The Galactic Economic and Security Organization
Amended and Signed at Supreme Allied Headquarters, Neo Terra, New Sol . 2830
GESO Charter
We, the sapient people of this galaxy; whom had many of their forebears struggle through the unforgiving void and maelstrom of despair, come together today in this hall in order to preserve our sacrosanct freedoms that had been won with blood, toil, and will - henceforth establish the Galactic Economic And Security Organization in order to preserve the way of life that all sapient beings; human or otherwise have the universally given right to enjoy. In order to push back the tides of darkness and chaos that would ruin the temple of personal liberty, and tarnish the essence of freedom. And so we pledge this document for both posterity and prosperity to establish a noble and enlightened league of nations dedicated to the preservation of all life, and to establish a sacrosanct conviction to defend the liberty of the individuals privy to this document. Yet we, the signatory powers recognize that violence is not the solution to every challenge; and indeed should be the final resort. The Galactic Economic And Security Organization is a faction of peace foremost, and the signatories to this treaty will uphold the virtues of honor, dignity, diplomacy, mutual cooperation, and peace.
In entering this agreement, all parties agree to mediate disputes and coexist in harmony; suffering the countless genocides, the destruction, and the subsequent galactic dark ages that followed the era of disorder we the species of the Galactic Economic and Security Organization look forth to protect ourselves; to expand our knowledge of the universe, and to better the galaxy as a whole. We do not seek conquest; we seek knowledge, understanding, and economic prosperity.
To affirm this commitment, we establish these sets of amendments based on the principle of universal liberty, cultural liberty, religious freedom, and tolerance to all peoples amongst us.
Article 1 Section A-
All sapient beings are to be granted the freedom of expression, speech, and thought; such actions may not be censured in international zones; any censured parties involved may ask for asylum from any number of member worlds.
Article 1 Section B-
Freedom of movement; unless sacrificed by allied trade command or the receiving world, all signatories shall retain free passage to their destination. Member powers shall promote freedom of movement for goods and services between worlds, and will attempt to minimize conditions that could cause an economic imbalance in intergalactic trade between member governments. Additionally, disputes between trading powers will divest to the Galactic Commerce Committee, which is overseen by the Secretary-General or a individual(s) appointed in his stead. However, as the Galactic Economic and Security Organization cannot impede upon the sovereign decisions of a power to restrict trade through its borders or interfere to an extent in any internal policy, a recourse for the determination of compensation for lost goods and services will be levied.
Article 1 Section C-
Realizing that extradition is a rather complicated process, and that the galaxy has a myriad of legal systems that differ from world to world; the Galactic Economic and Security Organization establishes a magisterial assembly composed of representative of each member of founder states selected from that states legal representatives and their respective judges and legal councils, to be called the 4th Court of Judicial Matters. If the offense is committed against a citizen in international territory, then the government of the offended person is well within its rights to request extradition. However, the matter of local authorities conducting investigations cannot be overlooked, and this may cause some delay in the extradition of the perpetrator of the alleged crime. If there is a dispute between two governments about a suspect or individual, then the matter will come before a tribunal to be decided by a vote, and provided sufficient evidence is attained, the suspect will then be transferred to the most heavily offended party. In cases of sovereignty and national disputes, mediation to resolve the issue will be an additional safeguard to prevent escalation.
Article 2 Section A-
Signatories to this document henceforth shall pledge to uphold the ideals of intergalactic stability, peace, economic freedom, liberty and freedom. With such aims, all peoples governed under this pledge shall strive to settle disputes amongst governments through peaceful means, and should refrain from destabilizing galactic affairs with unnecessary acts of aggression.
Article 2 Section B-
(I) In the event of an act of aggression between two or more member states of the GESO, the Secretary-General shall appoint a negotiator to mediate the conflict and resolve it. If the negotiator can not resolve it, the Secretary-General shall work with the Security Council to develop a peacekeeping mission using GRF forces to end the conflict.
(II) In the event of an act of aggression between a member of the Alliance and a non-member, the Secretary-General shall appoint a team of three ambassadors to attempt to resolve the dispute peacefully. If they do not succeed within 120 days, or if they submit a Notice of Failure, members of the Alliance are obligated to defend those attacked.
