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The Charter of the South Pacific was constructed during the 2016 Great Council by Sandaoguo and their Working Draft Group. This is a constitutional law and requires and a 60% super majority in order for any amendment to pass. It is currently the most powerful document of the Coalition. | {{Infobox treaty | ||
| name = The Charter of the South Pacific | |||
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| date_drafted = 4-28-2016 | |||
| date_signed = 5-26-2016 | |||
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| amendment = 35 | |||
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| parties = {{flag|The South Pacific}}<br><hr /> | |||
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| language = English | |||
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The '''Charter of the South Pacific''' was constructed during the 2016 Great Council by Sandaoguo and their Working Draft Group. This is a constitutional law and requires and a 60% super majority in order for any amendment to pass. It is currently the most powerful document of the Coalition. | |||
The debate can be found [https://tspforums.xyz/thread-4023.html here] | The debate can be found [https://tspforums.xyz/thread-4023.html here] | ||
Revision as of 21:00, 29 May 2020
| Drafted | 4-28-2016 |
|---|---|
| Signed | 5-26-2016 |
| Amendment | 35 |
| Parties |  The South Pacific |
| Language | English |
The Charter of the South Pacific was constructed during the 2016 Great Council by Sandaoguo and their Working Draft Group. This is a constitutional law and requires and a 60% super majority in order for any amendment to pass. It is currently the most powerful document of the Coalition.
The debate can be found here
The vote can be found here
A table is here for convenience:
| Sandaoguo (Working Group Draft) | No change | |
|---|---|---|
| Sandaoguo (Working Group Draft) | 0 | 25 |
| No Change | 2 | 0 |
One (1) ballot was discarded for being incomplete.
By a vote of 25-2 (92.59%), the proposal as proposed by Sandaoguo (Working Group Draft) was adopted by the Great Council of 2016. This proposal was originally ratified on 5-26-2016, 11:17 am.
Present Charter
THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC Preamble
The Assembly of the Coalition of the South Pacific, representing our diverse community, convenes to establish this fundamental law of our region, to uphold democratic principles and rights, and provide for the security of our unified community both on the forums and in the game.
I. CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS
Defining the supreme laws of our community.
(1) Laws that form the foundation of our community, are considered fundamental to governance, or otherwise are considered of great importance by the Assembly, are to be known as “constitutional laws” and marked as such.
(2) Constitutional laws hold precedence and supremacy over all other laws, regulations, and policies of all branches of government.
(3) This Charter is a constitutional law holding supremacy over all others, and defines the purpose of our government and its framework.
(4) Any constitutional law that directly affects the gameside community or its home governance, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, must also be debated and voted upon by the gameside community.
II. SOVEREIGNTY
Outlining the sovereignty of the Coalition and the origins of legitimacy.
(1) The sovereignty of the region lies with the Coalition of the South Pacific. No other group claiming legitimacy will be recognized. The integrity of the Coalition, in its forums and the region, shall not be challenged or violated by any government official, internal dissidents, or other regions.
(2) Authority and legitimacy are held jointly by the region and the forum, and the union between the two is what defines the Coalition. No illegitimate invader or usurper of the region shall be recognized.
III. RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Recognizing the democratic rights and freedoms of all members of the Coalition.
(1) All members of the South Pacific will enjoy the freedoms of expression, speech, assembly, and the press, limited only by reasonable moderation policies.
(2) The right to a fair trial and defense against criminal accusations will not be abridged. No member may be subject to any bill of attainder, be tried for the same crime more than once, or be tried ex post facto.
(3) No member, who had joined the region in good faith, may be banned or ejected from the in-game region without the due process of law.
(4) No member may be denied the right to vote or hold office, unless prohibited by constitutional law.
(5) No law may be passed by the Assembly that directly affects the activities of the in-game community without the consent of the in-game community.
(6) The High Court may strike down any general law or action that violates any right or freedom found in this Charter.
IV. THE ASSEMBLY
Establishing legislative authority in the Assembly.
(1) The Assembly holds supreme legislative authority in the Coalition, and is comprised of all eligible legislators.
(2) The Assembly will elect a Legislator as Chair for a term lasting four months. The Chair is responsible for maintaining order and decorum, and helping guide Assembly debate into the creation of bills. If a Chair is recalled, loses Legislator status, or is otherwise not in office, a new Chair will be elected for a new term lasting four months. The Election Commissioner will be responsible for organizing Chair elections.
(3) The Chair may appoint a deputy or deputies, to whom the Chair may publicly delegate any powers, responsibilities, or special projects of the Chair, subject to all regulations and restrictions imposed upon the Chair by law. The Chair may dismiss such deputies.
(4) During an interim period in which the Chair is not in office prior to the election of a new Chair, a deputy appointed by the previous Chair will serve as Acting Chair to exercise all powers and responsibilities of the Chair, subject to all regulations and restrictions imposed upon the Chair by law. In the event that more than one deputy was appointed, the most senior deputy according to the order of appointment and availability will serve as Acting Chair. In the event that no deputy was appointed or is available, the Cabinet will designate a legislator to serve as Acting Chair.
Legislator Eligibility
(5) A standing commission of legislators will be tasked with granting and revoking legislator status. All residents of the Coalition are eligible to attain legislator status through an application. Continued legislator status requires active membership and good behaviour.
V. THE LOCAL COUNCIL
Establishing home rule for the in-game region residents.
(1) The Local Council will be the local government of the in-game community, composed of three or more residents of the South Pacific, and will represent the interests of all players in the region, moderate the Regional Message Board, encourage activity on the gameside, and administrate itself on issues unique to the in-game community.
(2) The Local Council is entitled to self-administration within its jurisdiction on local issues, but may not pass laws or regulations that contradict this Charter or constitutional laws. To that end, the Assembly may not enact any law, nor the Cabinet deliver any directive, that is solely related to an issue local to the in-game community.
(3) The Local Council may not be denied the authority to run regional polls, create and pin Dispatches, and to suppress messages on the Regional Message Board according to a standard moderation policy. However, it may not alter the regional flags or tags, and may not send out mass telegrams, without the approval of the Delegate.
(4) To help promote inter-governmental relations, the Local Council may send a representative to the Assembly whose term must not exceed the Local Council’s. The method of selection will be decided by the Local Council.
VI. THE EXECUTIVE
Establishing an executive branch consisting of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
(1) The Prime Minister will be the head of government and the leader of the Cabinet. They will be responsible for the overall coordination of executive activities, being a liaison between the government and the community, and protecting the Coalition.
(2) The Cabinet will consist of ministers with the following portfolios: Foreign Affairs, Regional Affairs, and Military Affairs.
(3) As leader of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister is responsible for overseeing a collective Cabinet agenda, and may give directions and instructions to the ministers. Disputes within the Cabinet are subject to the majority decision and collective responsibility; where there is no majority the Prime Minister’s vote shall be the deciding one.
(4) Members of the Executive are required to hold Legislator status.
Elections
(5) Executive elections will be held every four months, where the Prime Minister and all Cabinet positions will be up for election.
(6) The date, time, and manner of elections will be set by the Assembly in a law.
Minister of Regional Affairs
(7) The Minister of Regional Affairs will be responsible for promoting regional and forum activity, integrating new players into the forums, organizing cultural events, and communicating with the world about the South Pacific’s activities.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
(8) The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be the Coalition’s chief diplomat. They will be responsible for establishing the government’s foreign policy program, communicating with allies, and coordinating with the military on foreign policy priorities when necessary.
(9) The Minister of Foreign Affairs holds the sole power to initiate treaty negotiations with other regions, groups, and organizations, but may designate officers to handle those negotiations. Upon completion of a treaty negotiation, the Minister must present it to the full executive for majority approval, before submitting it to the Assembly for ratification.
(10) The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for establishing standards for the creation and maintenance of consulates and embassies.
