Congress for Liberty

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This is the main page of the Congress for Liberty (CfL).

Please do not post here without the permission of the Executive Council of the CfL!

The Congress for Liberty is an organization devoted to spreading freedom and democracy all over the world. Every party in favor of a liberal, democratic system, a market/mixed economy and a tolerant stance on civil rights shall be welcome. We are mainly striving for providing an alternative to ATR and IML, which only categorize nations as republics or monarchies, while we see human rights and freedom as highest values.

The CfL was founded in June 3315 at the initiative of the Grand National Party (GNP) of Dranland and the Liberal Party (LP) of Solentia.

In terms of active members, we are now the second-largest party organisation in Terra.

The Executive Council is the highest executive body in the CfL

Executive Council:
President: Guillermo Delgadillo (Partido Nacionalista de la República, Egelion)
Vice President: Madeleine Clarke (Liberals of Solentia, Solentia)
Councillor: Abd Al Monem Abou Al Fotoh (Al Tahalof Al Sha'bi Al Democraty, al'Badara)
Councillor: Jacob Wiencek (Conservative Republican Party, Zardugal)
Councillor: Richard Hyland (Freedom Party, Mordusia)

General Secretary: Eugene McKeon (New Democratic Party, Zardugal)

Below are links to other sites operated by the Congress for Liberty:
Organisation overview page: http://classic.particracy.net/vieworgan ... ionid=2773
Page for the Executive Council: http://classic.particracy.net/vieworgan ... ionid=2791
Congress for Liberty Convention: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4668
General Convention of the CfL: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4677

NEWS:
Voting for the Executive Council election has ended. Results can be found here:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4677&start=100#p41480

General Secretary Eugene McKeon has decided to resign after almost two decades of service. He will leave office once a successor can be found. For more information, go here:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4677&p=41502#p41502

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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CONGRESS FOR LIBERTY

PREAMBLE
We, the member parties of the Congress for Liberty, having solemnly resolved to join in the spirit of fraternity and friendship to pledge ourselves to the causes of:
• the promotion of liberty, democracy and the rule of law,
• the promotion of human rights, dignity and equality,
• the emancipation of the oppressed,
• the overthrow of tyrants, and
• the establishment of justice where there is none,
do hereby adopt, enact and promulgate this Constitution of the Congress for Liberty for the furtherance of our aforementioned goals which we shall together strive to achieve.

ARTICLE ONE
1. The members of the Congress for Liberty (henceforth referred to as ‘the Congress’) recognise that the Liberals of Solentia and the Grand National Party are the founders of the Congress, and confer upon them permanent leadership status.

ARTICLE TWO
1. The highest institution of the Congress for Liberty shall be the General Convention.
2. Each full member party of the Congress shall be entitled to one representative in the General Convention, who shall be granted the right to speak in debate, make a proposal to the General Convention and vote; this representative shall be selected in whatever manner the party sees fit.
3. Each candidate member party of the Congress shall be entitled to one observer in the General Convention, who shall be granted the right to speak in debate and make a proposal to the General Convention, not to vote.
4. Attendance at an assembly of the General Convention is voluntary; no member party shall be compelled to send a representative or observer to attend the assembly.
5. The General Convention shall assemble at the pleasure of the Executive Council, but shall not assemble fewer than once every five years.
6. The Executive Council shall be compelled to order an assembly of the General Convention if a majority of the full member parties of the Congress call for such an assembly.
7. No decision shall be made by the General Convention without the consent of both a majority of all representatives present, and the representatives of at least forty per cent of all members regardless of whether or not they are present, unless this constitution explicitly provides otherwise.
8. Certain decisions shall require the consent of both two-thirds of all representatives present, and the representatives of at least a majority of all members regardless of whether or not they are present (henceforth referred to as a ‘two-thirds majority’).
9. At the beginning of each assembly, the General Convention shall elect the Chairman of the General Convention (henceforth referred to as ‘the Chairman’), who be its presiding officer. The Chairman shall ensure order and set the agenda of the General Convention.
10. The General Convention shall have the power to:
a. determine the rules of its proceedings;
b. veto the promotion of a candidate member party to full member party;
c. demote, expel or promote to permanent leadership status a member party with the consent of a two-thirds majority;
d. censure a member party for wrongdoing not warranting demotion or expulsion;
e. enact directives, which shall be binding orders with an associated sanction for non-compliance, directed at a member party or a number thereof, or the Executive Council;
f. enact resolutions, which shall be declarations of the opinion of the Congress, or non-binding recommendations to member parties;
g. override vetoes by the Executive Council with the consent of a two-thirds majority;
h. veto the appointees of the Executive Council to the position of General Secretary, and to the Commission of Monitors with the consent of a two-thirds majority; and
i. remove members of the Executive Council with the consent of a two-thirds majority, with the exception of the Vice President, who may not be removed.

