National Alliance of Arctic Countries (2nd)


 * For the Tournament Edition or original incarnation of NAAC, see National Alliance of Arctic Countries.

The National Alliance of Artic Countries (NAAC) was re-founded on April 14, 2012.

Constitution
The Constitution of the National Alliance of Arctic Countries

1.0 Preamble
The National Alliance of Arctic Countries (hereafter referred to as the NAAC) is founded on the principles that recognize and uphold the importance of individual sovereignty, co-operation, and the need for elected leaders within a voluntary alliance.

2.0 Executive Branch
The Executive Branch of the NAAC Government has the duty to execute the day-to-day operations of the NAAC, including recruitment, military actions, and the handling of internal and foreign affairs.

2.1	The Patrician
The Patrician is the unelected leader of the NAAC, who breaks tied votes within the Senate, and inherits the office of Protector if the position of Protector is vacant. The Patrician also serves as the Chief Justice in all trials. Upon leaving the office of Patrician, the Patrician shall appoint a successor.

2.1.1 If the Patrician leaves office without appointing a successor, the Executive Branch of Government will nominate no less than three members in good standing to take the position of Patrician. These members may deny nomination, but the Executive must ensure that at least three candidates initially stand for election. The Senate will vote on each member over a 72 hour voting period, after a 24 hour campaigning period for the candidates. The successful member will have received 2/3s of the vote. If no member receives 2/3s of the vote, the member with the lowest votes will be dropped from the ballot, and another voting period will commence. If only two candidates remain on the ballot, the candidate with at least 50% plus one of the vote will win the election.

The Executive Branch of Government must notify all members of the dates and times of the elections, as well which candidates are on the ballot using all available mediums (Cybernations private messaging, forum private messaging, Internet Relay Chat, public forum posts, etc.).

This subsection of the Constitution cannot be modified without the approval of the Patrician.

2.2 The Protector
The Protector is the elected leader of the NAAC, and a full member thereof, who is the Commander in Chief of the military. The Protector, through their ministers, has the ability to create policies and carry out day-to-day business while adhering to the Constitution and the Laws of the NAAC. The Protector appoints, supervises, and removes cabinet ministers. The Protector can veto any bill presented to them by the Senate for approval, provided that less than two-thirds of the Senate had approved the bill in question, unless otherwise mentioned in this document.

2.3 The Cabinet
The Cabinet is composed of all cabinet ministers who are appointed by the Protector to ministries as set out below. Each cabinet minister is the head of their ministry, whose policies can only be overruled by the Protector, by a law as described herein, or by a judicial ruling. Ministers are charged with the creation of departments throughout their Ministry to facilitate projects as required.

Cabinet Ministers:


 * Minister of Government. The MoG is entrusted with the operation of any votes in the senate, and serves as Prosecutor in all trials, except those involving his/herself. The MoG is also responsible for alliance economics, including the creation of trade circles, technology sales and financial aid. Through the Deputy of Recruitment, the MoG is responsible for all recruitment and education of new members.


 * Deputy of Recruitment. The DoR is appointed by and reports directly to the Minister of Government and is responsible for the recruiting, education and integration of new members.


 * Minister of Foreign Affairs. The MoFA is responsible for maintenance of foreign relations, the upkeep of foreign embassies at home and our embassies abroad. The MoFA and his diplomats are also responsible for the negotiation of treaties under the direction of the Protector.


 * Minister of Defense. The MoD is responsible for the training and organization of our military forces. He is also responsible for the organization of aid for new recruits, and alliance works projects (nukes, etc.). His orders are facilitated by the MoD staff and executed by the Division Commands.

3.0 Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch of the NAAC Government has the duty to represent the members of the NAAC and ensure their best interests through debate and decisions on the legal matters of the alliance.

3.1 The Senate
The Senate is composed of five full members of the NAAC (cannot include executive branch members), who vote upon motions presented to them by the Executive branch, other full NAAC members or fellow Senators, including treaties, amendments, declarations of war, and the creation, abolishment, and duties of government ministries. The approval of any motion by the Senate requires a simple majority vote, unless explicitly stated elsewhere in this Constitution. Any issue presented to the Senate requires a minimum of 24 hours of deliberation before a decision can be made, unless explicitly stated elsewhere in this Constitution.