Minister of Military Affairs
(11) The Minister of Military Affairs will be the civilian leader of the armed forces of the Coalition, the South Pacific Special Forces. In conjunction with a group of Generals, the Minister of Military Affairs will be responsible for the defense of the Coalition, building military activity, and conducting military operations.
(12) The Minister of Military Affairs may elect to establish an intelligence office, in equal coordination with the Council on Regional Security.
Executive Authorities
(13) The executive may exercise the collective authority of executive orders, by unanimous consent among the Prime Ministers and Cabinet Ministers. Executive orders may only be issued to address an immediate and pressing issue created by ambiguity or holes in a particular law, which will immediately have the effect of law.
(14) Upon declaring an executive order, the order will be presented automatically to the Assembly for three days of debate, followed by a vote according to legislative rules, where it will expire and its effects shall be reversed if the Assembly does not incorporate it into law.
(15) The Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers may elect to appoint deputies and advisors, who will be considered junior members of the Cabinet, but will not have voting rights in any executive decision.
VII. THE DELEGATE
Establishing a Head of State.
(1) The Delegate will be the head of state of the Coalition. They will be responsible for helping maintain the security of the region, promoting growth and activity, and serving as an advisor to the forum-side government. Barring reasonable circumstances, the Delegate will hold the in-game Delegate seat. No person may be Delegate if they have participated, in whole or in part and at any time, in any coup d'etat of the Coalition or any of its allies, excluding normal raiding, defending, or liberation efforts as part of an organized military.
(2) The Delegate will work with the Local Council in moderating the Regional Message Board, fulfilling Regional Officer positions, promoting gameside activities, and representing the preferences of the gameside community.
(3) The Delegate must fulfill in-game actions required by law but assigned to others if those actions can only be taken by the person holding the in-game Delegate seat.
Elections
(4) Delegate elections will be held every six months.
(5) The date, time, and manner of electing the Delegate will be set by the Assembly in a law, but must include the participation of the gameside community.
VIII. THE HIGH COURT
Creating a supreme judicial authority for the Coalition.
1 The High Court will consist of one Chief Justice and a number of Associate Justices, and will hold exclusive judicial authority in the Coalition.
(2) The procedure for the appointment of the justices will be defined in a law by the Assembly.
(3) Procedures for the conduct of criminal trials and civil cases will be defined in a law by the Assembly.
Powers'
(4) The High Court has the power to declare any general law, regulation, directive, determination or any other official act of government, in whole or in part, void upon a determination that it violates the terms of this Charter or any other constitutional law.
(5) The High Court may reconcile contradictions within the Charter, constitutional laws, general laws, Cabinet directives, and Local Council laws and regulations, maintaining the least amount of disruption to the intended purposes of the contradictory parts.
(6) The High Court may clarify and interpret provisions of law when presented with a Legal Question about them.
(7) The High Court holds the sole power to conduct a criminal trial.
IX. THE COUNCIL ON REGIONAL SECURITY
Establishing a central authority for protecting the Coalition’s security.
(1) The Council on Regional Security will be composed of experienced and trustworthy members of the Coalition, and will be responsible for monitoring and responding to regional security issues. The Council will choose a Chair as needed, who will fulfill all secretarial requirements of the Council that may arise.
Membership
(2) The minimum qualifications for membership in the Council on Regional Security are: maintaining a World Assembly member nation in the South Pacific; a Soft Power Disbursement Rating of at least 50,000, or a Regional Influence ranking of Vassal; 200 endorsements or half the endorsements of the Delegate; and having served at least six consecutive months as a legislator or two terms in the Local Council. The influence and endorsement requirements may be updated by the Council, with majority approval by the Assembly.
(3) Eligible members may become members of the Council on Regional Security via two methods, either application to the Council itself, or nomination by the Delegate and Prime Minister.
(4) If applying directly to the Council, applicants should explain why they are well suited to protect regional security. Applications will remain private. The Council will review the application and determine whether or not the applicant is well suited. If the application is approved, the Council will forward the nomination to the Assembly for approval via a simple majority vote.
(5) The Delegate and Prime Minister may jointly nominate any person meeting the requirements for membership and who are well suited to protect regional security. Prior to the nomination, the Delegate and Prime Minister will consult with the Council for their advice. To ensure collegiality and prevent dysfunction, if two-thirds of the members of the Council object to the prospective nominee’s membership, the nomination will not move forward. If no such objection exists, then the nomination will be submitted to the Assembly for approval via simple majority vote.
(6) Continued membership in the Council on Regional Security is predicated upon meeting eligibility requirements. Should any member of the Council fail to meet those requirements, they will lose membership and all the powers and privileges that come with it if they do not meet the requirements within a week of notification.
(7) If a majority of the Council deems a member to be a threat to regional security, they will be suspended from the Council pending an official investigation and report to the Assembly. Following the investigation, the Assembly must vote on whether to remove or reinstate the member.
(8) Participation, in whole or in part and at any time, in any coup d’etat or invasion of the Coalition or any of its allies will disqualify a prospective or sitting member from membership in the Council on Regional Security immediately and permanently. Participation in normal raiding, defending, or liberation efforts as part of an organized military will not be considered a violation of this clause.
Powers
(9) The Council on Regional Security will be responsible for establishing an appropriate cap on endorsements, ensuring that such a cap is not detrimental to the growth of the region. Enforcement of the endorsement cap should be done with leniency if a violator does not pose a significant risk to regional security.
(10) During a coup d’etat, whether committed by outside forces, infiltrators, or duly elected officials, the Council on Regional Security may declare a state of emergency, until such a time that a legitimate government is restored. All necessary measures may be taken to defeat a coup d’etat or hostile invasion, except that the legitimate Assembly may not be suspended.
(11) The Council on Regional Security, the Prime Minister, and the Delegate will establish a line of succession for the Delegate seat.
(12) The Council on Regional Security shall designate an individual as Intelligence Coordinator, who must be notified of and approve all intelligence and counter-intelligence operations. The Intelligence Coordinator will be responsible for disseminating any and all intelligence to the Council on Regional Security and other bodies as needed. The Intelligence Coordinator and the Minister of Military Affairs will maintain a regional intelligence classification system as necessary for ensuring information security.
X. THE MILITARY
Creating an official military for the purposes of regional defense, war, and gameplay.
(1) The South Pacific Special Forces will be the official military forces of the Coalition. Their responsibilities will be to enact the government’s military policies abroad, foster activity for the region, and serve as a representative of the Coalition’s power and influence.
(2) The military will be led by the Minister of Military Affairs, along with a corps of generals appointed by the Minister and approved by the Assembly. The Minister and general corps may establish further hierarchy, create programs, and appoint deputies as they see necessary.
(3) The military will have the support of the Coalition in conducting operations to protect innocent regions from attack and oppression and promote legitimate, native democratic institutions across the world. The military may not colonize or annex any region without the express permission of the Cabinet and the Assembly, by majority vote of both chambers. Nor may the military attack, subjugate, purge, destroy, or vandalize any regions, excepting those regions which espouse hateful ideologies and those regions against which the Coalition has declared an official state of war.
(4) The Minister of Military Affairs will coordinate with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to ensure that no military activities harm the government’s diplomatic affairs or public relations.
XI. RECALLS AND MOTIONS OF NO CONFIDENCE
Establishing a method to hold government officials to account.
(1) Any official of the Coalition may be recalled by an Assembly resolution passed with a three-fifths majority of those voting.
- a. Recalls should only be initiated for dereliction of duty, abuse of authority, or violations of the law, and not for purposes of political rivalry.
- b. Upon initiation, recall resolutions must be debated for three days and receive a motion and second before being put to vote.
- c. Upon passage, the recalled official will immediately be removed from office.
(2) A Motion of No Confidence may be initiated by the Assembly if the members have lost faith in the effectiveness and activities of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Motions of No Confidence must be debated for three days and receive a motion and a second before being moved to vote. Passage requires three-fifths majority support of those voting, and triggers a special election for all cabinet offices.
XII. THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM
Creating an independent, apolitical body to manage off-site communications.
