• It is up to debate whether we want to exclude votes of citizens who join within an election cycle, so I have left that in above for us to discuss.
  
• There is also a provision to allow the court to decide whether a citizen on trial for a severe offense like treason or espionage, should be allowed an exclusion to vote.
  
• We probably want to also discuss what we want 'irreconcilable conflict of interest' to mean, as so far I have just put down standing for a position i.e. like if the Assembly Speaker decided to run for PM.
  
• Also I put the Delegate down as an option to select someone to officiate.
  

Quote:Section 5. Majority Instant-Run Off Voting

(1) Voters shall have as many voting choices as there are candidates in a majority instant-run-off election.

(2) Each simulated round of voting shall eliminate the least qualified candidate:

a. For the purposes of this Act, "simulated round" shall mean each round of voting according to the ranked choice of voters.
b. For the purposes of this Act, "least qualified candidate" shall mean the candidate that has the least number of votes.

(3) During each round of voting, the votes of the least qualified candidate shall be redistributed according to the ranked choice of voters.

(4) Simulated rounds of voting shall continue till a candidate receives the majority of votes as required by law for that elected position, unless a candidate:

a. Ceases to be a citizen of Lazarus and is thus determined illegible to run.
b. Rescinds their candidacy and is thus determined illegible to run.
c. Is excluded from an election by court judgement or ruling and is thus determined illegible to run.

(5) If a candidate in an election is determined is illegible to run, the election officiator may choose to:

a. Redistribute the votes of the illegible candidate according to the ranked choices of voters, and continue the election.
b. Re-open nominations and commence a new election, if they feel it is necessary for the fairness of the vote.

Quote:(2) If no candidate receives a majority of votes, as is determined by law for the elected position:

Quote:(1) The Assembly Speaker will officiate the election so long as they have no irreconcilable conflicts of interest:

b. For the purposes of this Act, "irreconcilable conflicts of interest" shall be defined as standing for a position during an election.

(2) If the Assembly Speaker finds themselves to have any irreconcilable conflicts of interest they may:

a. Have a Deputy Assembly Speaker officiate the election in their stead, unless they also have irreconcilable conflicts of interest.

(3) The Delegate when applicable, may appoint an officiator for the election, if the Assembly Speaker and the designated Deputy Assembly Speaker both have irreconcilable conflicts of interest.

Recently, there has been a lot of debate about expanding the Guard's operations. Currently the Guard is only allowed to raid Warzones and Fascists without official declarations of war. I think that, before we should talk about amends, we should agree on what we want the military to do, and, by extension, what we want our outward stance to be. This ties in with how we wish to approach the rest of NS. This could tie in with things such as our stance on the World Assembly, what stance we want to take against regions seeking diplomatic relations and what we want the military to be used for. 

Quote:Treaty of the Anti-Pacific Coalition

Preamble

The Anti-Pacific Coalition was formed to stand up against acts of aggression and subversion perpetrated against many regions, user-created and game-created alike, by the New Pacific Order. United in our resolve to continue combating any hostile acts by that regime, we, the signatories of this treaty, commit to collective defense in response to any act of aggression by the New Pacific Order against any other signatory. An attack by the New Pacific Order against one signatory will be considered an attack by the New Pacific Order against all signatories. We stand united and resolute in continued diplomatic opposition to the New Pacific Order, and against any threat that regime may pose to the sovereignty and stability of our regions.

Article I. Diplomatic Provisions

Diplomatic recognition

(1) The signatories recognize each other's legal governments as the legitimate governments of each other's respective regions.

(2) Diplomatic recognition will be applicable to the governments established by the constitutions or similarly binding legal documents in force in each signatory at the time this treaty was enacted, and any legally enacted successor governments.

Diplomatic restrictions

(3) The signatories will not maintain diplomatic, military, or cultural relations of any kind with the Pacific while it is governed by the New Pacific Order or any successor regime sanctioned by the New Pacific Order.

