All members of the Council of Scribes who are eligible to vote under the Temporary Rules of the Council of Scribes may vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain. The vote shall be open until 7:30 PM EDT of May 9th, 2016.Scroll of Ma'at Preamble
We, the citizens of the Osiris Fraternal Order, have convened to establish this Scroll of Ma'at as a covenant between us and as the official constitution of the Osiris Fraternal Order, in order to ensure the peace, order, and good governance of our region and its community. It is our hope and our commitment that the government hereby established will foster an active and engaged community built upon a foundation of mutual respect, cooperation, and friendship between us and between all residents of Osiris, present and future.
Article I: Citizenship in the Osiris Fraternal Order
Section 1: Admission to Citizenship
(1) Any resident of Osiris is eligible to apply for citizenship via the regional forum by providing the name of their nation in Osiris, their World Assembly nation, all regions and organizations with which they are involved at the time of application as well as past regions and organizations, and affirming that they will uphold this constitution and laws enacted pursuant to this constitution.
(2) The Pharaoh is responsible for approving or rejecting citizenship applications within seven days of filing. Citizenship applications neglected for more than seven days will automatically go to vote before the Council of Priests.
(3) Any citizen may appeal acceptance of a citizenship application to the Council of Priests. Any individual whose citizenship application is rejected may appeal to the Council of Priests. Appeals must be made within fourteen days of acceptance or rejection of a citizenship application.
(4) The Council of Priests will, within seven days of an appeal, initiate a vote to accept or reject the citizenship application that is subject to appeal. If already admitted to citizenship, the applicant's citizenship will be suspended pending the outcome of the appeal.
(5) Citizens admitted to citizenship during or within seven days prior to a scheduled election, or after the initiation of a special election, will not be permitted to vote in that election.
Section 2: Revocation of Citizenship
(1) The Chief Vizier or designated Vizier(s) must revoke the citizenship of any citizen whose nation in Osiris voluntarily relocates or ceases to exist.
(2) Additional requirements for maintenance of citizenship may be established by law. Revocation of citizenship for failure to meet such requirements must be equally applied.
(3) The Council of Priests may impose suspension or revocation of citizenship as sentencing for crimes committed against the Osiris Fraternal Order.
Section 3: Rights of Citizenship
(1) Citizens have the right to a speedy, fair, public, and impartial hearing before the Council of Priests for any criminal charges.
(2) When there is a conflict between the law or policy in place at the time of a hearing before the Council of Priests and the law or policy in place at the time of an alleged criminal offense, the more lenient of the two, with respect to the accused, will be used.
(3) The Council of Priests will not hear criminal charges against any citizen if the citizen has previously been found not guilty of the exact same charges by the Council of Priests.
(4) Citizens have the right to vote in the Council of Scribes and in all elections, in accordance with this constitution and provided they maintain citizenship for the duration of voting.
(5) Citizens have the right to stand for election to any elected office, provided they meet the qualifications established by law.
(6) Citizens have the right to be secure in their citizenship. Citizenship may only be revoked in accordance with this constitution.
(7) Citizens have the right to petition for the redress of grievances when they believe a law or government action contradicts this constitution or laws made pursuant to this constitution. Such petitions will be heard and resolved by the Pharaoh.
(8) The free exercise of these rights may be limited by forum terms of service, applicable NationStates rules, and laws that reasonably serve to protect the region, its community, or its government.
Article II: Council of Scribes
Section 1: Composition and Procedure of the Council
(1) The Council of Scribes is the legislature of the Osiris Fraternal Order.
(2) The Council is comprised of all citizens of the Osiris Fraternal Order. Citizens will automatically be enrolled in the Council upon admission to citizenship.
(3) The Pharaoh and Priests will have no vote in the Council for the duration of their service as Pharaoh and Priests.
(4) The Chief Scribe will serve a three month term, following election by the Council.
(5) The Chief Scribe is responsible for presiding over the Council according to its procedural rules. Where no rules exist, the Chief Scribe may exercise discretion in determining procedure.
(6) If the office of Chief Scribe is vacant, or for the duration of discussion and voting on a motion to remove the Chief Scribe from office, the business of the Council will be administered by the Pharaoh or by a Priest.
(7) Unless otherwise noted by this constitution, all votes of the Council will be determined by simple majority vote.
(8) The outcome of any vote of the Council will be determined by tallying the counts for and against. Abstentions may not be used to determine the outcome of any vote.
Section 2: Powers of the Council
(1) The Council of Scribes may establish rules which govern its procedures. Where there is a conflict, these rules supersede and override any discretionary procedures adopted by the Chief Scribe, but are subordinate to the laws of the Osiris Fraternal Order.
(2) The Council has broad legislative power and may enact, amend, or repeal any law, with the assent of the Pharaoh.
(3) The Council may remove any government officer from office by three-fifths majority vote, with the assent of the Pharaoh. The Council may not remove the Pharaoh from office.
(4) The Council may ratify treaties presented by the Chief Vizier or designated Vizier(s), and repeal treaties, by three-fifths majority vote, with the concurrence of the Council of Priests and the assent of the Pharaoh.
(5) The Council may declare war, and repeal declarations of war, by two-thirds majority vote, with the concurrence of the Council of Priests and the assent of the Pharaoh.
(6) The Council may amend this constitution, the Scroll of Ma'at, by two-thirds majority vote, with the concurrence of the Council of Priests and the assent of the Pharaoh.
Article III: State and Executive Government of the Osiris Fraternal Order
Section 1: Pharaoh of the Osiris Fraternal Order
(1) The Pharaoh is the head of state of the Osiris Fraternal Order and is required to serve as the World Assembly Delegate of Osiris.
