GA rules 29 May
63 lines
Proposal Basics: Proposals must be written as laws from the perspective of the World Assembly. Non-repeal proposals must also comply with the following standards:
Proposal Basics: Proposals must be written as laws from the perspective of the World Assembly. Non-repeal proposals must also comply with the following standards:
Originality: Proposals cannot contradict or duplicate active resolutions. Ideally, proposals will present unique ideas.
Originality: Proposals cannot contradict or duplicate active resolutions. Ideally, proposals will present unique ideas.
Duplication: If the majority of a proposal's legislative effect has already been enacted, it is illegal duplication. A proposal may elaborate in specific areas or otherwise take duplicatory actions below this threshold.
Duplication: If the majority of a proposal's legislative effect has already been enacted, it is illegal duplication. A proposal may elaborate in specific areas or otherwise take duplicatory actions below this threshold.
Contradiction: A proposal cannot enact any policy which would conflict with an active resolution.
Contradiction: A proposal cannot enact any policy which would conflict with an active resolution.
Committees: Every proposal must affect member states in some fashion. A committee may be the primary agent of that effect, but forming it may not be the proposal's only action. Requiring member states to interact with the committee somehow is sufficient, provided the interaction creates a measurable burden - one more strenuous than simply filing paperwork.
Committees: Every proposal must affect member states in some fashion. A committee may be the primary agent of that effect, but forming it may not be the proposal's only action. Requiring member states to interact with the committee somehow is sufficient, provided the interaction creates a measurable burden - one more strenuous than simply filing paperwork.
A proposal cannot define: who can/cannot staff the committee, how members are chosen, and term lengths
A proposal cannot define: who can/cannot staff the committee, how members are chosen, and term lengths
A committee continues to exist after its resolution is repealed if it's used in another resolution
A committee continues to exist after its resolution is repealed if it's used in another resolution
A single-use committee that died when its resolution was repealed may be revived for a relevant new proposal
A single-use committee that died when its resolution was repealed may be revived for a relevant new proposal
House of Cards: No operative proposal clause may depend on a previous resolution in a way that would make the clause nonsensical or inoperative if that previous resolution were repealed.
House of Cards: No operative proposal clause may depend on a previous resolution in a way that would make the clause nonsensical or inoperative if that previous resolution were repealed.
Operative Clause: Every proposal must have at least one clause which encourages or requires a member state or entity therein to make an act or omission.
Operative Clause: Every proposal must have at least one clause which encourages or requires a member state or entity therein to make an act or omission. For repeals the automatically included line is sufficient, so no separate operative clause is needed (note this differs from the Security Council rules).
Repeal Basics: Resolutions are not written in stone. Repeals can be submitted by clicking the repeal link at the bottom of the target resolution. Repeals submitted using anything but the repeal function will be removed. Other grounds upon which a repeal can be removed:
Repeal Basics: Resolutions are not written in stone. Repeals can be submitted by clicking the repeal link at the bottom of the target resolution. Repeals submitted using anything but the repeal function will be removed. Other grounds upon which a repeal can be removed:
Relevance: A repeal must give at least one reason for repealing the target resolution which engages with its specific contents. The following arguments do not meet this standard:
Relevance: A repeal must give at least one reason for repealing the target resolution which engages with its specific contents. The following arguments do not meet this standard:
Claims of vagueness without elaboration. Examples or other explanations of how the said vagueness allows a resolution to be exploited are sufficient elaboration.
Claims of vagueness without elaboration. Examples or other explanations of how the said vagueness allows a resolution to be exploited are sufficient elaboration.
Broad claims of national, cultural or religious sovereignty which are not tailored to the specific policy in question.
Broad claims of national, cultural or religious sovereignty which are not tailored to the specific policy in question.
New Legislation: A repeal cannot introduce new legislation and can only seek to repeal the target resolution. A new proposal on the same topic may be submitted after passage of the repeal.
New Legislation: A repeal cannot introduce new legislation and can only seek to repeal the target resolution. A new proposal on the same topic may be submitted after passage of the repeal.
Veracity (formerly Honest Mistake): Any interpretation of a passed resolution a repeal clause makes must be plausible under a plain reading of the resolution. If multiple potential readings of a passed resolution exist, a repeal clause cannot rely on one so self-detrimental that no entity would apply it.
Veracity (formerly Honest Mistake): Any interpretation of a passed resolution a repeal clause makes must be plausible under a plain reading of the resolution. If multiple potential readings of a passed resolution exist, a repeal clause cannot rely on one so self-detrimental that no entity would apply it.
Mechanics: There are aspects of gameplay and the game itself that cannot be legislated on, either because it requires a code change or because it breaks the "fourth wall". The following rules apply to both repeals and new legislation:
Mechanics: There are aspects of gameplay and the game itself that cannot be legislated on, either because it requires a code change or because it breaks the "fourth wall". The following rules apply to both repeals and new legislation:
Metagaming: Proposals cannot break the "fourth wall" or attempt to force events outside of the WA itself. This includes and is not limited to forcing compliance on non-member nations. Proposals may not reference the Security Council, NationStates regions, or specific roleplayed canon.
Metagaming: Proposals cannot break the "fourth wall" or attempt to force events outside of the WA itself. This includes and is not limited to forcing compliance on non-member nations. Proposals may not reference the Security Council, NationStates regions, or specific roleplayed canon.
Game Mechanics: A proposal clause cannot affect any aspect of how the game works. This includes and is not limited to mandating ejection of member nations for non-compliance. Clauses apparently contradicting Issues-based Policies do not violate this rule. Suggestions for improving or modifying gameplay can be posted in the Technical forum.