(4) The signatories' World Assembly Delegates will not vote to repeal Security Council Resolution 268: Condemn The Pacific while the Pacific is governed by the New Pacific Order or any successor regime sanctioned by the New Pacific Order.

(5) The signatories' World Assembly Delegates will not vote in favor of offensive measures against each other in the World Assembly Security Council, if such measures are sponsored by the New Pacific Order or any member of the New Pacific Order. Offensive measures include condemnation, involuntary liberation of each other's home regions, or involuntary liberation of third party regions occupied by each other's military forces.

Article II. Military Provisions

Non-aggression and mutual defense

(1) The signatories will not engage in military hostilities against each other's home regions. Participation of the signatories on opposite sides of a military engagement in a third party region will never be interpreted as a violation of this provision.

(2) To the extent practicable, the signatories will provide each other with defensive military assistance in the event of an attack on a signatory's home region by the New Pacific Order or any member of the New Pacific Order, provided such assistance is requested by the signatory's legitimate government.

Additional military cooperation

(3) The signatories may cooperate in executing joint military operations against the New Pacific Order, in the Pacific or in third party regions, when available and as consistent with each signatory's laws and policies.

Article III. Administrative Provisions

Administration of the Anti-Pacific Coalition

(1) Each signatory will designate a representative to the Anti-Pacific Coalition. Signatory representatives will be designated according to each signatory's laws and policies.

(2) Signatory representatives may, by absolute majority vote, designate a signatory citizen or equivalent member as Chief Organizer of the Anti-Pacific Coalition. Signatory representatives may dismiss the Chief Organizer by absolute majority vote.

(3) The Chief Organizer may appoint signatory citizens or equivalent members as additional Organizers to assist in organizing operations conducted by and through the Anti-Pacific Coalition, and may dismiss such Organizers. Appointment and dismissal of Organizers will be subject to approval by absolute majority vote of signatory representatives.

(4) Altino will be the Owner of the Anti-Pacific Coalition Discord server. Should Altino wish to transfer ownership, the new Owner will be designated by absolute majority vote of signatory representatives. Following such transfer, any future transfer will be to an Owner designated by absolute majority vote of signatory representatives. The Owner may designate additional server administrators and moderators and may dismiss such administrators and moderators.

Initial signatories and addition of signatories

(5) The initial signatories of this treaty will include all regions that have previously participated in the Anti-Pacific Coalition, have been invited to sign this treaty by the pre-treaty Organizers, and have legally enacted this treaty according to their laws and policies.

(6) Regions that do not meet the above criteria may be added as signatories if approved by a three-fifths vote of signatory representatives, conditional upon their legal enactment of this treaty according to their laws and policies.

Expulsion and withdrawal of signatories

(7) A signatory may be expelled from the Anti-Pacific Coalition if approved by a three-fifths vote of signatory representatives. The representative of the signatory subject to the expulsion vote may not vote in the expulsion vote.

(8) A signatory may withdraw from the Anti-Pacific Coalition upon legally repealing this treaty according to their laws and policies and providing seven days notice of withdrawal to the other signatories via the Anti-Pacific Coalition Discord server.

Amendment of this treaty

(9) An amendment to this treaty may be proposed by three-fifths vote of signatory representatives, at which time it will be referred to signatories for ratification. An amendment will be adopted if ratified by three-fifths of signatories according to each signatory's laws and policies, after which each remaining signatory will have 30 days to ratify the amendment or be considered to have automatically withdrawn from the Anti-Pacific Coalition.

(10) Official copies of this treaty will be maintained in public view by signatory representatives, and updated to reflect amendments.

