International Freedom Coalition (OOC, APPS TEMP CLOSED)

[The Swiss Guardsmen]

But that would leave a lot if discretion to interpretation by the executive or the judiciary or the council. Any opinion on the suitability of an 'act on inappropriate weapons'?

I think an act limiting national stockpiles of biological and chemical ordinance might be a good place to start. A number of weapon classifications could be established, taking into account the danger posed by each weapon to civilian populations if released in a combat environment, and a upward limitation on tonnage produced per annum set for each classification. Of course, tonnage should be measured in the amount of actual agent produced, not just the weight of munitions filled annually. This way, nations would be less likely to hide their production efforts by placing far higher amounts of controlled agents in lightweight munitions, and research programs looking into the application of biological and chemical weapons could continue unabated. Provisions could also be included designating limitations on agent concentration when in storage if the council deems it wise.

I know an outright ban on certain chemical and biological weapons wouldn't sit too well with Astavia ICly. Ever since the country began phasing out its nuclear stockpile a few decades ago, research into chemical and biological weapons for defensive applications has grown to constitute a massive portion of the military's R&D funding allocated yearly - and its yielded a great deal of beneficial research on treating infectious diseases and chemically-induced health problems to boot. The OHI also manages a number of "off-the-books" laboratories dedicated to researching lethal agents for targeted assassinations, and they'd likely just keep plugging along under the radar no matter what is legislated.

[Shazbotdom]

I know for a fact that ICly, the Empire will not allow any foreign entity to limit our number of Chemical or Biological agents that the Empire maintains. They are our deterrents from foreign entities threatening to attack the mainland.

[New Chilokver]

I don't think a ban or restriction on types of weapons would go down well with any member state. What I think we do need however, is something outlining guidelines for storage and (possibly) usage of chemical weapons.

As far as my own nation goes, while we don't possess significant stockpiles of biological and chemicals, we continue to fund R/D, most notably in a number of polar research stations. This is because Chilokver doesn't actually have any nuclear/radiological weapons, so chemical weapons become our deterrence against invasion of the mainland, if necessary. That, and nuclear latency...

[Pillowlandia]

I would say maybe some guidelines or ROEs for chemical and bio weapons, which would have to be opt out, plus some general regs on production and safety measures perhaps.

[Shazbotdom]

So when does the call go out for people to run for Office, again? Isn't it sometime this week?

[The United Remnants of America]

I don't think a ban or restriction on types of weapons would go down well with any member state.

The URA would support restrictions or bans on any and all CBRN weaponry.

Only because we don't use them.

[Shazbotdom]

It's taken me a while to figure out what I wanted to use for this, but the time has come to announce what he looks like.


BEHOLD!

Ambassador Timmothy Moorston, Shazbotdom Ambassador to the International Freedom Coalition!

[Organized States]

A biological weapons ban is logical, but you aren't touching my napalm (considered a Chemical Weapon by some treaties).

[Great Feng]

Feng would join any war against Ralkovia on the side of Ralkovia.

[Shazbotdom]

Feng would join any war against Ralkovia on the side of Ralkovia.

Are you even in the IFC Anymore? If you are, do you realize that if you go against IFC members, you will be kicked out and have a target thrown on your back?

[Roskian Federation]

Feng would join any war against Ralkovia on the side of Ralkovia.

Edgy

[Roskian Federation]

A biological weapons ban is logical, but you aren't touching my napalm (considered a Chemical Weapon by some treaties).

Full support of a bioweapon ban

[Chkalovsk II]

Im keeping my cluster bombs.
Dont use them in civilian locations.
Im keeping my chemical weapons.
Those are my detterents against invasion.

[New Aeyariss]

Feng would join any war against Ralkovia on the side of Ralkovia.

A note, are you aware that Nihon is to fight Ralkovia too? Kojiro intents to drive BOTH Ausitoria AND Ralkovia from Bluewell.

I doubt that Nihonese government would oppose Feng if it went against Ausitoria, citing the fact that Nihon itself is also intervening in defense of Pillowlandian sovereignty; but if Ralkovia will be allied with, a regime change in Feng will follow.

Full support of a bioweapon ban

If IFC passes this ban, expect various banned weaponry to appear on Murakami .

[Great Feng]

Feng would join any war against Ralkovia on the side of Ralkovia.

A note, are you aware that Nihon is to fight Ralkovia too? Kojiro intents to drive BOTH Ausitoria AND Ralkovia from Bluewell.