ARTICLE THREE
1. The highest executive institution of the Congress shall be the Executive Council.
2. The Executive Council shall consist of five officers:
a. the President
b. the Vice President
c. three Councillors
3. The President shall be the presiding officer of the Executive Council. The President shall ensure order and set the agenda of the Executive Council. He shall also be the most senior officer of the Congress, and shall open all assemblies of the General Convention.
4. The President and the three Councillors shall be elected by the full member parties of the Congress.
5. The President shall serve terms of four years, and the Councillors shall serve terms of six years; one Councillor shall vacate his seat every two years.
6. The Vice Presidency shall be reserved for parties with permanent leadership status; he shall serve at their pleasure.
7. Member parties shall not have multiple members serving simultaneously on the Executive Council; nor shall members of the same party hold a position on the Executive Council for consecutive terms; parties with permanent leadership status are exempt from this provision.
8. All member parties with a member serving on the Executive Council shall be temporarily promoted to leadership status for the duration of that member’s term.
9. Should a vacancy arise in the Executive Council, the President shall appoint an acting Councillor until a new Councillor is elected by
a. the full member parties to complete the term if the vacancy arises more than two years from the expiration of the term; or
b. the other members of the Executive Council to complete the term if the vacancy arises less than two years from the expiration of the term.
10. Should the position of President be vacated, the Vice President shall become the acting president, until a new President is elected by
a. the full member parties to complete the term if the vacancy arises more than two years from the expiration of the term; or
b. the other members of the Executive Council to complete the term if the vacancy arises less than two years from the expiration of the term
11. No decision shall be made by the Executive Council without the consent of a majority of its members regardless of whether or not they are present
12. The Executive Council shall have the power to:
a. determine the rules of its proceedings;
b. order an assembly of the General Convention;
c. veto only the directives and resolutions of the General Convention with the unanimous consent of all its five members;
d. promote candidate member parties to full member parties; and
e. appoint the General Secretary and all members of the Commission of Monitors.
13. The Executive Council shall be responsible for:
a. enforcing and promulgating the decisions of the General Convention; and
b. addressing major concerns about the state of civil liberties, human rights, etc.
14. All decisions and announcements made by the Congress shall be made in the name of the Executive Council, except for those made by the General Convention.

ARTICLE FOUR
1. The routine administration of the Congress shall be the responsibility of the General Secretary.
2. The General Secretary shall be appointed by the Executive Council; he shall serve at its pleasure.
3. The General Secretary be responsible for:
a. the publication of announcements;
b. keeping a record of all amendments of the Constitution of the Congress;
c. keeping a record of all decisions of the General Convention;
d. keeping a record of the entry, promotion, demotion and expulsion of member parties;
e. administering and keeping a record of elections;
f. modifying the Congress webpage when necessary;
g. administering the Congress forums; and
h. sending all routine correspondence on behalf of the Executive Council.

ARTICLE FIVE
1. The monitoring of the state of civil liberties, human rights, etc. shall be the responsibility of the Commission of Monitors.
2. The Commission of Monitors shall be composed of no less than three and no more than five members.
3. The members of the Commission of Monitors shall be appointed by the Executive Council; they shall serve at its pleasure.
4. The Commission of Monitors shall be responsible for:
a. monitoring state of civil liberties, human rights, etc. countries of concern and periodically reporting on them to the Executive Council and General Convention; and
b. addressing minor concerns regarding state of civil liberties, human rights, etc.; graver problems shall be the responsibility of the Executive Council

ARTICLE SIX
1. From the time that a simple majority of the current full member parties of the Congress ratify the Constitution of the Congress, the full member parties that have not yet ratified the Constitution shall have two years to ratify it if they wish to maintain their membership of the Congress.
2. No candidate member party shall be promoted to a full member party unless they ratify the Constitution of the Congress.

ARTICLE SEVEN
1. The Constitution of the Congress may only be amended with the consent of a two-thirds majority of the General Convention.
2. No amendment to the Constitution of the Congress may be contrary to the aims of the Congress.

We that affix our names to this Constitution of the Congress for Liberty under the authority vested in us by the member parties of the Congress for Liberty which we lawfully represent do hereby ratify the said Constitution and all the provisions contained within, and pledge to support, uphold and abide by both the said Constitution and the aims of the Congress for Liberty.

