I would like to propose the following alternative in CRS membership requirements and the process we have for becoming a member. I strongly believe that making this an Assembly-driven process will open a large security hole in our region, as the Assembly isn't a very deliberative body. A skilled demagogue can whip up enough votes to catapult themselves into the CRS, despite even universal objection from the CRS itself. There's also the very real issue of foreign imports engaging in voting manipulation. They don't need to import a whole lot of people to tip the scales and reach 2/3rds in the Assembly.

Additionally, we need to be realistic about what would go down if we have a CRS with a lot of in-fighting. We know what that looks like with the Cabinet. We've had people resign due to serious in-fighting, and have Cabinets slow to a crawl because of it. That will happen in the CRS, too, which is why it's important for the CRS to have a real say in vetting prospective members. A simple recommendation isn't enough-- it depends entirely on the Assembly deferring to that recommendation, and how many of you right now would actually defer to the CRS's opinion on a nominee?

The response to that has been so far: "Well, the people who don't like a prospective member need to resign, because they aren't capable of working with them." That's backwards. If the CRS basically unanimously rejects somebody, we really are going to say that they all need to resign, so that the Assembly can put that person in? That doesn't pass the smell test. When the CRS rejects someone, it's not just because some members don't get along. Sam and I didn't get along, but we work together. Rejected applicants so far have been rejected because a majority of CRS members (sometimes, unanimously) have said that it would be impossible to trust the applicants. That's not "petty spite."

Anyways, blogpost over. Here's my alternative:
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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. 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. 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.

(This post was last modified: 05-20-2017, 11:42 AM by sandaoguo.)

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I can live with this. I don't know why you didn't bring it up sooner, we could have saved a lot of time and avoided a lot of drama. Regardless...

If I can make a few minor suggestions:

- a Soft Power Disbursement Rating of at least 50,000, or a Regional Influence ranking of Vassal, in The South Pacific
This ensures no one is admitted to the CRS if their SPDR or RI ranking comes from outside TSP.

- with simple majority approval by the Assembly.
It's best to be clear.

The intelligence classification system idea is new. What do you intend with it? Also, why no chairperson?

(This post was last modified: 05-16-2017, 07:40 PM by Cormac.)

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I don't have any specific ideas on classification at the moment, but we currently consider some things classified and some not, and at varying degrees. I think it would be a good idea to put that down in writing, particularly who decides levels of classification.

As for the chair, I don't think include it for the reasons mentioned elsewhere. It's a lot for one person to do, and I think the CRS can choose their own spokesperson if they think it's necessary. But one person in charge of running the CRS, doing PR, handling investigations, coordinating intel, etc., would most likely result in a lot of things falling through the cracks.

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I don't have any specific ideas on classification at the moment, but we currently consider some things classified and some not, and at varying degrees. I think it would be a good idea to put that down in writing, particularly who decides levels of classification.

Ah, I see. That seems reasonable and would probably help a lot with some of the issues we've been discussing lately, like the inadequate provisions in the Criminal Code related to espionage.

As for the chair, I don't think include it for the reasons mentioned elsewhere. It's a lot for one person to do, and I think the CRS can choose their own spokesperson if they think it's necessary. But one person in charge of running the CRS, doing PR, handling investigations, coordinating intel, etc., would most likely result in a lot of things falling through the cracks.

Well, the CRS knows better than I do if it needs a chairperson. The reason I included it in my proposal, and I presume the reason the APC included some chairperson language in their original proposal, is that @Tsunamy has specifically requested something like that several times. He has pointed to the lack of a chairperson as one of the reasons the CRS is so slow to act, etc.

If I had one recommendation about this, I would recommend including some kind of chairperson language, even if you reduce the role based on your concerns about giving the chairperson too much to do. Someone to moderate the CRS' discussions and call for a vote before discussion drags on for weeks seems sensible, even if I was perhaps being too excessive in the responsibilities I was assigning the chairperson.

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I would prefer a 3/5ths majority vote, but if we think a simple majority is better, then that's fine with me.

-Griffindor/Ebonhand
-Current Roles/Positions
-Legislator 2/24/20-
-High Court Justice 6/7/20-
-South Pacific Coral Guard 11/17/20-
-Minister of Engagement 6/17/22-

-Past Roles/Positions
-Legislator 7/3/16-4/10/18
-Secretary of State 4/3/20-2/24/21
-Chair of the APC 9/24/16-5/31/17
-Vice-Chair of the APC 6/1/17-4/10/18
-Local Council Member 7/1/17-11/17/17
-Citizen 5/2012-12/2014 and  2/26/16-7/3/2016

(This post was last modified: 05-16-2017, 09:55 PM by Griffindor.)

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I defer to the more experienced legislators with respect to actual drafting on CRS reform as the mechanics & inner workings of regional security do not fall under my purview, nor do I know the full history of our region. But for what it's worth, I'd be okay with these reforms.

ROLEPLAY IN-CHARACTER

• Most Serene Republic of Kilex-Tromblic
  
• unitary directorial republic
  
• Gert Reece, Chief Chancellor and Director of Communication & Information
  
• Dianna Gibson, Chancellor & Director of South Pacifican Affairs
  
• Diocletian Lanzo, Chancellor & Director of Defence
  
• Edan Basilio Ó Tuathai, Chancellor & Director of Foreign Affairs & Kilexians Abroad
  
• Mirjana Horn, Chancellor & Director of Public Security & Interior Administration

ROLEPLAY OUT-OF-CHARACTER

I am by no means a storyteller. My interests rest in embassies, factbooks & surveys. I'm more of a statistician that anything else when it comes to roleplay.

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I like this as well and 5. helps solve the problems mentioned here and elsewhere about cohesiveness.

Escade

~ Positions Held in TSP ~
Delegate | Vice Delegate 
Minister of Regional Affairs, | Minister of Foreign Affairs | Minister of Military Affairs
~ The Sparkly One ~

My Pinterest

 

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I agree with griffin but other than that I really really like this.

Above all else, I hope to be a decent person.
Has Been
What's Next?

 

CoA: August 2016-January 2017
Minister of Foreign Affairs: October 2019-June 2020, October 2020- February 2021

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I've added language that lets the CRS choose a chair, with rather open-ended duties that the CRS can choose themselves.

If there's no more debate, I'd like to motion this to vote.

Reply

3/5ths majority?

-Griffindor/Ebonhand
-Current Roles/Positions
-Legislator 2/24/20-
-High Court Justice 6/7/20-
-South Pacific Coral Guard 11/17/20-
-Minister of Engagement 6/17/22-

-Past Roles/Positions
-Legislator 7/3/16-4/10/18
-Secretary of State 4/3/20-2/24/21
-Chair of the APC 9/24/16-5/31/17
-Vice-Chair of the APC 6/1/17-4/10/18
-Local Council Member 7/1/17-11/17/17
-Citizen 5/2012-12/2014 and  2/26/16-7/3/2016

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