Article I
Formation of the Formation of the Defender Security Alliance
Section 1.
No region shall be compelled to sign this document. If any sort of compulsion is proven, the alliance between the D.S.A. and the offended region will be terminated. Should a region become a signatory to the D.S.A. Declaration under false pretences, the alliance between the D.S.A. and the offending region will be terminated.
Section 2.
The D.S.A. reserves the right to negotiate alliances and or treaties by a simple majority vote (50% plus one vote) from the Council of Representatives. Alliances and or treaties are made only with D.S.A. as an organisation and do not necessarily represent the individual member regions. The vote is to be held in the same manner as outlined in Article III, Section 3, Sub-Section B.
Section 3.
No region or nation may become a member of the D.S.A. if they are allied with organizations, regions, or groups declared as Enemies of the D.S.A. Should a region or nations become allied with an Enemy of the D.S.A., the alliance between the D.S.A. and the offending region will be terminated.
A. Enemies of the D.S.A. are organisations, regions, or groups of invaders, pirates, crashers, imperialists, and others who hold ideals that go against the beliefs held by the D.S.A.
Section 4.
All member regions have the right to repudiate (renounce membership in) this Charter of Alliance. The member region’s appointed D.S.A.
Representatives shall deliver a public Notice of Repudiation to the D.S.A. Director two weeks before the intended date of repudiation.
Section 5.
No member of a region, other than the D.S.A. Representatives may deliver a Notice of Repudiation. The chief executive of said region’s government, or their appointed representative, may disavow a Notice of Repudiation.
Section 6.
D.S.A. members pledge to defend any and all member regions against attack. Defence of member regions is mandatory. Any region refusing to send aid to another member, having been notified of the situation and having forces available or forces not in Defence of their home region from present danger may, according to Tribunal decision:
A. Have status as an D.S.A. region revoked;
B. Be accorded status as an Enemy of the D.S.A.
Section 7.
New regions may be admitted to this Alliance should they so sign this Declaration.
An applicant region shall fill out the proper questionnaire, to be determined by the D.S.A. Director or inferior designated officers. The Alliance Intelligence Agency (AIA), in conjunction with the D.S.A. The Director shall make a formal recommendation of admittance to the Council of Representatives. The Council of Representatives shall vote by a simple majority for admittance to the D.S.A. Should the Council vote yea, the applicant region shall be a full member of the D.S.A.
Section 8.
All powers not given to the D.S.A. for the purposes of Defence are reserved to the regions that have entered into this Alliance.
Section 9.
Amendments to The Charter may be passed by The Council of Representatives by a two-thirds (2/3) majority. Amendments that have been approved by the Council of Representatives are subject to veto by the D.S.A. Director with a written statement to the Council explaining the veto. The D.S.A. Director’s veto may be overridden by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Council of Representatives. The Cabinet may pass amendments to this Declaration of Alliance by two-thirds (2/3) majority. Amendments that have been approved by the Cabinet are subject to a veto vote of two-thirds (2/3) by the Council; with a written statement to the Cabinet explaining the veto. The Cabinet may not override the Councils veto until after the term of the current Council President.
Article II
Membership
Section 1.
D.S.A. works on a two (2) level membership system: Member and Protectorate.
Section 2.
Regions that enter this Alliance in the Member Level have access to all benefits of the D.S.A.
A. Access to the Council of Representatives
B. Access to the D.S.A. Military
C. Access to the D.S.A. DU Intelligence
D. Access to the D.S.A. Cabinet
E. Access to the D.S.A. Director and Deputy Director positions
F. Access to any other benefit not listed
Section 3.
Regions that enter this Alliance in the Protectorate Level are supported regions. If a region in this level is invaded, D.S.A. shall make it a priority to aid in the Defence of such region. They have no obligation to play an active role in the Defence of non-member regions.
A. All regions in this tier must and shall help defend all member regions. (Pursuant to Art. I, Sec. 6)
B. These regions have no access to any D.S.A. benefits other than being defended from enemies of D.S.A., as well as those benefits listed below.
C. These regions shall have access to a military section detailing D.S.A. member regions that are under attack or threat of invasion.
D. Shall a nation of such region wish to become an active contributor, they may be granted access upon the wish of the Council.
Section 4.
