhere to Robert’s Rules of Order will be decided by the presiding Speaker of the People. If a parliamentary meeting or parliamentary business is taking place virtually, quorum does not have to be met, but all citizens must be given reasonable notice of when and where the meeting or business will take place.
+6. Parliamentary meetings and business may take place virtually. If a parliamentary meeting or parliamentary business is taking place virtually, deciding whether or not to adhere to Robert's Rules of Order will be decided by the presiding Speaker of the People. If a parliamentary meeting or parliamentary business is taking place virtually, quorum does not have to be met, but all citizens must be given reasonable notice of when and where the meeting or business will take place.
 7. To satisfy quorum in all voting procedures in the Free Nation of New Athens, greater than half of all citizens must be present.
 
 **Article XVI: Honorary Titles**

README.md

@@ -38,15 +38,15 @@ Where:
 
 Each file contains a single constitutional amendment or addition and includes the following metadata:
 
-```markdown
+<pre>---
-Title: [Amendment Title]  
+Title: [Full Title of the Act]  
-Amendment Number: AMEND-YYYY-XX    
+Amendment Number: AMEND-YYYY-X  
-Enacted By: Parliament  
+Sponsor: [Title and Name]  
-Ratified By: Reigning Monarch
+Cosponsors: [Title and Name(s)]  
+Enacted Through: Parliament  
 Date Ratified: [Gregorian Date]  
 NAD Date: [New Athenian Date]  
-Status: [Active / Repealed]
+---</pre>
-```
 
 The body of each file contains the full text of the amendment, along with a summary and any explanatory notes if applicable.