Notifications from the Regional Congress

[Cormac]

The Speaker of the Regional Congress will use this thread to notify the President of legislation that requires their signature or veto.

[Cormac]

The Election Administration Act has passed the Regional Congress by a vote of 9-0-0 and now requires signature or veto.

Election Administration Act

Section 1. Election Administration

(1) Elections for President will be administered by the Speaker of the Regional Congress. Elections for any other elected office will be administered by the President.

(2) In the event that an election administrator is standing for office in an election they are designated to administer or the office of the election administrator is vacant, administration of that election will pass to the most senior citizen who is not standing for that office and is available to serve as election administrator.

(3) The Chief Justice may not administer an election, and no election administrator may be appointed as an Associate Justice for any criminal trial or legal review related to the election they administered.

Section 2. Election Procedure

(1) The election period for any elected office will begin with a three day period for nominations, followed by a two day period for additional campaigning, followed by a five day period for voting. Candidates may campaign throughout an election period.

(2) An election period will begin ten days before the expiration of an elected official's term, if applicable, or in the case of challenge elections as soon as practical upon filing of a challenge, or in the case an elected office is vacated as soon as practical following the vacancy.

(3) Should an election period for any reason be delayed, the incumbent official will continue to hold office until conclusion of the election period, without regard for any mandated length of term.

(4) In any election, voting citizens must rank all eligible candidates and the option to reopen nominations from most to least preferred on their ballots. Ballots will be publicly cast in the designated voting thread.

(5) The option to reopen nominations will be included in all elections. Should the reopening of nominations receive majority support at the conclusion of voting, the election period will be restarted.

(6) The candidate elected to office in any election will be the candidate who receives majority support in the election. If no candidate receives majority support in the first count, instant run-off voting will be conducted.

(7) Instant run-off voting will be conducted by eliminating the choice ranked first on the fewest ballots, then transferring the vote(s) of any citizen(s) who ranked that choice first to their next preferred choice, as indicated by their ballot. This process will be repeated until a candidate or the option to reopen nominations receives majority support, or until there is a tie between two choices.

(8) In the event of a tie between two choices, the tie will be broken in favor of the incumbent official, if applicable, or in favor of the most senior citizen remaining as a candidate. If the tie is between a candidate and reopen nominations, nominations will be reopened.

(9) In the event that a circumstance arises that is not covered by the procedure in this Act, the election administrator will adopt such procedure as they see fit, provided such procedure does not contradict other laws of Pacifica.

Section 3. Definitions

(1) Most senior citizen is defined as the citizen who has maintained citizenship for the longest continuous period of time.

(2) Elected official is defined as an official designated by the Constitution of the Republic of Pacifica as an elected official.

(3) Elected office is defined as an office held by an elected official, as defined by this Act.

(4) Majority support is defined as an absolute majority of votes cast in an election.

(5) These definitions will apply only for the purposes of this Act and may not apply to other uses.

[Cormac]

I hereby affix my signature to the Election Administration Act.

/s/ Cormac Skollvaldr
Acting President of Pacifica

[Cormac]

The Criminal Code of Pacifica has passed the Regional Congress by a vote of 8-0-0 and now requires signature or veto.

The Criminal Code of Pacifica

Section 1. Institution and Purpose of the Code

(1) The Criminal Code of Pacifica hereafter referred to as the Code will be the fundamental basis of Pacifican criminal law. Only offences outlined in this Code will be considered crimes under Pacifican law.

Section 2. High Crimes

(1) "Treason" is defined as any attempt to overthrow or rebel against or incite others to overthrow or rebel against the Republic of Pacifica.

(2) "Sedition" is defined as any attempt to aid or incite others to aid enemies of Pacifica against Pacifica. Enemies of Pacifica are regions or organizations with which Pacifica is at war or which have declared war against Pacifica.

