Difference between revisions of "Proposal/Progressive Party Charter"

Revision as of 19:26, 31 May 2011

Old Charter

Article 1. Principles

1. All people are entitled to certain fundamental personal liberties. Among these are the right to be secure in one's own life and person, the right of free thought and expression, the right of association, the freedom to live as desired and the right to hold property. The government must have no role in their repression, and its primary responsibility is their defense, from itself, other governments and the criminal acts of private persons.
2. Individuals alone bear responsibility for the consequences of any decisions they make in exercising their liberties. The government should not take the burden of such consequences upon itself or place it upon others.
3. All people are entitled to equal treatment and protection under the law. No particular person, group or interest should be singled out for either special privileges or penalties.
4. Those who display exceptional ability or merit are deserving of special consideration and rewards. There is no injustice in giving more to those who have contributed more and less to those who have contributed less.
5. Government should be democratic, accountable and open. The government must not use its power to repress opposition or shield its own actions from public scrutiny. Elections must be open and fair, with equal ballot access for all candidates and electoral methods which promote competition and respect both majority rule and the right to representation.
6. The government should embrace inter-regional cooperation and openness. Taijitu is not alone in the world, and the collective resources of multiple regions can often accomplish what a single one could not.
7. The use of appeals to tradition, novelty, popularity or emotion, attacking individuals, misrepresentation, exaggeration and similar tactics in the discussion of public policy is unacceptable. All policies must be judged by the merits of the policy itself and nothing else, without prejudice on any basis.
8. All principles and ideals must be tempered by pragmatism and willingness to compromise. If progress can be achieved by compromise, and stagnation is the alternative, then compromise is preferable.

Article 2. Membership

1. Any citizen of Taijitu may become a member of the Progressive Party.
2. Any party member who loses their citizenship, is convicted of a criminal offense by the Court of Taijitu or violates this charter or a resolution of the Progressive Party will cease to be a member.
3. Party members will be senior to all other party members who they have been in the Progressive Party longer than up to the present without interruption. Among those party members who are equal in seniority by this measure, the party member who registered on the Regional Forums earliest will be considered senior.

Article 3. Party Offices

1. There will be a Secretary, responsible for administering the records, votes and elections of the Progressive Party, a Treasurer, responsible for the income and expenditures of the Progressive Party, and a Spokesperson, responsible for the recruitment, campaigning and public relations of the Progressive Party.
2. A party member may propose a new election for any office. If another member seconds the proposal, an election for the office will be held.
3. An officer may tender a letter of resignation to the Secretary. If an officer does so, an election for the position will be held. If the election concludes and a new officer is elected, the former officer will be relieved of their office and the newly elected officer will assume office. If no new officer is elected, the letter of resignation will be refused.
4. At the start of an election, three days will allotted for the selection of candidates. All candidates will be party members. After this, two days will be allotted for voting. All offices will be elected by an instant runoff vote. Any ties will be broken in favor of the most senior member.

Article 4. Candidates for Regional Elections

1. A week prior to the start of proceedings for any regional election, the selection of candidates will begin. The first five days of this period will be allotted for the selection of potential candidates. After this, another two will be allotted for voting on the final candidates.
2. For elections of the Delegate a single candidate will be chosen by an instant runoff vote. For elections of the Senate, as many candidates as there are seats of the Senate to be elected will be chosen by the single transferable vote. The candidates chosen in this manner will be ranked in the order they reached quota. Any ties will be broken in favor of the most senior member.

Article 5. Finance

1. All income the Progressive Party receives will be placed in a single, common fund under the management of the Treasurer. Funds may not be withdrawn from this fund except in service of the Progressive Party as provided by this charter.
2. Any other party office may request funds for any purpose from the Treasurer. These funds may be a one time payment or a periodic payment. The Treasurer may grant or refuse any such requests for which the party has sufficient funds. The Treasurer will refuse all such requests and terminate all such periodic payments for which the party does not have sufficient funds.
3. A one time payment or periodic payment for any purpose may be requested by a resolution. The Treasurer will grant all such requests for which the party has sufficient funds. The Treasurer will refuse all such requests and terminate all such periodic payments for which the party does not have sufficient funds.
4. A one time payment may be barred or a period payment terminated by a resolution.

Article 6. Resolutions

1. Any party member may propose a resolution. If another party member seconds the proposal, a vote will be held. Two days will be allotted for voting. If a majority of the party’s membership participates in the vote and a majority of those voting approve, the resolution will be enacted.
2. A resolution may establish policy both within the Progressive Party and policy to be sought within the regional government. A resolution may also amend or repeal a previous resolution or amend this charter. No resolution may contradict the provisions of this charter without amending it.

Charter as of 31 May Congress

Article 1. Values

1. Liberty: All persons have the rights to life, property and to act and think freely. Governments must be organized to defend these liberties from all threats.
2. Solidarity: Society and individuals depend on one another for success. Society, through government when necessary, must protect individuals from arbitrary hardship and aid them in their pursuits, and individuals who can must give back to society in return.
3. Justice: All persons have a right to equal treatment in both the public and private spheres. Individuals must all be equal before the law and government policy. Private business must be conducted fairly, and government must ensure this.
4. Democracy: Government must be directly accountable to those it serves. Its business must be transparent and open to public scrutiny.
5. Reason: Decisions should be informed by reflection and evidence.