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The Star League Charter
Ratified by Member-State
Leaders & SLDF Triumvirate, 1st February, 3068
We the citizens of the Star
League have determined:
To save succeeding generations from the scourge of galactic war
which has brought untold horror and suffering to our planetary systems.
To reaffirm faith in the fundamental human rights, in the dignity
and worth of an individual human, to the equal rights of male and female and of
planetary systems large and small.
To establish conditions under which justice and mutual respect for
the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of interplanetary law
can be maintained.
To promote social progress and better standards of life in larger
freedom and to these ends to practice benevolent tolerance and live together in
peace with one another as good neighbours.
To unite our strength to maintain galactic peace and security.
To ensure by the acceptance of principles and the institution of
methods that armed force shall not be used except in the common defense.
To employ Star League expertise for the promotion of the economic
and social advancement of all citizens, have resolved to combine our efforts to
accomplish these aims.
Accordingly, the respective member states, through representatives
assembled on the planet Terra, who have exhibited their full powers to be in
good and due form, have agreed to this charter of the Star League, and do hereby
establish an interplanetary organization to be known as the Star League.
Chapter I: Purposes and Principles
Article 1
The purposes of the Star
League are:
To maintain peace and security within the mandated territory, and
to that end : to take effective collective measures for the prevention of
threats to the peace, the suppression of acts of aggression, and to bring about
by peaceful means, and employing the principles of justice and law, adjustment
or settlement of disputes which might lead to a breach of the peace;
To develop friendly relations among member nations based on respect
for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of citizenship, and to
other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
To achieve inter-state cooperation in solving major problems of
economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character; in promoting and
encouraging respect for human rights; and for fundamental freedoms for all
without distinction as to culture, sex, life-form, or religious belief.
Article 2
The Star League and its members, in pursuit of the purposes stated, shall act in
accordance with the following principles:
The Star League is based on the sovereign equality of all its
members; In order to ensure to all of them equal rights and benefits resulting
from membership, all citizens shall fulfill in good faith the obligations
assumed by them in accordance with these Articles of the Star League;
All member states shall settle their planetary disputes by means in
such manner that major inter-state peace, security, and justice, are not
endangered;
All member states shall give the Star League every assistance in
any action taken in accordance with these Articles of the Star League, and shall
refrain from assisting any planetary system against which the Star League is
taking preventive or enforcement action;
The Star League shall ensure that independent planetary systems
which are not members of the Star League act in accordance with these principles
as necessary for the maintenance of peace and security for the Star League;
Nothing within these Articles of the Star League shall authorize
the Star League to intervene in matters which are essentially the domestic
jurisdiction of any member state, or shall require the members to submit such
matters to settlement under these Articles of the Star League; but this
principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under
Chapter VII.
Chapter II:
Membership
Article 3
The original members of the Star League shall be those member states which, having participated in the
Whitting Conference on Tharkad, or having previously signed
the declaration of the Star League of 3068, sign These
Articles of the Star League and ratify them in accordance with Article 110.
Article 4
Membership in the Star League is open to any other peaceful planetary systems which accept the obligations contained in These Articles of
the Star League and, in the judgement of the Star League, are capable and willing to
carry out these obligations;
The admission of any such planetary system to membership in the Star League is contingent upon the decision of the
General Senate
upon recommendation of the Ministerial Cabinet.
Article 5
The General Senate may suspend the rights and privileges of membership of any
member states of the Star League against which the SLDF Triumvirate has taken
preventive or enforcement action. The General Senate may restore these
rights and privileges of membership at the recommendation of the Ministerial
Cabinet;
Article 6
Any member of the Star League which has persistently violated the purposes
and principles contained in these Articles of the Star League may be expelled from
the Star League by the SLDF Triumvirate upon the recommendation of the
Ministerial Cabinet.
Chapter III:
Agencies
Article 7
There are established as the principle agencies of the Star League: a General
Senate, a Ministerial Cabinet with 10 ministries, a SLDF Triumvirate and
Comstar.
Such subsidiary agencies as may be deemed necessary from time to time may be
established in accordance with these Articles of Star League;
Article 8
The Star League shall place no restriction on the eligibility of male and
female or any member planetary system to participate in any
capacity under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary agencies.
