bernard55 Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 (edited) The Commonwealth of Sovereign Nations Hello, noble nations and alliances of the Cyberverse. The Commonwealth of Sovereign Nations is an old and respected Maroon Alliance, with over 300 members, that works towards upholding the highest honor and peaceful manner possible for its membership. The Commonwealth pledges its loyalty to the Maroon team, and is looking for Maroon nations, young and old, to join the ranks of its brotherhood. Any and all nations are welcome to join as long as they are willing to switch to the Maroon team. Commonwealth of Sovereign Nations Offsite Forums The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Sovereign NationsPreamble: In recognition of the rights and responsibilities of independent self-governing nations to their peoples, and of the difficulties of fulfilling these roles without maintaining a community of trust among nations with this common interest, we do hereby ordain the creation of the Commonwealth of Sovereign Nations. As a unified body of self-governing nations, it is our responsibility to provide a workable framework for the administrative structure of such an alliance. It is the objective of this constitution to outline, improve, and provide for the modification of this structure of government. In this spirit, and aiming to provide for a more secure future, we, the associated Sovereign Nations of the Commonwealth, do ordain and endorse this document. Admission & Expulsion Any nation, given that they are not currently involved in an offensive war with any nation that is either neutral or allies with the CSN, and willing to switch to the Maroon team, is permitted to join the alliance. All applying member nations must post the following information which will be examined before being considered approved of precautionary standards and accepted into the alliance: Nation Name: Nation Ruler: Nation Strength: Former Alliances: Resources: A member nation may be expelled from the CSN if that nation commits an action which violates or severely offends the principles of the Constitution. The expulsion of a member is decided upon by an advisory vote including the whole Senate. Ultimately, the decision of expelling a member is left up to the discretion of the Head of State. War Policy The CSN does not condone aggressive action. Any random attacks and wars that a CSN member wages against other nations will be condemned as a violation of the Law of the Commonwealth. Only wars authorized by the CSN Military hierarchy will be legally valid. However, wars against inactive nations are permitted as long as the following conditions are met: the nation is inactive and does not specify it is active, the nation is unaligned, the nation receives a two day warning to ensure inactivity, if the nation is to return full responsibility for reparations will be taken by the attacker, the Commonwealth is not responsible for aiding nations that are retaliated against in their wars. The CSN does not use Nuclear Weapons as a first strike weapon nor does it condone its use as a retaliatory means of defending oneself. The use of nukes may only be permitted with clear authorization by the command of the Commonwealth. Article I: Executive Administration The primary routine powers and operation of government within the alliance will be vested in an Executive Administration. This branch of government is organized around a Head Of State who is the leader of one of the associated nations. The Head of State and his staff will maintain the smooth operation of the various branches of the Commonwealth by providing services such as recruiting, education, and organization of internal affairs. The Executive Administration will also be responsible for the security of nations of the commonwealth and the alliances stance with foreign powers. Section 1: Positions Head of State Selection: Permanently appointed except in the case of impeachment. Description/Duties: The Head of State is appointed for an indefinite term and is vested with the full confidence and support of the Commonwealth. The status of any particular nation leader as Head of State may only be revoked through his resignation or a conviction in impeachment proceedings carried out by the Senate of the Commonwealth. The Head of State will serve as the leader of the alliance in all its affairs, including as the Commander-in-Chief of CSN military forces. The Head of State is responsible for appointing all government ministers and controlling the stance of the CSN government through his appointed advisors. The Head of State is also endowed with the ability and responsibility to veto anything passed by the Senate provided he can show satisfactory evidence that such laws will damage the security, unity, or happiness of the majority of alliance members. Deputy Head of State Selection: Appointed by Head of State Description/Duties: The Deputy Head of State is charged with assisting the Head of State in day to day operations of the Commonwealth. The Deputy Head of State shall have the power to issue directives to all members of the executive branch and conduct diplomacy and official business with other alliances. The Deputy Head of State will not be allowed to appoint ministers or veto legislation passed by the senate, but is in all other cases endowed with the full powers of the Executive branch. The Deputy Head of State may be overruled in any directive or decision by the Head of State, and may be dismissed at his discretion at any time. Foreign Minister Selection: Appointed by Head of State Description/Duties: The Foreign Minister is responsible for maintenance and establishment of relations with other alliances. The Minister will be responsible for meeting with diplomats assigned to CSN from other alliances as well as recruiting our own diplomats from the ranks of CSN