Chula Vista Free State/Constitution

Constitution of the Chula Vista Free State

I. Definitions

1.) Domain - The claimed territory of the Chula Vista Free State includes the entirety of the city limits of Chula Vista, the area of the Lesser Otay Lake, and the waters of the bay immediately off the coast of Chula Vista.  This domain and those within it are a part of the Anarch Free State.

2.) Citizen - A member of the Chula Vista Free State with full and equal rights within the domain, including voting rights.  Such status is gained through the process defined by this document.  In accepting full citizenship, one agrees to the following duties:

a.) Following the laws of the domain, including this constitution, to the best of one's ability.

b.) Acting in reasonable good faith concerning one's fellow citizens.

c.) Acting in defense of the domain and their fellow citizens when needed, within reason.

3.) Probationary Citizen - A member of the Chula Vista Free State accepted into the domain, but not yet granted voting rights.  Such status is typically automatically granted to any Anarchs who wish to become part of the domain.

4.) Council - The group of officers of the Chula Vista Free State, including the Baron, Emissary, Sweeper, and General.

5.) Baron - The elected leader of the Chula Vista Free State, with the following duties:

a.) Organize domain meetings and oversee the orderly democratic procedures within.

b.) Nominate issues and potential actions to be voted on by the citizens of the domain.

c.) Mediate disputes between citizens of the domain.

d.) Oversee the wellbeing of the domain, within the limits of their authority.

e.) Oversee the response to any emergency that effects the domain within the limit of their authority, including arranging emergency gatherings when necessary.

f.) Coordinate the actions of the other members of the Council.

6.) Emissary - The officer of the Chula Vista Free State with the following duties:

a.) Represent the Chula Vista Free State to other sects or groups of Kindred.

b.) Handle diplomancy and any negotiations with other sects or groups of Kindred.

7.) Sweeper - The officer of the Chula Vista Free State with the following duties:

a.) Maintain a census of the citizens of the domain.

b.) Note the attendence and any absences at votes.

c.) Direct any visitors to the domain and those wishing to join the domain to the proper meeting locations.

d.) Handle the scheduling of meetings and other events of the domain.

e.) Ensure that the locations for domain meetings and events are properly prepared.

8.) General - The officer of the Chula Vista Free State with the following duties:

a.) Oversee the safety of the domain and detect any threats to it.

b.) Organize any militant response to threats of the domain as necessary.

c.) Oversee security at domain meetings and events.

d.) Assist in the prevention and cessation of internal violence within the domain.

e.) Handle the removal from the domain of any non-citizens that have been deemed unwelcomed by vote of the domain, or are deliberately spreading chaos within the domain before a vote can be held.

II. Elections

1.) Baron: An election for Baron will be held once every three months, during the first week of the election month.  A citizen may run in the election with the nomination of two other citizens, and must be willing to run and accept the position.  Every citizen casts one vote, and the nominee with the most votes becomes the Baron for the term, which begins one week after the vote if there is an active Baron, or immediately otherwise.

a.) Should the Baron be removed by process, perish, or otherwise become unable to fulfill their duties for an extended period of time, an election will be held at the earliest time possible to elect a new Baron to fulfill the rest of the term.

2.) Emissary, Sweeper, and General: Once a Baron has been elected, they will nominate a citizen for each other Council position, one at a time.  Once nominated, the domain will vote by simple majority to confirm or reject the citizen for the position.  If rejected, the Baron will nominate someone else to the position, and other vote will be held.  If the second candidate is rejected, the domain will nominate candidates and elect them in the same manner the Baron is elected, with the candidate with the most votes gaining the position.  Once one position as been confirmed, the Baron with begin the nomination process of the next position until all have been filled.

a.) Should someone filling a Council position be removed by process, perish, or otherwise become unable to fulfill their duties for an extended period of time, the Baron will begin the normal selection process to determine a replacement until the end of the term.

b.) Instead of filling a position, the Baron may nominate that the position remains empty for the time being. In this case, the domain votes to keep the position empty as if confirming a nomination. If left unfilled, the Baron may begin the process to nominate someone to the position at a later date if they so chose.

c.) An individual may hold only one position on the Council, including the position of Baron, at any given time.

3.) Removal From Office: At any meeting, any member of the Council may begin proceedings to remove the Baron with a second nomination of the process from any other citizen.  The Baron may begin proceedings to remove any member of the Council with a second nomination of the process from any other citizen.  Alternatively, in either case any citizen may begin the proceedings with nominations from two other citizens.  The motion then requires a 3/4ths majority to pass.  If the motion passes, the Baron or other Council member in question is immediately removed from their position and a new election or nomination process to fulfill the remainder of the term should be held. 

4.) Absences: If citizens are absent for a significant vote, and the vote was determined by a small enough margin that their votes may have changed it, they have one week to cast their vote with the Sweeper.  After one week, the vote's result cannot be changed.  One week after the initial vote late votes are tallied and, if applicable, the result of the vote is changed to match the new totals.

a.) If a citizen is aware they will be absent for an upcoming vote, and are aware of the options for said vote, they may preemptively place their votes with the Sweeper.

5.) Citizenship: After a probationary member has resided within the domain for a period of at least one full month, any citizen may propose a vote for full citizenship, requiring a 3/4ths majority.  A proposal to waive the waiting time and grant full citizen may be proposed by the Baron, and requires an unanimous vote.

a.) While probationary membership is typically automatically accepted when asked for, any citizen may object to the grant. If the objection is seconded, a simple majority vote is held to determine whether or not probationary membership is granted.