Chapter IV: The General Senate
Article 9
The General Senate shall consist of representatives from all the member states of the
Star League. Each member state shall be entitled to have as many Senatorial
seats equal to population zones within the member state;
Article 10
The General Senate may discuss any questions on any matters within the scope
of these Articles of Star League or relating to the powers and functions of any
agencies provided for in these Articles of Star League and, except as provided in
Article 12, may make recommendations to the members and the Ministerial Cabinet
or both on any such questions or matters;
Article 11
The General Senate may consider the general principles of cooperation in
maintaining interplanetary peace and security, including disarmament and the
regulation of armaments, and may make recommendations with regard to such
principles to the member states or the Ministerial Cabinet or to both;
The General Senate may discuss any questions relative to the maintenance of
inter-state peace and security put to it by any member state or the SLDF
Triumvirate, or a non-member planetary system in accordance with Article 25
Paragraph 2 and, except as provided in Article 12, may make recommendations with
regard to any such questions to the member states, the SLDF Triumvirate, or the
pleading planetary system, or to all of them. Any such question on which
action is necessary shall be referred to the SLDF Triumvirate by the General
Senate either before or after discussion;
The General Senate may call situations which are likely to endanger the
interplanetary and inter-state peace and security to the attention of the
SLDF Triumvirate;
The powers of the General Senate as set forth in this Article shall not limit
the scope of Article 10;
Article 12
Where the SLDF Triumvirate is executing the functions assigned to it under
these Articles of the Star League with respect to any dispute or situation, the
General Senate shall make no recommendation with regard to that dispute or
situation unless so requested by the Ministerial Cabinet;
The Presidential Senator, with the consent of the SLDF Triumvirate, shall
notify the General Senate at each session of any matters relating to the
maintenance of interplanetary peace and security which are under discussion in
the SLDF Triumvirate.
Article 13
The General Senate shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the
purpose of:
Promoting inter-state co-operation in political fields and encouraging the
progressive development of interplanetary law and its codification;
Promoting inter-state co-operation in the economic, social, cultural,
educational, and health fields, and assisting in the realization of rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to
culture, sex, language, or religion;
The further responsibilities, functions, and powers of the General Senate with
respect to matters mentioned in Paragraph 1(B) above are set forth in Chapters
IX and X;
Article 14
Subject to the provisions of Article 12, the General Senate may recommend
measures for the peaceful adjustment of any situation, regardless of origin,
which it deems likely to impair the general welfare or friendly relations among
the member states, including situations resulting from violations of the provisions of
these Articles of the Star League setting forth the purposes and principles of the
Star League;
Article 15
The General Senate shall receive and consider regular and special reports from
the SLDF Triumvirate; which reports shall include an account of the measures
that the SLDF Triumvirate has decided upon or taken to maintain inter-state
peace and security;
The General Senate shall receive and consider reports from the other agencies
of the Star League on agreed upon regular periods or reporting;
Article 16
The General Senate shall perform such functions of inter-state integration
as are assigned to it under Chapters XII and XIII, including the approval of the
integration agreements for areas which are not designated as strategic;
Article 17
The General Senate shall consider and approve the budget of the Star League;
The expenses of the Star League shall be borne by the member states
as apportioned by the General Senate;
The General Senate shall consider and approve any financial and budgetary
agreements with specialized agencies referred to in Article 57 and shall examine
the administrative budgets of such specialized agencies with a view to making
recommendations to the agencies concerned;
All budgets of, and expenses of the Star League shall be made and paid in the
Universal Comstar Credit or 'C-Bill'. The C-Bill shall be the
official medium of exchange within the Star League mandated territory;
Article 18
Each Senator of the General
Senate shall have one vote;
Decisions of the General Senate on important questions shall be made on a
two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Senators present and voting. These
questions shall include: recommendations with respect to the maintenance of
interplanetary peace and security; the election of Executive Senators to the
Ministerial Cabinet; the admission of new member states to
the Star League; the suspension of the rights and privileges of membership; the
expulsion of members; and budgetary questions;
Decisions on other questions, including the determination of additional
categories of questions to be decided by a two-thirds (2/3) majority, shall be
made by a majority vote of the Senators present and voting;
Article 19
A member state of the Star League which is in arrears in the payment of its
financial obligations to the Star League shall have no vote in the General
Senate if the amount it is in arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the
contributions due from it for the preceding two accounting periods. The General
Senate may, nevertheless, permit such a member to vote if it is satisfied that
the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the member state.
Article 20
The General Senate shall meet in regular periodic sessions and in such special
sessions as occasion may require. Special sessions shall be called by the
Presidential Senator at the request of the Ministerial Cabinet or of a majority of
the Senators of the Star League;
Article 21
The General Senate shall adopt its own rules of procedure. It shall elect its
Presidential Senator at the end of a 3 year term;
Article 22
The Ministerial Cabinet can with the recommendation of the General Senate, establish such subsidiary agencies as it deems
necessary for the performance of its functions.
Chapter V: The Ministerial
Cabinet
Article 23
The Ministerial Cabinet shall consist of ten ministries and one
independent department.
