Equal Rights Alliance

The Equal Rights Alliance (ERA) is a small new alliance on the Aqua sphere.

Charter
We the people of the Equal Rights Alliance, in order to ensure the smooth, certain, and efficient operation of our alliance, to promote a peaceful and joyful experience of our member nations, and to lend aid to our fellow Aqua in times of need, do ordain and establish this Charter for the Equal Rights Alliance.

All members will read, and follow the Bill of Rights, which governs the rights of our members and how members are expected to conduct themselves.

Name and Acronym

The Equal Rights Alliance shall be known formally as “Equal Rights Alliance” or “ERA”. Informally, and internally only.

Section 1 Gaining Membership
Any Nations not involved in any war who are on good terms with their previous alliance may apply on the forum by entering the following:


 * Nation Name:
 * Ruler Name:
 * Link:
 * NS:
 * Resources:

Section 2: Provisional Status
Upon Acceptance to ERA, the member will be placed onto Provisional status until he/she shows knowledge and understanding of the charter and the Bill of Rights. Provisional Members will be regarded with all the rights stated in the Bill of Rights but will not be allowed to vote in elections.

Section 3: Promotion to Full member
In Accordance with section 2 once the member shows knowledge and understanding of the Charter and Bill or Rights he/she will be given full membership and full voting rights. This shall be done by any Minister or Government Official. Provisional's shall gain Full membership automatically after 30 days if he/she hasn't taken a knowledge test and is in good standing without any violations.

Section 4: Punishment
If a member (Provisional or full) acts against the letter or spirit of the Charter, A law, or The Bill of Rights, i he/she will be given a trial and receive appropriate punishment if convicted.

Section 1: Tech Raiding
Members shall not be allowed to tech raid

Section 2: Nuclear Stance
Members shall not launch nukes unless they are being threatened with the use of Nukes, or having their Nukes spied away by the other person. Nuclear Weapons may be used in retaliation to Nuclear Strikes against your nation or any nation in the alliance hit by nukes. First Strike requires Minister of Defense Authorization.

Article 3: Alliance Wars
ERA will not initiate an aggressive war against another Alliance unless requested to do so by means of a Optional or Mandatory Aggression pact. ERA will honor defensive pacts unless a conflict of interest between treaty holding alliances ties us to both sides, in which case we will remain neutral.

Section 1: The Government
Shall consist of a Council, Board of Commissioners, President elected by the members of the alliance.

Section 2: President

 * 1) The President will be elected every 3 months.
 * 2) The President shall have veto power over bills passed by the Council. The Veto can be overridden by 60% of the Council.
 * 3) The President can appoint, in the absence of a Minister, an Acting Minister, until the next elections.
 * 4) The President is a honorary member of the Board of Commissioners and may serve as a judge and vote on Treaties.

Section 3: Board of Commissioners

 * 1) The Board of Commissioners shall consist of Ministers, Deputy Minister, President
 * 2) Ministers are elected every 2 months
 * 3) The Board of Commissioners shall select 1 member to preside over court cases, or 3 members to act a panel if the defendant chooses that.
 * 4) The Board of Commissioners requires a simple majority to ratify treaties

Section 4: Council

 * 1) Shall be elected every month
 * 2) The number of seats is 15% of the current membership, recalculated before every election.
 * 3) The Council are the only body which can offer new laws.
 * 4) Passage of laws, charter amendments require simple majority,

Article 5: Ministries

 * 1) There will be 4 Ministers: Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Economics, Defense
 * 2) The MOIA shall oversee Member Education, Ghosts, Recruitment, Messaging.
 * 3) The MOFA shall oversee Internal and External Embassy's, Diplomats, Any issues brought forward by a Foriegn Alliance member
 * 4) The MOE shall oversee Trade, Aid, Technology, Grants
 * 5) The MOD shall oversee Defensive Efforts, Squads

Section 1: General
The Presiding Official will present the charges and the Defendant will enter a plea and if non-guilty is pleaded the defendant will choose to be given a trial by 5 peers who volunteer or 3 members of the Board of Commissioners acting as a Panel.

The Presiding Official will act as the Prosecution and state the case and then the defendant will be given a chance to present his/her case After which the Panel or Jury will decide the guilt and punishment.

Section 2: Impeachment Proceedings
5 members or 2 BOC members can call for the impeachment of a member of the Council, Board of Commissioners or President, a legitimate violation of the charter or Bill of Rights is needed as grounds for this.

The Trial will proceed like any other except there will be a 5 person panel consisting of 2 BOC members and 2 Council members and the President and those calling for the impeachment cannot be on the Panel or Jury and a 75% consensus is needed for Impeachment.

Section 1
Laws may only be started by a member of the council or 5 members of the membership, with 1 council member sponsoring it.

Section 2
Treaties must be presented before the general membership 48 hours before discussion can begin, Ratified by Simple Majority of Board of Commissioners.

Section 3
Amendments may be offered by members of the Council, or 5 members, and is voted on by the general membership and must receive 60% of the votes cast.

Approved and Ratified 2/16/10

Bill of Rights

 * 1) All members and those of Foreign alliances are to be treated respectfully and with equality.
 * 2) All members are to act respectfully and kindly to other members and foreign rulers.
 * 3) All members are entitled to a Trial by Judge or Panel of Peers.
 * 4) All members are entitled to see proposed Treaty's before discussion begins on them.
 * 5) All members are entitled to laws that are fair to everyone
 * 6) All members will be entitled to these rights
 * 7) All members will be entitled to aid after a alliance war
 * 8) All Members who individually surrender shall retain the rights provided here and in the charter, except for having access to War-related areas.
 * 9) All members have the right to vote and run for elected offices provided they are in good standing and are full members
 * 10) All members are allowed to request economic aid, war recovery aid

Important Links

 * Declaration of Existence
 * ERA signed the ZI Peace Pact on February 27, 2010.