Copyediting the Constibillocode!

[SillyString]

Okay so with the Kickstarter well underway to produce a print copy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the optional extras that include the Legal Code, I would really strongly like for the typos and mispunctuations in all three to be fixed up for publication.

So I have done that.

In order to guide The North Pacific in its practice of democratic governance we, the nations of The North Pacific, establish this constitution.

Article 1. Bill of Rights

1. All nations are guaranteed the rights defined by the Bill of Rights.

Article 2. The Regional Assembly

1. Resident means any person with a nation in the region of The North Pacific.
2. The Regional Assembly will consist of all citizens.
3. Requirements for citizenship will be determined by law.
4. The Regional Assembly may enact, amend, or repeal laws by a majority vote.
5. The Regional Assembly may remove a government official from office by a two-thirds majority vote.
6. The number of votes required to achieve quorum for any vote of the Regional Assembly except elections will be determined by law.
7. The Regional Assembly will elect a Speaker every four months by a majority vote.
8. The Speaker will administer the rules of the Regional Assembly. Where no rules exist, the Speaker may use their discretion.
9. Abstentions cast in the Regional Assembly will not be used to determine the result of any vote, but may be used for quorum and all other purposes.
10. The Speaker may appoint deputies to assist them in the execution of any of their powers and duties. Appointment of deputies may be regulated by law and the rules of the Regional Assembly.

Article 3. The Delegate and Vice Delegate

1. The Delegate will be the head of state and government of The North Pacific and hold the in-game position of delegate.
2. The Delegate may eject and ban nations from the region as permitted by law, and will eject or ban nations from the region when required by law.
3. The Delegate may negotiate treaties with foreign powers. No treaty will come into effect unless approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Regional Assembly.
4. When a proposal of the Regional Assembly to enact, amend, or repeal a law is passed, the Speaker shall promptly present it to the Delegate, and it shall take effect immediately upon their signature.
5. The Delegate may veto a proposal of the Regional Assembly to enact, amend, or repeal a law within one week of its passage.
6. The Regional Assembly may override such a veto by a two-thirds majority vote, which shall cause a proposal to take immediate effect.
7. If a proposal of the Regional Assembly to enact, amend, or repeal a law has not been signed or vetoed by the Delegate, it shall take effect seven days after being passed.
8. The Delegate may appoint executive officers to assist them and may dismiss these officers freely. Executive officers may be regulated by law.
9. The Vice Delegate will chair the Security Council and enforce the continued eligibility of its members as determined by law.
10.. The Vice Delegate will hold the second most endorsements in the region. The Delegate may eject or ban any nation which exceeds any legally mandated endorsement limit.
11. In the case of a vacancy or absence in the office of Delegate or Vice Delegate, the first available person in the line of succession will assume the duties of the vacated position. If a member of the line of succession assumes the duties of either position while serving in, or having assumed the duties of, any other constitutionally-mandated elected office, they will be considered absent from that office.
12. The Delegate and Vice Delegate will be elected by the Regional Assembly by a majority vote every four months. No person shall be elected Delegate to a full or partial term in three consecutive election cycles.

Article 4. Attorney General

1. The Regional Assembly will elect an Attorney General by majority vote every four months.
2. The Attorney General will have discretion to manage the prosecution of all criminal cases brought before the Court, save those outlined below, and will also act as a legal advisor to the Delegate, and the Executive, of The North Pacific upon request.
3. The Attorney General shall not be involved in the prosecution of any criminal case in which they are a defendant, a defense attorney, or a witness.
4. The Attorney General may appoint deputies to assist them in the execution of any of their powers and duties. Appointment of deputies may be regulated by law.

Article 5. The Court

1. The Court will try all criminal cases, resolve conflicts or ambiguities in the law, and review the constitutionality of laws or legality of government policies by request of an affected party.
2. The Court will consist of at least three Justices, who will select a Chief Justice among themselves.
3. The Chief Justice will administer the rules of the Court. Where no rules exist, the Chief Justice may use their discretion.
4. The official opinion of the Court in any trial or review will be binding on all Government bodies and officials.
5. Justices will be elected by the Regional Assembly by a plurality vote every four months.

Article 6. The Security Council

1. Any person who meets any endorsement and influence requirements determined by law may apply to become a member of the Security Council.
2. Once an application has been submitted, the Security Council may nominate that applicant by a majority vote. The Regional Assembly may confirm a nominated applicant by a majority vote. If the Security Council does not nominate an applicant or does not act on them within thirty days, the Regional Assembly may appoint the applicant by a two-thirds majority vote.
3. Nominations remain in effect until revoked by majority vote of the Security Council.
4. The Security Council will monitor the region's security and report on it to the public, and enforce decisions of the Regional Assembly to remove the Delegate.
5. The Regional Assembly may establish a line of succession by a majority vote. The line of succession must always include the Vice Delegate and all current Security Council members, and must always place the Vice Delegate first. If a new member is admitted to the Security Council, they will be automatically added at the end of the current line of succession. If a member is removed from the Security Council, they will be automatically removed from the line of succession.

Article 7. General Provisions

1. Constitutionally-mandated elected officials are the Delegate, Vice Delegate, Speaker, Justices, and Attorney General.
2. Government officials are the constitutionally-mandated elected officials, any officials appointed by them as permitted by law, and members of the Security Council.
3. The executive category consists of the Delegate, Vice Delegate, Attorney General, and government officials appointed by government officials in the executive category.
4. The legislative category consists of the Speaker, and government officials appointed by government officials in the legislative category.
5. The judicial category consists of the Justices, and government officials appointed by government officials in the judicial category .
6. Any temporary replacement for a government official in the case of an absence or vacancy will be considered a government official in the branch of the official being replaced, regardless of the method of their selection.
7. All government officials, with the exception of members of the Security Council, must maintain citizenship while in office.
8. All government officials will swear an oath of office. The content of these oaths will be determined by law and be legally binding.
9. No person may simultaneously serve in more than one constitutionally-mandated elected official positions.
10. No person may simultaneously serve in as a government official positions in more than one of the executive, legislative, or judicial categories. Exceptions to this provision may be established by law.
11. Candidates in any election must maintain citizenship for the fifteen days before the opening of candidacy declarations and throughout the election.
12. Government bodies may create rules for their own governance subordinate to this constitution and the laws.
13. Procedures to fill vacancies and absences in constitutionally-mandated elected offices may be established by law.
14. No law or government policy may contradict this constitution.

