Difference between revisions of "Sober Thought"

Revision as of 19:03, 13 April 2005

This article describes the Community of Sober Thought as it applies to NationStates gameplay. For the real life motivation of the creator of Sober Thought, see Sober Thought real.

Government

Sober Thought is a secular republic in which the federation, the provinces and the municipalities all have constitutional rights and obligations described in each of their respective sections. No government may promote religion or monarchy, and no religious or (former) royal person shall be elected or employed by any level of government except on the same basis as other citizens.

Federal government

The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over: defence, foreign and domestic intelligence, international relations, criminal law, constitutional law, prisons, currency, weights and measures, the constitution (including entrenched civil rights), maritime transportation, air transportation, communications. The House of the Provinces may choose the official language(s) of the federal government and its agencies. It has shared jurisdiction with the provinces over: education, ground transportation.

The federal government is represented by the Community Conscience (head of state elected by universal suffrage), Federal Leader (head of government elected by the House of the Federation) and Provinces’ Speaker (chair of and elected by the House of the Provinces).

It may fund itself by import and export levies and income taxes. It may borrow on its own credit.

Community Conscience

The people of Sober Though believe that it must exist as a community or it is no longer worth of the name Sober Thought. The electorate as a whole chooses, from a list of candidates vetted by the House of the Provinces, the Community Conscience as head of state.

The Community Conscience performs largely a ceremonial role but has large reserve powers to defend and promote the constitution and values of the country. After an election, the Community Conscience chooses the leader of the largest party or party coalition in the House of the Federation to serve as Federal Leader or prime minister. Subsequently, the House of the Federation may remove the Federal Leader provided it simultaneously elects a new one.

House of the Federation

Also known as the parliament, this body consists of 300 representatives representing no more than 240 (currently 230) electoral districts in the following manner:

The total population of the country is divided by 300, the total number of HF seats, to establish the representational quotient (i.e., how many people per HF seat). Each province is assigned HF seats based on these calculations subject to the following rules: each province must have at least one HF seat, fractional seats due to a province are added from the province with the fewest HF seats to that with the most, fractional seats due from a province are deducted from the provinces with the most HF seats to that with the least.

Within each province, MHFs are elected in the following manner:

• If there is only one MHF, simple plurality in an electoral district comprising the entire province.
• If there are two MHFs, the two candidates with the largest number of votes in an electoral district comprising the entire province.
• If there are more than two MHFs, four fifths (or the next smallest fraction possible) of the members shall be elected in single-member electoral districts. One fifth (or the next largest fraction possible) shall be elected for provincial party lists based on the proportional vote of each party’s candidates and the straight party vote.

Current seats/districts are assigned and voted on as follows: Central Province 110/88, Eastern 69/55 (missed a round up), Mountain 39/31 (missed a round up), Western 29/23 (missed a round up), Lakes 11/8, Plains (got an unearned round up) 10/8, Ocean, River (correct round up) 9/7, Capital (got an unearned round up) 7/5, North Island 5/4, South Island (got an unearned round up) 2/1.

House of the Provinces

This chamber of government is designed to represent the interests of the provinces. Therefore, each province sets it own conditions for choosing its Members of the House of the Provinces, such election in its own provincial legislature, direct election by the people or simply by the sitting provincial government choosing its own members to have dual duty in the provincial legislature and the House of the Provinces.

There is no set number of seats in this legislative body; rather, they are assigned on the following basis: provinces with one percent or less of the national population receive 1 seat; those with more than one but less than five receive 2; those with five but less than ten receive 3; those with ten but less than fifteen receive 4; those with fifteen or more receive 5. Current membership is 30: Central Province 5, Eastern 5, Mountain 4, Western 3, Lakes 2, Plains 2, Ocean 2, River 2, Capital 2, North Island 2, South Island 1.

Provincial governments

Provincial governments each have exclusive jurisdiction over: police, health, civil law and natural resources. Each provincial government may establish its official language(s) based on its own procedures. It has shared jurisdiction with the federal government over: education, ground transportation.

Provinces may fund themselves through property taxes.

Individual provinces

Each province, except the Capital Province, had its own reasons for joining the federation. Capital Province was created from two existing provinces to provide a neutral territory for the federal institutions. Once created or admitted into the federation, provinces may not be merged or severed without their consent or the consent of the House of the Federation.

By population (percentage of country’s population):
Central Province: 36.7%
Eastern Province: 23.3%
Mountain Province: 13.3%
Western Province: 9.9%
Lakes Province: 3.7%
Plains Province: 3.1%
South Island Province: 3.0%
Braunekuste Province: 2.9%
Capital Province: 2.1%
North Island Province: 1.6%
Potato Island Province: 0.4%

Provincial adhesion, secession and expulsion

While not a true confederal union, Sober Thought’s values of democracy extend the right of self-determination to each province (except Capital Province) and the federation as a whole to eject members (except Capital Province).

A sovereign country may become one or more provinces of Sober Thought if two thirds or more of the House of the Provinces answer ‘yes’ to the following invariable motion: “Are you in favour of admitting X Country to Sober Thought and making it Y Province(s)?”

