Gatesville
Gatesville is the largest player-made region in NationStates and is dedicated to the cause of defending National and Regional sovereignty from the power-hungry bureaucrats at the United Nations.
Founders
The original founders of Gatesville were Gates the God and The Democratic Tyranny of Rose-Colored Glasses, who became the UN delegate for the region. Gates remains to this day as leader of the Gatesville High Council, while Rose-Colored Glasses retired in honor after a long and distinguished career.
Mission
Gatesville is ever-expanding its like-minded and dedicated base of nations, in order to gain more votes and therefore more power in the United Nations. Gatesville uses this power in order to reverse and challenge any UN decisions which seek to threaten or violate national sovereignty.
Simultaneously, the High Council communicates with foreign UN Delegates to persuade and influence the vote in a manner they see fit. Gatesville introduces legislation and often uses its clout to influence votes and legislation.
Official Constitution of Gatesville
Constitution Act, 2004
Whereas Gatesville is founded upon the principles that recognize the supremacy of our Region, the Divine Right of rulers and the weakness of the abhorred United Nations of NationStates, it is herein affirmed that:
Section 1 - Formation of Government
Sec.1a – The ultimate authority in Gatesville is our most honorable and immortal founders, the Fearless Armed Liberators of Gates the God and the Democratic Tyranny of Rose-Colored Glasses. This Constitution both recognizes Their authority as well as Their wishes regarding the Government of the Region.
Sec.1b – The Government of Gatesville will be established in the structure of an absolute executive entity, the High Council. Provisions regarding the power and duties of the High Council are specified in Section 2.
Sec.1c – The populace of Gatesville, the collection of diverse and mighty nations of our region, are assured a voice in Government. Provisions regarding the power of this Lower Council are specified in Section 3.
Section 2 - The High Council
Sec.2a – The authority of the High Council of Gatesville is second only to that of the Regional Founders. While nations are entitled to voice their concerns, as specified in Section 3, no nation in Gatesville will be permitted to continue in defiance of the laws of the High Council, providing these laws do not unreasonably intrude upon the rights of member nations, after significant action has been taken to alert that nation of its dereliction, or to enforce that law.
Sec.2b – The Founders originally appointed the High Council, and through Their authority the High Council became legitimate and irrevocable. Thereafter, the Founders and the High Council appoint new additions to the High Council and affirm new administrative positions.
Sec.2c – The High Council will be composed of the Regional Founder, The Regional Delegate, and a collection of Advocates with duties specified as follows:
Regional Founder: Represents the nations of Gatesville in the High Council meetings. Helps the Regional Delegate in rallying support and activity among the members of Gatesville, as well as keeping the High Council informed of everyday activities of interest, which they may have missed. The Founder also acts as spokesperson for the High Council to the Lower Council and its members, proposing actions the High Council wishes to take. The Regional Founder and the Regional Delegate work as a team for the most part, sharing the burdens and perks of being head of the High Council and the region.
Regional Delegate: Represents the Region of Gatesville in the forum of the United Nations. Creates proposals sympathetic to the ideals of Gatesville and its member Nations, as well as voting for or against resolutions based on the votes of the councils (If such a vote is deemed necessary by the High Council). A keeper of the peace, the Delegate acts as spokesperson for the High Council to the Lower Council and its members, proposing actions the High Council wishes to take and conducting the vote which determines if said action is approved.
Defense Advocate: Monitors the population growth and military statistics of each nation within the region. The Defense Advocate conducts the threads/polls, which determine the percent of the populace, each member nation of Gatesville Reserves for defensive or offensive purposes. The Defense Advocate also researches how each nation distributes their percentage of military personnel, be it infantry, cavalry, naval, air force or otherwise. The only goal of the Defense Advocate is to ready Gatesville for any possible threats coming from the outside world.
Security Advocate: Secures top-secret information from the prying eyes of possible spies. The Security Advocate moderates the offsite board for very important regional or national information that the Security Advocate will quickly move to the password-locked forums of the board. This includes concluded threads that hold military information and the like. The Security Advocate scans the actions of member nations in NationStates forum threads randomly, even High Council members, for possible spies and threats to the security of the region or that of a member nation. The only goal of this advocate is the protection of classified information from any possible threats residing secretly within the Region.
Foreign Affairs Advocate: Secures other regions as allies for Gatesville. The Foreign Affairs Advocate seeks out other regions, personally telegramming only those Regional Delegates who seem to sympathize with our cause. The Foreign Affairs Advocate then directs them to the Regional Delegate and informs the High Council of the possible alliance. The main goal of this Advocate is the rallying of support from other dark regions towards our common goal.
