Voting Booth

2022 GREAT COUNCIL | VOTING BOOTH

This is the official voting booth for the 2022 Great Council of the South Pacific. Please take note of the following information related to the voting process:

  • Voting is restricted to qualified participants. An up-to-date list of qualified participants may be found in the Official Dashboard (linked below).

  • Votes are held when a participant motions a proposal to a vote and the motion is recognised by the Chair. There is no need for motions to be seconded.

  • Votes are opened, when possible, at the first occurrence 09:00 UTC after a motion is recognised, and remain open for five days.

  • Votes require a majority of 60% for proposals related to constitutional law, or a majority of 50% for all other matters.

Refer to the following resources for relevant information regarding the Great Council:

[GCRA.2205] AMENDMENT TO THE GREAT COUNCIL CONVENING RESOLUTION

This is a vote on [GCRA.2205] Amendment to the Great Council Convening Resolution, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This amendment requires a simple majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

Sunday, October 2, 2022 7:00 PMFriday, October 7, 2022 7:00 PM

Read the Amendment

Eligibility Expansion + Inactive Participant Removal

  1. Mandates that legislators of the Assembly holding valid status at the time this resolution is motioned to vote shall automatically qualify for participation in the Great Council, and that all participants must maintain order and decorum.
    a. Determines that non-legislators members of The South Pacific not automatically qualified may petition the Chair of the Great Council to participate, and that those petitions shall be granted upon determination of the Chair (or Deputy Chair, in the Chair’s absence) that the petitioner does not pose a threat to the security or decorum of the Great Council, and that the petitioner does not possess significant conflicts of interests or the appearance of bad faith.
    b. Requires the Chair of the Great Council to publish and maintain a list of qualified participants.
    c. Permits any participant to raise a point of order that another participant is violating order or decorum, including acting on behalf of a foreign influence, to be judged by the Chair of the Great Council who may then expel a violating participant.
    d. Further permits any participant to motion to overrule the Chair of the Great Council (or Deputy Chair, in the Chair’s absence) in regards to their determination under 3(a) or 3(c.), which shall be adopted by majority vote.
    e. Reasserts that all extant proscriptions and administrative bans remain in effect throughout the Great Council, and that participation in the Great Council shall not be used in defense against any proscription or administrative or moderator action.
    f. Determines that after each vote, the Chair of the Great Council will disqualify any participant that failed to cast a vote or note their abstention. Removed participants may petition for re-admittance under rule 1a, but may not do so if they have already been disqualified twice before.
  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain

0 voters

[GCRA.2205] AMENDMENT TO THE GREAT COUNCIL CONVENING RESOLUTION

This amendment required a simple majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass.

A total of 23 participants cast a valid vote, constituting 42.31% of the total number of participants, the result being as follows:

  • Yes | 17 votes | 85.00%

  • No | 3 votes | 15.00%

  • Abstain | 3 votes

The result being as stated above, the amendment has passed.

[GCPR.2206] AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI OF THE CHARTER

This is a vote on [GCPR.2206] Amendment to Article VI of the Charter, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This amendment requires a 60% majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

2022-10-19T15:00:00Z2022-10-24T15:00:00Z

Read the Amendment

VI. THE EXECUTIVE

Establishing an executive branch consisting of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

(1) The Prime Minister will be the head of government and the leader of the Cabinet. They will be responsible for the overall coordination of executive activities, being a liaison between the government and the community, and protecting the Coalition.

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

(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 activities of the Coalition in the World Assembly 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.

(5) Members of the Executive are required to hold legislator status.

Elections

(6) Executive elections will be held every four months, where the Prime Minister and all Cabinet positions will be up for election.

(7) The date, time, and manner of elections will be set by the Assembly in a law.

Minister of Culture

(8) The Minister of Culture will be responsible for promoting regional community supporting the roleplay community and organizing regional cultural activities, events, and exchanges.

Minister of Engagement

(9) The Minister of Engagement will be responsible for integrating new players recruiting and integrating new players into the Coalition’s government and community, maintaining public infrastructure such as dispatches and other guides, setting unified presentation standards, and providing graphics to the government and citizens of the Coalition.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

(10) The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for maintaining the Coalition’s foreign policy and relations.