(1) The Off-Site Administration Team will be responsible for the technical maintenance of the region's Discord servers, forums, and the integrity of the database. Administrators will not be given responsibilities of a political nature.
(2) The Off-Site Administration Team will be responsible for the appointment and removal of its own members, except when an administrator is removed from the position following a guilty verdict in a fair trial for abuse of administrative powers. Additionally, new administrators must be approved by a majority of the Assembly before being granted administrator permissions.
(3) The Off-Site Administration Team must create standard administration and moderation policies. These policies will be submitted to the Assembly for a one-week review and comment period before going into effect.
(4) While the Off-Site Administration Team may appoint global moderators if needed, individual Ministers, the Chair of the Assembly, and roleplay moderators primarily will be responsible for the moderation of their dedicated Discord servers and forums.
XIII. AMENDMENT PROCESS
Setting a procedure for amendment of the Charter and constitutional laws.
(1) The Assembly may amend any provision of the Charter or constitutional laws with a three-fifths supermajority. Amendments to the Charter or constitutional laws must be constitutional in nature, and amendments to the Charter must address the structure or framework of government. Bills that may exist as general laws, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, should not be placed in the Charter or constitutional laws.
(2) Any amendment to the Charter or constitutional laws that directly affects the gameside community or its home governance, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, must also be debated and voted upon by the gameside community. Additionally, the Local Council may originate amendments to its constitutional structure, which must be debated and voted upon in the Assembly.
XIV. GREAT COUNCILS
Setting a procedure for constitutional conventions.
(1) When the Assembly wishes to debate the fundamental principles and structures of the Coalition, it may call a Great Council to rewrite all laws in their entirety, or establish a new state for the South Pacific.
(2) A resolution establishing a Great Council may be adopted with a three-fifths supermajority of the Assembly, which must be confirmed by a majority vote of the gameside community.
(3) The purpose of a Great Council is to rewrite all laws from the ground up, not merely to amend existing ones. The Assembly should use the normal amendment process for basic amendments, reserving Great Councils for a time when extreme changes are necessary and proper.
(4) Any and all changes to regional law proposed by a Great Council may be adopted by a three-fifths supermajority of the Assembly, which must be confirmed by a majority vote of the game-side community.
(5) If a Great Council fails to pass a new constitution and set of laws to replace the existing ones, then the existing laws will remain in place.
(6) At least one year must have passed since the previous Great Council before a new one may be established.
The Original Charter
The Charter of The South Pacific
Preamble
The Assembly of the Coalition of The South Pacific, representing our diverse community, convenes to establish this fundamental law of our region, to uphold democratic principles and rights, and provide for the security of our unified community both on the forums and in the game.
I. CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS
Defining the supreme laws of our community.
1. Laws that form the foundation of our community, are considered fundamental to governance, or otherwise are considered of great importance by the Assembly, are to be known as “constitutional laws” and marked as such.
2. Constitutional laws hold precedence and supremacy over all other laws, regulations, and policies of all branches of government.
3. This Charter is a constitutional law holding supremacy over all others, and defines the purpose of our government and its framework.
II. SOVEREIGNTY
Outlining the sovereignty of the Coalition and the origins of legitimacy.
1. The sovereignty of the region lies with the Coalition of The South Pacific. No other group claiming legitimacy will be recognized. The integrity of the Coalition, in its forums and the region, shall not be challenged or violated by any government official, internal dissidents, or other regions.
2. Authority and legitimacy is held jointly by the region and the forum, and the union between the two is what defines the Coalition. No illegitimate invader or usurper of the region shall be recognized.
III. RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Recognizing the democratic rights and freedoms of all members of the Coalition
1. All members of The South Pacific will enjoy the freedoms of expression, speech, assembly, and the press, limited only by reasonable forum moderation policies.
2. The right to a fair trial and defense against criminal accusations will not be abridged. No member may be subject to any bill of attainder, be tried for the same crime more than once, or be tried ex post facto.
3. No member may be banned or ejected from the in-game region without the due process of law.
4. No member may be denied the right to vote or hold office, unless prohibited by constitutional law.
5. No law may be passed by the Assembly that directly affects the activities of the in-game community, without the consent of the in-game community.
6. The High Court may strike down any general law or action that violates any right or freedom found in this Charter.
IV. THE ASSEMBLY
Establishing legislative authority in the Assembly
1. The Assembly holds supreme legislative authority in the Coalition, and is comprised of all eligible legislators and a representative of the Local Council. It is responsible for establishing and maintaining the legal code of the Coalition.
2. The Assembly will elect a Chair by a public majority vote for a term lasting four months. The Chair is responsible for maintaining order and decorum, and helping guide Assembly debate into the creation of bills. If a Chair is recalled or otherwise not in office, a new Chair will be elected by majority vote for a new term lasting four months. The Election Commission will be responsible for organizing Chair elections.
Legislator Eligibility
3. All residents of the Coalition are eligible to attain legislator status through application with the Chair, predicated on the Chair ensuring they are not seeking membership in bad faith, are not attempting to obscure their identity, are not attempting to join with multiple nations, and the Council on Regional Security does not declare them a significant risk to regional security. Any member of the Assembly may publicly petition the Chair for or against a prospective legislator’s admission.
4. Continued legislator status requires active membership and good behavior. The Chair will remove legislator status from any person failing to vote in the last two official Assembly votes held on separate days, unless the Chair has granted a leave of absence. Additionally, the Chair may suspend privileges for disruptive members. Frequent suspensions may be grounds for ineligibility, if found appropriate in a fair trial by the High Court.
Legislative Rules
5. All bills must be moved to a vote upon receiving a second by another legislator. The Chair is responsible for the creation of a voting thread, and recording the votes. In the event that the Chair does not or cannot perform their duties in a reasonable timeframe, any member of the Assembly may create a voting thread.
6. All general laws, resolutions, and treaty ratifications must be passed by a simple majority of those voting. Laws marked as constitutional laws, or resolutions that deal with issues found in constitutional laws, require a three-fifths supermajority of those voting to pass. Appointments, unless otherwise specified, require a simple majority of those voting.
7. The Local Council representative will have a weighted vote of 20% of all non-abstaining votes cast on bills. The Chair will calculate how many votes are allotted to the representative at the close of each vote, and then add the representative’s total votes to the final tally.
8. The legislative history of all laws will be recorded by the Chair, including debate threads, vote results, and amendment histories.
V. THE LOCAL COUNCIL
Establishing home rule for the in-game region residents
1. The Local Council will be a body of three residents of The South Pacific elected by the region as a whole every four months, who will represent the interests of all players in the region, moderate the Regional Message Board, and encourage activity on the game-side.
2. The content of the World Factbook Entry and Dispatches will be managed by the Local Council, in cooperation with the Delegate, and must contain at least a link to the Official Regional Forums and a notice to endorse members of the Council on Regional Security.
3. The Local Council will have the authority to run regional polls, create and pin Dispatches, and to suppress messages on the Regional Message Board according to a standard moderation policy. It may not alter the regional flag or tags, and may not send out mass telegrams, without the approval of the Delegate.
4. The Local Council is responsible for sending a representative to the Assembly, whose term must not exceed the Local Council’s. The method of selection will be decided by the Local Council, along with how the representative casts their votes in the Assembly.
VI. THE EXECUTIVE
Establishing an executive branch consisting of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet
1. The Prime Minister will be the head of government and the leader of the Cabinet. They will be responsible for the overall coordination of executive activities, being a liaison between the government and the community, and protecting the Coalition.
2. The Cabinet will consist of ministers with the following portfolios: Foreign Affairs, Regional Affairs, and Military Affairs.
Elections
3. Executive elections will be held every four months, where the Prime Minister and all Cabinet positions will be up for election.
