Neualtenburg Constitution Wiki

This thread contains these instructions and a working copy of the city's Constitution. The Constitution will be modified as we decide upon changes in other threads. If a modification was agreed upon, post it here and I will incorporate it into the Constitution and then delete the notification thread.

~Ulrika~

The constitution is posted as code for now to avoid losing the indentation without having to go through the trouble of adding lists. When referring to the Constitution, please refer to the Article and Section names not just the numbers, as the numbering is subject to change. All recent changes are shown in blue.

Version: 2.2
Modified: 2005-08-08 20:14 PST

Preamble

  All branches of the government are bound to serve the public before
  themselves and to uphold the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, 
  Founding Philosophy, Constitution, local laws, the SL ToS, and Community 
  Standards without exception.
    
   
    
Article I - The Representative Branch

  Section 1 - The Representative Assembly

    The Representative Assembly (RA) is a body of democratically
    elected factions which represent different ideological views
    of its citizens.  Its governmental role is to pass laws and
    its service role is to promote the city and perform long-term
    planning.

  Section 2 - The Representative Assembly Body

    Representative seats are chosen by means of the Sainte-Laguë 
    method using scores generated by Borda-count ranked votes 
    cast by citizens.  The number of representative seats in the RA 
    is equal to 10% of the population or seven whichever is greater.  
    Each faction controls their seats and may replace members or fill 
    seats due to vacancies as they see fit.  Each seat receives a 
    single vote.

  Section 3 - The Representative Assembly Leader

    The Leader of the RA is the head of the faction which receives the
    largest number of representative seats in the RA.  In the event of
    a tie, the faction with the largest score of the two becomes the
    leader of the RA.

  Section 4 - Proceedings
    
    The RA will convene at least once per week.  The RA may determine
    the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly 
    behavior and with the concurrence of two-thirds expel a disruptive
    member from a session.
  
  Section 5 - Journal
    
    The RA shall keep and publish a journal of its proceedings. The
    individual votes of RA members shall be entered in the journal.
    Parts of the journal that are deemed secret by a 2/3 majority and 
    with concurrence of the Philosophic branch will not be published.

    Secret journal entries may only be deemed secret if they prevent
    the exploitation of the city and citizens from external threats.
    All secret journal entries will have an expiration date at which
    time they will be voted upon again by the RA and verified
    as constitutional by the Philosophic branch.
  
  Section 6 - Legislative Process and Veto
    
    A vote in the RA is a simple majority vote of representative seats.  
    Constitutional amendments require a 2/3 vote.
    
    Final ratification of law is performed by the Philosophic branch, 
    which can veto a bill or resubmit a modified bill for vote, if it
    conflicts with the Constitution.
    
    The Artisanal branch may veto a revenue bill or resubmit a modified
    revenue bill for vote.
  
  Section 7 - Powers of the RA
    
    In regards to the Artisanal branch: 
      - The RA sets taxation rate and the city budget. 
      - The RA can seek impeachment of members of the Artisanal 
        branch for failing to support the city fiscally.
      - The leader of the RA sits as the leader of the Artisanal branch
        if the Artisanal branch seeks to impeach a member of the
        Philosophic branch.
      - The RA can override an Artisanal veto with a 2/3 vote
    
    In regards to the Philosophic branch: 
      - The RA provides a vote of confidence on candidates to the 
        Philosophic branch.  This vote is in regards to their perceived
        likelihood to uphold the constitution.
      - The RA can amend the constitution with a 2/3 vote.
      - The RA can seek impeachment of members of the Philosophic branch
        by initiating an impeachment hearing.
      - The leader of the RA sits as the leader of the Philosophic branch
        if the Philosophic branch seeks to impeach a member of the
        Artisanal branch.

  Section 8 - Limits on the RA

    No member of the RA may engage in what might be considered
    a conflict of interest such as accepting money or favors from 
    individuals or special-interest groups.



Article II - The Artisanal Branch

  Section 1 - Artisanal Collective

    The Artisanal Collective (AC) is group of productive citizens
    who provide revenue through sales and infrastructure support.
    Its governmental role is to act as treasury and its service role
    is to provide goods and infrastructure.