(10) The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be the Coalition’s chief diplomat. They will be responsible for establishing the government’s foreign policy program, communicating with allies, and coordinating with the military on foreign policy priorities when necessary.

(11) The Minister of Foreign Affairs holds the sole power to initiate treaty negotiations with other regions, groups, and organizations, but may designate officers to handle those negotiations. Upon completion of a treaty negotiation, the Minister must present it to the full executive for majority approval, before submitting it to the Assembly for ratification.

(12) The Minister of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for establishing standards for the creation and maintenance of consulates and embassies.

Minister of Defense

(12) (13) The Minister of Defense will be the civilian leader of the armed forces of the Coalition, the South Pacific Special Forces. In conjunction with a group of Generals, the Minister of Defense will be responsible for coordinating the military activities of the Coalition the defense of the Coalition, building military activity, and conducting military operations.

(14) The Minister of Defense may elect to establish an intelligence office, in equal coordination with the Council on Regional Security.

  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain

0 voters

[GCPR.2206] AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI OF THE CHARTER

This amendment required a three fifths majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass.

A total of 23 participants cast a valid vote, constituting 50.00% of the total number of participants, the result being as follows:

  • Yes | 16 votes | 88.89%

  • No | 2 votes | 11.11%

  • Abstain | 5 votes

The result being as stated above, the amendment has passed.

Pursuant to Article 3, Section f of the Great Council Convening Resolution, the following members did not cast a vote and will be removed from the roll of participants:

[GCR.2207] AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER, THE BORDER CONTROL ACT, AND THE REGIONAL OFFICERS ACT

This is a vote on [GCPR.2207] Amendment to the Charter, the Border Control Act, and the Regional Officers Act, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This amendment requires a 60% majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

2022-10-30T14:00:00Z2022-11-04T14:00:00Z

Read the Amendment

CHARTER OF THE COALITION 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.

[…]

(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.

[…]

(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.

[…]

(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.

[…]

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.

[…]

(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.

[…]

(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 RMB moderators 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

[…]

(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.

  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain

0 voters

1 Like
[GCRA.2208] AMENDMENT TO THE GREAT COUNCIL CONVENING RESOLUTION

This is a vote on [GCRA.2208] Amendment to the Great Council Convening Resolution, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This amendment requires a simple majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

2022-11-02T14:00:00Z2022-11-07T14:00:00Z

Read the Amendment

6. Resolves that special elections for all elected positions shall commence within seven days of the adjournment of the Great Council.

7. 6. This resolution shall supersede the resolution entitled “Assembly Resolution to Call a Great Council (Modified).”

  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain

0 voters

[GCPR.2207] AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER, THE BORDER CONTROL ACT, AND THE REGIONAL OFFICERS ACT

This amendment required a three fifths majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass.

A total of 22 participants cast a valid vote, constituting 81.48% of the total number of participants, the result being as follows:

  • Yes | 12 votes | 60.00%

  • No | 8 votes | 40.00%

  • Abstain | 2 votes

The result being as stated above, the amendment has passed.

Pursuant to Article 3, Section f of the Great Council Convening Resolution, the following members did not cast a vote and will be removed from the roll of participants:

[GCRA.2208] AMENDMENT TO THE GREAT COUNCIL CONVENING RESOLUTION

This amendment required a three fifths majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass.

A total of 22 participants cast a valid vote, constituting 91.67% of the total number of participants, the result being as follows:

  • Yes | 18 votes | 100.00%

  • No | 0 votes | 0.00%

  • Abstain | 3 votes

The result being as stated above, the amendment has passed.

Pursuant to Article 3, Section f of the Great Council Convening Resolution, the following members did not cast a vote and will be removed from the roll of participants:

A vote cast by @Killer was removed from the tally due because they were removed from the roll of participants while the vote was underway.

