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by The Community of XKI Dispatch Center. . 799 reads.

XKI Welcome Guide: Regional Government


Introduction

In NationStates, each region has its own unique form of government which is used to make important regional decisions regarding laws, acceptable behavior, the regions' foreign affairs, and to organize events and activities. In 10000 Islands, our regional government system is outlined in the LinkConstitution and then clarified in a variety of subsequent Linkstatutes.

The leader of 10000 Islands is the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive holds the password to the founder nation (Grub), administers the regional forum and Discord, appoints many executive officials, and is Commander-in-Chief of the Ten thousand Islands Treaty Organization (TITO). The Chief Executive has a life-tenure and is selected by the outgoing Chief Executive whenever they choose to retire from their duties. The fourth and current Chief Executive is Markanite.

The legislative branch of 10000 Islands' government is the Council of Nine composed of the Chief Executive, WA Delegate, three Ministers, and four Senators. The Council of Nine makes major decisions on behalf of the Islands and jointly performs many key regional executive functions.

Collectively, these government officials serve the citizens of 10000 Islands which are defined as all World Assembly member nations of 10000 Islands.

Separately, 10000 Islands is home to TITO, a defender military which assists regions under attack and ensures the safeguards the security of 10000 Islands.

Each of these functions is covered in greater detail throughout this Dispatch.

The Chief Executive

The Chief Executive of 10000 Islands is the leader of the region and has a variety of powers and responsibilities. The Chief Executive is selected by their predecessor and trusted with ultimate power in the region for as long as they choose to hold the post. listed in Article 2.1 of the Constitution:

Grub wrote:2.1. The duties, rights, and obligations of the Chief Executive shall be to serve as Commander in Chief of the Ten Thousand Islands Treaty Organization (TITO), to exercise the powers to eject member nations (which he may at his sole discretion temporarily confer on another citizen of 10000 Islands to act as his deputy), to appoint the chief Ministers of Executive Departments, to appoint diplomats or allow the Delegate to do so, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Councilmembers present concur, to convene the Council of Nine for any purpose whatsoever at his need and pleasure, to veto actions of the Council of Nine, and to declare war for the defense of 10000 Islands and its allies and friendly regions deemed to be under attack by aggressor regions.


In this way, the Chief Executive holds ultimate power in 10000 Islands. This system of centralized and unelected leadership is preferred because it is both more secure--preventing raiders from infiltrating the region's electoral process--and enables faster action in performing executive functions and responding to regional crises.

The current and fifth Chief Executive of 10000 Islands is Markanite and the record of past Chief Executives can be found Linkhere.

The Council of Nine

The Council of Nine is the legislative authority of 10000 Islands. The Council of Nine makes many major decisions in 10000 Islands and passes empowering legislation and oversees executive functions which are not related to regional security. Other powers of the Council of Nine per Article 3.3 of the Constitution include the power to ratify treaties, reject appointments to non-Council offices, and to advise the WA Delegate concerning WA issues. Additionally, the Council of Nine holds the power to form tribunals and function as the Supreme Court of 10000 Islands, although these powers are undefined and rarely invoked.

The Council of Nine is composed of the Chief Executive, the elected World Assembly Delegate, three appointed Ministers (leading the Ministries of Culture, Education, and Immigration), and four elected Senators. The current members of the Council of Nine are:

Chief Executive: Markanite (LinkForum Office)
WA Delegate: Astrobolt (LinkForum Office)
Minister of Education: Valentian Elysium (LinkForum Office)
Minister of Culture: Wille-Harlia (LinkForum Office)
Minister of Immigration: Aschente (LinkForum Office)
Senator for New Republica South: Vivolkha (LinkForum Office)
Senator for Blue Canaria North: Pantso (LinkForum Office)
Senior senator for Lyonnesse East: Keswickholt (LinkForum Office)
Senator for Himes West: Haivon (LinkForum Office)

To reach a member of the Council of Nine to propose an idea you may contact them via NationStates Telegram, a post in their forum office, a forum private message, or a post in the LinkPaffnia Rotunda.