4. The date, time, and manner of elections will be set by the Assembly in a general law.
Minister of Regional Affairs
5. The Minister of Regional Affairs will be responsible for promoting regional and forum activity, integrating new players into the forums, organizing cultural events, and communicating with the world about The South Pacific’s activities.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
6. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be the Coalition’s chief diplomat. They will be responsible for establishing the government’s foreign policy program, communicating with allies, and coordinating with the military on foreign policy priorities when necessary.
7. The Minister of Foreign Affairs holds the sole power to initiate treaty negotiations with other regions, groups, and organizations, but may designate officers to handle those negotiations. Upon completion of a treaty negotiation, the Minister must present it to the full executive for majority approval, before submitting it to the Assembly for ratification.
8. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for establishing standards for the creation and maintenance of consulates and embassies.
Minister of Military Affairs
9. The Minister of Military Affairs will be the civilian leader of the armed forces of the Coalition, the South Pacific Special Forces. In conjunction with a group of Generals, the Minister of Military Affairs will be responsible for the defense of the Coalition, building military activity, and conducting military operations.
10. The Minister of Military Affairs may elect to establish an intelligence office, in equal coordination with the Council on Regional Security.
Executive Authorities
11. The executive may exercise the collective authority of executive orders, by unanimous consent among the Prime Ministers and Cabinet Ministers. Executive orders may only be issued to address an immediate and pressing issue created by ambiguity or holes in a particular law, which will immediately have the effect of law.
12. Upon declaring an executive order, the order will be presented automatically to the Assembly for three days of debate, followed by a vote according to legislative rules, where it will expire and its effects be reversed if the Assembly does not incorporate it into law.
13. The Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers may elect to appoint deputies and advisors, who will be considered junior members of the Cabinet, but will not have voting rights in any executive decision.
Recalls and Motions of No Confidence
14. The Delegate and individual Cabinet Ministers may be recalled by an Assembly resolution passed with three-fifths majority of those voting. Recalls may only be initiated for dereliction of duty, abuse of authority, or violations of the law, and not for purposes of political rivalry. Upon initiation, recall resolutions must be debated for three days and receive a motion and second before being put to vote. Upon passage, the recalled official will immediately be removed from office and a special election for their position must be started as soon as possible.
15. A Motion of No Confidence may be initiated by the Assembly, if the members have lost faith in the effectiveness and activities of the Delegate and the Cabinet. Motions of No Confidence must be debated for three days and receive a motion and a second before being moved to vote. Passage requires three-fifths majority support of those voting, and triggers a special election for all executive offices.
VII. THE DELEGATE
Establishing a head of State
1 The Delegate will be the head of state of the Coalition. They will be responsible for helping maintain the security of the region, promoting growth and activity, and serving as an advisor to the forum-side government.
2. The Delegate will work with the Local Council in moderating the Regional Message Board, fulfilling Regional Officer positions, promoting game-side activities, and representing the preferences of the game-side community.
3. The Delegate must fulfill in-game actions required by law but assigned to others, if those actions can only be taken by the person holding the in-game Delegate seat.
Elections
4. Delegate elections will be held every six months.
5. The date, time, and manner of electing the Delegate will be set by the Assembly in a general law, but must include the participation of the game-side community.
VIII. THE HIGH COURT
Creating a supreme judicial authority for the Coalition
1 The High Court will consist of one Permanent Justice and a Pool of Justices, and will hold exclusive judicial authority in the Coalition.
2. The procedure for the appointment of the Permanent Justice and the members of the Pool of Justices will be defined in a general law by the Assembly.
3. Procedures for the conduct of criminal trials and civil cases will be defined in a general law by the Assembly.
Powers
4. The High Court has the sole power to declare any general law, in whole or in part, void upon a determination that it violates the terms of this Charter or any other constitutional law.
5. The High Court may reconcile contradictions within the Charter, constitutional laws, and general laws, maintaining the least amount of disruption to the intended purposes of the contradictory parts.
6. The High Court may clarify and interpret provisions of law, when presented with a Legal Question about them.
7. The High Court holds the sole power to conduct a criminal trial.
IX. THE COUNCIL ON REGIONAL SECURITY
Establishing a central authority for protecting the Coalition’s security
1. The Council of Regional Security will be composed of experienced and trustworthy members of the Coalition, and will be responsible for monitoring and responding to regional security issues.
Membership
2. To be considered for membership in the Council on Regional Security, a person must meet the following qualifications: World Assembly membership in The South Pacific; a Soft Power Disbursement Score of at least 50000, or an Influence Ranking of at least Vassal; at least 200 endorsements or half the endorsements of the Delegate; and six consecutive months of legislator status, or at least two terms in the Local Council. The specific influence score, ranking, and endorsement numbers may be updated by the Council, with majority approval by the Assembly, to reflect changes to the disbursement of influence in the region, or updates to the game.
3. Eligible members may submit an application to the Council, clearly showing that they meet the basic requirements, and offering reasons for why they should considered for membership. The Council will review applicants and choose whether or not an applications will be submitted to the Assembly for approval.
4. The Assembly will vote on applications forwarded by the Council, using a simple majority threshold.
5. Continued membership in the Council on Regional Security is predicated upon meeting eligibility requirements. Should any member of the Council fail to meet those requirements, they will lose membership and all the powers and privileges that come with it, if they do not meet the requirements within a week of notification.
6. If a majority of the Council deems a member to be a threat to regional security, they will be suspended from the Council pending an official investigation and report to the Assembly. Following the investigation, the Assembly must vote on whether to remove or reinstate the member.
7. Participation, in whole or in part and at any time, in any coup d’etat or invasion of the Coalition or any of its allies will disqualify an applicant or sitting member from membership in the Council on Regional Security immediately and permanently. Participation in normal raiding, defending, or liberation efforts as part of an organized military will not be considered a violation of this clause.
Powers
8. The Council on Regional Security will be responsible for establishing an appropriate cap on endorsements, ensuring that such cap is not detrimental to the growth of the region. Enforcement of the endorsement cap should be done with leniency if a violator does not pose a significant risk to regional security.
9. During a coup d’etat, whether committed by outside forces, infiltrators, or duly elected officials, the Council on Regional Security may assume martial command of the Coalition, until such a time that a legitimate government is restored. All necessary measures may be taken to defeat a coup d’etat or hostile invasion.
10. The Delegate must grant members of the Council on Regional Security appropriate Regional Officer powers to fulfill their duties. When there is a limited number of Regional Officer positions available, those positions must be given to the most senior Council members.
11. The Council on Regional Security, the Prime Minister, and the Delegate will establish a line of succession for the Delegate seat.
X. THE MILITARY
Creating an official military for the purposes of regional defense, war, and gameplay
1 The South Pacific Special Forces will be the official military forces of the Coalition. Their responsibilities will be to enact the government’s military policies abroad, foster activity for the region, and serve as a representative of the Coalition’s power and influence.
2. The military will be led by the Minister of Military Affairs, along with a corps of generals appointed by the Minister and approved by the Assembly. The Minister and general corps may establish further hierarchy, create programs, and appoint deputies as they see necessary.
3. The military may engage in offensive or defensive operations without fear of political reprisal. However, it may not colonize or annex any region without the express permission of the Cabinet and the Assembly, nor may it engage in region destruction. Any changes to the World Factbook Entry, Regional Message Board, regional flag, or embassies list must be reversed at the end of all military operations.
4. The Minister of Military Affairs will coordinate with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to ensure that no military activities harm the government’s diplomatic affairs or public relations.
XI. THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM
Creating an independent, apolitical body to manage the forums
1. The Forum Administration Team will be responsible for the technical maintenance of the forums and the integrity of the database. Administrators will not be given responsibilities of a political nature.
2. The Forum Administration Team will be responsible for the appointment and removal of its own members, except when an administrator is removed from the position following a guilty verdict in a fair trial for abuse of administrative powers. Additionally, new administrators must be approved by a majority of the Assembly before being granted administrator permissions.
3. The Forum Administration Team must create standard administration and moderation policies. These policies will be submitted to the Assembly for a one-week review and comment period before going into effect.