Ministry of Administration (Bureau of Star League Affairs), Ministry of Public
Development, Ministry of Inter-State Relations, Ministry of Education, Ministry
of Justice, Ministry of Finance & Revenue, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Trade
& Resources, Ministry of Foreign Relations, Ministry of Planetary Review and
Comstar (Autonomous replacement for the Ministries for Communication,
Information & Exploration)
Each ministry is headed by an Executive Senator and each Executive
Senator together with the Primus of Comstar and the Presidential Senator make up
the Ministerial Cabinet.
Article 24
In order to assure prompt and effective action by the General Senate, its member
states confer on the Ministerial Cabinet primary responsibility for
the maintenance of the Star League, and agree that in carrying
out its duties under this responsibility the Ministerial Cabinet acts on their
behalf;
In discharging these duties the Ministerial Cabinet shall act in accordance with
the purposes and principles of the Star League. The specific powers
granted to the Ministerial Cabinet & SLDF Triumvirate for the discharge of these duties are laid
down in Chapters VI, VII, VIII, and XII;
The Ministerial Cabinet shall submit regular and, when necessary, special
reports to the General Senate for its consideration.
Article 25
The members of the Star League agree to accept and carry out the decisions of
the Ministerial Cabinet and SLDF Triumvirate in accordance with these Articles
of the Star League.
Article 26
In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of
inter-state peace and security with the least diversion of the Star League's
citizens, and economic resources for armaments, the Ministerial Cabinet shall be
responsible for formulating, with the assistance of SLDF Triumvirate referred to
in Article 47, plans to be submitted to the member states of the Star League for
the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments.
Article 27
Each Senator of the General Senate shall have one vote;
Decisions of the General Senate on procedural matters shall be made by an
affirmative vote of two thirds majority.
Decisions of the Ministerial Cabinet on all other matters shall be made on an
affirmative vote of two thirds majority provided that, in decisions under
Chapter VI, and under Paragraph 3 of Article 52, a party to the dispute shall
refrain from voting.
Article 28
The Ministerial Cabinet shall be so organized as to be able to function
continuously. Each member of the Ministerial Cabinet shall, for this purpose, be
represented at all times.
The Ministerial Cabinet shall hold periodic meetings at which each of its
members may, if it so desires, be represented by a deputy member of its
Ministry.
The Ministerial Cabinet may hold meetings at such places other than the seat of
the Star League as in its judgment will facilitate its work.
Article 29
The Ministerial Cabinet may establish such subsidiary agencies as it deems
necessary for the performance of its functions.
Article 30
The Ministerial Cabinet shall adopt its own rules of procedure,
including the method of selecting its Presidential Senator and deputy.
Article 31
Any Senator of the General Senate which is not a member of the
Ministerial Cabinet may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any
question brought before the Ministerial Cabinet whenever the latter considers
that the interests of the member state are specifically affected.
Article 32
Any Senator of the General Senate which is not a member of the
Ministerial Cabinet or any official which is not a member of the Star League, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the
Ministerial Cabinet, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in the
discussion relating to the dispute. The Ministerial Cabinet shall lay down the
conditions as it deems just for the participation of an official
which is not a member of the Star League.
Chapter VI: Inter-State
Disputes
Article 33
The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the
maintenance of inter-state peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a
solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial
settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means
of their own choice;
The General Senate shall, when it deems necessary, call upon the parties to
settle their disputes by such means.
Article 34
The SLDF Triumvirate may investigate any dispute, or any situation that might
lead to inter-state friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine
whether the continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the
maintenance of inter-state peace and security.
Article 35
Any member state of the Star League may bring any dispute, or any situation of
the nature referred to in Article 34, to the attention of the SLDF Triumvirate
or the General Senate.
A government which is not a member state of the Star League may bring to the attention of the
SLDF Triumvirate or the General Senate any dispute to which it is a party if it accepts in advance, for the
purposes of disputes, the obligation of pacific settlement provided in these
Articles of the Star League.
The proceedings of the General Senate in respect to matters brought to its
attention under this Article will be subject to the provisions of Articles 11
and 12.
Article 36
The General Senate may, at any stage of a dispute of the nature referred to in
Article 33 or of a situation of like nature, recommend procedures or appropriate
methods of adjustment.
The Ministerial Cabinet shall take into consideration any
procedures for the settlement of the dispute which have already been adopted by
the parties.
In making recommendations under the Article the Star League the
SLDF Triumvirate should also take into consideration that legal disputes should
as a general rule be referred to the Ministry of Justice.
Article 37
Should the parties to a dispute as referred to in Article 33 fail to settle it
by means indicated in that Article, they shall refer it to the SLDF Triumvirate.
If the SLDF Triumvirate deems that the continuance of the dispute
is in fact likely to endanger the maintenance of inter-state peace and security,
it shall decide whether to take action under Article 36 or to recommend such
terms as it may consider appropriate.
Article 38
Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 33 to 37, the SLDF Triumvirate
may, if all the parties to any dispute so request, make recommendations to the
parties with a view to a military settlement of the dispute.
