Overhauling the Constitution

[Octavian X]

I think we can streamline some processes in our government by eliminating some positions, adding one, and defining treaty ratification.

• Eliminations of Positions
  1. Trade Ministry - most trades will be negotiated through treaties with foreign nations. This is something FA can handle.
  2. Governors (The Senate) - We already discuss build queues in turn threads. Besides, the past few terms have proved them ineffective. Best handled through domestic. They may not be entirely disposed of - see later part of this post
  3. JA and PD - There is little, if any, judicial activity. They may not be entirely disposed of - see later part of this post
• Additions of positions
  1. Vice President - second-in-command, seperately elected position (NOT A DEPUTY). Would have full voting rights on the council, and authorization to act as a diplomat.
• Changes in the power structure
  1. President - made full voting members of the council. Domestic and FA can appoint people and vote in those polls, so why can the prez?
  2. Chief Justice - treaty ratification in special circumstance. See below.
  3. All leaders - can appoint others as they see fit to help carry out their duties. CJ may temp. appoint PD and JA to help in a PI. Domestic could appoint governors when there are too many cities for one person to handle. FA may appoint Trade ambassasdor to deal especially with lux trades, etc. All leaders would have this power to delegate their responsibilities.
• Treaty Ratification Procedure
• All methods would be legal ways of making a treaty binding for our nation.
• Method 1: In matters of extremely urgent national security (ex. impending invasion), the President may chose to sign the treaty, making it binding for all of Fanatikou. However, the Chief Jutice would have to verify that is was a matter of extremely urgent national security, and then would have to give permission to the President allowing him to sign it.
• Method 2: This would deal with common alliances, Non-Agression Pacts, Peace Treaties, etc. The Council (President, VP, Departments) would have to ratify it by a simple majority. The general populous would also have to ratify it in a regular poll open for at least two days.
• Method 3: This would be for tech trades, lux trades, and the like. It would be the method we use now: Post a poll for two days, simple majority wins.
• Standardization of names
• This is more of a pet peeve than anything. Let's come up with a standard set of names and titles for the deparmtents. For example, Ministries headed by a Minister. Departments headed by a Secretary. etc.

 

[Bootstoots]

Looks good, Oct. I would like to see a confirmation poll for temporary offices (JA, PD, governors). Also, I think it would be good if we made so that extremely urgent national security treaties went through a polling process after they were signed, and would require the ambassador to a nation to sign off on them before the President signs them as well as the CJ. But overall, I really like this proposal.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

I like everything except for getting rid of governors. We will need them soon, when our nation is large. At the moment I really cant do much. I just post my commentry, and sometimes instructions, in the turn threads every turn. But once we reach > 10 cities, we will want them.

 

[Octavian X]

Boots: Personally, I see no reason why we should complicate things. We generally elect people we trust with sort of decision. Perhaps, not a confirmation poll, but a method to allow people to force that person out of an appointed office would work.

GBM: Governors would only be removed as permanent, elected positions, with their duties transfed to the domestic ministry. If the domestic minister felt that he couldn't handle of those cities, he could use delegate that authority to a governor he appointed.

 

[Bootstoots]

Okay, I would support having a method of removal rather than a confirmation poll. Either way, this is a good proposal.

 

[Octavian X]

The following would be changed in this amendment. I think I've gotten everything. The original constitution is here. Note that articles N and O are new.

M was amended, since in the save games, the exception list is impossible in PBEMs.
When I thought about it, Culture is also a redundant position, and was eliminated.
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Article C. The government will consist of the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch and Judicial Branch.

Article D. The Executive Branch consists of the President, Vice President, and the four Ministries.

1. The President is in charge of the nation. He acts as the head of state and government for Fanatikou. He shall be the primary person in charge of playing the save game.
2. The Vice President is directly under the President. He assists the President in all his duties.
3. The Minister of Domestic Affairs handles all aspects of the game directly related to the care and management of the cities, and of the nation tax rates.
4. The Minister of Foreign Affairs handles all diplomacy conducted with foreign nations. This includes the negotiation of treaties and trade agreements.
5. The Minister of Defense is the general of the army, navy, and air force. He handles all movement of units, except for workers.
6. The Minister of Science oversees that nation's scientists in their work.
7. All these members of the Executive Branch of government shall be members of the Executive Council. In the event any vote of the Executive Council ends in a tie, the Justice of the Court shall break the tie.

