Treaty of the Organization of Sovereign Nations
The Treaty of the Organization of Sovereign Nations governs the Organization of Sovereign Nations and was officialy ratified on June 1, 2004 by representatives from Jasque, Libertas Honestus, and Winnipeg. The Treaty is open to nations of all regions of the world so long as they are approved in a basic application process.
Treaty of the Organization of Sovereign Nations
Preamble
Through our common bond determined by our adherence to national sovereignty, we likeminded nations assemble to heighten our prosperity through reason and integrity. Bound by oath we recognize and shall adhere to this Treaty and will thus forth be known as the Organization of Sovereign Nations.
Article I - Governmental Structure
Paragraph I: The Assembly of Ambassadors
The Assembly of Ambassadors (the “Assembly”) shall consist of all signatory nations to this document, who shall each possess membership in the Organization of Sovereign Nations and who may reside in any region of the world. Members shall appoint at their own discretion a resident of the nation, to be known as an Ambassador, to send to the halls of the OSN for the purpose of representing said nation. Expulsion of an Assembly member shall occur in the event of a majority vote in favor of such a motion among active Council members. It is the duty of the Assembly and its members to present legislation, treaties, and any pertinent issues before the Hall, and to serve in the Ministries and Civil Departments. Any member reserves the right to retire from the Assembly at any time that said member sees fit, and in doing so forfeits any other positions that said member may hold in the OSN.
Paragraph II: The Hall of Representatives
The Hall of Representatives (the “Hall”) shall consist of thirteen members, or one member for every twenty-five Ambassadors of the Assembly, whichever shall be highest, who shall be elected every month by the Assembly from its own membership. Ambassadors elected to the Hall in this manner shall be known as Representatives. The Hall shall have the duty of voting on legislation, oversight of Ministries and Civil Departments, and providing advice and assistance to the Council upon the Council’s request. Oversight of said Ministries and Civil Departments shall only be conferred upon members of the Hall at the behest of the Council. The Council can eject Representatives from the Hall in the event of a majority vote in favor of their expulsion. All members of the Hall shall retain all privileges afforded them as a concurrent member of the Assembly of Ambassadors.
Paragraph III: The Council of Governance
The Council of Governance (the “Council”) shall consist of a group of members, whose tenure therein shall be permanent so long as they abide by this Treaty, abide by the Council’s accepted rules of self-regulation, and maintain the support of their fellow Council members. Ambassadors serving on the Council shall have the title Councilor. It shall be the duty of Councilors to pass legislation, serve as the judiciary, and oversee the general governmental function. New Councilors shall be appointed only in the event of a plurality vote. Councilors can only be ejected in the event of a unanimous vote among their fellow, active Councilors. Councilors shall oversee the activities of Ministries and Civil Departments, the power over which they shall retain themselves or delegate to members of the Hall at their discretion. Councilors shall retain a position in the Assembly, but not in the Hall. The Council must always consist of an odd number of Councilors. All members of the Council must reside in the region of OSN.
Article II - Procedure of Operation
Paragraph I - Duties of the Assembly of Ambassadors
The Assembly shall be given the task of proposing and drafting legislation, treaties, and any other pertinent issues in order to bring them before the Hall for vote. Any member of the Assembly can present legislation at any time, and a second vote in favor of the motion shall send the bill before the Hall for vote. In addition, any willing member of the Assembly may be called upon by select members of the Hall to serve in the Ministries and Civil Departments.
Paragraph II - Duties of the Hall of Representatives
The Hall shall be given the task of voting on legislation proposed by the Assembly. In addition, any willing Representative may be called upon by the Council to serve as Director of a Civil Department, or Minister of a Ministry. Directors and Ministers shall have the duty of selecting members of the Assembly to serve in the Ministries and Civil Departments under their oversight.
Paragraph III - Duties of the Council of Governance
The Council shall retain the right to vote on and draft important legislation at its own discretion independent of the Hall and Assembly. The Council shall be charged with appointing and removing Directors and Ministers. The Council shall also hold the position of the judiciary in the Organization of Sovereign Nations. In the event that a case is brought before the Council, and if 2/5 of active Councilors deem the case worthy of a trial, then the case shall be brought to trial - otherwise, the case will be dismissed. In the event of a trial, each active Councilor shall preside over the trial, and the majority opinion shall decide the verdict. At this point, sentencing shall commence, and the majority opinion with respect to sentencing shall prevail. In addition, the Council shall hold exclusive and sole jurisdiction and oversight over the First Sovereign Bank.
