Legislation Concerning Citizenship

[Stone Shark]

Seeing how easy it is to get Citizenship, one simply has to request it and they are almost always immediately accepted, I feel that it would be better if we were to tighten the rules as to avoid potentially harmful individuals to our community from joining. However I like that our citizenship rules are much more liberal and I will definitely keep it more liberal than other regions.

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Legislation Concerning Citizenship

The Ecclesia;

Whereas before no legislation concerning qualifications have established for citizenship and the only impediment to citizenship having previously been the opinions of the Citizen-Initiator, let it be decided that the conditions by which Taijitu exists require stricter regulations in order to avoid the indoctrination of potentially harmful individuals into our community;

I. Citizenship

• All members who were granted citizenship before this legislation was passed will retain citizenship and shall not be required to apply under the new terms, unless they resign citizenship and re-apply;
• Applicants will still have to post a request for citizenship in the appropriate forum, but may now opt to complete a questionnaire;
• The questionnaire shall not hinder attempts to gain citizenship, but shall only progress said attempts, unless said questionnaire raises red flags about the applicant, in which case the Citizen-Initiator or their deputy may conduct an investigation before approving the applicants request;
• Applicants who have completed the questionnaire shall be given priority opposed to applicants who have not completed the application, meaning a applicant who has completed the questionnaire shall have their application reviewed first;
• The full body of the questionnaire shall be determined by the Citizen-Initiator, subject to the conditions in this legislation and the approval of the Ecclesia;
• The Citizen-Initiator must conduct a background check, and may appoint a deputy, subject to the approval and the ability to be recalled by the Ecclesia, to conduct background checks in their name;

II. Conditions for the Application

• The Questionnaire as described in I. Citizenship must have the following areas, additional areas may be added by the Citizen-Initiator subject to the approval of the Ecclesia;
• The areas shall be: Name, Former Region(s) of Residence, Former Political Posts, Other Alias';
• Every area must be filled out for the Citizen-Initiator or their deputy to consider the Questionnaire valid, in which case they will be given priority, if they have not completed the entire questionnaire their application shall be treated as if they had not filled out the application;

III. Oath of Citizenship

• In order to be considered for citizenship, in conjunction with the terms dictated above, the applicant must fill out an Oath of Citizenship;
• The Oath of Citizenship shall consist of the following:
  
  I, (forum name) hereby in sober mind, and good conscious, hereby declare my loyalty to the People of Taijitu, to the principles which our state is founded upon, those being Direct Democracy, and Egalitarianism, I promise to uphold, as both a Citizen and Member of the Ecclesia, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, the Standing Ordinances of the Ecclesia and the Glorious Revolution, the laws which are currently in effect, and I understand that should I break my oath or any term dictated above I shall be prosecuted within the fullest extent of the law, in good conscience do I promise.

The Ecclesia hereby passes Legislation Concerning Citizenship.

[Khem]

I am firmly against any requirements beyond having a Taijitu nation and asking. Though I do rather enjoy your proposal if we were to be more restrictive, it is well written.

[Stone Shark]

I am firmly against any requirements beyond having a Taijitu nation and asking. Though I do rather enjoy your proposal if we were to be more restrictive, it is well written.

Thank you. 

This is just preliminary drafting, I can liberalize it even more, I would be happy to in fact, however we do need some restrictions, like an Oath of Citizenship, it holds legal implications as well, should one violate our laws we cannot prosecute them, because without taking an oath they have not agreed to uphold our laws.

[Khem]

I am not necessarily against a new Oath of Citizenship as such does make one feel the part of Citizen ever more so. Also not completely against a questionnaire though I would not like its responses from citizens to count against them in obtaining such status but more as a getting to know you prompt.

[Stone Shark]

I am not necessarily against a new Oath of Citizenship as such does make one feel the part of Citizen ever more so. Also not completely against a questionnaire though I would not like its responses from citizens to count against them in obtaining such status but more as a getting to know you prompt.

I like that idea. Perhaps the Oath could be mandatory, and the Questionnaire could be optional, but filling it out would only count towards gaining citizenship, unless of course their were some glaringly obvious problems, like a history of bans etc.

[Khem]

Of course bans from certain regions may even be seen as a good thing (*cough* Aurahyperia *cough*). Yes i agree it would allow for the red flags to raise at a more opportune time for dealing with them and gathering the necessary intelligence.

[Delfos]

I don't like the symbolic stuff to get in the way of citizenship like the oath, copy pasting an oath means nothing.

I do like the questionnaire, with a simple questions about Taijitu so that they actually read about the Ecclesia and other stuff, again like Khem said, I wouldn't like the questionnaire to limit that person's citizenship to Taijitu.