Article E. The Legislative Branch shall consist of the Congress. The Congress will be formed of the entirety of the citizenry.

Article F. The Judicial Branch will be formed of the Justice of the Court of Fanatikou. He shall handle all judicial matters of the county, including interpretation of the Constitution, and Public Investigations.

Article H. It is unlawful to play through actions, move troops, make deals or take any other action that would change the state of the playing game from that of the saved game.

Article L. The President, Vice President, and Foreign Affairs Leader are de-facto ambassadors to all nations. Regular Ambassadors are elected each term. Ambassadors shall only be chosen when Fanatikou has made in-game contact with a rival civilization.

Article M. In the event any leader takes a temporary leave of absence, he shall appoint a pro-tempore official to fill that position until the leader shall return.

1. In the event the positions of Minister of Domestic Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vice President, or Justice of the Court becomes vacant, the President shall apoint a new citizen to fill the vacant position.
2. In the event the positions of Minister of Defense or Minister of Science becomes vacant, the Minister of Domestic Affairs shall apoint a new citizen to fill the vacant position.
3. If the position of Ambassador to any nation becomes vacant, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shall appoint a new citizen to fill the vacant position.
4. In the event the President vacates his/her position, the Vice President shall become President, and shall appoint a new citizen to be Vice President
5. All appointments must be approved by the Executive Council.

Article N. The President, Vice President, all Ministers, and Justice of the Court may delegate their powers as they see fit by creating and appointing citizens to Offices.

1. If any citizen is discontent with the way an office is carrying out it's duties, he may request that the official executing the duties of that office be removed. If two more citizens second the request for removal, the request becomes a demand, and the Minister/President/Vice President/Chief Justice must post a poll lasting two days on the furutre of the office in question. If a simple majority votes in favor of removal, the official executing the duties of that office is removed.

Article O. Treaties with foreign nation may be ratified by Fanatikou in one of three manners:

1. In matters of extremely urgent national security (ex. impending invasion), the President may chose to sign the treaty, making it binding for all of Fanatikou. However, the Chief Jutice would have to verify that is was indeed a matter of extremely urgent national security, and then would have to give permission to the President allowing him to sign it.
2. In treaties involving relations with foreign nations, such as alliances, non-agression pacts, peace treaties, and declarations of war, the Executive Council must, by simple majority, ratify the treaty. In addition, in a poll open for a minimum of two days, a simple majority of voters must approve the ratification.
3. In agreements involving foreign trade of luxuries, resources, technology, et cetera, ratification may only occur in a poll open for a minimum of two days, with an affimitive response by a simple majority of voters.

 

[Bootstoots]

I support this overhaul in its entirety.

 

[Octavian X]

Since this is such a major overhaul, I plan on doing two things...

1. I will wait for two days to allow for more public comment.

2. If and when the amendments do pass, they will only take affect starting Term 3. I want this to go as smoothly as possible.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

I will vote yes for this but only if GOVERNORS AREN'T DROPPED!!! Please dont take them away, it would be a real shame. And I have a feeling once we have Balance of Power, we are going to do rapid expansion.

Again, please dont remove governors.

 

[Octavian X]

Like I've said, Governors would only be eliminated as an elected positions - the Domestic Minister would be encouraged to appoint his own governors as the number of cities grows.

 

[Veera Anlai]

I agree with the appointment of Governors... Too many elections just ain't healthy for such a small population

 

[GenMarshall]

I to agree that we should appoint Govenors.

 

[Octavian X]

So, we have a general concensus? If so, I'll procede with the correct polling processes tomorrow.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

I'm happy if we appoint governors instead of electing them. Just as long as the position exists, I'm happy.