(3) "Espionage" is defined as the unsanctioned disclosure by a Citizen of Pacifica of confidential information relative to the interest or security of Pacifica to a foreign region and/or its representative.

(4) "Off-site Property Destruction" is defined as any attempt to phish, crash, or spam any off-site property belonging to any region or organization in NationStates, as defined by Article V of this Code.

(5) "Citizenship Fraud" is defined as any attempt to provide false or misleading answers on one's application for citizenship in Pacifica or any attempt to conceal alternate NationStates aliases during the citizenship application process.

(6) “Witness Intimidation” is an attempt to coerce an individual to alter or suppress the testimony they may present to The High Court of Pacifica.

(7) “Electoral Fraud” is defined as any attempt by officials administering an election, as defined by the Election Administration Act, to alter, influence or attempt to influence the outcome of such an election.

(8) “Fabricating Evidence” is defined as any attempt to forge or alter evidence that is to be or may be presented to The High Court of Pacifica as evidence in a case.

(9) High crimes will carry a maximum sentence of permanent regional and/or forum ban, revocation of citizenship, and/or permanent prohibition of future citizenship.

Section 3. Felony Crimes

(1) "Unlawful Disclosure" is defined as any attempt to disclose information to anyone who is not authorized to view such information without the explicit approval of the government official(s) responsible for said information. The definition of Unlawful Disclosure will not be construed to criminalize disclosure of illegal activity to the appropriate authorities.

(2) "Official Impersonation" is defined as any attempt, for non-satirical purposes, to misrepresent one's self as an official of Pacifica.

(3) "Bribery" is defined as any attempt to offer favours or gifts to the relevant official(s) to influence any appointment and/or garner any undue advantage.

(4) "Conspiracy" is defined as any attempt to enter into a plot with one or more others to commit or conceal a high crime or felony or to aid any others in the commission or concealment of a high crime or felony.

(5) "Chronic Misdemeanor" is defined as the frequent commission of multiple misdemeanour crimes.

(6) "Felony Misdemeanor" is defined as the commission of multiple misdemeanour crimes.

(7) Felony crimes will carry a maximum sentence of a one year regional and/or forum ban.

Section 4. Misdemeanour Crimes

(1) "Impersonation" is defined as any attempt to misrepresent one's self, for non-satirical purposes, as another known NationStates player.

(2) "Fraud" is defined as any attempt to provide false or misleading information for the purpose of obtaining any form of political advantage.

(3) "Judicial Contempt" is defined as any attempt to disrupt the order of the High Court of Pacifica or demonstration of repeated disregard for proper judicial procedure.

(4) "Unlawful Recruitment" is defined as any attempt to recruit residents of Pacifica to another region or organization in NationStates through any Pacifican off-site property or via the Regional Message Board (RMB)

(5) "Unlawful Posting" is defined as posting in any governmental area in which one is not authorized by the relevant government official(s) to post or excessive, out of context posting in any area of Pacifican off-site property that is not designated for that purpose or on the RMB of the NationStates region Pacifica.

(6) Misdemeanour crimes will carry a maximum sentence of a six month regional and/or forum ban.

Section 5. Definitions

For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions will apply:

(1) "Off-site property" is defined as any forum or website that exists separately from the NationStates website and is related to the NationStates region “Pacifica”, or any successor regions founded in accordance with Article II, Section 12 of the Constitution of Pacifica

(2) "Phishing" is defined as any attempt to gain administrative or moderation power over off-site property or passwords to off-site property accounts by deception.

(3) "Crashing" is defined as any attempt to cause off-site property to permanently go out of service or lose information, including but not necessarily limited to improper deletion of posts, deletion of a forum or website, and deliberate posting of content of such a nature that it could cause a forum or website host to delete the forum or website.

(4) "Spamming" is defined as any attempt to waste or exceed server capacity or to cause off-site property to become temporarily inaccessible, including but not necessarily limited to excessive page access, excessive account creation, excessive posting, and denial of service attacks. This does not include spam which takes place in a specifically dedicated spam section of an off-site medium and which follows the rules of the space provided.