nations. The Foreign Minister is also charged with initial negotiation of treaties, which must be signed by the Head of State. Defense Minister Selection: Appointed by Head of State Description/Duties: The Defense Minister is charged with maintaining and utilizing the Commonwealth Defense Forces. The Minister, through the direction of the Head of State, will be responsible for coordinating strategies and the incorporation of all CSN members into the CDF in various positions. During peacetime, the Defense Minister concerns himself primarily with defense readiness, intelligence on the strength of potential opponents, and communication with military allies. During wartime, the Defense Minister is in charge of tactical engagements and is closely involved in strategic decisions with rest of the Ministries under the direction of the Head of State. Interior Minister Selection: Appointed by Head of State Description/Duties: The Interior Minister is responsible for maintaining coherant operation of all internal activities within the Commonwealth. The Minister, through the cooperation of his own appointed Deputies, will be responsible for coordinating all recruitment, education, and financial efforts within the alliance. The Interior minister is also charged with fulfilling any and all other internal duties such as managing alliance records, informing the general populace on internal operations, and coordinating efforts with the other Ministries. Director of Recruitment Selection: Appointed by Head of State, Interior Minister Description/Duties: The Director of Recruitment will organize efforts to recruit and integrate new members into the Commonwealth. The Director is charged with spreading our values to interested nations while ensuring against the use of coercion or intimidation in the enlistment process. Following recruitment, the Director will work with member states to ensure their successful integration into the CSN. Director of Education Selection: Appointed by Head of State, Interior Minister Descriptions/Duties: The Director of Education is in charge of the continued training of members of the alliance in techniques towards successful development. The Director will teach budding nations the mechanics of international trade and the effects of various decisions on the course of a nation's development. The Director of Education will also be responsible for collecting and publishing literature on a wide range of topics, including guides to rapid development, alliance history, and the state of affairs in the world. Director of Finance Selection: Appointed by Head of State, Interior Minister Descriptions/Duties: The Director of Finance will be the coordinator of all economical affairs within the alliance. The Director will ensure that nations are achieving ultimate efficiency in industrial and economical growth. The most important duty of the Finance Director is to head the Commonwealth Bank. He/she holds veto over the CEO of the Bank and will verify that Bank operations are running smoothly and successfully. Article II: Legislative Assembly The Senate of the Commonwealth is an elected body of member nations assigned the responsibility to make laws, act as a judicial body in disciplinary proceedings, and choose a Prime Minister to lead the Senate and represent the people in the cabinet. The Senate is not concerned with the routine activities of the Commonwealth, but instead passes appropriate measures to be carried out by the Executive Administration. During any judicial actions, a committee of Senate members will be responsible for judging guilt and handing out disciplinary action. While the Senate may be vetoed by the Head of State on many matters, they retain an ultimate tool of control in the guise of impeachment powers. Section 1: Positions Prime Minister Selection: Elected by simple majority vote in the Senate out of the pool of available Senators, if no candidate gains a simple majority, run-offs will be held to determine who gets the position. The two candidates with the highest vote getters will participate in the run-off. Should the run-off remain indecisive, the outgoing Prime Minister will choose from among the candidates with the highest vote totals. Senators cannot vote for themselves. The Prime Minister is elected at the start of each 3 Senate terms. Description/Duties: The Prime Minister is the only member of the CSN government to be effectively involved in the Legislative and Executive branches of government. While the Prime Minister holds no power in the Executive Administration. While the Prime Minister retains the powers of a Senator, his primary role besides breaking ties in the senate is to serve as a liaison between the legislative and executive branches. The Prime Minister also has the important role as the only member of the government able to initiate a vote towards impeachment of the Head of State. This judgment may be submitted by the Prime Minister for consideration by the Senate at any time. Senator Selection: Nominees for Senate will be submitted in the last 5 days of each month. To be a candidate, two nominations are necessary. Senators of the previous term may choose to be placed on the ballot without nomination, but will lose their ability to nominate someone else. Prospective Senators and Incumbents must pledge to conduct their campaigns in full integrity and in accordance to the Senate Ethics bill. The general election will be on the last day of each month, and the top eight vote-getters (nine once every quarter when a Prime Minister's term expires) will be elected as senators. Description/Duties: A Senator is responsible for drafting and voting on legislations and foreign policies to ensure the safety of the Commonwealth. Each Senator also may be selected at any time by the Head of State to serve on a judicial panel for disciplinary action, and is responsible