The Charter of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Preamble

We the Sovereign Nations of NATO, in order to form a more Just, Fair, and Fun Union, while providing for the common defense and economic well being of ourselves, do hereby establish this Charter for The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The NATO motto shall be Peace through superior firepower.

NATO Charter

NATO, in an effort to better serve its members, hereby enacts this charter for The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The purpose of NATO is to preserve democracy, protect and serve its member nations, and promote fun above all else.

This charter may not be changed without the express consent of the member nations of NATO. To affect such a change, a thread detailing the proposed changes must be created, and the membership notified of its existence via in-game PMs. This thread shall remain open for a minimum of five days after member notification.

After five days, and once the High Council deems the discussion sufficient, a voting thread will be opened and shall remain open for five days. A minimum 66% vote in favor of the proposal is required to instate the change.

Article 1 - Members

NATO members are encouraged to participate to the fullest extent they are comfortable with. You will get out of NATO what you put into it.

By joining NATO you receive the protection of The Alliance in exchange for your willing defense in times of need. An attack against one NATO member is an attack against all of NATO.

The NATO Alliance membership, as a body, has the right to veto any decision made by any government official. They may also remove any government official from office. Either action requires a 66% majority vote. Votes shall be open for 48 hrs, and the 66% majority is of the people who actually vote during that time, not 66% of all people flying the NATO AA.

Additionally, all NATO members are expected to behave themselves and play nice with each other.

These are your responsibilities:

• All nations must abide by the Rules of Engagement (RoE).
• NATO members will move to the official Alliance colour, within 30 days of acceptance as a full member, and you must stay on that colour until such time as NATO moves to another team colour, unless you joined NATO before Feb 1 2007 or are directed to change color by the Minister of Commerce for purposes of trade.
• In times of war, NATO members may be called upon to help defend your brothers in arms from NATO's enemies and you will be required to respond to the best of your ability, providing whatever aid or assistance is needed/appropriate to the Alliance.
• NATO members will vote for the designated Official Team Colour Senator.
• NATO members are expected to behave in a respectful manner towards their fellow NATO members in game and on our forums. NATO members are prohibited from being a severe nuisance by making posts characterized as being generally mean spirited or hate filled with a frequency such that one can be described as a constant malcontent.
• NATO members will also present a responsible and professional face to the International Community.
• During times of war, NATO members are prohibited from sending aid to the enemy, or those who are helping the enemy.
• Member nations who accept Starting Aid must remain with the alliance for at least 45 days or repay the entire aid if they wish to leave prior to that time.
• No NATO member shall use multiple accounts in CN or in the NATO forums, nor shall they have one nation in NATO and another nation in another alliance.

As a NATO member, you have the following rights:

• You have the right to use your nation's resources in any way they choose, however NATO also reserves the right to provide preferential aid and assistance to nations that are best utilizing their resources.
• You have the right to request military assistance if you are attacked. Members must follow established procedures to obtain this assistance. NATO guarantees assistance to those who follow the established procedures.
• You have the absolute right to not be threatened by ZI or perma- ZI unless you commit Treason, defined below. You have the right to speak out against the current NATO government, suggest or request change, or voice a dissenting opinion in the NATO forums without fear of the punishment for Treason. However, while these listed activities are not treason, should the speech rise to the level of harassment, other judicial remedies may apply.
• You have the right to due process under law for any alleged violation of the charter, RoE, or law and you shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
• You have the right to be free from any secret laws, as these shall not apply to you.
• You shall not be subjected to secret trials. However, evidence deemed sensitive to the security of the alliance can be presented against you if the Sensitive Evidence Tribunal deems it appropriate.
• You have the right to vote on issues that affect the alliance as whole.
• You have the right to vote in general elections.
• You have the right to be free of all taxes unless the NATO alliance shall be forced to pay Reparations as part of peace terms from a war.
• You have the right to maintain all trade agreements, even with enemies in times of war.
• You have the right to leave the alliance at any time, save during times when NATO is engaged in active warfare with another alliance (unless departure is authorized by a member of the High Council), providing you post a departure message in the appropriate NATO forum.