Chapter VII: Threats of the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of
Aggression
Article 39
The SLDF Triumvirate shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace,
breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations to
maintain or restore interplanetary peace and security.
Article 40
In order to prevent aggravation of the situation, the General Senate may
call upon the parties concerned to comply with such provisional measures as it
deems necessary or desirable. Such provisional measures shall be without
prejudice to the rights, claims, or position of the parties concerned. The
General Senate shall take into account any failure to comply with such
provisional measures.
Article 41
The General Senate may decide what measures short of the use of armed force
are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and may call upon the
members of the Star League to apply such measures. These may include
partial or complete interruption of economic relations, inter-planet hpg and
space travel, and severance of diplomatic relations.
Article 42
Should the General Senate consider that measures under Article 41 would be
inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by armed
force as necessary to maintain or restore interplanetary peace and security.
Such action may include demonstrations, blockades, and other operations by the
SLDF.
Article 43
All members of the Star League in obligation to the maintenance of
interplanetary peace and security, agree to make available to the SLDF, on
call of the SLDF Triumvirate, armed forces, assistance and facilities, including
rights of passage, necessary for the maintenance of interplanetary peace and
security.
Article 44
When the SLDF Triumvirate has decided to use force it shall, before calling
upon a member nation not represented on it to provide armed forces in
fulfillment of
obligations assumed under Article 43, invite that member to participate in the
decision of the SLDF Triumvirate relating to the employment of contingents of
the member's armed forces.
Article 45
In order to enable the Star League to take urgent military measures, all
members so capable, shall assign contingents of their armed forces to the SLDF
to be employed as a single peace-keeping force of the Star League. All contingents so assigned, and for the duration of their assignment,
shall hold full faith and loyalty to the Star League and the
protection of the purposes and principles of these Articles of the Star League.
Article 46
Plans for the application of the SLDF shall be made by the
SLDF Triumvirate with the assistance of the Ministerial Cabinet.
Article 47
There shall be established within the SLDF a Triumvirate Command to advise and
assist the General Senate on all matters relating to the Star League's military
requirements for maintaining interplanetary peace and security.
The Triumvirate Command shall consist of three members elected by the General
Senate on recommendations made by current Triumvirate members.
The Triumvirate Command, with the authorization of the General Senate,
shall establish a the SLDF as the armed, peace-keeping, forces of the Star
League. It shall be responsible for the establishment and
maintenance of all facilities of the SLDF, including armed space, air, land
and training facilities;
The Triumvirate Command shall be responsible under the General Senate
for the strategic direction of the SLDF, and the other armed
forces of the member nations when required for the maintenance of interplanetary
peace and security.
Article 48
The action required to carry out decisions of the General Senate
for the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security shall be taken by the
SLDF Triumvirate, using such contingents as appropriate to the specific action.
Article 49
The member nations of the Star League shall join in affording
mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the SLDF
Triumvirate and in assisting the SLDF in the performance of its duties and
obligations.
Article 50
If preventive or enforcement measures against any planet are taken
by the SLDF Triumvirate, any other nation, whether a member of the Star League
or not, which finds itself confronted with special economic problems arising
from the carrying out of these measures shall have the right to consult with the
General Senate with regard to the solution of its problems.
Article 51
Nothing in These Articles of the Star League shall impair the inherent right of
individual or collective self-defense against armed attacks occurring to member
nations
of the Star League, until the SLDF Triumvirate has taken measures
necessary to maintain inter-nation peace and security, and the SLDF
can be brought into action. Such actions taken by members of the Star League in their self-defense shall be immediately reported to the
General Senate.
Chapter VIII: Star League Defense
Force
Article 52
There is established a Star League Defense Force as the armed peace-keeping forces of the
Star League. It shall initially be comprised of contingents
assigned to it by members of the Star League under Article 43 until such
time as facilities, recruitment, and training obviates the necessity of drawing
upon the armament of any member, except as provided in Article 49;
The operations and actions of the SLDF shall at all times be under the direct
cognizance of the SLDF Triumvirate and the General Senate which
shall also prepare and approve the budget for SLDF operations;
Initial expenditure is authorized under these Articles of the Star League for the
establishment of a SLDF Headquarters to be equitably located within the boundary
of the Star League. The General Senate shall review and approve such other
expansions of HQ's and other facilities as shall seem appropriate from time
to time in the maintenance of inter-state peace and security;
Initial expenditure is also granted under these Articles of the Star League for
the establishment of SLDF Academies for the purpose of training officers and
personnel for SLDF duty. The standards for training such officers and
personnel shall be determined by the SLDF Department of Military Education and approved by
the SLDF Triumvirate.
