The Award Accords
1. Preliminaries
1.1. Nature
1.1.1. The Award Accords (the Accords) is a binding treaty between the Parties.
1.1.1.
The Award Accords (the Accords) is a binding treaty between the Parties.
1.2. Purpose
1.2.1. The purpose of the Accords is to allow the Parties, being leading defender groups, to host the Defender Awards.
1.2.1.
The purpose of the Accords is to allow the Parties, being leading defender groups, to host the Defender Awards.
1.2.2. The Parties recognise the historical heritage of the Defender Awards and their status as a defending institution.
1.2.2.
The Parties recognise the historical heritage of the Defender Awards and their status as a defending institution.
1.2.3. The Parties recognise the Defender Awards held under the Accords as a direct successor to the Defender Awards held prior to the Accords.
1.2.3.
The Parties recognise the Defender Awards held under the Accords as a direct successor to the Defender Awards held prior to the Accords.
1.3. Interpretation
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1.4 Parties’ obligations
1.4. Parties’ obligations
1.4.1. The Parties must comply with their obligations in the Accords.
1.4.1.
The Parties must comply with their obligations in the Accords.
1.4.2. Matters not covered in the Accords are left to the determination of the Parties. The Parties must have regard to the purpose of the Accords and to the spirit of the Defender Awards.
1.4.2.
Matters not covered in the Accords are left to the determination of the Parties. The Parties must have regard to the purpose of the Accords and to the spirit of the Defender Awards.
1.4.3. The Parties agree to discuss and resolve any disputes that arise from the Accords amicably and through appropriate private diplomatic channels.
1.4.3.
The Parties agree to discuss and resolve any disputes that arise from the Accords amicably and through appropriate private diplomatic channels.
1.5. Parties
1.5.1. The Parties to the Accords are each of the following regions or groups that has ratified the Accords in accordance with its Law by the time the Accords come into force in accordance with clause 4.1:
1.5.1.
The Parties to the Accords are each of the following regions or groups that has ratified the Accords in accordance with its Law by the time the Accords come into force in accordance with clause 4.1:
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1.5.2. A region or group ceases to be a Party if it:
1.5.2.
A region or group ceases to be a Party if it:
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1.5.3. A region or group also ceases to be a Party with the agreement of a Special Majority.
1.5.3.
A region or group also ceases to be a Party with the agreement of a Special Majority.
1.5.4. A region or group may become a Party with the agreement of a Special Majority. The new Party will be added to Section 2.2 in the final position, unless otherwise agreed by a Special Majority.
1.5.4.
A region or group may become a Party with the agreement of a Special Majority. The new Party will be added to Section 2.2 in the final position, unless otherwise agreed by a Special Majority.
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2 Hosting of the Defender Awards
2. Hosting of the Defender Awards
2.1. The Defender Awards are held once every calendar year.
2.1.
The Defender Awards are held once every calendar year.
2.2. The Parties are to host the Defender Award in the following order, beginning in 2023:
2.2.
The Parties are to host the Defender Award in the following order, beginning in 2023:
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2.3. If a Party is unable to host the Defender Awards in its designated year, it must inform the other Parties as soon as possible. The next scheduled host that is able to host the Defender Awards must take over hosting, and the two Parties swap their places in the hosting order. The Parties may publish a hosting order list reflecting any changes made to the order in clause 2.2.
2.3.
If a Party is unable to host the Defender Awards in its designated year, it must inform the other Parties as soon as possible. The next scheduled host that is able to host the Defender Awards must take over hosting, and the two Parties swap their places in the hosting order. The Parties may publish a hosting order list reflecting any changes made to the order in clause 2.2.
2.4. Any other change to the hosting order in Section 2.2 must be agreed to by a Special Majority.
2.4.
Any other change to the hosting order in Section 2.2 must be agreed to by a Special Majority.
