NOTING that the entire structure of The East Pacfiic’s legal code glorifies the small number of off-site elites and ignores the wide majority of the nations in the region.
FURTHER NOTING that the entire legal code is made up of disjointed and discontiguous legislation that does not mesh together, and is often in conflict with itself.
RECALLING the layout of the regional government as entirely insular such that major changes in law and policy direction are largely subject to political games between disparate factions.
LAMPOONING the lack of codified election laws which results in the parameters of elections being based on whatever the Viceroy feels like at that time.
FLABBERGASTED that the Magisterium is an exclusive club of nations waiting to join an even more exclusive club of nations as Viziers and all actions taken are incentivised to be absolutely self serving.
SHOCKED at the Conclave for having no term limits on six month long terms, and has the ability to remove any Vizier or even the Delegate from office if they decide that they do not like them.
DISMAYED that the only process for removing oligarchic Viziers is by the gang of Arbiters, and only for “absence or high crimes,” taking the voice away from the people.
WORRIED that the East Pacific Police Service, the fact finder and key factor in justice in the region, is essentially under the control of the Viceroy of the Conclave, an unelected offsite elite.
MYSTIFIED at the endorsement cap beinf constructed to exclude the average nation, and encourage membership in the forum elite.
CONFUSED at the lack of defined consequences for illegal actions taken by the Delegate, or indeed many members of the regional government as the law demands that people should act a particular way, but does not include any recourse or punishments for not acting that way.
IRATE at the Concordat for trying much too hard to be the United States Constitution whoch forces things that don’t make any sense in the context of NationStates.
OFFENDED that the Concordat claims to appoint the delegate as the head of the region when, in fact, game mechanics do this and the concordat simply accepts this inevitable outcome.
CRITICISING the Concordat for attempting to establish and protect an oligarchical order through the processes surrounding viziers.
IRRITATED at the clause in The Endorsement Caps Act regarding Border Control for Viziers is ambiguously worded where the letter of the law states that Viziers are only entitled to Border Control when there is an ejection order, but the Conclave somehow ruled otherwise.
HOSTILE at the Conclave because it is a bureaucratic farce which creates the illusion of control by the Magisterium, where it really creates control for the oligarchy and has no legal oversight.
REMEMBERING that the role of the Vizier is largely irrelevant to game mechanics of 2019 and no effort has been made to rectify this.
TROUBLED that the East Pacific Police Service is empowered to conduct investigations for the Conclave, but there is nothing to compel those under investigation to respond.
CONCERNED that Citizenship applications are suspended during elections, which is an archaic way of handling that issue as it only serves to confuse new members to the forums.
BOTHERED that the Concordat and other laws are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors unbecoming of foundational documents of a government, and have gone uncorrected for all this time.
DISTURBED that the Magisterium may enter a “closed session,” hidden from the people at any time they wish.
UPSET at the Concordat stating “All rights not in this Concordat described or reserved to the government shall remain in the hands of the individual nations,” despite the fact that there are several things hidden within largely unread orders and policies that restrict the freedoms of nations.
DISTRESSED that the Viziers have the ability to remove the Delegate at any time, and replace them with one of their own by a vote of the Magisterium, instead of all the people.
RATTLED that the Viceroy’s Election Commission does not have its procedures and rules legally outlined, allowing for abuses that can range from election fraud, to discounting legal votes.
RUFFLED that the Viceroy’s Election Commission has to be approached first before the Conclave and can circumvent any challenge to an election because of this, blocking the Conclave from ruling on election challenges.
PERTURBED that the Viceroy is capable of appointing/removing people from the Election Commission at their discretion, decreasing the transparency of the operations of regional elections and leaving no accountability for the performance and aptitude of those on the commission.
TORMENTED by Elections as they have no standard definition, so the way votes are counted, timelines, and processes can vary between elections on a sole individual’s whim.
DISTRAUGHT that in practice, the Conclave does not operate through unified rulings of a court, but instead by informal postings by the members of the Conclave that somehow result in judicial review of laws and actions by government officials.