Article 53
Initial expenditure is granted under these Articles of the Star League for the
design, procurement, and operation of five SLDF Armies to provide the nucleus of
the SLDF's peace-keeping armed forces.
These Armies shall be capable of extended operations of at least 4 years of
unsupplied campaigning, with stockpiles appropriate. They shall be
provided with fire-power superior to that now employed by any member of the
Star League, and appropriate to the tasks expected of them;
Expenditure is also granted under these Articles of the Star League for the
procurement and construction of space forces as shall be
required to support SLDF operations and the initial five armies.
Article 54
The training of personnel shall include all fields of
the military arts in the SLDF. It is the
intent of these Articles of the Star League that the SLDF shall be used to conduct maintenance
of inter-state peace and security.
Chapter IX:
Inter-State Economic and Social Co-operation
Article 55
With a view to creating conditions of stability and well-being which are
necessary for peaceful relations among member states based on respect
for the principles of equal rights and self determination of all intelligent
life-forms, the Star League shall promote:
Higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and
social progress and development;
Solution of inter-state economic, social, health, and related problems; and
inter-state cultural and educational cooperation; and
Universal respect for, and observance of, intelligent life-form
rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to culture, sex,
language, or religion.
Article 56
All members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation
with the Star League for the achievement of the purposes and goals set forth in
Article 55.
Article 57
The various specialized agencies, established by inter-state agreement and
having wide inter-state responsibilities as defined in their basic
instruments in economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related
fields, shall be brought into relationship with the Star League in
accordance with Article 63;
Such agencies thus brought into relationship with the Star League are hereafter
referred to as specialized agencies.
Article 58
The Star League shall make recommendations for the coordination of the
policies and activities of the specialized agencies;
Article 59
The Star League shall, where appropriate, initiate negotiations among its
member states concerned for the creation of any new specialized agencies required for
the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in Article 55;
Article 60
Responsibility for the discharge of the functions of the Star League as
set forth in this Chapter shall be vested in the General Senate and, under the
authority of the General Senate, in the economic and social council which
shall have for this purpose the powers set forth in Chapter X.
Chapter X: The Ministries
Article 61
The Ministerial Cabinet shall consist of ten Executive Senators of the
Star League as elected by the General Senate;
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, five members of the
ministerial cabinet shall be elected each session for a term of six Terran year
periods. A retiring member shall be eligible for immediate re-election;
At the first election, ten members of the ministerial cabinet
shall be chosen, the term of office of five executive senators so chosen will expire at
the end of three Terran year periods, and the terms of five other executive
senators at the
end of six Terran year periods in accordance with arrangements made by the
General Senate;
Each Ministry shall have one Executive Senator.
Article 62
The Ministerial Cabinet may make or initiate studies and reports with
respect to inter-state economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and
related matters and may make recommendations with respect to any such matters to
the General Senate, to the member states of the Star League, and to
specialized agencies concerned;
It may make recommendations for the purpose of promoting respect for, and
observance of, intelligent life-form rights and fundamental freedoms for all;
It may prepare draft instruments with the rules prescribed by the Star League;
It may prepare draft instruments for admission to the General Senate, with
respect to matters falling within its competence;
It may call, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Star League,
inter-state conferences on matters falling within its competence.
Article 63
The Ministerial Cabinet may enter into agreements with any of its
agencies referred to in Article 57, defining the terms on which the agency
concerned shall be brought into relationship with the Star League. Such
agreements shall be subject to approval by the General Senate;
It may coordinate the activities of the specialized agencies through
consultation with and recommendations to such agencies and through
recommendations to the General Senate and to the members of the Star League.
Article 64
The Ministerial Cabinet may take appropriate steps to obtain reports
from the specialized agencies. It may make arrangements with the member states of the
Star League and with the specialized agencies to obtain reports on the
steps taken to give effect to its own recommendations and to recommendations on
matters falling within its competence by the General Senate.
Article 65
The Ministerial Cabinet may furnish information to the General Senate and shall assist the
General Senate upon its request.
Article 66
The Ministerial Cabinet shall perform such functions as fall within its
competence in connection with the carrying out of the recommendations of the
General Senate;
It may, with the approval of the General Senate, perform services at the
request of member states of the Star League and at the request of specialized
agencies;
It shall perform such other functions as are specified elsewhere in these
Articles of the Star League or as may be assigned to it by the General Senate.
Article 67
Each member of the Ministerial Cabinet shall have one vote;
Decisions of the Ministerial Cabinet shall be made by a majority of the
members present and voting;
Procedures.
Article 68
The Ministries shall set up commissions in economic and social fields and for
the promotion of intelligent life form rights, and such other commissions as may
be required for the performance of its functions.
Article 69
The Ministerial Cabinet shall invite any member state of the Star League
to participate, without vote, in its deliberations on any matter of particular
concern to that member state.
