Declan O'Donnell
THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE REGENCY OF
UNITED SOCIETIES IN SPACE
(Foundation Year, 1 October 2000 -© ROUSIS 2000 All Rights Reserved)
PREAMBLE
WE THE PEOPLE OF EARTH. in order to provide for the peaceful expansion of
humans into outer space, advance human civilization, and secure the benefits of the
civil development of space for all humanity, do hereby ordain and establish this
Constitution for the 100 year Regency of United Societies in Space (ROUSIS).
THE DECLARATION OF TRUSTEESHIP
FURTHERMORE, WE DECLARE title resulting space governance system and its
entities, including ROUSIS, to be a trustee government. The beneficiary of this
trusteeship is all of humanity and the Earth Nations of which it is comprised. As
settlers arrive in space and establish communities, those settlers shall be deemed
priority beneficiaries, consistent with the United Nations Charter of 1947, specifically
pertaining to territories not yet ready for the full measure of self-governance. The rest
of this trust shall be space resources in a territory extending from 200 miles above
Earth to the end of the solar system; the trustee shall manage the same for the benefit
of all, asserting jurisdiction to that end.
The Regency shall last for l00 years or less by terminating no later than August 4,
2100 and winding up its affairs in favor of an in-space governmental convention of
settlers, the convening of which shall be a priority mission of this Regency. ROUSIS,
and all of its Regents, officers, and agents, by serving in this capacity, hereby ratify
this declaration of trusteeship and the corresponding duty to the beneficiaries stated
herein.
ARTICLE I
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Section 1. COMPOSITION. The Legislature of the Regency shall consist of a minimum
of 50 and a maximum of 500 Legislators. The Legislature shall be self-perpetuating
with reasonable measures to produce an international body with relevant
constituencies, such as diverse regions, nations, races, industries, and all humanity.
Each Legislator shall be sworn into office by the Chief Justice.
The leader of the Legislative Branch shall he designated the Chief Legislator. The
Chief Legislator will appoint all Legislative Officers and Committee Chairpersons.
Regents who are not otherwise appointed to an Executive or Judicial office shall be
Legislators of the Regency. No Regent shall be permitted to serve in more than one
Branch simultaneously.
Section 2. PERPETUATION. Once formed, the Legislature of the Regency shall be
self-perpetuating. Vacancies and new seats shall be filled for six (6) year terms with
Legislators nominated by any relevant constituency, appointed by the Chief
Legislator, and sworn in by the Chief Justice.
Section 3. STANDING COMMITTEES. The Legislature shall create and maintain
standing committees for oversight and future direction of the activities of the Regency
as these needs arise.
Section 4. REVENUE MANAGEMENT. ROUSIS shall have no authority to levy and
collect taxes. It shall be funded out of user fees and payment for services rendered
and products provided. However, nothing herein shall restrain constituent local
authorities from instituting taxation policies for local purposes. The Finance
Committee shall oversee all Revenue Sources for ROUSIS. Examples of revenue
sources may include fees for the protection of intellectual properties, for the
protection of exclusive use of certain space resources, and for the registration of
certain property rights in space.
Section .5. COMPENSATION. All officers and employees of the Regency shalI be
entitled to fair compensation for their services. Officer and employee salaries shall
be established by the Legislature. Pay rates shall be reviewed annually, in conjunction
with the establishment of the annual budget. The Legislature shall have the duty to
control both the pay rate and the number of employees to be included in each
executive office.
Section 6. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. Space objects brought into space shall retain
their character as owned by the Nation or entity sponsoring it in space. Space
Resources are the subject of space treaties with a special status that may be defined,
for the benefit of all, from time to time. However, ROUSIS shall have the authority
to grant, regulate, and terminate common law usage rights in the nature of leaseholds
and easements. These rights shall be administered for the common good consistent
with a consensus space development plan by ROUSIS and the municipal authority
related to the estate. No lease or easement shall exceed 99 years and each shall be
defeasible by ROUSIS for cause, as well as be limited in time and space and character
to meet the societal purpose for which it is granted. ROUSIS shall maintain records
for and grant property rights to space resources, subject to treaty provisions.
The legislature shall provide appropriate procedures for the usage of space resources,
the kinds of estate to be granted, the formula for consideration and fees, and the
terms for holding same.
Section 7. LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES. The Legislature of ROUSIS shall fix
procedures for the addition of statutes and rules and policies. Both civil and criminal
laws shall be made. The Legislature shall certify, in each case of a new law, that a
problem has been identified and studied, that a legislative measure may be useful to
its solution, that there are no substantial negative side effects to such legislation, that
the law is well designed to help cure that problem, and that it is effective and cost
considerate.