All regions, groups, or organizations that wish to not be a part of this Alliance, but help in the Defence of regions, shall be known as allies of the D.S.A. Alliances are made with the government of a region or with an interregional organisation and may be proposed by either the Secretary of State or Director. Alliances shall be approved by the Council of Representatives by a simple majority vote (50% plus one vote). The vote is to be held in the same manner as outlined in Article III, Section 3, Sub-Section B. These allies shall have access to all benefits except:
A. Access to the Council of Representatives
B. Access to the D.S.A. Cabinet
C. Access to the D.S.A. Director and Deputy Director positions
D. Access to any non listed benefits the Council see as unfit for allies.
Section 5.
The Council of Representatives shall vote on benefits they see unfit for allies with a simple majority.
Article III
Governance of the Defender Security Alliance
Section 1.
Executive Officers
After the ratification of The Charter of Alliance, the A.D.N. Director will become Guardian of the D.S.A. Also there will elections to elect the Director and Deputy Director. The Guardian may run for an official D.S.A. position. The Guardian may, at anytime he/she deems necessary, invoke their emergency powers to take control of the duties of the Director to maintain Peace, order and stability in the D.S.A.
Section 2.
The Guardianship [Guardian]
The office of The Guardianship purpose is as follows to maintain Peace, order and stability in the D.S.A. also to act as an advisor to the D.S.A. Director and Cabinet.
In addition The Guardian has the power to appoint advisors to the Defender Security Alliance based on service and merit. This office will consist of one person to occupy the position of Guardian; this person shall be someone of long service, trusted & respected by the membership and served in several divisions of the former A.D.N. or current D.S.A.
The Guardianship is empowered to decide access levels for all members; The Guardianship may restrict access of any D.S.A. member(s), at any time with a written statement to said person(s) in co-ordination with the Director. The Guardian is a permanent advisor to the D.S.A. Director & Cabinet, The person who holds the office of The Guardianship cannot be removed from the position of Guardian. The office-holder of The Guardianship may resign form the position of Guardian at anytime they see fit, the task of selecting a new Guardian falls to Cabinet once this occurs.
The Guardianship will also have emergency powers to help him or her maintain Peace order and stability in the D.S.A. the emergency powers of the Guardian are:
A. Remove the D.S.A. Director if deemed the Director is unfit to command. If the Guardian enacts this power, the Council of Representatives shall hold a vote for a new Director. Until the new Director is elected the Guardianship shall hold the powers of the Director.
B. Take control of the D.S.A. from the Director, if they feel the D.S.A. is in danger of collapse, out of control, or otherwise in extreme danger. If such an enactment of power should accrue; the Guardian may invoke a state of Martial Law if deemed necessary.
C. The Guardian is empowered to pardon any and all offences.
D. Membership Termination Order (In partnership with the Director)
E. All other emergency powers the Guardianship deems necessary to maintain Peace, order and Good Governance that are not listed.
Section 3.
Removal of D.S.A. Member Region(s)
3.1 - Membership Termination Order(s) [Proceedings]
If a D.S.A. member region or D.S.A. member regions are violation of The Charter of Alliance Article V Section 1 to Section 6 the Defender Security Alliance has the right to terminate said D.S.A. member region or D.S.A. member regions membership in the Defender Security Alliance via a Termination Vote or Votes, resulting a Membership Termination Order. All Termination Proceedings and Votes will take place in The Crucible. The Guardian & Director will determine if Membership Termination Order(s) Proceedings are required to be brought against said region(s). The Director will call the termination proceedings to order.
The Guardian or the Director will state the reason or reasons relating to The Charter of Alliance Article V Section 1 to Section 6 that they feel said region(s) are in violation of. The Guardian will then call the Termination Vote or Votes to order, a Termination vote requires a 66% approval to result in a Membership Termination Order. Once a Membership Termination Order or Membership Termination Orders have been issued by The Guardian, Director and The Council of Representatives the D.S.A. Executive branch will meet to determine the level of access reduction or an outright D.S.A. site ban is required for the former member region(s).
3.2 - Membership Termination Order(s) [Proceedings] II
If the Guardian is inactive when such a situation described in Article III Section 3.1 occurs;
This power falls to the following D.S.A. cabinet members in order of position:
1) Director & Deputy Director
2) Director & Council President
If the Director is inactive when such a situation described in Article III Section 3.1 occurs;
This power falls to the following D.S.A. cabinet members in order of position:
1) Guardian & Deputy Director
2) Guardian & Council President
If the Guardian & the Director are inactive when such a situation described in Article III Section 3.1 occurs;
This power falls to the following D.S.A. cabinet members:
Deputy Director & Council President
Section 4.