Article 70
The Ministerial Cabinet may make arrangements for representatives of the
specialized agencies to participate, without vote, in its deliberations and in
those commissions established by it, and for its representatives to participate
in the deliberations of the specialized agencies.
Article 71
The Ministerial Cabinet may make suitable arrangements for
consultation with non-governmental and inter-state organizations which are concerned with
matters within its competence. Such arrangements may be made with inter-state organizations and, where appropriate, the planetary organizations after
consultation with member states of the Star League concerned.
Article 72
The Ministerial Cabinet shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including the
method of selecting a Presidential Senator;
The Ministerial Cabinet shall meet as required in accordance with its rules,
which shall include provision for the convening of meetings on the request of a
majority of its Executive Senators.
Chapter XI:
Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing Regions
Article 73
Members of the Star League which have assumed responsibilities for the
administration of regions whose have not yet attained a
full measure of self-government recognize the principle that the interests of
the inhabitants of these regions are paramount, and accept as a sacred trust the
obligation to promote to the utmost, within the system of interplanetary peace
and security established by these Articles of the Star League, the well-being of the
inhabitants of these regions, and, to this end:
To ensure, with due respect for the cultures
concerned, their political, economic, social, and educational advancement, their
just treatment, and their protection against abuses;
To develop self-government, to take due account of the political aspirations,
and to assist them in the progressive development of their free political
institutions, according to the particular circumstances of each region and their varying stages of
advancement;
To further inter-state peace and security;
To promote constructive measures of development, to encourage research, and to
cooperate with one-another and, when and where appropriate, with specialized
interplanetary bodies with a view to the practical achievement of the social,
economic, and scientific purposes set forth in this Article; and
To transmit regularly to the Ministry of Administration for information
purposes, subject to such limitations as security and statutory considerations
may require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to
economic, social, and educational conditions in the regions for which they are
respectively responsible other than those regions to which Chapters XII and XIII
apply.
Article 74
Members of the Star League also agree that their policy in respect of the
regions to which this Chapter applies, no less than in respect of their
metropolitan areas, must be based on the general principle of
good-neighborliness, due account being taken of the interests and well-being of
the rest of the Star League administered territory in social, economic, and commercial
matters.
Chapter XII: Star League
Administered Regions
Article 75
The Star League shall establish under its authority a Star League Administered
Regional system for the administration and supervision of such regions as may
be placed hereunder by subsequent individual agreements. These regions are
hereinafter referred to as Terran Security Act.
Article 76
The basic objectives of the administered regional system, in accordance with the purposes
and principles of the Star League as laid down in these Articles of
the Star League, shall be:
To further inter-state peace and security;
To promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the
inhabitants of the administered regions, and their progressive development towards
the security of Terra and the Star League as may be appropriate to the particular
circumstances of each region and people concerned, and as
may be provided by the terms of the administered agreement;
To encourage respect for peoples rights and for fundamental
freedoms for all without distinction as to culture, sex, language, or religion,
and to encourage recognition of the inter-dependence of the systems for trade
and mutual survival; and
To ensure equal treatment in social, economic, and commercial matters for all
members of the Star League and their nationals, and also equal treatment for the
latter in the administration of justice, without prejudice to the adjustment of
foregoing objectives and subject to the provisions of Article 80.
Article 77
The administered regional system shall apply to such regions in the following categories
as may be placed hereunder by means of administered agreements:
Regions now held under mandate;
Regions which may be detached from a centralized government as a result of
inter-state war; and
Regions voluntarily placed under the administered system by social systems
responsible for their administration;
It will be a matter for subsequent agreement as to which regions in the
foregoing categories will be brought under the administered regional system and
upon what terms.
Article 78
The administered regional system shall also apply to regions which have become member-states of
the Star League, relationship among which shall be based on vote made by the
General Senate.
Article 79
The terms of administration for each region to be placed under the administered
regional
system, including any alteration or amendment, shall be agreed upon by the
General Senate, including the mandatory power in the case of
regions held under mandate by a member-state of the Star League, and shall be
approved as provided for in Articles 83 and 85.
Article 80
Except as may be agreed upon in individual administration agreements, made under
Articles 77, 79, and 81, placing each region under the administered regional system, and
until such agreements have been concluded, nothing in this Chapter shall be
construed in or of itself to alter in any manner the rights whatsoever of any
social systems or any Star League citizen or the terms of existing agreements
to which member-state of the Star League may respectively be parties.
Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be interpreted as giving grounds for delay
or postponement of the negotiation and conclusion of agreements for placing
mandated and other regions under the administered regional system as provided
for in Article 77.
Article 81
The administration agreement shall in each case include the terms under which the
administered region will be administered and designate the authority which will be
exercising the administration of the region. Such authority hereinafter
called the administering authority, may be one or more social systems of the
Star League itself.