ADDLED that Arbiters are mandated to have a six month tenure, but the law relies on their replacement or reappointment after that period as there is nothing binding that requires such a nomination.
CRAZED that the Viziers are permitted to remove a delegate for any reason based on an expedited vote of both that body and the Magisterium which allows for any manner of political plays by ambitious viziers, who are unaccountable to the average nation of The East Pacific.
DISCOMFORTED that at any time, the exclusionary Magisterium may change the parameters of citizenship, making it more difficult for the average nation to hold those in power to account.
HARASSED by the artificial barriers in place to citizenship, the Magisterium allows those in the forum elite to bypass these barriers with the concept of “honorable citizenship,” reserved for those who impress the few in power.
NONPLUSSED by the initial ratification of the Concordat, the entire region was polled as to their approval of it but, since then, changes have been made exclusively by the forum elite.
FRUSTRATED that the endorsement cap, as currently established, hoards influence for the cabal, and keeps it from the rest of the nations in The East Pacific.
ALARMED that the executive ministers of the region are appointed with minimum levels of accountability. Nations at large have no voice in the conduct of these ministers.
BAFFLED at the legal structure of the East Pacific Sovereign Army as it is extremely limiting and prevents a wider possibility of policy options for the entire region.
DUMBFOUNDED that the East Pacific Police Service as it currently exists is a political tool for those seeking to take down other members as a piece of self serving kabuki theatre, with no salience to regional policy and goals.
STUMPED that the definitions of crimes are nebulous, and have little genuine connection to the rest of the code of laws.
PARALYZED that the “Identity Act” repeals a law stating that The East Pacific is a defender region, but the extreme limits on the East Pacific Sovereign Army in the curia act keep it this way in practice which limits the region’s foreign policy range.
STUNNED that there is a broad set of laws against the overthrow of The East Pacific, but very few ways to prevent abuse from the top down, encouraging an oligarchic state.
BEMUSED by the crimes laid out in the “Treason Act” all have to do with generally the same activities, with minor variations between them.
PERPLEXED that the Viziers have no term limits and no reconfirmation, meaning that they have absolutely no accountability to the nations of the region.
BALKING that there is no way to remove Viziers from office, except for by decree by a similar oligarchic body in the Conclave.
RECOILING because the “Endorsement Caps Act” requires minimal effort by the government to justify a summary ejection or banning from the region of any nation within their parameters.
SHIRKED at the Hall of Heroes as it is a moribund institution that serves to glorify the longest serving members of the forum elite.
SHUNNING the many parts of law that are hidden within various dictums, screeds, and standing orders that are all somehow considered legal documents despite the absolute absurdity of this being highlighted by a 90 page volume covering all aspects of The East Pacific’s law as if the law is that expansive and complex, it will be almost impossible to master and interpret correctly, even by the vaunted Arbiters which serves the objectives of the forum elite who seek to control the region with such byzantine processes.
ACONOWLEDGING that this is 50 theses short, Martin.
ASSERTING that a new concordat be instituted.
HEREBY DECLARES that we, the assembled Citizens of the East Pacific, need a more prosperous and perfect region and do hereby establish a New Concordat of the East Pacific.
Article A: Executive
Section 1) This Concordat does hereby invest executive authority in a Delegate of the East Pacific and does appoint the Delegate the executor of this Concordat and any subsequent laws passed by the Magisterium.
Section 2) The Delegate of the East Pacific shall be a Citizen elected for a term of four months by a vote of the Citizens of the East Pacific. [2013 Am 4]
Section 3) The Delegate shall eject and/or banish nations from the region members who have committed a summary offense or have been convicted of an indictable offense by the Conclave, for a prescribed period of time. [2014 Am 2, §1]
Section 4) The Delegate shall represent The East Pacific to other regions and organizations as Head of State, for such things as the construction of embassies, and the negotiation of treaties. [2014 Am 2, §1]
Section 5) The Delegate shall nominate citizens to serve as Viziers, and Arbiters. [2014 Am 2, §1]
Section 6) The Delegate may appoint Ministers to perform any of the duties of the Delegate or to advise the Delegate
Section 7) The Delegate of the East Pacific shall not serve concurrently as a Magister, Arbiter, or Vizier.
