Note: This document is based on Resolution 0055. The main text has been modified to reflect all the changes caused by later amendments. It will be continually updated as new amendments are passed.

CONTENTS

1. NOTES:

• This outline shall be delivered to all members of the Council, all CO's and all ExO's biannually.
• This outline shall be delivered to all new CO's and ExO's upon his/her approval by this Council.
• All subsequent conditions, requirements and procedures do not dissolve or affect the ACT Council.
• All subsequent conditions, requirements and procedures shall be applicable from the first day of the new Council's first session. These conditions, requirements and procedures are *not* retroactive.

2. WHAT IS THE COUNCIL

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2. The Federation Council shall be the primary governing body of the game and shall proceed in the manner outlined in this resolution.
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4. All COs and ExOs will be included in all Council discussions. All COs have a voice and vote on the Council. ExOs will be allowed to speak through their CO.
   a. The question of whether ACT will be allowed to retain voice and/or vote on the Council still remains to be decided. Until such time, one member of the ACT Council (usually the DACT) has the same rights as a CO on the Council.
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6. The Council shall not be convened for more than 56 (7 x 8) consecutive days, unless doing so interrupts a discussion or vote in progress.
   a. At which time a recess shall be called for a minimum of 2 weeks.
   b. Any discussions in progress shall be tabled or voted on at the end of above specified time periods.
   c. The Council shall resume its discussion where it left off prior to recess. It is recommended that no resolution be left 'open' during recess. Said resolution should be tabled or voted on prior to recess.
7. No CO may represent multiple units.

3. COUNCIL RULES AND ETIQUETTE

1. All responses to Council mail should be of an even tone.
   A. Use of profane language or personal attacks will result in the immediate removal of the representative.
   B. A personal attack shall first be identified by *either* the person attacked or the Chairperson.
   i. The person attacked may bring it to the attention of the Chairperson for processing.
   ii. When Chairperson recognizes the attack, he/she shall ask the person attacked if further action is sought. If no action is sought the Chairperson should not press the issue.
   iii. Another Council member should bring a perceived attack to the attention of the Chairperson as soon as possible.
   C. Personal attacks shall result in immediate and unconditional removal from the Council.
   i. Said removal shall result only if the person attacked wishes to 'press charges' (for lack of a better term) and a majority of the Council approves a removal.
   ii. Said majority will be determined by a secret ballot.
2. No resolution should be put forth, except through the Chair.
   A. Please do not discuss any resolution that has not been properly brought forth.
   B. Amendments do not fall in this category as they are, in their own way, discussion. Unless said amendment does not pertain to the current resolution.
3. There will be no voting until the Chair has called for votes.
   A. It is in the best interest of the Council that your vote not be placed until requested. It will prevent misunderstandings and allow opportunities for better solutions.
   B. Voting shall commence as outlined below.
4. When at all possible, problems between council members should be solved between the Council members involved.
   A. It is in the best interest of the Council that personal differences be settled privately. It will prevent others being dragged into the argument.
   B. If said conflict cannot be resolved representatives are obliged to seek mediation.
5. A resignation is final, the moment tendered.
6. A representative of this Council shall abide by all procedures outlined herein or so amended in the future.

4. COUNCIL PROCEDURES

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B) Resolutions (Admission to Voting)

