Texas Constitution

Overview

The Nations of the Region of Texas establish this Constitution to form a union based on respect for individual sovereignty. The Region serves its Nations rather than rules them. The Articles described in this document should not be perceived as unequivocal, but are tenets mutally agreed upon by the Nations of Texas. This Constitution not only seeks to unite the Nations of Texas in common belief, but also provides a basis for a stronger, safer Texas by ensuring justice, coordinating common defense, encouraging trade and furthering communications.

Article I: Equal Suffrage in Regional Affairs

When it comes to affairs affecting the entire Region of Texas, each player shall have one (1) vote on a course of action. A player is the controller of one or more nations. It is illegal for one player to cast multiple votes for any issue.

Article II: Declaration of a Texas National Animal

Be it hereby resolved that the National Animal of The Great Region of Texas shall be the Armadillo.

Article III: The Right to Bear Arms

The right of individual citizens to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Period. No part of this article shall be interpreted or misinterpreted as reserving this right for groups of citizens such as "National Guard" organizations, and the right is not predicated upon the existence of a militia.

Article IV: Freedom of Religion

No nation of Texas shall suffer any persecution or sanctions for any religious beliefs they may or may not hold. There shall be religous tolerance amongst the nations of the region.

Article V: The Right of Self-Determination

The governing body of the region will shall make no law or regulation governing the internal operation of any nation state within the region. Each nation state will maintain the right to govern itself in accordance with its own desires.

Article VI: Equality with Respect to the Law

The equality of all nations before the law is recognized. No nation shall be deprived of any right, privilege or immunity, nor exempted from any burden or duty unfairly.

Article VII: Freedom of Speech

Freedom of the press shall be an inalienable right in Texas. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of all nations. Nations and leaders may freely write and publish their sentiments on all subjects, as well as being responsible for the abuse of such right.

Article VIII: Mutual Defense

One of the main purposes of another Constitution (which has been pretty successful for a couple of hundred years or so) was to deal with the "common defense". This is in keeping with the overall philosophy of identifying and specifying only those issues which benefit directly from mutual cooperation, and leaving everything else not otherwise specified up to the individual states, or in our case, the individual nations in the region.

Interestingly, this concept was specified in general terms in the US Constitution. You need to go back to the Articles of Confederation to find specific text, updated here for contemporary consumption:

The nations of Texas enter into a firm league of friendship for their common defense. They agree to assist each other against all attacks made upon them.

Article IX: The Neutrality Act

No nation may ever threaten another nation. No nation shall attack another nation unless there is an immediate threat. Texas has never been at war and hopes never to be at war. There is no glory in killing.

Article X: Texas Representative Council

Texas shall freely elect a Regional Council.

The purpose of the Council shall include:

1. To mediate any internal disputes that may threaten Regional peace, security or prosperity.

2. The make up of the Council shall include the Cabinet Members of Texas and enough freely elected citizens of Texas to bring the count of the body up to 15% of the population of Texas at the time of the nomination process. New elections will be held quarterly for Council Members.

3. The Council will adjudicate any internal complaints and will assist in formulating reponses and courses of action in international affairs.

4. The council will preside in matters regarding breaches of the Texas Constitution.

5. Any Alliance approved by the Cabinet will be sent to the TRC for approval. If the vote of the full TRC is against the proposed alliance then the proposed alliance will be declined.

6. The Council shall make no law, nor pass any bills to collect revenue or make expenditures, but only deliberate and vote on resolutions of good will, recognition, and celebration.

Article XI: Conditions for Ejection

Whereas Texas is a free region with open borders, conduct that will lead to a nation's ejection from the region should be clearly defined.

1. Spamming the Texas Civil Headquarters Message Board with repeated messages, or, messages containing disparaging remarks about Texas or its fine citizens, or, recruiting directly on the Message Board thereby disrupting Texas business.

Spamming that includes content that is: obscene illegal threatening (in a non-game manner) malicious defamatory disruptive See: NationStates Etiquette Policy

2. Known members of invader groups may be ejected. Texas will not harbor invader groups nor condone such activity.

3. Violating Article I Equal Suffrage in Regional Affairs by casting more than one (1) vote in any issue may result in ejection.

Article XII: Texas Elections

Cabinet Members

On a quarterly basis Texas shall hold elections for new Cabinet Members. The election process for Cabinet Members shall include a one week period for nominations, a one week period for campaigning followed by a one week period for voting. Nominations and voting shall be open to all actively registered citizens of Texas as of the first day of nominations.