List of signatories

(11) The following is a list of signatories, which will automatically be updated whenever a signatory is added, expelled, or withdraws:

Slaato of Dawn
Grater Tovakia of Lands End
DiRito-Opolis of Ridgefield
Kurczak Mielony of Conch Kingdom
Treadwellia of Lazarus

Quote:

Treaty of Fùhuó

Preamble

Desiring once more that there shall be lasting peace and friendship between Lazarus and The West Pacific, this treaty is declared to be agreed upon by the governments of both regions, broadening and rejoicing in both the present and future friendship between the two regions. Each region shall respect the independence, sovereignty, and principles of the other and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the other, working only toward the betterment of each.

Article I - Recognition of Sovereignty

A. The members of this treaty recognize the independence and sovereignty of the current government of each region and agree to recognize any legal government that follows.[/color]
B. The current and thus legal governments as of the time of the signing of this treaty are the Twelfth Mandate of Lazarus, ruling over Lazarus, and the Delegate of the West Pacific, ruling over the West Pacific, as per The Manners of Governance.
C. Both regions recognize that the sovereignty of each region is vested in the preferred system of each of the legal governments.
D. Both regions agree not to take up arms against one another, nor undertake any action that is aimed at the subversion of the legitimate government of either region.

Article II – Mutual Defense

A. Signatories of this treaty agree to provide defense for one another and may call on each other in times of crisis, or any other circumstance that is deemed a threat to the legal governments of either region.
B. Such defense is not limited in scope, and the regional governments of both regions may request any form of help that they feel is necessary in trying circumstances, which can include everything from a statement by the other regional government, to a call for military assistance.
C. A Request for military assistance may only be filed by the legal government of each region.
D. If one region makes what would be considered an unachievable demand of military resources from the other during a time of crisis, such as due to demanding more resources than can be reasonably fulfilled by the assisting region, then the assisting region may respectfully reject the request but may offer a counter negotiation of resources and act accordingly in a good faith effort to offer what aid can be given from its available resource reserves.
E. If one region comes into possession of intelligence that could put the other region at risk, such information must be reported to the other regional government’s officials as quickly as possible. Any information shared between the parties of this treaty will be kept confidential to the greatest capability of both regional governments, and such information will not be presented publicly unless the regions have both agreed.

Article III – Military Cooperation

A. Signatory regions shall not engage in military hostilities against each other. This includes direct military operations against each other's sovereign territories and engaging in military operations in assistance of a belligerent, opposing force of the other region.
B. Individual military operations do not need the approval of the other region as long as it does not violate Article III, A.
C. The signatories of this treaty agree to the principle of military cooperation, and agree to work together militarily to if they so wish it and if it is possible.
D. Both regions agree to recognize that the militaries of each regions are independent entities, protected under the right of sovereignty, and that they may engage each other on opposite sides of the battlefield in typical military gameplay; moreover, such engagements should not offend either region, but be greeted with respect in the spirit of competition.
E. Though strongly encouraged, neither region is obligated to participate in any military operation of the other, with the exception of the mutual defense agreements spelled out in this treaty.

Article IV – Diplomatic Cooperation

A. Each signatory will endeavor to provide diplomatic support to the other signatory, where it is possible for them to do so, while being consistent with their own internal policies.
B. Signatory regions shall provide an embassy for the other signatory on their forums and shall provide a representative from their region who will act as an ambassador from their region.
C. Each signatory will endeavor to keep the other up-to-date on their regional affairs.
D. Each ambassador shall behave in a respectable manner towards the signatory region. This includes, but is not limited to, obeying regional laws where it is applicable and following any ambassadorial protocol that the signatory region has already in place.
E. Either signatory region may request that the ambassador sent to them by the other signatory be replaced if it is deemed that clauses IV.C or IV.D have not been followed appropriately by that individual.
F. If either signatory region cannot fulfill the request as stated in Article IV.E, both regions may discuss and negotiate an alternative solution to the issue.

Article V – Cultural Activities

A. Each signatory will endeavor, where appropriate to engage in social and cultural activities with the other signatory. This can include, but is not limited to, festivals, competitions, and other shared events.

