Citizen-Delegate of Taijitu
| Delegate of Taijitu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | Presidential |
| History | |
| Formation | Constitution of Taijitu June 20, 2010 |
| Inaugural holder | Myroria June 28, 2010 |
| Incumbent | Myroria since June 28, 2010 |
| Cabinet | |
| Members | Myroria Kor |
| Political groups | Progressive Party Independent |
| Election | |
| Method | Instant runoff vote |
| Term length | Seven weeks, unlimited renewable |
| Last election | June 26, 2010 |
| Residence | |
| Executive forums | |
The Delegate of Taijitu is the head of government and de facto head of state of Taijitu. They are charged under the region's constitution with upholding both the constitution itself and any other laws. They are assisted in this task by an appointed cabinet of ministers. The constitution also provides that the delegate is the commander in chief of the armed forces and may negotiate treaties with foreign powers, veto legislation of the Senate and nominate justices to the Court. Unique among government offices, the delegate also holds power in-game, voting on behalf of the region in World Assembly resolutions. They are elected every seven weeks alongside the Senate by an instant runoff vote on the same ticket as a vice delegate who assumes the delegate's office if they become unable to serve. The most recent elections were held in June of 2010.
Contents
History
There has always been an office of the delegate in Taijitu with executive powers. The precise nature of the office and its powers and limitations thereof has, however, changed over time. The Delegate's powers were originally modeled on those provided under the Lexiconian government. Like their modern counterpart, the delegate was the head of the executive branch and responsible for administering the government of the region, but unlike the current delegate they were elected by a plurality and permitted to hold a seat in the Senate, though forbidden to vote except to break any ties. They were also without any veto power over the Senate.
The first major change implemented in the structure of the executive branch was in the method of the delegate's election. Concerned by how the current first-past-the-post system's deficiencies, especially the fact that it did not require the winner to obtain some manner of majority, the Senate began discussing electoral reform. This concluded with the passage of a constitutional amendment on April 2, 2007, which changed the election method of the delegate from first-past-the-post to Condorcet.
The next amendment altering the Delegate's powers would come about in September of the same year. On the first of the month, the incumbent delegate Sovereign Dixie approached the Senate and asked them to consider giving the delegate some checks on the Senate's power. In the following debate, several more concrete proposals were offered, including the power to veto legislation and declare a state of emergency. Ultimately, none of these proposals were adopted. The discussion did, however, cause the Senate to consider the constitutional prohibition on the delegate participating in Senate votes. On September 24, 2007, the Senate passed an amendment allowing the delegate to vote in the Senate, but stripping them of their tie-breaking power as well.
The method of electing the delegate became an issue a second time in early 2008. To date several elections of the delegate had been held using the Condorcet method, all without difficulty. But during the closely contested 2009 February delegate election, confusion over how the system worked lead to a brief uproar over the results of the election when some incorrectly interpreted the ballots as electing Allama instead of her opponent Sovereign Dixie. This prompted two different proposals to amend the Constitution, one which replaced the Condorcet method with an instant runoff vote, and one which restored the original first-past-the-post system. Neither proposal succeeded when put to a vote.
The issue was left unresolved until after other significant events intervened. On March 23 the recently elected delegate Sovereign Dixie staged a coup. Four days later, he declared a new constitution which radically expanded the delegate's power. Not only did it give the delegate the power to veto legislation of the Citizen Assembly, the Senate's replacement, but it also gave the delegate legislative authority, and laws passed through its exercise required a two-thirds super-majority in the Assembly to overturn. Rather than regular elections, there were regular referendums on the incumbent delegate, in which a super-majority was required to initiate an election. This constitution was short-lived, the Assembly quickly restoring the previous constitution. In doing so, the method of electing the delegate was struck from the constitution and moved to a supplementary electoral law which implemented an instant runoff vote.
On June 20, 2010 a new regional constitution was ratified and established the office of the delegate as it currently exists. As the Senate was now an elected body rather than a directly democratic one, it was decided it would be acceptable to forbid the delegate from holding a Senate seat and to give them the power to veto legislation passed by the Senate. The definition of the method of electing the delegate was also moved back into the constitution, remaining an instant runoff vote.
Role in NationStates
The delegate votes for or against NSUN resolutions, according to the majority vote cast in a special sub-forum of the regional OS forum. The passage of UN resolutions affects the nations of all UN members, meaning that the delegate's support for the postion taken by the region has an effect on all regional members of the UN.
The delegate also has a very important role to play in defending the nation against invasion. With their delegate powers, they can eject, ban or banject nations from the region which they think may be intending to overthrow democratically elected power in Taijitu.
Finally, they set the World Fact Book Entry which everyone who looks at Taijitu in NS will see. This means that they can decide how the world sees Taijitu, an important tool in international relations.
Powers
In the OS forum, the delegate is the elected leader of the executive. As head of the government, they are elected with a mandate from the Senate to carry out the promises that they made in their campaign thread. They set the position that the region will take with regards to foreign regions, defence policy, citizenship policy and security policy, among other things.
Most importantly but less tangibly, they are the spiritual head of Taijitu, embodying and upholding the values of the region.
Constitutional Position
The constitution names the delegate as the supreme executive authority of Taijitu. Elections are to be held every three months and the winner is the Condorcet winner. Delegates of Taijitu are constitutionally barred from holding office more than two consecutive times.
To aid them in carrying out their executive duties, the delegate is empowered to create a cabinet of ministers. The delegate may create or abolish positions in that cabinet as they see fit, as well as appoint or fire ministers, again as they see fit. The Senate though has the power to require certain Ministries and Ministers by law.
Upon election, the Delegate must take the oath provided for their office by the Senate.
Oath
I, [forum name], do solemnly swear that I shall hold by and not abuse the powers of my office as enumerated by the Constitution, that I shall ensure the security and wellbeing of the region at all times, fulfill my obligations to the United Nations and acknowledge the voice of the people in doing so, uphold the Constitution and laws of Taijitu, and recognize that should I fail to comply to this oath that my office and its powers may be by a vote of the Senate forfeit.
List of Delegates
- Sovereign Dixie (January 2007)
- Amy (The Crazy Monkeywomen) (January 2007-April 2007)
- The G Rebellion (April 2007-June 2007)
- PoD Gunner (July 2007)
- Sovereign Dixie (August 2007 - September 2007)
- Flemingovia (September 2007 - October 2007)
- Pragmia (October 2007 - February 2008)
- Sovereign Dixie (February 2008 - Present)
