Charter of the Furry Federation (1st draft)

[The Union of Tinis]

I.
As through the course of events, the tides of threat to the varied and unique peoples of our lands and seas strengthen and weaken at unknown frequencies, encouraging idleness in the good times and pushing us towards destruction in the hard times, a unifying structure is needed. Therefore, we here by establish for the purpose of providing a united front, to provide the mutual defense of our member nations against outside threats, to provide a means for working out our differences peacefully, and to provide a common voice to counter threats to all good people of the world, here by establish the Furry Federation.

II.
There shall be a council of the Furry Federation.
A. The council shall be comprised of representatives from all member nations.
1. All member nations shall have one vote on all matters.
2. Any representative or delegation shall only represent one nation.
3. All representatives serve at the will of their home nations.
B. The council shall elect from the member nations a nation to act as chair for all meetings of the Furry Federation council.
1. The chair shall serve for a term of 10 years but may at any time be removed by a 2/3 vote of the entire Furry Federation council.
2. The representative who is charged with the duties of the chair is charged with moderating all meetings of the Furry Federation council and may if they desire chair any other official meeting of part or the whole of the council or any other official body of the Furry Federation.
C. The council of the Furry Federation shall:
1. Establish a joint fighting force for the defense of all Furry Federation nations called the Furry Federation Defense Forces.
a. The Furry Federation Defense Forces shall never be used in a conflict between member nations of the Furry Federation.
b. The Furry Federation Defense Forces shall defend all nations of the Furry Federation from outside aggressors seeking to do harm to the people, lands, and property of member nations by invading sovereign territory of member nations.
c. The council of the Furry Federation may restrict the ability of the Furry Federation Defense Forces to perform defensive duties.
d. The council of the Furry Federation may with a 2/3 vote allow the Furry Federation Defense Forces to assist a sovereign government in times of crisis or civil war.
e. All members of the Furry Federation Defense Forces shall be made up entirely of members of the armed forces of all member nations proportional to the militaries of the member nations; it shall be up to the Furry Federation council to determine these proportions.
f. The council of the Furry Federation shall commission officers to operate the Furry Federation Defense Forces and may in times of conflict appoint a supreme commander to operate said military forces.
2. Establish international agreements for standards, broadcast frequencies, diplomatic protocol, treatment of prisoners of war, procedures for determining sea control, and currency exchanges.
3. Make rules for member nations regarding weapons capable of mass destruction, including but not limited to, nuclear weapons, biological weapons, and orbital drop weapons.
4. Establish a standard of equality of all citizens of all member nations to ensure equal protection before national and international law.
5. Ensure ultimate authority with regards to international agreements and bodies of the Furry Federation so as to keep member nations safe and secure in their sovereignty.
6. Establish rules for friendly international events involving the nations of the Furry Federation to encourage cultural exchanges and to bring the member nations closer together.
7. Create offices necessary for the operation of the Furry Federation, its facilities, and its rules.
8. Create rules of proper conduct during council meetings of the Furry Federation.
9. Determine yearly dues needed for complete funding of all Furry Federation operations.
a. Dues shall be collected proportionally by either population or relative economic strength of each member nation.
b. No rule can be established that treats any member nation different with respect to dues.
c. Establishment of rules preventing automatic deployment of Furry Federation Defense Forces to nations that fail to pay their dues is allowed.
D. The council of the Furry Federation shall be forbidden from:
1. Disbanding the Furry Federation.
2. Delegating its authority to any other body, individual, or nation.
3. Sending the Furry Federation Defense Forces into an offensive war.
4. Restrict national laws of member nations beyond the scope already established.
5. Grant titles of nobility, personal sovereignty, or implied superiority.
6. Directly tax the citizens of any member nation, nor tax a member nation beyond the dues needed for Furry Federation operations.
7. Declare war against any member nation unless all other nations in the Furry Federation agree to such, and even then, this only allows for use of the Furry Federation Defense Forces in defensive capacities with regards to the conflict.
E. The council of the Furry Federation may eject a member of the Furry Federation in three independent votes that must be at least two weeks separated and each vote must pass with 3/4 of all Furry Federation member nations supporting ejection.
F. All representatives of the Furry Federation shall have full free speech rights while the council is in session provided it does not infringe on the free speech rights of their fellow representatives.