(2) The Pharaoh will serve until abdication and will, with the approval of the Council of Scribes and the Council of Priests, choose a successor upon abdication. Resignation or expulsion from the World Assembly or ceasing to exist will be considered automatic abdication.
(3) The Pharaoh is responsible for in-game enforcement of this constitution and laws enacted pursuant to this constitution.
(4) The Pharaoh is responsible for maintaining in-game regional settings and maintaining order on the Regional Message Board, pursuant to the laws and policies of the Osiris Fraternal Order.
(5) The Pharaoh may establish reasonable policies regarding in-game regional security, regional settings, and maintenance of the Regional Message Board, provided such policies do not contradict this constitution or laws enacted pursuant to this constitution.
(6) The Pharaoh will determine the assignment of in-game Border Control to Regional Officers.
(7) The Pharaoh may, with the approval of the Council of Scribes, pardon or commute the sentence of anyone convicted of any crime by the Council of Priests.
(8) The Pharaoh may declare a regional state of emergency, dissolving the Council of Scribes, vacating the office of Chief Vizier, and vesting legislative power in the Council of Priests for the duration of the state of emergency. The Council of Priests may override and end a state of emergency by two-thirds majority vote.
Section 2: Chief Vizier of the Osiris Fraternal Order
(1) The Chief Vizier is the head of government of the Osiris Fraternal Order and is responsible for managing domestic and foreign affairs in the name of the Pharaoh.
(2) The Chief Vizier will serve a three month term, following election by the Council of Scribes and appointment to office by the Pharaoh.
(3) The Chief Vizier is responsible for appointing, with the assent of the Pharaoh, a Council of Viziers to assist in the execution of government duties.
(4) The Chief Vizier must confer with the Pharaoh regarding matters of executive policy and will invite the Pharaoh to participate in all meetings of the Council of Viziers.
(5) The Chief Vizier must, a minimum of once per month, update the Council of Scribes on matters of executive policy to ensure informed legislative oversight.
Article IV: Council of Priests
Section 1: Composition and Procedure of the Council
(1) The Council of Priests is the security council of the Osiris Fraternal Order, the purpose of which is to enforce regional security and balance power between the state, the executive government, and the legislature.
(2) The Council is comprised of a minimum of three Priests appointed by the Pharaoh and approved by the Council of Scribes. Priests will serve until resignation or removal from office.
(3) Priests may maintain World Assembly nations in Osiris and may exceed the regional endorsement limit(s), up to a limit determined by the Pharaoh, which will be no less than 60% of the Pharaoh's endorsement count.
(4) Priests are not required to maintain World Assembly nations in Osiris at all times, but may be required by law to maintain a minimum level of regional influence.
(5) In the event that the Pharaoh abdicates without a successor being chosen and approved, the Priest with the highest endorsement count may serve as acting Pharaoh, and the Council will appoint a new Pharaoh with the approval of the Council of Scribes.
Section 2: Powers of the Council
(1) The Council may establish rules which govern its procedures. These rules are subordinate to the laws of the Osiris Fraternal Order.
(2) The Council may hear criminal and civil charges, determine guilt or the lack of it, and impose penalties upon guilty parties.
Article V: Forum of the Osiris Fraternal Order
Section 1: Official Regional Forum
(1) The official forum of the Osiris Fraternal Order and the sole regional forum authorized for official use in Osiris, which must be linked to in the in-game World Factbook Entry at all times, is located at the following URL: https://osiris.valthost.com/index.php
(2) Should the official regional forum cease to exist or otherwise become permanently unavailable, forum administration is authorized to immediately establish a replacement regional forum.
(3) Except as authorized by the above provision, the official regional forum may not be replaced without amendment to this constitution.
Section 2: Forum Administration
(1) Forum administration will facilitate the technical needs of the forum community of the Osiris Fraternal Order.
(2) No provision of this constitution nor any law or policy enacted pursuant to this constitution will be construed to limit or interfere with the responsibility and authority of forum administration to safeguard the out-of-character security of the regional forum or its community.
(3) Forum administration will have final authority on forum permissions, and may deny forum permissions based on risk to the security of the forum or its users, or violation of forum terms of service. Such denial of forum permissions will not be subject to appeal.
Article VI: Other Provisions
Section 1: Government Officers
(1) The Pharaoh, the Chief Vizier, the Chief Scribe, and Priests are classified as senior government officers. Senior government officers may not serve in more than one senior government office at a time.
(2) Viziers and executive or legislative deputies are classified as junior government officers and may simultaneously serve in any other office.
(3) Any government institution, elected or appointed government office, or non-governmental position may only be filled by citizens. Only citizens may vote for elected government officers.
Section 2: Legal Supremacy and Continuity
(1) This Scroll of Ma'at is the official constitution and supreme law of Osiris. No law, policy, or action by government officers may contradict this constitution.
(2) The Osiris Fraternal Order governed by this constitution retains legal continuity with the Osiris Fraternal Order governed by the State Code of Osiris, for the sole purpose of recognizing and honoring all treaties in force pursuant to that Code, except those explicitly nullified by the Transitional Government of the Osiris Fraternal Order after dissolution of that Code.
(3) Law enacted by the Council of Scribes under the authority of the Transitional Government of the Osiris Fraternal Order, and with the assent of the Pharaoh, will remain in force under this constitution unless repealed, provided such law does not contradict this constitution.
(4) Citizens recognized as such by the Transitional Government of the Osiris Fraternal Order at the time of this constitution's ratification are automatically enrolled as citizens under this constitution.
Aye: 11
Nay: 0
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Abstain/Present: 3
