In order to help pass these bills as early as possible and secure the promotion of constitutional democratic government, Government Information Office Director-General Shaw Yu-ming held a special seminar. Specialists and scholars who had neither a hand in making up the bills nor were already opposed were asked to discuss these bills from a relatively fair, objective angle, in the hopes of raising public awareness and contributing toward a consensus.

On January 5, nineteen political scientists and sociologists from Taiwan's major institutes and campuses met at the GIO conference room, with Director-General Shaw as moderator, where they discussed the bills on election and recall, civic organizations, and retirement of senior legislators.

Taiwan University Professor Lu Ya-li spoke first. He considered that the contents of the organization law were very good in themselves; if the open registration system is adopted for the establishment of political parties, then it would be acceptable to all. The election law requires some amendment based on accumulated experience. The retirement law is the most problematic; besides practical political and legal considerations, there is the complex historical problem.

He explained that these senior representatives have already served forty years. There is no basis in the constitution for forcing them to retire, so people should accept this historical burden and seek moderate, reasonable solutions--only then can society progress. Finally he emphasized that a delay in these laws means a delay in dealing with other public policy in the Legislative Yuan, with the public the ultimate losers.

Hsieh Zui-chi of National Taiwan Normal University believes the retirement law to be most important, because it involves reforming the parliament and establishing the foundation for the democratic spirit of the constitutional rule of law. The organization law is to give political parties and private associations a basis in law, while the election law aims at strengthening public authority to ensure fairer elections. Professor Hsieh argued that stable growth is the best guarantee of the fortunes of the island's 20 million people. Political, economic, or social chaos could have unanticipated consequences.

Lei Fei-lung of National Chengchi University believes that, in the retirement law, we should affirm the contributions of the senior legislators and guarantee their post-retirement lives. The organization law's main aim is to standardize social and political associations. Currently Taiwan has nearly 20 political parties. It would be better to have the open registration system and bring all of them within the standards. In the election law, there's no harm in making it more lenient; it's enforcement should be made stricter.

Soochow University's Kuo Jen-fu sees the organization law as most important because multi-party politics is now taking shape. The main objection of the Democratic Progressive Party is to the inclusion of the three principles of the National Security Law (must respect the constitution, cannot advocate Communism, cannot divide the national territory) as conditions for political parties. Kuo said: "Games must have rules." These three principles are the guarantee of the basic constitutional structure, should be the consensus for all citizens, and absolutely must be included in the organization law.

Tsao Chun-han of NTU suggests that in all the fuss over the retirement law the senior legislators themselves have been overlooked. "In the whole process they just sit passively, ignored, and this deepens their resistance." Tsao said that neither words nor money will satisfy them. Praising them in the law won't be as effective in getting it passed as involving them in the process.

Chengchi University's Li Kuo-hsiung says that currently we are undertaking political reform, not revolution, and it is necessary to reform on the basis of respecting tradition; only then will political order be undamaged. He further opined that there is no absolute fairness in political laws, and nothing that can't be amended. What's important is consensus on the spirit and principles; there is no need to be exacting on small details.

Shao Tsung-hai of Chengchi University took the economic perspective. He considered environment, labor, and political problems as sectoral. Only the economy affects the fate of all Taiwan, and he hoped political parties would look ahead and not disappoint the expectations of the people in meaningless disputes. Procrastinations on these laws could lead to failure to pass or effect public policy. If the economy goes downhill, the whole island could be lost.

Peng Chin-peng of NTU argued that the retirement law most urgently affects political development. Calling the last three years "the period of the greatest hope for the implementation of democracy since the origin of Chinese politics," he said getting democracy on track is the unanimous hope of the people and urged political parties to concede on the laws and let the people judge the results.

Su Yung-chin of Chengchi University took a legal perspective, urging the DPP to allow the retirement law to pass since it is a specific measure to solve a concrete problem, not a "rule of the game" affecting all legislators. See if the ruling party can achieve complete reelection of the parliament within three or four years, at that time the people will judge.

Finally, Shaw Yu-ming stepped out of the role of GIO chief and into his former role of scholar to express his views. He argued that, first, democratic politics means the politics of responsibility. If the ruling party's proposed laws are not passed, how can the people know if it can really solve problems? Second, problems of the constitutional system should be solved by laws within the system; going outside the system could lead to a cycle of violence. Also, based on other nations' histories, improvement of the constitution is a gradual process. The ROC's constitutional history is short. Perhaps the con stitution is not ideal, but it should grow with society. Extreme measures could create aftereffects. Finally, the principle for resolving political problems is to select the lesser evil; this is the current principle for reform of the ROC constitutional structure.