Revising the Constitution

[Ness Snorlaxia]

I believe that the regional constitution should be revised, or replaced with a new one, seeing as it hasn't been updated in a while, and needs to reflect current changes going on.

I have created a rough draft of the basic laws part. If you have any suggestions to help improve it, or any suggestions for other parts, then please say so.

Basic Laws
Article I - Guidelines
-The region is officially called the Region of Hyrule.
-There shall be no official language for the region of Hyrule. However, the primary language of communication throughout the region shall be English.
-In all regional affairs and United Nations voting, all nations shall recieve one vote.

Article II - Freedom of Speech
-All nations in Hyrule are to have the right to freedom of speech. This includes freedom of the press, freedom to criticize, freedom to debate, et cetera.
-The only exception to the rule would be that content that is considered to be obscene, threatening, inflamatory, libel, or racist would not allowed to be posted on the forum.
-If certain cases are brought up that would limit freedom of speech, a majority of 75% for must be reached before said case would be declared "obscene."

Article III - Regional Citizenship
-To be a citizen of the region of Hyrule, one must meet the following criteria: they must be in the region, registered on the regional forum, and has to have made a minimum of 3 posts.
-Citizenship may be revoked if a nation leaves the region without a valid reason and does not come back (while registered on the forum). The Chancellor of Justice may also revoke a nation's citizenship in certain conditions.

Article IV - Neutrality
-Hyrule is to be a neutral region, which means the region as a whole shall not participate in multi-regional alliances or treaties, and all previous alliances written before this are to be repealed.
-Hyrule shall not maintain a standing military.
-Note that any multi-regional roleplaying alliances, and any other multi-regional IC roleplays are excluded from the neutrality clause.

[wrathfulpeople]

Ness, I do have a question concerning Article II. Since the new law that is being voted on now written by EMC, would that not change that article to reflect the laws, if passed?

[Ness Snorlaxia]

Article II would be changed to reflect it, if passed.

[South Malaysia]

Looks/sounds good Ness!

[Ness Snorlaxia]

Anyone else?

[eternalmoonchild]

looks good to me Ness

[Buuyo]

-Citizenship may be revoked if a nation leaves the region and does not come back within 48 hours (while registered on the forum). The Chancellor of Justice may also revoke a nation's citizenship in certain conditions.

Well, what if they have to go help a friend or something like that, i think they should be excused if the have a valid[/i][/u] reason (until a certain point in time of course)... but that's just my opinion =P

[tasmanyaya]

I find the 88% too high. Even changes to the constitution of the US require a two-thirds majority in both houses, and then a 75% vote in favour.

I would prefer to see the 88% changed to 75%.

[Porcu]

Tas, you proposal sounds very reasonable to me and I would like to back it up.

[Ness Snorlaxia]

OK, it's been changed. Any other suggestions, or are we ready to move on?

[eternalmoonchild]

We can move on unless someone else has something to say about it

[Ness Snorlaxia]

Okay, moving on now. If you have anything to say about the previous sections or this one, then say it, please.

The next two sections deal with regional symbols and regional government structure.

Regional Symbols
Article I - Symbols
-The regional drink is chocolate milk.
-The regional animal is the dancing squirrel.
-The regional flower is the white lily.
-The regional snack is the twinkie.

Article II - Anthem and Flag
-The regional anthem is established as the overworld theme from the game "Legend of Zelda" for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
-The regional flag is established as the following: click here for link.

Article III - Changing Regional Symbols
-Regional symbols may be changed only if a majority of 75% agree to have it changed. Nations may then suggest new regional symbols in a three-day period after the majority is reached, but the previous one that would be replaced would also be included in the final poll.
-In the final poll, the option that manages to garner most of the votes will become the regional symbol.

Regional Government Structure
Article I - Branches of Government
-The regional government shall be composed of three branches; the Exectuive branch (Delegate and Cabinet), the Legislative Branch (House of Members), and the Judicial branch.

Article II - Delegate
-The regional delegate is the head of state.
-The duties of the regional delegate include the following: allowing all nations to decide what the delegate votes for on the UN resolution (and voting for that choice), being the main forum admin (creation of forums and fixing/adding of code), and be the election and vote monitor (making sure that the tally of all people who voted in a certain poll/election are finalized and accurate).
-The regional delegate is not allowed to run for a posistion in the regional cabinet.

Article III - House of Members
-The House of Members is the main lawmaking body of the region.
-The House of Members is open to ALL citizens of Hyrule, and all nations are allowed to have a say in regional government discussions. Nations are allowed to propose new ideas or laws, voice their opinions and offer ways current regional laws could be improved or changed, and take part in current discussions in the House of Members.
-If a final draft of a law in the House of Members is written up and agreed upon, a poll shall be created in a forum specifically for voting on regional laws.

Article IV - Cabinet
-The regional cabinet is responsible for implementing certain regional programs, and moderating certain forums.
-The regional cabinet shall consist of the regional Chancellor (head of government), Ministers of Immigration, Roleplaying, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Civilisation.
-Duties of the regional cabinet shall be explained in the Regional Cabinet section of the Constitution.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I haven't gotten around to writing the Regional Cabinet section or a part for the Judicial branch yet, because I need to go to bed now.