4. While the Forum Administration Team may appoint global moderators if needed, individual Ministers and the Chair of the Assembly primarily will be responsible for the moderation of their dedicated forums.
XII. AMENDMENT PROCESS
Setting a procedure for amendment the Charter
1. The Assembly may amend any provision of the Charter by a three-fifths supermajority, unless that provision sets a separate threshold. Amendments must be constitutional in nature, addressing the structure or framework of government. Bills that may exist as general laws, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, should not be placed in the Charter.
2. Debate on Charter amendments will last for a minimum of two weeks, unless the Council on Regional Security acknowledges that the amendment addresses an immediate and perilous issue that threatens the security of the region. Any amendment that directly affects the game-side community or its home governance, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, must also be debated and voted upon by the game-side community.
XIII. GREAT COUNCILS
Setting a procedure for constitutional conventions
1. When the Assembly wishes to debate the fundamental principles and structures of the Coalition, it may call a Great Council to rewrite all laws in their entirety, or establish a new state for The South Pacific.
2. A majority vote by both the Assembly and the game-side community is required to begin a Great Council. At least one year must pass between a Great Council before another one is called.
3. The purpose of a Great Council is to rewrite all laws from the ground up, not merely to amend existing ones. The Assembly should use the normal amendment process for basic amendments, reserving Great Councils for a time when extreme changes are necessary and proper.
4. If a Great Council fails to pass a new constitution and set of laws to replace the existing ones, then the existing laws will remain in place.
Amendments
Amendment 1
Article IV, Section 6 was amended from on 6-8-2016.
=Amendment 2
The following Amendment to Article IV Section 4 was adopted on 8-15-2016.
4. Continued legislator status requires active membership and good behaviour. The Chair will remove legislator status from any person failing to vote in the last two official Assembly votes held on separate days, unless the Chair has granted a leave of absence. The Chair will remove legislator status from any person absent for three non-concurrent Assembly votes; legislators who have an approved leave of absence from the Chair shall not be considered absent. Additionally, the Chair may suspend privileges for disruptive members. Frequent suspensions may be grounds for ineligibility, if found appropriate in a fair trial by the High Court.
Amendment 3
The following Amendment to Article IV and XII were adopted on 8-17-2016.
Article IV
5. All bills will be moved to a vote upon receiving a second by another legislator{[color|blue|, should the Chair or their designated deputy determine that there has been sufficient debate on the issue. Debate must last for a minimum period of time equivalent to that proposed legislation will be at vote for.}}
6. The Chair or their designated deputy is responsible for the creation of a voting thread, and recording the votes. In the event that the Chair or their designated deputy does not or cannot perform their duties in a reasonable timeframe, any member of the Assembly may create a voting thread.
7. Should a debate lead to multiple competing bills on a single issue, the Chair will bring them to vote in a sequential order based upon which bill has the most seconding motions. Should any bill on the issue be adopted, the issue shall be considered settled and competing bills will not be brought to vote at that point in time.
|-|-|-|
Article XII
1. The Assembly may amend any provision of the Charter by a three-fifths supermajority, unless that provision sets a separate threshold. Amendments must be constitutional in nature, addressing the structure or framework of government. Bills that may exist as general laws, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, should not be placed in the Charter.
2. Debate on Charter amendments will last for a minimum of two weeks, unless the Council on Regional Security acknowledges that the amendment addresses an immediate and perilous issue that threatens the security of the region. Any amendment that directly affects the game-side community or its home governance, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, must also be debated and voted upon by the game-side community.
Amendment 4
The following Amendment to Article IV, Section 7 was adopted on 9-3-2016.
IV. THE ASSEMBLY
Legislative Rules
7. Should a debate lead to multiple competing bills on a single issue, the Chair will bring them to vote in a sequential order based upon which bill has the most seconding motions. Should any bill on the issue be adopted, the issue shall be considered settled and competing bills will not be brought to vote at that point in time.
7. Should a debate lead to multiple competing bills on a single issue, the Chair will bring the competing bills to vote separately and simultaneously, in the same way regular business is done. The bill that gets the most aye votes and meets minimum threshold requirements will become law.
Amendment 5
Article X, Section 3 was amended on 12-15-2016.
Amendment 6
Recalls and Motions of No Confidence
14. The Delegate and individual Cabinet Ministers may be recalled by an Assembly resolution passed with three-fifths majority of those voting. Recalls may only be initiated for dereliction of duty, abuse of authority, or violations of the law, and not for purposes of political rivalry. Upon initiation, recall resolutions must be debated for three days and receive a motion and second before being put to vote. Upon passage, the recalled official will immediately be removed from office and a special election for their position must be started as soon as possible.
15. A Motion of No Confidence may be initiated by the Assembly, if the members have lost faith in the effectiveness and activities of the Delegate and the Cabinet. Motions of No Confidence must be debated for three days and receive a motion and a second before being moved to vote. Passage requires three-fifths majority support of those voting, and triggers a special election for all executive offices.
...And the following was added in the same day:
XI. RECALLS AND MOTIONS OF NO CONFIDENCE
Establishing a method to hold government government officials to account
(1) Any official of the Coalition may be recalled by an Assembly resolution passed with three-fifths majority of those voting. a. Recalls should only be initiated for dereliction of duty, abuse of authority, or violations of the law, and not for purposes of political rivalry. b. Upon initiation, recall resolutions must be debated for three days and receive a motion and second before being put to vote. c. Upon passage, the recalled official will immediately be removed from office.
(2) A Motion of No Confidence may be initiated by the Assembly, if the members have lost faith in the effectiveness and activities of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Motions of No Confidence must be debated for three days and receive a motion and a second before being moved to vote. Passage requires three-fifths majority support of those voting, and triggers a special election for all cabinet offices.
Amendment 7
Article IV, Section 2 was amended on 12-29-2016.
Amendment 8
Article IV, Section 9 was amended on 12-30-2016.
Amendment 9
Several Articles were amended from the following below in January 7, 2017:
Amendment 10
Article IX was amended on 3-29-2017 with the addition of a new section, numbered 12.
12. The Council on Regional Security shall designate an individual as Intelligence Coordinator, who must be notified of and approve all intelligence and counter-intelligence operations. The Intelligence Coordinator will be responsible for disseminating any and all intelligence to the Council on Regional Security and other bodies as needed.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 3 | 6 |
This amendment was passed with 60.87% saying "Aye", 13.04% saying "Nay", and 26.09% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 11
Article IV was amended on 4-24-2017, changing section 4.
4. {[color|green|Within the first week of each calendar month}}, the Chair will remove legislator status from any person absent for redthree non-concurrent Assembly votes more than half of all votes finished in the previous calendar month, if a minimum of two votes occurred. The Chair may exercise their discretion and not remove legislators who have participated in assembly debate, but are below the voting threshold.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
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| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 5 | 3 |
This amendment was passed with 69.23% saying "Aye", 19.23% saying "Nay", and 11.54% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 12
The Charter was amended by the Assembly on 4-4-2017, confirmed by game-side vote on 4-14-2017.
4. Any constitutional law that directly affects the game-side community or its home governance, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, must also be debated and voted upon by the game-side community.
Article IV, Section 1 was amended as follows:
1. The Assembly holds supreme legislative authority in the Coalition, and is comprised of all eligible legislators and a representative of the Local Council. It is responsible for establishing and maintaining the legal code of the Coalition.
Article IV, Sections 9-10 were amended as follows:
9. The Local Council representative will have the power to cast an additional weighted vote worth one-fifth of all non-abstaining votes cast on bills, not including the block vote, giving them a one-sixth share of the total vote, excluding abstentions. The Chair will calculate how many votes are allotted to the representative at the close of each vote, rounding them to the nearest whole number, and will then add the representative’s total votes to the final tally.
10. 9. The legislative history of all laws will be recorded by the Chair, including debate threads, vote results, and amendment histories.