[GCPR.2209] AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER

This is a vote on [GCPR.2209] Amendment to the Charter, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This amendment requires a 60% majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

2022-11-12T14:00:00Z2022-11-17T14:00:00Z

Read the Amendment

CHARTER OF THE COALITION OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC

The Assembly of the South Pacific, representing our diverse community as organised under the Coalition, convenes to establish a fundamental law for the region, to uphold democratic principles and rights, and to provide for the security, welfare, and future development of our community.

I. Supremacy

  1. The Charter is the highest law of the region and holds supremacy over all other laws and regulations.
  2. Laws that form the foundation of the community and regulate fundamental aspects of regional governance may be marked as constitutional laws and, being so marked, hold precedence over all other laws and regulations.

II. Sovereignty

  1. The Coalition holds sole sovereignty over the South Pacific, viewed as the region and all venues that support its singular community.
  2. The Coalition cannot be dissolved, nor can its nature or structure be altered other than through the process provided by the Charter. No illegitimate invaders or usurpers will be recognised.

III. Rights and Freedoms

  1. Members of the South Pacific, who have joined the region in good faith, will enjoy the rights described in this section, but this list may not be read as toallow limits to the free exercise of other rights.
  2. To freedom of expression and speech, of the press, and to petition government officials, limited only by reasonable moderation policies.
  3. To not be ejected or banned without due process of law.
  4. To have a fair trial and exercise proper defence against criminal accusations before a court of law, to not be subject to bills of attained, to not be tried twice for the same crime, and to not be tried under ex post facto laws.
  5. To vote and hold public office, subject to reasonable restrictions prescribed by law.

IV. The Assembly

  1. The Assembly is the supreme legislative authority of the Coalition.
  2. The Assembly is comprised of all members of the South Pacific who successfully applied for legislator status and have maintained that status with active participation and good behaviour.
  3. Legislators are admitted and removed by a commission of legislators that operates in a manner prescribed by law.
  4. The Assembly elects a legislator as Chair of the Assembly to maintain order and decorum, guide legislative debate, and administer the legislative process.
  5. The Chair may appoint and dismiss deputies, and delegate to them the duties of their office, at their own discretion.
  6. In the event that the Chair resigns, loses legislator status, or is recalled, the Assembly will elect a new Chair in a manner prescribed by law.

V. The Delegate

  1. The Delegate is the head of state of the South Pacific, elected in a manner prescribed by law, and they will be the sole person allowed to hold the gameside seat of World Assembly Delegate.
  2. The Delegate is responsible for assisting in promoting the unity and growth of the region, upholding the security of the region, and performing those tasks that due to game mechanics cannot be performed by others.

VI. The Executive

  1. The Prime Minister is the head of government of the South Pacific and the leader of the Cabinet, elected in a manner prescribed by law.
  2. The Prime Minister is responsible for the setting, directing, and implementation of policy related to foreign affairs, defence, community development, and any other policy related to the furtherance of regional interests.
  3. The Prime Minister appoints ministers to assist in formulating and executing policy in the fields listed in the preceding clause, subject to approval from the Assembly in a manner prescribed by law.
  4. Ministers hold their offices for the duration of the executive term and at the pleasure of the Prime Minister, or until recall,resignation or loss of legislator status.
  5. Ministers may appoint and dismiss deputies, and delegate to them the duties of their office, at their own discretion.
  6. The Prime Minister may issue emergency orders to address immediate and pressing issues created by ambiguity or gaps in the law, but any such order will be reversed if the Assembly does not incorporate it into law within a week of its issuance.

VII. The High Court

  1. The High Court is the supreme judicial authority of the Coalition.
  2. The High Court is comprised of a number of Justices appointed and subject to approval from the Assembly in a manner prescribed by law.
  3. The High Court has exclusive authority over answering questions about the meaning of laws and regulations, reconciling contradictions of law, and voiding any law or regulation upon finding that it violates a superior law.
  4. The High Court should interpret the law without causing excessive disruption to the intended purposes of the law as originally written, provided that such interpretation does not lead to absurdity.
  5. The High Court has exclusive authority over indicting individuals and conducting criminal proceedings.