Relations Advocate: Keeps the peace within Gatesville as well as between individual nations residing within Gatesville. The Relations Advocate watches for animosity between nations and works to diffuse the problem. The Relation Advocate also handles the interrogation of nations suspected of being spies. The main goal of this advocate is the protection of common rights, humane treatment of suspected spies until proper evidence is found, and the preservation of peace and unity within Gatesville.
Intelligence Advocate: Seeks Gatesville-related information within other regions by infiltration. Spending days undercover, the Intelligence Advocate watches for possible plans of attack against Gatesville or its member nations. The Intelligence Advocate must be a highly trusted member of the Region, because they will be away from the critical eyes of the Security Advocate during their missions. All contact will be through the offsite board, where they are welcome to visit, receive their orders and give their de-briefings. The main goal of this Advocate is the infiltration of regions that may create an immediate threat to Gatesville, and returning with affirmation or negation of the threat.
Enlisting Advocate: Seeks out distant regions, contacting the many nations who agree with the regional principles individually and politely, informing them of the many grand deeds Gatesville is working to accomplish. The main goal of this Advocate is recruiting sympathetic nations into Gatesville.
United Nations Advocate: This Advocate is entrusted with the always-present job of encouraging Gatesville member nations to join the United Nations without harassing them into it, as well as further encouraging present United Nations members to be sure to endorse the Regional Delegate, in the aim of strengthening Gatesville’s forces against the United Nations.
Sec.2d – Each Advocate of the High Council can receive the aid of up to five Clerks, nations of Gatesville dedicating to furthering the Regional cause. While Clerks are held in high esteem, they are not considered members of the High Council.
Sec.2e – Advocates are held highly accountable for their actions by both the remainder of the High Council and the Gatesville nations. An Advocate found to be in dereliction of duty to Gatesville will be dismissed by the executive order of the Founders.
Sec.2f – High Council members are required to stay active and post on the offsite board at least once a week. Two weeks without notice from a High Council member, and the position is forfeited to another Gatesville member.
Section 3 - The Lower Council
Sec.3a – The Lower council, being composed of every Gatesville nation not included in the High Council, is the foundation and strength of the region. Without the Lower Council, the High Council would achieve nothing. As such, it is recognized that the High Council, excepting the Regional Founders, is highly accountable to the Lower Council.
Sec.3b - All major decisions (Defined as a decision which significantly impacts a large portion of the Lower Council, or a decision which significantly affects the power structure of Gatesville) of the High Council will come to a vote of the Regional populace, on the offsite board, wherein a rate of 60% approval indicates appropriate Regional approval of the decision.
Sec.3c – All members of the Lower Council are guaranteed certain rights, including Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Press, Freedom of Conscience and Freedom of Expression, providing those freedoms do not intrude upon the reputation of other nations, or create a situation wherein the security of the Councils or the Region is compromised.
Sec.3d – Every nation in Gatesville is allowed to vote and justify their decision in the offsite boards, excepting the High Council whose explanation may unfairly and disproportionately influence other member nations.
Sec.3e – Members of the Lower Council are allowed to endorse whomever they want, despite the persuasions of other nations. Nations are also allowed to vote in any way they please about United Nations proposals, despite the persuasions of other nations. No member nation is permitted to accrue more UN endorsements than the Official Regional Delegate. Nations with as much as 70% of the endorsements of the Delegate, or nations who are actively seeking to surpass the Delegate, will be dealt with appropriately by the Founders.
Sec.3f – All matters of war, whether aid is deemed necessary or not, must be reported to the High Council. The same is true of any behavior deemed to be suspicious or threatening to Gatesville.
Section 4 - Provisions and Conditions
Sec.4a – The Founders may overrule, at any time and for any reason, any of the above provisions, in recognition of Their unique positions as Dictators of Dictators.
Sec.4b – This Constitution of Gatesville must be available and easily accessible to the nations of Gatesville and other nations curious about Gatesville’s aims, values and processes.
Sec.4c – This constitution may be amended as necessary, when the proposed amendment is approved by at least 50% by the Lower Council, and approved of through free and fair debate by the High Council.
Sec.4d – This document may be freely cited as “The Constitution of Gatesville”.
** Note: The Constitution of Gatesville is currently under revision by the High Council. **
Miscellaneous
Gatesville is a member of The Union of Sovereigns, an alliance dedicated to mutual defence and the defence of National Sovereignty. The regional forums can be found here.