Article 2 - Government

Section 1
NATO shall be governed by three groups: The High Council, The Ministry, and The Justice Department

The High Councillors, of which there will be three, will have final say in all matters not directly related to internal justice. Each High Councillor will have their own specific responsibilities, duties, and authority, but must also work together to reach decisions on issues of importance to the alliance. Each High Councillor is expected to pursue their duties vigorously. Failure or abuse of their authority will be checked by the membership's ability to veto their decisions and remove them from power. Gross violations of their duties and responsibilities may be met with harsh punishment from the government after they have been removed from office.

The Ministry is the collective group of Ministers each with their own responsibilities, duties, and authority, responsible for the day-to-day running of the alliance. Each Minister will have exclusive authority in the execution of their portfolio but must act in accordance with the stated policies of the High Councillors, when possible. Failure or abuse of their authority will be checked by the membership's ability to veto their decisions and remove them from power. Gross violations of their duties and responsibilities may be met with harsh punishment from the government after they have been removed from office.

The Justice Department shall consist of one Chief Justice and up to two Secondary Justices appointed by the Chief.

Section 2
All government officials are expected to work to better NATO and help the NATO membership, not to play power games with each other.

Where the release of internal discussion and decisions of the various government agencies will not harm the security of NATO, they are expected to release said material in as timely a manner as possible.

Section 3
Elections shall be held every 3 months to elect the entire NATO government.

Any member may self nominate, but must be seconded and must accept the nomination to officially enter an election, and may only accept one nomination, participating in the race for only one position per election period.

Nomination threads will be created on the forums ten days prior to the start of the new term, and shall remain open for two days. Candidates will be allowed three days of campaigning after the nomination period.

Following the campaigning period, voting threads will opened for each position in the NATO Government Offices forum and shall remain open for five days.

Winners will be defined as the candidate with the most votes, not necessarily needing a majority. In the event of a tie, the current High Council will decide (via vote, majority being 51% or more) the winner of the race as their last act, candidate's choice.

Section 4
In the event that a High Councilor resigns or is removed from office, and less than one-half of their full term remains, then a Minister may be appointed by the remaining Councilors to carry out the duration of the term as an acting High Councilor. If more than half of the full term remains, then a by-election will be held to elect a replacement. Currently serving Ministers and Deputies will be eligible to run in such an election, but Ministers must then be replaced as outlined below.

Any government Minister may appoint up to two Deputy Ministers to assist them in carrying out their duties. In the event that a Minister resigns or is removed from office and less than one-half of their full term remains, then a Deputy Minister may be appointed by the High Council to carry out the duration of the term as acting Minister. If more than half of the full term remains, then a by-election will be held to elect a replacement.

The offices, duties, responsibilities, and respective authorities of each office are as follows.

Section 5
There shall be three High Councillors: High Councillor Potentia (might), High Councillor Augmentum (growth), and High Councillor Externus (foreign).

High Councillor Potentia:
Oversees all operations, helps where needed. Bloc Leader.

High Councillor Externus:
Oversees operations in FA. One of the Bloc Leaders.

High Councillor Augmentum:
Oversees internal programs, problems.

While each High Councillor is listed as "in charge", they must all work together to reach certain decisions. They may declare war or activate any optional defensive treaty only if all three High Councillors agree (different from activating a defensive treaty), and may activate any non-optional defensive treaty, sign or cancel treaties only if any two of the three High Councillors agree

The High Council is expected to work together on all matters and communicate with each other often. They collectively set all policies of NATO, and represent NATO in all public matters, such as foreign affairs or power blocs.

Should the High Councillors be unable to agree on any particular issue, the High Councillor "in charge" of that area shall be counted as a tie breaker vote. For example, if the three High Councillors cannot agree on whether to join a new power bloc, then High Councillor Externus' vote counts twice, whereas if they cannot agree on whether to change NATO's banking policy, High Councillor Augmentum's vote would be the tie breaker. NOTE: Deciding whether to enter a war or not is the pervue of High Councillor Potentia, not High Councillor Externus, so if a tie breaker is needed, High Councillor Potentia will cast that vote.

Section 6
There shall be five Ministers.

Minister of Commerce (MoC):
Oversees the Treasury Department. Assembles regular aid falls for graduates and tech falls for larger members. Assists members with forming trade circles. Responsible for Bank creation. Appoints a cabinet to help audit nations for aid falls. Has constant communication with MoD to ensure timely aid distribution during war times and to promote military readiness for nations. Enlists nations to help with tech and trade circle formation.