Article V, Section 4 was amended as follows:
4. To help promote inter-governmental relations, the Local Council will send a representative to the Assembly, whose term must not exceed the Local Council’s. The method of selection will be decided by the Local Council, along with how the representative casts their votes in the Assembly.
Article XIII was amended as follows:
XIII. AMENDMENT PROCESS
Setting a procedure for amendment of the Charter and constitutional laws
1. The Assembly may amend any provision of the Charter or constitutional laws by a three-fifths supermajority. Amendments to the Charter or constitutional laws must be constitutional in nature, addressing and amendments to the Charter must address the structure or framework of government. Bills that may exist as general laws, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, should not be placed in the Charter or constitutional laws.
2. Any amendment to the Charter or constitutional laws that directly affects the game-side community or its home governance, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, must also be debated and voted upon by the game-side community. Additionally, the Local Council may originate amendments to its constitutional structure, which must be debated and voted upon in the Assembly.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 2 | 7 |
This amendment was passed with 64.00% saying "Aye", 8.00% saying "Nay", and 28.00% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 13
The Charter was amended by the Assembly on 5-1-2017.
Legislative Rules
5. All bills will be moved to a vote upon receiving a second by another legislator, should the Chair or their designated deputy determine that there has been sufficient debate on the issue. Debate must last for a minimum period of time equivalent to that proposed legislation will be at vote for.
6. All general laws, resolutions, and treaty ratifications must be passed by a simple majority of those voting. Laws marked as constitutional laws, or resolutions that deal with issues found in constitutional laws, require a three-fifths supermajority of those voting to pass. Appointments, unless otherwise specified, require a simple majority of those voting.
7. The Chair or their designated deputy is responsible for the creation of a voting thread, and recording the votes. In the event that the Chair or their designated deputy does not or cannot perform their duties in a reasonable timeframe, any member of the Assembly may create a voting thread.
8. Should a debate lead to multiple competing bills on a single issue, the Chair will bring the competing bills to vote separately and simultaneously, in the same way regular business is done. The bill that gets the most aye votes and meets minimum threshold requirements will become law.
9. The legislative history of all laws will be recorded by the Chair, including debate threads, vote results, and amendment histories.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 4 | 9 |
This amendment was passed with 56.67% saying "Aye", 13.33% saying "Nay", and 30.00% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 14
The Charter was amended by the Assembly on 5-7-2017.
4. The High Court has the power to declare any general law or regulation, Cabinet directive, Chair determination, and Local Council law or regulation, in whole or in part, void upon determination that it violates the terms of this Charter or any other constitutional law.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | 2 |
This amendment was passed with 89.29% saying "Aye", 3.57% saying "Nay", and 7.14% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 15
3. The Chair may appoint a deputy or deputies, to whom the Chair may publicly delegate any powers, responsibilities, or special projects of the Chair, subject to all regulations and restrictions imposed upon the Chair by law. The Chair may dismiss such deputies.
4. During an interim period in which the Chair is not in office prior to election of a new Chair, a deputy appointed by the previous Chair will serve as Acting Chair to exercise all powers and responsibilities of the Chair, subject to all regulations and restrictions imposed upon the Chair by law. In the event that more than one deputy was appointed, the most senior deputy according to order of appointment and availability will serve as Acting Chair. In the event that no deputy was appointed or is available, the Cabinet will designate a legislator to serve as Acting Chair.
Legislator Eligibility
3. 5. All residents of the Coalition are eligible to attain legislator status through application with the Chair, predicated on the Chair ensuring they have a nation in the South Pacific, are not seeking membership in bad faith, are not attempting to obscure their identity, are not attempting to join with multiple nations, and the Council on Regional Security does not declare them a significant risk to regional security. Any member of the Assembly legislator may publicly petition the Chair for or against a prospective legislator’s admission. Anyone admitted to legislator status during a forum election in which only legislators may vote, from the time nominations begin until the conclusion of forum voting, may not stand for election nor vote in that forum election.
4. 6. Within the first week of each calendar month, the Chair will remove legislator status from any person no longer maintaining a nation in The South Pacific, or absent for more than half of all votes finished in the previous calendar month, if a minimum of two votes occurred. The Chair may exercise their discretion and not remove legislators who have participated in assembly debate, but are below the voting thresholdreasonable extenuating circumstances.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | 2 | 5 |
This amendment was passed with 82.05% saying "Aye", 5.13% saying "Nay", and 12.82% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 16
1. The Council of Regional Security will be composed of experienced and trustworthy members of the Coalition, and will be responsible for monitoring and responding to regional security issues. The Council will choose a Chair as needed, who will fulfill all secretarial requirements of the Council that may arise.
Membership
2. The minimum qualifications for membership in the Council on Regional Security are: maintaining a World Assembly member nation in the The South Pacific; a Soft Power Disbursement Rating of at least 50,000, or a Regional Influence ranking of Vassal; 200 endorsements or half the endorsements of the Delegate; and having served at least six consecutive months as a legislator or two terms in the Local Council. The influence and endorsement requirements may be updated by the Council, with majority approval by the Assembly.
2. To be considered for membership in the Council on Regional Security, a person must meet the following qualifications: World Assembly membership in The South Pacific; a Soft Power Disbursement Score of at least 50000, or an Influence Ranking of at least Vassal; at least 200 endorsements or half the endorsements of the Delegate; and six consecutive months of legislator status, or at least two terms in the Local Council. The specific influence score, ranking, and endorsement numbers may be updated by the Council, with majority approval by the Assembly, to reflect changes to the disbursement of influence in the region, or updates to the game.
3. Eligible members may become members of the Council on Regional Security via two methods, either application to the Council itself, or nomination by the Delegate and Prime Minister.
4. If applying directly to the Council, applicants should explain why they are well suited to protect regional security. Applications will remain private. The Council will review the application and determine whether or not the applicant is well suited. If the application is approved, the Council will forward the nomination to the Assembly for approval via simple majority vote.
5. The Delegate and Prime Minister may jointly nominate any person meeting the requirements for membership and who are well suited to protect regional security. Prior to the nomination, the Delegate and Prime Minister will consult with the Council for their advice. To ensure collegiality and prevent dysfunction, if two-thirds of the members of the Council object to the prospective nominee’s membership, the nomination will not move forward. If no such objection exists, then the nomination will be submitted to the Assembly for approval via simple majority vote.
3. Eligible members may submit an application to the Council, clearly showing that they meet the basic requirements, and offering reasons for why they should considered for membership. The Council will review applicants and choose whether or not an applications will be submitted to the Assembly for approval.
4. The Assembly will vote on applications forwarded by the Council, using a simple majority threshold.
5. 6. Continued membership in the Council on Regional Security is predicated upon meeting eligibility requirements. Should any member of the Council fail to meet those requirements, they will lose membership and all the powers and privileges that come with it, if they do not meet the requirements within a week of notification.
6. 7. If a majority of the Council deems a member to be a threat to regional security, they will be suspended from the Council pending an official investigation and report to the Assembly. Following the investigation, the Assembly must vote on whether to remove or reinstate the member.
7. 8. Participation, in whole or in part and at any time, in any coup d’etat or invasion of the Coalition or any of its allies will disqualify an applicant prospective or sitting member from membership in the Council on Regional Security immediately and permanently. Participation in normal raiding, defending, or liberation efforts as part of an organized military will not be considered a violation of this clause.
Powers
8. 9. The Council on Regional Security will be responsible for establishing an appropriate cap on endorsements, ensuring that such cap is not detrimental to the growth of the region. Enforcement of the endorsement cap should be done with leniency if a violator does not pose a significant risk to regional security.
9. 10. During a coup d’etat, whether committed by outside forces, infiltrators, or duly elected officials, the Council on Regional Security may assume martial command of the Coalition declare a state of emergency, until such a time that a legitimate government is restored. All necessary measures may be taken to defeat a coup d’etat or hostile invasion, except that the legitimate Assembly may not be suspended.