- A: The GRF may assist in defending member states, but only if authorized by the Council.
Article 3
(I) To guarantee the functionality of this treaty to its fullest extent, member worlds jointly and individually by effective self-sustained capacity and mutual aid, will maintain and improve upon a collective and sufficient self defense capacity to resist armed aggression.
(II) If armed aggression against a member state occurs, then article 2, section b shall be activated. If it is so chosen by the power under attack however, the GESO shall reserve the right to intervene in conflicts if certain situations are involved. Minor incidents can henceforth be brought forth to be mediated, and if a significant threat is recognized by the allied power, an emergency meeting of the Security Council shall be called to debate the ramifications of any potential actions.
Article 4-
(I) The GRF (Galactic Response Force), shall be established as a unified military, exploration and defense force sanctioned to carry out the duties of collective defense, exploration and strategic and tactical operations that are authorized by the Secretary-General and the Council. The GRF shall be lead by the Joint Chiefs of Command, or JCC, and they will be appointed by the Secretary-General and confirmed by the Council with a majority vote, and will issue orders, assign and organize missions and other items that are required by the chief commanders of a force.
(II) In extreme times, the JCC may appoint a Supreme Allied Commander, who will unilaterly take over the actions of the JCC once confirmed, though extreme actions such as deployment and usage of strategic weaponry, planet wide destruction, war, or peace, must still be passed and confirmed by the Council. The SAC may be removed by a majority vote of the JCC, or by the Council on the JCC's or Secretary-General's recommendation
(III) The GRF will initially consist of vessels, stations, yards and other installations donated by member states for either limited leases or permanent leases. The Force shall maintain a mix of both, but should strive to field solely Force-owned vessels, operated by volunteer crews from member states. Funding for this shall come from, and be authorized by, the Council.
(IV) Deployment of the GRF, on large scale operations, may only come through confirmed action by the Council, or by the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General may unilaterally deploy the GRF on large-scale operations without Council approval for a limit of twenty days, as defined by the Sol calendar, before the Council must approve the deployment and extend it. Without approval, all deployed units are to be recalled immediately. Small-scale deployments, not to exceed more then eight ships in any form, are not subject to this rule.
(V) Command of any GRF deployment may not be given to any member-state, but from within GRF ranks of volunteer crew.
(VI) The GRF is to be funded according to a schedule determined by the Security Council. At the Security Council’s discretion this may be delegated to a designated committee to determine this schedule. The schedule shall take into account each nation’s contribution and each nation’s capability to pay. Each nation will be required to meet their funding requirements as laid out in this schedule.
Article 5
(I) The Galactic Economic and Security Organization, noting the fact that an overall speaker and presiding member over council meetings is needed, hereby establishes the office of the Secretary-General. This office, shall be responsible for directing and leading various GESO organisations and for chairing meetings, resolving tie-breaks, representing GESO at inter-governmental functions and making public statements on behalf of GESO, as well as the executive administration of the Alliance as he or she sees fit. The Secretary-General will be elected from within the Alliance itself, any member may propose a candidate and then the entire member list shall vote, with the candidate with the most votes winning, and the elected shall serve two years, unless impeached by the Security Council for illegal actions.
(II) The Security Council is hereby established, with the purpose of overseeing the legislative, security, defense and authorization duties, as well as others previously prescribed in this Charter. The Council shall consist of one representative from each member-nation.
--- A: The Security Council will be led by the Secretary-General, who will officially propose bills, action and other items of discussion suggested or authored by the Counselors, and will be in charge of the behavior and conduct of the Counselors while in session. The Secretary-General may never vote in any Council action.
--- B: The Council may at its own prerogative elect a Speaker from within who would assume the duties stated above in Sub-Section A.
Article 6
(I) Establishes the Executive Council. The Council shall consist of seven members, who will be elected in the same fashion as the Secretary-General; any member may propose candidates(s) and then the members as a whole will vote for they prefer. Each member will receive three votes, and may only lodge one vote per candidate. The top seven candidates with the most votes will be elected and will serve for a period of one year.
--- A: The Executive Council shall collectively act as a single Executive Officer and is responsible for the carrying out of the will of the Security Council in accordance with the charter with all future amendments.
