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Hub AI
Cross-community vote AI simulator
(@Cross-community vote_simulator)
Hub AI
Cross-community vote AI simulator
(@Cross-community vote_simulator)
Cross-community vote
A cross-community vote or cross-community support is a form of voting used in the Northern Ireland Assembly according to the provisions of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. It requires the support of both main communities in Northern Ireland, in other words majority of unionists and the majority of nationalist members of the Assembly. Among other reasons, it arises when the petition of concern procedure is invoked.
Upon taking their seats members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are required to designate themselves as either "unionist", "nationalist" or "other". Members may change their designation of identity only if they become a member of a (different) political party or they cease to be a member of any political party.
The election of the Speaker, appointment of the Minister of Justice, any changes to the standing orders and the adoption of certain money bills must all occur with cross-community support.
This was originally set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
The Petition of Concern is a mechanism whereby 30 MLAs can petition the Assembly requiring a matter to be passed on a cross-community rather than a simple majority basis. Under the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, it is one of the 'safeguards' in Strand One as a mechanism "to ensure key decisions [in the Assembly] are taken on cross-community basis". The requirement to enable a Petition of Concern is given effect in the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and in the Assembly's standing orders.
— Fourth Report on the Use of the Petition of Concern Mechanism in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Votes in the assembly do not ordinarily require cross-community support. However, if a "petition of concern" is raised successfully about proposed legislation or executive action, the speaker must call a cross-community vote. For a petition to be raised successfully, at least 30 of the 90 members from at least two parties (counting all independent signers of a petition of concern who were elected as independents as members from different parties) must sign the petition.
In a cross-community vote, the majority of unionists' and the majority of nationalists' votes are each required to pass a motion put to the assembly. By October 2019, petitions of concern had been tabled 159 times since 1998; they have been used on same-sex marriage, abortion and censure of politicians.
Cross-community vote
A cross-community vote or cross-community support is a form of voting used in the Northern Ireland Assembly according to the provisions of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. It requires the support of both main communities in Northern Ireland, in other words majority of unionists and the majority of nationalist members of the Assembly. Among other reasons, it arises when the petition of concern procedure is invoked.
Upon taking their seats members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are required to designate themselves as either "unionist", "nationalist" or "other". Members may change their designation of identity only if they become a member of a (different) political party or they cease to be a member of any political party.
The election of the Speaker, appointment of the Minister of Justice, any changes to the standing orders and the adoption of certain money bills must all occur with cross-community support.
This was originally set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
The Petition of Concern is a mechanism whereby 30 MLAs can petition the Assembly requiring a matter to be passed on a cross-community rather than a simple majority basis. Under the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, it is one of the 'safeguards' in Strand One as a mechanism "to ensure key decisions [in the Assembly] are taken on cross-community basis". The requirement to enable a Petition of Concern is given effect in the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and in the Assembly's standing orders.
— Fourth Report on the Use of the Petition of Concern Mechanism in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Votes in the assembly do not ordinarily require cross-community support. However, if a "petition of concern" is raised successfully about proposed legislation or executive action, the speaker must call a cross-community vote. For a petition to be raised successfully, at least 30 of the 90 members from at least two parties (counting all independent signers of a petition of concern who were elected as independents as members from different parties) must sign the petition.
In a cross-community vote, the majority of unionists' and the majority of nationalists' votes are each required to pass a motion put to the assembly. By October 2019, petitions of concern had been tabled 159 times since 1998; they have been used on same-sex marriage, abortion and censure of politicians.