I would like to propose what I believe is a better way to handle institutionalizing OWL. I don't believe a ministry is a good idea for a few reasons, but primarily it's because OWL doesn't do any real policy-making. OWL has 1 goal that is achieves by following a set procedure. It's an administrative office, not a political one. As such, I think a ministry is a bad fit for its legal organization. Additionally, I think Jay's proposal went to vote way too soon. We should not be adding a new ministry while debate is ongoing, especially after barely 2 weeks of debate.

Assuming the current reforms pass, I would like to offer the following amendments:

 

THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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VI. THE EXECUTIVE

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(2) The Cabinet will consist of ministers with the following portfolios: Foreign Affairs, Culture, Engagement, Media, and Defense, and World Assembly Legislation.

(3) As leader of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister is responsible for overseeing a collective Cabinet agenda, and may give directions and instructions to the ministers. Disputes within the Cabinet are subject to the majority decision and collective responsibility; where there is no majority the Prime Minister’s vote shall be the deciding one.

(4) The Office of World Assembly Legislation will be a permanent executive office, which will be led by a Director, responsible for coordinating the Coalition's activities in the World Assembly, providing assistance in drafting resolutions, and issuing voting recommendations on World Assembly proposals. At the start of each Cabinet term, the Director will be appointed by the Prime Minister for a term coinciding with the Cabinet's. In any vacancy, a new Director will be appointed by the Prime Minister to serve the remainder of the term.

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Ministry of World Assembly Legislation

(15) The Minister of World Assembly Legislation will be responsible for the Coalition's activities in the World Assembly, providing assistance in drafting resolutions and issuing voting recommendations on proposals.

World Assembly Act

An act to define the World Assembly procedures of the Coalition of the South Pacific

1. Powers

(1) The Delegate shall cast their vote on proposed World Assembly resolutions according to voting recommendations issued by the Ministry Office of World Assembly Legislation, except under circumstances in which the Ministry Office issued a recommendation for the Delegate to abstain from voting. If the Ministry's Office's recommendation is contrary to the vote of all World Assembly nations in the South Pacific, the Delegate may choose to change their vote in collaboration with the Ministry.

(2) In the absence of a recommendation, the Delegate shall vote on proposed World Assembly resolutions according to the overall vote of all World Assembly nations in the South Pacific.

(3) The Cabinet may override a vote on a proposed Security Council resolution with a simple majority but shall have no power in overriding a vote on a proposed General Assembly resolution.

(3) The Cabinet may override a vote on a World Assembly resolution for security and diplomatic purposes.

2. Approval voting

(1) The Delegate may give an approval vote on proposed World Assembly resolutions freely or based on the instruction of the Ministry Office of World Assembly Legislation.

(2) The South Pacific Special Forces are prohibited from engaging in approval raiding, except as prescribed in the Charter.

3. Voting

(1) The Ministry Office of World Assembly Legislation shall determine the medium for voting on proposed World Assembly resolutions.

(2) Nations of the South Pacific that are World Assembly members or members of the South Pacific Special Forces may not be barred from eligibility in having their votes counted.

(3) If a nation resigns from the World Assembly or their membership in the South Pacific Special Forces before the voting period ends, their vote shall not count.

4. Regional sovereignty

(1) The Coalition of the South Pacific reserves the right to cast its World Assembly votes without reservation or consideration of other regions.

(2) The Minister of World Assembly Legislation may work with their counterparts in other regions and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to draft and issue joint voting recommendations, but the Coalition of the South Pacific shall retain its right to vote independently of such recommendations.

5. Constitutional law

(1) The World Assembly Act is a constitutional law, and further amendments to it must meet constitutional amendment requirements.

Explanations of changes made:

• Ministry -> Office
  
• Allow the Cabinet to override any World Assembly resolution for security or diplomatic reasons. The Cabinet shouldn't be handicapped in using TSP's World Assembly vote as part of a diplomatic strategy.
  
• The regional sovereignty section seems superfluous to me, while sending a mixed signal about our willingness to cooperate inter-regionally in the WA. If the Assembly ever wants to obligate our vote via treaty, it can do so. Likewise, it can also reject a treaty that tries.
  
• I don't believe the specifics how we handle the World Assembly merits being a constitutional law. These are not things that are fundamental to our governance. We should remain flexible here, as this is a relatively new area of government for us. 
  

Assembly Resolution on the Effect of the Amendment to Article VI of the Charter

A resolution postponing the establishment of the Ministry Office of World Assembly Legislation

The Assembly of the Coalition of the South Pacific resolves the following upon passage of the Amendment to Article VI of the Charter:

(1) The Amendment to Article VI of the Charter shall not enter into effect until the commencement of the next Cabinet elections.

(2) The Minister of World Assembly Legislation shall be elected in accordance with the Election Act and coincide with the election of all other Cabinet ministers.

(1) Upon passage of the Amendment to Article IV, the sitting Prime Minister shall appoint the Director of the Office of World Assembly Legislation to a term expiring at the start of the new February 2021 Cabinet term.