Unibot III wrote:Very interesting to read about TEP considering in-game / forum community relations and RMB community governance. That was an issue which was raised quite a lot in TSP and led ultimately to the Local Council initiative.
Has TEP considered in-game elections, perhaps? Like, online polls for residents? TNP tried it in two Cabinet elections under Elu and those were immensely popular and active elections.
I know you haven’t read the Concordat of TEP so I’ll tell you why we couldn’t make that move without a lot of debate:
Article A: Executive
...
Section 2) The Delegate shall be a Citizen elected for a term of four months by a vote of the Citizens of the East Pacific.
Citizens. Let me note now that Citizens are a separate thing from Residents:
Article E: Citizenship and Residency
Section 1) A Resident of the East Pacific is a resident Nation of the Region.
Section 2) A Citizen of the East Pacific is a resident Nation of the Region that has ratified this Concordat and undertaken Naturalization as defined by law.
There’s even more of a difference citing all of Article F:
Article F: Rights and Duties of Citizens - This Article sets out the rights and obligations of Citizens and Residents of the East Pacific.
Section 1) Each Citizen shall have the right to a swift and impartial trial by the Conclave if indictment is made against them, as limited by the duty to avoid incitement of indictment.
Section 2) Each Citizen shall have a legal right not to be tried twice for the same offence, a legal right against forced self-incrimination, and the right of representation by adequate counsel to enforce said legal rights. These rights are limited by the duty to not obstruct justice and to comply with evidentiary requests by Conclave.
Section 3) Each Resident may leave the Region freely, as limited by upon freely leaving the Region, a Citizen shall surrender their status as Citizen and any governmental roles.
Section 4) Each Citizen shall be free to serve in any office in the East Pacific, as limited by World Assembly Membership requirements and the prohibition of titles of nobility from the East Pacific.
Our Regional Officers are also elected by a few citizens called Magisters in a Magisterium:
Article B: Legislative
Section 1) This Concordat does hereby invest legislative authority in a Magisterium, which shall enact legislation and maintain Standing Orders.
Section 2) The induction or removal of a Citizen as Magister shall follow the methods prescribed in the Standing Orders. A Magister must be a Citizen.
Section 3) Magisters shall elect among themselves a Provost, as outlined in the Standing Orders. The Provost shall preside over the Magisterium, represent it to the Executive, the Viziers and the Judiciary, and keep a record of the laws of the East Pacific.
Section 4) Enactment or amendment of legislation, and ratification of a treaty or declaration of war submitted by the Delegate shall be decided by majority vote.
Section 5) The Delegate may elect to, within ten days of passage in the Magisterium, veto an enactment or amendment of legislation. The Magisterium may elect to override such a veto by a 3/4 vote.
Section 6) The Magisterium may confirm Arbiters nominated by the Delegate by majority vote.
Section 7) The Magisterium may confirm Viziers nominated by the Delegate by a 2/3 vote.
Section 8) The Magisterium may suspend the Delegate, a Vizier, or an Arbiter by a 2/3 vote for suspicion of indictable crimes. This suspension shall be considered an Indictment for the named offence or offences as prosecuted by the Provost. Suspension shall be lifted by any non-guilty decision of the Conclave or by majority vote of the Magisterium.
Section 9) If the Delegate is removed, resigns, or leaves office by other means, the Magisterium shall then select a Vizier as Acting Delegate until a new election for Delegate has been held.
So any “in-game elections” by poll for all Residents would not be feasible, at all, without major amendments to the Concordat of the region. The Magisterium, to note, also votes on the legislation.