for being part of any impeachment proceedings against the Head of State. Section 2: Bills/Laws Introduction: Laws may be introduced for consideration by any Senator. They may also be introduced directly by the Head of State when they are not within his executive powers. Petitioners may include Ministers or Senators. Consideration: Each law passing the criteria for consideration will be judged and debated before a meeting of the full Senate, and a simply majority will be required to pass the vote. Effect: After passage of a bill as Law of the Commonwealth, the Head of State must either sign or veto it within a week of passage except during an absence from office, or it will be automatically judged to have the weight of law. Time Limit: Each vote proposed to the Senate will have a time limit of three days (unless otherwise specified). The result after three days will be made final, any Senators that haven't voted will be considered to have "abstained" from the vote. Article III: Judicial Branch The purpose of the Commonwealth Judiciary is to provide a platform for which the alliance can charge and sentence those who have committed crimes against the Commonwealth as a whole. The member being accused of the crime is given the right to a fair trial conducted by the Chief Justice and his associates. By establishing this branch the Commonwealth is able to create an organ that allows !@#$%* to present cases against individuals who are harming the alliance as a whole either directly or indirectly. Section 1: Positions Chief Justice Selection: Appointed by the Head of State and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate Description/Duties: The Chief Justice will serve permanently until retirement and can only be removed from his or her post through a majority vote by the Senate after recommendation by the Head of State. It is the responsibility of the Chief Justice to operate the Judicial Branch and to judge violations of the laws of the Commonwealth without bias and announce verdicts of either guilty or not guilty. The Chief Justice has the authority to appoint and dismiss four justices of the peace at his or her pleasure. The Chief Justice or current Deputy Chief Justice will announce a verdict of guilt or innocence based on the majority of votes by the three sitting Judges on a trial. The Chief Justice is the only authority that can determine punishment, unless one of the four remaining justices is duly authorized as a deputy.The Chief Justice also has the authority to adjust the level of punishment within the bounds decreed by any enacted law, but cannot commute a sentence if the accused is found guilty, as is the authority of the Head of State. The Chief Justice must appoint one of his four Justices of the Peace as Deputy Chief Justice for a short time if a leave of absence is required. The Chief Justice is required to recuse him or herself from participation in a decision on grounds such as prejudice or personal involvement with the accused. Associate Justice Selection: Appointed by Chief Justice Description/Duties: It is the responsibility of a Associate Justice to judge violations of the laws of the Commonwealth fairly and without bias and give a vote of either guilty or not guilty. An Associate Justice is required to recuse him or herself from participation in a decision on grounds such as prejudice or personal involvement with the accused. Section 2: Judicial Procedure Charges: Charges may be brought against any member of the Commonwealth by any regular member or government official of the Commonwealth. The charges presented must be clearly described and include evidence that supports the claims. Judicial Procedure: It is a requirement of the Chief Justice or another judicial member to create a separate trial outlining all of the facts of the case as told by both the accuser and the defense counsel. Any evidence will also be included in the introduction of the trial, and discussion of the evidence and supporting facts at hand is a privilege of both the accuser and the defense. Any member of the judiciary may raise questions regarding the evidence, both in its substance (what it is) and how it was obtained. Verdict: Based on a majority of votes by the three sitting Judges on a trial, a verdict of guilty or not guilty will be determined and announced after an analysis of the facts of the case and the evidence to support the accuser's claim have occurred. Section 3: Punishments If not otherwise directed by law, the Chief Justice has the authority to impose any punishment from fines, revoking of powers, to expulsion from the alliance depending upon the severity of the offense. If the Chief Justice proposes expulsion from the alliance as a punishment for the crimes committed, both the Head of State and Prime Minister must confirm the punishment. If the punishment cannot be confirmed a lesser sentence must be used. Section 4: Fundamental Rights of the Accused It is a legal right of any member of the Commonwealth to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. In all prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation. The accused has the right to counsel for his or her defense from another member of the alliance, which he may appoint. Section 5: Pardoning and Commuting of Sentences Pardoning a Sentence: The Head of State and the Prime Minister can pardon a Nation found guilty of a crime of the Commonwealth by dual signature. Commuting a Sentence: The Head of State and the Prime Minister can commute the sentence of a Nation found guilty of a crime of the Commonwealth by dual signature. Section 6: Obligation of the Head of State It is the authority and responsibility of the Head of State to ensure that the sentences properly imposed by the judicial branch are carried out in a timely and correct manner. Article IV: Impeachment While the Head of State is appointed for