The below CFJ is 3913. I assign it to Jason. status: https://faculty.washington.edu/kerim/nomic/cases/#3913
=============================== CFJ 3913 =============================== A player who possesses 3 Blots can have their Voting Strength on a particular decision go above 15 as a consequence of Buying Strength. ========================================================================== Caller: ais523 Judge: Jason ========================================================================== History: Called by ais523: 08 Jun 2021 14:42:00 Assigned to Jason: [now] ========================================================================== [linked to CFJ 3914] Caller's Evidence: Rule 2422/9 (Power=3) Voting Strength The voting strength of an entity on an Agoran decision is an integer between 0 and 15 inclusive, defined by rules of power 2 or greater. If not otherwise specified, the voting strength of an entity on an Agoran decision is 3. When multiple rules set or modify an entity's voting strength on an Agoran decision, it shall be determined by first applying the rule(s) which set it to a specific value, using the ordinary precedence of rules, and then applying the rules, other than this one, which modify it, in numerical order by ID. Finally, if the result of the calculation is not an integer, it is rounded up, and then if it is outside the allowable range of values for voting strength, it is set to the minimum value if it was less and the maximum value if it was more. A player CAN Buy Strength by paying a fee of 1 Extra Vote. A player's Voting Strength on an ordinary referendum is 1 greater for every time e Bought Strength during that decision's voting period. Rule 2556/1 (Power=3) Penalties [...] The voting strength of a player on an Agoran decision is reduced by 1 for every 3 blots in eir possession. [...] Rule 2240/1 (Power=3) No Cretans Need Apply In a conflict between clauses of the same Rule, if exactly one claims precedence over the other, then it takes precedence; otherwise, the later clause takes precedence. Caller's Arguments: Rule 2422 contains internal contradictions. The first paragraph attempts to limit voting strengths to a particular range. The second paragraph specifies how to apply multiple voting strength modifiers. The third paragraph specifies how to Buy Strength. Most notably, the second paragraph implies that if multiple rules attempt to modify a player's Voting Strength (such as 2422 and 2556, in the case of a player who has 3 Blots and has Bought Strength), the modifications from rule 2422 are not applied at all (the conflict resolution procedure applies modifications from "rules, other than this one, which modify it", and does not specify any situation in which its own modification applies. The third paragraph, however, says that Buying Strength *does* modify a player's voting strength. As far as I can tell, this introduces a contradiction between the second and third paragraphs, resolved by Rule 2240. If the second paragraph is interpreted as having an implicit precedence claim, it wins, and players with 3+ Blots cannot usefully Buy Strength. More interestingly, if it is interpreted as not containing a precedence claim, then the third paragraph wins, allowing players with 3+ Blots to Buy Strength despite the conflict resolution mechanism. In this case, it seems as though the third paragraph would be able to override the first paragraph, too, and allow players to increase their Voting Strengths without bounds. ==========================================================================