Resolution 0055: Council Restructure

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Note: Various amendments to this resolution have been passed over time. Since they produced quite a number of changes to the original text, an updated version of the text has been created which reflects only the currently applicable General Council Procedures.

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Res 0055a)

Exo involvement in the FC

It is proposed that the ExOs are to be put on the FC mailing list, but are excluded from receiving mails about certain 'critical' resolutions. The latter is the case when the President of the FC approaches and gets the support of no less than two FC members for this measure.

Votes:
RES 0055a) Aye - 5, Nay - 2

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Res 0055b)

Decision how to reorganize the FC

1) Structural Changes. This would not only be structural changes as it would include procedures as well. And these changes may or may not be how [David Wells] proposed them.

or

2) Procedural changes. Where the Council will continue to have all COs, no matter how many there are in the game.

Sidenote: the vote's outcome will decide which topic we will continue to discuss, not mean we will take any of the existing outlines as granted!

Votes:
RES 0055b) 1. - 7, 2. - 0

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Res 0055c-e)

I. NOTES
II. WHAT IS THE COUNCIL
III. COUNCIL RULES AND ETIQUETTE
IV. COUNCIL PROCEDURES
.....A. Main vs. Alternate Council
.....B. Resolutions (Admission to Voting)
.....C. Voting Guidelines
.....D. Chairperson Election or Selection
.....E. Determining a New CO
.....F. Determining a New ExO
.....G. Determining a New DACT (or dDACT)
.....H. Determining a New COO
.....J. Creation of a New RP Unit
.....K. Return of Former Players
.....L. Appeals
.....M. Points of Order
.....N. Resolution Format
.....O. Inability to Perform Council Duties
.....P. Mailing Lists
V. DEFINITIONS

Amendments

=/\=
I. 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 effect 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.

II. WHAT IS THE COUNCIL
Note: This Section has been modified by Resolution 0219.

1) The Federation Council shall consist of two individual Councils. One shall be hereafter called the Main Council (or MC) and the other shall be the Alternate Council (or AC).
a.Each council shall consist of one CO from each sub-fleet (outlined in section II.4), with no CO serving on both councils.
1-One member from each Council shall act as a Chairperson for all rules, incoming resolutions and voting for his/her respective Council.
b.The Chairperson shall be a member of the Council and shall only differ from the other member in that he/she will maintain an orderly discussion in the Council.

2) The Main Council shall be the primary governing body of the game and shall proceed in the manner outlined in this resolution.

3) The Alternate Council will only be in active session when a resolution encounters intense debate and is extended a second time (Sections IV.B)4-6), hereafter called a 'hot' resolution. At which time, all pending resolutions will de diverted to the Alternate Council and will proceed in the same manner as the Main Council, as outlined within the resolution.
a.Should a resolution require a second extension in the AC, it shall be set aside for determination by the MC, after the hot resolution has been dealt with.
b.When the MC has resolved all hot resolutions any pending resolutions shall return to the MC and the AC shall close after voting on all resolutions on the AC floor.

4) All units in the game will be divided *evenly* into 4 sub-fleets (for lack of a better term). With the ACT Council serving as a 5th sub-fleet.
a.When the number of units in the game is not divisible by 4, allowances shall be made, so long as each sub-fleet is built up evenly and that no sub-fleet outnumber another by more than 1 unit. (Exception to be made for the ACT Council which only consists of 3 members.)
b.The initial sub-fleets shall be composed in the following manner:
Sub-Fleet A: David Raeburn (USS PATRIOT); Aaron Melton (USS DISCOVERY)
Sub-Fleet B: Marko Sertic (USS CENTURY); Susan Ledbetter (USS AVALON)
Sub-Fleet C: David Wells (GS-1)
Sub-Fleet D: Stefan Palan (USS SUTTNER)
Sub-Fleet E: ACT Council

5) Each CO is elected to serve on either Council for a term of 1 year.
a.The representative shall be selected or elected by the COs of his/her respective sub-fleet. With no CO serving on both Councils.
1-If an agreement cannot be reached a decision shall be made by the toss of a coin. After which, said CO's shall serve one year each. The intent is in hopes each sub-fleet can work within itself to decide who will represent said sub-fleet.
b.Any representative may be elected to a second term but may not serve more than *two* consecutive terms.
1-Exceptions shall be made when said CO has replaced a representative for less that 6 months.
c.A minimum of 1 year is required before being elected to another term in either Council.
1-Until such time as we have more RP units in the game, this does not apply when said CO is moving from one Council to the other.