The Legislature of ROUSIS shall establish rigorous Quality Assurance and Quality
Improvement programs for all laws, to assure that the body of laws always serves the
purpose of the ROUSIS Constitution in the most efficacious manner.
Section 8. NATIVE CITIZENSHIP. ROUSIS shall represent all humanity as
beneficiary. Therefore, because all of humanity may be deemed citizens, and there
are no discriminatory parts within the genre, ROUSIS shall have no authority to claim
Space Settlers as its citizens. Instead, each person who participates or settles in space
shall be recognized as a citizen of his or her prior dominant state or place of birth or
venue of naturalization. ROUSIS may only recognize lesser classifications of status
such as resident, guest, tourist, and participant. Those who are born in space shall
take the citizenship of either parent, as regulated by the government(s) of the parents,
except in the case of local citizenship. The Successor Government in space is expected
to have citizens and the l00 year Regency shall plan and promote that status for all
residents in outer space.
Section 9. MUNICIPALITIES. The Legislature of ROUSIS is authorized and directed
to create and maintain legislation related to the establishment of settlements,
municipalities, and independent governmental entities in space.
ARTICLE II
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Section 1. COMPOSITION. The Executive Branch shall be responsible for
implementing the laws and policies of the Regency. A Cabinet of Executives shall meet
regularly with the Chief Executive, such being the Vice Presidents, the Secretary of
State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce at a minimum.
The Chief Executive will appoint all Executive Officers and Department
Administrators. These shall be approved by the Legislature and sworn in by the Chief
Justice. The minimum officers shall be the Vice Presidents, the Secretary of State, the
Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce. Officers of the Executive
Branch shall not be members of the Legislative nor Judicial Branch.
Section 2. CHIEF EXECUTIVE. The leader of the Executive Branch shall be
designated the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive will be elected by a majority of the
Council of Regents at a regularly called and public assembly. The Chief Executive
shall be a member of the Council of Regents. Should the Chief Executive be unable to
complete the full term of office, the next successive Vice President shall serve until a
new Chief Executive can be elected.
Section 3. VICE PRESIDENTS. The Executive Branch shall have up to six successive
Vice Presidents, to ensure the stability of the Regency with the smooth and immediate
transition of power in case the Chief Executive must be replaced. The Vice Presidents
shall also represent the Chief Executive and the Executive Branch of the Regency at
official functions to which the Chief Executive has been invited but is unable to attend.
The Chief Executive may charge one or more Vice Presidents with other
responsibilities, as long as such responsibilities are not otherwise assigned by this
Constitution.
The titles of the Vice Presidents shall be the First Vice President, the Second Vice
President, the Third Vice President, the Fourth Vice President, the Fifth Vice
President, and the Sixth Vice President. The First Vice President is next in line, after
the Chief Executive, for the leadership of the Executive Branch.
Section 4. SECRETARY OF STATE. The Secretary of State shall administer the State
Department. The Secretary of State shall be responsible for diplomatic relations
between the Regency and independent Nations on Earth and in space. The Secretary
of State shall nominate Ambassadors to other Nations when appropriate.
Nominations must be seconded by the Chief Executive and approved by the
Legislature. The Secretary of State shall be nominated by the Chief Executive,
confirmed by the Council of Regents, and sworn in by the Chief Justice.
Treaties between the Regency and independent Nations on Earth and in space,
defining relationships and mutual responsibilities, may be initiated by the Secretary
of State on behalf of the Regency, but will not enter into force until approved by a
majority vote of the Council of Regents. The Model Treaty on Jurisdiction in Space,
in a form substantially as attached hereto as Exhibit A, shall be the basis for
conducting negotiations for recognition of the Regency by Nations on Earth, both
individually and collectively.
Section 5. SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. The Secretary of the Treasury. shall
administer the Treasury Department. The Secretary of the Treasury shall be
responsible for directing all financial activities of the Regency. This includes the
preparation of annual budgets for approval by the Legislature. It also includes the
establishment and operation of a Central Bank, and the issuing of legal tender by the
Regency, for use in space and the regulation of all space currencies. The Secretary of
the Treasury shall be nominated by the Chief Executive, confirmed by the Council of
Regents, and sworn in by the Chief Justice.
