Senate End-of-Term Satisfaction Poll [September 2024]
Results and Analysis
Written by Vor
Edited by Sincluda and SkyGreen
Introduction (stolen from @Sincluda, thank you!):
This analysis uses net approval, calculated using the following method: “Don’t know” answers are factored out, “satisfied” answers add points, “dissatisfied” answers subtract points. “Very dis/satisfied” answers are counted the same as normal “dis/satisfied”. “Net approval” is therefore lower than traditional approval ratings, though you can view these for yourself in the charts.
Representativeness:
The last Senate election had 53 voters, while the election for the Senate discussed in this poll had 59 voters. This poll got responses from 24 Europeian citizens. That means that this sample represents 41-45% of the Senate voter base. The EBC therefore warns all readers that due to the use of voluntary response sampling, this poll could have relatively low representativeness, and actual voter base opinion could significantly differ from this overview. A qualitative analysis is advised.
Overall Senate Satisfaction: +57% net approval
- It was quite active especially with esa
- Some interesting ideas again (and the EBC is making sure the public knows about it this time).
- I don't really understand the point of a lot of the legislation that was discussed.
- Didn’t view what they did that much.
- It was gud
- I came in at the end of this. I read through the information and it all looked good, just didn't get to experience first hand.
The 95th senate scores a 57% net approval rating. This is a 5% decrease from last term's polling result of 60%. Comments are generally positive, praising activity and interesting ideas.
Speaker @Rand: +80% net approval
- Rand did an amazing job as Speaker.
- I came in at the end of this. I read through the information and it all looked good, just didn't get to experience first hand.
Rand scores an 80% net approval in this poll. No comments of substance are offered. Rand proposed a rewrite of the Elections Act this past term, and presided over about 7 different bills being discussed as Speaker. The Europeian Senate Speaker is responsible for administrative duties as well as enforcing proper decorum and protocol. The previous Senate Speaker Cordova I, had received +20% net approval last term. Please note that in this poll Speakers are evaluated by their execution of Speaker duties as well as their normal conduct and activity as a Senator, meaning a high or low approval rating can remain especially ambiguous as to the causes without elaboration by comments.
Senator @Cordova I: +68% net approval
- The senator proposed an amendment that started lots of activity
- I like how Cordova doesn't necessarily go with the status quo. I wasn't in agreement with a lot of his ideas, but I appreciate his perspectives and am very happy to see him continue in the Senate.
- Cordova like Rand did an amazing job. Sometimes it does feel like Cordova just agrees with people rather than give his own answers
- I came in at the end of this. I read through the information and it all looked good, just didn't get to experience first hand.
Cordova I receives 68% approval for his performance, up from 20% last term, an increase of 240%. Comments are mixed but generally positive, noting the increased activity by the Empowering the Speakership Amendment (ESA) which Cordova proposed and his willingness to deviate from the status quo. Another comment states the opposite, claiming that while Cordova did "an amazing job", he seems to sometimes agree with other people instead of offering his own input. After passing the Senate unanimously, President UPC vetoed the ESA.
Senator @Sopo: +73% net approval
- Sopo did an amazing job when he was more active. But later in the term, his activity went down due to irl stuff.
- I came in at the end of this. I read through the information and it all looked good, just didn't get to experience first hand.
Sopo achieves his 73% approval rating without any dissatisfied votes. The only substantial comment notes that Sopo's activity trailed later on in the term, while he did "an amazing job when he was more active." During his term, Sopo proposed the Senate Substitute Reform Act (2024) and the People's Assembly Referenda Act (2024), the former of which passed the Senate.
Senator @Eldorin: -10% net approval
- Very disappointing for first term senator. No legislation proposed and became very inactive.
- When I voted for Eldorin, I expected them to be active and have some ideas but during their term, they had no ideas and barely any activity. Would not vote them back in the senate without them being active.
- Who is that?
- I came in at the end of this. I read through the information and it all looked good, just didn't get to experience first hand.
Eldorin has the lowest net approval of any senator, being the only Senator to incur a negative rating, albeit at a small -10%. Comments describe Eldorin's perceived inactivity and lack of ideas and proposals for the Senate. Eldorin made approximately 20 posts of substance (posts that are not votes, statements of intention to vote, or "satisfied to move on" posts), offering most (but not all) of his contributions during Minister confirmation, PAC Senate Contributions Act, and the ESA.
Senator @Calvin Coolidge: +60% net approval
- Calvin did an amazing job as a Senator. Would vote for him again.
Calvin gathers his 60% net approval rating with only one dissatisfied vote. No substantial comments are offered. Calvin proposed the Unrestricted Branch Leadership Act (2024), which was tabled, as well as the Abolishment of the Circuit Court, which is still being handled by the Senate.