Section 6. Sentencing

(1) The President or the President’s designee will detail recommended sentences when prosecuting criminal offences before the High Court of Pacifica, according to the procedure established by the High Court of Pacifica or by law.

(2) Sentences may include formal censures or warnings, suspension of rights in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Pacifica, forum bans, in-game ejections, in-game bans, revocation of citizenship, and Persona Non Grata declaration.

Section 7. Jurisdiction

(1) The High Court of Pacifica will have jurisdiction to prosecute high crimes and felony crimes against Pacifica without regard to the location or medium in which such crimes are committed.

(2) The High Court of Pacifica will have jurisdiction to prosecute misdemeanour crimes only if they are committed on Pacifican off-site property or in the NationStates region Pacifica.

Section 8. Statute of Limitations

(1) In order to be valid, a charge of a high crime must be brought before the High Court of Pacifica by the President or the President’s designee within twenty-four months of the date the alleged offence occurred.

(2) In order to be valid, a charge of a felony crime must be brought before the High Court of Pacifica by any citizen of Pacifica within twelve months of the date the alleged offence occurred.

(3) In order to be valid, a charge of a misdemeanour crime must be brought before the High Court of Pacifica by any citizen of Pacifica within six months of the date the alleged offence occurred.

[Cormac]

I hereby affix my signature to the Criminal Code of Pacifica.

/s/ Cormac Skollvaldr
Acting President of Pacifica

[qwabourharbour]

Confirm
Toerana (BowShot)
Constie (John Laurens)
Shane // Everland Republic

As Guardian Council?

Confirm

Josh

As Chief Justice.?

[Cormac]

Thank you for the notification Mr. Speaker, but these appointments don't require my signature and are already in effect.

[qwabourharbour]

pacificans.proboards.com/thread/111/declaration-war-new-pacific-order

[Cormac]

The declaration of war also doesn't require my signature, and is now in effect. Thank you!

[lukatonia]

The Pacifica External Affairs Committee Act is now on the presidents desk for approval

SPOILER: Click to show

Pacifica External Affairs Committee Act (2019)

Section 1. Formation of the Pacifica External Affairs Committee



(1) The Pacifica External Affairs Committee (henceforth to be known as the PEAC) is hereby created.

(2) The President shall, at his or her discretion, appoint members to the PEAC to serve as advisers on foreign policy

(3) The President and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (or an equivalent office) shall serve on the PEAC along with four other members

(4) The PEAC shall serve at the will of the President, and may be dismissed at any time.


(5) The PEAC may possess a private subforum or discord channel in order to carry out its functions



Section 2. Restrictions on the Pacifica External Affairs Committee


(1) The Chief Justice of the High Court may not serve as a member of the PEAC.

(2) Any member of the PEAC may be taken off the Committee by an absolute majority vote of the Regional Congress.

[Cormac]

I hereby affix my signature to the Pacifica External Affairs Committee Act.

/s/ Cormac Skollvaldr
President of the Republic of Pacifica

[lukatonia]

The Citizenship Administration Amendment has passed the Regional Congress by a vote of 10-0-0 and now requires signature or veto.

Citizenship Administration Amendment

SPOILER: Click to show

(1) Article I, Sections 3-5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Pacifica will be amended as follows:

(3) The President or their designated Secretary will conditionally admit anyone to citizenship who meets the following criteria:

a. They have a nation residing in Pacifica;
b. They have a World Assembly nation in Pacifica or in another region;
c. They have provided all information required by law in their citizenship application;
d. They have made the affirmation of citizenship;
e. They have not been deemed a security threat by the President or their designated Secretary;
f. They do not meet any other criteria for citizenship prohibition established by law.