10. 11. The Delegate must grant members of the Council on Regional Security appropriate Regional Officer powers to fulfill their duties. When there is a limited number of Regional Officer positions available, those positions must be given to the most senior Council members.
11. green}12. The Council on Regional Security, the Prime Minister, and the Delegate will establish a line of succession for the Delegate seat.
12. 13. The Council on Regional Security shall designate an individual as Intelligence Coordinator, who must be notified of and approve all intelligence and counter-intelligence operations. The Intelligence Coordinator will be responsible for disseminating any and all intelligence to the Council on Regional Security and other bodies as needed. The Intelligence Coordinator and the Minister of Military Affairs will maintain a regional intelligence classification system, as necessary for the ensuring information security.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 2 | 5 |
This amendment was passed with 75.86% saying "Aye", 6.90% saying "Nay", and 17.24% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 17
Article XIV was amended from the below on 6-8-2017.
[...]
2. A majority vote by both the Assembly and the game-side community is required to begin a Great Council. At least one year must pass between a Great Council before another one is called.
2. A resolution establishing a Great Council may be adopted by a three-fifths supermajority of the Assembly, which must be confirmed by a majority vote of the game-side community.
[...]
4. Any and all changes to regional law proposed by a Great Council may be adopted by a three-fifths supermajority of the Assembly, which must be confirmed by a majority vote of the game-side community.
4. 5. If a Great Council fails to pass a new constitution and set of laws to replace the existing ones, then the existing laws will remain in place.
6. At least one year must have passed since the previous Great Council before a new one may be established.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 2 | 5 |
This amendment was passed with 75.86% saying "Aye", 6.90% saying "Nay", and 17.24% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 18
Article III was amended from the below on 8-28-2017.
3. No member, who had joined the region in good faith, may be banned or ejected from the in-game region without the due process of law.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
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| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | 9 | 5 |
This amendment was passed with 60.00% saying "Aye", 25.71% saying "Nay", and 14.29% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 19
Articles IV, VI, and VII were amended from the below on 9-15-2017.
IV. THE ASSEMBLY
2. The Assembly will elect a Legislator as Chair for a term lasting four months. The Chair is responsible for maintaining order and decorum, and helping guide Assembly debate into the creation of bills. If a Chair is recalled, loses Legislator status, or is otherwise not in office, a new Chair will be elected for a new term lasting four months. The Election Commission will be responsible for organizing Chair elections.
VI. THE EXECUTIVE
Establishing an executive branch consisting of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet
1. The Prime Minister will be the head of government and the leader of the Cabinet. They will be responsible for the overall coordination of executive activities, being a liaison between the government and the community, and protecting the Coalition.
2. The Cabinet will consist of ministers with the following portfolios: Foreign Affairs, Regional Affairs, and Military Affairs.
3. Members of the Executive are required to hold Legislator status.
VII. THE DELEGATE
Establishing a head of State
1 The Delegate will be the head of state of the Coalition. They will be responsible for helping maintain the security of the region, promoting growth and activity, and serving as an advisor to the forum-side government. Barring reasonable circumstances, the Delegate will hold the in-game Delegate seat.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
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| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2 | 8 |
This amendment was passed with 75.00% saying "Aye", 5.00% saying "Nay", and 20.00% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 20
Article IV was amended from the below on 10-3-2017.
6. Continued legislator status requires active membership and good behavior. Within the first week of each calendar month, the Chair will remove legislator status from any person no longer maintaining a nation in The South Pacific, or absent for more than half of all votes finished in the previous calendar month, if a minimum of two votes occurred. The Chair may exercise their discretion and not remove legislators under reasonable extenuating circumstances. Legislators who have an approved leave of absence from the Chair shall not be considered absent. Additionally, the Chair may suspend privileges for disruptive members. Frequent suspensions may be grounds for ineligibility, if found appropriate in a fair trial by the High Court.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 5 | 6 |
This amendment was passed with 73.17% saying "Aye", 12.20% saying "Nay", and 14.63% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 21
Article IV was amended 12-8-2017.
Legislator Eligibility
5. All residents of the Coalition are eligible to attain legislator status through application with the Chair, predicated on the Chair ensuring they have a nation in the South Pacific, are not seeking membership in bad faith, are not attempting to obscure their identity, are not attempting to join with multiple nations, and the Council on Regional Security does not declare them a significant risk to regional security. Any legislator may publicly petition the Chair for or against a prospective legislator’s admission. Anyone admitted to legislator status during a forum election in which only legislators may vote, from the time nominations begin until the conclusion of forum voting, may not stand for election nor vote in that forum election.
6. Continued legislator status requires active membership and good behaviour. Within the first week of each calendar month, the Chair will remove legislator status from any person no longer maintaining a nation in The South Pacific, or absent for more than half of all votes finished in the previous calendar month, if a minimum of two votes occurred. The Chair may exercise their discretion and not remove legislators under reasonable extenuating circumstances. Legislators who have an approved leave of absence from the Chair shall not be considered absent. Additionally, the Chair may suspend privileges for disruptive members. Frequent suspensions may be grounds for ineligibility, if found appropriate in a fair trial by the High Court.
Legislator Eligibility
5. A standing commission of legislators will be tasked with granting and revoking legislator status. All residents of the Coalition are eligible to attain legislator status through application. Continued legislator status requires active membership and good behaviour.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 6 | 4 |
This amendment was passed with 71.43% saying "Aye", 17.14% saying "Nay", and 11.54% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 22
Article VIII was amended as follows by the Assembly on 3-15-2018.
1. The High Court will consist of one {{color|red|Permanent Justice}] Chief Justice and a Pool of Justices a number of Associate Justices, and will hold exclusive judicial authority in the Coalition.
2. The procedure for the appointment of the Permanent Justice and the members of the Pool of Justices the justices will be defined in a general law by the Assembly.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 0 | 7 |
This amendment was passed with 78.13% saying "Aye", 0.00% saying "Nay", and 21.88% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 23
The following corrections were made on 5-11-2018 by chair's discretion.
VI. THE EXECUTIVE
Establishing an executive branch consisting of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet
1. The Prime Minister will be the head of government and the leader of the Cabinet. They will be responsible for the overall coordination of executive activities, being a liaison between the government and the community, and protecting the Coalition.
2. The Cabinet will consist of ministers with the following portfolios: Foreign Affairs, Regional Affairs, and Military Affairs.
3. Members of the Executive are required to hold Legislator status.
Elections
3. 4. Executive elections will be held every four months, where the Prime Minister and all Cabinet positions will be up for election.
4. 5. The date, time, and manner of elections will be set by the Assembly in a general law.
Minister of Regional Affairs
5. 6. The Minister of Regional Affairs will be responsible for promoting regional and forum activity, integrating new players into the forums, organizing cultural events, and communicating with the world about The South Pacific’s activities.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
6. 7. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be the Coalition’s chief diplomat. They will be responsible for establishing the government’s foreign policy program, communicating with allies, and coordinating with the military on foreign policy priorities when necessary.
7. 8. The Minister of Foreign Affairs holds the sole power to initiate treaty negotiations with other regions, groups, and organizations, but may designate officers to handle those negotiations. Upon completion of a treaty negotiation, the Minister must present it to the full executive for majority approval, before submitting it to the Assembly for ratification.
8. 9. The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for establishing standards for the creation and maintenance of consulates and embassies.
Minister of Military Affairs
9. 10. The Minister of Military Affairs will be the civilian leader of the armed forces of the Coalition, the South Pacific Special Forces. In conjunction with a group of Generals, the Minister of Military Affairs will be responsible for the defense of the Coalition, building military activity, and conducting military operations.
10. 11.The Minister of Military Affairs may elect to establish an intelligence office, in equal coordination with the Council on Regional Security.
Executive Authorities
11. 12. The executive may exercise the collective authority of executive orders, by unanimous consent among the Prime Ministers and Cabinet Ministers. Executive orders may only be issued to address an immediate and pressing issue created by ambiguity or holes in a particular law, which will immediately have the effect of law.