Section 6. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE. The Secretary of Commerce shall
administer the Commerce Department, and shall oversee the Vital Statistics Bureau
and the Census Bureau. The Secretary of Commerce shall be responsible for the
development of commercial activity within space, under control of the Regency. This
will include the establishment of cooperative programs for financing space activities
and issuing of regulations for the control of activities in space. The Secretary of
Commerce will also have regulating authority over policies and rules concerning
worker safety and environmental protection. The Secretary of Commerce shall be
nominated by the Chief Executive, confirmed by the Council of Regents, and sworn in
by the Chief Justice. The Secretary of Commerce shall have the authority to create
public and semi-private municipal authorities to foster economic development, as
well as to grant patents, licenses, and franchises.
Section 7. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION. The Secretary of Transportation
shall administer the Transportation Department. The Secretary of Transportation
shall be responsible for the certification of safe, reliable, and affordable
transportation within the ROUSIS territory, and shall have the authority to allocate
funds for transportation research and development. The Secretary of Transportation
shall be nominated by the Chief Executive, confirmed by the Council of Regents, and
sworn in by the Chief Justice.
Section 8. SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES. The Secretary of Human Services
shall administer the Human Services Department, and shall oversee the Health,
Education, and Archives Departments. The Secretary of Human Services shall have
the authority to allocate funds for service-related research and development. The
Secretary of Human Services shall be nominated by the Chief Executive, confirmed
by the Council of Regents, and sworn in by the Chief Justice.
Section 9. SECRETARY OF PUBLIC SAFETY. The Secretary of Public Safety shall
administer the Public Safety Department, and shall oversee the Police, Rescue and
Recovery, and Space Weather Departments. The Secretary of Public Safety shall have
the authority to allocate funds for safety-related research and development. The
Secretary of Public Safety shall be nominated by the Chief Executive, confirmed by the
Council of Regents, and sworn in by the Chief Justlce.
Section l0. DEFENSE. The Regency may establish a defense force to protect ROUSIS.
Section 11. REPORTS. The Chief Executive shall prepare an annual "State of the
Regency" message, to be delivered to the entire Council of Regents. The message will
be published publicly, and will contain relevant information on the progress,
accomplishments, problems, and issues being faced by the Regency. Special Reports
may be delivered as requested by the Chief Legislator.
Section 12. POWERS OF THE REGENCY. ROUSIS shall have the following
governance powers in order to prepare settlements and municipalities in space for
future self-governance. The Executive and Legislative Branch shall mutually decide
on the appropriate lime to implement each power, based on when there is sufficient
need, personnel, and resources that can he allocated via this power. Once the Chief
Executive and Chief Legislator informally agree to implement a power, the Chief
Legislator shall have a Bill drafted to further define this power. The Bill must be
approved by the Chief Executive and a majority of the Legislature.
12.1. To establish and maintain a body of Common Law estates in
property, such as tenancies of 99 years or less, easements, and trust
estates, as well as a Common Law of contracts, torts, and criminal
laws, as extended to outer space herewith.
12.2. To establish and maintain a Treasury Department and a monetary
and fiscal policy for space; to coin money and regulate the values and
uses thereof; to issue money for space governance purposes; to issue
notes, bonds, and financial guarantees in return for products,
services, and infrastructure which may be inherited by successor
government(s) by the year 2100.
12.3. To establish and maintain standards for weights and measures and
language in space, as well as a common standard for keeping time.
12.4. To establish and maintain a Security and Police Department, a Public
Prosecutor Division with a District Attorney, a court system, and a
correctional program with relevant educational and psychological
treatments.
12.5. To establish and maintain a Rescue and Recovery Department, with
appropriate rescue vehicles and hospital facilities (public and
private), to ensure the safety of people and property in space from
natural and man-made hazards including fire, depressurization,
hazardous materials, radiation, meteors, and space debris.
12.6. To establish and maintain a Department of Education and a
curriculum of educational courses suitable for space settlers and
developers.
12.7. To establish and maintain a state-of-the-art intellectual property
protection system, including, but not limited to, an enforceable
patent system for valuable inventions, and a copyright law for
unique writings and works of art and music, as well as trademarks
and service marks.
12.8. To provide for bankruptcy.
12.9. To license corporations.
12.10. To establish and maintain the office of Attorney General that will
provide legal services to the Regency and coordinate the activities of
the various local district attorneys, and supervise them. The
Attorney General shall oversee the Justice Department. The Justice
Department shall oversee the Immigration Department.