Article 8. The Regional Forum

1. The Regional Forum will be located at http://s13.zetaboards.com/TNP/.
2. Violation of forum Terms Of Service and moderation policies will be the responsibility of forum administration.

Article 9. Amendments

1. The Regional Assembly may amend this Constitution by a two-thirds majority vote.
2. The Regional Assembly may amend the Bill of Rights by a three-quarters majority vote.

The Bill of Rights for all Nations of The North Pacific

1. All Nations of The North Pacific are sovereign. Each Nation has the right of self-determination in that Nation's domestic policies, including, but not limited to, issue selection and WA membership.

2. Each Nation's rights to free speech, free press, and the free expression of religion shall not be infringed, and shall be encouraged, by the governmental authorities of the region. Each Nation has the right to assemble, and to petition the governmental authorities of the region, including the WA Delegate, for the redress of grievances. The governmental authorities of the region shall act only in the best interests of the Region, as permitted and limited under the Constitution.

3. Participation in the governmental authorities of the region is voluntary. Participation in the World Assembly shall not be a condition of participation in the governmental authorities of the region.

4. No Nation of The North Pacific holding WA member status in NationStates shall be obligated to endorse any official of a government authority of the region. The right to add an endorsement or withdraw an endorsement is a sovereign right of that Nation as a WA member.

5. All Nations of The North Pacific have the right to be protected against the abuse of powers by any official of a government authority of the region. Any Nation of The North Pacific has the right to request the recall of any official of a government authority of the region, in accordance with the Constitution, that who is deemed to have participated in such acts.

6. No Nation shall be held to answer for a crime in a manner not prescribed by the Constitution or the Legal Code. No Nation shall be subjected to being twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. No Nation shall ever be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against itself.

7. When charged with criminal acts, Nations of The North Pacific shall have a fair, impartial, and public trial before a neutral and impartial judicial officer. In any criminal proceeding, a Nation is presumed innocent unless guilt is proven to the fact finder by reasonably certain evidence. A Nation may be represented by any counsel of the Nation's choosing. No Nation convicted of a crime shall be subject to a punishment disproportionate to that crime.

8. The regional power of ejection and banning may not be granted or exercised, nor forum bans imposed, unless expressly authorized pursuant to the Constitution or the Legal Code. Any ejected or banned nation is entitled to prompt judicial review of the matter.

9. Each Nation in The North Pacific is guaranteed the organization and operation of the governmental authorities of the region on fundamental principles of democracy, accountability, and transparency. No action by the governmental authorities of the region shall deny to any Nation of The North Pacific, due process of law, including prior notice and the opportunity to be heard, nor deny to any Nation of The North Pacific the equal and fair treatment and protection of the provisions of the Constitution. No governmental authority shall have power to adopt or impose an ex post facto law or a bill of attainder as to any act for purposes of criminal proceedings.

10. Each Nation entitled to a vote in any manner under the fundamental laws of the region is entitled to the equal treatment and protection of that Nation's right to vote.

11. No governmental authority of the region has the power to suspend or disregard the Constitution or the Legal Code. In the event of an actual emergency, the governmental authorities of the region, with the express consent of the Nations of the region or their representatives, is are authorized to act in any reasonable manner that is consistent as practicable with the pertinent provisions of the Constitution.

Now, the Legal Code is waaaaaay too long to quote in full, especially since it's basically fine. Two things have to get fixed: the oath and the NPAD.

Section 4.1: Oath of Office

1. All government officials will take the Oath of Office below before assuming their role within the government of The North Pacific.

I, [forum username], do hereby solemnly swear that during my term as [government position], I will uphold the ideals of Ddemocracy, Ffreedom, and Jjustice of The Region of The North Pacific. I will use the powers and rights granted to me through The North Pacific Constitution and Legal Code in a legal, responsible, and unbiased manner, not abusing my power, committing misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, in any gross or excessive manner. I will act only in the best interests of The North Pacific, not influenced by personal gain or any outside force, and within the restraints of my legally granted power. As such, I hereby take up the office of [government position], with all the powers, rights, and responsibilities held therein.

Chapter 8: The North Pacific Army Doctrine

1. The North Pacific Armed Forces (the NPAF) has five primary purposes:

• To protect and defend the region of The North Pacific.
• To protect and defend the allies of The North Pacific.
• To assist the allies and friends of The North Pacific in whatever capacity is available.
• To maintain a well trained military.
• To implement regional defense and diplomatic policies as adopted under the laws of The North Pacific.

2. The NPAF is always permitted, consistent with adopted regional defense and diplomatic policies, to deploy under the following circumstances:

• To counter or preemptively stop a direct threat to The North Pacific or a direct threat to an ally of The North Pacific.
• To assist a region or organization as permitted by the delegate, an existing treaty, or the Executive Officer charged with military affairs.
• Upon the orders of the appointed Executive Officer charged with military affairs or a person thus delegated to act in their name.
• When the Regional Assembly mandates that the NPAF follow through on a declaration of war or a policy approved by the Regional Assembly.

3. The NPAF must follow all of the following criteria on every mission in foreign regions, except against designated enemy regions:

• Minimize collateral damage.
• Respect the culture of the region and the wishes of the natives.
• Minimize threat to The North Pacific and allies.
• Restore region to its original state before leaving.
• Contact the most recent native delegate when acting proactively.

4. The NPAF must operate so that:

• The Delegate can issue a blanket approval for the NPAF to work with a given organization. The Executive Officer charged with military affairs or the Delegate must still authorize individual missions.
• Any NPAF member may refuse to take part in any mission which does not directly impact TNP security for any reason that the Executive Officer charged with military affairs or the Delegate determines is reasonable.
• The Regional Assembly may override by simple majority vote any NPAF deployment not previously approved by the Regional Assembly. The Speaker shall accept motions to override for voting on an expedited basis.
• The Regional Assembly is promptly informed of any NPAF operation upon deployment, with the exception of operations which the Delegate specifically classifies. The Regional Assembly must be promptly informed of any classified operation, as well as the reasons for the classification, as soon as possible following deployment.

