PROPOSAL: Constitution Rewrite

Egalotir

Egalotir

TNPer
Here is the new Constitution Eluvatar, Scandigrad, Lord Lore and I have been working on. It extends a lot of things so please read carefully. Debate would be nice, and as soon as we can pass this, a lot more applications can be processed and we can proceed with other matters.

The Constitution of the Democratic Union of The North Pacific


Preamble

The Signatories of this document, do establish this Constitution for the Procedure and Structure ofthe Democratic Union. In accordance of the founding values of this alliance, the Democratic Union will work to advance Democratic values in The North Pacific. This Constitutional Treaty hereby lays out the governing principles of this organization.

Section I
Membership

Membership in this alliance shall be split into two categories: Full Membership and Observer State. A Full Member is entitled to all processes within the Democratic Union. An Observer State is entitled to be represented within the Democratic Union but is not privy to voting or running for positions of power within the Democratic Union. If a Member State of the Democratic Union is expelled they retain the option to shift their status to that of an Observer.

Sub-Section I
Membership Requirements

To gain membership status in the Democratic Union, prospective members have to meet the following criteria: they must have a stated ambition to further the cause of the Democratic Union, they must fill out a standardized application set by the Office of the Chairperson, their representative must take an “Oath of Membership” on their behalf, they must gain the sponsorship of 40% of the Democratic Council, and finally approval from the Chairperson or 75% sponsorship.

Sub -Section II
Observer Requirements

To become an observer state in the Democratic Union, states have to meet the following criteria: they must have a stated ambition to further the cause of the Democratic Union, they must gain the sponsorship of 20% of the Democratic Council, fill out a standardized application, and finally must gain approval from the Chairperson.

Section II
Legislative Branch

The Democratic Council shall henceforth be the unicameral body governing the Democratic Union. The Council consists of representatives from each Member State of the Democratic Union. This Council writes and codifies new laws and treaties within the Democratic Union. The Council is headed by a Speaker who shall be elected every four months. This speaker organizes votes on laws and treaties. In the absence of the Speaker the power of the Speaker shall shift to the Deputy Chairperson.

Section III
Executive Branch

The Executive Branch of the Democratic Union is the Office of the Chairperson. The Office of the Chairperson consists of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, both elected every four months. The Chairperson shall be instilled with the power to veto any law or treaty that receives less than a 65% approval in the Democratic Council. The Chairperson is elected every four months with the Deputy Chairperson seat being filled with the runner up in the election. If no other candidates run, then the Chairperson may appoint a Deputy Chairperson.


Section IV
Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch of the Democratic Union is to be named the Democratic Court which interprets and rules on the legality of Democratic Union laws and actions. The Court may also arbitrate disputes between member states. This court consists of one justice: a Grand Justice appointed by the Chairperson. The Democratic Council can overturn the appointment with a 2/3rds majority vote. The Democratic Court may expel member states from the Democratic Union which fail to meet their obligations under this treaty.

Section V
Headquarters

The Headquarters of the Democratic Union are maintained on a small island chosen by the Democratic Council. The Democratic Council along with the rest of the Democratic Union’s Government and Programs shall be based on said island. No member state of the Democratic Union may have sovereignty over this territory. Citizens of Democratic Union are allowed the freedom to visit and settle on this island.


Section VI
Ratification

This treaty will take full effect once two-thirds of the member states ratify it. Member states will ratify this treaty through their normal means of treaty ratification. Once ratified all member states are expected to comply immediately. This treaty will be signed by member state ambassadors, heads of government, and heads of state, as appropriate under each member state’s government. Any states which fail to ratify this treaty will cease to be members of the Democratic Union.

Section VII
Amendment

This Constitutional Treaty can be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Democratic Council. Amendments can be made at any time.
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As I have been one of the main contributors, I wholeheartedly support this. It clearly establishes a judiciary, which was in the original constitution, but was never established. It also goes to limit the powers of the Chair, and creates a better standard for membership admission.

Furthermore, it combines the Charter and the Constitution, so we only need to reference one document.

Full support.
 
To clarify, the sponsorship is essentially a current member's vote of confidence. So they would need to come to us either on IRC or PM to ask for our sponsorship. I think this is a good system to get to know new members, engage, network, etc. as well as showing that they have a legitimate claim to be allowed to join.
 
I approve of the new constitution. One question, however. Will the positions of speaker and justices be filled by actual member nations?
 
Sauceistan:
Will the positions of speaker and justices be filled by actual member nations?
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Yes. Only full member nations will be able to run for election, and only full member nations will be able to hold office in the Democratic Union.
 
Sauceistan:
I approve of the new constitution. One question, however. Will the positions of speaker and justices be filled by actual member nations?
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Yes they will be elected every 4 months along with the chairperson.
 