--- B: The Executive Council is responsible for the administration, directing and managing of GESO Child organisations as spelled out below. Members of the Executive Council will take on a single portfolio as a Minister for each child organisation. This ministerialship being on a temporary and rotary basis within the Executive Council. Additional ministers may be added to assist member states in any single area, from resolving conflicts to trade. Any area that can assist relations between member states and maintain peace as well as between member and non-member states.
(II) Establishes the following child organisations with their particular responsibility.
--- A: Galactic Response Force(GRF) - As Established under Article 4.
--- B: The Galactic Aid and Development Agency (GADA)
------ 1. Defines ‘aid’ as resources and support given to a population, nation or civilization to help it with development or to respond to a natural or sapient-made disaster including but not limited to food aid, education aid, the deployment of skilled personnel and medical aid;
------ 2. Determines that GADA will be have the following mission statement,
---------- a. to co-ordinate international efforts and responses to natural and sapient-made disasters;
---------- b. to help provide aid to nations and populations exposed to natural and sapient-made disasters should they be unable to effectively cope alone;
---------- c. to help maintain international food security and to provide food aid to populations suffering from endemic malnutrition;
---------- d. to help promote social and economic development in civilizations both within and without of GESO;
---------- e. to provide aid to and co-ordinate the response to refugees and internally displaced persons;
---------- f. to promote and encourage sustainable economic and environmental development with the application of appropriate technologies, especially in single-planet civilizations;
------ 3. Decides that GADA will be funded by donations and voluntary monetary contributions by GESO member-states and private citizens and organizations,
------ 4. Establishes an official fund to be administered by GADA to be used to help sponsor and support NGOs which help it in fulfilling its mission statement;
--- C: Strategic Espionage Unit
------ 1. To be lead by a three person team filled by different GESO member-states called Triumvirate, individual triumvirate members may be removed before their terms by a vote of the GESO Security Council. Term is 3 years on a rotating basis. A new member every year. Triumvirate is directly responsible to the Security Council for all activities.
------ 2. SEU May use a variety of technical assets in their field as appropriate
------ 3. The SEU is required to maintain personnel with updated training and intelligence before deploying in field. To use any and all abilities granted by magic, psionic or technolgical artifacts and skills. As well as weaponry available on black markets to obfuscate SEU involvement. Assets to be trained in culture, customs and languages foreign sites before deployment.
------ 4. Any asset can be deployed at foreign sites with the approval of the Triumvirate. Assets may only operate on local sites with a specific request from the appropriate jursidiction with a specific and defined scope and timeframe. All other cirsumstances mean that any asset cannot be deployed to any foreign or local site.
--- D: Interstellar Research Institute
------ 1. Responsible for intergalactic disease control and response.
------ 2. Work closely with GADA to facilitate medical aid in help combat the outbreak of a contagion.
------ 3. Facilitate collaborative research into a broad spectrum of sciences, including but not limited to training in cross-species application, archaeological and historical research.
Article 7:
An important part of peace is strong trade links. To assist in the accomplishment of strong trade link between all member states GESO hereby:
(I)Establishment a of a Gateway Network. Gateways allow for almost instantaneous travel between set destinations. GESO shall therefore run and maintain a network of gateways between member and founder states. Each state may define the extent of their involvement within the network specifying suitable destinations. States may choose to totally exclude the gateway network from all of their systems, incorporate a small list of connections or fully deploy a network within their boundaries.
(II)Establish a collection of reserve currencies that member and founder states are recommended to hold. This is to assist in providing financial stability and access to a variety of markets at ease. There is no minimum amount that states must hold only a recommendation that they do. Reserve Currencies are currently set as, Terran Credits but may be added to by a successful majority vote of the Security Council.
Article 8
(I) Establishes a formal procedure for amending this document. The Authors of this document acknowledge it to be imperfect. As times change and political factors gain and lose importance, a static alliance cannot last forever. Any member of the Security Council may propose an amendment, after which:
A. At least two members must announce their support,
B. A vote is called. In order to pass the vote, two-thirds of the SC must be in favour. The Secretary-General may, if they believe the amendment to be detrimental to GESO as a whole, raise the bar to a three-quarter majority.