Here's what I want people to help me with: help improve the wording and expand upon what I've written, write a draft for the Judicial branch. Also, take note of this post.

[tasmanyaya]

Nice job, Ness. JC's comment does disturb me. He's been around a long time, and if even he doesn't realize that it is the people of Hyrule who have the ability to make or change laws, then many others must be confused as well. I will be happy to play with the wording once I finish recrWOOOOOOOOTing! :owl: (in case you haven't guessed, I'm truly in love with the owl JC found! Thanks again, JC!)

[tasmanyaya]

Here is a possible revision (tidy-up) of the first section:


Basic Laws

Article 1: Guidelines

1.1 The region is officially known as “The Region of Hyrule”.

1.2 While there shall be no official language for the region, the primary language of communication shall be English.

1.3 In both regional affairs and United Nations voting, each nation shall receive exactly one vote.


Article 2: Freedom of Speech

2.1 Each and every nation in Hyrule has the right to freedom of speech. This includes, but is not limited to, freedom of the press, freedom to criticise, freedom to debate.

2.2 The only exceptions to 2.1 would be content that is considered to be obscene, threatening, inflammatory, libellous, or racist. Comments of this sort may not be posted on the forum.

2.3 If cases limiting freedom of speech concerning “obscenity” are brought up before the house, a majority of 75% of all nations voting must be reached before said post would be declared “obscene”.


Article 3: Regional Citizenship

3.1 In order to qualify for citizenship in the region, a nation must meet the following three criteria:
3.1.1 The nation must reside in the Region of Hyrule.
3.1.2 The nation must be registered on the Regional forum.
3.1.3 The nation must have made a minimum of three posts.

3.2 If a nation registered on the forum leaves the Region without valid reason, and does not return, its citizenship may be revoked. Under certain conditions, the Chancellor of Justice may also revoke the citizenship of a nation.


Article 4: Neutrality

4.1 Hyrule is to be a neutral region. The Region shall not participate in multi-regional alliances or treaties, and all previous alliances will be repealed.

4.2 The Region shall not maintain standing military.

4.3 The only exclusions to 4.1 are any multi-regional role-playing alliances, and any other multi-regional IC role-plays.



Now to the recruiting...

OK. Recruiting done. I'm not sure if this helps or not. We should perhaps ask each cabinet minister to write up what s/he has been doing, and compare it to the job descriptions that were posted when each of us was running. From there, we might have a better idea of how to clearly define the positions for the next election.


Regional Symbols


Article 1: Symbols

1.1 The regional drink is chocolate milk.
1.2 The regional animal is the dancing squirrel.
1.3 The regional flower is the white lily.
1.4 The regional snack is the Twinkie.


Article 2: Anthem and Flag

2.1 The regional anthem is the overworld theme from the game, “Legend of Zelda”, for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

2.2 The regional flag is here.


Article 3: Changing Regional Symbols

3.1 Regional symbols may be changed by a vote in the House of Members. 75% of all of the nations voting must be in favour of the change. A three-day period will then be allowed for nations to suggest alternate symbols. Upon voting, the original symbol shall also be included as one of the options.

3.2 In the final poll, the symbol that garnishes a simple majority of votes in the House of Members shall become the new symbol for the region.


Regional Government Structure

Article 1: Branches of the Government

The Regional Government shall be composed of three branches: the Executive Branch (consisting of the Delegate and Cabinet), the Legislative Branch (The House of Members consisting of all citizens of Hyrule) and the Judicial Branch.

Article 2: The Role and Responsibilities of the Delegate

2.1 The Regional UN Delegate is the Head of State.

2.2 The duties of the Delegate include, but are not limited to:
2.2.1 Providing a UN forum in which all citizens of Hyrule, regardless of UN affiliation, may vote on UN resolutions. The Delegate will then cast his/her vote according to the will of the citizens.
2.2.2 Acting as the main forum administrator. This shall include, but is not limited to, creating forums, and adding/fixing code.
2.2.3 Monitoring all voting on both polls and elections by ensuring that the tally of all those who voted is finalized and accurate.
2.2.4 The Delegate may not run for any position in the Regional Cabinet.


Article 3: House of Members

3.1 The House of Members, consisting of all citizens of Hyrule, is the main lawmaking body of the region.

3.2 Citizens are both allowed and encouraged to propose new ideas or laws, voice their opinions, suggest ways in which current regional laws could be improved or changed, and propose amendments to that effect.

3.3 If a final draft of a law is written up and agreed upon, a poll shall be created in a forum specifically designed for voting on regional laws.


Article 4: The Regional Cabinet

4.1 The Regional Cabinet is responsible for implementing certain regional programs and moderating certain forums.

4.2 The Regional Cabinet shall consist of the Chancellor, who shall be regarded as the head of the Government, and Ministers with the following portfolios: Immigration, Role-playing, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs and Civilisation.



Appendices containing the roles of the Judicial Branch and The Regional Cabinet will be forthcoming.






Please don't hesitate to add/delete/correct/change/whatever this draft.

[Ness Snorlaxia]

Thanks for the help Tas! It is really appreciated.

Again, we need ideas - if you have any, contribute them please.