We have votes on admin appointments because administrators have access to sensitive user information, which requires a higher level of review and trust on the appointee. That is not the case with moderators.

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

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My emphasis above, but absolutely not. This is not and should not be the role of the admin team. We should not trying to set up an unelected power structure in the region.

This change was included because RMB moderation is a moderation responsibility, which should be entirely divorced from political pressures, similar to how forum and Discord moderators are selected. In the past, some forum administrators had indicated willingness to take on this role (namely, Glen and Kris). If forum administration is collectively unwilling to take on this responsibility if the Great Council were to ask them to, it would be good to know.

I agree with Kris re: confirmation votes.

The term "liaison" implies that these people are facilitating some kind of advocacy between government entities. But that's not the case here, they're more like coordinators or marketers who would be doing what we already say the Ministry of Engagement is supposed to do. It would make more sense to just be more explicit about the Ministry of Engagement's role in the RMB-to-government pipeline that we want.

I'm fine to change the name of the position. Do you have any suggestions?

I don't hate the idea of making it an MoE initiative. I also sort of like keeping it separate and defined to ensure it happens and MoEs (or PMs) are encouraged to have it develop its own pipeline and talent base. From my perspective, outreach programs are important, and creating the framework for them in the Charter is possibly desirable. But I'm willing to be persuaded otherwise here.

With the direction you're proposing taking the Ministry of Culture in, we're going to need to review why we would have both a Ministry of Culture and a Ministry of Engagement. There's a ton of duplicating duties here, so we should just pick one. And whatever ministry that happens to be could have a stated mandate to promote the other parts of TSP on the RMB.

I don't agree with this. If the Ministry of Culture is responsible for events and the Ministry of Engagement is responsible for promotion, the proposal divides those responsibilities. Your suggestion makes sense if a "Ministry of RMB" was the suggestion. Instead, my proposal props up the intended functions of each Ministry.

On a side note, there's a broader argument I want to make in these debates about the LC. Our goal shouldn't be to foster and maintain a mini-TSP within the RMB, a self-contained community that does everything we do across our other platforms, but confined within the RMB because of some ridiculous notion that people are intimidated or not comfortable or whatever registering on the forums or opening Discord. Our goal should be to say, "Hey, TSP also has this government simulation game, if that sounds fun you should come join it!"

The "forum side vs game side" framework was created to speak about political institutions within the "government/political simulation game." It's a framework we need to abandon, because it doesn't match reality. There's no forum side and game side. There's the political simulation game and the casual community, those are the 2 sides of TSP. The platform(s) for the political simulation game are the forums and most of Discord. The platform(s) for the casual community are the RMB and the other parts of Discord like #lampshade-bar, the game channel, and the real-world discussion channels. Under this framework of understanding TSP, we can get rid of the illusion that the RMB is a political unit with interests relevant to the political simulation game. We can realize that our 3 platforms are interwoven, don't need to contain all aspects of TSP within each of them, and that it's nonsensical to approach all 3 platforms with this in-character democratization theory (ie. talking about the RMB-as-a-whole in terms of democratic rights in government).

I don't think I disagree with any of this and don't see why it is a criticism of my proposal.

Minister of Foreign Affairs
General of the South Pacific Special Forces
Ambassador to Balder
Former Prime Minister and Minister of Defense

(This post was last modified: 07-24-2022, 09:12 PM by HumanSanity.)

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My emphasis above, but absolutely not. This is not and should not be the role of the admin team. We should not trying to set up an unelected power structure in the region.

If you want to have someone appoint mods for the RMB, it should be someone from the elected government, not the mod team.

Why?

Because it's not our job Kris. When the admin takes on more responsibilities than needed it causes problems; we've seen this happen before. What happens when we don't have an appropriate number of mods for the RMB? Are we expected to moderate that too?

Or what happens when we don't respond to someone's concern quickly enough and we start to question what the admins do and why they are doing it in a time-frame to someone's liking?

Giving more authority like this to the admin team hasn't ended well in the past and I feel strongly it is not the way to go now. That's not a personal assessment of my willing to do that, but my strong sentiment that we should not be doing it.

-tsunamy
[forum admin]

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New moderators are appointed by current moderators under the existing community standards. We could just keep that process, since it’s working and the mod team is more diverse in views & availability than the admins anyways.

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New moderators are appointed by current moderators under the existing community standards. We could just keep that process, since it’s working and the mod team is more diverse in views & availability than the admins anyways.

I'd be game for something like this, I just don't want it to come down to the four members of the forum administration need to make such decisions.

-tsunamy
[forum admin]

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Sorry for the delay, I'd like to present a draft of this proposal...