In the year following a successful vote, the soon-to-be-former country must create a provincial government which meets Sober Thought’s constitutional requirements. Failure to do so will prevent adhesion.

Legal secession of a province may be secured if two thirds or more of the voters answer ‘yes’ to the following invariable referendum question: “Are you in favour of seceding from Sober Thought and becoming a separate country?”

In the year following a successful secession referendum, the federal government and the soon-to-be-former province will negotiate the terms of secession on the following conditions: residents of the seceding province lose citizenship in Sober Thought and may regain it only on the same conditions applying to other foreigners, and in the event that an agreement on the division of assets and liabilities cannot be reached, the federal government may seize and dispose of all physical or moveable federal assets in the seceding province.

Any attempts at secession outside this framework will be opposed by whatever civil and military means the federal government directs and secessionists will be prosecuted for treason as well as any overt acts they may commit.

Expulsion of a province (besides Capital Province) may be secured if two thirds or more of the members of the House of the Provinces answer ‘yes’ to the following invariable motion: “Are you in favour of expelling X Province from Sober Thought and making it a separate country?” Negotiations are identical to secession except that it is the provincial government which may seize and dispose of all federal assets located in the province if another agreement cannot be reached.

Municipal governments

Once chartered by a province, municipalities may not be merged, divided or altered without their consent. Municipalities may not move provinces without the concurrent assent of the governments of the municipality, the original province and the proposed province.

Municipalities have exclusive jurisdiction over municipal planning (zoning), fire protection and garbage disposal. Each municipal government may establish its official languages(s) subject to provincial law and municipal government decisions.

They may fund themselves by sales taxes.

Civil and human rights and responsibilities

The following Charter of Civil and Human Rights and Responsibilities, known as the Charter for short, is an important part of the constitution.

I. Application
1. Every civil and human right recognized by the government is balanced by a reciprocal responsibility on the part of persons to one another.

2. Every civil and human right is subject only to such limits as are demonstrably justifiable in a democratic society.

3. The Community Conscience, the House of the Federation and the House of the Provinces shall concurrently decide which limits are demonstrably justifiable in a democratic society.

4. Every resident has the rights and responsibilities outlined in the section on human rights.

5. Every citizen has the rights and responsibilities outlined in both the sections on human and civil rights.

6. The provision of minimum rights below does not preclude the extension of other protections that do not have the status of rights.

II. Human Rights
1. Every person has the right to life and to choose medical treatment.

2. Every person has the right to be arrested and detained only for legal reasons promptly provided.

3. Every person so arrested has the right to aid of legal counsel.

4. Every person charged and convicted of a crime may not again be charged and convicted of the same crime. This does not preclude a civil suit.

5. Every person has the right to freedom of thought, belief and religion and to express these rights in private settings.

6. Every person has the right to receive government or publicly available services without regard to race, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexuality, disability or handicap.

III. Civil Rights
1. Every citizen has the right to choose democratic representatives and serve as one.

2. Every citizen has the right of peaceful assembly for political or social purposes.

3. Every citizen has the right of peaceful association with other persons.

4. Every citizen has the right of public expression of peaceful thought, conscience, belief and religion.

5. Every citizen has the right to movement within and outside the country.

6. Every naturalized citizen has the right and responsibility to see these rights and responsibilities preserved.

International relations and national defence

The main purpose of international relations is to provide security to the federation and its citizens. Thus, the two are closely intertwined.

International relations

The federation shall solicit and maintain defensive alliances with fellow democracies and be active in defence of democracy at the United Nations and other international forums. Relations with undemocratic nations are both possible and desirable, but a support of democratic principles is required for close relations.

Short-term humanitarian aid may be provided regardless of the anti-democratic government of a nation in need, but long-term international aid will be commensurate with the level of democracy in the country. These services are integrated with the national defence forces.

National defence

Although the armed forces provide the primary defence of the constitution and of the federation, they are assisted by other organized and unorganized bodies.

Sober Thought recognizes the following types of services as integral to its defence during peacetime:

• Armed forces: Unified services with subordinate ground, naval and air forces are always active and are deployed at the direction of the Community Leader. All combat, combat support and logistical services of the armed forces are in the public sector and no contracting out is permitted. Full-time professional soldiers are volunteer who must maintain Sober Thought citizenship, be at least 18 years of age, maintain physical and mental health or accept treatment for illness, and profess allegiance to the federation and its constitution (including its civil rights provisions).

• Civil guard: Part-time citizen-soldiers volunteer to be trained to the standard of the professional armed forces and may operate with them at short notice. They may be activated for duty within a province by its provincial leader or for duty in another province or overseas by a vote in the House of the Provinces.

• Emergency services: Civilians already working in the fields of law enforcement, firefighting, first aid, search and rescue, civil defence, etc., are considered here. While the federal government sets the standards for these organizations, the organizations themselves may be run privately (except for police).

• Humanitarian services: Civilians may choose to work within or outside the country to provide short-term humanitarian aid, long-term developmental aid or democracy-building expertise. Again, the federal government sets the standard but private organizations meeting those standards may choose to register as official humanitarian services.

