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Jay Coop
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After a discussion in #local-council on Discord, I have drafted a proposal that would abolish the Local Council and establish the Ministry of Local Home Affairs in its place. The intent of this bill is to give the gameside of the South Pacific a voice within the Cabinet and likewise give the Cabinet a direct link to the gameside.
Since the bill contains an amendment to the Charter and directly affects the gameside, a vote on this bill requires a three-fifths supermajority of those voting to pass in accordance with Article 1, Section 4 of Legislative Procedure Act and a debate and vote by the gameside in accordance with Article I, Section 4 of the Charter.
Revised proposal
Amendment to the Charter Wrote:THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
...
V. THE LOCAL COUNCIL
Establishing home rule for the gamesidein-game region residents of the South Pacific.
(1) The Local Council will be the local government of the gamesidein-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 gamesidein-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 delivers any directive, that is solely related to an issue local to the gamesidein-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
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(2) The Cabinet will consist of ministers with the following portfolios: Foreign Affairs, Regional Affairs, and Military Affairs, and Home Affairs.
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Minister of Home Affairs
(1) The Minister of Home Affairs will be the local advocate of the gameside community and represent the Local Council in the Assembly and Cabinet. Addendum 1 — Amendment to the Elections Act Wrote:Elections Act
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4. Offices of the Cabinet
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(2) The Minister of Home Affairs shall be exempt from Article 4, Section 1 of this Act. At the start of each Local Council term, the first-elected Local Councillor may choose to become Minister of Home Affairs, who shall not be required to be a legislator, or defer to the popular vote winner of the second round of the Local Council election. At any point throughout their term, the Local Council may replace the Minister of Home Affairs by a unanimous vote.
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7. Separation of Powers
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(2) It is not permitted for any individual to hold more than one office within the Coalition's government, with the exception of a Local Councillor simultaneously serving as Minister of Home Affairs. Addendum 2 — Amendment to the Regional Officers Act Wrote:Regional Officers Act
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2. Regional Officers
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(3) The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be allotted a Regional Officer position and granted the undermentioned powers of other Cabinet ministers and Embassies power.
(4) The Minister of Home Affairs will be allotted a Regional Officer position and granted the undermentioned powers of other Cabinet ministers.
(53) OtherThe Cabinet ministers will be allotted a maximum of threebetween one and four Regional Officer positions and granted Appearance, Communications, and Polls powers. They will decide which Cabinet ministers among them will be granted Embassies power.
Original proposal
Amendment to the Charter Wrote:THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
...
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
...
(2) The Cabinet will consist of ministers with the following portfolios: Foreign Affairs, Regional Affairs, and Military Affairs, and Local Affairs.
...
Minister of Local Affairs
(1) The Minister of Local Affairs will be the local advocate of the gameside community in the Cabinet. They will represent the interests of all players in the region, moderate the Regional Message Board, encourage activity on the gameside, and issue regulations unique to the gameside community.
(2) The Minister of Local Affairs may not enact regulations that contradict this Charter or constitutional laws. To that end, the Assembly may not enact any law, nor the Cabinet delivers any directive, that is solely related to an issue local to the gameside community.
(3) The Minister of Local Affairs may not be denied the authority to run regional polls, create and pin Dispatches, and suppress messages on the Regional Message Board according to a standard moderation policy. However, they may not alter the regional flags or tags, and may not send out mass telegrams, without the approval of the Delegate.
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VII. THE DELEGATE
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(2) The Delegate will work with the Local CouncilMinister of Local Affairs in moderating the Regional Message Board, fulfilling Regional Officer positions, promoting gameside activities, and representing the preferences of the gameside community.
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VIII. THE HIGH COURT
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(5) The High Court may reconcile contradictions within the Charter, constitutional laws, general laws, Cabinet directives, and Local AffairsCouncil laws and regulations, maintaining the least amount of disruption to the intended purposes of the contradictory parts.
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VIIIIX. THE COUNCIL ON REGIONAL SECURITY
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(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 130,000, or a Regional Influence ranking of Apprentice; 400 endorsements or half the endorsements of the Delegate; and having served at least six consecutive months as a legislator or two terms as Minister of Local Affairsin the Local Council. The influence and endorsement requirements may be updated by the Council, with majority approval by the Assembly.