12.11. To sponsor a capitol facility and space governance infrastructure
program, being consistent with a consensus plan for space
development.
12.12. To authorize and license officials to conduct marriage ceremonies
and register the same with the Vital Statistics Bureau, and to recite
the nexus and circumstances involving outer space.
12.13. To enter into treaties with other governments, provided any
successor government(s) may reject the same by affirmative vote.
12.14. To establish and maintain an Archives Department, with appropriate
research and library facilities, to preserve the historical record of
space development and colonization under ROUSIS, and to collect
and disseminate the knowledge of how to live and work in space.
12.15. To establish and maintain a Health and Human Services Department
to ensure the health and well-being of people in space.
12.16. To establish and maintain a Land, Mineral, and Mining Rights
Claims Office.
12.17. To establish and maintain a Department of Mining and Energy to
facilitate, coordinate, and regulate the research, development,
licensing, and operations of resource material harvesting and
processing.
12.18. To establish and maintain a Vital Statistics Bureau, with an
associated Census Bureau, to keep an accurate account of people
who are born, marry, divorce, or die in space; including condition at
birth and cause of death. The Census Bureau shall keep an accurate record of the locations and compositions of the Space Settlers and
their property, both for sharing with similar organizations on Earth,
and for providing future generations with an accurate genealogical
record.
12.19. To establish and maintain an Immigration and Emigration
Department to facilitate, coordinate, and regulate the immigration
of Space Settlers from Earth into space as well as the emigration of
Space Settlers from space back to Earth.
12.20. To establish and maintain a utilities Department to facilitate,
coordinate, and regulate the research, development, construction,
operations, and maintenance of affordable and reliable public, semi-private, and private space-based and space settlement facilities for
power production and management, air production and thermal
management, water production and management, and waste
management.
12.21. To establish and maintain a Transportation Department to facilitate,
coordinate, and regulate the research, development, construction,
operations, and maintenance of affordable and reliable public, semi-private, and private space-based and space settlement transportation
systems for the safe transfer of cargo and passengers within ROUSIS
Territories and venues.
12.22. To establish and maintain a Space Weather Bureau to monitor and
notify appropriate government officials, Space Travelers, and Space
Settlers of solar flares, meteorite storms, space debris, stray
asteroids and comets, and other space hazards.
ARTICLE III
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
Section 1. COMPOSITION. The Judicial Branch shall be responsible for reviewing the
laws and policies of the Regency, as well as the behavior of the persons who write and
implement them. The Chief Justice shall preside over the Supreme Court of the
Regency. The Supreme Court shall regulate the activities of Inferior Courts, preside
over all appeals, and have ultimate authority over precedence thereof. Arbitration
and mediation procedures Shall be authorized and regulated by this Court.
The Chief Justice shall propose a system of Inferior Courts, which shall be
approved by the Chief Executive, and formulated and approved as legislation and
funded by the Legislature. The Chief Justice shall appoint all Judicial Officers and
Judges of the Inferior Courts. These shall be approved by both the Chief Executive
and a majority of the Legislature, and sworn in by the Chief Justice. Judicial
Officers and Judges of the Inferior Courts shall be members of the Council of
Regents. Officers of the Judicial Branch shall not be members of the Legislative
Branch nor Executive Branch.
Section 2. CHIEF JUSTICE. The leader of the Judicial Branch shall be designated the
Chief Justice. The Chief Justice shall serve for six-year terms, (except for a 9-year
term at commencement). The Chief Justice shall be a member of the Council of
Regents. The initial Chief Justice shall be elected by the initial Council of Regents.
His/her successor shall be nominated by the Chief Executive and confirmed by the
Legislature (see Vacancies).
Section 3. SECRECY. The decision making process of this Court shall be secret, and
strict penalties may be imposed in breach thereof. However, all resulting decisions
shall be published in Space Governance Journal or elsewhere with sufficient
explanation in logical, traditional, and judicial reasoning, with a right of appeal as
ROUSIS may provide by statute.
Section 4. OPERATIONS. The group of justices of ROUSIS shall serve as the Judicial
Committee with autonomy and independence, thereby waiving any vote on Legislative
and Judicial and Executive functions before the Council. This Court will be available
to all who assert a basis of nexus to space, or to the Regency. The Executive Branch
shall enforce the orders of Court when requested, and where there is jurisdiction over
the parties and over the subject matter and where a controversy is clearly defined,
except that advisory opinions may be issued to the Executive and Legislative Branches
herein. Jurisdiction shall be consistent with the "Model Treaty on Jurisdiction in
Outer Space" (Exhibit A) and as defined by the Council of Regents not inconsistent
with this Constitution. This Court may charge reasonable fees payable to ROUSIS.