1. A proposal is drafted by any player in the game.
   A. Said proposal is presented to that player's CO.
   B. Said proposal is formatted as outlined below.
   C. Said proposal is then submitted to the Chairperson for placement into the list of resolutions.
2. Said resolution is placed in order of arrival on the list of present resolutions to be discussed.
   A. A Resolution may be classified in one of three categories.
   i. Normal
   ii. Priority or Time-Critical
   iii. Emergency
   B. Emergency resolutions may be discussed immediately upon arrival.
   C. Priority or time-critical resolutions may be placed after the next oldest resolutions to be discussed.
   i. Should two priority resolutions (that aren't 'life/RPG threatening') arrive in quick succession, they shall be alternated with on older resolution between them. (I.E.: Active Res, Old Res 1, Priority Res 1, Old Res 2, Priority Res 2 and so on...)
3. The resolution is presented to the FC, by the Chairperson, as the active resolution.
   A. The drafter/creator of the resolution shall be included in the discussion, to be kept private at the discretion of the drafter/creator.
   i. The drafter/creator has a right to defend his/her resolution, if he/she so wishes.
   ii. The drafter/creator shall not, however, be included in the vote on said resolution, unless he/she already has a seat on the Council.
   B. Anyone directly affected by a resolution should be included in the discussion.
   i. If those affected by a resolution cannot be identified with a specific RP Unit (so that CO might speak for them) [eg: Only Borg characters] *and* the number of those affected is not conducive to orderly discussions within the Council, a proxy (chosen by those affected and identified *within* the *proposal*) may speak for them on the Council. If this proxy is not a member of the Council, said proxy shall not be allowed to vote on said resolution.
4. The active resolution is discussed for a maximum period of 7 days.
5. After this period a vote or an extension on the discussion is called for by the Chairperson.
6. If extended, another period of 7 days will be allowed for further discussion.
   A. Any given resolution shall not be discussed for more that 14 days.
   i. On the 14th day a call for an extension or votes will be called.
   B. Said resolution may also be tabled if it is felt any additional time would be fruitless.
   i. If said resolution is tabled, it should be refined, outside of the Council and brought forth as outlined in section 8, below.
7. Amendments may be discussed for refinement. However, may not be voted on until offered to the Council, by the Chair, as the final form of the resolution.
8. Resolutions which are tabled will be brought down to the second position on the list of *pending* resolutions. With the next resolution brought to the floor for discussion and another resolution being placed before said tabled resolution.
   A. If when it returns for discussion, the reason for the resolution having been tabled has not been resolved, the resolution will be tabled to the first resolution of the next Council session, as outlined in Section II.6.
9. Failed resolutions shall not be brought forth (in their failed form) again for a period of 6 months. (Unless said resolution has been appealed. At which time the 6 months shall commence from the date of the appeal.)
   A. If a resolution has been refined to be different enough (to be determined by the Chairperson) from the failed form, it may be placed in the list of pending resolutions.

C) Voting Guidelines

1. After 7 days (or 14 if extended) a final form resolution shall be offered and a vote will be called where a simple majority will prevail.
   A. A motion to vote may be called if a consensus has apparently been reached or discussion have become fruitless.
   B. Said motion must be seconded before the Chair can call for votes.
   C. Votes will not be taken until the Chair has acknowledged the motion and called for votes.
   D. The Chairperson shall make his/her vote known, to the first Council member to vote, so that it may not be said his/her vote had been changed to break a tie.
2. Said resolution is either passed or failed according to the outcome of the vote.
   A. Said outcome may be appealed by any member of the Council. At which time, said resolution shall be revisited after 2 resolutions or 14 days, whichever comes first.
3. All voting is 'secret ballot', sent only to the chair. After all votes have been received the chair will make known the voting results.

D) Chairperson Election or Selection

1. There will be a Chair and an Assistant Chair, who will take over if the Chair is absent for any reason.
2. The Assistant Chair will be an ExO or a CO.
3. The Chair will be any person from within the game, including ExOs, COs and DACT.
4. There will be a minimum experience requirement of nine months in the game.

E) Determining a New CO

1. The Chairperson shall put forth a call for nominations.
   A. Qualified nominees shall either be current ExO's or ACTi (with 6 months service).
2. Nominees will be offered by their CO's.
3. Nominees will then be approached, by the Chairperson, about their desire to take a command.
   A . In the event no nominee desires a command, appropriate exceptions may be made (as approved by this Council, for this specific instance) to the above requirements to find a suitable nominee.
4. Nominees seeking command shall then submit a short resume listing their qualifications and belief why they would make a competent CO.
   A . Said resume shall include
   i. RP history, as appropriate. Including unit's served on, COs served under. Types of missions experienced.
   ii. Length of play in the game. (Which may or may not be considered in a final decision.)
   iii. Type of ship that would best suit his/her command style. Or how his/her command style would best suit available ship.
5. Multiple nominees may be selected and voted on, if said voting generates a list of successive COs.
6. A nominee (or Succession List) shall be approved in accordance with previously outlined voting procedures pertaining to resolutions.
7. A Succession List must be followed unless appealed by another CO, or the player in question.

