Minister (and other governmental staff) Duties

[Spiffor]

Trevman :
It's still undecided, a poll is being currently held : http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...threadid=52794

[Eli]

How many turns will be played every "session" by the President?

[Jon Shafer]

I feel there needs to be some sort of veto power. Keep in mind I'm not doing this for me, but the game. I'm not going to be President the entire game. I feel that the President should have some say to refuse to do what he feels would send the country into a bad direction. If he vetoes and makes the wrong decision, then he faces the wrath of his staff, the people, a possible overturn, poor results next election, and even impeachment. A rule regarding 'overturn's (67%) would also have to be included as well.

[Timeline]

Trip, there is nothing stopping the president from not listening to the direction of his advisors. Sure, it is against the code of laws to not listen, since people have ultimate authority and the ministers reflect the will of the people. But, the president plays the game and has the ability to conduct matters as he does. Not listening to an advisor or the people would have negitive consequences as you mentioned, and would not bode well for the official. If he entirely defies direction given, and cannot justify this action to the people, then impeachment would probably be innevitable.

What do you mean by an overturn?

[Jon Shafer]

People are saying "nothing can be done without the consent of a poll and if they disagree strap them to a stake and burn them" kind of thing. I personally disagree with that... I suppose that the current President can always ignore what others say, but if he makes a good decision and it goes well, should he be impeached? Should there be any room for flexibility, or will it be "you didn't do this, BAM you're gone"? I think there should at least be a minor addition to the role that allows a bit of wiggling room. For my own sake, and any other Presidents who may follow. By an overrule/overturn, I mean that if the President openly declares an action he's going to take against the wishes of a poll/vote, and people can choose to bring up a poll to overturn that decision to make him do it. If not, he is subject to immediate impeachment through a subsequent poll.

[Timeline]

Originally posted by Eli
How many turns will be played every "session" by the President?

Goood question, poll posted: http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...threadid=53171

[Timeline]

Originally posted by Trip
People are saying "nothing can be done without the consent of a poll and if they disagree strap them to a stake and burn them" kind of thing. I personally disagree with that... I suppose that the current President can always ignore what others say, but if he makes a good decision and it goes well, should he be impeached? Should there be any room for flexibility, or will it be "you didn't do this, BAM you're gone"?

Hey, as president you always have the final say. If you go against the people, and it goes well, (and you throw in some PR damage control) then most likely they will love you more than before for being such a great leader. Power will always rest with the people to remove from office if they like, you can never change that, but if you are doing a good job, and are on the people's good side, then you probably won't have to worry about impeachment.

I think there should at least be a minor addition to the role that allows a bit of wiggling room. For my own sake, and any other Presidents who may follow. By an overrule/overturn, I mean that if the President openly declares an action he's going to take against the wishes of a poll/vote, and people can choose to bring up a poll to overturn that decision to make him do it. If not, he is subject to immediate impeachment through a subsequent poll.

I thought you were against long drawn out constitutions

Go back to sleep, it's fine how it is without all that mumbo jumbo .

Your wiggling room is how good you are at PR and damage control.

[Jon Shafer]

I like official wiggling room that's all. That's not too much to ask from a constitution now is it?

[punkbass2000]

Originally posted by Trip
I personally disagree with that... I suppose that the current President can always ignore what others say, but if he makes a good decision and it goes well, should he be impeached?

I disagree. This sounds like ends justifying the means, which is not how we should operate.

[Moral Hazard]

I personally disagree with that... I suppose that the current President can always ignore what others say, but if he makes a good decision and it goes well, should he be impeached?

I think I'll remove, the staunch defender stuff in my paper. It's a democracy game. It's not about making the right decision, democracies don't always do this. It's about everyone having a say. Therefore polls must be followed IMO.

[Trevman]

If the president vetoes an ministerial decision, he should set up a poll explaining why and allow the people to vote to overturn. If a 2/3 majority votes against the veto, it is overturned. A bit complicated, yes, but I think that it is neccesary.