The Executive
The Executive of the D.S.A. shall be comprised of the following three elements The Guardian, Cabinet and D.S.A. Advisors. The Cabinet shall consist of D.S.A. members appointed by the D.S.A. Director and approved by the Council of Representatives. The Cabinet is controlled by the D.S.A. Director. The Cabinet reserves the right to participate in the ongoing discussions of the Legislative. The Cabinet does not have voting privileges in council.
Section 5.
The Legislative
The Legislative of the D.S.A. shall be comprised of a Council of Representatives. These representatives are appointed by member regions, according to their own style of governance. There shall be two (2) representatives appointed to the Council of Representatives from each member region. Each Member Region has two (2) authorized votes, one (1) for each representative. The Council shall be lead by the Council President.
A. If a Representative is absent from more than three (3) consecutive votes without written notice to the Council, that Representative shall be removed from their position, and a written notice shall be given by the Council President to the government of that former Representative’s region, informing them of that removal, upon which the region shall appoint a new one by whichever means they please.
B. A simple majority (50% plus one vote) of standing members is required for passage of all resolutions except when noted. Resolutions are binding, in that refusal of a D.S.A. member or region to act accordingly will be subject to summary dismissal. Any overturned veto made by the Council from the Director, cannot be overridden by the Director. Debate on proposed resolutions will occur only before a motion for a vote is made and seconded. This shall not be construed in a way so as to force a motion and second before debate has been caused to be closed by the President so as to force a vote. The Council shall vote for the confirmation of all cabinet members appointed by the Director. This shall not be construed so as to prevent the Director from removing any Cabinet member or inferior D.S.A officials at his/her pleasure. The Council shall have a veto, requiring two-thirds of the Council to be in concurrence, over the actions of the Director and inferior D.S.A officials. The Council veto cannot be vetoed by the Director. No injunction against ongoing actions shall occur during a veto vote. No veto shall be retroactive for actions occurring before the ratification of The Charter of Alliance.
C. Voting shall occur two (2) days after a motion for a vote has been made and seconded in order to allow the Council President to contact all Regional Representatives, and so that each region has time to discuss their vote before casting it. All votes will proceed in an open and orderly manner with no Representative authorized to change their vote once it has been cast. A vote of “Aye” indicates an affirmative vote. A vote of “Nay” indicates a negative vote. A vote of “Abstain” indicates abstention from the vote. No other responses will be tallied. Should a vote be deadlocked, the current Deputy Director will cast the tie-breaking vote. In an election for the position of Deputy Director in which the incumbent is a candidate, the Director shall have the deciding vote should it be deadlocked at the end of the voting period. Should the Deputy Director abstain or be otherwise unavailable for voting (such as leave of absence), the deciding vote will be given to the presiding Director. Should the Director abstain or be otherwise unavailable for voting (such as leave of absence), the deciding vote will be conferred upon the Guardian, should they hold no position that entitles them to a vote already. The Guardian is not authorized to vote abstain; should the Guardian hold a position that entitles them to vote the Council President may cast a second vote. Votes shall remain open for a period of four (4) days. Should the vote cover a topic that is of the utmost urgency, the Director may declare a shortened voting period, as long as such a declaration is issued before the voting begins.
Section 6.
Council President
The Council of Representatives will elect a President from among them at intervals of three (3) months. This Council President must not be part of the Cabinet. The President of The Council of Representatives will be responsible for:
A. Maintaining order and decorum while the Council is in Session.
B. Administering all votes of the Council and reporting the results to the Director.
C. Contacting all Regional Representatives via personal message in the two (2) days given before any four-day vote begins (pursuant to Art. III Sect. 3, Sub-Sec. C.) with:
i. The content of the bill.
ii. The official starting time to voting.
iii. The official ending time to voting.
Section 7.
Director
The Director is the Chief Executive of the D.S.A. as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the D.S.A. Military.
The Director cannot be a member of the Council of Representatives; the Director is the head of Cabinet.
A. The Director shall be nominated and seconded by the D.S.A. Membership. The Director is elected to office by a vote of the Council of Representatives. The Director shall be elected every six (6) months. If deemed necessary by the Council of Representatives, the Director may be removed. In addition, the Director has the option to resign his position. There is no limit to the number of times someone may run for Director, but there is a limit of two (2) consecutive terms that the Director may serve. Upon resignation, removal, or a written declaration of absence to the Council of Representatives, the Deputy Director shall be made Acting Director, and in the case of a written declaration of absence by the Director, the Acting Director shall remain Director, pending a written declaration of return to the Council of Representatives.