VIII. Regional Security

  1. The Security Council is comprised of members who have been legislators for at least six months, subject to appointment by the Council and approval from the Assembly in a manner prescribed by law.
  2. The Council is responsible for the oversight of regional security, the reception of relevant intelligence, the establishment and enforcement of an appropriate cap on endorsements, and the establishment of a line of succession for the delegacy.
  3. The Council is responsible for establishing, appointing, and directing the operations of a body of trusted nations with high numbers of endorsements, with further provisions prescribed by law or regulation.
  4. The Council may declare a state of emergency in the event of a coup d’état or invasion until such a time that a legitimate government is restored, and during that time it may take all measures necessary to defeat the coup d’état or invasion with the exception of impeding the business of the Assembly.
  5. The Council may suspend any of its members upon a conclusion by majority vote that they represent a threat to the security of the region. The Council reports its decision to the Assembly, with such action automatically triggering a recall.

IX. Accountability

  1. Officers of the Coalition are those whose position is subject to election or appointment subject to approval from the Assembly.
  2. Officers must be legislators who have not participated to any degree in a coup d’état against the Coalition or its allies, with the exclusion in regular military gameplay as part of an organised military. Officers in breach of this section automatically lose their office.
  3. Officers may be recalled by the Assembly in a manner prescribed by law, provided that recalls can only be brought due to dereliction of duty, abuse of power, or violations of the law.
  4. The effect of a recall is immediate removal from office.

X. Administration

  1. Administrators are responsible for the technical maintenance of the offsite forum, the regional chat, and related infrastructure, but will not be given any responsibilities of a political nature.
  2. Administrators have autonomy to conduct their own proceedings and manage the composition of the administration and moderation teams, provided that new administrators must secure the approval of a simple majority of the Assembly, and administrators and moderators may be removed by the High Court upon conviction for abuse of powers.
  3. Administrators must create standard administration and moderation policies. Any change to these policies must be presented to the Assembly for discussion for a period of one week before they take effect.
  4. Administrators appoint moderators to enforce moderation rules in the Regional Message Board, the offsite forum, the regional chat, and any other regional venue. Officers of the Coalition are ex officio moderators of the channels and categories related to their offices.

XI. Amendments

  1. The Assembly may amend this Charter or any constitutional law with a majority of three-fifths.
  2. The Assembly may convene a Great Council, with a simple majority, to significantly revise the laws of the region. A convening resolution must name a presiding officer, set rules of order and eligibility requirements, provided that all legislators at the time of convening must qualify as members.
  3. Great Councils can only be called once a year, unless in the intervening time the legitimacy of the Coalition has been challenged and the Assembly must reassert constitutional order.
  4. Great Councils may amend their convening resolution with a simple majority, but may not otherwise affect the normal functioning of the institutions of government.
  5. Great Councils adopt additions or changes to the Charter and constitutional law with a majority of three-fifths, and additions or changes to general law with a simple majority.
  6. Great Councils remain convened until a motion to adjourn sine die is adopted with a simple majority.
  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain

0 voters

[GCPR.2209] AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER

This amendment required a three fifths majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass.

A total of 22 participants cast a valid vote, constituting 100.00% of the total number of participants, the result being as follows:

  • Yes | 16 votes | 84.21%

  • No | 3 votes | 15.79%

  • Abstain | 3 votes

The result being as stated above, the amendment has passed.

[GCPR.2210] HONORS AND CEREMONIES ACT

This is a vote on [GCPR.2210] Honors and Ceremonies Act, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This amendment requires a simple majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

2022-11-25T14:00:00Z2022-11-30T14:00:00Z

Read the Amendment

HONORS AND CEREMONIES ACT
An act to define customs and ceremonies in the Coalition’s government.

1. General Provisions

(1) This law is a general law.

2. Honors

(1) The standard honorific to be used in the Coalition should be “The Honorable”.
(2) While in the Assembly:

  1. The Chair should be addressed in all posts.
  2. The Prime Minister should be indirectly addressed.
  3. The Delegate should be prefaced with the standard honorific.
  4. Justices should be prefaced with the standard honorific.

(3) Justices should be addressed as “Your Honor” in the High Court.