5. The NPAF must not do the following except following a regional consensus toward a region at war with TNP or a request from a recognized government in exile of that region:

• Remove any residents from an invaded region that resided in the region prior to said invasion;
• Act with any degree of disrespect;
• Alter the region's chosen embassy list against the wishes of the region's natives.

6. The NPAF leadership is empowered with the ability to determine the cosmetic details of military, including name, ranks and insignia, pending the outcome of a poll of active NPAF members.

This, at least, cleans up the mess that is the NPAD in the Legal Code right now. I have a separate proposal for how to make it actually good, but I will introduce that separately. If there is resistance to more substantive changes, fixing bad formatting is still A++. But if people like the other bill, I'll remove the NPAD section of this one and just amend it once.

 

[SillyString]

Edit: Nevermind. Substantive changes deserve own bill, no matter how small and insignificant.

Grammar, punctuation, and spelling only. ONLY.

Bad SillyString.

 

[Pallaith]

Let's do it I say! Full support, full steam ahead!

 

[Hundred Worlds]

Not the oath! Don't do it to the oath!

 

[Deleted User (Guest)]

No issues from me.

 

[Flemingovia]

Any chance of the flemingovan constitution being in an appendix?

 

[Crushing Our Enemies]

We have hit the stretch goal for extra pages, and we'll have a solid month to determine what to put them, so that can be considered. Don't want to get too off topic though. There's a thread in the agora all about the project where that could be discussed in more depth.

 

[Praetor]

Minor quibble. Is this proposal compatible with clause 5 of the Legislative Proposal Procedure?

 

[SillyString]

As of now there is no proposal, just some drafted changes. So, bite me!

 

[Pallaith]

I'm pretty sure there's a provision to allow changes to multiple documents. In any case, with the Kickstarter over, we need to get this finalized soon. Aside from the multiple document thing, are they any real objections to moving forward with this?

 

[Pallaith]

I'm pretty sure there's a provision to allow changes to multiple documents. In any case, with the Kickstarter over, we need to get this finalized soon. Aside from the multiple document thing, are they any real objections to moving forward with this?

Well, are there?

 

[SillyString]

Sry I am super lazy sometimes. Final version forthcoming.

 

[SillyString]

Okay, I'm going to cross my fingers and hope that this can get the 3/4 majority necessary to pass. C'mon, folks, it's just typos! I've clearly added some more things since the first draft. The vast majority of them are standardizing capitalizations - offices, documents, and bodies are capitalized; other nouns are decidedly not. I also found a few more errors and tightened up some clausing (for example, the COPS section of the criminal code had more clauses than it needed).

I still need to edit in the final versions of the two marked sections, based on the bills that have not yet been reflected in the Legal Code.

Also, the Speaker or a deputy will need to verify clause numbers if this passes. I have largely left them as-is, and have not gone through and renumbered everything as will be required based on the renumbering I did. The BoR and Constitution, of course, should be correct - it's just the Legal Code that might need some renumbering.

1. The Bill of Rights is amended as follows:

1. All nations of The North Pacific are sovereign. Each nation has the right of self-determination in that nation's domestic policies, including, but not limited to, issue selection and WA membership.

2. Each nation's rights to free speech, free press, and the free expression of religion shall not be infringed, and shall be encouraged, by the governmental authorities of the region. Each nation has the right to assemble, and to petition the governmental authorities of the region, including the WA Delegate, for the redress of grievances. The governmental authorities of the region shall act only in the best interests of the region, as permitted and limited under the Constitution.

3. Participation in the governmental authorities of the region is voluntary. Participation in the World Assembly shall not be a condition of participation in the governmental authorities of the region.

4. No nation of The North Pacific holding WA member status in NationStates shall be obligated to endorse any official of a government authority of the region. The right to add an endorsement or withdraw an endorsement is a sovereign right of that nation as a WA member.

5. All nations of The North Pacific have the right to be protected against the abuse of powers by any official of a government authority of the region. Any nation of The North Pacific has the right to request the recall of any official of a government authority of the region, in accordance with the Constitution, who is deemed to have participated in such acts.

6. No nation shall be held to answer for a crime in a manner not prescribed by the Constitution or the Legal Code. No nation shall be subjected to being twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. No nation shall ever be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against itself.

7. When charged with criminal acts, nations of The North Pacific shall have a fair, impartial, and public trial before a neutral and impartial judicial officer. In any criminal proceeding, a nation is presumed innocent unless guilt is proven to the fact finder by reasonably certain evidence. A nation may be represented by any counsel of the nation's choosing. No nation convicted of a crime shall be subject to a punishment disproportionate to that crime.

8. The regional power of ejection and banning may not be granted or exercised, nor forum bans imposed, unless expressly authorized pursuant to the Constitution or the Legal Code. Any ejected or banned nation is entitled to prompt judicial review of the matter.

9. Each nation in The North Pacific is guaranteed the organization and operation of the governmental authorities of the region on fundamental principles of democracy, accountability, and transparency. No action by the governmental authorities of the region shall deny to any nation of The North Pacific due process of law, including prior notice and the opportunity to be heard, nor deny to any nation of The North Pacific the equal and fair treatment and protection of the provisions of the Constitution. No governmental authority shall have power to adopt or impose an ex post facto law or a bill of attainder as to any act for purposes of criminal proceedings.

10. Each nation entitled to a vote in any manner under the fundamental laws of the region is entitled to the equal treatment and protection of that nation's right to vote.

11. No governmental authority of the region has the power to suspend or disregard the Constitution or the Legal Code. In the event of an actual emergency, the governmental authorities of the region, with the express consent of the nations of the region or their representatives, are authorized to act in any reasonable manner that is consistent as practicable with the pertinent provisions of the Constitution.

2. The Constitution is amended as follows:

In order to guide The North Pacific in its practice of democratic governance we, the nations of The North Pacific, establish this constitution.