[matty.berry]

Suggested amendment for discussion within EC

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CONGRESS FOR LIBERTY

PREAMBLE
We, the member parties of the Congress for Liberty, having solemnly resolved to join in the spirit of fraternity and friendship to pledge ourselves to the causes of:
• the promotion of liberty, democracy and the rule of law,
• the promotion of human rights, dignity and equality,
• the emancipation of the oppressed,
• the overthrow of tyrants, and
• the establishment of justice where there is none,
do hereby adopt, enact and promulgate this Constitution of the Congress for Liberty for the furtherance of our aforementioned goals which we shall together strive to achieve.

ARTICLE ONE
1. The members of the Congress for Liberty (henceforth referred to as ‘the Congress’) recognise that the Liberals of Solentia and the Grand National Party are the founders of the Congress, and confer upon them permanent leadership status.

ARTICLE TWO
1. The highest institution of the Congress for Liberty shall be the General Convention.
2. Each full member party of the Congress shall be entitled to one representative in the General Convention, who shall be granted the right to speak in debate, make a proposal to the General Convention and vote; this representative shall be selected in whatever manner the party sees fit.
3. Each candidate member party of the Congress shall be entitled to one observer in the General Convention, who shall be granted the right to speak in debate and make a proposal to the General Convention, not to vote.
4. Attendance at an assembly of the General Convention is voluntary; no member party shall be compelled to send a representative or observer to attend the assembly.
5. The General Convention shall assemble at the pleasure of the Executive Council, but shall not assemble fewer than once every twenty years
6. The Executive Council shall be compelled to order an assembly of the General Convention if a majority of the full member parties of the Congress call for such an assembly.
7. A simply majority of votes among attendees is required to make any decision.
8. The General Convention shall have the power to:
a. determine the rules of its proceedings;
b. veto the promotion of a candidate member party to full member party;
c. demote, expel or promote to permanent leadership status a member party;
d. censure a member party for wrongdoing not warranting demotion or expulsion;
e. enact directives, which shall be binding orders with an associated sanction for non-compliance, directed at a member party or a number thereof;
f. Make recommendations for policy to the Executive Council and President
g Make amendments to the constitution so long as any changes are not contrary to the aims of the Congress

ARTICLE THREE
1. The highest executive institution of the Congress shall be the Executive Council, which is led by the President
2. The Executive Council shall consist of four officers:
a. the President
b. the Vice President
c. two Councillors
3. The President shall be the Leader of the Executive Council. The President shall ensure order and set the agenda of the Executive Council. He shall also be the most senior officer of the Congress, and shall set the direction of policy and focus for the Congress. Members will hold the President and Councillors accountable during a rigorous and lengthy election season during which candidates should present their policy to members
4. The President and the two Councillors shall be elected by the full member parties of the Congress.
5. The President and Councillors shall serve terms of fifteen years.
6. The Vice Presidency shall be reserved for parties with permanent leadership status; he shall serve at their pleasure.
7. Member parties shall not have multiple members serving simultaneously on the Executive Council.
8. All member parties with a member serving on the Executive Council shall be temporarily promoted to leadership status for the duration of that member’s term.
9. Should a vacancy arise in the Executive Council, the President shall appoint an acting Councillor
10. Should the position of President be vacated, the Vice President shall become the acting president, until a new elections can be arranged within no more than seven years
11. No decision shall be made by the Executive Council without the consent of a majority of its members regardless of whether or not they are present.
12. The Executive Council shall have the power to:
a. determine the rules of its proceedings;
b. order an assembly of the General Convention;
c. veto the resolutions of the General Convention
d. promote candidate member parties to full member parties; and
e. appoint the General Secretary
13. The Executive Council shall be responsible for:
a. enforcing and promulgating the decisions of the General Convention; and
b. assisting the President with his policies and focus for the Congress
c. The monitoring of the state of civil liberties, human rights
14. All decisions and announcements made by the Congress shall be made in the name of the President, except for those made by the General Convention.

ARTICLE FOUR
1. The routine administration of the Congress shall be the responsibility of the General Secretary.
2. The General Secretary shall be appointed by the Executive Council; he shall serve at its pleasure.
3. The General Secretary be responsible for:
a. the publication of announcements;
b. keeping a record of all amendments of the Constitution of the Congress;
c. keeping a record of all decisions of the General Convention;
d. keeping a record of the entry, promotion, demotion and expulsion of member parties;
e. administering and keeping a record of elections;
f. modifying the Congress webpage when necessary;
g. administering the Congress forums; and
h. sending all routine correspondence on behalf of the Executive Council.

We that affix our names to this Constitution of the Congress for Liberty under the authority vested in us by the member parties of the Congress for Liberty which we lawfully represent do hereby ratify the said Constitution and all the provisions contained within, and pledge to support, uphold and abide by both the said Constitution and the aims of the Congress for Liberty.