I doubt that Nihonese government would oppose Feng if it went against Ausitoria, citing the fact that Nihon itself is also intervening in defense of Pillowlandian sovereignty; but if Ralkovia will be allied with, a regime change in Feng will follow.

Full support of a bioweapon ban

If IFC passes this ban, expect various banned weaponry to appear on Murakami .

It only wants to fight IFC forces.

[New Chilokver]

If you are running for elections, please state your candidacy here for the record. I'll be getting an actual IC post regarding them up soon, as well rounding off the Bluewell discussions. A resolution regarding the use of weapons will be up soon as well.

[Shazbotdom]

I am stating officially, for the record, that I will be running for the position of Prime Miniter. I am finalizing my Manifesto within the next 4 1/2 Hours.

[Mizrad]

Speaking of prime minister elections, I have an idea!

I can go through the "fix the IFC" thread and come up with a summarized list of issues. I'll make a form with the issues on them so each candidate can address them. How does that sound? It would help a lot more than just vague campaigning or IC filler posts in identifying which candidate will do what. That's just my two cents though.

[Shazbotdom]

Speaking of prime minister elections, I have an idea!

I can go through the "fix the IFC" thread and come up with a summarized list of issues. I'll make a form with the issues on them so each candidate can address them. How does that sound? It would help a lot more than just vague campaigning or IC filler posts in identifying which candidate will do what. That's just my two cents though.

Go for it.

[Shazbotdom]

The Rebirth Declaration and the Shazite Manifesto
Total Number of Officials (minus the PM) would equal 15

Executive Government

Chief of Staff: Organized States || Prime Minister: Shazbotdom || Budget: $10 Billion

Aims:
1: Cutting down on the Mass Bureaucracy by sizing down the current Government Structure into Three Sub Categories
1.1: Reducing the Government Budget
1.2: Remove multiple Governmental Positions
1.3: Organization of full Government for streamlined operations.

Various Ministries
Ministers:
Foreign Affairs: Mizrad || Membership: Kannap || Economics and Treasury: The Swiss Guardsmen || Trade: Vacant || Science: New Roma Republic

Budget: c. $3.5 Billion split evenly between all Ministries (~$700 Million Each Ministry -- To be taken out of Executive Government Budget)

Aims:
1: Combining the budgets of the Ministries into one large pool, that can be extracted from by any of the Ministries.
2: Centralizing the Offices of the Ministries onto the same floor of the Governmental Building (when one is chosen) to facilitate cooperation.
3: Departmental Facilitations;
3.1: Facilitate the Reorganization of "Ministries" that should be listed as Departments under other Ministries.
3.1.1: Reorganize Ministerial Programs to ensure better oversight.
3.2: Facilitate the Removal of unneeded "Ministries" to reduce the overall Governmental Budget

Ministry of Defense
Supreme Allied Commander: Guadalupador || Budget: c. $200 billion
Commanders:
C-in-C Army: The United Remnants of America || C-in-C Navy: Pillowlandia || C-in-C Air Force: Vacant

Aims:
To Begin
1: Full standardization of military forces under the RRF by:
1.1: Merge the Minister of the Military, Supreme Allied Commander and C-in-C of Exercises into one position
1.2: Assisting in the continued Development of Joint Projects;
1.2.1: Army Weaponry
1.2.2: Naval Vessels
1.2.3: Air Force;
1.2.3.1: Helicopters
1.2.3.2: Jets
1.2.3.3: Support Aircraft
1.3: Manufacture and/or Purchase of Necessary items to fill deployment gaps

Legislative Government
Speaker: Novo Wagondia || Principle Deputy Speaker: Vacant

Aims:
1: Streamline the Voting Process by introducing Tablet PC's in the Senatorial Chambers for digital voting on Resolutions.
2: Formation of an official Constitution, where Resolutions will then be Amendments to the Constitution or Additions to the end of the Constitution.
2.1: Form a temporary Sub-Committee to study the laws of the IFC and determine the following:
2.1.1: What is Redundant within the Laws of the IFC.
2.1.2: What would best be transferred into an Alliance Constitution.
2.2: The IFC Constitutional Sub-Committee would then draft up a Constitution
2.2.1: The Construction would then go before the Senate for an Official Vote.
2.2.1.1: A majority vote in favor will ratify the Constitution and dissolve the Sub-Committee
2.2.1.2: A majority vote against will send the Constitution back to the Sub-Committee for redrafting and tweaking.