Article 82
There may be designated, in the administration agreement, a strategic area or areas
which may include part or all of the region to which the agreement applies,
without prejudice to any special agreement or agreements made under Article 43.
Article 83
All functions of the Star League relating to strategic areas, including
the approval of the terms of the administration agreements and of their subsequent
alteration or amendment, shall be exercised by the General Senate;
The basic principles set forth in Article 76 shall apply to the ipeople of each strategic area;
The General Senate shall, subject to the provisions of the administration
agreements and without prejudice to security considerations, avail itself of the
assistance of the Ministries to perform those functions of the Star League under the
administered regional system relating to political, economic, social, and
educational matters in the strategic areas.
Article 84
It shall be the duty of the administering authority to ensure that the region shall play its part in the maintenance of inter-state peace and
security. To this end the administering authority may make use of volunteer
forces, facilities, and assistance from the administered region in carrying out the
obligations towards the Star League undertaken in this regard by the
administering authority, as well as for the local defense and the maintenance of
law and order within the administered region.
Article 85
The functions of the Star League with regard to administration agreements for
all regions not designated as strategic, including the approval of the terms of
the administration agreements and their alteration or amendment, shall be exercised
by the General Senate
The administrational governor, operating under the authority of the General
Senate,
shall assist the Star League in carrying out these functions.
Chapter XIII:
The Planetary Review Committee
Article 86
The PRC shall consist of the following members of the Star League:
Those senators that are not related to the planet under review;
Each member-state of the Star League shall designate one specially
qualified senator to represent it therein.
Article 87
The General Senate and, under its authority, the Planetary Review Committee, in
carrying out their functions, may:
Consider reports submitted by the administering authority;
Accept petitions and examine them in consultation with the administering
authority;
Provide for periodic visits to the respective planets at times agreed upon
with the administering authority; and
Take these and other actions in conformity with the terms of the Planetary
Review Committee agreements.
Article 88
The Planetary Review Committee shall formulate a questionnaire on the political,
economic, social, and educational advancement of the inhabitants of each planet
under review, and the administering authority for each planet within the
competence of the General Senate shall make a periodic report to the General
Senate upon the basis of such questionnaire.
Article 89
Each member of the Planetary
Review Committee shall have one vote;
Decisions of the Planetary Review Committee shall be made by a majority of the
members present and voting.
Article 90
The Planetary Review Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including the
method of selecting its chairman; under the directing authority of the Minister
of Planetary Review.
The Planetary Review Committee shall meet as required in accordance with its
rules which shall include a provision for the convening of meetings on the
request of a majority of its members.
Article 91
The Planetary Review Committee shall, when appropriate, avail itself of the assistance
of the Ministerial Cabinet, SLDF Triumvirate and of the specialized agencies in regard to
matters with which they are respectively concerned.
Chapter XIV: The Star League Supreme Court of Justice
Article 92
The Star League Supreme Court of Justice shall be the principle judicial
instrument of the Star League. It shall function in accordance
with the appended statute, which is based upon the statute of the Tribunals of
Terra, and forms an integral part of these Articles of the Star League.
Article 93
All members of the Star League are 'ipso facto' parties to the statute of the
Star League Supreme Court of Justice;
A state which is not a member of the Star League may become a party to the
statute of the Star League Supreme Court of Justice on
conditions to be determined in each case by the Executive Senator of Justice
upon the recommendation of General Senate.
Article 94
Each member-state of the Star League undertakes to comply with the decisions of
the Star League Supreme Court of Justice in any case to which it is a party;
If any party in a case fails to perform the obligations incumbent upon it under
a judgment rendered by the Court, the other party may have recourse to the
General Senate, which may, if it deems necessary, make recommendations or
decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgment.
Article 95
Nothing in these Articles of the Star League shall prevent member-state of the
Star League from entrusting the solution of their differences to other tribunals
by virtue of agreements already in existence or which may be concluded in the
future.
Article 96
The General Senate or the Ministerial Cabinet may request the Star League
Supreme Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on any legal question;
Other bodies of the Star League and the specialized agencies, which may at
any time be so authorized by the General Senate, may also request advisory
opinions of the Court on legal questions arising within the scope of their
activities.
Chapter XV: Oversight Committees
Article 97
The Committees shall be comprised of twelve Oversignt Senators for each
Ministry. Oversight Senators shall be appointed by
the General Senate.
Article 98
The Oversight Senators shall act in that capacity in all committee meetings. The
Oversight Committees of each Ministry shall make
a periodic report to the General Senate on the work of the Ministry they are
assigned to.
Article 99
The Oversight Committees may bring to the attention of the General Senate any
matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance and running of the
Ministry.