Article 1. Bill of Rights

1. All nations are guaranteed the rights defined by the Bill of Rights.

Article 2. The Regional Assembly

1. Resident means any person with a nation in the region of The North Pacific.
2. The Regional Assembly will consist of all citizens.
3. Requirements for citizenship will be determined by law.
4. The Regional Assembly may enact, amend, or repeal laws by a majority vote.
5. The Regional Assembly may remove a government official from office by a two-thirds majority vote.
6. The number of votes required to achieve quorum for any vote of the Regional Assembly except elections will be determined by law.
7. The Regional Assembly will elect a Speaker every four months by a majority vote.
8. The Speaker will administer the rules of the Regional Assembly. Where no rules exist, the Speaker may use their discretion.
9. Abstentions cast in the Regional Assembly will not be used to determine the result of any vote, but may be used for quorum and all other purposes.
10. The Speaker may appoint deputies to assist them in the execution of any of their powers and duties. Appointment of deputies may be regulated by law and the rules of the Regional Assembly.

Article 3. The Delegate and Vice Delegate

1. The Delegate will be the head of state and government of The North Pacific and hold the in-game position of delegate.
2. The Delegate may eject and ban nations from the region as permitted by law, and will eject or ban nations from the region when required by law.
3. The Delegate may negotiate treaties with foreign powers. No treaty will come into effect unless approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Regional Assembly.
4. When a proposal of the Regional Assembly to enact, amend, or repeal a law is passed, the Speaker shall promptly present it to the Delegate, and it shall take effect immediately upon their signature.
5. The Delegate may veto a proposal of the Regional Assembly to enact, amend, or repeal a law within one week of its passage.
6. The Regional Assembly may override such a veto by a two-thirds majority vote, which shall cause a proposal to take immediate effect.
7. If a proposal of the Regional Assembly to enact, amend, or repeal a law has not been signed or vetoed by the Delegate, it shall take effect seven days after being passed.
8. The Delegate may appoint Executive Officers to assist them and may dismiss these officers freely. Executive Officers may be regulated by law.
9. The Vice Delegate will chair the Security Council and enforce the continued eligibility of its members as determined by law.
10. The Vice Delegate will hold the second most endorsements in the region. The Delegate may eject or ban any nation which exceeds any legally mandated endorsement limit.
11. In the case of a vacancy or absence in the office of Delegate or Vice Delegate, the first available person in the line of succession will assume the duties of the vacated position. If a member of the line of succession assumes the duties of either position while serving in, or having assumed the duties of, any other constitutionally-mandated elected office, they will be considered absent from that office.
12. The Delegate and Vice Delegate will be elected by the Regional Assembly by a majority vote every four months. No person shall be elected Delegate to a full or partial term in three consecutive election cycles.

Article 4. Attorney General

1. The Regional Assembly will elect an Attorney General by majority vote every four months.
2. The Attorney General will have discretion to manage the prosecution of all criminal cases brought before the Court, save those outlined below, and will also act as a legal advisor to the Delegate and the executive branch of The North Pacific upon request.
3. The Attorney General shall not be involved in the prosecution of any criminal case in which they are a defendant, a defense attorney, or a witness.
4. The Attorney General may appoint deputies to assist them in the execution of any of their powers and duties. Appointment of deputies may be regulated by law.

Article 5. The Court

1. The Court will try all criminal cases, resolve conflicts or ambiguities in the law, and review the constitutionality of laws or legality of government policies by request of an affected party.
2. The Court will consist of at least three Justices, who will select a Chief Justice among themselves.
3. The Chief Justice will administer the rules of the Court. Where no rules exist, the Chief Justice may use their discretion.
4. The official opinion of the Court in any trial or review will be binding on all government bodies and officials.
5. Justices will be elected by the Regional Assembly by a plurality vote every four months.

Article 6. The Security Council

1. Any person who meets any endorsement and influence requirements determined by law may apply to become a member of the Security Council.
2. Once an application has been submitted, the Security Council may nominate that applicant by a majority vote. The Regional Assembly may confirm a nominated applicant by a majority vote. If the Security Council does not nominate an applicant or does not act on them within thirty days, the Regional Assembly may appoint the applicant by a two-thirds majority vote.
3. Nominations remain in effect until revoked by majority vote of the Security Council.
4. The Security Council will monitor the region's security and report on it to the public, and enforce decisions of the Regional Assembly to remove the Delegate.
5. The Regional Assembly may establish a line of succession by a majority vote. The line of succession must always include the Vice Delegate and all current Security Council members, and must always place the Vice Delegate first. If a new member is admitted to the Security Council, they will be automatically added at the end of the current line of succession. If a member is removed from the Security Council, they will be automatically removed from the line of succession.

Article 7. General Provisions

1. Constitutionally-mandated elected officials are the Delegate, Vice Delegate, Speaker, Justices, and Attorney General.
2. Government officials are the constitutionally-mandated elected officials, any officials appointed by them as permitted by law, and members of the Security Council.
3. The executive category consists of the Delegate, Vice Delegate, Attorney General, and government officials appointed by government officials in the executive category.
4. The legislative category consists of the Speaker, and government officials appointed by government officials in the legislative category.
5. The judicial category consists of the Justices, and government officials appointed by government officials in the judicial category .
6. Any temporary replacement for a government official in the case of an absence or vacancy will be considered a government official in the branch of the official being replaced, regardless of the method of their selection.
7. All government officials, with the exception of members of the Security Council, must maintain citizenship while in office.
8. All government officials will swear an oath of office. The content of these oaths will be determined by law and be legally binding.
9. No person may simultaneously serve in more than one constitutionally-mandated elected official positions.
10. No person may simultaneously serve as a government official in more than one of the executive, legislative, or judicial categories. Exceptions to this provision may be established by law.
11. Candidates in any election must maintain citizenship for the fifteen days before the opening of candidacy declarations and throughout the election.
12. Government bodies may create rules for their own governance subordinate to this constitution and the laws.
13. Procedures to fill vacancies and absences in constitutionally-mandated elected offices may be established by law.
14. No law or government policy may contradict this constitution.

