[Sanctaria]

Hello all,

After some discussion with the Delegate's Council, we feel that it would be best to properly align the constitution and regional governance of the International Democratic Union to match better a region of (a) our size, and (b) our expertise, which is roleplay, nation-building, and cultural development.

It's time, we feel, to abolish IDUSA and bring back something familiar from our past, CIDUS. CIDUS, the Council of IDU States, was an IC/RP body at a time when the IDU wasn't big into IC/RP. But now the IDU is ready for that kind of IC, UN-esque body that can better reflect intra-regional politics etc. This time, though, we'll give it a different name - the League of IDU Nations, or LIDUN.

It's also time to separate Delegate from regional governance. There is no reason why the Delegate should also be the regional leader. It means people whose focus is on RP, are dragged into a mainly OOC role, or have to be members of the WA if they want to be the regional leader, when that might go against regional canon. Our proposals are that LIDUN elects a President who is the IC and OOC leader of the region, and then we have a Delegate whose job is to vote on WA proposals as per the region's wishes. 

Please see below for our draft constitution. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Constitution of the IDU

§1 - Rights of Member Nations

1. Nations in and of the International Democratic Union are sovereign. No law can compel them to act in a certain manner in issue selection, WA membership votes, and votes in the region.
   
2. Participation in any regional body is voluntary. Participation in the World Assembly is voluntary.
   
3. No Nation in the International Democratic Union shall be ejected or banned without reason, or avenue for recourse. The Regional Founder(s) shall have final say in matters of regional security. Exceptions to recourse shall exist for those considered by majority vote of the Regional Founder(s) and the regional government authority to be fundamental threats to the region.
   

§2 - Regional Governance

1. All matters of regional governance not otherwise laid out by this Constitution is reserved to a regional body called the League of IDU Nations.
   
2. All IDU states are entitled to apply to join the League of IDU Nations. 
   
3. The League of IDU Nations will be, except where determined otherwise by this Constitution or the body itself, considered an In-Character (IC) body, and may make laws for, and resolve differences within, the region.
   
4. The League of IDU Nations will operate on a one player, one vote basis for all Out of Character (OOC) matters including elections. The League of IDU Nations may regulate membership and voting rights for all IC matters.
   
5. The League of IDU Nations will elect a member nation to be President of the body for a term of office not exceeding one (1) year in length. This term length may be shortened by the body itself, should it so choose to do so.
   
6. The President of the League of IDU Nations will act as the OOC head of state and government of the region for the length of their tenure. The player whose nation is selected as President will be responsible for all OOC foreign and domestic policy of the region, save for regional security and World Assembly matters which are the sole responsibilities of Regional Founder(s), and the World Assembly Delegate respectively.
   
7. The player of the nation elected as President of the League of IDU Nations will also act as the IC leader of the League of IDU Nations. Powers related to the IC role of President will be regulated by the League of IDU Nations. 
   
8. No player may be elected to the position of President of the League of IDU Nations for more than two consecutive terms.
   
9. The President of the League of IDU Nations may be elected to office, and removed from office prematurely, in a manner to be decided by the League of IDU Nations.
   
10. The President of the League of IDU Nations may delegate some duties of OOC governance to other nations/players, but they too must be members of the League of IDU Nations for the duration of such delegation.
    
11. The President of the League of IDU Nations may also delegate some IC duties to other member nations of the League of IDU Nations. Such duties which may be delegated shall be determined by the League of IDU Nations.
    

§3 - World Assembly Delegate

1. A nation may be selected by the League of IDU Nations to be the region’s World Assembly Delegate. It is not required for the nation to be a member nation of the League of IDU Nations, but they are required to be, and to remain, members of the World Assembly.
   
2. The nation selected as World Assembly Delegate shall enjoy a tenure in office with no defined limit.
   
3. The World Assembly Delegate shall leave office via retirement, ending their membership of the World Assembly, ceasing-to-exist, or impeachment by the League of IDU Nations. The League of IDU Nations shall make their own provision on reasons for impeachment, and the manner, vote threshold, and other such provisions that an impeachment vote should take.
   
4. Except for required formalities in the League of IDU Nations where necessary, the World Assembly Delegate shall be an otherwise OOC position.
   
5. The World Assembly Delegate may require nations not to exceed a certain number of endorsements. The World Assembly Delegate may request the Regional Founder(s), with agreement from the President of the League of IDU Nations, eject nations that threaten to unseat the World Assembly Delegate via endorsement count.
   
6. The World Assembly Delegate position should remain a non-executive position in the context of regional security and controls.
   
7. The World Assembly Delegate is required to vote in the General Assembly, Security Council, or any other World Assembly body in a manner that reflects the region’s wishes. The World Assembly Delegate is required to post on the Regional Message Board at the time of their vote, and the manner of how they voted. The World Assembly Delegate may, from time to time, abstain from voting if they are of the belief the region is equally, or close to equally, divided.
   
8. Notwithstanding the above provision, the World Assembly Delegate may vote on behalf of the region in the General Assembly, Security Council, or any other World Assembly body, according to their own beliefs and their own position provided that their vote at close of voting ultimately reflects the will of the region.
   
9. The World Assembly Delegate shall have discretion to approve proposals made to the General Assembly, Security Council, or any other World Assembly body.
   

§4 - General Provisions

1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
   
2. This Constitution takes effect upon majority of members present and voting of any existing regional body. Such a regional body will become extinct upon the passage of this Constitution. This clause may be removed upon passage.
   

[Laeral]

I've made my thoughts and suggestions on this revised constitution during its initial drafting process, and I'm glad to support this new draft! Given the region's evolution into a roleplay-focused region, merging the OOC regional government with an in-character body opens up numerous new roleplay opportunities and streamlines regional governance, while the revised position of Delegate will ensure that the region's WA presence is kept in capable hands. I'm very excited to help establish the IC history and protocols of the IDUSA, and I stand in support of this draft.

[Xiomera]

I am also in support of this draft. I think an overhaul has long been overdue, and I am excited to see how these changes will reinvigorate the region.

[Sanctaria]

I made small changes - mainly changing the name from CIDUS to LIDUN, but also just making some small clarifications on how the Delegate will vote, just to make sure we're in compliance with our international treaties.

I think with a week of open discussion, it might be time to move this thing along? We don't typically get more discussion on votes here, and we also don't want to go through another Delegacy election that might not be necessary either. Also I'm sure many RPers want to get this LIDUN up and running!

Can I have a second to move to vote?

[Lauchenoiria]

I would like to second this. I'd like to echo Laeral and Xiomera's comments in support.

[Gardavasque]

Thank you for all the work that went into this.