Article I: THE PRESIDENCY
Section 1
A president, chosen by the total membership, shall lead this clan. (For further explication, see Article III, Section 1, and Article III, Section 2.) The president of the clan must administrate the servers and the web site, as well as ensure compliance with the clan’s rules and regulations.
A vice president will fulfill the president’s duties if the president is absent, or become president should the current officeholder depart. Otherwise, the vice president will serve in whatever capacity the president might require.
Section 2
Elections for the presidency shall occur every six months. If three or more candidates run, a two-stage election shall result. During the first stage, everyone who would like to run will appear on the ballot. The candidates who achieve first and second place on the first ballot will proceed to the final stage. The winner of this stage will become president.
If only two candidates vie for the presidency, then the election shall consist of one stage.
As candidates run for the presidency, they shall each select a running mate. The victorious candidate's running mate will become vice president.
Section 3
The clan may remove a president from office with a two-thirds vote of the general membership as well as the assent of four Cabinet ministers. If four Cabinet ministers do not approve, the general membership may still remove the president with the support of 90 percent of the general members.
Section 4
If the vice president shall ascend to president, this person will serve out the remainder of the former president’s term, and appoint a new vice president from amongst the Cabinet.
Article II: THE CABINET
Section 1
The function of the Cabinet as a whole will be to advise the president on running the clan. The president is required to consult the Cabinet on the Central Command board, which is viewable to the president, the vice president, the Cabinet ministers, the admirals, and the captains.
Additionally, each Cabinet minister will have a specific assignment, explained below:
- MINISTER OF WAR – This minister will ensure the clan's teams run smoothly. Amongst the War Minister's duties will be selecting team captains, making teams practice as they should, sharing strategies for success, and apprising the clan of team events.
- MINISTER OF JUSTICE – The Justice Minister will adjudicate disputes between clan members. He/she will also issue punishments for light infractions.
- MINISTER OF TECHNOLOGY – This person is the clan’s foremost expert on technology. The Technology Minister troubleshoots web site and server difficulties. This minister also helps members resolve their computer problems.
- MINISTER OF STATE – Conducting affairs with other clans will be the State Minister. He/she will organize alliances (subject to Cabinet approval), tournaments, competitions, etc. Another task will be to help increase the clan’s prestige.
- MINISTER OF RECRUITMENT – This Cabinet minister evaluates applicants and makes recommendations about them to the clan leadership at large, as well as watches for potential invitees.
As needed, the Cabinet ministers may select one or two assistant ministers from the general membership, with approval from the president. Assistant ministers will hold the rank of captain.
Section 2
After his or her election, the president shall appoint the Cabinet ministers. The total membership, with a majority vote, must approve each minister before the minister can assume office. If it does not approve a minister, the president must either appoint a new minister, or resubmit the old choice and hope the vote goes differently.
Section 3
The Cabinet will devise and/or repeal the clan’s rules and regulations. A majority vote is necessary to pass or eliminate a rule, an action the president can veto. Overruling the veto will require the assent of four ministers.
Rule-making, if any takes place, will occur on the Central Command board. Once the Cabinet makes a decision, the president will transfer the thread in which debate took place to the public forums, so the clan can see how the choice was made.
The president does not make rules, just vetoes them (if he/she wishes) and enforces them. Naturally, however, the president can suggest rules.
Section 4
The Cabinet may pass amendments to the Constitution using the method described above. In order for the amendment to take effect, however, the approval of the clan at large is necessary.
If 37.5 percent of the clan's non-AFK eligible voters rejects an amendment, it shall be canceled. Otherwise, it shall be enacted. (We have 38 eligible voters. Thirty-seven-point-five percent of them is 15; that is the number of votes that would be necessary to defeat an amendment.)
Section 5
If a Cabinet minister shall be away from keyboard (AFK), the absent minister's most senior assistant will vote in the minister's place. If the Cabinet minister has no assistant, then the vice president will vote for the minister. This is so recruitment applications, regulation proposals, etc., do not pile up in the minister's absence.
If two Cabinet ministers without assistants shall be AFK, the vice president and the admiral of the most populous division shall substitute for the ministers. Etc., etc.
Section 6
The president may remove a Cabinet minister with the consent of the four other Cabinet ministers and the vice president.
Article III: THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
The general membership is comprised of those not president, vice president, or full minister (as opposed to the total membership, which includes the whole clan). These members will all have ranks, the highest of which will be admiral, division leader. Those members of lower ranks should defer to those with higher ranks.
The division leaders will assign ranks within their divisions, with the ratification of the president, and the Cabinet will select division leaders, using the normal rule-making procedure.
This clan’s ranks below admiral will be: ensign, sublieutenant, lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, and captain.
Ensigns, because they have not been in the clan long, will not vote in elections or confirmations, as they would have insufficient experience of the candidates and appointees to make informed decisions. Also, an embattled leadership could recruit a bunch of ensigns on condition they vote for a president and confirm his ministers. Such would make the whole electoral process a sham.
Section 3
The decision-making process of this clan will be transparent to all members. To that end, whenever the clan leadership makes a rule or decides on a course of action, the Central Command threads in which they did so shall be transferred to the public forums. Trials will be so open as well.
This clan will also be responsive to its members needs. Towards that end, members can ask questions of and/or make suggestions to their leaders in-game or on the forums. At all times, though, they should maintain decorum and respect.
Section 4
Clan members should follow the chain of command. General members who have a problem should contact their division leader; division leaders should contact the Cabinet; and the Cabinet should contact the president. This will ensure that the clan’s busy leaders must deal only with pressing issues that require their attention. Otherwise, participating in the clan would not be fun for them, and fun is what this clan is about.
Section 5
united. is a participatory clan; ergo, contributing one's presence and insight is a requirement of membership. If a member has not appeared on forums or in game for at least two weeks, he or she will enter into a warning probationary period. If the member still doesn't show for another two weeks, he or she will be expelled from the clan.
Exceptions will be those members who specifically request AFK status. We do not want to see good members expelled or feel forced to leave if they become busy for a while. This rule's intention is to target members who are always rarely here, not members whom real life might temporarily distract.
Note: playing another game will not be sufficient reason to claim AFK status. If you have become obsessed with World of Warcraft, for example, then join a World of Warcraft guild, and don't waste our time and slots.
Section 6
Members must play the game of their division exclusively for united. But members can play for other clans the additional games united. supports.
What this means is, if a member is in the Counter-Strike: Source division, then that member may not play Counter-Strike: Source for any other clan. The member can, however, participate in another Jedi Outcast clan, since the member is not a part of the Jedi Outcast division.
If a member chooses thusly to play for another clan, then the member must inform the united. leadership. They will then hide from the member the private boards for the game of the other clan. The member's ability to see the remainder of the private boards will be unaffected.
Section 7
Before switching from one division to another, members must obtain the approval of the admiral of the destination division as well as the president.
Section 8
A general member can be removed from this clan for repeatedly violating minor rules, flouting a major rule, and/or disrespecting other members. Removal takes place in the same way as the normal rule-making process does.
The Justice Minister can discipline a member for violating a minor rule. Such discipline can include loss of admin privileges, one-day banning from the server, or other measures he/she might devise, within reason. (Note that just because the Justice Minister can punish, doesn’t mean he/she should in all cases. The Justice Minister should use judgment.)