Article 8. The Regional Forum

1. The Regional Forum will be located at http://s13.zetaboards.com/TNP/.
2. Violation of forum Terms Of Service and moderation policies will be the responsibility of forum administration.

Article 9. Amendments

1. The Regional Assembly may amend this Constitution by a two-thirds majority vote.
2. The Regional Assembly may amend the Bill of Rights by a three-quarters majority vote.

3. The Preamble of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

In order to present a clearer and more comprehensible legal system, the Regional Assembly undertakes to keep the law of The North Pacific organized and clear. This Code will be divided into several chapters, which may contain sections. Clauses must be numbered consecutively within a chapter beginning with the number 1. Clauses may have subclauses in the form of letters in the event that a list must be referenced in the clause. Clauses may be referenced by chapter, clause number, and, if applicable, sub-clause letter, but clause numbers and sub-clause letters will not be considered part of the law, nor will they have any legal effects. The Speaker will manage the numbering of clauses in accordance with the above requirements.

4. Chapter 1, Clause 1 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

1. No criminal case may be brought before the Court of The North Pacific against any resident for any crime not listed in the Criminal Code.

5. Chapter 1, Section 4 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

13. "Crashing" is defined as any unauthorized action which could cause a forum to go out of service or lose information, including the deletion of posts, the deletion of a forum, spamming, or any other act of such kind.
14. "Phishing" is defined as any attempt to gain access to off-site property controls or passwords by deception, especially by posing as administrators or moderators for any unauthorized use. It also includes the collection of personal information kept at the forum.
15. "Spamming" is defined as any action by non-region nationals to waste space or cause shock on any off-site property or regional message board to make it unusable. It includes any attempt to force a denial-of-service error on a forum and any attempt to flood the RMB of a region which is not that nation's normal abode.
16. No nation of The North Pacific may perform, order, condone, or accept as legal, crashing, phishing, or spamming.

6. Chapter 1, Section 5 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

19. "Proxying" is defined as use of a proxy server to render a forum user anonymous or any practice which allows a member multiple accounts.
20. Forum administrators will inform the government and the Court of proxying they observe.

7. Chapter 1, Section 6 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

21. Recruitment for other regions on the Regional Message Board may be regulated or prohibited by delegate decree.

8. Chapter 1, Section 9 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

24. Exceptions for treason, espionage or proxying may be given to members of the military and intelligence services with the consent of the Delegate and the appropriate Executive Officer when on officially sanctioned missions for the purposes of preserving regional security.

9. Chapter 2 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

1. Criminal acts may be punished by restrictions on basic rights, in a manner proportionate to the crime at the discretion of the Court unless specified in this chapter.
2. Treason will be punished by ejection and banning, and removal of any basic rights for whatever duration the Court sees fit.
3. Espionage will be punished by the suspension of speech and/or voting rights for whatever finite duration the Court sees fit.
4. Crashing, phishing, or spamming may be punished by ejection and banning, the removal of any and all basic rights for whatever duration the Court sees fit, and/or banning by forum administration.
5. Proxying may be punished by ejection and banning, the removal of any basic rights for whatever duration the Court sees fit, and/or banning by forum administration.
6. Adspam prohibited by the Delegate may be punished by adspam suppression and summary ejection and/or banning from the region.
7. Conspiracy will be punished by a sentence strictly less than what would be appropriate for the original crime.
8. Gross misconduct will be punished by removal from office and the suspension of voting rights for whatever finite duration the Court sees fit.

10. Chapter 3, Clause 1 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

1. These procedures will govern the judiciary.

11. Chapter 3, Section 1 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

2. Whenever the position is vacant, the Justices shall elect a Chief Justice from among themselves by a majority vote.
3. In the event that a Chief Justice has not been elected by seven days after the conclusion of a judicial election, including the conclusion of any required run-off votes, the Chief Justice shall be the Justice who received the highest number of votes in said election. In the event of a tie for highest number of votes, the Chief Justice shall be the one among those tied with the longest period of citizenship.

12. Chapter 3, Section 3 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

11. A standard procedure for all criminal trials will be established by majority agreement of the Court.
12. The Delegate may eject and/or ban a particular nation from the region pending criminal charges against them, or prior to the conclusion of an ongoing criminal trial in which they are the defendant, only when that nation poses a clear security threat and their removal is necessary for the protection of the region.
13. The Delegate must seek the approval of the Court for any such ejection or ban. Where possible, this approval must be sought prior to the nation's removal from the region. Otherwise, it must be sought within one day of the action.
14. If the ejection or ban is performed during a criminal trial against that nation, approval will be at the discretion of the Justice moderating the trial. Otherwise, any single Justice may approve or deny the Delegate's request.
15. Any nation ejected or banned under this section may file an appeal of the decision. These appeals may not be denied, and must be decided by the full court.
16. The Delegate must immediately provide any nation ejected or banned under this section with a link to the Courtroom and inform them of their right to file an appeal.
17. If criminal charges are not brought against a nation ejected or banned under this section, or if the criminal charges are rejected by the Court, or if the nation is not found guilty at the conclusion of the trial, any ban against that nation which was imposed under this section must be revoked.

13. Chapter 4, Section 1 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

1. All government officials will take the oath of office below before assuming their role within the government of The North Pacific.

I, [forum username], do hereby solemnly swear that during my term as [government position], I will uphold the ideals of democracy, freedom, and justice. I will use the powers and rights granted to me through The North Pacific Constitution and Legal Code in a legal, responsible, and unbiased manner, not abusing my power, committing misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, in any gross or excessive manner. I will act only in the best interests of The North Pacific, not influenced by personal gain or any outside force, and within the restraints of my legally granted power. As such, I hereby take up the office of [government position], with all the powers, rights, and responsibilities held therein.

2. All elected government officials will be required to take the oath of office within one week of their election, as certified by the Election Commission.
3. All government officials subject to confirmation by the Regional Assembly will be required to take the oath of office within one week of their confirmation, as verified by the Speaker.
4. All other government officials will be required to take the oath of office within one week of their appointment, as publicly announced.
5. The taking of the oath constitutes assumption of the office. Failure to post the oath within the allotted time will result in the office being considered vacant.

