First Charter of Zenith

=Overview= The first Charter of Zenith was cowritten by Duncan King, Brian Reimer, Gogeta, Kevonieia, and Daniel Jeffery over the summer of 2008. The final version of the Charter was announced on July 4, 2008.

=Text=

Preamble:
We, the nations of Zenith, strive for excellence in the world of Cybernations. Therefore only the best and those willing to put forth effort and contribute to the community will be accepted into the Assembly of Zenith.

Article One: Admission and Membership
Admission to Zenith shall be exclusive and very selective.

I. Zenith shall be a White alliance and all nations joining Zenith shall be given 30 days to move to the White Team.

II. Application Process

A. Any nation may request admission to Zenith by making an application containing:

1. Nation Name

2. Nation Ruler Name

3. Past Alliances

4. Current Wars

5. A Link to your Nation

B. Any Assembly member of Zenith may then ask the applicant questions in their application thread.

C. The Minister of Development then will decide whether or not the applicant will be accepted and put into the next step of the application process.

D. After an applicant is accepted they will be put into a 10 day probationary period. During this time they must complete a basic nation building test and a test on rules and regulations of Zenith. Nations under 90 days old will have to be put into the mentor program during their probationary period.

E. After 10 days on probation and successfully completing the tests/mentor program the Minister of Development will decide whether or not the applicant will become a full member, complete another probationary period, or if they will not be accepted.

III. Once a nation has been admitted to the Assembly and has passed its probationary period, it shall have the same rights and privileges as other members of Zenith, including, but not limited to, the right to run for the Council of Ministers, the right to propose amendments to the Charter, and the right to submit a complaint for misconduct against any other member of Zenith to the triumvirate.

Article Two: Government
Zenith shall be ruled by a government consisting of a Triumvirate and a Council of Ministers.

I. Triumvirate

A. Structure: The triumvirate shall be composed of three experienced alliance leaders. The Triumvirs shall be divided up as such:

1. Internal Triumvir: Experienced in Internal Affairs

2. External Triumvir: Experienced in Foreign Affairs

3. Executive Triumvir: Experienced in many areas of expertise

B. Powers: The triumvirate shall decide the actions of the alliance by a majority vote including:

1. Foreign Treaties

2. Declarations of War

3. Laws and Policies

C. Term of Office: The triumvirate at the time of ratification of the charter shall serve indefinitely in good behavior and its members may only be removed if they step down willingly or if 75% of the Council of Ministers votes to remove them. If a triumvir needs to be absent for a period of time not exceeding one month, the triumvir may appoint someone to serve in the interim. If a triumvir needs to be absent for a period of more than one month or chooses to step down, they may appoint their permanent replacement.

II. Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers shall be composed of five elected Department Ministers, each specializing in a different department, and two Ministers at large appointed by the triumvirate.

A. The five elected Ministers

1. Overview: The membership of Zenith shall elect five Department Ministers, each specializing in a different area of expertise and overseeing a particular area of the alliance's operation.

a. Minister of Defense: Responsible for all areas involving the military and war administration and planning.

b. Minister of Development: Responsible for recruitment, coordinating the mentor program, and coordinating nation building with the Minister of Finance.

c. Minister of Domestic Affairs: Responsible for the internal environment of the alliance including forums, rosters, and trades.

d. Minister of Foreign Affairs: Responsible for conducting foreign relations with other alliances and negotiating treaties.

e. Minister of Finance: Responsible for conducting aid falls, tech deals, and coordinating nation building with the Minster of Development.

2. Selection: The Department Ministers shall be elected by the membership and will serve for a period of three months. If there is ever a vacancy for a Minister position, the triumvirate shall have the power to appoint someone to fill the vacant position.

B. The Ministers at Large

1. Overview: The triumvirate of Zenith shall appoint two Ministers at Large to serve as advisers to the Department Ministers and the triumvirate. These officials shall not be bound to running any specific department and shall be able to assist wherever they see the need.

2. Powers: Each Minister at Large shall receive one vote on the Council of Ministers. They shall be equal in power to the Department Ministers.

3. Selection: The triumvirate shall appoint the two ministers at large immediately following elections and these officials shall serve until the next election is held. Should a position of a Department Minister become vacant, the triumvirate shall have the option to appoint a Minister at Large to fill the vacancy.

III. Elections

A. Interval: Elections shall be held every three months for the Department Ministers.

B. Duration: The election process shall have the following duration:

1. Two day nomination period.

2. Two day campaign/debate period.

3. Two day voting period.

C. Process: Any member of Zenith in good standing shall be eligible to run for any office in Zenith. A person may run for more than one Minister position and should the member win an election for more than one office, they shall have the choice of which office they would like to serve in and the runner up for the second office shall hold that position. If this leaves a Minister position vacant, the triumvirate shall appoint someone to serve the term.

IV. Regent

A. Appointment of a Regent: A Regent is selected with a 2/3 vote by the Triumvirate and confirmed with a majority vote in the Council of Ministers. A Regent is meant to assist both the Triumvirate and the Council and it is essential that he or she have a good relationship with both. Because of this both parties are involved in the selection.