Game Mechanics: A proposal clause cannot affect any aspect of how the game works. This includes and is not limited to mandating ejection of member nations for non-compliance. Clauses apparently contradicting Issues-based Policies do not violate this rule. Another example: it is not allowed to specify nation budget expenditures (such as percentages) in a proposal since that contradicts how the game works. Suggestions for improving or modifying gameplay can be posted in the Technical forum.
Amendment: A proposal clause cannot modify the text of a passed resolution.
Amendment: A proposal clause cannot modify the text of a passed resolution.
Category: A proposal's category determines the effect on member nations.
Category: A proposal's category determines the effect on member nations.
Category: Proposals must be submitted under a category. The proposal's content must align with the chosen category. The category determines the proposal's statistical affect on member nations. Categories have either a Strength or Area of Effect. A breakdown of the Categories and their applicable Strength or Area of Effect can be found in the post below.
Category: Proposals must be submitted under a category. The proposal's content must align with the chosen category. The category determines the proposal's statistical affect on member nations. Categories have either a Strength or Area of Effect. A breakdown of the Categories and their applicable Strength or Area of Effect can be found in the post below.
Strength: This determines the effect a proposal has on a nation's policy. A proposal with mild language or affecting a narrow area of policy is Mild, while one which a very broad area of policy in a dramatic way is Strong. Anything in between is Significant. Some categories don't use strength but rather a specific area, so proposals will need to specify the area of policy affected from a pre-populated list of options. These options do have a statistical effect and strength.
Strength: This determines the effect a proposal has on a nation's policy. A proposal with mild language or affecting a narrow area of policy is Mild, while one which a very broad area of policy in a dramatic way is Strong. Anything in between is Significant. Some categories don't use strength but rather a specific area, so proposals will need to specify the area of policy affected from a pre-populated list of options. These options do have a statistical effect and strength.
Optionality: Proposals, upon becoming resolutions are mandatory and binding on all member nations, thus language used must reflect this. Any language permitting nations to engage in non-compliance or opt-out are disallowed. However, for 'Mild' strength proposals, terminology such as "URGES", "RECOMMENDS" is acceptable.
Optionality: Proposals, upon becoming resolutions are mandatory and binding on all member nations, thus language used must reflect this. Any language permitting nations to engage in non-compliance or opt-out are disallowed. However, for 'Mild' strength proposals, terminology such as "URGES", "RECOMMENDS" is acceptable.
Format: Other universal standards for all General Assembly proposals.
Format: Other universal standards for all General Assembly proposals.
Real World Reference: WA laws are written for the world of NationStates and the fictional countries therein. A proposal may not contain any proper nouns which reference the real world. This includes, but is not limited to, world leaders, persons, places, religions, languages, political parties, organizations, and events. Proper nouns are permissible if they are necessary to refer to a generic political or scientific concept.
Real World Reference: WA laws are written for the world of NationStates and the fictional countries therein. A proposal may not contain any proper nouns which reference the real world. This includes, but is not limited to, world leaders, persons, places, religions, languages, political parties, organizations, and events. Proper nouns are permissible if they are necessary to refer to a generic political or scientific concept.
Language: Proposals must be written in understandable English. Conventional legalese and Latin terms are acceptable within reason. Proposals which use incomprehensible English or a foreign language will be deleted.
Language: Proposals must be written in understandable English. Conventional legalese and Latin terms are acceptable within reason. Proposals which use incomprehensible English or a foreign language will be deleted.
Branding: A proposal cannot reference any nation or player, including the author, using their name or first-person pronouns. Acronyms or acrostics may not be used to circumvent this. A co-author may be credited in the proposal text if their nation has ceased to exist. Otherwise, co-authors should be credited using the inbuilt co-author feature.
Branding: A proposal cannot reference any nation or player, including the author, using their name or first-person pronouns. Acronyms or acrostics may not be used to circumvent this. A co-author may be credited in the proposal text if their nation has ceased to exist. Otherwise, co-authors should be credited using the inbuilt co-author feature.
Blockers: No proposal may block off an entire category or area of effect. Nor may any proposal be "repeal-proof" or attempt to block repeal of another resolution. A proposal may not solely block legislation (a "pure blocker"); but blocking, in general, is permitted if there is additional action (e.g. GAR#10: Nuclear Arms Possession Act).
Blockers: No proposal may block off an entire category or area of effect. Nor may any proposal be "repeal-proof" or attempt to block repeal of another resolution. A proposal may not solely block legislation (a "pure blocker"); but blocking, in general, is permitted if there is additional action (e.g. GAR#10: Nuclear Arms Possession Act).
Joke/Silly Proposals: Proposals intended solely to be 'humorous' or a 'joke' are removed, however, authors may post these in the [SILLY] GA Joke Proposals Only thread.
Joke/Silly Proposals: Proposals intended solely to be 'humorous' or a 'joke' are removed, however, authors may post these in the [SILLY] GA Joke Proposals Only thread.
REMINDER: Proposals must comply with the site's general One Stop Rules Shop
REMINDER: Proposals must comply with the site's general One Stop Rules Shop
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the theft of another person's work. If a player wishes to submit another's proposal, explicit permission must be obtained and submitted either through the Getting Help page or Moderation so we have a paper trail. If not, the offender is ejected and the proposal is deleted.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the theft of another person's work. If a player wishes to submit another's proposal, explicit permission must be obtained and submitted either through the Getting Help page or Moderation so we have a paper trail. If not, the offender is ejected and the proposal is deleted.