The Council of Nine is governed by a set of rules regarding proper conduct and secrecy. For regional security, Council discussions are not publicized at the time the discussion is occurring. However, after the end of a Council discussion, many (but not all) discussions are publicly archived per the LinkTransparency Act. During discussions, the Council will often take public comment to hear feedback about a proposal. Past Council discussions are archived Linkhere and past public comments are archived Linkhere. The Transparency Act public comment and archiving processes are overseen by the Registrar-General. Statues are classified according to LinkNationStates relative time.

WA Delegate

The World Assembly Delegate of 10000 Islands is responsible for representing 10000 Islands in The World Assembly and is the primary official responsible for the foreign affairs of 10000 Islands per LinkNS 111-2 with oversight from the Chief Executive and Council of Nine. The current WA Delegate is Astrobolt.

As part of overseeing the foreign affairs of 10000 Islands, the WA Delegate appoints Emissaries and Ambassadors to represent 10000 Islanders abroad.

The WA Delegate must be a TITO Member with at least 10 battle stars and 50 forum posts per LinkNS 29-1. The WA Delegate is elected on the 10000 Islands forum every six months and may serve up to 2 consecutive terms per LinkNS 288-6. The list of all time 10000 Islands Delegates is found Linkhere.

Executive Ministers

The Executive Ministers of 10000 Islands are the Minister of Immigration, Minister of Education, and Minister of Culture. Each of them oversees a major executive Ministry. Ministers are appointed by the Chief Executive and serve until retirement or dismissal by the Chief Executive. In order to assist in their responsibilities, Ministers may appoint Deputy Ministers who assist them in their responsibilities.

The Ministry of Immigration is tasked by Article 2.3.1 of the Constitution with recruiting new members to 10000 Islands. Many Islanders join the region after receiving a 10000 Islands recruiting telegram sent by a Ministry of Immigration recruiter. Look Linkhere to learn about becoming a recruiter. The current Minister of Immigration is Aschente.

The Ministry of Education is tasked by Article 2.3.2 of the Constitution with helping integrate new members and introduce them to the politics and culture of 10000 Islands and NationStates. The current Minister of Education is Valentian Elysium.

The Ministry of Culture is tasked by Article 2.3.3 of the Constitution with developing the cultural program of the 10000 Islands. The current Minister of Culture is Wille-Harlia.

While Ministers have wide discretion in the daily administration of their Ministries, all Ministers report to the Chief Executive and are empowered and structured by relevant statutes.

Senators

Article 3.2 of the Constitution outlines that there will be four elected Senators in 10000 Islands who serve on the Council of Nine. Two Senator positions are elected every two months with each Senator serving a four month term. To be elected, Senators must be registered on 10000 Islands' forum and have spent at least 30 days prior to the start of the election in 10000 Islands per LinkNS 146-2. Any Senate vacancy is governed by the LinkSenate Vacancy Act. Each Senate portfolio has its own responsibilities in addition to representing the viewpoints of the citizenry on the Council of Nine. In order to fulfill these responsibilities, Senators are permitted to select Deputy Senators who do not vote on the Council of Nine.

The Senator for Blue Canaria North is tasked by LinkNS 357-2 with writing the monthly Report which updates our embassy partner regions on the internal affairs of 10000 Islands. The Senator for Blue Canaria North is normally elected in the months of January, May, and September. The current Senator for Blue Canaria North is Pantso, with no current Deputy.

The Senator for New Republica South is tasked by LinkNS 300-4 with overseeing and fostering activity in the LinkGreat Debate Hall on the 10000 Islands off site forum and conducting Delegate straw polls in advance of Delegate elections. The Senator for New Republica South is normally elected in the months of January, May, and September. The current Senator for New Republica South is Vivolkha.

