The factions of the Temporary Autonomous Zoners (TAZ), the Zoners Trading Consortium (ZTC) and the Omicron Supply Industries (OSI) announce hereby the formation of the Zoner Alliance. The Zoner Alliance will be the main responsible body managing all negotiations and trade agreements with factions and houses, outside of the alliance, which will affect all members. Individual agreements affecting only one faction or group can be handled by that respective faction or group. Any Zoner faction or independent Zoner can join the ZA. Independents are asked by this announcement to form a group called the Zoner Union of Independents (ZUI) and to appoint one of their members as representative.

Here is how the ZA will function:
The item that comes before the ZA will be placed before the representatives of each member group who will then have to set an amount of time to debate the matter in each group. Then each group will come to the recommendation how their representative has to vote on their behalf. Finally, all representatives will come together again and make a quick discussion by casting their vote for their groups. In the interest of speed, scenarios could be discussed before hand so no discussions would be needed just voting by the representatives. Nevertheless each group is responsible to find its own modus operandi to achieve best results.


A) Structure of the Zoner Alliance

1. Body Member of the Zoner Alliance: Group

* Each member - a group - makes its decisions for itself.
* Once a decision has been made the faction can decide whether to try encompassing equal bodies into the motion or project, or not.
* Scope of responsibility: Every issue which is not concerning general Zoner issues or including unclaimed Zoner spaces.
* Each faction is asked to implement a kind of democracy, visible or not, to prevent the development of totalitarian hierarchies.
* Members of any faction cannot have political rights or influence in more than one faction.


2. Zoner Alliance Body: Alliance Committee (AC)

* Allowed groups are either the officially registered Zoner factions, the ZUI, or unregistered Zoner groups operating as clans.
* Voting: Each body member has one seat. Each seat has one vote. The registered factions and the ZUI have the ability to cast a veto.
* Scope of responsibility: Global Zoner issues, policies, relations.
* Security Issues: The Alliance Committee will coordinate with each member the deployment of security and defense forces. Each member will be assigned to an area of responsibility, if available and possible.



3. Membership
New groups can apply for membership and then must be approved by a majority vote by the Alliance Committee. New Independents must be accepted by the ZUI for membership. Zoner clans must have at least 6 members to be considered, with less than 6 members they apply to the ZUI and work within that member body until such a time as they have the required members count.
Alliance members can be dismissed from the ZA by the complementary remainder of AC representatives voting unanimously. Individual Zoners can be removed by the ZUI itself or by a majority votes in the Alliance Committee.

4. Membership Responsibility
All members have chosen to become part of the ZA. Each individual of each member is required to participate and assist their representative by voting, in a manner that will put their best interests forward. Each representative is charged with the responsibility of voting, in the manner that best suite the interests of his or her group. The Alliance Committee is in charge of forwarding the ideal and morals of the ZA and Zoners as a whole.

5. Nonmembers
Nonmembers are not held to any treaty, deal or policy that is put forth by the ZA. Nonmembers are also not going to receive any protection if they violate any treaties or agreements or break any policies put forth by the ZA. Nor will they receive any protections by the ZA security forces if they are found breaking ZA policies, treaties or trade agreements.


B) Decision Making and Voting

1. Each faction group is charged with determining how they will choose and direct their representative. The representatives will then come together and lay forth the concerns or points brought to them by their group. Discussions will be limited to 48 hours and Alliance Committee deliberations will be limited to 48hours, followed by a vote. If a specific discussion cannot be met within the time limit, the Alliance Committee can approve an extension on the time for deliberations so the matter can be resolved properly.

1.1. Treaties and Trade Agreements
The Alliance Committee will appoint one person to be the negotiator for each treaty or trade agreement talk. The negotiator does not have to be a member of the Alliance Committee. Once the negotiator is chosen, they will be the only one allowed to conduct the talks. The Alliance Committee can remove a negotiator by a majority vote, or assign additional envoys to assist. Members agree not to break into or interrupt any talks being performed by the negotiator.

1.2. Foreign Contacts
If any Non-Zoner faction contacts the ZA the according member must inform the Alliance Committee about this contact when common Zoner issues, policies or treaties are concerned. An Alliance Committee representative or an assigned envoy will step into contact the Outside faction / Agency then regarding their request, and present it to the ZA with any recommendations afterward allowing the members to enter their processes of decision making.

1.3. Policies
Any member can bring up ideas for new policies. The Alliance Committee will then decide if the idea merits discussion. If the majority of the Alliance Committee agrees then it will be released to the member groups for discussion.

2. Voting will be handled in the open for all members to see. Once cast votes are final. Alliance Committee members can not abstain from votes. The Alliance Committee will then collect all votes and to publish each in public in one post including a final statement addressing possible consequences.

2.1. Proxies
In the case of absences of representatives during a vote, the Alliance Committee can urge the according group to select a temporary representative for that vote.

2.2 Veto power
Registered factions and the ZUI have the ability to veto any decision passed by the Alliance Committee. If an item is vetoed it will be brought back to deliberation to see if an agreement can be reached. Once deliberations are done a second vote on a resolution will be called. If the resolution is passed with no less than a 2/3 majority the Veto is over turned. If the resolution can not reach a 2/3 majority then the veto stands and the item is considered defeated.