Minister of Defense (MoD):
Oversees military structure and development. Appoints Battalion Commanders and Lts. based on merit and activity. Works with allied leadership to coordinate strikes and target lists, works to increase Battalion readiness and reactivity. Works with MoF to help distribute aid to needy nations.

Minister of Enlistment (MoE):
Heads up recruiting Department and NATO University. Responsible for creating letters, organizing recruit teams, creates aid program for recruiters, passes or fails cadets, produces curriculum and requirements for graduation, organizes NATO Guides, works with MoC to distribute startup aid, assists recruits with basic changes (AA to NATO and such).

Minister of Foreign Affairs (MoFA):
Bloc Leader. Assists external Triumvir in treaty discussion, peace negotiations, and OWF presence. Appoints cabinet to help maintain embassies here and abroad.

Minister of Internal Affairs (MoIA):
Employs artists to assist members with signature creation, medal and bar creation, battalion insignia, visual propaganda. Employs Official scribes to write Motivational posts about NATO, theory and unity, etc. Mediators reside here to qualm internal strife. Also employs forum experts to assist in the creation of a fun and exciting forum design.

Section 7
There shall be one Chief Justice, who may appoint up to two Secondary Justices (Prosecutor and Defense).

The Chief Justice is responsible for reviewing all Cases that are brought to the court and shall decide whether the evidence and type of case warrants enacting the Precedent Policy, or if a Trial is required. During Trials, he/she is responsible for maintaining court procedure and finally to pass verdict and sentencing on the Case itself.

The Prosecutor is responsible for conducting the case against a Defendant, and to recommend the verdict and sentencing of the crime based on the evidence provided. The Prosecutor will also recommend which punishments are necessary for Policy Breaches where the convictions are automatic. If no Prosecutor has been appointed, the task of prosecution shall be undertaken by an elected member of the government, other than the Chief Justice.

At the option of the Defendant, the Defense is responsible for conducting the case on behalf of a Defendant, to prove their innocence of the alleged charges, or to recommend sentencing based on the evidence provided. The Defense will also recommend punishment for Policy Breaches where convictions are automatic. If no Defense has been appointed, the Defendant may ask any member in good standing to aid in their defense. Should no such member prove willing, an elected member of the government must assume the role, and shall assist the Defendant to the best of their ability.

The Justices do not police the government. The government is policed by the general membership via veto or removal votes. Ministers are, however, subject to the same rules and laws as every other NATO member, and thus can be persecuted for individual (as opposed to governmental) crimes.

Article 3 - The Justice System
Items not covered under this section are open to interpretation by the sitting justice system based on Alliance policy, and conditions on planet Bob.

Rules of Engagement violations:
• Trial information will be contained in the Active Conflict Watch thread. Members in violation may request council or defend themselves in the thread. In all cases immediate responses may be handled by any sitting Minister or High Councillor handling the violation.
• Immediate response will be subject to review for legality by the Chief Justice based on alliance charter and policy.
• Changes may be made and further penalties assessed by the Justice department after the case has been presented including: Reparations to the affected nation, additional reps to NATO nations per the Minister of Finance, removal of member in good standing status, reduction of member mask to cadet status for retraining, expulsion from NATO (for repeat offenses only), Assignment to the ACW to become more familiar with RoE violations.

General policy violations member complaints:
• A thread will be designated in the Justice department area. ONLY those with business regarding the case may post in the thread, but will be seen by all members in good standing. Those violating this are subject to forum warnings or further prosecution from the justice department as determined by the Chief Justice.
• The Defendant may post in the thread, or may be represented by the Defense Council. Both will speak on the behalf of the Defendant.
• The Prosecutor will be the ONLY Government representative to post on behalf of the government of the member pressing charges. In the event the Prosecutor is unable to perform his/her duties, the High Councillor Augmentum may stand in this persons place.
• Trials will continue until both Prosecution and Defendants rest their case, or a maximum of 72 hours. At that time the thread will be closed by the Chief Justice and a decision posted within 24 hours.
• Membership may request a retrial by Ministry members by a member in good standing posting said request in the Justice department, and being seconded by two other members in good standing.
• In a retrial by the Ministry, Ministers and the High Councillor’s may ask for further clarification on issues, hear new evidence and continue the case for another 72 hour period. Again a 24 hour voting period will begin, failure to achieve a majority ruling to overturn will result in the original ruling to remain effective. There is no appeal process for a retrial.