Constitution of the Republic

[sanada]

Some proposals regarding the Constitution. These are my proposed fundamental Rights of any citizen of the Republic:

Fundamental Rights of the Citizens

of the Republic.

1. The Right of Free Will.

This clause ensures that every citizen of the republic is enlisted his own opinion and has the right to express it anywhere, anytime. Of course the only regulations which apply to this clause are the Decorum in every action (TWC rules) and the relativity of the place and subject discussed. As long as a citizen speaks his mind where and how it’s proper, he follows the Law of the Republic.

~1~

2. The Right of Equality in getting elected.

This clause is to ensure that every citizen running for office in the Republic will be given the equal chance to demonstrate his opinion, thoughts, accomplishments and promotion as all other candidates, thus have an equal chance in getting elected for the office he runs for. Every one who in foul means block a candidate from exercising his rights, will be punished as law defines.


~2~

3. The Right of “Clean” Elections.

This clause it to further the clause 2 and declares that it is the constitutional right of the citizens of the Republic to have clean elections, thus having the representation they like best. Anyone who acts against this clause both by fixing elections or by influencing others to vote in a fashion against their will, breaks the law and will be punished by the law.


~3~

4. The Right of Representation.

Each citizen of the Republic has the Right to be represented on elections by either himself or a senator that promotes his own opinions. No regulations can be imposed by law on what a senator can vote and what he cannot. Anyone promoting these malpractices shall be punished as law defines.


~4~

5. The Right to be gifted a clean trial and a representative to talk in favor of the accused.

Every citizen of the Republic has the Right of a swift and clean trial in any case where he is accused of misdeeds against the Constitution of the Republic. Further each accused can have any other citizen to talk in his favor during a trial (arbiter).


~5~

6. The right to meet and associate.

This clause is to ensure that anyone who wants can create a party to promote a cohesive pack of ideas. There will be regulations though on how an association works, all stated in the proper clause “political parties”.

The Republic needs a constitution! Thanks to Gracchvs, we already have the fundamental principles of a constitution - things such as laws, restrictions, punishments, and any other discussion along these lines should be discussed here, so we can make You Are the Senate #2 the best You Are the Senate yet

[Kritias]

Elections, Alliances, Political Factions and Enemies of the Republic.

A. the new voting system:

Those that run from now on, upon elections victory, will not be eligible to re-run for a considerable amount of time, allowing all members to run for every office due time. According to the position the senators have achieved, the time were they will be considered non-eligible to run will differ. That means:

Senior Consul:Two weeks abstaining from high office,eligible for Tribune.

Junior Consul:Two weeks abstaining from high office,eligible for Tribune.

Tribune of Plebeians: 1 week abstaining from elections,no option for second tribune election.

In the case of elections defeat, the senators can retry when they please(NO RESTRICTIONS).

B. Political Factions.

From now on the factions, if the come in existence later on will be unions of like minded senators. That means that all senators who join a Party may have a same perspective of an issue for ex. the taxes and therefore vote in a negative or positive way when a motion for taxes is put on vote. There will be no more all-round factions, about the life of the Republic, claiming the best of Rome or the perseverance of the Republic to be their doing. From now on the factions will be cause-specific. It goes without saying that the factions are not there to recruit votes on elections as we did thus far but to support a common set of ideas of the senators. In elections time, the faction members are forbidden by law to support each other to get office, except the case where either a senator has pledged to be ally with the one he votes for or the case where the senator voting expects nothing back(that means not beeing voted by the senator in question in these or next elections.To avoid any case where the vote is totally coincidental,we shall adjudicate the case.)

C. Alliances

All alliances (the vote me – vote you tactics) between senators must be demonstrated within the senate house and ratified by the public acceptance of those that are allies. The ratified alliances cannot grow to a number of more than 5 senators in one alliance with no option for cooperation between two alliances of senators, so that even with the alliance, no one will be able to win majority by themselves.Also the ratified alliances will have to be broken after a period of two elections and forbidden to re open for a week. Any senator who continues the malpractices of private dealings (through Xfire and PMs) must be punished by the law; his “accomplice” – him, who the senator proposes the alliance to, has the sacred duty to inform the senate of this private offer. If he does not do that, and in the elections shows that he supported the senator in question and been supported back on this or the next elections, without being his ally, both shall face trial for treason against the Republic and be banned from elections for a considerable amount of time. The case where a senator votes for an other without a vote or something in return will not be considered treason against the Republic.

D. Enemy of the State.

If a senator is believed that he corrupts the elections in any way, may that be by influencing or bribing for votes, he can face prosecution by any other Senator. Of course, in order to avoid the misuse or abuse of this act, the accusator must have firm evidence of the corruption. If he does have them, then he will open an inquiry were he will accuse the senator in question of being enemy of the state. If found guilty, he will be banned from the elections for a period of 1 - 3 months and his character will be considered disgraced.The enemy of the state accusation trials will be adjudicated by Winter and Sanada with the assistance of the active Censor.