Section II
Legislative Branch

The Democratic Council shall henceforth be the unicameral body governing the Democratic Union. The Council consists of representatives from each Member State of the Democratic Union. This Council writes and codifies new laws and treaties within the Democratic Union. The Council is headed by a Speaker who shall be elected every four months. This speaker organizes votes on laws and treaties. In the absence of the Speaker the power of the Speaker shall shift to the Deputy Chairperson.
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Looks like I may be a Speaker after all... :lol:
 
I maintain that we should ban posts that simply say "Full Support" :P

Out of curiosity, is Eluvatar a member of the Democratic Union?

I'll look over the document in more detail later.
 
mcmasterdonia:
I maintain that we should ban posts that simply say "Full Support" :P

Out of curiosity, is Eluvatar a member of the Democratic Union?

I'll look over the document in more detail later.
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Checking the membership roles shows that he is not in the DU.
 
Egal is right, he is not in the DU, nor is Lord Lore. I collaborated with them because they are experienced in writing formal documents like this, and I wanted and valued their input. I wanted the best document put forward, so we made sure it was heavily scrutinized.
 
The whole document looks fantastic, great job to those involved, but I do have some questions. Will the elections of the speaker and justices take place during the same time as the chairman and deputy chairman, or will they be a separate series of elections? Also, will the ellection process begin immediately after the new constitution is accepted or after Scandagrad's term? Thank you and once these questions are cleared up, Dalies will easily back this.
 
dmb615:
The whole document looks fantastic, great job to those involved, but I do have some questions. Will the elections of the speaker and justices take place during the same time as the chairman and deputy chairman, or will they be a separate series of elections? Also, will the ellection process begin immediately after the new constitution is accepted or after Scandagrad's term? Thank you and once these questions are cleared up, Dalies will easily back this.
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I would finish out my term and when I open elections for the chair I would also open elections for the other two offices. The new Chair would have I believe ten days to appoint a new chief justice.
 
Scandigrad:
dmb615:
The whole document looks fantastic, great job to those involved, but I do have some questions. Will the elections of the speaker and justices take place during the same time as the chairman and deputy chairman, or will they be a separate series of elections? Also, will the ellection process begin immediately after the new constitution is accepted or after Scandagrad's term? Thank you and once these questions are cleared up, Dalies will easily back this.
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I would finish out my term and when I open elections for the chair I would also open elections for the other two offices. The new Chair would have I believe ten days to appoint a new chief justice.
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Yea i recall we meant to add that in there. The Chairperson should have 10 days to make their decision on the Justices and Speaker.
 
Sauceistan:
What would happen after the 10 days if the Chairperson did not make a decision?
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What i had in mind is that people apply for justice and Speaker and the Chairmen elects them. If 10 days pass without action, it goes to a vote by the Council.
 
Egalotir:
Sauceistan:
What would happen after the 10 days if the Chairperson did not make a decision?
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What i had in mind is that people apply for justice and Speaker and the Chairmen elects them. If 10 days pass without action, it goes to a vote by the Council.
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So what are people's thoughts on this?
 
Egalotir:
Sauceistan:
What would happen after the 10 days if the Chairperson did not make a decision?
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What i had in mind is that people apply for justice and Speaker and the Chairmen elects them. If 10 days pass without action, it goes to a vote by the Council.
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So what are people's thoughts on this?
 
Another option is having having people run for 3 justice positions, and then the chairperson elected "promotes/chooses" one of them to be the grand justice. Failure to act within 10 days results in the council electing the grand justice. This leaves a way for the chairperson, if the decision is too difficult or for other circumstantial reasons, they can let it go to vote. Kinda of like tabling a bill for the president.
 
Do you think we really need three justices? I'd be concerned that we would just end up being strangled by the bureaucracy of it all.
 
Well if we had 2, and each voted against the other we'd be at a deadlock. A 3rd would break the vote. I feel that leaving an entire judicial system in charge of one is too much power consolidated in one person.
 
I'm hesitant about the ability for the council to override, but at this point I don't think we have much of a choice. Put it at 80% to overturn?
 
I think that's a little high. Say they eject a member on false grounds, you don't want to chance 80% overturn votes. I think 75% or 2/3rds is enough.
 
mcmasterdonia:
You could have one, and grant the power of override of any verdict to the entire council/union.
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I agree.

Egalotir:
I think that's a little high. Say they eject a member on false grounds, you don't want to chance 80% overturn votes. I think 75% or 2/3rds is enough.
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2/3rds seems reasonable to me.
 
I updated the OP in red with what I changed. If there are any other concerns/something i missed please point it out. Otherwise I motion we move this to an immediate vote.
 
I'll be damned if this doesn't get through. This is hands down the best option for the DU, and those who have not voted yet are not participating in the process. I will be sending a telegram to everyone who has not voted that failure to do so will result in them getting ejected. Make sure to vote by Saturday at midnight eastern

I guarantee this is going to piss someone off. So that's why I already did my homework. As the constitution is currently written, I can kick anyone out for any reason. There is also no way for you to recall me under the current law.
 
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