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The Zoner Alliance would like to extend an invitation to any Zoner who wants to participate. We would like to encourage any outside agencies who wish to conduct agreements to contact us on a diplomatic channel.

In light of the above statement, I hereby form and establish the Zoner Union of Independents, to be affiliated with the Zoner Alliance.

Announcement, Explanation, and Registry:
Our role within the ZA will be to represent the interests of Zoners who are not affiliated with a major Zoner faction yet wish to be associated with the Zoner Alliance.

Political Procedures: The representative to the Zoner Alliance shall by me at first, and I shall stay in this role until we have at least five members. The Representative shall vote according to the will of the members of the ZUI at the ZA, and must adhere to the membership requirements at all time. The Representative shall furthermore refrain from voting in ZUI votes except during recall elections, membership revocation votes, and to break ties as described below.

For subsequent elections, there shall be the following procedures:
1) A simply majority of ZUI members must vote for a recall election within 48 hours of the first call to vote. Any member may call for a recall election. Each member who votes for a recall election must nominate at least one viable successor when they vote for the recall election. The incumbent chair will automatically be entered into any recall election if he/she so chooses.
2) After 48 hours have passed, if the recall vote passes, the sitting Representative will begin taking votes. Voting will last for another 48 hours.
3) If one candidate has the votes of a simple majority of the ZUI, then he becomes the Representative immediately when the 48-hour voting period ends.
4) If one candidate does not have the simple majority of the ZUI, then a runoff election between the two most voted-for candidates will ensue for another 48 hours. If more than one candidate is tied for the second place, any candidate that has tied for second place will qualify for the runoff.
5) In the case of a runoff election, the candidate with the most votes wins. If there is a tie, the Representative shall be the candidate who is tied for the most votes who has been a continueous member of the ZUI for the longest amount of time.
6) The second place candidate shall serve as vice-Representative, and will act as Representative on a temporary basis if the Representative is unavailable for an extended period of time (>7 days).

For voting on ZA issues, the following procedures shall be adhered to:
1) The Representative will initiate a vote.
2) Members will have 48 hours to vote on the issue at hand. Members are encouraged to propose alternatives if they vote against a measure, but may not initiate a new vote at that time.
3) The option with the most votes shall decide the vote of the ZUI Representative at the ZA.
4) In the case of a tie, the Representative shall decide for himself between the options that were tied.

For voting on ZUI procedures, the following procedures shall be adhered to:
1) A member will suggest a new procedure or to edit or expunge an existing procedure, and submit it in written form to the Representative.
2) The Representative shall respond to the request within 48 hours. If the request is denied, he/she will provide the reason for the denial. If the request is approved, he/she will initiate a vote on the matter.
3) The vote shall last for 48 hours. If the measure receives a simple majority, the measure shall pass. If not, it shall not pass. In case of a tie, the Representative shall decide.

For revoking Membership, the following procedures shall be adhered to:
1) The Representative shall openly announce the individual to be removed, and why. In cases of inactivity after one month or more, the individual shall be removed automatically. If this is not the case, then proceed to step 2).
2) The Member being voted upon shall have 24 hours to provide a statement to defend himself if he so chooses; other members may argue for either side.
3) After 24 hours, the Representative shall initiate a vote.
4) After 48 hours, the Representative shall end the vote. The side with the most votes wins. If there is a tie, the individual shall remain a member.

Membership rules: Members must not have any affiliation with any faction otherwise represented in the ZA, and must not be themselves members of the Council of Zoners. Members must submit to the rules of the ZA. Members will work to maintain good relations with other Zoners and their neighbors and post in the ZUI channel at least once per month.

Membership will be granted and revoked by the Representative and the ZUI members on these and only these criteria. Members will not be removed for simply voicing an opposing opinion in a respectful and orderly manner.

Roster:
Victor Robinson, Freeport 11

To request membership, please post your name and home station below.

Factions / groups with 6-14 members will have 1 representative. (the ZUI has a minimum of 1 representative)
15-24 members are allowed 2 representatives.
25-35 members are allowed 3 representatives.
The maximum number of representatives is 3.

Vetoes- Replacing the 2/3 majority of representatives to overturn a veto, the vote will be taken by all the members and will require 2/3 of the majority to overturn.

From: Louisa Salome, (]c[)

I am checking in now as representative of the ZTC. Let us start with the first item at hand please:

Shall the seats of the Alliance Committee be determined by a proportional mapping of body members to their representatives?

0-5 members makes no seat
6-14 members makes to 1 seat
15-24 members makes 2 seats
35-~ members makes 3 seats

The voting is is opened. I will ask the ZTC now.

I think that we need to make some rules regarding global and local agenda items. Here are my proposals.

