Basis
Everyone is familiar with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the brave men who founded this nation and brought forth the Constitution as the ruling document which constrains government. However where did they get the ideas? You might recall that England was where our founding fathers were from, and as such so are the ideas from which our government came into being. Many of the freedoms we have enjoyed as Americans can be traced back to the two individuals for which are the foundation of the Locke & Smith award.
John Locke is widely viewed as the father of liberalism in the purest form of the word, as he wrote of liberty and social contracts of and for the individual. John Locke believed the ownership of property is created by the application of labor and that property rights precede government. Locke’s teachings and writings of natural law gives credence to the Constitution statement to the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Much of our economy can be traced backed to Locke’s concepts known as supply and demand; he also brought forth the concept known as the rights of the individual.
Adam Smith is widely viewed as the father of modern day economics. Early in his teaching career Smith gave lectures, which met with much success, on the concepts of the obvious and simple system of natural liberty. As a believer in free markets and the individual, Smith’s views on limited government intervention was practiced in this nation up until about 1913, where history will show the growth of the federal government expanded beyond the realm of the rights of the individual. Smith believed governments were instrumental in prohibiting the free exercise of coercion, fraud, and deceit, thusly making minimal laws to correct those actions from which people expect government to protect them from.
It is the concepts of John Locke and Adam Smith that all passed legislation has been thoroughly researched, reviewed and graded by the legislative committee. Attention to detail was not overlooked as these have been reviewed for content, impact on economic circumstances of the individual and the governments (local, state, and federal), and lastly an increase or decrease in the size, scope, and power of government.
A point total was assigned on voting records, sponsoring, and co-sponsoring with the accumulation of points solely being based on voting records. All point totals assigned to sponsoring and co-sponsoring are simply to be used in any tie breaking scenarios. Since being present is required in order to cast a vote in favor of or opposition to a piece of legislation, an accumulative point total has also been attached to whether a representative was absent from their duties or if they were absent with a valid reason not to be in attendance. Since being a representative of the people is a chosen career field you are answerable to the people, and unexcused absents will be scored more harshly than those who followed the guidelines of the legislature to report the absence.
One point is awarded towards a vote in the affirmative on good legislation, whereas one point will be deducted for a no vote on legislation of the same.
One point will be deducted towards a vote in the affirmative on bad legislation, whereas one point award for a no vote on legislation of the same
An excused absence (absent with leave) will be scored with zero points. Whereas reporting for work should be your priority, a deduction of two points will occur for any absence (unexcused as per daily journals). Voting present or abstain will result in the same deduction of two points as this shows a lack of being able to take a stand on the legislation.
This is the basis for the accumulative point scoring system to the awarding of the Locke and Smith.
In case of a tie breaking scenario all good sponsored legislation is awarded 5 points and co-sponsoring equates to 4 points. Sponsoring bad legislation is a deduction of 5 points and co-sponsoring is a deduction of 4 points. Sponsoring or co-sponsoring no legislation accumulates no points.
The maximum amount of points will be determined by how many pieces of legislation are approved by the state legislature and senate. The governor is also eligible for this award and that position will be combined with the senate.
Every member of the legislature will be eligible to receive this award with one each being awarded to the point total champion in the senate and the house.