14. Chapter 4, Section 2, Clause 9 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

9. A "vacancy" in an office occurs when the holder of it resigns, is removed, or abandons it. An office is abandoned when its holder does not log onto the regional forums for two weeks without prior notice, or when an election winner or appointee fails to post the oath of office. Pending an election, a vacancy may be temporarily filled as provided by the Constitution, this Legal Code, or a rule adopted by the appropriate body.

15. Chapter 4, Section 3 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

11. The Election Commission consists of at least five but no more than nine citizens appointed by the Delegate and confirmed by a majority vote of the Regional Assembly.
12. Any citizen may be appointed to the Election Commission. Citizens will be exempt from constitutional restrictions on holding multiple government offices for purposes of their appointment to the Election Commission.
13. The term of an Election Commissioner will be six months, beginning on the day they take the oath of office.The Delegate does not have the power to remove an Election Commissioner.
14. All elections will be supervised by two Election Commissioners.
15. An Election Commissioner will be considered absent during any election in which they are a candidate, or during which their term started or is scheduled to end. Absent Election Commissioners may not supervise an election or participate in any decisions made by the Election Commission as a whole.
16. If there are fewer than five non-absent Election Commissioners, the remaining Commissioners will appoint temporary replacements to bring their number up to five. If all Election Commissioners are absent, the Delegate will appoint five temporary replacements. These replacements will serve until the number of non-absent commissioners is five or greater.
17. The Election Commission will have the power to make rules for the supervision of elections. Where no rules exist, the Election Commissioners supervising a given election may use their discretion.
18. Any citizen may petition the full Election Commission to review a decision made by the Election Commissioners supervising a given election. If necessary, the election may be halted while the Election Commission decides how to proceed.
19. If the full Election Commission determines that the actions under review are not in compliance with the law or their adopted rules, they will have the power, by majority vote, to overrule them. If deemed necessary, they will also have the power, by majority vote, to restart the election, or designate different Commissioners to supervise the election.

16. Chapter 5, Section 3 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

14. Whenever any Council member fails to meet the influence or endorsement count requirements to maintain their position without being granted an exemption, the Vice Delegate must promptly warn them. If the Council member does not come into compliance within eight days of the warning, the Vice Delegate must suspend them.
15. The Vice Delegate must promptly remove members of the Council whose member nations no longer exist, voluntarily depart The North Pacific, or resign from the World Assembly outside the needs of a NPA sanctioned mission.
16. The Vice Delegate must report any suspension or removal of a member of the Council to the Regional Assembly.
17. If a suspended member of the Council comes back into compliance with the endorsement and influence requirements, the Vice Delegate must promptly reinstate them.
18. If a Councilor's continued membership in the Council poses a security risk to The North Pacific, the Council may, by majority vote, request that the Regional Assembly vote on removing that Council member.
19. The Speaker must submit any such request from the Council to an immediate two-thirds majority vote of the Regional Assembly.

17. All instances of "serving Delegate" in Chapter 6 of the legal code are amended to "Serving Delegate".
18. Chapter 6, Clause 1 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

1. Any law regulating the voting or membership of the Regional Assembly of The North Pacific must be listed in this chapter.

19. Chapter 6, Section 2 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

11. The Speaker will maintain a publicly viewable roster of citizens.
12. The Speaker will promptly remove any citizens whose removal is ordered by the Court, or whose nation in The North Pacific leaves or ceases to exist.
13. The Speaker will promptly remove any citizens who fail to post in The North Pacific forum for over 30 consecutive days.
14. Citizens that have submitted a notice of absence, in accordance with any regulations set by the Speaker, shall be exempt from the provisions of the above clause for the stated duration of their absence.

20. Chapter 6, Section 4 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

17. A region or organization "at war" with The North Pacific is one which has made a formal declaration, or made acts of war against The North Pacific, or vice versa, as deemed by a three-fifths majority vote of the Regional Assembly.
18. War does not constitute actions taken by or against any army of The North Pacific abroad unless the conflict meets the conditions above.
19. A state of war exists until a formal peace treaty, surrender, or similar, is recognized by the Regional Assembly.

21. Chapter 7, Section 2 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

5. Regional Officers may only be appointed and granted powers as explicitly allowed under this section.
6. The Serving Delegate may assign any regional power, with the exception of border control, to any Executive Officer.
7. The Serving Delegate may assign border control powers to any of the three members of the Security Council earliest in the line of succession.
8. In the event of a delegacy emergency, or with the permission of a majority vote of the Regional Assembly, the Delegate may assign border control powers to any members of the Security Council.
9. The WA Delegate will promptly grant all regional powers to the Serving Delegate and assigned powers to the respective Executive Officers or Security Council members.

22. Chapter 7, Section 3 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

10. Violators of NationStates rules may be subject to summary ejection or banning.
11. Nations recruiting for other regions may be subject to summary ejection or banning.
12. Nations for which the Court has issued an indictment permitting it may be ejected or banned.
13. Nations which have been so sentenced by the Court will be ejected or banned.
14. The official performing an ejection or ban will promptly inform the region and government.
15. The Serving Delegate may regulate the Regional Message Board as they see fit.
16. Such regulations may not prohibit speech which is in the context of TNP politics.
17. All actions of the WA Delegate, the Serving Delegate, or of their appointed Regional Officers related to this section will be subject to judicial review.

23. Chapter 7, Section 4 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

19. The Attorney General will have standing in all cases of judicial review brought before the Court.
20. Any person ("the complainant") may submit a criminal complaint to the office of the Attorney General, requesting that a criminal case be brought before the Court.
21. The Attorney General may, at their discretion, manage the prosecution of any criminal case requested.
22. Any relevant person who is a defendant, the defense attorney, or a witness in a criminal case will be unavailable to manage the prosecution of the case.
23. In the event that the Attorney General is unavailable, the Serving Delegate will appoint an existing and available deputy Attorney General. The appointed deputy Attorney General may, at their discretion, manage the prosecution of the case.
24. Failing the existence of an available deputy Attorney General, the first available person from the following list may act as such a deputy Attorney General for the duration of the case:

• The Serving Delegate
• The Serving Vice Delegate
• Any resident (consensually) chosen by the complainant.