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XIII. AMENDMENT PROCESS
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(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. Addendum 1 — Amendment to the Elections Act Wrote:Elections Act
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4. Offices of the Cabinet
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(2) In the case of elections for the Minister of Local Affairs, the dates and periods of election shall coincide as stated in Article 4, Section 1 of this Act, but eligibility will be open for all citizens who maintain accounts on Discord and the regional forums. The election of Minister of Local Affairs shall be held in a three-day gameside poll open only to native nations.
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6. Vacancies of Office
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(2) A special election will be held for vacancies arising within the Local Council, if more than half of the term remains. If less than half of the term remains, or the position is vacant due to nobody running in its election, the Delegate may appoint a replacement until the next regularly scheduled election.
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7. Separation of Powers
(1) Offices of the Coalition are the Delegate, the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, the Chair of the Assembly, Local Councillors, the Chief Justice, and any of their appointed deputies. Addendum 2 — Amendment to the Regional Officers Act Wrote:Regional Officers Act
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2. Regional Officers
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(3) The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be allotted a Regional Officer position and granted Embassies power.
(4) The Minister of Local Affairs will be allotted a Regional Officer position and granted Appearance, Communications, and Polls powers,
(53) OtherThe Cabinet ministers will be allotted a maximum of sixbetween one and four Regional Officer positions and granted Appearance, Communications, and Polls powers. They will decide which Cabinet ministers among them will be granted Embassies power.
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(5) The Local Council will be allotted three Regional Officer positions and granted Appearance, Communications, and Polls powers. Addendum 3 — Amendment to the Border Control Act Wrote:Border Control Act
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3. Powers of the Local Council and Delegate and Minister of Local Affairs
(1) The Delegate or Minister of Local Affairs, or a majority of the Local Council, may order a border control action against a nation they determine to be spammers or trolls. The assent of the Council on Regional Security is required if the nation in question is not a low influence nation.
(2) The Delegate or Minister of Local AffairsLocal Council must inform the Council on Regional Security immediately after having ordered a border control action.
(3) The Minister of Local AffairsLocal Council may enact policy allowing border control actions within its purview to be performed unilaterally by a border control officer. Any change to such a policy must be clearly and immediately communicated to all border control officers.
4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF
My History
I'd be cool with a Ministry of Local Affairs if it were in complement to the LC. But forcing our only gameside representation to be active on the forums and Discord as well so they can participate in the Cabinet? That defeats the entire purpose of gameside governance. That's not gameside home rule. No, absolutely not. I understand this is well-intentioned, but it's completely misguided.
Perhaps, if what we're really after is LC involvement in the Cabinet, each new LC can decide if they want to have a LC Cabinet Advisor, who would in that case have a vote like a Minister in the Cabinet and would have to be a forum/Discord user.
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and then your heart/identity! |
(This post was last modified: 05-17-2020, 08:04 PM by Somyrion.)
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Jay Coop
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As an alternative, we could keep the Local Council and let them appoint a Minister of Local Affairs to represent them in the Cabinet, but still require that individual to maintain accounts on Discord and the forums.
4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF
My History
(This post was last modified: 05-17-2020, 08:28 PM by Jay Coop.)
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Amerion
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(05-17-2020, 08:03 PM)Somyrion Wrote: ... Perhaps, if what we're really after is LC involvement in the Cabinet, each new LC can decide if they want to have a LC Cabinet Advisor, who would in that case have a vote like a Minister in the Cabinet and would have to be a forum/Discord user.
I have not properly thought through this proposal yet but just to comment on this particular paragraph — if I recall correctly, we had requirement that a LC member be part of the Assembly a while back and we had to eventually remove that requirement because it wasn't being met so I am unsure whether a Cabinet role would likewise be as unsuccessful. That's not to say that we couldn't trial it and evaluate the outcome after a term but I suspect each LC, with their different members and priorities, will come to embrace this in varying degrees.
(05-17-2020, 08:37 PM)Amerion Wrote: (05-17-2020, 08:03 PM)Somyrion Wrote: ... Perhaps, if what we're really after is LC involvement in the Cabinet, each new LC can decide if they want to have a LC Cabinet Advisor, who would in that case have a vote like a Minister in the Cabinet and would have to be a forum/Discord user.
I have not properly thought through this proposal yet but just to comment on this particular paragraph — if I recall correctly, we had requirement that a LC member be part of the Assembly a while back and we had to eventually remove that requirement because it wasn't being met so I am unsure whether a Cabinet role would likewise be as unsuccessful. That's not to say that we couldn't trial it and evaluate the outcome after a term but I suspect each LC, with their different members and priorities, will come to embrace this in varying degrees.