III.
The Furry Federation establishes that:
A. All member nations of the Furry Federation and their citizens shall have the right to safety within their own boarders.
B. All nations are to be treated with respect and dignity.
C. The Union of Tinis shall cede the territory of South Altzan to the Furry Federation for the purposes of creating a neutral territory for the council of the Furry Federation to meet.
1. This territory shall be called either South Altzan or Furry Federation Council Hall Territory.
2. Unless otherwise directed by the council of the Furry Federation, South Altzan shall operate as and follow the national laws of the Union of Tinis provided they do not interfere with the meeting of the council.
3. All representatives of the Furry Federation council shall have effective diplomatic immunity while in South Altzan that can only be revoked if a representative is a clear and present danger to either the council representatives or the citizens of the territory.
4. Any appeals of law in South Altzan may at the council's desires, be heard by and decided by the council of the Furry Federation.
5. All citizens of Tinis shall be provided all rights provided to by the Union of Tinis.
6. Any dispute of law between the Union of Tinis and the council of the Furry Federation with regards to citizens of Tinis shall result in the citizens of Tinis being exported to Tinis and Tinis gaining full jurisdiction over the matter.
7. Matters that are no business of the council of the Furry Federation and that do not hinder meeting of the council shall be left to the cities and local jurisdictions of South Altzan.
8. The Union of Tinis shall provide for the defense of South Altzan unless the council of the Furry Federation determines otherwise.
D. There shall be a position of Chief Diplomat whom shall be elected by the council of the Furry Federation.
1. The Chief Diplomat shall be the primary voice to non-Furry Federation nations.
2. The Chief Diplomat shall be charged with negotiating with non-Furry Federation nations, international organizations, and private individuals and groups to create agreements that better server the Furry Federation; all agreements must be approved by the council of the Furry Federation.
3. The Chief Diplomat serves at the pleasure of the council of the Furry Federation.

IV.
All nations signing this agreement before July 1, of the year 2010 CE, shall be full members of the Furry Federation will full voting rights. The council of the Furry Federation may extend this deadline as desired. After that deadline, all signatories shall have a six month probationary period during which the council of the Furry Federation may with a majority vote reject a new signatory and bar them from admission. During the probationary period, new signatories are not allowed to vote in council matters but may send representatives whom shall be allowed to attend in good behavior. Also during the probationary period, the council may withhold assistance from the Furry Federation Defense Forces provided they also do not require nations during their probationary period to provide troops or support for the Furry Federation Defense Forces nor pay dues.

V.
This charter may be amended at any time by a 3/4 vote of the entire council of the Furry Federation on three consecutive votes that shall have at least one week between each vote.

VI.
Any member nation of the Furry Federation may leave the Furry Federation provided they inform the chair of the council and have come to an agreement with regards to any citizens they may have whom are serving in the Furry Federation Defense Forces.


(1st draft, Dec. 27th, 2004)

[Due to the reboot, I thought it apt to actually write this thing out. Please discuss this as if it was back in 2004/2005 and offer up changes. In a couple weeks, if discussion goes well, I'll post another draft and we can either vote on that or fix it further.]

[Kingdoms of Cal]

OOC: lots of objections....Tinis and the commonwealth have very different political systems and natures after all. You know we really should be at war over ideology, but my lot don't really care, dunno if your lot do.

Any how objections coming on mass, soon. the commonwealths enlightened self interest will show.

IRL: The french are the best at it ;D

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Joe the commonwealth representative at the meeting stood, her green and white skunk like like tail raised behind her. She spoke:

My people see little need for a defence force that could not be carried out by a mutual defence treaty. This would slash the costs and remove the challenge on all the nations sovereignty.

Why does the federation need a defence force if we all agree that an attack on one is an attack on all?

As for dues, why in the ancestors name should force be needed?

Trade sanctions should be enough?

As to trade the tinisian government has, as usual shown it's nature. My peoples are open about how we believe peace and stability are achieved .

By trade.”

Joe stood back, for a second.

“Trade makes peace, not laws. Agreements are just ink, trade improves peoples lives, lets them best do the best they can and the ones at the bottom aspire to something. It is something they can achieve in any fair society, where there is a way up.