(4) Should the President or their designated Secretary for any reason fail to conditionally admit or reject a citizenship applicant within seven days, the application will be forwarded to the Regional Congress, which may conditionally admit the applicant to citizenship by absolute majority vote.

(5) In the event that an applicant is rejected because they have been deemed a security threat by the President or their designated Secretary, the applicant may appeal to the Regional Congress, which may conditionally admit the applicant to citizenship by absolute majority vote. An applicant for citizenship whose appeal is rejected by the Regional Congress may not reapply for citizenship for a period of six months.

[Cormac]

Constitutional amendments don't require my signature, so the Citizenship Administration Amendment is already in effect.

[lukatonia]

The Presidential Succession Act has passed the regional Congress and is now on the presidents desk

SPOILER: Click to show

Section 1. Enactment of the Presidential Succession Act (2019)

(1) This Act will be enacted immediately upon being signed by the President of Pacifica.



Section 2. Basis for the Presidential Succession Act (2019)

(1) Recognizing a need for legislation that explicitly details the succession of the office of the President of Pacifica in the event of his/her incapacitation or inability to effectively carry out the duties of President of Pacifica.



Section 3. Provisions of the Presidential Succession Act (2019)

(1) Should the President be removed from office due to the loss of his/her citizenship, cease to exist, resignation from the World Assembly, or expulsion from the World Assembly, the Chairperson of the Guardian Council shall assume the office of Acting President of Pacifica until a new president is elected.

(2) Should the Chairperson of the Guardian Council not hold the World Assembly Delegacy, the individual who holds the WA Delegacy will temporarily retain the the WA Delegacy, and will be subject to the instructions of the Acting President until a new President is elected. Afterwards, the new President will become the new WA Delegate.

(3) Upon the election of a new president, the Chairperson of the Guardian Council who temporarily held the office of Acting President of Pacifica shall resume his duties as Chairperson of the Guardian Council

[Cormac]

...with my apologies for not noticing the issues with the bill sooner.

As President, it's my responsibility to serve all the people of Pacifica, and I believe I would be doing a disservice to any present or future non-binary Pacificans by signing a bill that uses gendered pronouns ("his/her") instead of making use of the singular "they." An argument could be made against vetoing the bill and instead requesting amendment, but I think we should establish a hard standard by which we simply do not pass legislation that includes non-inclusive language, however unintentional. I frankly didn't catch this, and I'm sure the author didn't either, so I'm vetoing to give it a chance to be corrected -- while also making clear that I don't believe there were any bad intentions here.

I will be happy to sign this bill once gender neutral language has been incorporated.

[lukatonia]

Congressional Procedure Act Amendment has passed the regional Congress with 4 for, 1 abstaining, and 0 against

SPOILER: Click to show

Section 1(2) of the Congressional Procedure Act will be amended as follows:

(2) The minimum discussion period will be waived for votes related to states of emergency. In other cases in which a vote is time sensitive, the minimum discussion period may be waived by a joint decision of the President, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of the Regional Congress.

[Cormac]

Amendments to congressional procedure don't require my signature, so this amendment is already in effect. Thank you!

[Dino]

Mr President, on the behalf of the Speaker of thr Regional Congress, I am here to notify of the passing of the Unitary Executive Amendments with a vote of 11 Yeas, 2 Abstentions, and 3 Nays. Subject to your signature or veto as per the Constitution:

(7) The President may sign or veto enactment, amendment, or repeal of a general law or resolution, or repeal of a treaty. Should the President fail to sign or veto enactment, amendment, or repeal of a general law or resolution, or repeal of a treaty, within seven days, it will automatically take effect and will no longer be subject to veto.

[Cormac]

Constitutional amendments don't require the signature of the President. Thank you though.

[Dino]

Mr. President, as Speaker of the Regional Congress, I am here to notify you of the passing of the World Assembly Act with a vote of 7 Yeas, 3 Abstentions, and 1 Nay. Subject to your signature or veto.