Paragraph IV – Ministries
Ministries shall be established and shall be charged with the handling of the OSN’s normal affairs. Ministries shall be headed by a Representative or a Councilor, who shall possess the title Minister, and who shall appoint from the Assembly the members to work within the Ministry. Ministers shall be appointed by the Council at its discretion, and must be willing to report the status of their Ministry and its current mission plan at the request of any Councilor. The Ministries shall include, but not be limited to, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Vital Records and Information.
A. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall house delegates and embassies from foreign regions and organizations, serve as the OSN’s official representation to the world, conduct foreign policy, and negotiate treaties with foreign bodies. However, to be ratified a treaty must be approved by the Council.
B. Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Ministry of Internal Affairs shall be responsible for approving new nations and their Ambassadors to sign this document, monitoring and reporting on members' compliance with the law, and developing regulations for the normal activities of the Hall and Assembly if no such regulations are currently prescribed by law or the Council. Such regulations must pass a vote by the Hall or the Council in order to serve as law.
C. Ministry of Vital Records and Information
The Ministry of Vital Records and Information shall be charged with keeping track of official agreements, alliances, and treaties of any kind within not only the OSN, but also the world. In addition, it shall be responsible for maintaining up-to-date and accurate information regarding regions and nations, including their status, their relation to the OSN and the world, and other important information. However, it shall be limited to gathering only that information that is publicly accessible or that is openly submitted to the OSN.
Paragraph IV - Civil Departments
Civil Departments shall be established and shall be governed in accordance with this document, but shall possess autonomy in all functions not provided for in this Treaty. Civil Departments shall be headed by a Representative, a Councilor, or its founder, who shall possess the title Director, and who shall appoint from the Assembly the members to work within the Civil Department. Directors shall be appointed by the Council at its discretion, and shall retain their status so long as they abide by this document and actively govern with justice, competence, and the well being of the OSN in mind. In order to determine compliance the Council may at any time call a Director before them for questioning. Noncompliance will be determined by a vote of the Council, with a majority required to remove the Director. The Civil Departments shall include, but not be limited to, the OSN Chamber of Commerce, the First Sovereign Bank, and the Globally Unified Statistics and Trade Organization.
A. OSN Chamber of Commerce
This department shall be in charge of issues of trade, development, and other business and economic related issues. Any official trade agreements, common markets, trade policies, or any such international or domestic economic arrangements or issues shall be the jurisdiction of this department.
B. First Sovereign Bank
This shall be the official Central Bank of GUSTO and shall coin the official currency of the OSN, the Sovereign. At no time shall governance or control of this department rest outside of the Council.
C. Globally Unified Statistics and Trade Organization
The Globally Unified Statistics and Trade Organization (GUSTO) shall be an international body charged with promoting, monitoring, and regulating trade among willing nations throughout the world. It shall be charged with its own self-governance, so long as said governance does not run contrary to this document or any other policies of the Council. The nation of Jasque shall run GUSTO, and the ambassador from Jasque shall be Director for life. Membership in the OSN shall not be a requirement of membership within GUSTO.
Paragraph V - Presiding Chairman of the Council of Governance
Every month a new chairman of the Council will be appointed from its body of Councilors. The Chairman shall hold no additional powers aside from his fellow Councilors other than basic duties such as calling to order votes among the Council. The Chairman shall be voted into office by a plurality vote of the Council.
Paragraph VI – Voting
All voting within the OSN and its Civil Departments will be open and free from coercion and all undue influences. All voting shall span a period of at least three full days, but shall not last longer than seven days. In the case where all eligible voters have cast a ballot, the voting will end without regard to the aforementioned time constraint. All nations shall have the right to exactly one vote, and nonvoting nations shall never count towards the total vote tally. Normal voting shall be decided by a plurality.
