SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM CONSULTATION
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 8:58 am
Hello all.
As many of you may have noticed, the Security Council and the World Congress as a whole have been less than active for a while now. Many people brought up the fact that Great Power rivalry, which used to drive international conflicts and RP, has been rather lacking. Part of this is the result of the system for electing members of the Security Council. Some players have argued that it is rather odd that only one Great Power (as determined by the Military Rankings) is currently on the Security Council. Another complaint is that, given that a few seats are not very competitive, there is a significant burden on running a successful campaign for those seats, which ultimately discourages a lot of nations from even trying to run campaigns.
EDIT: The proposal has been updated in response to player suggestions and comments. This is the most up to date draft proposal.
For that reason we are opening a consultation for the following reforms to the current system for electing the Security Council:
1. Adding the three Great Powers as "Permanent Members" of the SC, with the right to introduce resolutions and vote in case of a tie, but no right to vote otherwise.
2. Removing Seat E, and thus reaching a total of 7 Security Council members.
3. Preserving the current system for the remaining 4 members, and renaming them as "Non-Permanent Members".
4. Not allowing retiring members to seek immediate reelection.
5. Appointing the nation that has not recently been a member in case of a nomination tie.
The consultation will run until the next Security Council elections, at which point, if the proposal is accepted, it will become official and will be used for the election on June 1st 2018.
For comparison, below are the proposed new rules compared with the current rules. New additions and replacements are highlighted in red. Removals are marked with ̶s̶t̶r̶i̶k̶e̶t̶h̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶.
Proposal:
Current Rules:
As many of you may have noticed, the Security Council and the World Congress as a whole have been less than active for a while now. Many people brought up the fact that Great Power rivalry, which used to drive international conflicts and RP, has been rather lacking. Part of this is the result of the system for electing members of the Security Council. Some players have argued that it is rather odd that only one Great Power (as determined by the Military Rankings) is currently on the Security Council. Another complaint is that, given that a few seats are not very competitive, there is a significant burden on running a successful campaign for those seats, which ultimately discourages a lot of nations from even trying to run campaigns.
EDIT: The proposal has been updated in response to player suggestions and comments. This is the most up to date draft proposal.
For that reason we are opening a consultation for the following reforms to the current system for electing the Security Council:
1. Adding the three Great Powers as "Permanent Members" of the SC, with the right to introduce resolutions and vote in case of a tie, but no right to vote otherwise.
2. Removing Seat E, and thus reaching a total of 7 Security Council members.
3. Preserving the current system for the remaining 4 members, and renaming them as "Non-Permanent Members".
4. Not allowing retiring members to seek immediate reelection.
5. Appointing the nation that has not recently been a member in case of a nomination tie.
The consultation will run until the next Security Council elections, at which point, if the proposal is accepted, it will become official and will be used for the election on June 1st 2018.
For comparison, below are the proposed new rules compared with the current rules. New additions and replacements are highlighted in red. Removals are marked with ̶s̶t̶r̶i̶k̶e̶t̶h̶r̶o̶u̶g̶h̶.
Proposal:
The World Congress is Particracy's equivalent of the United Nations.
Representatives of all national governments and political parties/groups/organisations may participate in discussions at its General Assembly. However, the governing authority of the World Congress is the 7-member Security Council, which may pass official resolutions with the support of at least 3 of its members (or 4 in case of a tie). The Security Council is composed of three Permanent Members and four Non-Permanent Members.
The General-Secretary of the World Congress is responsible for chairing General Assembly and Security Council meetings, and is role-played by the Global Role-Play Team/Continental RP Coordinators or a person designated by them.
Members of the Security Council will be represented either by their Head of Government or a representative nominated by their Head of Government. A player controlling a Head of Government may opt to nominate another player to role-play the nation's representative at the Security Council.
All nations are entitled to take part in the process of nominating the Non-Permanent Members, which they can do using the relevant game mechanic law options.
Security Council elections
The three Great Powers as determined by the Military and Economic Rankings are the Permanent Members of the Security Council.
The Non-Permanent Members of the Security Council are elected by the nations in the game. Using the relevant game mechanic law options, ALL nations may nominate one nation on ALL FOUR candidate lists to the position of Non-Permanent Member. Within three days of the first day of each real-life month, a Moderator will simulate the elections, awarding each seat to the nation which received the highest number of nominations. In the case of a tie, the seat will be awarded to the nation which was not a member of the Security Council in the previous session. If that method is to no avail, the tie will be resolved by random lottery.
If a Permanent Member has the highest number of nominations, the seat is awarded to the next runner up.
A retiring Non-Permanent Member is not eligible for immediate re-election, and if the retiring member has the highest number of nominations, the seat is awarded to the next runner up.
The candidate lists for each seat are as follows...
Seat A (Artania candidates): Aloria, Beluzia, Darnussia, Dorvik, Dundorf, Endralon, Hawu Mumenhes, Hobrazia, Keymon, Kirlawa, Kundrati, Luthori, Malivia, Rutania.
Seat B (Majatra candidates): Badara, Barmenia, Beiteynu, Cildania, Cobura, Deltaria, Istalia, Jakania, Jelbania, Kafuristan, Kalopia, Pontesi, Selucia, Solentia , Vanuku, Zardugal.
Seat C (Seleya candidates): Aldegar, Alduria, Baltusia, Gaduridos, Indrala, Kalistan, Kanjor, Likatonia, Lodamun, Mordusia, Rildanor, Saridan, Tukarali, Valruzia.
Seat D (Dovani, Keris & Macon candidates): Dankuk, Davostan, Dolgaria, Egelion, Hulstria, Hutori, Kazulia, Lourenne, New Endralon, Sekowo, Talmoria, Telamon, Trigunia, Vorona.
̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶f̶t̶h̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶t̶,̶ ̶S̶e̶a̶t̶ ̶E̶,̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶o̶c̶a̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶n̶e̶r̶-̶u̶p̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶d̶i̶d̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶g̶h̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶n̶u̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶n̶o̶m̶i̶n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶.̶
Voting in the Security Council
Generally only Non-Permanent Members may vote on resolutions. In order for a resolution to pass it must have the support of at least three Non-Permanent Members.
In the case of a tie the Permanent Members should also cast a vote on the resolution, in these cases a resolution must have the support of at least 4 Members to pass.
Both Permanent and Non-Permanent Members have the right to introduce resolutions.
Current Rules:
The World Congress is Particracy's equivalent of the United Nations.
Representatives of all national governments and political parties/groups/organisations may participate in discussions at its General Assembly. However, the governing authority of the World Congress is the 5-member Security Council, which may pass official resolutions with the support of at least 3 of its members.
The General-Secretary of the World Congress is responsible for chairing General Assembly and Security Council meetings, and is role-played by the Global Role-Play Team or a person designated by them.
Members of the Security Council will be represented either by their Head of Government or a representative nominated by their Head of Government. A player controlling a Head of Government may opt to nominate another player to role-play the nation's representative at the Security Council.
All nations are entitled to take part in the process of nominating Security Council members, which they can do using the relevant game mechanic law options.
Security Council elections
Using the relevant game mechanic law options, ALL nations may nominate one nation on ALL FOUR candidate lists. On the first day of each real-life month (or thereabouts), a Moderator will simulate the elections, awarding each seat to the nation which received the highest number of nominations. In the case of a tie, the seat will be awarded to the nation which was most recently a member of the Security Council. If that method is to no avail, the tie will be resolved by random lottery.