Issues:
This poll took 7 of the discussions from the back half of the term and asked citizens their opinions on how the 95th Senate handled them.
Empowering the Speakership Amendment (2024): -10% net approval
- Never really was given a clear understanding of how it was going to accomplish what it was supposedly passed for. Didn't get it.
- The Speaker as it is, currently does enough and I do not think it should be given more power.
Poll respondents are generally not very happy on the Senate's handling of the ESA, which passed the body unanimously. Two comments both express their dislike for the bill itself, saying that its intended benefit was never properly clarified, and that the Speaker should not be given more power. President UPC vetoed the ESA on recommendation of the Attorney General (linked in the same thread). You can read more about the ESA in our EBC release on the matter.
Elections Act (2024): +14% net approval
- They're extensive changes, I'm not too sure I'm fully on board with approval voting, but I am willing to try it out
- I have read much about this act but I will soon!
While managing a slight positive in approval rating, the poll opinion is rather ambiguous on the Senate's handling of the Elections Act proposal, which would introduce approval voting to Europeian elections. 50% of respondents voted 'Neutral' on this subject. More polling might be necessary to review the current Europeian opinion on approval voting, but what is clear is that Europeians generally do not take major issues with how the Senate has handled the bill.
PAC Senate Contributions Act, People's Assembly Referenda Act: +18% net approval
- Still not convinced the PA is beneficial, but I welcome the attempt to change it and see what happens
- Abolish the PA
PA reforms find only slight approval among the citizenry. The PAC proposal successfully expanded the Chair's powers to allow posting in the Senate, while the Referenda Act would put the responsibility for the administration of public referenda with the PA Chair and hosted in the PA subforums. The latter bill was eventually tabled by motion of the proposer, Sopo.
Unrestricted Branch Leadership Act (2024): +40% net approval
- I'm glad it got tabled, I prefer the restrictions being in place
- Did not agree with it at all. These restrictions are to prevent some bias and more and removing this just did not make much sense to me.
The UBLA was eventually tabled by the Senate. Judging by the 40% approval rate, this seems to have been to the satisfaction of most respondents. Comments agree with that assessment, indicating their preference for restrictions for multiple branch leadership to remain in place.
Abolishment of the Circuit Court: +43% net approval
- Glad to see it on the floor, sad to see it hasn't passed yet
- Looking over this, not very inclined to get rid of it but I have only been a senator for less than a week.
The abolishment of the Circuit Court, proposed by Calvin Coolidge, is still in its First Reading. It seems to find a high degree of approval among poll respondents, with a net approval rating of 43%. There were 3 dissatsified votes and 6 neutral votes cast for the Senate's handling of this bill so far. One comment is supportive of the bill, but disappointed by the low speed of handling by the Senate, while the other comment is supposedly of an anonymous current Senator who seems to want the Circuit Court to remain an institution. While no longer a Senator, Calvin has been invited to further contribute to the discussion with the new slate of Senators. You can read more about this proposal in the previous general election IFV.
@Maowi IRC Nomination: +55% net approval
- Felt like it was forgotten for a while.
- It was a little odd that Maowi went on LoA halfway through the nomination, but I appreciated that the Senate were understanding. In a time with a more active IRC, that might be a different story though.
- :-D
Maowi has been confirmed to represent Europeia in the Inter-Regional Chat. The IRC, which sought to facilitate community and conversation between chiefly Independent regions as an alternative to the NationStates GamePlay Discord server, can mostly be described as a failure. Asked by Senator Sopo on the state of the IRC, Maowi responds: "It currently sees sporadic activity at best; overall I think it would be fair to describe it as dormant. I would not say it is providing us much utility for the moment, except that any plans with it going forward can be enacted with minimal delay or start-up effort since the structures are already in place." A Europeian poll from October 2021 had 64% of 39 citizens opine the project as unsuccessful. Poll respondents do seem to support Maowi's renomination to represent the Republic in the IRC, as the Senate's handling of the confirmation grants them a 55% net approval rating.
@JayDee Associate Justice nomination: +82% net approval
- Honestly they have earned them that position. Does worry me that the Minister of Radio is also a justice.
JayDee has been confirmed as Associate Justice to serve for another term. He scores an 82% approval rating among poll respondents, with zero dissatisfied votes.
Who would you encourage to stand in future Senate elections?
- Cyborg, August, andy, Vor
- Cyborg should definitly run again soon. He has a bright future ahead.
- Industhan
- Vorhollah
- Prov, bestinor, vor, Calvin, Lloen, caladrasa.
- Cordova I