The Senator for Himes West is tasked by LinkNS 288-8 with leading the 10000 Islands role playing community hosted on the Link10000 Islands forum and A Taco Archipelago RMB-only region. The Senator for Himes West is normally elected in the months of July, November, and March. The current Senator for Himes West is Haivon.
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Lastly, the Senator for Lyonnesse East is tasked with running the 10000 Islands LinkHouses and Generations system including running regular LinkHouse Cup and Shield competitions. The Lyonnesse East Senator is normally elected in the months of July, November, and March. The current Senator for Lyonnesse East is Keswickholt.

The longest consecutively serving Senator on the Council of Nine is the Senior Senator and conducts the additional duties of appointing the LinkRookie of the Quarter, and helping new coming senators. While Senior Senator is a prestigious title, they have no additional standing above other Senators. The current Senior Senator is Keswickholt.

TITO and Separation of Powers

The Ten thousand Islands Treaty Organization or TITO is the defender military of 10000 Islands. Article 4 of the Constitution specifies that TITO shall be the military and security component of 10000 Islands and that it shall be led by the Chief Executive as Commander-in-Chief.

TITO is constitutionally separate from the civilian government and no action of the Council of Nine may dictate TITO operations and no action of TITO may dictate to the Council of Nine how to run the civilian government.

TITO is overseen by TITO Command. The full staff of TITO Command is below:

Commander-in-Chief: Markanite
Field Commander: Flying Eagles
Tactical Officers: Smugglers and Mercs (Expeditionary Force), Woonsocket (Expeditionary Force), Kanta Hame, Astrobolt, Onfande, and Valentian Elysium.
Executive Officers: HN67 and Wille-Harlia.
Technical Liaisons: Kortexia and HN67.

Other Executive Appointments

Other functions of government are performed by different government officials who are not on the Council of Nine. This serves as a list of those non-Council government officials:

  • Regional Reserve Chair: The Regional Reserve Chair (RRC) is responsible for overseeing the economy of 10000 Islands on the off-site forum which uses Tacos as its currency. Specific duties include administering Linkthe 10000 Islands Stock Market, LinkAMWERP Shop Item payouts, and Linkadministering the 10000 Islands Wills system. The Regional Reserve Chair is appointed by the Chief Executive and is currently Paffnia and the Deputy Regional Reserve Chair is Woonsocket.

  • Awards Czar or Czarina: The Awards Czar or Czarina is responsible for overseeing the awards system on the 10000 Islands off-site forum. The Awards Czar is appointed by the Chief Executive and is currently Hakketomat.

  • Casino Manager: The Casino Manager is responsible for administering the lottery and other gambling programs related the economy of 10000 Islands. The Casino Manager is appointed by the Chief Executive and is currently Woonsocket and the Casino Shift Manager is Liberdon.

  • Registrar-General: The Registrar-General is responsible for maintaining the authentic text of the Constitution of 10000 Islands and statues of 10000 Islands and is responsible with administering Public Comment and archiving under the Transparency Act. The Registrar-General also serves as Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive performing any tasks which they are lawfully delegated by the Chief Executive. The Registrar-General is appointed by the Chief Executive and is currently Wille-Harlia.

  • Cartographer-General: The Cartographer-General maintains the LinkMap of 10000 Islands and the LinkMoon Map in conjunction with the LinkIslands Space Program. The Cartographer-General is appointed by the Chief Executive and is currently Paffnia and the Deputy Cartographer-General is Wille-Harlia. The current XKI Map can be viewed here and Linkhere.

  • Mayor of Shelter's Taco Island: The Mayor of Shelter's Taco Island is responsible for overseeing and conducting activities in LinkShelter's Taco Island, the off-site forum's hang out and spam fun area. Shelter's Taco Island is Linknamed after Shelter from the storm who was a long-time Mayor of Taco Island who passed away while a member of the Islands community. The Mayor of Shelter's Taco Island is appointed by the Chief Executive and is currently Jabberwocky.