25. It is the duty of the Attorney General to see to completion any case they have decided to manage.
26. If the original Attorney General is unable to see a pending case to completion after the end of their term, the successor Attorney General will take over the management of that case.
27. If the Attorney General declines to manage the prosecution of a requested criminal case, then the complainant may, at their discretion, manage the prosecution of that criminal case. Otherwise, they may withdraw the complaint.
28. If the complainant has not stated their intent to either manage the prosecution of the case or withdraw the complaint within 30 days of the Attorney General and their deputies declining the case, the complaint will be considered withdrawn.
29. For the purposes of this section, "managing the prosecution of a case" includes, but is not limited to:

• submitting an indictment to the Court for the relevant charges;
• arguing on the acceptance or rejection of the indictment;
• acting as the prosecutor for the duration of all stages of the criminal trial heard for the case;
• representing the prosecution in any separate judicial review hearings arising from the criminal trial;
• and appointing, directing, and removing an attorney to act in the above capacity in their place.

24. Chapter 7, Section 5 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

31. For the purposes of this section, classified information is that which fits any of the below definitions:

• Real life information about any NationStates player from which there is a risk of inferring that player's real life identity and which has not willingly been disclosed to the public, including, but not limited to, an individual's name, IP address, physical address or location, phone number, place of employment or education, appearance, social media accounts, and other knowledge about a player, unless the player in question provides explicit consent for this information not to be considered private.
• Real life information about any NationStates player for which there exists a reasonable real life expectation of privacy or discretion, including, but not limited to, health status, both mental and physical; financial status; personal tragedies; changes in personal status such as marriage, divorce, pregnancy, birth, or death; and other similar information, unless the player in question provides explicit consent for this information not to be considered private.
• Information that, upon being made public, would jeopardize any ongoing military or intelligence operations; or jeopardize the security of units and agents participating in them, or be harmful to the diplomatic interests, military interests, or security of The North Pacific.

32. Notwithstanding any process for publication, any information which meets the criteria to be classified will not be released.
33. Private executive records which reach one year of age will be relocated to the appropriate declassified archive visible to residents.
34. At any time, a resident may request the release of any private executive record from the Delegate and the designated officers of the executive.
35. The Delegate and the designated officers of the executive will retrieve information requested from the different executive departments.
36. Residents who do not receive this information for any reason not specifically designated in appropriate laws or regulations may file a request for the information with the Court, where the Delegate and the designated officers of the executive may present evidence that addresses any claim that release of the information meets one or more of the acceptable criteria for classification.
37. Information appropriately not disclosed will be accepted as classified by a majority vote of the Court sitting as a three-member panel.

25. Chapter 7, Section 6 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

38. There will be an Executive Officer charged with The North Pacific's foreign affairs. They will ensure the continued operation of any embassies of The North Pacific and will report on events in the region.
39. There will be an Executive Officer charged with military affairs. They will carry out such legal missions as are authorized by the Delegate, expressly or categorically.
40. There will be at least one Executive Officer charged with matters of internal interest to The North Pacific.

26. Chapter 8 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

1. The North Pacific Armed Forces (the NPAF) has five primary purposes:

• To protect and defend the region of The North Pacific.
• To protect and defend the allies of The North Pacific.
• To assist the allies and friends of The North Pacific in whatever capacity is available.
• To maintain a well trained military.
• To implement regional defense and diplomatic policies as adopted under the laws of The North Pacific.

2. The NPAF is always permitted, consistent with adopted regional defense and diplomatic policies, to deploy under the following circumstances:

• To counter or preemptively stop a direct threat to The North Pacific or a direct threat to an ally of The North Pacific.
• To assist a region or organization as permitted by the delegate, an existing treaty, or the Executive Officer charged with military affairs.
• Upon the orders of the appointed Executive Officer charged with military affairs or a person thus delegated to act in their name.
• When the Regional Assembly mandates that the NPAF follow through on a declaration of war or a policy approved by the Regional Assembly.

3. The NPAF must follow all of the following criteria on every mission in foreign regions, except against designated enemy regions:

• Minimize collateral damage.
• Respect the culture of the region and the wishes of the natives.
• Minimize threat to The North Pacific and allies.
• Restore region to its original state before leaving.
• Contact the most recent native delegate when acting proactively.

4. The NPAF must operate so that:

• The Delegate can issue a blanket approval for the NPAF to work with a given organization. The Executive Officer charged with military affairs or the Delegate must still authorize individual missions.
• Any NPAF member may refuse to take part in any mission which does not directly impact TNP security for any reason that the Executive Officer charged with military affairs or the Delegate determines is reasonable.
• The Regional Assembly may override by simple majority vote any NPAF deployment not previously approved by the Regional Assembly. The Speaker shall accept motions to override for voting on an expedited basis.
• The Regional Assembly is promptly informed of any NPAF operation upon deployment, with the exception of operations which the Delegate specifically classifies. The Regional Assembly must be promptly informed of any classified operation, as well as the reasons for the classification, as soon as possible following deployment.

5. The NPAF must not do the following except following a regional consensus toward a region at war with TNP or a request from a recognized government in exile of that region:

• Remove any residents from an invaded region that resided in the region prior to said invasion;
• Act with any degree of disrespect;
• Alter the region's chosen embassy list against the wishes of the region's natives.

6. The NPAF leadership is empowered with the ability to determine the cosmetic details of military, including name, ranks and insignia, pending the outcome of a poll of active NPAF members.

27. Chapter 9, Section 2 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

3. A NationStates event involving an outbreak of an infectious disease shall be considered an actual emergency, and does not require a declaration by the Regional Assembly.
4. In advance of an outbreak, or promptly after an outbreak begins, the Delegate must present a poll to the public regarding how the government should respond. The poll must contain at least three substantially different options. The government will respond according to the will of the public expressed through that poll.
5. During an outbreak, the Delegate is authorized to act in any reasonable manner to pursue the adopted plan. This includes, but is not limited to, ejecting or banning nations from the region who have entered the region during the crisis and imposing restrictions on national movement into the region.
6. Nations ejected or banned because of the outbreak must be promptly unbanned and invited to return once the emergency is over.
7. During an outbreak, no nation may have their status as a resident or citizen removed solely for leaving the region, so long as they return within three days of the end of the emergency.
8. Following an outbreak, the Speaker must promptly contact any resident or citizen who remains outside the region, and inform them that they are at risk of losing their status if they do not return within three days.