Article VI – Termination of Treaty

A. If either regional government is considering withdrawal from this treaty, representatives from both regions must first meet and make a good-faith effort to find a solution to the issue(s) causing withdrawal.
B. If that good-faith effort fails, then either member of this treaty may withdraw at their discretion.
C. There will then be a five-day period before the treaty cancellation is considered final.
D. Termination of this treaty shall not be seen as an act of war or hostility by either side.


= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

[End of Document]

Quote:

Democratic Reform Amendment (October 2019)

Proposed By: McChimp

Preamble

This amendment of the Twelfth Mandate of Lazarus establishes democracy in Lazarus whilst retaining the security afforded by the meritocracy it seeks to replace.

Section 1. Amendment of the Twelfth Mandate of Lazarus

(1) The preamble shall be amended to read:

[table][cell]

In order to ensure a government that is stable, democratic, and fosters an active community, this Mandate has been established as the fundamental law by which Lazarus will be governed. This Mandate is the supreme law of Lazarus and, together with constitutional law, takes precedence over any other law or policy.

[/cell][/table]

(2) Article I shall be amended to read:

[table][cell]

I. Assembly of Lazarus

Composition of the Assembly

(1) The Assembly will be comprised of all citizens of Lazarus.

Powers of the Assembly

(2) The Assembly may establish and revise its own procedural rules by 50%+1 vote.

(3) The Assembly may enact, amend, or repeal general laws and resolutions by 50%+1 vote.

(4) The Assembly may enact, amend, or repeal treaties, at the request of the Prime Minister, by 50%+1 vote.

(5) The Assembly may declare war against another region or organization, and repeal a declaration of war, at the request of the Prime Minister, by two-thirds vote.

(6) The Assembly may remove the Assembly Speaker, the Prime Minister, a Cabinet Minister, a Court Justice, a Councillor of Lazarene Security, or any other government official established by law or policy from office, by two-thirds vote.

(7) The Assembly may remove the Delegate or Vice Delegate from office by three-quarters vote.

(8) The Assembly may declare a state of emergency, end a state of emergency declared by the Council on Lazarene Security, or extend a state of emergency ended by the Council, by three-quarters vote.

(9) The Assembly may amend this Mandate by three-quarters vote.

(10) The Assembly may enact constitutional laws and resolutions, bearing the same legal weight as this Mandate, and may amend or repeal such constitutional laws and resolutions, by three-quarters vote. Constitutional laws and resolutions must be explicitly designated as such within the text of each constitutional law or resolution, and may not either explicitly or implicitly amend or repeal this Mandate or other constitutional laws or resolutions.

Speaker of the Assembly

(11) The Delegate will appoint an Assembly Speaker to preside over the Assembly according to its procedural rules. Appointment of the Assembly Speaker will be subject to confirmation by 50%+1 vote of the Assembly.

(12) In the absence of procedural rules to settle a procedural matter in the Assembly, the Assembly Speaker may establish such rules. Procedural rules established by the Assembly Speaker will always be subordinate to the laws of Lazarus and procedural rules established by the Assembly.

(13) The Assembly Speaker will serve until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly or the Delegate, or automatic removal from office. The Assembly Speaker may not serve in any other office or stand for election while serving as Assembly Speaker.

(14) The Assembly may provide for the appointment and removal of deputies to the Assembly Speaker by law or through its procedural rules.

[/cell][/table]

(3) Article II shall be amended to read:

[table][cell]

II. Delegate of Lazarus

Establishment of the office of Delegate

(1) The Delegate will serve as head of state and lawful WA Delegate of Lazarus.

(2) The Delegate may not serve in any other office while serving as Delegate, except that the Delegate will be suspended from the Council of Lazarene Security if they are already a Councillor, but will automatically resume membership on the Council after their term as Delegate.

(3) The Delegate will serve until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly, or automatic removal from office.