Trade must the core of the federation, it cements peace.”

Joe took another breath she knew Tinis would not like this, but tinis and the commonwealth were very different places.

“No political organisation should be involved in standards as these are the territory of the people that know about them. Politics should never be involved...ever. As politicians have little clue about the technical issues. Therefore I wish to place the first clear amendment to this treaty.

Stating: The Furry Federation Council shall not be involve in matters of standards that independent organisations are capable of agreement upon, Out with that that effects the electromagnetic spectrum directly.

Stating: That Members will talk to such organisations that wish to agree compatibility.

Noting: That open standards must be maintained and can not be enforced should the bodies involved fail to make an agreement.

Noting: That failure to agree on such standards is in nobody's interest.

Noting: That those that are not willing to agree to such standards will be a hindrance to communication and trade

Stating: That all governments shall agree to open standards.

Stating: That those organisation that do not declare patents openly before a standard is set shall have there patents ruled illegal by all governments.

Joe smiled “We are not always that big business friendly, our formats have been open for a while as has our interoperability...some of you might want to try it.

Perhaps we should leave standards out of the constitution?"


OOC: not done yet, but rip as you wish...don't take it personal tinis, just playing in char

[The Union of Tinis]

The youthful raccoon had once again a moment of fear. That he was out of his league. That he shouldn't be the one representing Tinis in these talks. But Waldo smiled, as he had been forcing himself to throughout these negotiations, to convince himself that he had no time for such silly thoughts and had work to do.

"Uh, as my nation has been called out, I guess its up to me to respond," Waldo shuffled some of his papers. Not really looking for anything but stalling for time as he collected his thoughts. "The reason the proposed draft includes defense forces is two fold. First, it was suggested by the representative from Shikeishuu that such a thing would naturally be a part of a federation like this, aka, a neutral means to provide military assistance. I'll expound on that in a moment. Second, it would create an environment for military personnel from various nations to work along side each other. Hopefully in peace of course, but potentially in war. Bringing peoples together from the nations of this federation to be would be an ideal way for our nations to learn to trust each other. If our soldiers can learn to respect and understand each other, then maybe politicians will have a chance to."

It wasn't a good start, but it was a start. He continued.

"No, for having a neutral force. By having a fighting force with limited and directed scope acting on behalf of any nation in the federation, its effectiveness will not be hampered by the politics of the day as might happen in a purely mutual protection pact situation. Sure the defense forces would be restrained in many cases, but in say the US opted to go after KZ's oil, and KZ had let's say just elected a government intent on insulting the ancestry of everyone in Cal, Alba, and Miokalia, then they might not get much help from their neighbors. Miokalia might send some troops in, but only enough to keep the US from getting too close to their boarders. I'm not saying such a situation would happen, but that it could. If in this situation, there was also a Furry Federation Defense Force like group, they could be called up to help on quick notice. And without interference from a government that might be required to help but that doesn't want to due to recent events." Waldo scanned the room, hoping he wasn't loosing people to quickly. He kicked himself for using a hypothetical that included real nations.

"Uh, so, we understand the fears some might have towards funding or assisting a fighting force that isn't really loyal to any one government of this group, but I'd argue that it would be a good thing and something needed. If the African Union can have a military force, as small and restrained as it may be, and still have nations sign up for it, then why can't we? Tis a tad better than say a United World Assembly putting troops on our street corners. And what more, if you so wish, we can include more rules and limitations on what a defense force can and can't do in this very charter. Offer up some ideas so that there is no challenge to your sovereignty if you like. And we'll figure this out.

"Maybe a compromise would work. Maybe a change of the language from requiring the council to create such a defense force and instead make it optional. So if we all sign on and this thing, this federation, becomes real, then we can either create the defense forces, or we can not. And if we do create it, then we can undo it later if it doesn't work. Or scrap it if Cal is afraid a few hundred solders, thirty of witch are their own, hanging out on a base in a neighboring country that did agree to provide land for such, as from your speech I doubt Cal would volunteer such."

