A Guide to the Curia

Preface

First of all, welcome to the Curia on behalf of Shyam , The Sundance Kid , and Pontifex, (edited by Hotspur and Soulghast ). It is a special and unique place that serves the site in a huge way. Of course, such a body is multi-faceted and at times difficult if not impossible to understand. In this guide we, the authors, have consolidated most of what you need to know in a handy guide that is ready to use. It is our hope that use of this guide will result in a deeper understanding of the Curia in general and it’s role on the site.

Citizenship is not to be taken lightly. In essence, citizens are valued for their contributions and, in being valued, should act in a mature and responsible fashion - members aspire for your special role. Participate in the votes, propose an idea, be an active part of it. Don’t hesitate to propose something simply because you are afraid of making an error. Others will help.

Contents:
Subfora
Citizen Classifications
Curial Offices
Special Citizen Acknowledgements
Legal Terms
Awards and Recognitions
Proposing a Bill

Subfora

The Curia is divided into 4 separate sections or subforums (pl. subfora, for us clever citizens). Each one handles a different aspect of running the site and overseeing the votes and bills proposed by the citizens.

The Prothalamos is the subforum where bills are put forward for discussion with fellow citizens. Discussions which are widely supported in these debate threads will then be moved to a separate vote thread in Curia Vote forum, while any continuing discussion stays strictly in the Prothalamos. You can indicate which way you are voting; the only restriction being public (non-Curial) support for a proposal, e.g. in sigs.

The Curia Vote is where all proposals from the Prothalamos are moved to a vote (by the Curator) if they are successfully supported i.e. if the discussion is worthy enough to engage the Curia in enough support.

The Tabularium is where concluded votes end up -- regardless of whether they passed or failed. These are freely accessible to anyone; a form of archive for you to see if someone else has already posted your proposal, or to site precedent on something that supports your proposal.

The Consilium de Civitate forum is where the CdeC Councillor deliberations take place. Only the Citizen Antechamber, where successful citizenship votes are stored, is visible to Citizens.

Committees belong in the final subforum of the Curia; a place where all Curia-mandated groups may convene to discuss and elaborate on their respective plans for the site. For example, if a Curia Vote passes for a committee to be created to review and refine the ToS, it will gain its own subforum within the Curial Committees subforum, where the elected members may thus review the ToS with little interruption by other sections of the site.

Citizen Classifications

You by now should know all about the process of becoming a citizen as you just went through the process. Now that you are a citizen, you are able to do things that you previously weren’t able to do. The benefits of each classification are the same, they are merely ways to distinguish citizens and honor them for their type of contribution to the site. (as there are many ways to contribute)

The benefits of each are the same and include:

· The beloved custom user title
· Ability to post and vote in the Curia
· Ability to post in the Symposium
· Ability to run for Curial Office
· Ability to become a Moderator

Citizen: The citizen is the basic unit of the Curia, recognized for his contributions to the site and honored with the title and badge. Citizens are usually all around good posters and involved with the community. Some may even be involved with modding TW games.

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Civitate: A civitate is a class of citizen that is recognized for his contributions to the site in the form of debating and constructive posting. Many civitates post regularly in the Discussion and Debate forums (D&D) and are known for their contributions by debating.

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Artifex: An artifex is a citizen recognized for being involved in modding TW games. An artifex is more than likely part of a modding team or has created a mini-mod.

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Upon gaining citizenship citizens may choose what they would like to be recognized as.

Curial Offices

Within the Curia there are several offices for which a citizen can run. These include the CdeC, Curator, and Magistrate In order to run for these positions, one must have been a citizen for three months and no active warnings, and for the Magistrate position, must have received no warnings in the past 12 months.

The Consilium de Civitate is a group of 12 citizens elected by the Curia to handle citizen disciplinary actions and promotions to citizenship.

A member nominated for citizenship must achieve two-thirds of the vote or higher in his/her favor to be awarded citizenship.

In the case of a citizen receiving an infraction, his or her case is referred to the CdeC for disciplinary measure. In essence, the CdeC is responsible for additional disciplinary measures for citizens.

The initial vote determines if the CdeC will dismiss the case or take further action. If the body decides to take further action, the following disciplinary measures may be taken:

· Censure
· Suspension of rank for 1 week
· Suspension of rank for 2 weeks
· Suspension of rank for 1 month
· Suspension of rank for 2 months
· Permanent Removal of Rank

The Curator is an elected Curial official that acts as a local moderator in the Curia. The responsibilities include but are not limited to putting up votes, posting vote results in their respective forums, and casting a tie-breaker vote in CdeC votes. It is a work intensive position and crucial for the productivity of the Curia. The Curator, in a sense, is the moderator of the Curia. The Curator has the power to veto, or cancel, any CdeC decision. The Curator is also responsible for interpreting the Constitution in cases where direction is unclear.

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Any citizen is eligible to run for these positions (unless censured). Each Curial Office has a term of three months. If a Curial Officer is VonC’ed or found to be too inactive to carry out his or her duties, they may be removed and the Curator would then post new elections to fill the position.

Special Citizen Acknowledgements

Divus: the Divus is widely considered to be one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a member of TWC. In order to become a Divus:

·The nominee must be supported by ¾ vote of the CdeC
·The nominee must have served as a site administrator
·The nominee cannot be nominated within three months upon resigning as an administrator

Any citizen can nominate another citizen for the award.

The Curator will create a discussion thread on the matter and the legitimacy of the citizen will be brought to light. After a three day period the discussion will be brought to a vote and a 2/3 majority is needed to pass.