28. Chapter 9, Section 3 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

9. The existence of widespread obstacles that impede access to the official forum of The North Pacific, including, but not limited to, denial-of-service attacks and prolonged server downtime, shall be considered an actual emergency, and does not require a declaration by the Regional Assembly.
10. The governmental authorities of the region must inform the public of any forum access emergency, and continue to provide updates to the extent that is practicable for the duration of the emergency.
11. During a forum access emergency, no resident may be penalized for failing to take actions for which access to the forum is required.
12. The governmental authorities of the region are authorized to take any reasonable actions which they deem appropriate and which are consistent with the spirit and intent of regional laws to preserve the continuity of both community and government for the duration of the emergency.

29. Chapter 9, Section 4 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

13. The resignation, recall, or loss of World Assembly membership of the legal or acting Delegate, or any capture of the delegacy of The North Pacific by any nation not the legal or acting Delegate, shall be considered an actual emergency, and does not require a declaration by the Regional Assembly.
14. Delegacy emergencies that fall outside the scope of the above clause may be declared by majority vote of the Regional Assembly only with the recommendation of the legal or acting Vice Delegate, in consultation with the Security Council.
15. During a delegacy emergency, the legal or acting Delegate may authorize any individual in the line of succession to hold the delegacy and to take any actions related to that position, including, but not limited to, voting in the World Assembly, moderating the Regional Message Board, and ejecting and banning nations from the region.
16. The in-game Delegate must follow any instructions from the legal or acting Delegate as to the execution of their powers.

30. Chapter 10, Clause 1 is amended as follows:

1. This chapter will include laws concerning The North Pacific's history and culture.

31. Chapter 10, Section 1 is amended as follows:

2. The following coat of arms, based on a design by Thel D'Ran and updated by the Ministry of Culture of The North Pacific, is adopted as the coat of arms of The North Pacific:

3. The arms are blazoned as: Barry wavy of four argent and azure, on a chief azure the North Star or and argent, the shield ensigned with a Mural Crown or.
4. Each institution in The North Pacific's government may establish for itself a seal which uses the arms of The North Pacific.
5. The coat of arms of The North Pacific may not be used except to represent The North Pacific or an official regional entity.
6. The following flag, as designed by Thel D'Ran and updated by the Ministry of Culture of The North Pacific, is adopted as the official flag of The North Pacific:

32. Chapter 10, Section 2 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

7. The first of January shall be known as Remembrance Day, and shall provide an occasion for nations to remember those players who have left the region and the game of NationStates.
8. The twenty-sixth of April shall be Flag Day, and shall commemorate and celebrate the adoption of the flag of The North Pacific.
9. The twenty-sixth of May shall be Manumission Day, and shall commemorate the end of the delegacy of Pixiedance, and celebrate the return of a democratic government to the region.
10. The seventh of July, the day the Constitution was ratified, shall be known as Democracy Day, and shall commemorate the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Legal Code of the North Pacific.
11. The twenty-eighth of July shall be Liberation Day, and shall commemorate and celebrate the overthrow of Great Bight and return of a native government to the region.
12. The ninth of September shall be Delegates' Day, and shall acknowledge the hard work of Delegates past and present and celebrate their great contributions to the region.
13. The thirteenth of November shall be Creation Day, and shall commemorate and celebrate the establishment of NationStates; and provide an opportunity to extend fellowship throughout the NationStates communities.
14. The twenty-third of November shall be Founders' Day, and shall commemorate and celebrate the establishment of the first official forum of The North Pacific, and through it the community which has kept The North Pacific as the preeminent region in NationStates.

33. Chapter 10, Section 3 of the Legal Code is amended as follows:

15. Flemingovianism shall be adopted as the religion and church of The North Pacific.
16. All nations are guaranteed freedom of expression of all, any, or no religious belief, and that freedom shall not be curtailed.
17. The Flemingovian religion shall receive no financial or tax advantages through being the religion of The North Pacific.
18. Holidays of the Flemingovian religion shall be observed regionally, and all nations shall have the right to take a day off work, unpaid, on those holidays. Government officials are excluded from the effects of this clause.
19. No nation shall serve on the cabinet or any other appointed government position by virtue of their status in the Flemingovian religion.
20. Flemingovian officials may participate, as invited by the Delegate, at all state functions.

34. No portion of this bill will take effect unless this whole bill takes effect.

 

[Pallaith]

Awesome, and seems super straightforward. Let's rock and roll!

 

[SillyString]

I move that the above bill go to vote.

I request that the formal debate period be waived, that the vote be expedited to begin as soon as possible, and that the length of the vote be shortened. I request all of these in order to pass these edits in time for them to make it into the printed Pocket Constitution.

 

[Owenstacey]

Motion recognised and formal debate period has been waived. The vote has been scheduled to begin in two days (07/07/2017).

 

[SillyString]

I would like to withdraw the motion to vote on this bill.

 

[Owenstacey]

Motion recognised and vote cancelled.

 

[vashnis]

Even I can't find an objection. Maybe it...makes us look too official? I really don't know. I'll just have to support it.

 

[SillyString]

To explain why I chose to withdraw this from vote, it was correctly pointed out to me that this is actually a very major bill. It amends a majority of sections in all three documents, and, as I presented it without a marked-up version, pushing it to a short vote this quickly, with no formal debate period, is asking the citizens of TNP to take it on faith that nothing more substantive was changed. I know I didn't, but blind trust isn't exactly the height of the democractic process.

So I'm going to try to embrace the Japanese ideal of wabi sabi, the beauty of imperfections, and be at peace (as much as I can be, anyway) with the printed version being full of typos and inconsistencies.

And then fix it for next year.

 

[Dabum17]

Soo, what's going on with this?

 

[Owenstacey]

Look at the previous post from SillyString Dabum17