[sanada]

PUNISHMENTS

A Senator found guilty of any illegal acts can be punished in several different ways, depending on the severity, duration and influence of the act the punishment may be severe or minor.

What is classified as an illegal act though?

• anything that goes against the TWC Rules (however this is not a matter that this AAR will take part in though)
• vote fixing (multiple accounts etc)
• illegal alliances
• not handing in the save at the end of a term

anything else senators?

[Kritias]

Since here we can discuss all things in furthering the Republic and organizing our ways I revive a proposal from Voltaire le Philosophe;

Edit - To further clarify my position, I'm stating that all official votes should be cast in poll threads. There are already elections being conducted in such fashion, but I feel they're just a portion, not the whole of Senatorial decisions. This is not an official measure proposition, but a technical suggestion.

So,what do you think?Shall we ask for a subforum were we can keep the actual votes on the motions?That way we can organize better the Republic,plus,we can have all motions voted upon without having the PS constantly reminding in the rp thread of the open votes...I propose a minimum of 3 days open polls to vote on every subject.What do you think senators?

[Winter]

Judges in all Criminal Trials shall consist of the Praetors of the Senate (Winter, Sanada, Gracchus) and the Censor (An idea!)


7. Protection from unwarranted search and seizure.

Any and all investigations into any crime must be approved by a majority vote of the Senate Praetors (Winter, Sanada, Gracchus). Any infraction on this right is punishable by a trial and barring from political office.

^(to be added to fundamental rights)^

Punishments

1. Vote fixing
A formal inquiry will be made in the form of a senate trial by the Senate Judges. If the accused is found guilty, punishment may range from barring for one term from political office and voting, to suspension from the senate for a time determined by the Judges.

2. Illegal alliances.
A formal inquiry, in the form of a senate trial, will be held by the Judges of the Senate. If the accused are found guilty, then their alliance will be forcibly broken, and they may be suspended for a period of time determined by the judges. They may also be barred from high office.

What do you think?

[Kritias]

Good call...I agree fully!

[sanada]

Me too, now other things illegal within the senate...

With Holding the Save Game on purpose, or deliberately destroying the save game/the republic.

The Punishment should be a ban on voting on all matters for two weeks and, been banned from running for Senior Consul for a period of 6 weeks, or indefinitely.

Of course the punishment is decided by the Consul and Judges.

[Winter]

So a basic suspension and ban from high office then? Why not have the option of a complete ban from the senate open, if we know the consul who does this intended to do it, i.e. at least three credible witnesses?

Yes I know there cannot be literal witnesses, but he may tell someone through xfire or pm. For some reason.

[sanada]

I don't think it is within our power to completely ban someone from a forum, unless you mean banning them from running for any offices?

You get some right nutters on the Internet, I would not be surprised

[Winter]

I mean no offices and no voting. Of course this may be repealed for good behavior. This brings another topic to my mind, if we have these new punishments for vote rigging, wouldn't we then be obliged to invite 68 powers back to the senate?

[sanada]

That would be a tangible option, I agree to it

Technically we never asked him to leave, he went before we could draw to a conclusion.

I would invite him back, he hasn't bothered us since

[Kritias]

I don't think an invitation is in order...He did leave on his own account,as far as i remember we have said it was ok to stay in the senate as long as he destroyed the twin accounts. He can come back if he likes but without his bros...

[sanada]

Haha...I thought they were distant cousins of his uncle?

[Kritias]

Huh? He said that at least one was his brother and the other lived next to them or something... Never mind,leaving his "whatevertheyaretohim" out of the senate.If we take them\him back who will guarantee that they\he will not fix elections again?

[Winter]

Who's to guarantee any of the senate criminals wont re-offend? We have to give everyone a chance.

[Kritias]

Yes you are probably right...I agree with you.

[sanada]

Once YAS is up and running again I will let him know, of course he will have strict sanctions imposed on him

I am going to take my leave now!

Good night Senators!

[Paul d]

Once YAS is up and running again I will let him know, of course he will have strict sanctions imposed on him

I am going to take my leave now!

Good night Senators!

Absolutely not. No quoting someone from an instant messenger without their knowledge or permission please.

Winter

[Kritias]

Anyone with ideas about offices descriptions,rights,what the government can\cannot do etc. post here and I shall implement it asap,as long as other senators agree also.

Skandranon,this was just a proposal to begin with,not the full constitution...

[♔Jean-Luc Picard♔]

we need to make sure the definition of each position's (ex tribune, the consuls) powers are clearly defined. also we need to say what the senate can and can not control/change.

Aquilinus

EDIT: what is above is technically a bill of rights, not a constitution. it needs to define what the government can and can't do and who can do what.