3. Ceremonies

(1) The Chair of the Assembly should, upon the proclamation of results of the Prime Minister election, invite the Prime Minister-elect to give a speech to the Assembly outlining their plans for the upcoming term and introduce their government for approval by the Assembly.
(2) Upon the proclamation of results of the Delegate election, the Delegate-elect should give an inaugural speech to the region.
(3) Upon the start of their terms:

  1. The Prime Minister-elect should take the oath of office, administered by the Delegate.
  2. The Chair of the Assembly-elect should take the oath of office, administered by the Delegate.
  3. The Delegate-elect should take the oath of office, administered by the outgoing Delegate.
  4. All Justices should take the oath of office administered by the Chair of the Assembly.

(4) The administering of the oath shall take place in a public setting.
(5) Foreign ambassadors should present their letters of credential to the Delegate in a public setting.

4. Oath of Office

(1) The oath of office reads:

“I, [name], do solemnly swear that I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Charter of the Coalition of the South Pacific, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.”

  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain
0 voters
[GCPR.2211] LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE ACT

This is a vote on [GCPR.2211] Legislative Procedure Act, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This amendment requires a 60% majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

2022-11-29T14:00:00Z2022-12-04T14:00:00Z

Read the Amendment

LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE ACT
An act to establish the Assembly’s legislative procedure.

1. General Provisions

(1) This law is a constitutional law and has precedence over all general laws and regulations.

2. Standard Procedure

(1) Any legislator may propose a bill, resolution, or amendment and present it to the Assembly for consideration.
(2) All proposals must be debated for a minimum of three days before voting can begin, with constitutional laws and amendments requiring five days.
(3) Votes must remain open for three days.
(4) Votes may begin on a proposal once a motion to vote is made by a legislator and seconded by a different legislator.
(5) Proposals concerning non-constitutional business require a simple majority of voters to pass.
(6) Should competing proposals, defined as proposals amending the same provisions within a passed resolution or piece of legislation, be brought to vote, the proposal with a larger percentage of votes in favor that meets minimum threshold requirements for passage will be enacted.

3. The Chair’s Responsibilities and Powers

(1) The Chair is responsible for the following:

  1. Opening, closing, and recording votes in the Assembly.
  2. Recording the legislative history of each proposal, to include references to debate threads, voting results, and amendment history.
  3. Maintaining the MATT-DUCK Law Archive.
  4. Documenting the use of their discretionary powers, with appropriate rationale, in the relevant thread.

(2) The Chair may, in order to guide legislative debate and maintain order and decorum in the Assembly:

  1. Delay the opening of votes for a reasonable time frame.
  2. Waive the mandatory period of debate that remains on a proposal should a legislator move such action and provide an acceptable rationale.
  3. Correct typographical and grammatical errors, as well as naming or formatting inconsistencies present in proposals and legislation as long as such corrections do not alter the original intent and are presented to the Assembly for a minimum period of three days.

(3) The Chair may form committees for an express purpose, composed of no less than two legislators.
(4) The Chair may implement uniform formatting standards for laws.

  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain

0 voters

[GCPR.2210] HONORS AND CEREMONIES ACT

This proposal required a simple majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass.

A total of 20 participants cast a valid vote, constituting 90.91% of the total number of participants, the result being as follows:

  • Yes | 8 votes | 53.33%

  • No | 7 votes | 46.67%

  • Abstain | 5 votes

The result being as stated above, the proposal has passed.

Pursuant to Article 3, Section f of the Great Council Convening Resolution, the following members did not cast a vote and will be removed from the roll of participants:

[GCPR.2212] ELECTIONS ACT

This is a vote on [GCPR.2212] Elections Act, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This amendment requires a 60% majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

2022-12-04T14:00:00Z2022-12-09T14:00:00Z

Read the Proposal

ELECTIONS ACT

An act to regulate regional elections

1. General Provisions

(1) This law is a constitutional law and has precedence over all general laws and regulations.

(2) This law applies to all elections of government officials.