F) Determining a New ExO

1. The procedure for determining a new ExO shall be conducted in the same manner as determining a new CO. With these exceptions.
   A. Qualified nominees shall either be current Second Officers *or* have ACTi experience.
   i. This is an attempt to create a hierarchy in the game. Rather than having COs and ExOs coming from every position.
   ii. When possible, prospective ExOs should be promoted to the Second Officer position as soon as their abilities are noticed by the CO. *OR* given ACTi duties.
   B. No resume shall be *required*. Decisions shall be based on RPG service (both RP and NRP), post quality and frequency.
   i. Quality shall be defined in relation to the remainder of the nominee's RP unit. (i.e.: the best player in the unit.)
   ii. Frequency shall be defined in relation to the remainder of the nominee's RP unit. (i.e.: the player that posts more often and with consistent quality.)

G) Determining a New DACT (or dDACT)

1. If possible, the DACT should be neither CO nor ExO.
2. Where this is not possible, the DACT may be an ExO or CO. If the DACT is a CO, the ACT vote will be suspended, and if the only candidates are ExOs or COs, ExOs will be given preference.
3. Candidates must have at least nine months game experience.
4. Preference will be given to those with ACTi experience.

H) Determining a New COO

1. The procedure for determining a new COO shall be conducted in the same manner as a new CO. With these exceptions.
   A. The nominee shall *not* be a Commanding Officer of any unit.
   i. Qualified nominees shall have a minimum of 9 months RP history (incl. ACT).
   ii. Qualified nominee may be any player of the Federation Role Playing Game, as nominated by their CO.

J) Creation of a New RP Unit

1. The COO and DACT shall, at any time, determine the necessity for a new role-play unit.
   A. The COO and DACT, as members of the ACT Council have an overview of the current state and future state of the game with respect to open positions and incoming cadets.
2. This determination shall be brought to the attention of the Council in the form of a resolution.
3. Said Resolution will then be dispensed with in the fashion described above.
4. The creation of a new unit must be approved before the CO or ExO of the unit is brought before the Council. Unless such CO or ExO has been identified in a Succession List as described above.

K) Return of Former Players

1. The return of a former player will be presented to the ACT Council and shall be handled in that Council's manner.
2. This is regardless of length of the return or who the player was before leaving.
3. In the event of removal for breaking the rules and in cases where the COO has no record of the returning player, the player shall require final approval by the Federation Council.
   A. Members of the ACT Council may not know of some of the trouble makers that have left (been kicked out of) the game.
4. Guest Writers:
   A. Active FRPG Players need only CO approval from the player's ship and the ship where the player will be appearing.
   B. Former FRPG Players require Council approval regardless of length of appearance.
   C. Non-Affiliated FRPG Players (players who have never gone through training) require Council approal regardless of length of appearance.
   D. All approval must be accomplished prior to the beginning of the appropriate mission.

L) Appeals

1. Appeals may be made by any member of the Council, or person affected by the Council's action.
2. Said appeal shall be sent in a private message to the Chairperson.
   A. At no time shall the Chairperson ignore an appeal.
   B. Such action shall be sufficient cause for a point of order and possible removal from the Council.
3. Said appeal will then be made known to the Council, but the appealee's name shall not be made known.
4. Any resolution, vote or action may be appealed only *once*.