12. 13. Upon declaring an executive order, the order will be presented automatically to the Assembly for three days of debate, followed by a vote according to legislative rules, where it will expire and its effects be reversed if the Assembly does not incorporate it into law.
13. 14. The Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers may elect to appoint deputies and advisors, who will be considered junior members of the Cabinet, but will not have voting rights in any executive decision.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Amendment 24
Article III was amended as follows by the Assembly on May 12th 2018.
III. RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
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1. All members of The South Pacific will enjoy the freedoms of expression, speech, assembly, and the press, limited only by reasonable forum moderation policies.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 0 | 3 |
This amendment was passed with 91.18% saying "Aye", 0.00% saying "Nay", and 8.82% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 25
The following amendment was passed on 7-27-2018.
1. The Delegate will be the head of state of the Coalition. They will be responsible for helping maintain the security of the region, promoting growth and activity, and serving as an advisor to the forum-side government. Barring reasonable circumstances, the Delegate will hold the in-game Delegate seat. No person may be Delegate if they have participated, in whole or in part and at any time, in any coup d'etat of the Coalition or any of its allies, excluding normal raiding, defending, or liberation efforts as part of an organized military.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 12 | 7 |
This amendment was passed with 55.81% saying "Aye", 27.91% saying "Nay", and 16.28% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 26
The following amendment was passed on 9-7-2018.
3. As leader of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister is responsible for overseeing a collective Cabinet agenda, and may give directions and instructions to the ministers. Disputes within the Cabinet are subject to majority decision and collective responsibility; where there is no majority the Prime Minister’s vote shall be the deciding one.
3. 4. Members of the Executive are required to hold Legislator status.
Debate
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Vote
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Table
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| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | 7 |
This amendment was passed with 77.14% saying "Aye", 2.86% saying "Nay", and 20.00% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 27
The following amendment was passed on 9-15-2018.
4. To help promote inter-governmental relations, the Local Council will may send a representative to the Assembly, whose term must not exceed the Local Council’s. The method of selection will be decided by the Local Council.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
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Table
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| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | 8 | 1 |
This amendment was passed with 74.29% saying "Aye", 22.86% saying "Nay", and 2.86% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 28
The Charter was amended using the Chair's discretionary powers on the 12-23-2018.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Amendment 29
Article VIII of the Charter of the South Pacific is amended as follows:
4. The High Court has the power to declare any general law or, regulation, Cabinet directive, Chair determination, and Local Council law or regulation,or any other official act of government, in whole or in part, void upon a determination that it violates the terms of this Charter or any other constitutional law.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
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Table
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| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 3 | 13 |
This amendment was passed with 68.63% saying "Aye", 5.88% saying "Nay", and 25.49% saying "Abstain".
Amemdment 30
Article IV of the Charter was amended on the 2-8-2019.
IV. THE ASSEMBLY
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(2) The Assembly will elect a Legislator as Chair for a term lasting four months. The Chair is responsible for maintaining order and decorum, and helping guide Assembly debate into the creation of bills. If a Chair is recalled, loses Legislator status, or is otherwise not in office, a new Chair will be elected for a new term lasting four months. The Election Commission Commissioner will be responsible for organizing Chair elections.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
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| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | 4 | 5 |
This amendment was passed with 82.00% saying "Aye", 8.00% saying "Nay", and 10.00% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 31
Article X of the Charter was amended on the 7-16-2019.
THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
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X. THE MILITARY
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(3) The military may engage in offensive or defensive operations without fear of political reprisal. However, it may not colonize or annex any region without the express permission of the Cabinet and the Assembly. Nor may it destroy innocent regions. It may engage in the destruction of regions with which the Coalition is at war, and regions espousing hateful ideologies.
(3) The military will have the support of the Coalition in conducting operations to protect innocent regions from attack and oppression and promote legitimate, native democratic institutions across the world. The military may not colonize or annex any region without the express permission of the Cabinet and the Assembly, by majority vote of both chambers. Nor may the military attack, subjugate, purge, destroy, or vandalize any regions, excepting those regions which espouse hateful ideologies and those regions against which the Coalition has declared an official state of war.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 10 | 12 |
This amendment was passed with 55.10% saying "Aye", 20.41% saying "Nay", and 24.49% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 32
Articles VI, VII, and VIII of the Charter were amended on the 6-26-2019.
THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
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VI. THE EXECUTIVE
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(6) The date, time, and manner of elections will be set by the Assembly in a general law.
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VII. THE DELEGATE
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(5) The date, time, and manner of electing the Delegate will be set by the Assembly in a general law, but must include the participation of the gameside community.
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VIII. HIGH COURT
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(2) The procedure for the appointment of the justices will be defined in a general law by the Assembly.
(3) Procedures for the conduct of criminal trials and civil cases will be defined in a general law by the Assembly.
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Debate
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Vote
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Table
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| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 7 | 11 |
This amendment was passed with 62.50% saying "Aye", 14.58% saying "Nay", and 22.92% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 33
2-4-2020.
THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
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IX. THE COUNCIL ON REGIONAL SECURITY
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(11) The Delegate must grant members of the Council on Regional Security appropriate Regional Officer powers to fulfill their duties. When there is a limited number of Regional Officer positions available, those positions must be given to the most senior Council members.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | 6 | 8 |
This amendment was passed with 65.00% saying "Aye", 15.00% saying "Nay", and 20.00% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 34
Article XII of the Charter was amended on the 2-20-2020.
THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
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XII. THE ADMINISTRATION
Creating an independent, apolitical body to manage the forums off-site communications.
(1) The ForumOff-Site Administration Team will be responsible for the technical maintenance of the region's Discord servers, forums, and the integrity of the database. Administrators will not be given responsibilities of a political nature.
(2) The ForumOff-Site Administration Team will be responsible for the appointment and removal of its own members, except when an administrator is removed from the position following a guilty verdict in a fair trial for abuse of administrative powers. Additionally, new administrators must be approved by a majority of the Assembly before being granted administrator permissions.
(3) The ForumOff-Site Administration Team must create standard administration and moderation policies. These policies will be submitted to the Assembly for a one-week review and comment period before going into effect.
(4) While the ForumOff-Site Administration Team may appoint global moderators if needed, individual Ministers and, the Chair of the Assembly, and roleplay moderators primarily will be responsible for the moderation of their dedicated Discord servers and forums.
Debate
The debate can be found here
Vote
The vote can be found here
Table
A table is here for convenience:
| Aye | Nay | Abstain |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | 4 | 10 |
This amendment was passed with 69.57% saying "Aye", 8.70% saying "Nay", and 21.74% saying "Abstain".
Amendment 35
Section IX of the Charter of the Coalition was amended via Chair's discretionary powers (Pursuant to Article 2 Section 4 of the Legislative Procedure Act) on the 3-6-2020.
The Charter of the South Pacific
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IX. THE COUNCIL ON REGIONAL SECURITY
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Powers
(9) The Council on Regional Security will be responsible for establishing an appropriate cap on endorsements, ensuring that such a cap is not detrimental to the growth of the region. Enforcement of the endorsement cap should be done with leniency if a violator does not pose a significant risk to regional security.
(10) During a coup d’etat, whether committed by outside forces, infiltrators, or duly elected officials, the Council on Regional Security may declare a state of emergency, until such a time that a legitimate government is restored. All necessary measures may be taken to defeat a coup d’etat or hostile invasion, except that the legitimate Assembly may not be suspended.
(1211) The Council on Regional Security, the Prime Minister, and the Delegate will establish a line of succession for the Delegate seat.
(1312) The Council on Regional Security shall designate an individual as Intelligence Coordinator, who must be notified of and approve all intelligence and counter-intelligence operations. The Intelligence Coordinator will be responsible for disseminating any and all intelligence to the Council on Regional Security and other bodies as needed. The Intelligence Coordinator and the Minister of Military Affairs will maintain a regional intelligence classification system as necessary for ensuring information security.
Debate
The debate can be found here