(3) This law considers the following terms:

  1. Election - the process through which a voter accedes to an office via suffrage, from the opening of declarations of candidacy until the certification of the result.
  2. Voter - a voter as defined in the Voter Registration Act, who additionally meets any added qualifications within this law.
  3. Office - any government position with the exception of voters.
  4. Conflict of Interest Disclosure - a list of all current and past aliases, affiliations, and offices held across NationStates by a candidate.
  5. Participation - the ability to declare one's candidacy and cast votes in a given election.
  6. Candidate - an individual who is listed on the ballot for an election or the option to re-open nominations.

2. Election Commissioner

(1) The Election Commissioner is a voter appointed by the Security Council to administer elections.

(2) The Commissioner is responsible for the publication of election notices and information, the organization and moderation of the venues where the election is conducted, the verification of candidate eligibility, the tallying of votes, the certification of election results, and the resolution of election-related disputes or, when applicable, their referral to the relevant authorities.

(3) The Commissioner cannot hold any office that is subject to election, nor can they run for the office whose election they administer.

3. Election Methods

(1) Instant Runoff Vote is conducted with voters listing however many candidates they prefer, including an option to re-open nominations, in descending order of preference. Until a candidate has received a simple majority of first preferences, the candidate with the fewest first preferences is eliminated and the ballots are tallied again, ignoring any preferences for them.

(2) Majority Vote is conducted when voters list a single candidate whom they prefer or, alternatively, an option to re-open nominations. The candidate with a simple majority of votes is the winner. If no candidate obtains a simple majority and no tie has occurred, a runoff round of voting will be held with the two candidates who obtained the highest numbers of votes and without the option to re-open nominations unless it already qualifies for inclusion.

(3) Ties in elections under instant runoff vote are broken with the candidate with the fewest next level preferences being eliminated, until all levels of preference are exhausted. Ties in all other elections or in cases where other tie-breaking methods have been exhausted, will be resolved by mutual agreement between the candidates or via a method of chance determined by the Commissioner, provided that such a method must be publicly observable and use resources not controlled by either candidate or the Commissioner.

(4) If the option to re-open nominations wins, the election shall revert to declarations to elect the number of winners that remained unelected.

(5) Voters in offsite elections must have the option of casting public or private ballots, but ballots cannot be altered once cast. Ballots cast in private must be sent to a group inbox accessible only to the Commissioner, which should remain available for audit. The identity of private voters cannot be revealed.

4. Election Procedures

(1) Elections for all offices, unless otherwise provided within this law, are conducted in such a manner that declarations of candidacy extend for four days and voting extends for three days from the end of declarations or the previous round of voting, as may be the case. Candidates must submit an accurate conflict of interest disclosure before the end of declarations under penalty of disqualification. Voting, unless otherwise provided within this law, is limited to voters who were admitted before the start of declarations and is conducted via instant runoff vote.

(2) Elections for all offices, unless otherwise provided within this law, must begin no later than seven days after the occurrence of a vacancy unless the same occurred when less than half of the term remains, in which case the vacancy is filled in the following manner:

  1. For the Delegate, the next in line, according to the line of succession set by the Security Council, becomes Delegate for the remainder of the term.
  2. For other offices, the Prime Minister selects a successor, provided that such individual should be otherwise eligible to stand for election, subject to approval from the Assembly.

(3) Elections for the Chair of the Assembly will begin immediately upon vacancy of the Chair, or the passage of a resolution to start elections for Chair, the latter of which may only be passed no earlier than 2 months after the end of the last election. Elections will use the instant runoff voting method.

(4) Elections for the Delegate begin on the first of February and August and are conducted via a first round of instant runoff vote with two winners and a second round of majority vote, provided that voting for the second round is held via a regional poll limited to Native World Assembly Residents and posting on the Message Board with a tag to the Commissioner limited to members of the Special Forces identified by the Minister of Defense as being deployed during voting. Candidates in the first round must have a number of endorsements no lower than 80% of the general endorsement cap, rounded down to the nearest whole number, at the start of the election. Candidates in the second round are the winners of the first round.

(5) Elections for the Prime Minister begin 3 months after the conclusion of the last election.