M) Points of Order

1. A point of order may be called by any member of the Council.
2. Said point of order shall be in the following form: "I call a point of order concerning (insert reason for point of order)."
   A. Said point of order shall contain no excerpts from previous messages. Unless such excerpts are the reason for the point of order. And then, only such excerpts as are needed to identify the point of order.
   B. Said point of order shall contain no further comments from the representative calling the point of order.
3. All discussion will cease until the Chairperson has resolved the point of order.
4. A point of order may be called for (but not limited to) any of the following reasons:
   A. Violation of any condition, requirement or procedure set forth in this document.
   B. Clarification of any point of a resolution.
   C. Definition of any term in a resolution.
   D. Clarififcation of vague wording in a resolution.
   E . Cessation of discussion due to heated argument, irrelevant topics or extreme confusion.
5. Points of Order shall concern *only* Council procedures, resolutions or actions.
   A. Any other RP matter should be brought to the attention of the involved CO (or CO of the involved party) before being brought before the Council.

N) Resolution Format

1. Resolution shall be for a specific solution or procedure.
2. Resolution shall include:
   A. The drafter's/creator's name and RP unit, is the drafter/creator so wishes.
   B. Description of problem.
   C. Solution, or resolution proposed to solve problem.
   D. Pro's and con's in the creator's opinion.
   E. CO's Comments
   i. Clarification or elaboration of resolution.
3. Resolution shall not be presented without possible solutions.
4. Topics of discussion shall be discussed in an informal seeting (i.e.: outside of this Council) until said discussion, brings forth a solution or concrete proposal.

O) Inability to perform Council Duties

1. Should any representative be unable to perform his/her FC duties, a replacement shall come from:
   A. COs - respective ExO
   B. Representative from ACT Council - Another member of the ACT Council.
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4. Should any representative decide to *quit*, the decision would be *final* and a permanent replacement would be selected as stated above.

P) Mailing Lists

1. When a resolution(s) is offered for discussion, said mail message will be sent to all COs, ExOs and the DACT/dDACT.
   A. Any player not actively discussing a resolution should make his/her opinion known to his/her representative.
2. All members of the Council will receive all mail from the council.
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   D. Each resolution is to be sent to *all* members of the FRPG through a special edition of the Newsletter. With it, a request will also be made to anyone interested to do so to send comments and/or opinions to their CO so that in turn these can be presented to the Council for debate/discussion.
   i. Once a Resolution passes the voting stage, the result of this vote will be submitted to the entire fleet along with the next Resolution(s) to be discussed by the Council.

5. DEFINITIONS

Appeal - The contesting of any action made by the Federation Council.

Election - Formal approval of any situation, person or other agreement. Requires a vote by all affected parties. As the game grows larger elections will become more common place.

Emergency Resolution - Any resolution affecting the entirety of the RPG and requiring immediate attention for the RPG to continue operation. (An example would be a letter from VIACOM informing us of copyright infringement.)

Federation Council (FC) - The primary governing body of the Federation RPG.

Final Form Resolution - The final stage of a resolution. The form in which a resolution is voted on.

Normal Resolution - Any resolution not deemed Emergency or Priority.

Personal Attack(s) - Shall be defined by the person attacked, in conjuction with the Chairperson.

Point of Order -
1. An action brought forth by any representative concerning the actions or words of another representative.
2. A call for clarification of a resolution or terms therein.
3. A termination of discussions to 'clear the air'.

Priority Resolution - Also called a Time-critical Resolution.
1. Any resolution deemed urgent that does not affect the entirety of the RPG.
2. Any resolution that requires prompt attention to allow the affected RP unit to proceed with its mission.

Proposal - The first stage of a resolution. The form in which a resolution is presented to a CO or the Chairperson of the FC.

Resolution - The second stage of a resolution. The form in which the FC debates and discusses a resolution.

RP Unit - Also identified as 'unit'. Any starship, starbase or other collection of players in the game environment. Units may be Federation, Non-Federation, Starfleet or Non-Starfleet. As well as any other unit defined by this Council.

Secret Ballot - A voting process in which all votes are sent, privately to the Chairperson of the FC.

Second Officer - A position, defined by the CO, as the third in command after the Captain. Said position will vary according to the ship's 'theme' or mission, and should remain constant.

Selection - Mutual approval of any given situation, person or other agreement. As the game grows larger *elections* will become more common place.

Succession List - A compiled list of the order of COs or ExOs to be awarded positions in the future. Unless appealed, this list must be followed.