Waldo took a gulp of his coffee. His paw was shaking. "A quick statement now about dues, trade, and unity. We of Tinis do agree that trade brings nations together. Sometimes in ways that abuse and harm one nation. Sometimes on equal footing. We are not here to argue about free trade. But we are here to argue about legitimacy. Are we going to form up united against those nations and groups that wish us harm or are we going to let our ideologies get in the way? For dues specifically, the council, aka, assuming we all here sign on, the representatives from Cal, Miokalia, Shikeishuu, KZ, everyone on that side of the room, and all of you folks over here, will figure out the dues structure. I'm fairly certain none of us want to get screwed over here. So if we collectively wish a weak federation, we'll set the dues at a pittance. Enough to keep the lights on and the guard at the door. If we want a federation that serves all the nation of this group, then we might go for something a little more meaningful. However, I do not expect such dues to be excessive. And if an attempt is made to make them such, the Union will of course oppose such a measure. And if you're worried about nations being forced to pay dues, well, section II., part C., item 9, subsection c points out very clearly that if a nation doesn't pay dues, then the council can make rules for the defense forces not being deployed. To be clear, that means if Cal doesn't pay dues or contribute anything to the Furry Federation, then they can keep their vote on this council under how things are spelled out at present, but the council can opt to not send the defense forces if Cal gets attacked. Maybe an amendment limiting voting rights to those who don't pay dues should be in order then?

"What we're really creating here is a body to be the legitimate voice of all our nations collectively. I understand we don't see eye to eye on many things, but that's not the point. Tinis gets long with its immediate neighbors despite some very very different setups for culture and government. We understand what compromise is. What it means to play nice with those that are different from us. I'd hope that we won't be the only one's willing to give such an effort a chance."

Waldo feared he might be going to far. He was getting hot and preachy. His tail fur was getting to poof. Time to tone it down a little.

"As for your amendment. In the current draft, the only statement on standards and spectrum use is section II, part C., item 2. And it means that the council will create agreements for these standards. As such, perhaps your amendment's place need not be decided on here, but in a resolution by the council once it is established. If the council decides that the international agreement is that there is no formal agreement between our respective nations and that we'll leave it up to whom ever we each think is the expert organization on the subject, then so be it. If this council wishes to have all of us agree to open standards, which I might add is very vague in how the good representative from Cal has read their amendment, and that patents by late comers are effectively void simply because a standard has been set, then so be it. But I don't think now is the time to be discussing the minutia of standards rules or lack there of. We need to figure out how to best form up this new supranational organization so that is fair to each of its members and capable of doing what its supposed to do. I look forward with working with representative Joe during this process but I would ask that amendments, friendly or hostile, directly address the language presented by the committee."

----

Elsewhere, the First Speaker of Tinis was watching a closed circuit video of the meeting, as all delegations were allowed to do.

He turned to the other Tinisian in the room. "Now that was surprising. I think he gets the job."

"Sir?"

"That poor raccoon is going to be stuck as the voice of Tinis for my last term here."

-----

[OOC: And tis not taken personally in the least. Gave me an opportunity to show Waldo in a role I don't get to have him in very often: insulted pissed off diplomat :-p Though really he's not really insulted, but understands that he needs to stand up. But long story short, he'd rather get the base agreement out the door before dealing with the standards issue. And as this is supposed to be 2004, I'm running with the Tinisian government cast of that time, aka Izixs is still First Speaker, and Waldo is a Secretary of State to be. As for ideological differences, I hope Waldo made the point that Tinis has had to deal with folks they've not see eye to eye with for a long time and so would rather be in agreement on common things than at blows over much anything. He fears that the furry federation is the best means to get everyone on the same page there and thus not only keep everyone safe from outside invasion, but also from fighting among ourselves. So even if at times he starts coming off as a jackass he's only trying to make the point that we're better off together than apart ect ect.]

[Kingdoms of Cal]

[OOC: erm problem the commonwealth is only heading on four coming on five years old...2004 is kinda a problem...]

[The Union of Tinis]

[Should we slide the time scale so the federation got started later? Or would you be ok with your folks having sent either different reps or elected one to represent the possible Cal to be?]

[Kingdoms of Cal]

ooc: have the fed being a loose aliance that is largly mutural defence, no charter yet so the new nations can join in? It's a reboot after all:

by default they can not be involved!

The commonwealth didn't even...we are dealing with turning a un/nato into a eu, perhaps. tinis may have over played the furfed. but this is up to you.