Powers of the Delegate

(4) The Delegate may admit residents of Lazarus to citizenship. Further procedure for citizenship admission, including procedure for appealing rejection of a citizenship application by the Delegate, criteria residents must meet in order to be admitted as citizens as well as criteria for maintenance of citizenship and enforcement of such criteria, may be established by law.

(5) The Delegate may, subject to confirmation by 50%+1 vote of the Council on Lazarene Security, impose revocation of citizenship, ejection and/or ban from Lazarus, or other measures to preserve the security and stability of Lazarus, for whatever duration of time is determined appropriate. The Assembly may overturn such decisions by three-quarters vote.

(6) The Delegate may, subject to confirmation by 50%+1 vote of the Assembly or 50%+1 vote of the Council on Lazarene Security, establish and revise endorsement limits for Lazarus. The Delegate may enforce such limits and will be assisted by the Vice Delegate and Council on Lazarene Security as needed. The Vice Delegate and Councillors will not be subject to such endorsement limits.

Line of succession for the office of Delegate

(7) The Vice Delegate will be first in the line of succession, followed by each Councillor in the order determined by the Delegate with confirmation by 50%+1 vote of the Assembly. The first person in the line of succession who is willing and able to serve will succeed to the office of Delegate in the event that the office of Delegate is vacant.

(8) The Delegate may appoint the Vice Delegate or a Councillor to serve as Acting Delegate in the event of the Delegate's scheduled absence. In the event of the Delegate's unscheduled absence exceeding seven days, as certified by 50%+1 vote of the Council on Lazarene Security, the first person in the line of succession who is willing and able to serve will serve as Acting Delegate until the Delegate returns.

[/cell][/table]

(4) Article IV shall be amended to read:

[table][cell]

IV. Cabinet of Lazarus

Establishment of the office of Prime Minister

(1) The Prime Minister will serve as head of government.

(2) The Prime Minister may not serve in any other office while serving as Prime Minister.

(3) The Prime Minister shall be elected by majority instant-runoff vote for a four-month term. Elections shall be undertaken by the Assembly. Procedure for elections will be defined by law.

(4) The Prime Minister will serve until the end of their term or until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly, or automatic removal from office.

Establishment of the Cabinet

(5) The Prime Minister will set the course of the Cabinet with such ministries, programs, and activities as they determine are beneficial for Lazarus.

(6) The Prime Minister may issue executive directives to set public policy for executive ministries, programs, and activities. Such directives will remain in effect unless rescinded by the Prime Minister who issued them or a subsequent Prime Minister. Such directives may also be amended by the Prime Minister who issued them or a subsequent Prime Minister.

(7) The Prime Minister may appoint Cabinet Ministers to assist with executive ministries, programs and activities, and must fill any ministries mandated by law. Appointment of Cabinet Ministers will be subject to confirmation by 50%+1 vote of the Assembly.

(8) Cabinet Ministers will serve until the end of the Prime Minister's term or until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly or the Prime Minister, or automatic removal from office.

(9) The Prime Minister may provide for the appointment and removal of Cabinet deputies.

[/cell][/table]

(5) Article V shall be amended to read:

[table][cell]

V. Court of Lazarus

Composition of the Court

(1) The Court will be comprised of three Justices appointed by the Delegate, subject to confirmation by 50%+1 vote of the Assembly. Requirements for the recusal of Justices and procedure for the appointment of temporary Justices may be established by law.

(2) Justices will serve until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly, or automatic removal from office. Justices may not serve in any other office or stand for election while serving as Justices.

Powers of the Court

(3) Procedure for constitutional matters brought before the Court will be defined by law.

(4) The Court has the power, upon being petitioned by a citizen, to strike down any general law, treaty, or policy. in whole or in part, and restrain any government action, by two-thirds vote, if such violates this Mandate or any constitutional law.

