By coincidence, Mr. Tezuyuu finished just as he heard James Riller say something about a Constitution to one of the newcomers.
"I know I only just made this draft," Mr. Tezuyuu said, presenting the paper he had been working on for the past several minutes, "but it's a good place to start. Where does everyone stand with this?"
The Constitution of the Pacific Alliance
PREAMBLE
We, the Members of the Pacific Alliance, in an effort to increase the Unity between our Nations, seek Prosperity for the Pacific and Her People, establish Peace, and Safeguard our Posterity from Environmental Threats do ratify this Constitution and formally establish the Pacific Alliance.
ARTICLE I
Section 1 - All proposed legislation that is supported by at least three Member nations shall be decided on by majority vote though an Assembly of all Member nations.
Section 2 - Only one legislative proposition may be brought before the Assembly at any given time and each shall be reviewed in the order received. A proposition currently under consideration by the Assembly may be tabled by majority vote but cannot remain tabled for longer than three months from the time it was tabled.
Section 3 - Any vote brought before the Assembly will be open for one week or until a majority of Member nations have submitted their votes. Once a majority of Members have confirmed their choice, the vote will remain open for an additional 24 hours or until all Members have voted. If a proposition is not voted on by a majority of the Assembly it shall be discarded.
Section 4 - The Assembly, through ratified legislature, may change Alliance legislation regarding tariffs, embargoes, military affairs, international and inter-organizational diplomacy, climate change regulations, security, international aid, and Alliance membership.
Section 5 - The Assembly does not have the power to create a standing army, enact conscription, deny any group basic human rights, or change domestic policy in Member nations in ways not enumerated in this Constitution.
Section 6 - The Assembly may, by majority vote, call for a referendum to deliberate a proposed Amendment to this Constitution or propose a new Constitution entirely. The Assembly will then vote for the aforementioned proposition. A two-thirds majority is required to pass a new Constitutional Amendment. Unanimity is required to ratify a new Constitution.
ARTICLE II
Section 1 - The Assembly shall establish from amongst themselves, by plurality vote, a President of the Assembly on the 1st Day of January and July each year. A Member nation may not cast a vote for itself when electing a President. In the case of a tie a second vote shall be held for the candidates who tied, with a subsequent tie being resolved by seniority of membership.
Section 2 - Any Member of the Assembly may propose a vote of no confidence against the current President if they have not done so in the past 30 days. A President may be removed by a majority vote of no confidence. Any President removed in this manner may not be reelected to this position for a period of one year.
Section 3 - The President of the Assembly has the power to bring executive resolutions before the Assembly for voting including economic sanctions against a nation or organization, security interventions in international conflicts, humanitarian missions, construction projects, disaster relief programs, formal condemnation of a nation or organization, or a response to any other situation that may arise that does not oppose current legislation or any enumerated Constitutional right.
Section 4 - The President of the Assembly may hold or delegate by appointment the inferior executive offices of Commander in Chief of Alliance Security, Alliance Treasurer, Chief of Commerce, Head of Diplomatic Relations, Overseer of Construction and Infrastructure, or any executive office created by legislation but not enumerated here.
Section 5 - Should the President of the Assembly become incapacitated, their Member nation may appoint a new representative to the office. In the case of vacancy by vote of no confidence, the Assembly will convene the following day to elect an interim President.
Section 6 - The President may bring before the Assembly a motion to remove by majority vote a Member nation from the Pacific Alliance.
ARTICLE III
Section 1 - A temporary Judicial Court of five judges shall be established to preside over the trial of a Member nation accused by another Member nation of being in violation of the Constitution or with any established legislation. The Judiciary will be selected by sortition from among all Member nations not involved in the presented case and shall be dissolved at the end of said case.
Section 2 - All Member nations brought before the Judiciary shall be considered innocent until proven otherwise.
Section 3 - All Member nations are to be guaranteed a fair trial. Both the accused and accuser must be given equal opportunity to present their case and must be judged with impartiality.
Section 4 - Should the Judiciary unanimously find the accused guilty, it shall determine an equal punishment from among an exhaustive list: Reparations, increased tariffs, embargo, removal or ban from Alliance offices, rescission of agreements, cancellation of beneficial projects, cessation of aid, or revocation of Alliance membership.
Section 5 - Should any member of the Judiciary be found to have their judgement demonstrably biased by means of bribery, coercion, preexisting diplomatic or personal relations, conspiracy, or any other such corrupting act or force it shall be brought before the Assembly by the President to decide on the Member's expulsion by majority vote. A retrial will then be granted with a newly selected Judiciary.
ARTICLE IV
Section 1 - The Pacific Alliance shall be beholden to its own debts and agreements and shall not shift any debt accrued or agreement made onto its constituent Member nations.
Section 2 - The Pacific Alliance shall not adopt any legislation, take any executive action, or in any other way act in a manner which violates international law.
Section 3 - The Pacific Alliance shall not subsume, replace, or annex the individual sovereignty of a Member nation.
Section 4 - The Pacific Alliance may align itself with or otherwise engage in diplomacy with other international organizations but is prohibited from being absorbed into another organization.
Section 5 - All Member nations reserve the right to leave the Pacific Alliance so long as they provide one week's prior notice. No penalty can be inflicted by the Pacific Alliance on a Member nation or former Member nation for such a departure.
Section 6 - No Member nation shall be deprived of equal representation in the legislative Assembly, nor shall any Member nation be treated in an unequal manner that is without just cause.
Section 7 - If any Member nation objects to another nation's application for membership in the Pacific Alliance it shall be brought before the Assembly and decided by majority vote.
SIGNATURES