a life term each time he is chosen, the position is not without a check on its power. The Prime Minister may authorize the impeachment of the Head of State, in which case he is put up for trial and judgment by the senate. Section I: Initiation of Proceedings The Initiation of impeachment proceedings must be declared by the Prime Minister, along with a brief description of the cause for impeachment. This notice must be delivered to the attention of the Head of State and to the Senate by the Prime Minister. Section II: Vote for Impeachment The vote to impeach the Head of State is a simple majority vote by the Senate, and is similar to any other bill or law put before the Senate. The question here is whether to consider beginning a trial of the Head of State, not whether he should be removed from office. Section III: Impeachment The actual impeachment proceedings will proceed as a judgment of the fitness of the Head of State to perform activities consistent with the security of Commonwealth nations. During these proceedings, the Senate will act as jury, with the Prime Minister acting as chief prosecutor and the Head of State acting in his own defense. The conviction of the Head of State in these proceedings will begin the process of removing him from office, and requires a three-quarters majority of the Senate to be in agreement. Section IV: Popular Approval Due to the serious nature of this act, the impeachment conviction of any Head of State will be turned over to the member nations of the Commonwealth for their consideration. A referendum will be held within 10 days of conviction, and two-thirds of the member nations must approve the removal of the Head of State from office for the conviction to be upheld. Once this vote is taken, if two-thirds approve, the Head of State is removed from office. Section V: Aftermath After an impeachment, the Prime Minister will hold office with the existing cabinet members retaining their positions until a popular election can be held for the next Head of State, this will be the responsibility of the top vote-getter besides the Prime Minister in the Senate to organize, and must be completed in 10 days or the Head of State will be re-instated. Article V: Amendments The Constitution, while essentially considered to be complete and viable to serve the alliance, is subject to amendments. If at any time does a nation of the alliance feel the Constitution must be amended, it must propose the Amendment to the general public. If the support of at least 15% of the nations within the CSN is established, the amendment will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration and debate. If a majority vote is established by the Senate, the amendment will be ratified. If you would like to join, simply visit our offsite forums, register, and post a sign-up application (follow the instructions: CSN Sign-up Forum We look forward to new members and diplomats visiting our forums. Edited September 10, 2007 by bernard55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorp Posted September 11, 2007 Report Share Posted September 11, 2007 (edited) FIRST!! Edited September 11, 2007 by Scorp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHappyLand Posted September 11, 2007 Report Share Posted September 11, 2007 Bout time you set this up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2007 yeah, everyone elss seemed to be to preoccupied with having a life... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comrade General Posted September 11, 2007 Report Share Posted September 11, 2007 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 BUMP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Watch Posted September 12, 2007 Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 Shameless bump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2007 Shameless bump. Dude, is your avi scraping junk out of his ear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorp Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 Bumpity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 I miss the old forums already... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comrade General Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 I miss the old forums already... THIS^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Watch Posted September 13, 2007 Report Share Posted September 13, 2007 It would be alright if they brought back the team forums though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2007 It would be alright if they brought back the team forums though. Yeah, seriously. Although we're not going to get into this argument... AGAIN. ha ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Watch Posted September 14, 2007 Report Share Posted September 14, 2007 Another Shameless bump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorp Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 I love bumping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 bump it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 bump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorp Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 "Bump," Scorp said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 I think we need a color scheme for these boards... this one is so boring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 bump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 BUMP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 BUMP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard55 Posted September 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 BUMP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Watch Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHappyLand Posted September 18, 2007 Report Share Posted September 18, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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