Borderlands Constitution
PREAMBLE:In order to provide a framework for relationships between dutystations,
maintain a consistent timeline and protect the rights of the membership,
the members of Borderlands hereby establish this Constitution.
ARTICLE I, Section 1:LEGISLATIVE POWERS TO BE
VESTED IN BORDERLANDS COUNCIL
All legislative powers granted herein will be vested in the Borderlands Council.
For clarification, all references to gender herein are to be interpreted
in the generic manner and are not intended to insult.
ARTICLE I, Section 2: COMPOSITION OF BORDERLANDS
COUNCIL
The Borderlands Council will be composed of four members from every dutystation. Both the CO & XO of each DS will be appointed to the Council; the other representatives will be elected.
Should a dutystation have more than two commanders, all are not automatically appointed to the Council.
If a representative is elected to Council Chair (and is thus no longer considered a DS representative), then another member will be elected to fill the vacated spot. In all situations, a full dutystation will retain its allotted number of representatives.
Appointed representatives will serve until their appointments are terminated.
Elected representatives will serve for one year. There will no term limits placed on elected representatives.
Appointed representatives (CO or XO) can designate another player from
the DS to represent them.
ARTICLE I, Section 3: ELECTION OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
The time, method and manner for electing representatives to the Council
shall be determined by each dutystation as it sees fit.
ARTICLE I, Section 4: QUORUM; RULES OF PROCEDURE;
PUBLIC RECORDS
A majority of the Council members shall constitute a quorum.
The Council will create rules of procedure as it sees fit, punish members for unruly behavior and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the members, expel a member.
The Council will keep all records of its proceedings public, and will
provide them to any dutystation member who requests them.
ARTICLE I, Section 5: AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION;
OTHER RULINGS
Amendments to this Constitution require a minimum two-thirds vote. All
other rulings require a simple majority vote. Any decision of the Council
shall become binding immediately upon passage of the ruling, unless otherwise
noted in the decision.
ARTICLE 1: Section 6: POWERS OF THE BORDERLANDS
COUNCIL
The Borderlands Council will have the power to:
a. Rule on all promotions of Commander (O-5) and above;
b. Create and administer the Borderlands web site;
c. Attract and distribute new members to dutystations;
d. Create new dutystations;
e. Maintain a common timeline across all dutystations;
f. Create and maintain a player’s handbook;
g. Track dutystation message traffic;
h. Maintain a census of dutystation membership;
i. Negotiate with outside groups as required.
ARTICLE 1, Section 7: IMPEACHMENT OF THE CHAIR
The Council shall have the power to impeach the Chair for just cause.
Should a motion to impeach be raised, a Chair Pro Tem shall be elected
by the Council body to oversee the proceedings. After discussion of the
motion, a vote shall be held. Both the Chair and the Chair Pro Tem will
be bound by the provisions of Article II, Sections 2 and 3, during said
proceeding. A two-thirds vote shall be necessary to remove the Chair.
ARTICLE I, Section 8: SELECTION OF COMMANDING
OFFICERS (COs)
There will be three means of establishing a new CO, with favor always going to the Succession mode:
SUCCESSION: When a CO departs voluntarily:
Departing CO appoints incoming CO DS approval through their own means Departing CO notifies Council Council records, endorsement not required.
APPLICATION: When a CO vanishes or departs due to DS decision:
XO becomes interim CO, notifies Council of vacancy Council polls for applications of interested senior players Applications are presented to the DS for review and discussion DS makes final determination Elected rep (not XO!) notifies Council of DS decision
APPOINTMENT: For a new DS, or a DS in dire need of leadership (no senior PCs):
Council determines need. There must be a NEED for a new DS, or a NEED
to appoint senior players to a foundering DS. In most cases, the DS itself
will probably scream for help. Council polls for applications of interested
senior players Council selects CO, notifies DS DS endorses or rejects
interim CO. In cases of rejection, a reason must be returned to the Council
for the rejection, and the process begins again.
ARTICLE I, Section 9: SELECTION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
(XOs)
A new CO will appoint his XO. It is suggested that the CO first ask the
council if any other DS has a player who might be a good choice for the
job. The CO in question would then speak to all possible choices before
making a decision.