Local Agenda Items:

• Issues pertaining to an isolated location(s). >>Example 1: Allowing Harvesters to have ownership of Primus and Gammu. >>Example 2: Treaty of Bethlehem
• Items that are business deals or deals that involve the use of currency. >>Example 1: CoZ's Order Deal. >>Example 2: The Brotherhood proposal

Fact is, even though an issue like giving ownership of Kappa planets is a big one, it's isolated. People on Gran Canaria are not affected by what happens on the other side of the world. Treaty of Bethlehem is the same. People on Freeport 11 probably don't even care what happens in the Border Worlds.
Global Agenda Items:

• Zoner Alliance Policies and Rules. >>Any policy that will have an effect on the entire ZA structure.
• Zoner technology usage and abuse. >>Example 1: A Junker wants to fly an Aquilion. >Example 2: A Juggernaut pilot is under review for misconduct
• Issues that involve all Zoner stations. >>Example 1: Taking away Apocalypse's docking rights. >>Example 2: Zoner Policies regarding No-Fire Zones

Only an item that affects all Zoners in ZA should be considered global. Note, there is a difference between an issue affecting all Zoners and an issue that is proposed to all Zoners. The Brotherhood proposal was addressed to all members of CoZ, but it was a deal involving trade. Business deals may be proposed to all members of ZA, but as we all know Free Market is defined as each group chosing its own commercial path.
Global items are decided upon by the ZA Committee. Local items are decided individually by each group.

From: Louisa Salome, (]c[)
Subject: Motion Item 2

Dear Committee,

we have a second decision to make. Mr Lightwing proposed two scopes of responsibility for Zoner matters.

Before putting Mr Lightwing's proposal to a vote I would like to ask you if there is something to be added or changed!?

Sincerely,
Louisa

The ZA distinguishes items concerning it's member groups, the ZA as a whole or all Zoners in Sirius according to the following definitions:

• Local Items:
  • A local item only concerns one or more ZA member groups and is thus not brought before the AC, unless an involved ZA member group wishes to have the AC decide upon it.
• ZA Items:
  • A ZA Item touches all ZA member groups interests and is therefore brought before the AC to be voted upon.
• Global Items:
  • A Global Item has an influence on all Zoners in Sirius or concerns the use of zoner technology and is thus brought before the AC to be voted upon.

Kind Regards
Reisiger Duke

Incoming Transmission
Comm ID: Aurelia Silvan

The Security Committee will consist of eleven members. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson will both be members of the Security Committee. The major organization leaders, heads of the Alliance, will also be granted a free seat to place a delegate of their choice in. The other six members will be Chair-nominated, Committee-nominated, or self-nominated. It will be required that they get a majority 'yes' vote from the Council and Alliance before they can take one of the seats on the Security Committee, regardless of the manner in which they are nominated. Zoners belonging to neither organization require a yes vote by both the Council and the Alliance to be granted a seat. The Security Committee members are not required to be members of the Council of Zoners. They can be from either the Council of Zoners, Zoner Alliance, or neither group. Additional Security Committee seats may be added to account for faction leaders, though they will also have to get a majority 'yes' vote from whichever organization they belong to (Council/Alliance) to be granted a seat.

Security Committee decisions may be overridden by an 80% vote for the overturn by either the Council or Alliance, or a 70% vote from both. A motion to remove a Security Committee delegate must also get a 75% vote towards the removal by either the Council or Alliance, depending which organization they belong to, or a 75% vote by both if the Security Committee Delegate belongs to neither organization.

The Security Committee has four duties;

• First, the Security Committee will be responsible for deciding what Zoners to send as representatives or diplomats to specific negotiations. For example, if the Outcasts were to open a large-scale negotiation, the Security Committee would decide who to send as our representative to discuss it with them. - This is so that the decision is not given exclusively to the Chairperson, but rather to a group so that favoritism does not have an impact. Note: This duty is for representatives of the Council of Zoner and the entire Zoner Community only. The Alliance will select representatives via their own methods when dealing with issues that deal with them alone.
• Second, the Security Committee will regulate the use of Zoner equipment and ships by non-Zoners. - This is the original duty the SHIZL was created for.
• Third, the Security Committee will handle the management of misbehaving Zoners. The Security Committee can not move to banish a Zoner from the community, not one organization without a vote by both of the organizations first. - This was also a duty of the SHIZL. Banishment requires a majority 'yes' vote so that the Security Committee can not abuse it as a punishment.
• Fourth, the Security Committee will participate, and in some cases lead, efforts that benefit fellow Zoners. This is focused on incidents of hostility from ships from other factions against Zoners or Zoner stations, as well as helping new Zoners get situated in the Zoner environment. Teaching them 'the ropes.' - This is more of a humanitarian responsibility than a duty. The members of the Security Committee are encouraged to act as mentors to people who have recently joined the Zoners, as well as act in the defense of other Zoners. This will also include managing the hostiles list of people who have harmed the Zoners.

These are not set in stone, this is just a proposal, and is being offered for review and tweaking - fixing. Eventually it will be put to a vote, but I want to give ample time for discussion and clarification and fixing.

-Aurelia Silvan

I left the CoZ and the Chair after all the bickering got out of hand and egos flared. I have no desire to fall back into that mode again.