This draft doesn't include a specific mandate for "RMB liaisons" as a Charter-obligation. I think it would be better in a separately standing law, but I haven't drafted it yet because I'd like to hear more thoughts on that.

THE CHARTER OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Preamble

The Assembly of the Coalition of the South Pacific, representing our diverse community, convenes to establish this fundamental law of our region, to uphold democratic principles and rights, ensure effective and responsive governance, and provide for the security of our unified community both on the forums and in the game.

I. CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS

Defining the supreme laws of our community.

(1) Laws that form the foundation of our community, are considered fundamental to governance, or otherwise are considered of great importance by the Coalition, are to be known as “constitutional laws” and marked as such.

(2) Constitutional laws passed by the Assembly hold precedence and supremacy over all other laws, regulations, and policies of all branches of government.

(3) This Charter is a constitutional law holding supremacy over all others, and defines the purpose of our government and its framework.

(4) Any constitutional law passed by the Assembly that directly affects the gameside community or its home governance, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, must also receive the consent of the gameside before coming into force, where that consent shall not require more than a three-fifths supermajority in a vote.

(5) Constitutional laws passed by the Local Council hold the same status as those passed by the Assembly, limited in their scope and force to the realms of Local Council jurisdiction, but may not contradict this Charter or any law, regulation, or policy of the Assembly, Cabinet, or Council on Regional Security.

II. SOVEREIGNTY

Outlining the sovereignty of the Coalition and the origins of legitimacy.

(1) The sovereignty of the region lies with the Coalition of the South Pacific. No other group claiming legitimacy will be recognized. The integrity of the Coalition, in its forums and the region, shall not be challenged or violated by any government official, internal dissidents, or other regions.

(2) Authority and legitimacy are is held jointly solely by the region and the forum, and the union between the two is what defines the Coalition. No illegitimate invader or usurper of the region shall be recognized.

III. RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

Recognizing the democratic rights and freedoms of all members of the Coalition.

(1) All members of the South Pacific will enjoy the freedoms of expression, speech, assembly, and the press, limited only by reasonable moderation policies.

(2) The right to a fair trial and defense against criminal accusations will not be abridged. No member may be subject to any bill of attainder, be tried for the same crime more than once, or be tried ex post facto.

(3) No member, who had joined the region in good faith, may be banned or ejected from the in-game region without the due process of law.

(4) No member may be denied the right to vote or hold office, unless prohibited by constitutional law.

(5) No law may be passed by the Assembly that directly affects the activities of the in-game community without the consent of the in-game community.

(6) (5) The High Court may strike down any general law or action that violates any right or freedom found in this Charter.

[...]

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 passed by the Assembly. 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, except as done under the terms of this Charter.

(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.

[...] sections are all renumbered accordingly

VII VI. THE DELEGATE

Establishing a Head of State.

(1) The Delegate will be the head of state of the Coalition. They will be responsible for helping maintain the security of the region, promoting growth and activity, and serving as an advisor to the forum-side government. Barring reasonable circumstances, the Delegate will hold the in-game Delegate seat. No person may be Delegate if they have participated, in whole or in part and at any time, in any coup d'etat of the Coalition or any of its allies, excluding normal raiding, defending, or liberation efforts as part of an organized military.

(2) The Delegate will work with the Local Council RMB moderation in moderating the Regional Message Board, fulfilling Regional Officer positions, and with the executive in promoting gameside activities, and representing the preferences of the gameside community.

XII XI. THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM

Creating an independent, apolitical body to manage and moderate off-site communications.

(1) The Off-Site Administration Team will be responsible for the technical maintenance of the region's Discord servers, forums, and the integrity of the database. Administrators will not be given responsibilities of a political nature.

(2) The Off-Site Administration Team will be responsible for the appointment and removal of its own members, except when an administrator is removed from the position following a guilty verdict in a fair trial for abuse of administrative powers. Additionally, new administrators must be approved by a majority of the Assembly before being granted administrator permissions.

(3) The Off-Site Administration Team must create standard administration and moderation policies covering both on-site and off-site communications platforms. These policies will be submitted to the Assembly for a one-week review and comment period before going into effect. A copy of these policies must be posted publicly on the off-site forum and in a Dispatch on-site.

(4) While the Off-Site Administration Team may appoint global moderators if needed, individual Ministers, the Chair of the Assembly, and roleplay moderators primarily will be responsible for the moderation of their dedicated Discord servers and forums.

(5) The Administration Team, or a team of moderators appointed by them, will appoint moderators for the regional message board with the power to enforce published administration and moderation policies. The list of moderators of the regional message board must be published in a Dispatch on-site. At least some moderators of the regional message board must be granted the communications regional officer permission on-site, as outlined by the Assembly in law. The WA Delegate will be an ex officio member of the RMB moderation team.