ARTICLE I, Section 10: SUBCOMMITTEES
The Council shall create subcommittees as it deems necessary to address
specific issues. These subcommittees will be manned by members of the
Council and, when useful, volunteers or draftees from the General membership
with special interests or skills pertaining to the particular subcommittee.
ARTICLE II, Section 1: SELECTION OF COUNCIL CHAIR
The Council Chair will be selected from among the Council members by the Council members. The Chair will be elected by a simple majority.
The term of the Chair will be one year. The Chair will have no term limits.
ARTICLE II, Section 2: RESPONSIBILITIES OF COUNCIL
CHAIR
The Chair shall be responsible for: (1) Guiding and participating in
Council discussions; (2) Tracking Council votes.
ARTICLE II, Section 3: RESTRICTIONS ON THE COUNCIL
CHAIR
The Chair shall be bound by the following restrictions:
May not represent a duty station as an elected or appointed member. Once a Chair is voted in, the dutystation must provide a replacement representative pursuant to Article I Section 3;
May vote only when necessary to resolve a tie situation.
In all other matters, the Chair may participate on theCouncil, in Council
discussions, and in other ways that elected and appointed representatives
serve.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP REVIEW OF COUNCIL DECISIONS
Any of the membership may call for a Membership Review of a Council decision. Further, the Council may call for a Membership Review on issues that they deem necessary. General guidelines for a Membership Review are set forth here:
1. The person calling for the review will notify his duty station via their game list of the issue;
2. The CO for that station must notify the Council of the At Issue Item;
3. Within the policy of the duty station, that station will have their own discussion and vote;
4. A passing vote of the membership of that duty station will pass the item to the Council;
5. The Council will call for a Membership Review;
6. Within the policy of each duty station, all stations will have their own discussions and vote;
7. The CO for each station shall present their vote totals to the Council;
8. The Chair will tally the totals and announce to the membership the results;
9. A 2/3 vote of the individual DS members will pass the issue.re:
Membership Reviews are time consuming and detract from the intent of
Borderlands. These should not be called to overturn a ruling made within
a duty station, or on issues that are in Council discussion unless determined
necessary by the Council. Except in cases where the Review is called in
opposition to a Council decision or ruling, the Council may elect to review
the issue and present alternative solutions.
ARTICLE IV, Section 1: APPOINTMENTS & PLOTLINES;
PLOTLINE COMPATIBILITY
All dutystations will recognize the appointments and plotlines of all
other dutystations. The Council will create guidelines for ensuring compatibility
of all plotlines.
ARTICLE IV, Section 2: PLOTLINES TO FIT GENERAL
TIMELINE & SETTING
All plot lines are to fit within the general Borderlands timeline and
setting.
ARTICLE IV, Section 3: MONTHLY DUTYSTATION REPORTS
Each dutystation will provide to the Council a list of its active members
and total messages in the last month once per month. Active members will
be defined as any member who has posted in the past seven days, or who
is currently on leave.
ARTICLE IV, Section 4: NEW DUTYSTATIONS
New dutystations can be added to Borderlands by the Council. However,
no new dutystation can draw characters from an existing dutystation without
the consent of that dutystation.
ARTICLE V: DUTYSTATION RIGHT TO CALL FOR CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION
Should three-quarters of all dutystations request it, this constitution
shall be set aside and a new constitutional convention will be held to
create a new constitution.
ARTICLE VI: RESERVATION OF NONSPECIFIED POWERS
TO DUTYSTATIONS
Any powers not specifically granted to the Council in this Constitution
are reserved for the dutystations.
ARTICLE VII: RATIFICATION OF CONSTITUTION BY COUNCIL
& MEMBERSHIP
Pursuant to the provisions of Article I, Section 5, this Constitution shall be ratified on an interim basis upon a two-thirds vote of the Council. Further, in keeping with the spirit of the Borderlands Concept, this Constitution shall automatically undergo Membership Review pursuant to Article III. Two-thirds approval of the membership is required for full ratification.