(5) The Court may, upon being petitioned by a citizen, reconcile contradictions within and between this Mandate and constitutional laws, as well as contradictions within and between general laws, by two-thirds vote, maintaining minimal disruption to the intended purposes of the contradictory provisions.

(6) The Court may interpret and clarify provisions of law when posed in a legal question, by two-thirds vote, as prescribed by law.

(7) The Court may, upon being petitioned by a citizen, conduct Criminal Reviews in order to determine whether a person has committed a criminal offence. During a Criminal Review the person must be granted reasonable opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. Procedure for such Criminal Reviews may be established by law.

(8) Should the Court confirm by two-thirds vote that the person has committed a criminal offence after a Criminal Review, they may compel the Delegate to impose upon the person a punishment permitted by law, including revocation of citizenship, restriction of ability to vote and/or hold office, ejection and/or banishment from Lazarus and other measures.

[/cell][/table]

(6) Article VII shall be amended to read:

[table][cell]

VII. Regulation of Government Officials

Citizenship requirement for government officials

(1) The Delegate, the Vice Delegate, the Assembly Speaker, the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Court Justices, Councillors of Lazarene Security, or any other government official established by law or policy must be citizens of Lazarus.

(2) The Delegate may, at their discretion, authorize the Prime Minister to appoint residents of Lazarus who are not citizens to participate in executive ministries, programs, and activities, but such residents may not serve as government officials, including as deputies or military personnel of officer rank.

Automatic removal of government officials

(3) The Delegate, the Vice Delegate, the Assembly Speaker, the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Court Justices, Councillors of Lazarene Security, or any other government official established by law or policy will be automatically removed from office upon loss of citizenship or their nation in Lazarus voluntarily relocating or ceasing to exist.

(4) The Delegate, the Vice Delegate, or Councillors of Lazarene Security will be automatically removed from office upon their WA nation in Lazarus resigning or being expelled from the WA.

Provisional service of certain appointed government officials

(5) Appointed government officials who are subject to confirmation by the Assembly may serve on a provisional basis unless and until their confirmations are rejected by the Assembly.

[/cell][/table]

(7) Article IX shall be amended to read:

[table][cell]

IX. Constitutional Conventions

Procedure for initiating a constitutional convention

(1) The Assembly may initiate a constitutional convention for the purpose of repealing and replacing this Mandate by three-quarters vote.

Basic procedure for a constitutional convention

(2) Following initiation of a constitutional convention, the Assembly will establish procedure for the convention by 50%+1 vote. The Assembly may amend the procedure of the convention while the convention is ongoing by 50%+1 vote.

(3) During a constitutional convention, this Mandate, the institutions and offices established by and under this Mandate, and all laws and treaties established under this Mandate, will remain in force, until a new constitution is adopted by the convention.

(4) Should the convention fail to yield a new constitution, the Assembly may, by 50%+1 vote, adjourn the convention.

[/cell][/table]

A motion and a second have been received to vote on the Delegate's nomination of Wymondham as Court Justice. The nominee requires a 50%+1 majority to be confirmed. Citizens may vote "Aye" or "For," "Nay" or "Against," or "Abstain" or "Present" .

The timing allotted for this vote is five days. Voting will end on the 22nd November at 7:18 EST.

The Delegate's nomination was made here and the discussion thread is here.

A motion and a second have been received for the Criminal Procedure Act (November 2019). It requires a 50%+1 majority to pass. Citizens may vote "Aye" or "For," "Nay" or "Against," or "Abstain" or "Present."

The timing allotted for this vote is five days. Voting will end on the 22nd of November at 7:10 EST.

The discussion thread is here.

Quote:

Criminal Procedure Act (November 2019)

Proposed By: McChimp

Preamble

This act defines the procedure by which the Court shall conduct Criminal Reviews in accordance with Article V Section 7 of the Twelfth Mandate.