Should the Director be absent for small periods of time during which decisions of necessity must be made quickly, the Deputy Director or, in the Deputy Director's absence, the Guardian is empowered to act in the Director's stead. Should the Director be absent for a period of more than two weeks without a declaration of absence, the Deputy Director shall be made Acting Director until a written declaration of return shall be given to the Council. Upon absence for more than two weeks after the Acting Director has been made Director, elections shall be held for the position of Director. The Director may be removed from office by a 2/3 majority vote of the Council of Representatives. The Council Representatives shall private message votes to the Council President, who will tally the votes and announce the results of the vote.
B. All decisions made by the Council of Representatives are subject to veto by the Director.
C. The Director is empowered to decide access levels for all members also the Director may restrict access of any D.S.A. member/s, at any time with a written statement to said person/s.
D. The Director is empowered to pardon any and all offences.
E. The Director, to aid him/her in the performance of his/her duties, may:
i. Appoint a Cabinet that serves at his/her pleasure;
ii. Retain the services of advisers that serve at his/her pleasure;
iii. Organize Departments as he/she sees fit.
Section 8.
The Deputy Director
The Deputy Director is the Second in Command of the D.S.A. The Deputy Director must not be a member of the Council of Representatives. The Deputy Director may be a member of the Cabinet.
A. The Deputy Director, who will serve as Acting Director should the Director be unable to serve, shall be elected every three (3) months. Any member of the D.S.A. may stand for Deputy Director, but should a Council Representative win such an election, that person must resign from the post of Council Representative, and the region from whom the Deputy Director originates shall appoint a new Council Representative in whichever manner they see fit.
B. Should the Deputy Director be made Acting Director, he/she holds all powers given to the Director outlined in Article III, Section 5, Sub-Sections A, B, C, D, E.
Article IV
Tribunals
Section 1.
A Complaint may be brought forward by any D.S.A. member or region in good standing against any other D.S.A. member or region for an action deemed as illegal within the D.S.A.
A. The Complaint will be referred to the Director or their appointed representative in such matters.
B. The Director or their appointed representative must investigate the merits of the Complaint.
C. If the Complaint is found to have merit, Charges will be issued naming the accused, the accuser(s), and the nature of the charge(s).
Section 2.
Once Charges are issued, the Council of Representatives will convene as a Tribunal, with the President of the Council acting as Chief Tribune.
A. The Director must appoint a D.S.A. member in good standing to act as Prosecutor.
B. The Accused may retain legal counsel of one D.S.A. member in good standing to speak on their behalf if they so desire.
Section 3.
The Prosecutor presents evidence and questions witnesses. The Accused presents evidence and questions witnesses. All evidence used by either party is to be presented to the Court in a forum that both parties have access to. The Tribunal questions The Accused and any witnesses it sees fit, mediated by the Chief Tribune. At the close of evidence, the Tribunal retires to a closed chamber for discussion and vote. A simple majority (50% plus one vote) of Tribunal members voting to convict is sufficient in all cases.
Section 4.
If the Accused in convicted of any charges, the Director, or his/her appointed representative, will propose a sentence to the Tribunal. The Tribunal must accept or reject the proposed sentence by a simple majority (50% plus one vote). A tie shall follow heretofore laid out procedure. If the Tribunal rejects the proposed sentence, the President shall provide a written explanation of the rejection and a suggestion to the Director for a proper sentence, and it will be sequestered until such time as the Tribunal and the Director can agree upon a sentence.
Section 5.
There will be no appeals procedure as such. If evidence is later produced to exonerate a member or region convicted at Tribunal, it should be presented to the Director or The Guardianship for consideration of a pardon.
Article V
Illegal Actions within the Defender Security Alliance.
Section 1.
Treason against the D.S.A. or its members. Treason is defined as attempting to overthrow the government of an alliance member region to which the offender owes allegiance, betraying the region into the hands of a foreign power, or attempting to overthrow the government to which one owes allegiance either by making war or by materially supporting its enemies.
Section 2.
Espionage against the D.S.A. or its member regions. Espionage is defined as the practice of using spies, or other means, to collect information about what the D.S.A. or its members are doing or plan to do.
Section 3.
Aggression against fellow D.S.A. members or allies. Aggression is defined as the act of initiating invasion or hostilities, which may include propaganda and fifth column activities.
Section 4.
Invading regions for the purposes of conquest. Conquest is defined as the occupation of a region with the intention of extending its sovereignty over that region. Allying or supporting Enemies of the D.S.A.
Section 5.
Conduct detrimental to the proper functioning of the D.S.A.
Section 6.
Posting any sensitive information from the D.S.A. forum elsewhere, excepting orders for the movement of troops via methods of communication secure and safe on regional forums, necessary for defensive missions.