6) Neither Council shall 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.Either 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 fleets.

III. 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 for the duration of his/her term.
b.A personal attack shall first be identified by *either* the person attacked or the Chairperson.
1.The person attacked may bring it to the attention of the Chairperson for processing.
2-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.
3-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 for the duration of said representative's term.
1.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.
2.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.
a.It will remain in effect until the end of the representatives current term. At which time he/she may be 'reelected' to the Council.

6) A representative of this Council shall abide by all procedures outlined herein or so amended in the future.

IV. COUNCIL PROCEDURES

1. Main vs. Alternate Council
2. Resolutions (Admission to Voting)
3. Voting Guidelines
4. Chairperson Election or Selection
5. Determining a New CO
6. Determining a New ExO
7. Determining a New DACT (or dDACT)
8. Determining a New COO
10. Creation of a New RP Unit
11. Return of Former Players
12. Appeals
13. Points of Order
14. Resolution Format
15. Inability to Perform Council Duties
16. Mailing Lists

A) Main vs. Alternate Councils

1) Section IV is equally applicable to *both* the Main and Alternate Council, with the following exceptions.
a. The Alternate Council shall only be brought to session when the Main Council encounters a "hot resolution", as defined in Section IV.B.6.
b. All proposals for resolution shall be sent to the Chairperson of the Main Council regardless of which Council(s) is in session. Said Chairperson shall then defer 3 (three) pending resolutions, at a time, to the Alternate Council's Chairperson who will offer them for discussion in the Alternate Council.
1- New proposals should be sent to the Main Council Chairperson who will determine if there is a need to have them sent to the Alternate Council. (The MC Chair will know if the debate on the "hot resolution" is winding down or at a standstill and can determine if it necessary to defer the resolution.)
c. When the MC has completed the "hot" resolution, the AC shall complete any resolutions on the table as soon as possible.
d. After active resolutions are voted on the AC shall adjourn.

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, for presentation to the sub-fleet representative.
b. Said proposal is formatted as outlined below.
c. Said proposal is then submitted to the MC Chairperson for placement into the list of resolutions, or deferment to to the AC.

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.
1-Normal
2-Priority or Time-Critical
3-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.
1-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.
1-The drafter/creator has a right to defend his/her resolution, if he/she so wishes.
2-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 effected by a resolution should be included in the discussion.
1-If those effected 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 effected is not conducive to orderly discussions within the Council, a proxy (chosen by those effected 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.
1-On the 14th day a call for an extension or votes will be called. If the resolution is extended a second time it shall be deemed a "hot resolution" and the Alternate Council shall come into session as outline in Section IV.A above.
b.Said resolution may also be tabled if it is felt any additional time would be fruitless.
1-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 MC 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 (3 out of 5) 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
Note: This Section has been modified by Resolution 0313.

1) It being that the Chairperson shall not differ from, or have any other voting privileges (i.e.: tie-breaking), the Chairperson of the Council may be any person selected or elected by the Council he/she is to chair.
a.Said Chairperson must be a member of the Council he/she is to chair.

2) No new Chair shall be needed unless current Chairperson makes his/her intent to vacate the position known. Or said Chair's term as a Council Representative is ended.

3) Selection or election of a Chairperson shall take priority over all incoming or prospective resolutions.

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 the representatives, or by CO's *through* their respective representative.

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
1-RP history, as appropriate. Including unit's served on, COs served under. Types of missions experienced.
2-Length of play in the game. (Which may or may not be considered in a final decision.)
3-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.
1-This is an attempt to create a hierarchy in the game. Rather than having COs and ExOs coming from every position.
2-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.
1-Quality shall be defined in relation to the remainder of the nominee's RP unit. (i.e.: the best player in the unit.)
2-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)
Note: This Section has been modified by Resolution 0313.