[Jon Shafer]

As I've said, there has to be some way to veto a decision, and an opportunity for the President to explain why.

[civman2000]

I think presidents should be allowed to veto without polling...I also think this should be grounds for impeachment. However, if their veto has a positive effect they're unlikely to be impeached.

[Timeline]

Originally posted by civman2000
I think presidents should be allowed to veto without polling...I also think this should be grounds for impeachment. However, if their veto has a positive effect they're unlikely to be impeached.

I agree with civman's point of view on this. However, if ANYONE disagrees, they are more than weclome to post a poll.

[Jon Shafer]

Okay, here's my analysis of the Constitution and what I feel needs to be changed before we ratify it.

Originally posted by Timeline
Updated 6/14
CODE OF LAWS

These are the code of laws that we, the new citizenry of Apolotonia, have decided upon. In it, we have declared that we shall form a government of the people, a Democracy, in which -WE- shall choose who leads us. We shall gather the smartest and most wise people of our tribe together, and they shall erect sacrad polls, and they will do their bidding. Let no other nation, barbarian, or calamity stand in our way, WE ARE CIVERS, AND WE WANT TO PLAY!


Government Stucture


Executive Branch

This is the administrative section of our nation. The Executive branch is made up of the President and Vice President. These two are required to abide by the suggestions of the ministers, who represent the will of the people.


President

The President shall physically play the game after referring to his advisors, and generally checking with the people.

Once the turns are played the president shall send out the save game file via e-mail only to all the members of his cabinet and any Apolytonia member who specially request it. The Historian and Reporter must receive saves from the beginning and end of each turn.

This hasn't been decided.

The President is required to host at least one turnchat a week.

The President must have a 2/3 majority before he can change our Government type or mobilize our economy for war.

It appears as though this is 51% instead.

The President has control over drafts.

The President or Foreign Minister can also call for a DOW with 67%, as things appear now.

Vice-president

The right hand of the President; he may assist the president in any way currently needed (holding polls, consulting ministers, distributing the save files, etc). In the event the President is unable to play his turn, the Vice-president shall play the turn instead.


Ministerial Branch

Ministers make up the core of our government. They do the hard labor required to point our country in the right direction. Ministers are experts in the area they oversee, and they have the serious task of informing and advising the people on our situation. They are required to conduct polls in order to interrupt the people’s will. They are then to carry out that will, by giving their direction to the President.

All Ministers are allowed to advise and consult with each other. They are also granted the right to petition for changes or actions from other Ministers that may be critical to the their department. Ultimately, however, it is the Minister in charge of his/her section that has the final say in how things are handled.


Science Advisor

The Science Advisor is the nation’s greatest mind in the area of technological advancement. It is his/her responsibility to advise the president on which techs the people wish to research.

The Science Minister is acknowledged the right to advise the Foreign Affairs minister on matters of Tech trading.

The Minister of Science should be required to post polls every so often to see which direction the people want to go tech-wise, but not for every advance.

Military Advisor

This officer is the principal military advisor to the President and the people, and prepares military plans and reviews overall military requirements for our nation. He/She also has the responsibility to assess threats to the security of the country and keep everyone up to date on these threats.

The Military Advisor is granted the power to set up the army's strategy. He tells what troops to move where, and which battles to engage.

The Military Advisor is granted the right to take an active part in negotiations of Peace Treaties, Mutual Protection Pacts, or a Right of Passage agreements. (Note: The Foreign Advisor calls the shots, but the Military Advisor must have his voice heard).

The Minister of War should also consult with the Minister of Public Works regarding transportation (roads/RRs) for the army as well. That and the City Planner for construction of barracks/harbors/airports, etc.

Foreign Advisor

This minister is the government’s chief advisor on foreign affairs and is responsible for carrying out foreign policy. He/She is given the power to enter into diplomatic negotiations with other countries, however should refrain from making commitments until approved by the people.

