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**Seraph** · 03-14-2017, 07:50 PM

As part of its efforts to explore the possibilities available for gameside engagement, and to improve activity both there and on the forums, the Ministry of Regional Affairs is interested in exploring the idea of creating colonial regions for specialising subsets of our community (such as the Knowhere RP region, created to allow RMB RPers a place to let off steam without monopolising the RMB of the South Pacific), to develop new players by allowing them a free space to 'practice' politics and their own government ideas, and to trial pieces of legislation as they are being worked on. To enable this, I propose the following Act, which would empower the Coalition to create and govern such regions, whilst ensuring they have the capability of their own autonomy and self-determination.

The Commonwealth Act Wrote:
The Commonwealth Act
An act empowering the Coalition of the South Pacific to create and govern colonial regions.

1. Creation

(1) The Cabinet may choose to found new regions, to be termed colonial regions or colonies of the South Pacific for the purposes of--
a. Encouraging regional activity
b. Developing new players
c. Trialling new legislation.

(2) A colonial contract will be written and maintained between each colonial region and the South Pacific. This will detail the specifics of the colonial relationship, according to the purpose and requirements of each colony.

(3) Each colony must be founded using a puppet nation, itself founded specifically for the purpose. The passwords for founder nations will be kept by the CRS, unless otherwise specified in a colonial contract.

(4) All colonies must be connected to the South Pacific with in-game embassies.

(5) The South Pacific and any colonies under the control of the Coalition will be known collectively as the Commonwealth of the South Pacific.

(6) Pre-existing regions may choose to become part of the Commonwealth and be considered ‘member regions’, but, in doing so, they must submit to the terms of governance listed in article 2 and create a contact of membership, similar to a colonial contract, between themselves and the South Pacific.

2. Governance

(1) All colonies and member regions of the Commonwealth of the South Pacific will--
a. remain under the ultimate governance and sovereignty of the Coalition of the South Pacific and its Charter.
b. be bound by any active treaties of which the South Pacific is a party.

(2) Colonies and member regions may choose to adopt or continue their own local government structure, judiciary and laws, providing they remain subordinate to and do not contradict those of the South Pacific as stipulated in the Charter.

(3) Colonies and member regions will not be permitted to form or maintain their own militaries unless they are to be considered as a subunit of the South Pacific Special Forces and thus under the ultimate command of the Minister of Military Affairs of the South Pacific.

(4) All residents of the regions of the Commonwealth will enjoy the same rights and freedoms as those granted to residents of the South Pacific by the Charter.

(5) Colonies and member regions may send legislators to the Assembly of the South Pacific under the following conditions--
a. Any Legislator may only represent one region at a time and must state which region they are applying from in their application. All legislators whose applications were accepted before the passing of this law will be considered to be representing the South Pacific until they either lose Legislator status or state their move to represent a colony or member region.
b. The number of legislators from any given colony or member region must not exceed one-fifth of the number of legislators from the South Pacific.

3. Secession

(1) Any colony or member region may announce its intention to secede from the Commonwealth, should a supermajority of three-fifths of native voters choose to do so.

(2) Once a colony or member region has announced its intention to secede, a period of negotiation lasting no less than one week will take place, during which the continuing relationship between the seceding region and the rest of the Commonwealth is to be determined.

(3) The secession of a colony will only be made complete once the founding nation is handed over to the local government of that region by the CRS.

Whilst I have been working on this for a week, it is obviously draft legislation and I welcome others in the region to engage with it and improve it. Many details, such as the limit on legislators from colonial and member regions are entirely arbitrary and could be improved by someone with better experience in judging the right level. Even the proposed name, 'the Commonwealth', is up for grabs. I chose it because it avoids repurposing the name of the Coalition, which I know many would be opposed to, and it maintains the atmosphere of welcome, inclusivity and diversity which we expect from the South Pacific, but perhaps someone can come up with a better suggestion?

I look forward to hearing people's ideas.

Founder of the Church of the South Pacific [Forum Thread] [Discord], a safe place to discuss spirituality for people of all faiths and none (currently looking for those interested in prayer and/or "home" groups);
And The Silicon Pens [Discord], a writer's group for the South Pacific and beyond!

Yahweo usenneo ir varleo, ihraneo jurlaweo hraseu seu, ir jiweveo arladi.

Salma 145:8

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