1) When possible the dDACT should succeed the DACT.
a.When not possible, the procedure for determining a new DACT (or dDACT) shall be conducted in the same manner as a new CO.
With these exceptions.
1-Qualified nominees shall have a minimum of 9 months RP history (incl. ACT).
2-Qualified nominees may be any player of the Federation Role Playing Game, as nominated by their CO.
3-Qualified nominees *should* not be COs or ExOs.

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.
1-Qualified nominees shall have a minimum of 9 months RP history (incl. ACT).
2-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) Said player shall require final approval by either the Main or Alternate 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 (see Amendment 4).

4) see Amendment 1

L) Appeals

1) Appeals may be made by any member of the Council, or person effected by the Council's action.
a.Any CO may appeal the vote of their representative, should it be felt said representative is no longer acting in the best interest of the fleet.
1-Said appeal should first be taken to the representative in hopes the problem can be worked out.
2-If said representative disagrees, and the CO wishes to pursue the matter further said appeal should be sent to the Chairperson.

2) Said appeal shall be sent in a private message to the Chairperson.
a.At no time shall the Chairperson ignore an appeal.
1-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
1-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 for a short period of time (less than 1 Council session as defined above), a replacement shall come from:
a.COs - Another CO of the same sub-fleet
1-Should no CO desire to complete the session an ExO from the same sub-fleet may be chosen.
b.Representative from ACT Council - Another member of the ACT Council.

2) Should any representative be unable to perform his/her FC duties for a long period of time (more than 1 Council session as defined above), a replacement shall come from:
a.COs - Another CO of the same sub-fleet
1-A CO must fill the role of a representative when the length of departure is greater than 8 weeks.
b.Representative from ACT Council - Another member of the ACT Council.

3) If it is not possible to find a replacement for a representative, said replacement may be any CO in the game.
a.If a replacement is still not found, said replacement may be any ExO, first from the sub-fleet, then from the game.

4) Should any representative decide to *quit*, the decision would be *final* and a permanent replacement, for the duration of the term, would be selected as stated above.

P) Mailing Lists

1) The mailing lists of the MC and AC shall remain separate with neither Council receiving mail from the other, save these exceptions.
a.When a resolution(s) is offered for discussion, said mail message will be sent to all COs, ExOs and the DACT.
1-Any player not actively discussing a resolution (i.e.: is on the MC when the resolution is in the AC) should make his/her opinion known to the representative currently discussing said resolution.

2) The mailing lists shall be formed as so:
a.Main Council
1) All members of the MC will receive all mail from that council
2) All AC, EXOs, and ACT Council members will receive only the initial resolution, and the final form of the resolution prior to a call for vote (see Amendment 2).
b.Alternate Council
1) All members of the AC will receive all mail from that council
2) All MC, EXOs, and ACT Council members will receive only the initial resolution, and the final form of the resolution prior to a call for vote (see Amendment 2).
c.ExOs receive the full mail from the Council their respective CO is a member of.
d. see Amendment 3

V. DEFINITIONS

Alternate Council - A Council activated when a Resolution deemed hot encounters extensive debate in the Main Council. Said Council is only active as long as the Main Council discusses a Hot resolution.

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

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

Emergency Resolution - Any resolution effecting 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.)

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

Hot Resolution - Any resolution that has been extended a second time in either Council. Once a resolution is deemed hot, discussion continues in the Main Council.

Main Council - The primary governing body of the Federation RPG.

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 effect the entirety of the RPG.
2. Any resolution that requires prompt attention to allow the effected 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 Council.

Resolution - The second stage of a resolution. The form in which the FC Council 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 Council.

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.

Sub-fleet - A way of describing the division of units in the game.
It has no bearing on the game proper.

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.

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Votes:
RES 0055c-e) Aye - 6, Nay - 1

Amendments:
Res 0107 - Addition of Section IV.K)4)
Res 0115 - Amendment of Sections IV.P)2)a.2) and IV.P)2)b.2)
Res 0120 - Addition of Section IV.P)2)d.
Res 0122 - Amendment of Section IV.K)3)
Res 0219 - Reform of Council Procedure
Res 0313 - Procedural Changes concerning DACT and Council Chair

SD 2.01009.2205