  Section 2 - Artisanal Collective Body

    The AC is open to all participant citizens provided they create goods 
    and services for the city.  The collective is a four-tier system of 
    apprentices, journeymen, masters, and a guild master.  Site specific 
    names may be substituted provided roles remain the same.

  Section 3 - Artisanal Collective Leader

    Every election cycle the AC leader or guild master is chosen from
    the pool of masters.  Votes of the masters are weighted by the
    size of their workshop.  A vote using scores generated 
    by Borda-count ranked votes are employed.

  Section 4 - Powers of the AC

    In regards to the Representative branch:
      - The leader of the AC may veto a revenue bill
        or resubmit a modified revenue bill for vote.
      - The leader of the AC can call an emergency session of the
        Representative branch.
      - The AC can seek impeachment of members of the Representative
        branch for failing to act with fiscal responsibility.
      - The leader of the AC sits as the leader of the Representative
        branch if the Representative branch seeks to impeach a member
        of the Philosophic branch.
  
    In regards to Philosophic branch:
      - The Leader of the AC provides a vote of confidence on candidates
        to the Philosophic branch.  This vote is in regards to their
        perceived likelihood to uphold the constitution.  
      - The Leader of the AC can seek impeachment of members of the 
        Philosophic branch for failing to uphold the constitution.
      - The leader of the AC sits as the leader of the Philosophic
        branch if the Philosophic branch seeks to impeach a member
        of the Representative branch.

  Section 5 - Limitations of the AC

    All goods produced by members of the AC remain property of the
    citizens and must remain with them if a member departs.
    
    Removal of an artisan of any rank can be achieved with a 2/3 vote
    of all members of the AC for any actions which endangers the goods
    or infrastructure of the organization.

  

Article III - The Philosophic Branch
    
  Section 1 - The Scientific Council 
    
    The Scientific Council (SC) is a self-selected meritocracy.  Its
    governmental role is to interpret and enforce the constitution.
    Its service roll is to resolve citizen disputes and moderate
    user forums and events.
    
  Section 2 - The Scientific Council Body
    
    The SC is comprised of Professors, Chairs, and a single SC Dean.
    Professors are chosen at the recommendation of current members
    based on demonstrated skill and desire to uphold the constitution
    without bias.  Chairs are nominated by the Dean and approved by a
    simple majority vote.  There are a maximum of nine Chairs available,
    with the Dean receiving one.  Members of the SC can be voted out
    with a 2/3 majority.
        
  Section 3 - The Scientific Council Leader
    
    The Dean is elected by a simple majority vote of all members.
  
  Section 4 - Proceedings
    
    The SC will convene at least once per month.  The SC may determine
    the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly
    behavior and with the concurrence of two-thirds expel a member
    from a session.
  
  Section 5 - Journal
    
    The SC shall keep and publish a journal of its proceedings.  All
    individual votes of the members of the SC on any question shall 
    always be entered in the journal, along with a statement regarding
    their personal philosophy on a given vote.
  
  Section 6 - Hearings, Trials, and Ratification
    
    Chairs of the SC will ratify bills passed by the Representative
    Assembly by simple majority vote and may resubmit the bill with
    modifications for vote.  Hearings and trials not involving
    government officials will be overseen by a single Professor
    and judgment will be decided by a jury of peers.
    
    All impeachment hearings will be performed in the Philosophic
    branch by the Chairs without a jury.  If a Chair is accused, that
    Chair will be excused for the duration of the hearing.  A member
    of the branch which is not calling for the impeachment hearing 
    will serve as Leader of the Philosophic branch during the hearing.
  
  Section 7 - Alternative Dispute Resolution
    
    SC members will provide alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the form
    of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration to citizens.
    
    In negotiation, participation is voluntary and there is no third
    party who either facilitates the resolution process or imposes 
    a resolution.  A member of the SC serves as a witness, recording
    the negotiation.
    
    In mediation, participation is voluntary (in that even though a court
    may mandate the process itself, the parties are not required to 
    reach a resolution), and a member of the SC acts as a third-party
    mediator, who facilitates the resolution process but does not impose
    a resolution on the parties.