Section 1. Petitioning the Court

(1) Petitions to conduct a Criminal Review shall:

a. be submitted to the Court in a public area,
b. identify a Defendant,
c. identify the crimes the Defendant is alleged to have committed and
d. include evidence and commentary thereof in support of the allegations.

(2) The Court shall consider the petition for three days before deciding whether to conduct a Criminal Review by two-thirds vote.

(3) Upon deciding to conduct a Criminal Review, the Court shall immediately serve notice upon both the Plaintiff and the Defendant that a Criminal Review has begun and refer them to this document.

Section 2. Criminal Reviews

(1) Criminal Reviews shall be conducted in a public area.

(2) Once the Criminal Review has begun:

a. the Defendant shall be granted seven days to present evidence in their defence and commentary on all evidence submitted to the Court thus far
b. then the Plaintiff shall be granted four days to present further evidence and commentary on all evidence submitted to the Court thus far. After this, the Criminal Review will conclude.

(3) The Plaintiff and the Defendant may each be represented by another person who they may identify at any time. Each of them may be represented by only one person at any given time.

A motion and a second have been received for the Clarification Amendment (November 2019). This is a vote on a constitutional amendment. As such, it requires a three-quarters supermajority to pass. Citizens may vote "Aye" or "For," "Nay" or "Against," or "Abstain" or "Present".

The timing allotted for this vote is five days. Voting will end on the 22nd November at 7:05 EST.

The discussion thread is here.

Quote:

Clarification Amendment (November 2019)

Proposed By: McChimp

Preamble

This amendment of the Twelfth Mandate of Lazarus reduces restrictions upon state officials and returns the Assembly's powers to overturn criminal sentences.

Section 1. Amendment of the Twelfth Mandate of Lazarus

(1) Article IV shall be amended to read:

[table][cell]

IV. Cabinet of Lazarus

Establishment of the office of Prime Minister

(1) The Prime Minister will serve as head of government.

(2) The Prime Minister shall be elected by majority instant-runoff vote for a four-month term. Elections shall be undertaken by the Assembly. Procedure for elections will be defined by law.

(3) The Prime Minister will serve until the end of their term or until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly, or automatic removal from office.

Establishment of the Cabinet

(4) The Prime Minister will set the course of the Cabinet with such ministries, programs, and activities as they determine are beneficial for Lazarus.

(5) The Prime Minister may issue executive directives to set public policy for executive ministries, programs, and activities. Such directives will remain in effect unless rescinded by the Prime Minister who issued them or a subsequent Prime Minister. Such directives may also be amended by the Prime Minister who issued them or a subsequent Prime Minister.

(6) The Prime Minister may appoint Cabinet Ministers to assist with executive ministries, programs and activities, and must fill any ministries mandated by law. Appointment of Cabinet Ministers will be subject to confirmation by 50%+1 vote of the Assembly.

(7) Cabinet Ministers will serve until the end of the Prime Minister's term or until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly or the Prime Minister, or automatic removal from office.

(8) The Prime Minister may provide for the appointment and removal of Cabinet deputies.

[/cell][/table]

(2) Article V shall be amended to read:

[table][cell]

V. Court of Lazarus

Composition of the Court

(1) The Court will be comprised of three Justices appointed by the Delegate, subject to confirmation by 50%+1 vote of the Assembly. Requirements for the recusal of Justices and procedure for the appointment of temporary Justices may be established by law.

(2) Justices will serve until resignation, removal from office by the Assembly, or automatic removal from office. Justices may not serve in any other office while serving as Justices.

Powers of the Court

(3) Procedure for constitutional matters brought before the Court will be defined by law.

(4) The Court has the power, upon being petitioned by a citizen, to strike down any general law, treaty, or policy. in whole or in part, and restrain any government action, by two-thirds vote, if such violates this Mandate or any constitutional law.