XIII XII. AMENDMENT PROCESS

Setting a procedure for amendment of the Charter and constitutional laws.

(1) The Assembly may amend any provision of the Charter or constitutional laws passed by the Assembly with a three-fifths supermajority. These amendments must be constitutional in nature, and amendments to the Charter must address the structure or framework of government. Bills that may exist as general laws, as determined by the Chair of the Assembly, should not be placed in the Charter or constitutional laws.

(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 receive the consent of the gameside community before coming into force, where the consent shall not require more than a three-fifths supermajority in a vote. Additionally, the Local Council may originate amendments to its structure in the Charter, which must receive the consent of the Assembly before coming into force.

(3) The Local Council will determine the qualifications and processes for amendments to its own constitutional laws.

 

Border Control Act

An act to establish processes for the use of in-game ejection and banning powers

[...]

3. Powers of the Local Council and Delegate

(1) The Delegate, or a majority of the Local Council an RMB moderator, 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 Local Council RMB moderation must inform the Council on Regional Security immediately after having ordered a border control action.

(3) The Local 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.

 

Regional Officers Act

An act providing for the granting of Regional Officer powers to government officials

[...]

2. Regional Officers

(1) The in-game Delegate will be granted all Regional Officer powers.

(2) The Prime Minister will be granted all non-Border Control powers.

(3) The remaining Cabinet ministers will be allotted up to three Regional Officer positions and granted Appearance, Communications, and Polls powers. They will decide which Cabinet ministers among them will be granted Embassies power.

(4) The Council on Regional Security will be allotted a minimum of three Regional Officer positions and granted Border Control and Communications powers.

(5) The Local Council will be allotted three Regional Officer positions and granted Appearance, Communications, and Polls powers. Regional message board (RMB) moderation will be allotted up to five Regional Officer positions and granted Communications powers. The RMB moderation team will decide which moderators among them will be granted powers.
a. RMB moderation may request the Council on Regional Security grant border control powers to any of its Regional Officers. The Council on Regional Security will have the authority to grant or deny such requests and will do so in a timely manner. The result of a decision to grant or reject a request to grant border control powers to a RMB moderation Regional Officer will be published by the Council on Regional Security.

(6) Members of the Council on Regional Security who concurrently serve as another Regional Officer named in this act shall be granted the powers of both offices.

(7) Where applicable, all unused Regional Officer positions shall be allotted to the Council on Regional Security.

(8) During elections, the Election Commissioner will be granted Communications and Polls powers.

Minister of Foreign Affairs
General of the South Pacific Special Forces
Ambassador to Balder
Former Prime Minister and Minister of Defense

(This post was last modified: 08-16-2022, 10:17 AM by HumanSanity.)

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-snipping due to length-

This may be a question that may be asked to early, but given that the moderator role will go through a system of appointment, will the "RMB Liaison" also go through appointment? Furthermore, is the "RMB Liaison" necessary when Ministries could create a puppet nation that broadcasts informations (e.g., Office of WA Legislation)?

For the RMB moderators, will there be term limits or is it a "lifetime appointment"?

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Snipped

I agree with your proposal. It effectively abolishes the Local Council while providing for the continued moderation of the RMB.

4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF

My History

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-snipping due to length-

This may be a question that may be asked to early, but given that the moderator role will go through a system of appointment, will the "RMB Liaison" also go through appointment? Furthermore, is the "RMB Liaison" necessary when Ministries could create a puppet nation that broadcasts informations (e.g., Office of WA Legislation)?

For the RMB moderators, will there be term limits or is it a "lifetime appointment"?

Just like an RMB moderator, a Liaison would be appointed - but they would be appointed by the in character PM role rather than the out of character role of Moderation.

I don't think a nation with Dispatches really solves the issue of person-to-person mentorship and interactions. If it did, the MoE could just exist. As far as I understand, one of the key arguments for the LC is to be a representative body that can actually speak to and interact with the RMB and that the forum government doesn't do that. Liaisons are a proposed solution.

As to "term limits", it's whatever the admin/mod team decides, but I personally think there shouldn't be any. Mods can stand down (or be dismissed) if inactive or they stop doing their jobs correctly.

Minister of Foreign Affairs
General of the South Pacific Special Forces
Ambassador to Balder
Former Prime Minister and Minister of Defense

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@HumanSanity, I found that Article VII, Section 2 of the Charter hasn't been struck out or revised in your proposal.

4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF

My History

(This post was last modified: 08-15-2022, 09:48 PM by Jay Coop.)

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