Section 8) The Delegate of the East Pacific may order a Vizier to assume the Delegacy temporarily in order to provide for the security of the region. The Delegate may retake the Delegacy at any time after that point.
Section 9) An individual that has assumed the Delegacy through a means other than that provided for by this Concordat shall not be recognized by the government as Delegate.
Article B: Legislative
Section 1) This Concordat does hereby invest legislative authority in a Magisterium, which shall be the sole legislature in the region.
Section 2) Citizens wishing to become Magisters must follow the method prescribed in the standing orders of the Magisterium. [2013 Am 2]
Section 3) Magisters will elect among themselves a Provost every three months, outlined in the Standing Orders. This process is to be orchestrated by the previous provost or a representative thereof. The provost shall preside over the Magisterium’s meetings, represent it to the Executive and Judiciary, and keep a record of the laws of the East Pacific. [2013 Am 1, §2]
Section 4) A Magister may be removed by the Magisterium by any method outlined in the Standing Orders of the Magisterium. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 5) The Magisterium shall pass laws by majority vote. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 6) The Delegate shall have the power to veto any law passed by the Magisterium. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 7) The Magisterium shall have the power to override a veto by a 3/4 vote. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 8) If the Delegate does not veto a law passed by the Magisterium within ten days, it shall be enacted. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 9) The Magisterium may ratify by majority vote a declaration of war or treaty submitted by the Delegate. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 10) The Magisterium may appoint Arbiters nominated by the Delegate by majority vote. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 11) The Magisterium may appoint for a life term Viziers nominated by the Delegate by a 2/3 vote. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 12) The Magisterium may remove an Arbiter by a 3/4 vote, or the Delegate or a Magister by a 2/3 vote for absence or high crimes. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 13) 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. [2013 Am 1, §3] and [2016 Am 1]
Section 14) A Magister may not serve concurrently as Delegate or Arbiter. [2013 Am 1, §3]
Section 15) The Magisterium shall meet in open session except when it is agreed by majority vote that a closed session is necessary. [2013 Am 5]
Section 16) Each time a Magister votes, they must also explicitly supply their WA nation in the same post. [2013 Am 1, §6]
Article C: Judicial
Section 1) This Concordat does hereby invest judicial power in the Conclave, which shall be the sole interpreter of this Concordat and the judge and jury of indicted citizens. [2014 Am 2, §2]
Section 2) The Conclave shall be composed of four Arbiters. [2014 Am 1]
Section 3) An Arbiter shall not serve concurrently as a Magister or the Delegate.
Section 4) The Arbiters shall elect from amongst themselves for a term of six months a Viceroy, who shall oversee the proceedings of the Conclave and administrate all elections in the East Pacific and represent the Conclave to the Magisterium and the Delegate.
Section 5) The Conclave may rule on the actions of the Delegate or laws passed by the Magisterium and nullify and prohibit any which are contrary to this Concordat.
Section 6) The Conclave may judge the actions of any nation in the East Pacific for violation of this Concordat and indictable offenses according to the laws of the East Pacific and sentence those found guilty. [2014 Am 2, §2]
Section 7) Trials in the Conclave shall be in open session.
Section 8) The Conclave may remove a Vizier by 2/3 vote for absence or high crimes or a Magister by majority vote. [2013 Am 1, §7]
Section 9) Arbiters are appointed for six month tenure. Arbiters shall then retain their seat after their term until a citizen is nominated to replace them. [2014 Am 1]
Section 10) An Arbiter may be reappointed when their term ends. There is no limit on the number of terms an Arbiter may serve. [2014 Am 1 & 2016 Am 2 §2]
Section 11) In the court proceedings of the Conclave concerning final decisions, the total number of votes cast may not exceed 3. The Standing Orders of the Conclave shall determine which of the four Arbiters shall cast these votes in any circumstance, each of whom may only cast one vote. [2014 Am 1 and 2016 Am 2 §2]
Article D: Viziers
Section 1) This Concordat does hereby invest the power of regional defense to the Viziers.