3 Conduct of the Defender Awards
3. Conduct of the Defender Awards
3.1. Announcement
3.1.1. The Host must publicly announce the proposed schedule for the awards, and the awards to be awarded under Section 3.2, at least 72 hours before the beginning of nominations.
3.1.1.
The Host must publicly announce the proposed schedule for the awards, and the awards to be awarded under Section 3.2, at least 72 hours before the beginning of nominations.
3.2. The Awards
3.2.1. The staple awards must be awarded. The Host must decide which of the optional awards, if any, are to be awarded. The Host may propose additional awards, which must be agreed to by a Special Majority.
3.2.1.
The staple awards must be awarded. The Host must decide which of the optional awards, if any, are to be awarded. The Host may propose additional awards, which must be agreed to by a Special Majority.
3.2.2. The staple awards are the following awards, as described in previous Defender Awards:
3.2.2.
The staple awards are the following awards, as described in previous Defender Awards:
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3.2.3. The optional awards are the following awards, as described in previous Defender Awards:
3.2.3.
The optional awards are the following awards, as described in previous Defender Awards:
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3.3. Nominations
3.3.1. If a player proposes a nomination, and it is seconded by another player within the nomination period, the nominee must be placed on the ballot.
3.3.1.
If a player proposes a nomination, and it is seconded by another player within the nomination period, the nominee must be placed on the ballot.
3.3.2. Despite clause 3.3.1, the Host may reject a nomination made in bad faith. A rejection must be made as soon as reasonably practicable after the nomination, and the rejection must be communicated to every other Party at least 24 hours prior to the end of the nomination period (which may be extended if necessary). A Party may object to the rejection prior to the end of the nomination period. If an objection is made, a majority vote of the Parties is required to uphold the rejection. Parties have 48 hours to vote on the rejection, and the nomination period must not end during the vote.
3.3.2.
Despite clause 3.3.1, the Host may reject a nomination made in bad faith. A rejection must be made as soon as reasonably practicable after the nomination, and the rejection must be communicated to every other Party at least 24 hours prior to the end of the nomination period (which may be extended if necessary). A Party may object to the rejection prior to the end of the nomination period. If an objection is made, a majority vote of the Parties is required to uphold the rejection. Parties have 48 hours to vote on the rejection, and the nomination period must not end during the vote.
3.3.3. The Host must allow at least 7 days for the nomination period.
3.3.3.
The Host must allow at least 7 days for the nomination period.
3.4. Voting
3.4.1. The Host must publicise a ballot containing all nominations made for all awards at the beginning of the voting period.
3.4.1.
The Host must publicise a ballot containing all nominations made for all awards at the beginning of the voting period.
3.4.2. The Host must allow a period of at least 7 days for voting.
3.4.2.
The Host must allow a period of at least 7 days for voting.
3.5. Means of nominations and voting
3.5.1. The Host must either:
3.5.1.
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3.5.2. The Host must accept nominations and votes via Telegram from any NationStates player whose identity it can ascertain and who is of good out-of-character standing. The Host may also accept nominations and votes in any other way.
3.5.2.
The Host must accept nominations and votes via Telegram from any NationStates player whose identity it can ascertain and who is of good out-of-character standing. The Host may also accept nominations and votes in any other way.
3.5.3. The nation that publishes the Dispatch and accepts nominations and votes via Telegram must have “Defender Awards” in its name.
3.5.3.
The nation that publishes the Dispatch and accepts nominations and votes via Telegram must have “Defender Awards” in its name.
4. Final Matters
4.1. The Accords come into force on 16 February 2023 if there are at least 4 Parties.
4.1.
The Accords come into force on 16 February 2023 if there are at least 4 Parties.
4.2. Except as otherwise provided, the Accords may be amended by an agreement of all Parties.
4.2.
Except as otherwise provided, the Accords may be amended by an agreement of all Parties.
4.3. A Special Majority may agree to terminate the Accords.
4.3.
A Special Majority may agree to terminate the Accords.