Judicial Government
Judicial Committee members:
Committee Member 1 (Leader of Committee): Flardania || Committee Member 2: United States of Connor || Committee Member 3: United States of Devonta

Aims:
1: Assist the IFC Constitutional Sub-Committee with finding out what laws are redundant, unneeded, etc and draft up a Constitution.
2: Streamlining the process of putting forth Charges against Member States who have broken laws and regulations of the IFC.
3: Allowing the Judicial Committee to appoint the following for Trial purposes:
3.1: Prosecution Attorney
3.2: Defence Attorney
4: Set forth procedure for Trials

Governmental Layout
Executive Branch
1: Prime Minister
1.1: Chief of Staff
1.1.1: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1.1.1.1: Department of Ambassadors
1.1.1.2: IFC Post Office
1.1.2: Ministry of Membership
1.1.2.1: Membership Standards Office
1.1.3: Ministry of Economics and Treasury
1.1.4: Ministry of Trade
1.1.5: Ministery of Science
1.1.5.1: Health and Human Services
1.1.5.1.1: Medical Expeditionary Force
1.1.5.1.2: Civil Functions Command
1.1.5.1.3: Blue Cross
1.1.6: Ministery of the Military
1.1.6.1: Department of Exercises
1.1.6.2: Rapid Reaction Force
1.1.6.2.1: Ground Forces
1.1.6.2.1.1: Military Police
1.1.6.2.2: Air Force
1.1.6.2.3: Naval Force
1.1.6.2.3.1: IFC Search and Rescue

Legislative Branch
2: The Council
2.1: Policy Office
2.1.1: Legal Policy Office
2.2: Conservation Office

Judicial Branch
3: Judicial Commitee

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

May I ask how anyone could possibly conclude that an understaffed and overworked government could be better served with fewer volunteers?

How would such a move make it possible to include more talent? How is it inclusive?

How would it allow one to divide up responsibilities and give members ownership over areas and projects?

And may I ask how having the Prime Minister take direct charge of the Speaker position, bringing the Council's independence to an end, could possibly serve the rights of members?

Perhaps you might prefer my plan?

#FreeTogether

The Aestorian Manifesto

[Sardeed]

International Freedom Coalition IFC Admissions Department, International Commonwealth Agency, Alexandria, Ausitoria, Aestorian Commonwealth IFC Admissions Application National Information Formal Nation Name: The Kingdom of Sardeed Shortened Nation Name: Sardeed Demonym: Sargan Capital city: Rápaná National Population (RP): 61,604,000 Form of Government: Constitution Monarchy/Crowned Republic Is your Government by the people? (exercised either directly or through elected representatives or with democratic elements): Yes How do you describe the political atmosphere of your state? (Far-Left/Left/Center-Left/Center/Center-Right/Right/Far-Right): Center-Right Head of State: King Phillip XII Head of Government: President Roberto Cádis Economic System: Regulated capitalism Currency: Sangintas (ṩ) Exchange Rate to NSD: 1ṩ = $1.87 Major Exports: Manufacturing, technology, etc. Major Imports: foodstuffs, technology, etc. Language: Sardan Brief History of your nation: The first colonizers of Sardeed where in fact not of Cortoguayan origin but were in fact French explorers, this explains the influence of French culture and the French language in Sardeed. Before the colonizations, Sardeed was colonized by Celts and other barbarians as early as 2100 B.C. The Kingdom of Sargan and Delixi were established in 942 after several duties united. Sargan grew to overpower Delixi because of Spaniard immigration to Sargan. In 1461, King Ferdinand IV led a military campaign to unite the two kingdoms. The campaign was successful as the Unification of the Kingdoms was cemented in 1463. In 1699, Sargan, Delixi and Carvonita broke off into different kingdoms and went to war in what is know as the War of Three Kingdoms. Under the leadership of Phillip IV, Sargan defeated Delixi and Carvontia and finally unified the kingdoms. In 1787, a rebellion against the monarchy to bring democracy succeeds, but the King still retained a lot of power. In 1864, republicans overthrew the monarchy and instituted a totalitarian government. The monarchy was re-instituted in 1891. The power of the Monarch was severely limited after 1891. Map: See wiki. IIwiki page link or factbook (if you have one): http://iiwiki.com/wiki/Sardeed Political and Civil Rights and Freedoms Does your nation have Freedom of thought: YES Freedom of belief (religion): YES Freedom of expression: YES Freedom of the media: YES Freedom of peaceful assembly: YES Freedom of association: YES Freedom of movement: YES Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure: YES Freedom from arbitrary detention or imprisonment: YES Freedom from slavery: YES Right to life, liberty and security of the individual: YES Right to vote (The ability to vote upon reaching the age of majority): YES Right to a fair trial, legal council, and a guarantee of habeas corpus: YES Right to not be subject to cruel or unusual punishment: YES Rights of equality (Equality regardless of racial, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or mental or physical disability): YES Right to own property: YES Right to free enterprise (and to what extent?): YES, as long as its fair. Right to innocent navigation: YES Foreign Relations and Military Statistics What other military alliances are you a part of? (UL, SCP, SACTO, etc.): SOE What other non-military organizations are you a part of? (ISA, UPA, etc.) EC Foreign Policy: Diplomacy, then military 230,000 Number of active military personnel (RP): 230,000 Number of reserve military personnel (RP): 400,000 + Nuclear Arsenal (if any): None Name of Military: Sargan Royal Armed Forces Branches of Military: Army, Navy, Air Force and National Gendarmerie. RP example (required - can be anything from a short paragraph on this form to a link to an RP example on another thread): search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&author_id=846653 Delegate to the IFC Council Information Name: Sir. Alfonso Ráttúrô Age: 44 Gender: Male Reason for your nation desiring to join the IFC: We want to get involved Do you hereby agree to abide by the terms and conditions set forth under the Charter in IFC legislation?: Signature: _____________King Phillip XII________________ Date:________8/26/16_______________ **IFCAPP**

