RavenBlack Provisional Congress
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The RavenBlack Provisional Congress
This body of democratically minded vampires was formed shortly after the 'election' of Capadocious as Prince of RavenBlack. One of the aims of the body was to establish a fair and representative governing body that would ensure that no one vampire could claim rulership over the city. It was also designed to allow for smooth and non-violent transition between Princeships. Despite the efforts of numerous vampires the dream of the congress was never realized.
Exerpts from the Provisional Congress
The First Vampiric Congress of RavenBlack City
Well in the week to date, The First Vampiric Congress of RavenBlack City opened its doors on the day, 5 November 2003. There was a sporadic burst in membership, seventeen in total on the first day alone.
Now 2 days down the track the membership has more than doubled to fourty and is still climbing. All citizens of RavenBlack City are encouraged to come and have their say on the way they want our city to be run and governed.
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/vampcongress/
Some subjects that have been discussed in the days, nights and early hours of this inaugural week of the Congress range from:
➢ Formation of a governing body, representational of the citizens of RavenBlack City
➢ Incorporation of the Nightwatch into the governing body to uphold the Law and Decisions made.
➢ Election procedures for the Governing Body, including the line of Successive Princes/Princesses
➢ What issues should the Governing Body discuss and/or rectify. i.e. Cloning, Graveyard issues, Attacking innocents, Powers of the office of the Elected Prince of the City
We look forward to seeing many more of you enter the Halls of Congress to debate with us and aid us in the decision-making that shall no doubt in the future affect you and yours. If you want a say, we pray you speak now, join us and make a difference in OUR City.
Eavanya
Emissary to the Press
The First Vampiric Congress of RavenBlack City
Charter of the First Vampiric Congress of RavenBlack City
We the citizens of RavenBlack city seeing a need for leadership and a government to support this leadership have formed the first vampiric congress of RavenBlack city. It is our hope that by involving the citizens of RavenBlack city in the formation of an in character government that we will create a fair and representative body to serve as a base for city wide roleplaying.
The Council of Representatives Constitution
Preamble
We, the citizens of RavenBlack City seeking understanding and mutual respect among all immortals have come together to form the government of RavenBlack City known as the Council of Representatives. Be it only a single drop of Cain's blood that we share, we are kin and as such seek a better means for interaction and governance over our actions. The beast within us demands blood but we restrain it. Likewise though our nature would seek destruction we choose to build a city, a civilization of vampires. Let us rule the night and ourselves in accordance with the laws of Cain and karma.
Statement of vampiric rights: To insure the survival of the species and relative tranquility of the city, we recognize that all vampires have the right to exist. This includes the right to perform the necessary activities to ensure survival without intruding upon the rights of another kindred.
Article 1. Structure of the Council of Representatives
1.1. The main body of the government shall be composed of vampires from all clans, being defined as a group of 10 or more allied vampires calling themselves a clan, and independents.
1.1a. It is the responsibility of each clan to publicly elect one representative. Should a clan have more than 25 members they are permitted to elect another representative per 25 members to a maximum of 5 representatives per clan.
1.1b. Independent representative will be publicly elected at an open board containing more than 100 members. Said boards will be entitled to 1 representative per 50 listed members to a maximum of 5 per board. Each representative must have at least 10 backing unique--being defined as not supporting any other representative--independents, as determined by a poll.
1.1c. Representatives will serve for a term of 4 months with half of the clan and independent representatives being elected every 2 months to ensure that some senior representatives remain to aid in the running of the government.
1.2. The main body will be served by a chair and a secretary.
1.2a. A chair of the floor, as defined in Article 2, shall be chosen from among the representative by a 2/3 (66.6%) majority vote.
1.2b. A secretary, as defined in Article 3, shall be chosen from among the representatives by a 2/3 (66.6%) majority vote.
Article 2. The chair of the floor of the Council of Representatives
2.1. Powers and responsibilities
2.1a. The chair shall lead discussions in an orderly and timely fashion.
2.1b. The chair will have the voting privileges of a regular member.
2.1c. The chair shall also retain veto privileges, as defined in Article6.
2.2. Term of the chair of the floor
2.2a. The chair shall be elected for a term of 4 months after which a general election among the council will be held.
2.2b. The chair shall not serve more than 2 consecutive terms. 2.2c. Removal of the chair can be achieve by a vote of non- confidence, defined under Article 4, or a general election, as defined in article 1.2b.
2.2d. The chair shall nominate a secondary chair in the event that the chair is zeroed or otherwise incapable of fulfilling his/her duties. This secondary chair will be approved by a majority, being defined as greater than 50% or more of sitting vampires on the council, vote of the Council of representative.
Article 3. Duties of the secretary.
3.1 The secretary shall be responsible for ensuring that information is disseminated to all representative. He/she will also keep a record of all votes and be responsible for the book of laws, defined as a collection of accepted laws.
Article 4. Vote of non-confidence to remove the chair.
4.1. To initiate a vote of non-confidence, 2/3 (66.6%) of sitting members must be in agreement. Following the initial vote a call for replacement candidates will be issued. A vote for removal and election will be held at the same time. In a common poll members will vote to either retain the current chair or pick his/her successor. Among the possible candidates will be included the chair's designated second. Said representative if removed from position of chair will retain their position as representative.
Article 5. Conflict of interest and vamp-at-arms.
5.1. Neither the chair nor secretary will be allowed to hold another elected position of authority within any government associated organization.
5.2. A vamp-at-arms will be chosen as an impartial vampire responsible for the orderly operation of the government. This vampire will act only on behalf of the government and shall not be a sitting representative.
Article 6. Creation of laws.
6.1. It is the duty of representatives to bring forth proposals for new laws. These laws will be discussed for a period of one week after which a motion to bring the matter to a vote will be held.
6.2. Finally versions of laws will be agreed upon by greater than 50% of sitting members.
Article 7. Veto and over-riding the veto
7.1. The chair shall retain veto power over legislation.
7.2. The veto can be over-turned by a 2/3 (66.6%) vote of support.
Article 8. Amendments to the constitution.
8.1. Any amendments to the constitution must undergo substantial discussion and be accepted by 2/3 (66.6%) of sitting representatives before changes to the constitution can be made.
The Demise of the Congress
Although †LadyNikko and †Archangel both made significant contributions to the congress, both eventually left, as it had become corrupt, having strayed far from it's original ideals. The first blow came with the refusal to seat Archangel. Lacermoon had deleted all of the polls which served as the official record of the votes creating law, and now was claiming that Archangel did not qualify to be seated on the grounds that he was not the "duly elected leader" of his clan, a ridiculous assertion, as there was not a single clan in the congress that voted for leaders or held regular elections. Other demands were made of Archangel that were not asked of anyone else. He met them all and was still not seated. In the end he stormed out of the Congress stating that it had become a "Lacermoon Club". As time passed, other injustices continued, and on October 25, 2004, the vampire †Jam who made the very first post in the congress, called for it to be dissolved.