• Non-violent civilian defence: Civilians who will neither bear arms nor serve in a non-combattant military organization for reasons such as religion or conscience nor join the emergency or humanitarian services may elect to serve in non-violence civilian defence. NVCD would plan and execute campaigns of passive resistance to any invader.

• Vital industries: The government, in consultation with the armed forces, designates certain industries such as vehicle manufacturing, transportation and communication as economic sectors vital to the defence of the country.

In wartime, adult citizens who are not already enrolled in one of these six areas will be conscripted and assigned roles as needed. Exemptions will be granted only on grounds of psychological or physical unsuitability, and only after all options at employment in one of these services has been exhausted. Conscientious objectors may be provided with alternative or non-violent service, but they may not avoid service even if they are chosen for the armed forces.

Education

Education is a prerequisite to an informed electorate and democratic society, so Sober Thought places a strong emphasis upon it. “Free” in the education system means at no direct cost to the student or guardian, to be paid for by public taxation or other government revenues.

Primary, intermediate and secondary education

Education is compulsory until age 15. Furthermore, it is free, public and secular until the end of secondary school. Any religious education, besides the study of comparative religion, shall take place outside the secular school hours. With the consent of the secular schools, religious education may be conducted on school property outside secular school hours.

Education is compulsory from age 6. At the request of guardians and with the permission of school authorities, it may begin earlier. Primary education consists of six levels (grades) and is normally completed by age 12. It goal is basic literacy and numeracy.

Intermediate education consists of three levels (grades) and is normally completed by age 15. Its goal is imbue civic and social rights and responsibilities, while building on primary education.

Secondary education consists of three levels (grades) and is normally completed by age 18. Its goal is to prepare students for employment or tertiary education and it may be streamed (channelled) to those students with differing objectives. Movement between streams shall be permitted where academic performance meets the entry requirements.

Tertiary education

The federal government shall pay the full education cost of the top one percent of applicants for secular tertiary education, half the cost of the next five percent and one quarter the cost of the next ten percent. Provincial governments may offer similar incentives but they may also attach such conditions as they see fit, e.g., residency in a province after graduation, attendance at a provincial-owned institution, entry into a specific program, etc.

Apprenticeship programs for construction, mechanical, and other physical trades are an integral part of tertiary education. Entry requirements are normally completion of secondary school, but completion of intermediate school and a successful entry test are acceptable. Apprenticeship is gear towards immediate employment in a trade and it is funded in equal portions by the trades themselves (by the difference between an apprentice’s fractional earnings and the earnings of a qualified tradesperson), the provincial government and the student.

College is similar to apprenticeship but for trades that do not include a large physical component and involve mainly providing services to other people. It is funded in equal measures by the industry and trade associations which have a say in the curriculum of colleges and by the students themselves on the same basis as university students below.

University provides no explicit occupational training and is purely an intellectually exploratory exercise. University is funded in whole by the students themselves on the basis of the actual costs of learning. Federal loans are available to students on bases similar to low-interest mortgages.

The federal government establishes the minimum program standards for granting degrees but otherwise is uninvolved in their governance unless it chooses to establish its own universities where it may compel its scholarship winners to attend as a condition of the scholarship. Provincial governments may establish their own universities on a similar basis and in which they may discriminate against out-of-province students.

Professional education is provided for such fields as law, medicine and accounting which would allow graduates a reasonable prospect to become self-employed. Each professional institution must meet federal government standards but may collect its fees in any way it desires.

Economy

An economy cannot grow without a strong education sector as outlined above. Therefore, this is a shared responsibility of the private and public sectors.

Private sector economy

While free enterprise is permitted, valued and encouraged, it is not at the expense of social obligations and not by avoiding the true cost of business decisions. Therefore, goods are the responsibility of the industry from production of raw materials, manufacture, packaging, recycling or destruction. To enforce this responsibility, many business have formed self-governing industry associations which arrange their own membership and governance procedures for their constituent businesses. A business not belonging an association must bear all the responsibility for its own products.

For example, a steel company relying on iron ore that is strip mined, smelted with brown coal and whose slag is discarded into ecologically sensitive marshland is responsible (through its industry association) for the cost of landscaping, air pollution controls and marsh restoration. If a steel company sells structural beams to a construction company, the steel industry assocation must recycle or safely dispose of them at the end of the building's life.

Trade unions are permitted but no worker may be compelled to join one. Non-unionized workers at a business covered by a trade union collective agreements may be compelled to pay dues as if they were members. When a majority of workers at a business are unionized, management must conduct its negotiations with that union. Contract disputes between labour and management will be arbitrated provincially as a branch of civil law. Federal government employees may not be unionized. Other governments may make other decisions on this matter.

Public sector economy

Government is directly involved in the economy only where national sovereignty demands it or a natural monopoly exists that a regulated private sector organization cannot or will not operate.

For example, police powers may only be exercised by government-funded provincial police, and may not be delegated to private security firms or private police forces. The postal service is an agency of the federal government.