[Shazbotdom]

May I ask how anyone could possibly conclude that an understaffed and overworked government could be better served with fewer volunteers?

&

How would it allow one to divide up responsibilities and give members ownership over areas and projects?

&

How would such a move make it possible to include more talent? How is it inclusive?

Answer:
The Government as it currently stands is an Inefficient Bureaucratic Mess. There are positions that basically do nothing, from the point of view of the Membership. Having them come under direct control over a Minister, with that Minister being able to delegate special needs for projects that would fall under his specific Ministry. Anything to do with Science (meaning Medical, scientific study, etc) is best to fall under one ministry with that Minister being able to delegate a specific project to a member who has their specialty in that. It is much more mainstreamed than there being more than thirty individual departments that report directly to the Prime Minister. Instead, this would delegate power to area's that need it instead of the Prime Minister directly appointing every single person within the Government.

And may I ask how having the Prime Minister take direct charge of the Speaker position, bringing the Council's independence to an end, could possibly serve the rights of members?

Answer:
No where within my Declaration does it state that the Prime Minister will have direct control over the Speaker. The Speaker will speak for the membership within the Council, will direct any sub-committee's and appoint leaders for those sub-committee's, and only report to the Prime Minister when legislation is passed, or when problems within the Council occur. With the formation of an Official Constitution, as per the Sub-Committee that is to be formed by the Speaker, at his discretion, that will report directly to the speaker of the Council, and not the Prime Minister.

In retort:

How is this any differently done than what is currently done?

How is this giving any more power to the Prime Minister?

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

I have the distinct impression that you don't understand a hierarchical chart. There are only three offices directly below the Prime Minister: the Supreme Allied Commander, the Premier, and the PM's private office. There are not 30 nor the 7 that you seem to be going for.

As for 'inefficient beauracratic mess and positions that seem to nothing', 'inactive people who don't do anything' would be a far more accurate description. Many hands make light work, as you will learn if you become Prime Minister. (And as you ought to have learnt by now. However you have done almost nothing as Supreme Allied Commander, so I can see why you think work is unnecessary. But it is a wasted opportunity, particularly after all you did for the Navy, I was hoping you would use the position properly).

As for the Speaker position, do you also not know who the Speaker is? Chilokver holds the position, not Naybra; Naybra is head of the Judicial Committee (and doing a thunderingly good job). A Prime Minister cannot remove a sitting Speaker.

[Guadalupador]

And may I ask how having the Prime Minister take direct charge of the Speaker position, bringing the Council's independence to an end, could possibly serve the rights of members?

Aren't you guilty of attempting to go around the council's rulings and using the position of Prime Minister for your own personal gain?

Perhaps you might prefer my plan?

#FreeTogether
The Aestorian Manifesto

#NoThankYou