    In arbitration, participation is ordinarily voluntary, and a member
    of the SC acts as a third party who both facilitates the resolution
    process and imposes a resolution.

  Section 8 - Powers of the SC

    Members of the Philosophic branch are not bound by a strict literal
    interpretation of the Bill of Rights, Founding Philosophy,
    Constitution, or the strict adherence to legal precedence.
    Rather members of the SC are required to draw upon their
    individual fields of expertise to solve complex social issues.

    In regards to the Representative branch:
      - The Philosophic branch may veto or rewrite and resubmit a bill
        or constitutional amendment if it is in violation of any of
        the founding documents.
      - The SC can seek impeachment of members of the Representative
        branch for violating the constitution or acting illegally.

    In regards to the Artisanal branch:
      - The SC can seek impeachment of members of the Artisanal
        branch for violating the constitution or acting illegally.

  Section 9 - Limitations of the SC

      Any member can be voted out with a 2/3 majority.


Article IV - Factions

  Section 1 - Requirements

    All factions must provide platforms which state their general
    philosophy and list of goals for the current and next term.
    Factions exist to promote the discussion of issues.  Faction
    platforms cannot violate or seek to violate the Constitution.
    Proposed Constitutional amendments may be listed. 
     
  Section 2 - The Faction Body

    All faction members must be Neualtenburg citizens and must 
    join a special SL group created for the sole purpose of running 
    for seats in the RA.  No citizen is required to be part of a faction
    and cannot be a member of more than one faction at the same 
    time.  

    Factions must have at least enough members to fill 1/2 of the 
    representative seats in the Representative Assembly.  Members 
    rank individuals in their own faction by means of the Borda count.  
    Individuals will learn their ranks and those winning seats will have
    their ranks revealed, otherwise all ranks will remain secret.  The
    faction vote will be taken at the same time citizens vote for factions.
    This ranking is used to select who will receive seats in the RA.
    If a member retires from the RA, a member with the next highest 
    ranking in the same faction is takes a seat on the RA.

  Section 3 - The Faction Leader

    Factions are lead by the faction leader (SL group officer) who 
    vouches for all members in public proceedings and is responsible 
    for their proper ethical conduct.  Faction leaders are those who 
    receive the highest ranking in the faction.  

  Section 4 - Campaigning

    Campaigning for factions can be done in-world only by means 
    of unscripted items that are placed in a predetermined central 
    location or by discourse between two avatars directly.  No spamming 
    of any kind is allowed, including the dropping of items on avatars 
    without permission, sending messages by group IM, or by shouting 
    messages to large groups.  Only two emails are allowed in a given 
    election by any faction or representative of a faction.



Article V - Election, Term, and Office

  Section 1 - Voting Frequency

    Officials in the Government are elected for a period of time 
    according to the general principles of democratic rotativity to 
    ensure proper representativity in a changing society, whose 
    duration will be fixed by the RA by passing appropriate laws.
    Elections for branches and factions are staggered equally
    throughout the term and held in the following order: Artisanal 
    branch, Philosophic branch, factions, and Representative branch.  
 
  Section 2 - Exclusivity

    Citizens may not serve simultaneously in the Representative and 
    Philosophic branch.  Members of the Representative Assembly and 
    the Scientific Council may be members of the Artisanal Collective
    but may not vote nor hold elected positions in the Artisanal branch.



Article VI - Citizenship

  Section 1 - Eligibility

    Citizens must be referred by two members of the group.  Citizens
    must agree to uphold the constitution.

  Section 2 - Discharge

    Citizens must give a one-week notice before leaving the group
    or removing land tiers.  In return the city guarantees a hearing
    and a one-week grace period before revoking citizenship.
    
  Section 3 - Departure Ultimatums

    Citizens are may not issue departure ultimatums to members of
    the government.  In return the government will not issue discharge 
    ultimatums to citizens.

Please do not post discussions here. This is our pseudowiki. Instead post discussions in this thread.

~Ulrika~

1. Version 2.1, 2005-08-08, Ulrika - Change log started.
   
2. Version 2.2, 2005-08-08, Ulrika - Clarified that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is our bill of rights.
   

~Ulrika~