  • Cultural Officer: The Cultural Officer is responsible for running cultural events in 10000 Islands to help bring nations together and build a sense of regional community. The Cultural Officer is appointed by the Chief Executive and is currently vacant.

  • Cards Co-op President: The Cards Co-op President is responsible for promoting trading cards culture in 10000 Islands and running the LinkXKI Cards Co-operative. The Cards Co-op President is appointed by the Chief Executive and is currently New Kowloon Bay who is assisted by Cards Co-op Administrators HN67.


Deputies are generally appointed by the nation they are Deputy to and those appointments are governed by the LinkDeputy Rules Act

References and Resources

This is a list of various governmental references and resources:


Constitution of 10000 Islands

Please note this is an unofficial copy of the Constitution of 10000 Islands. The official copy can be found on the off site forum Linkhere.

We, the Nations of the Ten Thousand Islands, in order to provide for our common defense, ensure justice, freedom and peace among and between our nations, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do establish this Constitution for the Ten Thousand Islands.


Article I. Citizenship


1. Citizen nations of 10000 Islands shall be all WA member nations resident in 10000 Islands. Since non-WA nations may be multiple proxies of WA nations, they shall be accepted as non-citizen residents due the full protection and liberties of 10000 Islands.


Article II. The Executive


2. The Chief Executive authority of 10000 Islands shall be vested in the Founder Nation, the United States of Grub. The Chief Executive shall hold Office for life, and shall be responsible for the conferral of the Chief Executive's authority to a successor of the Chief Executive's sole choosing.

2.1. The duties, rights, and obligations of the Chief Executive shall be to serve as Commander in Chief of the Ten Thousand Islands Treaty Organization (TITO), to exercise the powers to eject member nations (which the Chief Executive may at the Chief Executive's sole discretion temporarily confer on another citizen of 10000 Islands to act as the Chief Executive's deputy), to appoint the chief Ministers of Executive Departments, to appoint diplomats or allow the Delegate to do so, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Councilmembers present concur, to convene the Council of Nine for any purpose whatsoever at the Chief Executive's need and pleasure, to veto actions of the Council of Nine, and to declare war for the defense of 10000 Islands and its allies and friendly regions deemed to be under attack by aggressor regions.

2.2. The World Assembly Delegate shall be elected by the endorsement process of NationStates at such time and in accordance with such rules as may be set forth by the Council of Nine.

2.2.1. Any nation that is not a member of TITO shall not be eligible for election to become the WA Delegate of 10000 Islands. Furthermore, any non-TITO nation which at any time receives more than half the current endorsements of the serving WA Delegate shall be subject to ban from 10000 Islands for a period of 48 hours.

2.2.2. The duties of the WA Delegate shall be those set forth by the NationStates moderators and such duties as shall be delegated to the Delegate by the Chief Executive or the Council of Nine.

2.3. The Ministers of the following Executive Departments shall serve at the pleasure of the Chief Executive and carry out such duties as assigned, with power to appoint their deputies and treat with nations foreign and domestic in the business of their departments, subject to the approval of the Chief Executive.

2.3.1. The Ministry of Immigration, with responsibility for seeking out worthy new nations and encouraging them to join and participate in 10000 Islands.

2.3.2. The Ministry of Education, with responsibility to assist member nations in learning the NationStates game and the traditions, procedures and culture of 10000 Islands.

2.3.3. The Ministry of Culture, with responsibility to develop 10000 Islands' cultural engagement initiatives.

2.4. Other officers may be appointed by the Chief Executive or a designee, including the following (none of whom shall have a seat on the Council of Nine merely by being appointed):

2.4.1. The Cartographer-General, responsible for maintaining the map of 10000 Islands.

2.4.2. The Registrar-General, responsible for maintaining the authentic text of the Constitution and Statutes of 10000 Islands and such other records as shall be directed by the Chief Executive and the Council of Nine.