Paragraph VII – Veto Powers
All Councilors shall possess the power to veto any vote or election held within the OSN. This power must be exercised during the duration of the vote or election being held or within 3 days of the beginning of the vote or election, whichever period of time shall be longest. Upon being vetoed, voting will be immediately suspended, and the active Councilors, excepting the Councilor who issued the veto, shall have one week to decide to uphold or contest the veto. If the deciding Councilors shall all choose to contest the veto then the veto shall not stand, and voting shall resume with adequate time. Otherwise the veto will stand, and the vote or election will be nullified and ended without effect. The process by which the Council chooses to uphold or contest a veto shall not be subject to veto, nor shall the decision making and sentencing process of a trial be subject to veto.
Paragraph VIII– Membership
In order to enjoy membership within the OSN a nation must first present to the Ministry of Internal Affairs its intention to join. The Ministry shall then vote on whether to allow the nation membership or not. If the nation’s vote passes, that nation shall be free to sign this document, thus becoming a member of the Assembly and the OSN. Nation’s who have been previously removed from the OSN by the Council shall not be free to sign this document again except upon a vote of approval by the Council.
Paragraph IX– Crime and Punishment
The OSN, and the Council, shall possess the powers necessary to implement any verdicts issued in accordance with the laws of the OSN.
Paragraph X – Ambiguities
The Council shall be the sole authority and arbitrator in the event of any ambiguity of law.
Article III - Special Provisions for the First Sovereign Bank
Paragraph I - General Purpose
The First Sovereign Bank shall have the purpose of overseeing the coinage and security of, as well as the monetary policy relevant to, the Sovereign, the official currency of GUSTO. No nation of this region or any other is compelled to accept as their currency the Sovereign, but it shall be the official currency of both the OSN and GUSTO.
Paragraph II - Oversight
The Council shall hold chief and sole oversight over the activities of First Sovereign Bank. They, and they alone, shall control monetary policy relating to the Sovereign, as well as take those actions necessary to uphold the fidelity and security of both the First Sovereign Bank and its currency, the Sovereign.
Article IV – Limitations of the Alliance
Paragraph I - Defense
At no time shall any standing military be raised under the auspices of the OSN or any of its Civil Departments. Any member is free to create a separate military venture at their discretion, but no military shall originate from, act under the orders of, or hold as a base of operations, the OSN.
Paragraph II – Intelligence
At no time shall any intelligence service or network of spies be raised under the auspices of the OSN or any of its civil departments. Any member is free to create a separate intelligence services at their discretion, but no spy network shall originate from, act under the orders of, or hold as a base of operations, the OSN.
Paragraph III – Freedom of Religion
At no time shall the OSN, any of its Civil Departments, any of its members or their ambassadors, use this alliance to infringe upon the religious beliefs of another nation, its government, or its populace. At no time shall the OSN or any OSN Civil Departments, found or support any religious institution or belief, rather it be specific or broadly defined.
Paragraph IV – Freedom of Speech
At no time shall the OSN, any of its Civil Departments, any of its members or their ambassadors, use coercive means to deny or abridge a member’s right to political speech within the OSN and its Civil Departments. However, this protection does not extend to speech with unreasonably malicious intentions, nor does it extend to proven lies on matters of fact, or to speech of a nonpolitical nature.
Paragraph V – Restrictions on Civil Departments
No Civil Department may enter into any treaty or contract of any sort without the consent of the Council. No Civil Department may violate this document or any law or regulation of the OSN.
Paragraph VI - Sovereignty
At no time shall any nation's sovereignty be unreasonably infringed as a result of its membership in this organization.
Article V – Supreme law of the OSN
Paragraph I – Treaty of the OSN
This document, to be known as the Treaty of the Organization of Sovereign Nations, shall be signed by all members, and shall be the supreme law of the OSN, above all men, all laws, and all regulations of the OSN, its governing bodies, and its Civil Departments.
Article VI – Ratification and Amendment
Paragraph I – Method of Amendment
This document may only be changed or amended by a 3/4 vote of either the Hall or the Council.
Paragraph II – Ratification
We, the undersigned signatory parties to the Treaty of the Organization of Sovereign Nations, do hereby agree to the following provisions of this document, in its current form and in any future form it may take, so long as it is amended in accordance with the provisions of this document.
The Undersigned:
See Also
- First Sovereign Bank
- Globally Unified Statistics and Trade Organization
- Organization of Sovereign Nations
- OSN
- Sovereign
