The Blackstone Dominion Treaty

The Blackstone Dominion (TBD)
Imperial Treaty

The following Treaty shall be placed into effect and formally establishing the Blackstone Dominion and binding the signees to the parameters and terms of the agreement.

The Blackstone Dominion:
The Blackstone Dominion shall consist of all regions/states of monarchial or imperial in nature of who meet the required criterion. The Blackstone Dominion (henceforth referred to as “TBD”) shall be a confederation of autonomous regions that shall bond together under the armor of numbers in common defense, benefit, and mutualism.

Purpose: To unite likeminded regions together under the banner of the Dominion so that collectively, the regions when united, have a large voice in NationStates, in all theatres (World Assembly, Foreign Affairs, Military, etc.).

Structure:
The Blackstone Dominion shall be structured much like the former real life Holy Roman Empire and operated much like the present-day, real life, Commonwealth of Nations. As such, the organization and structuring shall be as follows;

-The Executive:
The Executive division of the TBD shall consist of the Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress and the Elector Council. The Executive division shall act in representation and direct executive authority set forth by the TBD charter. The Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress or any of the Elector Council can be impeached with a vote of no confidence majority in the Legislative division.

--The Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress:
The Arch-Emperor/Arc-Empress is the figurehead and de facto leader of the Elector Council. The Arc-Emperor/Arc-Empress shall preside over the Council meetings and shall handle foreign affairs/international relations between the TBD and the outside world.

The Arc-Emperor/Arch-Empress has the power to:
- Call the Elector Council into session
- Approve membership request into the TBD
- Represent the TBD with full authority when dealing with foreign affairs
- Approve/orchestrate alliance terms
Stipulations of the Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress:
- The Archemperor/Archempress may not declare war without the consent of the Elector Council
- Upon request, the Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress is required to give any reasoning behind any action he commits, whether or not it is mentioned in these Articles.
- May not vote in any Elector/Lower Legislative votes

Nomination, Appointment, Membership of the Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress:
The Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress can be any nation/player from any region that is a member of the TBD. The Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress is nominated and appointed by the Elector council. If the Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress is appointed from the Lower Assembly or Elector Council, that position must be filled appropriately.

--The Elector Council:
The Elector Council shall consist of five (and an additional nation for every three regions in The Dominion) nations that are elected from the Lower Assembly. The Elector Council shall have full arbitrary executive power when given a majority vote. The Elector Council has any legislature overturned by a Lower Assembly veto, where the legislature is then returned to the Council.

The Elector Council has the power to:
- Nominate member regions into the TBD
- Overturn Imperial (Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress) or Lower Assembly rulings with a majority vote
- Issue a Declaration of War
- Operate and maintain the Interior of the TBD
- Declare any legislature valid/invalid in regards to member rights
- Remove member regions from the TBD
- Sue for Peace

Stipulations of the Elector Council include:
- Individual members cannot represent the TBD abroad
- Cannot officially adopt any policy, act, or legislature without majority vote
- Cannot circumvent the Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress of Lower Assembly
- Cannot vote in Lower Assembly votes

- The Lower Assembly:
The Lower Assembly shall consist of two representatives from each region with membership within the TBD. The Lower Assembly shall not have a limit to size and shall act as the main legislative body within the TBD.

The Lower Assembly has the power to:
- Propose, create, draft, legislature that affects the running of the TBD
- Overturn Imperial (Arch-Emperor/Arch-Empress) or Elector decree with a majority vote
- Protect the rights of the membership
- Act with Judiciary powers when needed
- Call for Charter amendments

Stipulations of the Lower Assembly:
- Members cannot represent the TBD abroad
- Only two representatives from each member region

Membership:
Any region that meet the below mentioned criterion shall have the opportunity to join the confederation.
- Must have at least 15 members in the region
- Must have at least two WA nations registered for the TBD Military
- Must be Imperial/Monarchial in theme.
- Be in good standing among the NS Community
- Upon signing of the document, the agreeing region must forswear the title of “Archemperor/Archempress” and replace it with another title. “Archemperor/Archempress” shall be reserved for the Executive head of the TBD.
- Must be willing to alter WFE of the region to show membership into TBD.
- If a member region has a representative in the Elector Council or Archemperor/Archempress, the forfeit however many seats (1 or 2) from the Lower Assembly until the term of their Elector or Archemperor/Archempress is finished.

Rights of Membership:
As a member of the TBD, a member shall be guaranteed the following;
- Representation in the TBD Lower house
- Complete autonomy in regards to administering their respected region *See Footer*
- Protection from any foreign threat
- Citizenship between the signed regions

Martial Principles: Offensive & Defensive Operations
In the event of warfare breaking out involving member regions, they will be classified into two categories, either defensive or offensive operations, and the latter then once again into TBD essential, and TBD non-essential. Upon ratification of this document, all regions participating will agree to the below mentioned terms and conditions of military operations.

-Offensive Warfare:

Non-Essential:
- Any martial operations by a member region outside of the TBD (Without a Declaration of War) shall neither be discouraged or encouraged officially by the TBD. Knowing too well that many regions shall war for whatever the reason, the TBD shall not get involved with any offensive operations without a declaration of war.

Essential:
- Any martial operation shall be considered essential if there is a declaration of war by the Elector Council. With the declaration of war, the TBD must provide martial aid to the member region against the enemy.

- Defensive Warfare:
- Any martial operations by a foreign region against any member region or territory shall be considered an act of war against the TBD itself. Any defensive operation is essential and shall require the martial support of the TBD.

Elections:
- Elections for Elector Council and Arch-Emperor are to be on the 15th of every other month, the first election being on May 30th, 2013.

Notice:
The Blackstone Dominion is in no way responsible or claiming leadership role or rights in the individual administration of the individual regions that make up the Dominion (dual federalism). All rights, liberties, responsibilities, and administration of the regional members befall to the actual member regions.