Should the nominee fail, he shall become eligible for re-nomination in six months time.

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Opifex: An opifex is a rank conferred upon a citizen that is to be recognized for his contributions to the TW sections of the board (By modding games, etc.) Any citizen can be nominated for the position but the nominations must be seconded by a member of the CdeC. Voting takes place for one week and a 2/3 majority is needed for the vote to pass.

If the vote does not pass, the citizen will be eligible for re-nomination in three months.

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Phalera: Phalera is a rank awarded to citizens for their massive contributions to the CC part of the forum. The voting process is identical to that of an opifex requiring support of a CdeC member and a 2/3 non-abstaining majority of the votes.

If he fails he can be renominated in three months time.
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Legal Terms

The Total War Center uses many 'legal' terms that are uncommon in everyday speech or that may and often prove confusing to the new Curia-user. Some are abbreviations, such as the 'CdeC', which is explained above, but the others are:

VonC -- The 'Vote of No Confidence'; this is put forward in the Curia Main by a citizen who has become disillusioned or dubious about the skill, vision or acumen of any of the Speaker of the House, the Curator, Tribunal Judges, Staff Officers (not technical staff) or a member of the CdeC. It will go to a vote, which, if won, will remove that person from office.

Veto -- The Veto is used in very rare circumstances. One instance is when a citizen applies for a certain Curial position. If Hexagon decides that said citizen is technically eligible for the position (has the correct requirements) but is deemed unfit for said position, s/he can be vetoed. Similarly, in the CdeC, if a candidate is deemed unfit for citizenship, s/he can be vetoed by the Curator.

Awards and Recognitions

Each award has three degrees of worth, these are bronze (for serving in a position for three months), silver (for serving in a position for six months) and gold (for serving in a position for twelve months or more.

Moderator’s Mace: A moderator’s Mace is awarded at the discretion of the Chief of Moderation to Moderators who actively moderate the site for three to twelve months.
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Scribe’s Quill: The Scribe’s Squill is awarded to members who serve the site by contributing to the general content. (citizenship is not a requirement of this award) The recipient could have served the site through contributing to the Helios, Eagle Standard or the Scriptorium (by serving as a Librarian)

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Technician’s Screwdriver: Awarded to those who serve the site in a technical manner at the discretion of the chief technician.
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Professor’s Robes: Successfully instruct and carry outa course in the TWC university. Awarded at the discretion of the University Chancellor.
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Graduate’s Diploma: Awarded to any member that completes a University course. This award is divided into three parts:[/color]

Bachelor’s degree: completion of one course

Master’s Degree: completion of two courses

Doctorate: completion of three or more courses

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Asterix Loincloth: (must be a citizen) the nominee must have displayed a purity of mind and spirit on TWC and have a sense of humor and pursue good times for all members. The nomination must be seconded by a member of the CdeC. Voting lasts for one week and a 2/3 majority is needed to pass. In the event of a failure, the member is eligible for re-nomination in three months.

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Wiki Contributor Medal: Awarded by the Chief of Moderation after consultation with the Wiki Editor, this medal is handed out to those who contribute to the Wiki.

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Picture of the Week Medal: Awarded to winners of the POTW contest. Citizenship is not a requirement of this medal.

3-8 wins - bronze medal

9-14 wins - silver medal

15+ wins - gold medal

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Proposing a Bill

First of all, you need an idea, or something to either change or add, often to the Constitution. When you've got that idea, go to the Prothalamos. This is where your proposal will be put to scrutiny, supported or opposed and discussed. You can find the Prothalamos on the Curia Main screen:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...opat/Curia.jpg

Once you've entered the Prothalamos, it'll be just like any other subforum. To propose something, just click New Topic:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...opat/Proth.jpg

As usual, it will come up with a New Topic screen:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...t/NewTopic.jpg

Now to write your proposal. Your topic title will depend on what type of proposal it is. There are three types of proposal, and these are as follows:

Amendment - this proposal plans to alter something in the Constitution already, e.g. renaming a Curial officer, or adding something entirely new to the Constitution, e.g. creating a new award.

Decision - this proposal is an idea for improving the Total War Center website, e.g. creating a new subforum or designing a new skin.

Medal - this proposal is for conferring a special award or medal. Find more info in the Curial Ranks section above.

For sake of example, I'm going to show you how to propose an Amendment, since they are most prominent. The proposal will be as follows:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...Amendment2.jpg

When proposing an Amendment, you have to find the corresponding article or area in the Constitution, and copy paste it into your thread. For example, if I wanted to alter Staff Moderators, I'd go to Article 2 of "The Executive" section to find where they are mentioned. Here is the area of the Constitution mentioned:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...Amendment3.jpg

Simply copy paste the text referring to your proposal. In my example, I'd copy paste the lower text box into my proposal. This text would accompany a summary of my proposal, and would be edited to what I would want it to look like. For example:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...Amendment5.jpg

The part I wanted to remove have been crossed out using the [DEL*][/DEL*] (minus the *s) tags and the replacement has been added using [INS*][/INS*] (minus the *s) tags. Once the proposal is added and discussed, generally it gains supporters. A proposal requires three citizen supporters. Edit in the names of your supporters into your original post (as above). Then, it goes to vote and voila, you've proposed something.

This has been your Curial Guide. If you've got anything to add or change, just PM myself or the acting Curator. Thanks again to _Pontifex_, The Sundance Kid and Hotspur.