Why Do We Have an Endorsement Cap?
In all of the Pacific feeder regions (The Pacific, The East Pacific, The South Pacific, The West Pacific, and The North Pacific), you’ll find an endorsement cap. This is basically a limit set on the number of endorsements a nation can accumulate. Some nations may or may not be allowed to surpass that number, but in general, most nations must abide by this cap or they may be ejected and/or banned from the region.
Why do we need a cap?
An endorsement cap ensures that the elected delegate of TEP remains in power and protects the region from invasion, coups, or any other harmful events that could befall our fair region. It’s a safeguard against attacks, in other words. Essentially, this cap prevents someone from surpassing the current elected delegate of TEP, removing our forum links from the World Factbook Entry, decreasing the effectiveness of our government, and banning / ejecting innocent nations from the region.
Nearly three years ago from the posting of this article, a group known as The Empire did just that and surpassed the then-delegate’s endorsement count, effectively couping the region and installing their policies while at the same time removing all power from TEP’s rightful government. TEP survived as a government-in-exile while the foreign group created frivolous laws and banned over two hundred nations from the region. When they were removed from the region, a new government emerged in TEP, the government we see before us.
Are endorsements a good thing?
Unless you’re a delegate or a vizier, you don’t really need them in all honesty. The author would like to note that it’s a common misconception that the number of endorsements is equal to power or prestige. This couldn’t be any more false. TEP is built on trust and acquaintanceship. If we see a nation quickly amass endorsements, that tends to shake our trust in that nation, slightly. As far as the game is concerned, all you really need are two endorsements, as that is the minimum number to submit a proposal to the World Assembly (WA). But it can be fun to collect a bit more than that.
I’m over the cap! What should I do?
Usually you’ll receive a telegram informing you that you’re over the cap. Our delegate is charged with ejecting and/or banning you from the region, but the http://theeastpacific.com/index.php?showtopic=6486 does not specifically state the manner in which this can be done. Some delegates may give you a few days to lower your endorsement count. Some delegates may give you less time. With that in mind, it’s best to avoid going over the cap. If you are over the cap, work to get below it. You can unendorse nations and/or send them a telegram asking them politely to uendorse you.
Is that oppression?
It really isn’t. It’s a law put in place to maintain order in the region and ensure our elected officials can do their jobs. Some laws are necessary. Imagine if the United States or any country had a law where the most popular person, and not the elected official, was president or ruler of the nation. Long story short, I doubt it’d be pretty.
Who can go over the cap?
As of the writing of this article, only three types of nations are allowed to go over the cap: the delegate, the viziers, and those in the secondary endorsement cap bracket. Viziers are those who help the delegate in case of an emergency. Secondary endorsement cap members are those who have served TEP over a period of time and have been considered for the higher-level endorsement cap. Both the Viziers and secondary endorsement cap members are appointed to their positions by the enacting delegate and, in the case of viziers, must be approved by the Magisterium.