4.0 The Legal System
The Legal System of the NAAC describes the differences, order of precedence, and the method of creation of the courses of action that are defined by government officials.

4.1 The Constitution
The Constitution of the NAAC has precedence over all other laws and policies, all of which must conform to this document. Any amendment to the Constitution, including replacement, must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate and can be brought to a vote by any Senator. If approved, the amendment will be inserted into the Constitution, equal to all other parts of the Constitution, and will take effect immediately. Should two or more portions of the Constitution come into conflict, the most recent portion will take precedence.

4.2 Laws
A law is a motion that has been approved by the Senate and signed into law by the Protector. All laws of the NAAC must abide by the Constitution, but take precedence over any policies that are made. A potential law can be proposed to the Senate by any member (including sitting government). If approved by the Senate, this bill is presented to the Protector for approval. The Protector has the ability to veto this bill, unless opposed by two-thirds of the Senate. If approved by the Protector, the bill will be considered law, equal to all other laws, and will take effect immediately. Should two or more laws come into conflict; the most recent law will take precedence.

4.2.1 Motions Motions can be put forth by any member, and must be seconded by another before being put to a vote. If a second is obtained, and the mandatory minimum period for deliberations has completed, the motion is put to a vote for 24 hours, unless explicitly stated elsewhere in this Constitution. The maximum period for any deliberations is 72 hours from the time of the motion, unless stated elsewhere in the constitution. The deliberation period can be extended by a two thirds majority vote of the Senate. The three choices (Yes, No and Abstain) are counted at the end of the voting period (Abstain is its own category, not to be counted as Yes or No).

5.0 The Judicial System
The Judicial System of the NAAC is responsible for determining the constitutionality of laws and policies, is responsible for all trials, including the removal of an elected official, and for generally upholding the spirit and letter of the Constitution and the Laws of the NAAC.

5.1 General Format
In order to begin a trial, the Chief Justice must be petitioned by a member of the executive branch, or a simple majority vote of the Senate. The Minister of Government will serve as Prosecutor in all trials. In trials involving the Minister of Government, either directly or indirectly, the Protector will fill the position. If the Protector, too is either directly or indirectly involved with the allegations, then a member chosen by a simple majority vote of the Senate shall serve in their place. A simple majority is required for most verdicts; however a two-thirds vote is required to impeach an elected official. If the defendant is the Chief Justice, then a member chosen by a simple majority vote of the Senate shall serve in their place.

5.2 Trials
10% of Senators shall serve as the Jury, to a minimum of four and a maximum of ten (rounded up to the closest even number) and will be chosen based on standing within the alliance, and impartiality to the defendent.

6.0 Regarding Elected Officials
Any elected position within the NAAC must be subject to regular elections, and be conducted in such a way where no full member is favoured above any other. The conduction of elections will be monitored by the Patrician, or, should the Patrician be holding the position of Protector or is otherwise unable to fulfill his/her duties, an appointed representative thereof.

6.1 Eligibility
Only individuals who are full NAAC members at the beginning of the nomination process will be eligible to run for elected office. No individual may hold more than one office simultaneously.

6.2 Term Length
The term length of an elected official shall not be more than three months. The term for the Protector and the Senate shall begin on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the third month (i.e. February 1 – April 30).

6.3 General Format
Any election for public office must include appropriate time periods for nominations, campaigning, and voting. The details and length of these events are to be decided by the body which is responsible for the conduction of elections.

6.4 Replacement of Elected Officials
In the event that an elected office has a vacancy, either through removal, resignation or inactivity greater than seven days, an election shall be held to fill the position. If the position of Protector is occupied by the Patrician as a result of a vacancy, an election must still be held within seven days to determine a replacement for the position.

Should a replacement be elected with less than one-third of the term remaining, this election shall carry over for the entirety of the following term.

7.0 Rights of the Member
Every full member of the NAAC is entitled to basic unalienable rights, which cannot be removed without an amendment to this document. Each full member is entitled to aid, within the reasons of reality; to write and publish their opinions; to an honest and impartial trial; to leave the NAAC without repercussions for doing so, except during a time of war; to vote in the Senate and in elections; and to be protected by the NAAC from attack by aggressor nations, when said attack has not been unjustly provoked.