Article 100
In the performance of their duties the Oversight Committees shall
not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority
external to the Star League. They shall refrain from any action
which might reflect on their positions as Oversight Senators responsible
only to their assigned Ministry;
Each member-state of the Star League undertakes to respect the exclusive responsibilities of the
Oversight Committees and shall not seek to influence them in the discharge of
their responsibilities.
Article 101
The paramount consideration in the assigning of a Senator to the position of
Oversight Senator is determining of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing
the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard shall
be paid to the importance of assigning Senators on as wide a geo-galactic
basis as possible.
Chapter XVI:
Miscellaneous Provisions
Article 102
Every treaty and every inter-state agreement entered into by any member-state of
the Star League after these Articles of the Star League come into force shall
as soon as possible be registered with the Ministry of Inter-state Relations.
No party to any such treaty or inter-state agreement which has not been
registered in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 1 of this Article may
invoke that treaty or agreement before any body of the Star League.
Article 103
In the event of a conflict between the obligations of the member-states of the
Star League under these Articles of the Star League and their obligations under any
other inter-state agreement, their obligations under these Articles of
the Star League shall prevail
Article 104
The Star League shall enjoy in the territory of each of its member-state such
legal capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the
fulfillment of its purposes.
Article 105
The Star League shall enjoy in the territory of each of its member-states such
privileges and immunities as are necessary for the fulfillment of its purposes;
Senators of the General Senate of the Star League and officials of the
organization shall similarly enjoy such privileges and immunities as are
necessary for the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the
organization;
The General Senate may make recommendations with a view to determining the
details of the application of Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article or may propose
conventions to the member-states of the Star League for this purpose.
Chapter XVII:
Transitory Security Arrangements
Article 106
Pending the coming into full force of such special agreements referred to in
Article 43 as in the opinion of the SLDF Triumvirate enable it to begin the
exercise of its responsibilities under Article 42, the parties to the
Declaration of the Star League shall consult with one another and the
other member-states of the Star League with a view to such joint action on
behalf of the organization as may be necessary for the purpose of maintaining
inter-state peace and security;
Nothing in these Articles of the Star League shall invalidate or preclude action in
relation to any state which has been an adversary of any signatory to
these Articles of the Star League, taken or authorized as a result of that war
by the governments having responsibility for such action.
Article 107
Amendments to these Articles of the Star League shall come into force for all member-states
of the Star League when they have been adopted by a two thirds (2/3) vote
of the Senators of the General Senate and ratified in accordance with their
respective statutory processes by two thirds (2/3) of the member-states of the
Star League, including all the Oversight Senators of the Oversight Committees,
Executive Senators of the Ministerial Cabinet and the Presidential Senator;
Article 108
A general conference of the member-states of the Star League for the purpose of
reviewing these Articles of the Star League may be held at a date and place to be
fixed by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the Senators of the General Senate. Each
Senator of the
Star League shall have one (1) vote in the conference;
Any alterations of these Articles of the Star League recommended by a two thirds
(2/3) vote of the conference shall take effect when ratified in accordance with
their respective statutory processes by two thirds (2/3) of the Senators of the
Star League all the Oversight Senators of the Oversight Committees, Executive
Senators of the Ministerial Cabinet and the Presidential Senator;
If such conference has not been held before the tenth regular session of the
General Senate following the coming into force of these Articles of
the Star League, the proposal to call such a conference shall be placed on the agenda
of that session of the General Senate, and the conference shall be held if so
decided by a majority vote of the Senators of the General Senate.
Chapter XVIII:
Ratification and Signature
Article 109
These Articles of the Star League shall be ratified by the signatory governments in
accordance with their respective statutory processes;
The ratifications shall be deposited with the organization ComStar, in Norfolk,
North America, which shall notify all of the signatory governments of each
deposit as well as the SLDF Triumvirate when they have has been
appointed;
These Articles of the Star League shall come into full force upon the deposit of the
ratifications by the Capellan Confederation, Draconic Combine, Federated Suns,
Free Worlds League, Lyran Alliance, and by a majority of
the other signatory states. A protocol of the ratifications deposited shall
thereupon be drawn up by ComStar which shall
communicate copies thereof to all the signatory governments;
The governments signatory to these Articles of the Star League which ratify it after
it has come into force will become original member-states of the Star League on
the date of the deposit of their respective ratifications.
Article 110
These Articles of the Star League, of which the various language texts are equally
authentic, upon the coming into full force of the Star League,
shall be transferred by ComStar to the organization for permanent
deposit in its archives. Duly certified copies thereof shall be transmitted by
ComStar to the governments of all the signatory states.
In faith whereof the representatives of the member-states of the Star League have signed these Articles of
the Star League.
Done at the planet Tharkad, 1st of
February, 3068
(This Star League Charter has been
developed for use by
Battletech-Mercenaries) |