No opinion of the Supreme Court of the Regency or Inferior Courts shall be deemed
final and binding until all appeals are taken or waived.
Section 5. RULE OF LAW. The Common Law shall he utilized by the Courts as
extended by the Convention to Outer Space. The rule of law shall therefore include
treaty provisions, international law, Statutes of the Council of Regents, and the
Common Law to be fit where all of the others are silent, in conflict, or referred to in
fact or by implication by those direct legislative regimes. The Common Law is defined
as the Corpus Juris Secundum as it reads on August 4, 2000, having developed in
England for 1,000 years, having been extended to America effective 1690, and having
been extended by the United States Congress in 1850 to all extraterritorial Courts.
Section 6. IMMUNITY. That ROUSIS and its Regents and Agents shall be immune
from suit on all matters involving space governance, except on such matters the
Regency by Statute may choose to waive immunity, subject to reasonable limitations.
ARTICLE IV
COMITY AND ENFRANCHISEMENT
Section 1. ROUSIS COMITY. The authority and laws and official actions of ROUSIS
shall be respected and enforced equally within the venue of outer space by all of its
authorities, venues, and municipaIities, consistent with principles of Comity and
choice of law principles. It is intended that all space settlements be a federation for
legal purposes and that each extend full faith and credit to one another and to
ROUSIS.
Section 2. INTERNATIONAL COMITY. International comity is asserted so that
ROUSIS will respect the laws and official public actions of other governments on
Earth in exchange for their respect for ROUSIS laws and public actions where
applicable under International law and choice of law principles resulting in full faith
and credit to all such public acts.
Section 3. UNIVERSAL COMITY. Comity is tendered to the Nations of any alien
sentient beings to the extent reasonably enforceable and provided that mutuality of
fairness and due process is assured to ROUSIS. Coordination with the United Nations
shall be required in all alien treaty negotiations and communications. Comity among
ROUSIS and alien nations shall be based on traditional principles such as reciprocity,
full faith and credit, mutual respect, and peaceful settlement of disputes.
Section 4. EXTRADITION. Any person in a space settlement or otherwise who is
charged properly with a felony who shall flee from justice, may be extradited back to
the charging Nation or authority on request and where feasible. Otherwise, ROUSIS
may implement summary discipline not inconsistent with the law of the charging
Nation.
Section 5. ADMISSION. The Council of Regents shall have the exclusive power to
admit settlements into ROUSIS Territory, as well as to define the Boundaries of all
governments within the territories of space. There is no basis for exclusion of space
settlement governance units from ROUSIS Territory, provided Senior Officers of all
such units are made Regents with equal opportunity to participate in the Regency.
Section 6. ENFRANCHISEMENT. Slavery and involuntary servitude of sentient
beings and trade and traffic therein, is expressly banned for the term of the Regency.
Full and equal suffrage and enfranchisement, including rights to vote and contract,
shall vest in each sentient being upon attainment of the age of majority and inclusion
in the Regency.
Section 7. HUMAN RIGHTS. ROUSIS shall respect, promote, and defend the rights
of humans in space as stated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (document dated 10-Dec-1948), as attached hereto as Exhibit B. The rights of
the people, as defined in Paragraph 1 to 20 thereof, shall be deemed to be inalienable
civil rights of all people, subject only to reasonable regulations.
ARTICLE V
VOTING AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. TERMS OF REGENTS. The term of office for a Regent shall be six years.
A Regent may serve a maximum number of 3 consecutive terms.
Section 2. ELECTIONS. Elections shall be held every three years, alternating
between the election of the Chief Executive and the Chief Legislator.
Section 3- ELECTION OF CHIEFS. The Chief Legislator and Chief Executive shall be
elected by majority vote of the Regents.
Section 4. NOMINATIONS. Candidates for Regent shall be nominated by either a
petition of three or more current Regents, or l0 or more non-Regents, at least 3
months prior to their respective elections. Candidates for Regent shall submit a
Statement of Candidacy of no more than 400 words, that shall be made available to
the registered voters at least two months prior to the election.
Section 5. VACANCIES. The procedure for the filling of vacancies in the Regency shall
be as follows:
5.A. Nominations will be received from any person who is subject to the Jurisdiction of ROUSIS and the appointment shall be made by the Chief Executive, Chief Legislator, or Chief Justice depending on whether the vacancy is in the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial Branch. All such appointees shall be ratified by the Legislature and sworn in by the Chief Justice.