2.4.3. Ambassadors to allied or other regions of NationStates, responsible for maintaining relations with the region to which they are assigned and gaining information about the activities of their region.


Article III. The Legislative


3. The Legislative authority of 10000 Islands shall be vested in the Council of Nine of 10000 Islands.

3.1. The Council of Nine shall be comprised of The Chief Executive, the WA Delegate, the Ministers of Executive Departments, and four Senators elected by all WA Nations of 10000 Islands.

3.2. Senators shall be elected for a term of four months, two each to be elected on the second Tuesday of each odd month of the calendar year. Elections shall follow a course of one week for nomination and campaigning, after which nominations are closed and followed by one week for voting. Nomination, voting and election shall be open to all citizen nations of 10000 Islands registered as reset time of the first day of nominations. Elections shall be held in a manner approved by the Council of Nine under the direction of the Registrar-General.

3.3. The Council of Nine shall have the powers to approve statutes for the better governance of 10000 Islands, ratify treaties, reject appointments to diplomatic or other non-Council appointed offices if felt necessary, advise the WA delegate concerning WA issues, appoint subordinate tribunals to act as courts within 10000 Islands, hold tribunals on appeal of judgements for violation of the constitution and statutes, and function as the Supreme Court of 10000 Islands.

3.4. Actions of the Council of Nine shall require a quorum of five members.


Article IV. The Ten Thousand Islands Treaty Organization

4. The Ten Thousand Islands Treaty Organization (TITO) is the defense and military arm of 10000 Islands, subject to the authority of the Chief Executive as Commander in Chief. No action of the Council of Nine shall have authority to intervene with or override decisions of the Chief Executive. TITO shall act for the defense of 10000 Islands and its allies and friendly regions deemed to be under attack by aggressor regions.


Article V. The Bill of Rights


5. The following are recognized as the inalienable rights of the member nations of 10000 Islands.

5.1. Self-determination. The general government of 10000 Islands 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 customs and desires.

5.2. Freedom of speech. The general government shall make no law restricting the freedom of speech within 10000 Islands beyond those rules governing all participation and etiquette in NationStates. In keeping with the NationStates rules of etiquette, the following behaviors will constitute grounds for immediate ejection from the region and reporting to the game moderators:

5.2.1. Posting of any content considering spamming, including content that is obscene, illegal, threatening, malicious, defamatory, or otherwise understood to be spam. This applies to a nation's name, motto, and other customizable fields, any messages written, images posted, or any other content uploaded or linked to NationStates.

5.2.2. Also prohibited is the practice of "griefing." Griefing is playing with the primary aim of annoying or upsetting other people. If you do this, the game moderators may take action against you.

5.2.3. Attempting to steal another nation’s identity, since this is fraudulent behavior and breaches the NationStates terms & conditions. The same applies to any attempt to impersonate another player, including attempting to hack nation or region passwords.

5.2.4. Known member nations of invader regions and groups may be ejected at the discretion of the Chief Executive, or the WA delegate if so empowered.

5.3. Reservation of powers. Powers not enumerated in this Constitution shall be reserved to the member Nations.


Article. VI. Ratification and Amendment


6. The Ratification of this constitution shall take place one full week following its promulgation by the Founder of 10000 Islands, after which nations not willing to observe its provisions may take liberty to seek other regions.

6.1. Proposal of amendments. Whenever an amendment to this constitution is submitted to the Council of Nine with the written endorsement of ten citizen Nations, it shall be the duty of the Council of Nine to poll all citizen nations concerning the proposed amendment for one full week.

6.2. Enactment of amendments. The Council of Nine shall then consider the proposed amendment, which shall be passed if it receives the support of three-fourths of the Council of Nine.

Author - New Parthini

Special thanks to HumanSanity for writing, Free Las Pinas for formatting, and the Ministry of Education for maintenance and upkeep.

RawReport