The Foreign Advisor is granted the power to make peace, accept Mutual Protection Pacts, offer Right of Passage Agreements, and forge Military Alliances. The exchange of all items, except Strategic, Luxury, or Gold resources falls on the broad shoulders of the Foreign Affairs Minister. It is strongly recommended that the Foreign Affairs Minister consult the appropriate ministers when gifts or exchanges are involved.

This Minister is required to consult the Trade advisor when Gold, Luxury or Strategic resources are involved.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs may also call for a DOW with a 67% vote.

Trade Advisor

The Minister of Trade is the principle authority on all international trade. He/she handles all trade involving the exchange of luxurious goods and resources, and has control over any times that gold may be involved.

The Trade Advisor is granted the power to make/accept Trade Embargos.

City Planner

The City Planner is truly an artist and an economist, for he is responsible for making the foundation of our nation, cities, as prosperous and successful as possible. The City Planner manages building queues and citizens, but may also request the Public Works minister to improve city tiles when needed.

The City Planner is strongly recommended to accommodate all Ministers who approach him/her with their various needs.

Imperial Expansion Minister
The Imperial Expansion Minister posses the important job of placing our glorious new cities.

He should be also work closely with the other Ministers, for example if the Minister of War wants a city built in such-and-such place to help for an invasion, or the Minister of Public Works feels that a city in such-and-such place would make it easier to build up our infrastructure, etc.

Public Works Minister

The Public Works Minister is in charge of all the workers and slaves in our empire.

And should work closely with the Minister of Imperial Expansion and the Minister of War.

Financial Minister
The Financial Minister has the power to control the budget of our civ. That involves assigning income for science, trade and luxuries.

This position is very important to work with the President, Minister of Science and the City Planner.

Public Information Servants

Historian

The Historian logs everything that happens to our nation, however, he should do so without biased to political leaders or parties. The Historian is not allowed to vote in governmental polls.

The Historian may request detailed information on certain things from the President, and shall be granted access to multiple saves per turn (before and after the save has been played).

Basically the Historian should recount an accurate and detailed account of what occurs each turn. The Reporters are the ones that have fun.

Reporters

These independent agents are bestowed the great privilege of keeping the people informed on the happenings of the game and government, as well as the general environment around us. They should strive to obtain accurate facts, and state things how they are, free of political involvement. The reporters act as a window into the game, serve as a government watchdog, and are general tool of the people.

Government Policy


Length of Office Terms:

All office terms shall last one month. A member can run for a different office at the end of his term, but he cannot change offices during it. If a member is elected three times into the same office, that member must run for a different office in his forth term, or not run at all.

IIRC, a poll said that there will be no limit on how many terms you can have per office in a row.

Impeachment

All members of our great nation are recognized the right to bring foreword the issue of impeachment of any government official at any time. It is written in our noble code of laws how this process is to be carried out:

A poll will be posted which will expire in no less than 5 days. There are to be three poll options, yea, nay, and abstain. Upon the expiration of the poll, if 2/3 of the people who voted deem impeachment necessary, then the official shall be immediately removed from office. The President shall establish an emergency member to take his/her place until a new election can be held, and a new person voted into office to finish the term.

These are laws . . . the people have spoken.

There also needs to be a final section about polls. My suggested rules are this:
Each poll should have its rules laid out, as well as an expiration (if it is to be official in any way... no saying 3 weeks later "well this poll said this" kind of thing). Each poll should lay out the potential options, as well as the question in a clear format. The first post should be completely neutral. No options are to be suggested, just what each option entails in an unbiased format. A link to another discussion thread is also recommended.

These are very basic rules to make things more fair for both sides. More often than not, it's a race to see which side can get a poll up and slash the other side's view to promote its own in the first post and in the question/answers. That's really not fair, and should be changed. If these rules are not abided by, anyone may consider the poll invalid.