5.B. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chief Executive, Chief Legislator, or Chief Justice, the Council of Regents shall meet forthwith and elect a replacement. The replacement will succeed to the remaining term of the vacancy.
5.C. It is recommended that each nominee for Chief be nominated 30 days or more prior to appointment and that a resume of milestones and a Reason for Service be distributed throughout ROUSIS. Objections should be solicited as well as any comments.
ARTICLE VI
IMPEACHMENT
Section 1. IMPEACHMENT OF A CHIEF. A Chief of one of the three branches of
government (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial) can only be removed from office,
following impeachment hearings, by a two-thirds majority vote of the Regents.
Section 2. IMPEACHMENT OF A REGENT. A Regent can only be removed from
office, following impeachment hearings, by a two-thirds majority vote of the Regents.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. PROCESS. This Constitution may be amended by affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the Legislature of the Regency after notice, meeting,
and fair discussion of the proposed amendments. Each proposal for amending the
Constitution shall be publicized, accompanied by a statement of justification for the
proposed change, which may include "For" and "Against" arguments, when deemed
necessary.
Section 2. INCORPORATION. The text of all approved amendments shall be
integrated directly into the ROUSIS Constitution. Past versions of the Constitution
shall be preserved for the historical record and shall be made available to the public.
Section 3. IMMUNITY. In no event shall any amendment seek to reduce ROUSIS to
a non-governance entity that has no immunity from liability and suit, except pursuant
to its consent under Article III, Section 6.
Section 4. DISSOLUTION. Any amendments to dissolve ROUSIS shall require an
affirmative vote of no less than three-fourths of the Council of Regents. Upon
dissolution, the members shall provide a winding down of the entity and transfer of
assets and liabilities to a Successor Government(s).
ARTICLE VIII
FORMATION
Section 1. ESTABLISHMENT. ROUSIS shall be considered established upon the
affirmative vote of the ROUSIS Constitution by two-thirds of the Delegates at the
ROUSIS Constitutional Convention.
Once established, the Regency shall resolve itself into three separate branches of
space governance (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial), to provide a system of checks
and balances. Unless officers are elected as part of a slate of Regents, the elected
Regents shall designate their officers themselves.
Section 2. SIGNATURES. Delegates who have voted to adopt this Regency
Constitution shall enter their signatures on electronic consent hereto forthwith.
Section 3. INITIAL COUNCIL OF REGENTS. Upon establishment of this Constitution,
the Convention Delegates shall elect up to 500 persons to serve on the initial ROUSIS
Council of Regents. Members of the Council of Regents of the United Societies in
Space (USIS) shall become automatic candidates for the initial ROUSIS Council of
Regents. Each USIS Regent must accept or decline the nomination.
Additional candidates for the initial ROUSIS Council of Regents may be taken from
the Delegates to the ROUSIS Conventional Convention. Such candidates must be
nominated by no less than five other Delegates.
Each candidate for the initial ROUSIS Council of Regents shall be elected by an
affirmative vote of a majority of the Delegates present at the ROUSIS Conventional
Convention. Motions to vote on all candidates for the initial ROUSIS Council of
Regents (or a subset thereof) shall be permitted, as long as a majority of the Delegates
present at the ROUSIS Conventional Convention accept such terms.
Section 4. INITIAL CHIEFS AND OFFICERS. Upon establishment of the initial
ROUSIS Council of Regents, the Regents shall nominate and elect the initial Chiefs of
the three branches of GOVERNMENT (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial), as well
as those officers deemed necessary to assist in the creation of the new government.
Section 5. INITIAL TERMS. The initial ROUSIS Council of Regents shall serve for one
year only, to be called the Foundation Year. After the Foundation Year, in order to
stagger the vacancies so that only one-half of the ROUSIS Council of Regents becomes
vacant each 3 years, the initial terms of the replacement Council of Regents shall be
3 years for the first half, and 6 years for the second half. The two groups shall be
chosen by lot.
The initial Branch Chiefs shall serve for one year only, the so-called Foundation Year.
After the Foundation year, in order to stagger the vacancies so that only one elected
Branch Chief becomes vacant each 3 years, the initial terms of the replacement
Branch Chiefs shall be as follows: 3 years for the Chief Legislator, 6 years for the Chief
Executive, and 6 years for the Chief Justice.
Further, these delegates Saith Not.