Section 2) The Viziers shall be charged with removing from power any Delegate removed by the Magisterium or any individual that has illegally seized the Delegacy.
Section 3) The Viziers may temporarily remove the Delegate if the majority of Viziers believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the Delegate has acted to destroy this Concordat. This temporary removal must be confirmed within seventy-two hours by a 2/3 vote of the Magisterium or a decision by the Conclave. If the temporary removal by the Viziers is not confirmed, the delegate must be reinstated. If the temporary removal is confirmed, the Magisterium shall determine if the removal is permanent as required by Article B, Section 12. If the Magisterium does not remove the delegate, the delegate shall be reinstated.
Section 4) Upon confirmation of a temporary removal under Article D, Section 3, the Vizier which replaces the Delegate shall become Acting Delegate for the remainder of the temporary removal, or until another Vizier is chosen as Acting Delegate by the Magsiterium.
Article E: Citizenship
Section 1) A Citizen of the East Pacific is a resident of the East Pacific that has ratified this Concordat and has fulfilled any additional requirements for naturalization as may be codified into law.
Section 2) Residents that are denied Citizenship may file an appeal with the Conclave.
Section 3) The Magisterium may, by majority vote, define additional requirements for obtaining Citizenship within the East Pacific.
Section 4) Section 1 notwithstanding, the Magisterium may by majority vote grant honorable Citizenship to any individual, and that individual shall be considered a Citizen thereafter. The Magisterium may by three-fourths majority vote revoke honorable Citizenship from a holder of honorable Citizenship. Revocation of honorable Citizenship does not infringe on the rights and abilities of the individual to acquire Citizenship under Section 1. [2015 Amendment 1]
Section 3) The Conclave led by the Viceroy shall be charged with overseeing the naturalization process and maintaining a record of all citizens.
Article F: Rights of Citizens
Section 1) Each citizen shall have the right to free speech and the government shall take no action to limit this except when a citizen is determined to be acting deliberately to cause a public nuisance by the Conclave.
Section 2) Each nation shall have the power to make such alliances as it sees fit, so long as these alliances do not act against the East Pacific, nor violate this Concordat.
Section 3) Each citizen shall have the right to a swift and impartial trial by the Conclave if action is taken against them by the regional authorities.
Section 4) No citizen shall be tried twice for the same offense.
Section 5) No citizen shall be forced to incriminate itself.
Section 6) Each citizen shall have the right to legal counsel in a trial before the Conclave.
Section 7) Each nation may enter and leave the region freely, unless that nation is convicted of a crime by the Conclave. Citizens shall upon leaving the region surrender any governmental roles outlined in this Concordat and unless granted honorable citizenship may not hold such roles until they return.
Section 8) Each citizen shall be free to serve in any office in the East Pacific but no nation shall be granted a title of nobility by the government of the East Pacific, nor will such titles granted outside the East Pacific be favored above that of Citizen of the East Pacific. [2014 Am 5]
Section 9) All rights not in this Concordat described or reserved to the government shall remain in the hands of the individual nations.
Article G: Enactment and Amendment
Section 1) This Concordat shall take effect following a simple majority ratification vote of nations of The East Pacific publicly on the offsite forums, to be overseen by the Elders.
Section 2) The East Pacific Elders shall oversee the first elections for Delegate and Magisterium following the successful completion of the ratification process. This voting shall take place publicly on the offsite forums. The Elders shall cease to function thereafter.
Section 3) The Delegate shall have the authority to amend this Concordat. The amendment will be presented to the World Assembly nations of The East Pacific for a simple majority vote.
Section 4) Any changes made to the Concordat shall result in a new citizenship topic started with the amended Concordat in it. The former citizenship thread will be linked in that first post. [2013 Am 1, §8]