B U
L L
Y
P U L
P I
T
A d r i n k i n g g a m e o f r e a l p o l i t i k
by
the Founding Fathers: Steve Russell, Michael McSwain, Justin Rodermond,
Alex
Clarke, Candice Woodcock, Ryan Glover, Jay Luckhardt, and Josh Pope
| Sound confusing? Bully Pulpit is not the simplest drinking game, but it is one of the most enjoyable. This is a game for the intelligent, for those who enjoy debate and discussion. The Constitution establishes the basic principles of the game, but each individual game expands with new legislation. The concept is that several players create alliances to approve rules favorable to themselves. Friends and enemies are made through giving drinks each turn, ceding drink-giving powers to other players, and proposing friendly legislation and executive orders. Start slow, stick to the basic rules, and a little drinking polity will soon develop. You can never trust another player enough, because they might be waiting to stab you in the back at a later date. |
| The movement begins! In the last few days, it appears word of Bully Pulpit has spread across the internet. I'm not sure how this started, but I am glad America is waking up to the future. Please email me if you play(ed) the game, and tell me what you think -- and where you heard about it. Also, be on the lookout for footnotes and (slight) modifications to the Constitution to appear in the coming weeks. Happy Drinking! - Steve Russell (August 11, 2004) |
The Constitution of Bully
Pulpit
as amended on the 11th of August in the year
2004
I. Preamble
In order to establish a more perfect drinking game, we the players institute the following regulations and procedures.
In politics, there are no friends. Other players are the enemy until proven otherwise. Ally at your own risk. Beware the powerful, do not pity the weak. Protect yourself before all others.
All rules established in this Constitution are inviolable.
II. The Deal
Each player is dealt four cards. These cards are the players' votes when legislating.
A king represents 13 votes, a queen 12, and a jack 11. An ace in hand is the game's most powerful card. It represents either the Veto, which automatically defeats the pending legislation, or the Bully Pulpit, which summons the whims of the mob to automatically pass the pending legislation.
The remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table. This pile is known as Congress.
Played cards are left face up in the discard pile.
If all cards are drawn from Congress but the game is not over, the discard pile is shuffled and placed face down.
Play begins to the Dealer's left. The Dealer has no special authority under this Constitution.
III. The Draw
Each turn must begin with all players having some amount of beer. The penalty is loss of the violator's next turn.
If a player draws a card from Congress before it is their turn, the penalty is five drinks and loss of turn. The card that is drawn is placed face-up in the discard pile.
Before drawing, the Player guesses the suit (and therefore a color). Then he turns over one card from Congress.
If the color is guessed correctly (hearts/diamonds are red, spades/clubs are black), the Player may give out drinks equal to one-half the face value of the card drawn. If the color is guessed wrong, then the Player must take one-half the face value drinks.
The Player may choose not to give drinks, preventing any other legislated events from taking place.
If the suit is guessed correctly, the Player may propose legislation and give out drinks.
If an ace is drawn, regardless of suit or color, the Player may make an Executive Order.
The right to give out drinks may be ceded to another player, but no more than two times (ie Player One may cede to Player Two, who may cede to Player Three).
The right to propose legislation or make an Executive Order may be ceded to another player, but only once (ie if Player One cedes to Player Two, Player Two must propose legislation, make an executive order, or decline).
At the close of each turn, the card drawn and any votes cast are placed on the discard pile.
IV. Legislation
Legislation is a single rule for the game or the negation of an existing rule (a la Kings). Legislation is limited by the Bill of Rights (see section VII) and must be reasonable.
Rules are not enforced for the duration of the legislation process. This is a time for rational debate unencumbered by other rules.
The face value of the drawn card represents the initial votes in Congress for the legislation.
Voting begins to the Proposer's left. Players may vote by playing card(s) in hand for or against the legislation, or may abstain from voting.
If any Player plays an ace in favor of the legislation, it immediately passes (the "bully pulpit"). If any Player plays an ace against the legislation, it is vetoed and immediately dies.
The Proposer of the legislation may play the Bully Pulpit immediately after finalizing the legislation. Otherwise, the Proposer votes last.
If a player abstains from voting, they must take one drink.
The legislation passes with a simple majority of votes, but fails if there is a tie.
At any point in the legislative process, including after the legislation has a majority of votes but before the next player takes their turn, any player may filibuster the legislation. To filibuster, the Player must open and drink an entire beer. A successful filibuster prevents passage of the legislation.
Legislation passed with the Bully Pulpit cannot be filibustered.
A filibuster may be challenged two ways:
(1) through the cloture procedure. Before the drinking in a filibuster begins, another player may open a new beer and race the filibustering player to finish. The first player to finish has defended their position. Both players must finish their beers regardless of the outcome.
(2) by any player using the bully pulpit (playing an ace in favor of the legislation) before the filibuster is complete. The filibustering player must still finish his beer.
V. Executive Orders
When an Ace is drawn from Congress, regardless of suit called, the Player may make an Executive Order. This rule must comply with the Bill of Rights and the reasonability requirement, but it automatically passes. Executive Orders may not be vetoed or filibustered.
An executive order may only institute or overturn one drinking rule
VI. The End of the Game
Players shall resign their seat only at the start of their turn, in lieu of drawing a card from Congress. Any cards left in the resigned player's hand will be added face down to the spent cards pile, and put into Congress at the next reshuffle.
The game ends when only one player has votes in hand to cast or if legislation to end the game passes.
The game may not end on an executive order, and game-ending legislation may not be filibustered.
VII. Bill of Rights
A player cannot be forced to drink more in a single turn than what is currently in hand (ie Player One can finish his drink, but cannot be forced to crack a new beer - pay attention to how much is in your opponents' cups in determining who to give drinks to).
Switching seats is a legitimate Executive Order or piece of legislation. Voting order continues by seat, not player.
A player can be forced to trade or discard one card in hand, but the card must be identified by value. For example, Player One can make an Executive Order forcing Player Two to discard or trade his ace, but not "his highest card." Players should reveal their hand to others at their own risk.
A Player may give one or more cards to another player, but not if the player is resigning from the game.
Players shall not be empowered to give drinks.
Have any amendments? Submit them to smrussel@email.unc.edu.