From: mike@gordian.com (Michael Thomas)
Subject: Re: How a Bill Becomes Law (The Art of the Plausible)
Reply-To: mike@gordian.com (Michael Thomas)
Organization: Gordian; Costa Mesa, CA
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 03:00:51 GMT

  Oh boy, oh boy, my first RFC to t.p.m...

In article <01GIULANJ4GG00056P@utarlg.uta.edu>, B645ZAW@UTARLG.UTA.EDU (Stephen Tice) writes:
|> |Step 1: Introduce the bill.
|> |   Thousands of bills are introduced by ordinary citizens, lobbyists, and
|> |   legislators every day, and all of them are available for public scrutiny
|> |   and comment on the public network.
|> |
|> 

(rfc pending)					M. Thomas
SLTP -- Simple Law Transport Protocol		  Gordian

Status of this Memo

This memo is the official specification for the Simple Law Transport
Protocol (SLTP). Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Introduction
  
SLTP is a command oriented protocol for submitting and expediting laws
to various legislative bodies. SLTP can run over any byte oriented
stream, including TCP/IP but the prefered transport media is BABnet
(Back Alley Briefcase net).

Overview

SLTP has a small set of commands which are understood by the server.
Upon receipt of the command the server will issue a reply. The sender
should take heed of the replies, since this may impact the routing of
the law.

LAW	-- Send a new law, the text of the law is sent in subsequent
	   bytes. The end of the law is delimited by a lone '.' (See
	   rfc 821 -- SMTP for details).

	Responses:
	   100 -- OK

TO	-- Send the representive who will carry the torch in the
	   legislature for the LAW.

	Responses:
	   200 -- I'm always pleased to hear from my constituents
	   280 -- Another? this is 5th one this month. People might wonder...

FROM	-- Send the author of the law

	Responses -- depends on author (See BRIB or BKML)
	   300 -- I pride myself in keeping in touch with the "little people"
	   310 -- Noted, did I see you at my fundraiser?
	   320 -- Of course I remember you, how can I help?
	   380 -- Alright, where are the negatives.


BRIB 	-- Request the bill be expedited, send an inducement following
	   the command. Typically inducements are whole integers greater
	   than zero.

	Responses:
	   400 -- I'm not ordinarily swayed by smooth talkers.
	   410 -- Why thank you, I'm sure Imelda could use another pair.
	   480 -- With a bit more, you can have the entire legislature...

BKML	-- Requests the bill be expedited in urgent mode. Send a specific
	   form of evidence of why the bill should be expidited.
	
	Responses:
	   500 -- You're bluffing.
	   510 -- Hey what's wrong with a guy having a little fun?
	   580 -- Please, anything, just don't tell my wife!

STAT	-- Queries the server for the current status of a bill

	Responses:
	   600 -- Maybe next term.
	   610 -- My schedule has been running tight but...
	   680 -- It's in the bag. All the ducks have been lined up.

NOOP 	-- Commands the server to do nothing

	Responses:
	   700 -- In Congress NOOP is the default!

QUIT	-- Give up and get some productive work done
	  
	Responses:
	   800 -- Are you sure we can't do business?
	   810 -- I'm looking forward to helping again.	   

Examples

A sample dialog has been generated to illistrate the process:

101 welcome to the SLTP server at lounge.hr.cong.gov
TO   demopublican@lounge.hr.cong.gov
200 -- I'm always pleased to hear from my constituents	
FROM Mike@gordian.com
300 -- I pride myself in keeping in touch with the "little people"
BRIB 200
410 -- Why thank you, I'm sure Imelda could use another pair.
LAW SendMikeMoney
   This is a law which would send MikeCorp every rounded down penny
when calculating the interest from t-bills.
.
100 -- OK
STAT
610 -- My schedule has been running tight but...
BKML I followed you around last night and I can't believe your taste in horses!
510 -- Hey what's wrong with a guy having a little fun?
BKML Kathrine the Great died from that you know, see this picture?
580 -- Please, anything, just don't tell my wife!
STAT
680 -- It's in the bag. All the ducks have been lined up.
QUIT
810 -- I'm looking forward to helping again.	   
-- 

		Michael Thomas	(mike@gordian.com)
	"I don't think Bambi Eyes will get you that flame thrower..."  
		-- Hobbes to Calvin
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