(5) The Court may, upon being petitioned by a citizen, reconcile contradictions within and between this Mandate and constitutional laws, as well as contradictions within and between general laws, by two-thirds vote, maintaining minimal disruption to the intended purposes of the contradictory provisions.

(6) The Court may interpret and clarify provisions of law when posed in a legal question, by two-thirds vote, as prescribed by law.

(7) The Court may, upon being petitioned by a citizen, conduct Criminal Reviews in order to determine whether a person has committed a criminal offence. During a Criminal Review the person must be granted reasonable opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. Procedure for such Criminal Reviews may be established by law.

(8) Should the Court confirm by two-thirds vote that the person has committed a criminal offence after a Criminal Review, they may compel the Delegate to impose upon the person a punishment permitted by law, including revocation of citizenship, restriction of ability to vote and/or hold office, ejection and/or banishment from Lazarus and other measures. The Assembly may overturn or reduce such punishments by three-quarters vote.

[/cell][/table]

Quote:(1) The Lazarene Regional Guard will be the sole military force of Lazarus, unaligned in alignment.

(2) The Delegate will be the commander-in-chief of the Regional Guard. The Delegate may appoint a citizen to serve as operational commander of the Regional Guard by a 50%+1 confirmation vote of the assembly, and be subject to all provisions for the removal of a government official of a two-thirds majority of the assembly. Operational command authority may be further delegated to a chain of command subordinate to the operational commander.

(3) The command, conduct, and membership criteria of the Regional Guard may be further regulated by law or by executive policy.

Quote:(1) The regional military alignment of Lazarus will be neutral. Lazarus will bear the Neutral tag at all times.

(2) Lazarus may not bear any of the following tags: Defender, Imperialist, Independent, or Invader.

(3) The Regional Guard may engage in the following types of operations without prior approval of the Delegate:

a. Defense of Lazarus;
b. Defense of Lazarus' treaty allies, if mandated by treaty terms;
c. Invasion of regions upon which Lazarus has declared war, and defense of other regions against their military forces;
d. Defense of other Feeders and Sinkers at the request of their legitimate governments;
e. Assistance in other regions' legal Delegate transitions at the request of their legitimate governments;
f. Offensive or defensive training operations in game-created Warzone regions;
g. Invasion of fascist regions and defense of regions against fascist military forces;
h. Invasion of regions which pose a substantial threat to the out-of-character security or safety of NationStates players, and defense of regions against forces which pose such a threat.

(4) The Assembly may enact a resolution empowering the Regional Guard to invade a region that is the ally or protectorate of a region upon which Lazarus has declared war. Such a resolution may be approved or rescinded by two-thirds vote of the Assembly.

(5) The Regional Guard may be empowered to engage in other military operations upon the approval of the Delegate so long as:

a. Operations do not involve regions exceeding 20 nations,
b. Operations do not exceed 72 hours in duration,
c. The RMB, WFE and embassies of a region are restored at the end of an operation.

I don't have a specific draft right now (I may write one based on the discussion), but it appears to me that ever since Mandate 12 started, there has always been difficulty keeping a full court, but a full court is required for the Court to actually be able to do anything. It's also not possible to appoint more judges, which also inherently leads to vacancies as there can be no buffer established. And finally, since justices are firewalled, anybody that is appointed as justice can't do other things at the same time even though being a justice is usually just idling unless something comes up (and personally I don't see an issue with, say, a Cabinet Minister also being a justice so long as proper recusal protocol is followed in cases where the Cabinet is involved). 

So, I would propose reforming the Court's mandate somewhat to account for these things. I'm thinking, roughly, the following:

• 2 or more justices, appointed as before
  
• One of the justices shall be considered the Chief Justice and will oversee the Court. 
  
• The justices select the Chief Justice amongst themselves.
  
• The Chief Justice is firewalled, but the other justices are not.
  
• Cases are handled by one assigned justice, but must be approved by another justice. This selection is done by the Chief Justice or, in case of their recusal, the other justices collectively.