  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain

0 voters

[GCPR.2211] LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE ACT

This proposal required a three-fifths majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass.

A total of 20 participants cast a valid vote, constituting 100.00% of the total number of participants, the result being as follows:

  • Yes | 10 votes | 71.43%

  • No | 4 votes | 28.57%

  • Abstain | 6 votes

The result being as stated above, the proposal has passed.

Mr. Chair,

I would like to point out that the most recent vote total you reported does not reflect the state of the final vote.

[GCPR.2213] REPEAL OF THE HONORS AND CEREMONIES ACT

This is a vote on [GCPR.2213] Repeal of the Honors and Ceremonies Act, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This proposal requires a simple majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

2022-12-07T14:00:00Z2022-12-12T14:00:00Z

Read the Proposal
HONORS AND CEREMONIES ACT
An act to define customs and ceremonies in the Coalition’s government.

1. General Provisions

(1) This law is a general law.

2. Honors

(1) The standard honorific to be used in the Coalition should be “The Honorable”.
(2) While in the Assembly:

  1. The Chair should be addressed in all posts.
  2. The Prime Minister should be indirectly addressed.
  3. The Delegate should be prefaced with the standard honorific.
  4. Justices should be prefaced with the standard honorific.

(3) Justices should be addressed as “Your Honor” in the High Court.

3. Ceremonies

(1) The Chair of the Assembly should, upon the proclamation of results of the Prime Minister election, invite the Prime Minister-elect to give a speech to the Assembly outlining their plans for the upcoming term and introduce their government for approval by the Assembly.
(2) Upon the proclamation of results of the Delegate election, the Delegate-elect should give an inaugural speech to the region.
(3) Upon the start of their terms:

  1. The Prime Minister-elect should take the oath of office, administered by the Delegate.
  2. The Chair of the Assembly-elect should take the oath of office, administered by the Delegate.
  3. The Delegate-elect should take the oath of office, administered by the outgoing Delegate.
  4. All Justices should take the oath of office administered by the Chair of the Assembly.

(4) The administering of the oath shall take place in a public setting.
(5) Foreign ambassadors should present their letters of credential to the Delegate in a public setting.

4. Oath of Office

(1) The oath of office reads:

“I, [name], do solemnly swear that I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Charter of the Coalition of the South Pacific, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.”

  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain
0 voters
[GCPR.2214] REGIONAL OFFICERS ACT

This is a vote on [GCPR.2214] Regional Officers Act, which was submitted, debated, and motioned on this thread in accordance with the provisions of the Great Council Convening Resolution.

This proposal requires a simple majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass, and will remain open during the period listed below:

2022-12-14T14:00:00Z2022-12-19T14:00:00Z

Read the Proposal

Regional Officers Act
An act providing for the dissemination of Regional Officer powers

1. General Provisions

(1) This law is a general law.

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 Prime Minister may allot up to four Regional Officer positions, and grant them any combination of Appearance, Communications, Embassies, and Polls powers.

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

(5) Moderators appointed by the Administration Team will be allotted up to three Regional Officer positions and be granted Appearance, Communications and Polls powers as necessary to enforce moderation policy.

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

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

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

(9) The Security Council may grant Border Control powers to other Regional Officers as they see fit.

3. Limitations

(1) The Border Control power does not grant any legal authority to eject or ban nations from the region when not authorized by security or criminal laws, or a reasonable moderation policy as executed by moderators.

(2) The Communications power must not be used excessively in a way that effectively spams the region.

(3) Exercise of Regional Officer powers must follow all applicable laws and rules. Conduct unbecoming of a representative of the South Pacific may result in suspension of Regional Officer power as determined by the issuing authority.

  • Yes
  • No
  • Abstain

0 voters

[GCPR.2212] ELECTIONS ACT

This proposal required a three-fifths majority of valid votes cast, excluding abstentions, to pass.

A total of 20 participants cast a valid vote, constituting 100.00% of the total number of participants, the result being as follows:

  • Yes | 10 votes | 71.43%

  • No | 4 votes | 28.57%

  • Abstain | 6 votes

The result being as stated above, the proposal has passed.