I have a history of bans (I got banned from Taijitu, I'd say for protesting but others don't have that perspective) and I'm an obvious problem since I contest everything that is decided apparently, do I  not deserve to be a citizen? It's really unfair to judge someone through a questionnaire or what perception you have of their history. Fighting against two SD dictatorships would never show up in my history.

[Stone Shark]

I have edited along the recommendations I have received.

[Myroria]

Here are my brief thoughts:

1. I think that this reform of the system is sorely needed. Taijitu has grown immensely since the Glorious Revolution and I would like to see the application standardized. That being said,
2. Delfos makes a point that oathbreakers will be oathbreakers. However, I think - to echo what Khem said - that it provides an excellent way to "get into character" and really feel like a citizen. I think the oath is a great idea and I wholeheartedly support it.
π. The questionnaire - I agree with Khem that it shouldn't be required. I like the "fast-track" idea - applicants who care enough to open up will naturally have more attention paid to them anyway so why not officially encourage it?
¿. To address Delfos' concerns - our good revolutionary friends in Lazarus include a "short history in NS" question on their application. Here, someone like yourself with a long history of fighting oppression could make a case and defend their actions. If, like you, their heart was in the right place, the Initiator or their deputy would surely see so upon their investigation.
€. Two corrections in the oath: Citizens should take this oath in good conscience (), and a period would fit nicely after "egalitarianism".

[Gulliver]

I like the idea of reintroducing an oath so long as it's simple and to the point. I'm not sure how I feel about a questionnaire though. Any questions that would be useful, like history of previous bans, could just be left out and there wouldn't be any easy way to check that. On the other hand, I can see the value in a simple question asking for a brief background in getting to know the applicant and making them feel a bit more vested.

Regardless, I do think the process by which applications are submitted, reviewed, rejected, and possibly appealed to a vote of the Ecclesia, should be formalized and there should be some standard form to fill in, even if the information is the same as now.

[Delfos]

I like the idea of reintroducing an oath so long as it's simple and to the point. I'm not sure how I feel about a questionnaire though. Any questions that would be useful, like history of previous bans, could just be left out and there wouldn't be any easy way to check that. On the other hand, I can see the value in a simple question asking for a brief background in getting to know the applicant and making them feel a bit more vested.

Regardless, I do think the process by which applications are submitted, reviewed, rejected, and possibly appealed to a vote of the Ecclesia, should be formalized and there should be some standard form to fill in, even if the information is the same as now.

In case we change our process, I believe Gulliver summed an acceptable proposal. Yet i'm still not sold in the institutionalization of the citizenship process.

[Stone Shark]

Here are my brief thoughts:

1. I think that this reform of the system is sorely needed. Taijitu has grown immensely since the Glorious Revolution and I would like to see the application standardized. That being said,
2. Delfos makes a point that oathbreakers will be oathbreakers. However, I think - to echo what Khem said - that it provides an excellent way to "get into character" and really feel like a citizen. I think the oath is a great idea and I wholeheartedly support it.
3. The questionnaire - I agree with Khem that it shouldn't be required. I like the "fast-track" idea - applicants who care enough to open up will naturally have more attention paid to them anyway so why not officially encourage it?
4. To address Delfos' concerns - our good revolutionary friends in Lazarus include a "short history in NS" question on their application. Here, someone like yourself with a long history of fighting oppression could make a case and defend their actions. If, like you, their heart was in the right place, the Initiator or their deputy would surely see so upon their investigation.
5. Two corrections in the oath: Citizens should take this oath in good conscience (), and a period would fit nicely after "egalitarianism".

1. I do as well. 
2. Agreed.
3. My thoughts as well.
4.
5. Done.

Okay I have updated once again with suggestions.

[Myroria]

In case we change our process, I believe Gulliver summed an acceptable proposal. Yet i'm still not sold in the institutionalization of the citizenship process.

Perhaps when we submit this to a vote we have "yes, with questionnaire", "yes, without questionnaire", and "no" options?

Part of me likes how easy it is to become a citizen but I think as we grow standardizing the process will just make things a lot easier for everyone and will let us keep track of the roster more easily.

In addition, as we grow and especially as the Militia becomes more active we should be concerned about spies and saboteurs. This isn't foolproof by any means but at least it, and a background check, is a hurdle for agents to jump over.

[Delfos]

I understand your concerns, but we have other mechanisms that need to start working for that kind of thing, regional security and judiciary.

[Myroria]

I don't think we need to add bureaucracy we don't need at this time like Regional Security when we could just let the Initiator and their deputy handle it.