B. Power of a Regent: While the position calls for someone to make executive decisions and assist the Triumvirate in many capacities, a Regent will not function as an overseer for the Ministers. He or she may make suggestions that are to be seriously considered, but the day to day running of the Ministries is not the Regent's forte. Instead, the Regent will focus on the overall well being of the alliance by making executive decisions and functioning as an assistant and backup to the Triumvirs.

C. Terms of a Regent: A Regent will serve indefinitely once appointed unless he or she resigns or is removed with votes by the Triumvirate and Council of Ministers. This allows the Regent to be a logical replacement should a Triumvir resign or need to take a leave of absence. However, it is not required for a Triumvir to choose the Regent as a temporary or permanent replacement.

D. Removal of a Regent: A Regent may be removed with a 2/3 vote by the Triumvirate and with a majority vote by the Council of Ministers.

Article Three: War and Peace
Zenith shall be a predominately peaceful alliance but shall not hesitate to defend itself or assist its allies if needed.

I. War in General: No member of Zenith shall engage in any aggressive attacks or spy missions that are not explicitly authorized by the triumvirate with the advice of the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs. Situations in which aggressive military action may be authorized include but are not limited to alliance wide wars, defense against rogue attacks, and regulated tournaments conducted with the supervision of the Minister of Defense. If a member of Zenith is attacked, that member has the right to defend themselves.

II. Alliance Wide Wars: The triumvirate shall have the sole power to declare war on another alliance. The decision to declare war must be made by a unanimous vote of the triumvirate, with the advice of the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs. Once the triumvirate has chosen to declare war, the declaration must be posted on the Cybernations Forums to take effect. After the triumvirate has authorized the war, the Minister of Defense shall be responsible for conducting it. Decisions about peace and surrender terms shall be made by the triumvirate, with the advice of the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs..

III. Individual Nation Wars: In the event that a member of Zenith comes under attack by a single nation not acting as a part of an alliance wide war, the nation attacked shall have the right to defend itself. If the nation attacking is unaligned, that nation can be dealt with to the full extent of the military. If the nation attacking is aligned, diplomatic means shall be used to resolve the dispute first and if diplomatic means are exhausted, military means may be used.

IV. Nuclear Weapons: Zenith shall not carry out a first strike nuking unless it is approved by the triumvirate under the advisory of the Minister of Defense.

Article Four: Disciplinary Action
The triumvirate shall be the judicial body in the alliance.

I. Punishable Conduct: The triumvirate shall have the power to discipline members of Zenith for breaking the charter and for inappropriate or disruptive conduct.

II. Punishment: The triumvirate shall have the power to implement any punishment which it feels is proportionate to the offense up to and including permanent zero-infrastructure through war. The Council of Ministers shall have the ability to overrule the decision of the triumvirate by a 5/7 vote.

III. Triumvir Misconduct: In the case of triumvir misconduct, the Council of Ministers shall have the power to remove a triumvir from power by a 75% vote.

IV. Department Minister and Minister at Large Misconduct: In the case of misconduct by either Department Ministers or Ministers at Large, the triumvirate may vote to remove the Minister perpetrating the misconduct by a majority vote. This removal may not be reversed by the Council of Ministers.

Article Five: Amendments
I. Any member of Zenith may propose amendments to the Charter of Zenith.

II. A 5/7 vote of the Council of Ministers and a majority vote of the triumvirate is required to ratify amendments to the charter.

Article Six: Disbandment
To merge Zenith with another alliance or disband it, a 5/7 vote of the Council of Ministers and a majority vote of the triumvirate is required. The merger or disbandment must then be approved by a 2/3 vote of the total membership of Zenith.

Signed, July the 3rd, 2008.
Brian Reimer, Executive Triumvir Duncan King, External Triumvir GogetaDBZ96, Internal Triumvir Kevonieia, Minister at Large Daniel Jeffery, Minister at Large

Amendments
1. Article One Amended for Zenith's change in Team colour. This was from the Aqua team to the White Team. Done on November 2nd.

Changes: Article One: Admission and Membership

Admission to Zenith shall be exclusive and very selective.

I. Zenith shall be an White alliance and all nations joining Zenith shall be given 30 days to move to the White Team.

2. Article Two Amended for the addition of the office of Regent. Done on November 29th. Changes: IV. Regent

A. Appointment of a Regent: A Regent is selected with a 2/3 vote by the Triumvirate and confirmed with a majority vote in the Council of Ministers. A Regent is meant to assist both the Triumvirate and the Council and it is essential that he or she have a good relationship with both. Because of this both parties are involved in the selection.

B. Power of a Regent: While the position calls for someone to make executive decisions and assist the Triumvirate in many capacities, a Regent will not function as an overseer for the Ministers. He or she may make suggestions that are to be seriously considered, but the day to day running of the Ministries is not the Regent's forte. Instead, the Regent will focus on the overall well being of the alliance by making executive decisions and functioning as an assistant and backup to the Triumvirs.

C. Terms of a Regent: A Regent will serve indefinitely once appointed unless he or she resigns or is removed with votes by the Triumvirate and Council of Ministers. This allows the Regent to be a logical replacement should a Triumvir resign or need to take a leave of absence. However, it is not required for a Triumvir to choose the Regent as a temporary or permanent replacement.

D. Removal of a Regent: A Regent may be removed with a 2/3 vote by the Triumvirate and with a majority vote by the Council of Ministers.