6.) Alterations: Any additions, removals, or changes to this consitution must be proposed by the Baron, or proposed by a citizen with two other citizens seconding the proposal.  A vote is held on the proposal, with a 3/4ths majority required to pass.

III. Disputes and Crime

1.) Disputes: Internal disputes between citizens that cannot be handled between themselves, including minor offenses directly against another citizen, should be mediated by the Baron.  If both parties can agree to a settlement by the Baron, it becomes binding.  After one week without resolvement after the beginning of the Baron's involvement, the issue may be brought up at the next meeting.  The Baron can propose a resolution to the issue to be voted upon by the domain through simple majority.

2.) Minor Offenses: Minor offenses not against any particular citizen can be resolved by the Baron and the offender.  The judgement should focus on fixing the issue caused, restitution to those who fixed the issue for the offender, or the benefit of the domain in general rather than on simple punishment.  The Baron can only pass judgement if the offender accepts, at which point it becomes binding.  If an agreement cannot be reached, the matter is brought up at the next meeting, and the potential judgement is proposed by the Baron and put to a simple majority vote of the domain.

3.) Major Offenses:  Major offenses require consideration by the entire domain.  Proposals for punishments are proposed by the Baron, and require votes by the domain.  Multiple punishments may be proposed and voted on separately, with the most severe punishments voted upon first.  If a vote passes, additional punishment proposals may with withdrawn if they are redundant.  Most non-permanent punishments require only a simple majority vote.  Exceptions are as follows:

a.) Revoking citizenship of the domain requires a 3/4ths majority vote.

b.) Banishment from the domain, forbidding the return to the domain indefinitely, requires a 3/4ths majority vote.

c.) Direct execution or the calling of a Blood Hunt requires an unanimous vote.

IV. Laws

1.) The Masquerade: Mortal society must never learn of the existence of Kindred.  All efforts will be taken to avoid revealing our natures to mundane humans.  Any breach of the Masquerade will be covered up by whatever means necessary.

2.) Humanity: We agree to attempt to avoid causing needless harassment, injury, or death to random innocent mortals as well as we can.  We recognize that our existence often requires or unavoidably results in such harm, but likewise we respect the rights of humanity and seek to avoid interfering with them without purpose.

3.) Embraces: For the benefit of our entire domain, all Kindred and mortals within it, and both would-be Sires and Childer we agree to limit the act of Embracing within our domain.  The power over the right to Embrace is held by every citizen of the domain, in that permission must be granted by unanimous vote from the domain.  

a.) We recognize that there are exceptional, emergency situations in which a Kindred is driven to Embrace one who would otherwise die, and such cases will be granted a trial before the domain to judge whether or not the act was considered justified.

4.) Ghouls: To respect the rights of humanity, any desire to create a human Ghoul will require the consideration of the entire domain.  An unanimous vote by the domain is required to approve such an action.

a.) We recognize that there are certain situations in which one is compelled to make a mortal a Ghoul to save them from the grasp of death. We do not explicitly disallow such action, but any such case is to be reviewed and judged by the domain on whether it was truly justified.

5.) Childer: We recognize that every Kindred is accountable for their own actions.  A Kindred will neither be judged for their Childe's actions for the sake of them being their Childe, nor with they be judged for their Sire's actions for the sake of them being their Sire.

6.) Territory: We recognize that citizens of the domain may hold personal territory in the form of businesses, havens, and herds they personally maintain and keep secure.  Such territory is under their personal control, including the right to determine whether or not others may hurt or feed from such places and people.  Otherwise, the rest of the domain is open to all citizens, and not divided by Clan.

a.) Personal territory in this capacity is to only include one's specific personal holdings and herds for personal use. It does not include entire areas of the city nor entire populations,

b.) The domain has right to designate that only certain areas are allowed hunting grounds for visitors, or that certain areas are off-limits as hunting grounds for visitors. It may further distinguish such area between Anarch visitors and non-Anarch visitors. Likewise, the domain may distinguish certain areas as off-limits for hunting to all.

7.) Hospitality: Unless specified otherwise, the domain welcomes all members of the Anarch Movement as visitors, and allows them to hunt in the city by the domain's laws.  The domain may allow or disallow other Kindred as visitors by simple majority vote.  This allowance may be by Sect, Independent Clan, or individual.  Any visitors to the domain are expected to follow the domain's laws while within the limits of the domain, and are requested to make themselves known to the domain.

a.) Anarch visitors aren't strictly required to announce themselves if they do not stay for more than a week and follow the domain's laws, but are regardless requested to. We ask that they consider the domain's proximinity to Sabbat territory, and announce themselves if only to avoid confusion. If a visitor does not announce themselves and creates trouble within or outside of the domain that follows them to the domain, we maintain no responsibility to protect them.

b.) Non-Anarch visitors should announce themselves, or their presence may be taken as a hostile incursion if they are discovered operating within the domain unannounced, depending on the circumstances. Whether or not such announcement be a one-time event or per-visit depends on the conditions of the visitors allowance into the domain.

8.) Destruction: Killing of other Anarchs is strictly prohibited, save by lawful execution or Blood Hunt.  Killing in self-defense is allowed if necessary, but should be avoided if a less-lethal solution is plausible.  The killing of allowed visitors is prohibited, save for in exceptional circumstances of hostile actions and self-defense.  The killing of other Kindred should be reasonably avoided, depending on circumstance.  Killing in self-defense and killing those partaking in acts of war against the domain are allowed.  Killing those the sect or domain is at war with is also allowed.  Otherwise, less-lethal options should be pursued if possible and necessary, but killing other hostile Kindred may be deemed reasonable in some other circumstances, or a lesser crime otherwise.