Texas Constitution

On a quarterly basis Texas shall hold a vote on Texas Constitutional matters. These include Ammendments as well as new Articles. The voting process for on the Texas Constitution shall include a one week period for additional Article submissions, a one week period for commenting and rewording, followed by a one week period for voting. New Articles may be submitted any time between voting sessions and will be open to all actively registered citizens of Texas (as of the date of submission). Voting will be limited to actively registered citizens of Texas as of the first day of the additional Article submission period.

Texas Representative Council

On a quarterly basis Texas shall hold elections for new members of the Texas Representative Council (per Article X Texas Representative Council). The election process for Representative Council shall include a one week period for nominations, a one week period for campaigning followed by a one week period for voting. Nominations and voting shall be open to all actively registered citizens of Texas as of the first day of nominations. Incumbents are not guaranteed their position and must be re-elected.

These individual electoral processes will run concurrently. Schedules will be maintained by the President of Texas and published publicly on the Regional Offsite Forum Calendar well in advance of any proceedings.

The elections will begin on the last Monday of February, May, August and November of each year.

Article XIII: The Basis of Power

The position of President of Texas will be held by the Founder of Texas until such time as President steps down from that position, or until such time as a majority vote calls on the President to resign. In case of a resignation, the Presidency of Texas is transferred to the UN Delegate of Texas until a new President is elected.

Article XIV: Regional Security

In the interest of regional security no nation may engage in the practice of verbal or written endorsement swapping. This means that no nation shall be allowed to telegram or post messages promising to swap endorsements. No other restrictions shall be placed on endorsements and nations are free to endorse whoever they please, including endorsing a nation because that nation endorsed them, so long as it is done out of free will and not mutual written or verbal agreement.

Article XV: Texas Cabinet

1. The President of Texas makes overall decisions determining the course of Texas activities and alliances, the defense of the region and provides general stewardship. The policies of the President shall not impinge upon any nation of Texas's sovereign rights. The President will also be held responsible for making and keeping Texas great. The position of President will not be elected but will inherit the position by virtue of being Founder of Texas. The President will handle all requests for Texas opinions on UN matters.

2. All other Cabinet positions and associated duties shall be determined by the then existing Cabinet and the Texas Representative Council and elected (excepting the position of Texas Land Commissioner, which may be either an elected or appointed position, as decided by the President of Texas) in the manner so stated in Article XII: Texas Elections.

Article XVI: Texas Citizenship for Allies Ejectees

Any nation that is ejected from the region of an ally of Texas shall be considered ineligible for citizenship in Texas. Any nation in that classification entering Texas shall be informed of this regulation and will be asked to leave immediately or be ejected. This Article will apply to any nations entering Texas as of the date of passage forward.

Article XVII: Impeachment of Cabinet Members

1. The President of Texas may dismiss any Cabinet or Texas Representative Council member for the following reasons:

a. prolonged inactivity without warning (defined as 28 days on NationStates or the offsite forum) b. gross misconduct c. non-compliance with the Texas Constitution

2. Any nation, for the reasons stated in section 1, may request the dismissal of any Cabinet or Texas Representative Council member, with the exception of the President of Texas. This request must be approved by a simple majority (greater than %50) of the members of the Texas Representative Council.

3. In the event of the dismissal of a Cabinet or Texas Representative Council member mentioned in section 1, or a request as mentioned in section 2, elections shall be held to determine the new Cabinet or Texas Representative Council member. The impeached Cabinet or Texas Representative Council member is automatically nominated. Since this will be a special circumstance, voting will also be special. Instead of the standard 7 days for each of the 3 phases (per Article XII: Texas Elections) there will be a 3 day period for each phase.

Article XVIII: Cabinet Nominations

All Nominated Nations for a Cabinet position are Automatically Nominated for the Texas Representative Council Any nation standing for election to any cabinet level position in the Regional Government, whether incumbent or challenger, is automatically nominated to a seat on the TRC.

Article XIX: Texas Crisis Prevention

If the President and/or the UN Delegate are unable to perform their duties due to losing access to their controls, the Vice President temporarily assumes the Presidency or UN Delegacy by endeavouring to gain access to the relevant controls instead. In the event of multiple Vice Presidents, the Vice President with the most endorsements assumes this role. In the absence of a Vice President to fulfill this role the Secretary of State will then assume the Presidency, with the Secretary of Defense to provide assistance as necessary. Once the President’s or UN Delegate's position can be restored everything will then return to its natural order.

Article XX: Texas Constitution Follows NationStates Rules

No changes or amendments to the Texas Constitution will be made which would cause Texas or any of the member nations of Texas to be in conflict with the rules governing NationStates. Texas is a part of NationStates and simply must follow NationStates rules.