The key there is that it was a requirement. I think things are basically just fine as they are, but if we were to do what I suggested there, it would be something the LC could opt in to.
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Amerion
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(05-17-2020, 08:27 PM)Jay Coop Wrote: As an alternative, we could keep the Local Council and let them appoint a Minister of Local Affairs to represent them in the Cabinet, but still require that individual to maintain accounts on Discord and the forums.
*nods*
I think this is a good idea and like Somy suggest, they could opt in to do so.
Perhaps the PM can invite them in on an informal basis as a Cabinet Advisor or make a new role, Gameside Advisor, and see how it goes?
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Jay Coop
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(05-17-2020, 08:55 PM)Amerion Wrote: *nods*
I think this is a good idea and like Somy suggest, they could opt in to do so.
Perhaps the PM can invite them in on an informal basis as a Cabinet Advisor or make a new role, Gameside Advisor, and see how it goes?
We could do this for a term or two, but I favor something more substantive such as making this advisor a full-on minister.
4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF
My History
So, I think there's a difference between being an Assembly member versus being a Cabinet official.
Anyhow, I like the idea a lot and think has the potential to help with integration.
Perhaps we ask the LC how they feel about it, but I don't see why they wouldn't be amenable to naming one of the three of them as a Cabinet member. We could make it so they don't need to be on the forums (if that's a hangup); they could get most of the info through Discord.
In any case, if we ask them to name a minister (we could give call it the Chair of the LC, if we didn't want to change names), I feel like one of the three should be willing at any given term.
-tsunamy
[forum admin]
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Jay Coop
Captain America impersonator
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Okay, based on input from multiple people, I have written a new draft which retains the Local Council. However, I will welcome continued discussion on whether this position should be a minister or simply an advisor. Also, I agree with Tsu that we should get input from the Local Council on this matter.
Amendment to the Charter Wrote:THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC
...
V. THE LOCAL COUNCIL
Establishing home rule for the gamesidein-game region residents of the South Pacific.
(1) The Local Council will be the local government of the gamesidein-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 gamesidein-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 delivers any directive, that is solely related to an issue local to the gamesidein-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
...
(2) The Cabinet will consist of ministers with the following portfolios: Foreign Affairs, Regional Affairs, and Military Affairs, and Local Affairs.
...
Minister of Local Affairs
(1) The Minister of Local Affairs will be the local advocate of the gameside community and represent the Local Council in the Assembly and Cabinet. Addendum 1 — Amendment to the Elections Act Wrote:Elections Act
...
4. Offices of the Cabinet
...
(2) The Minister of Local Affairs shall be exempt from Article 4, Section 1 of this Act. At the start of each Local Council term, the Local Council may decide by majority vote whether to retain or replace the incumbent Minister of Local Affairs, who shall not be required to be a legislator. At any point throughout their term, the Local Council may replace the Minister of Local Affairs.
...
7. Separation of Powers
...
(2) It is not permitted for any individual to hold more than one office within the Coalition's government, with the exception of a Local Councillor simultaneously serving as Minister of Local Affairs. Addendum 2 — Amendment to the Regional Officers Act Wrote:Regional Officers Act
...
2. Regional Officers
...
(3) The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be allotted a Regional Officer position and granted Embassies power.
(4) The Minister of Local Affairs will be allotted a Regional Officer position and granted Appearance, Communications, and Polls powers,
(53) OtherThe Cabinet ministers will be allotted a maximum of threebetween one and four Regional Officer positions and granted Appearance, Communications, and Polls powers. They will decide which Cabinet ministers among them will be granted Embassies power.
4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF
My History
(This post was last modified: 05-18-2020, 02:02 AM by Jay Coop.)
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To be clear, I used the term "LC Cabinet Advisor" not to mean that such a position would hold the same privileges as a Cabinet Advisor (i.e. able to talk but not vote in Cabinet). I simply didn't have a good term for a voting member of the Cabinet who wasn't a Minister in the typical sense.
That said, I'm now realizing that there's actually no requirement that a Minister have an associated Ministry -- that's just customary. So there's no reason there couldn't be a Minister of Local Affairs position in the Cabinet that doesn't have a Ministry but nevertheless has a vote.
Auphelia Wrote:Raccoons are bandits! First they steal your food . . .
and then your heart/identity! |
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