Ship's Articles -- Table of Contents
All references to people in this document are male for simplicity of language. There is no intention whatsoever to slight or accentuate any gender.
These articles describe the organization of the chapter, outline the ground rules upon which the club will be run, and provide orderly rules for the administration of the ship.
These articles describe the organization of the chapter, outline the ground rules upon which the club will be run, and provide orderly rules for the administration of the ship.
Article VI: Election Procedures
Eligibility:
In order to be eligible to vote in a Vote of Confidence or a General Election, the member must be an International member of the ISS Kidd for a minimum of three months, and be 18 years old or older.
The Election Officer (EO) is usually the Loyalty Officer, unless the election is for his position (in which case the First Officer is Election Officer), or all three Command Staff positions are up for election, in which case an Election Officer will be chosen by the crew. Such an EO should not be seeking an office. If the EO decides (or is persuaded) to run for an office, he should step down as EO. If this occurs, the crew must immediately fill the position by choosing a new Election Officer. The EO must be eligible to vote in a Vote of Confidence.
In order to run for Captain, a candidate must meet all normal requirements as set by STARFLEET as well as those in Article V.
Candidates for First Officer must meet all normal requirements as set by STARFLEET as well as those in Article V
Candidates for Loyalty Officer must meet all requirements as set by Article V.
In order to be eligible to vote in a Vote of Confidence or a General Election, the member must be an International member of the ISS Kidd for a minimum of three months, and be 18 years old or older.
The Election Officer (EO) is usually the Loyalty Officer, unless the election is for his position (in which case the First Officer is Election Officer), or all three Command Staff positions are up for election, in which case an Election Officer will be chosen by the crew. Such an EO should not be seeking an office. If the EO decides (or is persuaded) to run for an office, he should step down as EO. If this occurs, the crew must immediately fill the position by choosing a new Election Officer. The EO must be eligible to vote in a Vote of Confidence.
In order to run for Captain, a candidate must meet all normal requirements as set by STARFLEET as well as those in Article V.
Candidates for First Officer must meet all normal requirements as set by STARFLEET as well as those in Article V
Candidates for Loyalty Officer must meet all requirements as set by Article V.
(VI.1) VOTES OF CONFIDENCE
Each Senior Officer will hold his position for life, or until such time as he
Should the general membership of the club come to feel that the Captain, the First Officer, or the Loyalty Officer, is not acting in the best interest of the club, a special vote of confidence (VoC) may be called. A petition for a vote of confidence, signed by two-thirds of the Ship’s complement, may be submitted to any member of the Command Staff. The petition must include specifics as to the reason for this action.
Alternatively, any two members of the Command Staff may call for a Vote of Confidence of any other member of the Command Staff. As with a petition, specific reasons must be given.
If the Vote of Confidence indicates that the officer remains in office, no further action will be taken. The Command Staff is specifically barred from taking punitive actions against the real or perceived originator of any Vote of Confidence petition. A Senior Officer may not be subjected to a Vote of Confidence during a period of 90 days after assuming the position of Captain, or for a period of 120 days following the successful result of a Vote of Confidence.
If the leader fails to receive a majority of votes to retain his position, a General Election will be called.
If a leader voluntarily steps down or is removed by the Command Staff, the General Election procedures (below) are followed.
Each Senior Officer will hold his position for life, or until such time as he
- voluntarily steps down,
- loses a Vote of Confidence (VoC), or
- is removed from office by the Command Staff for committing a Serious Offense.
Should the general membership of the club come to feel that the Captain, the First Officer, or the Loyalty Officer, is not acting in the best interest of the club, a special vote of confidence (VoC) may be called. A petition for a vote of confidence, signed by two-thirds of the Ship’s complement, may be submitted to any member of the Command Staff. The petition must include specifics as to the reason for this action.
Alternatively, any two members of the Command Staff may call for a Vote of Confidence of any other member of the Command Staff. As with a petition, specific reasons must be given.
If the Vote of Confidence indicates that the officer remains in office, no further action will be taken. The Command Staff is specifically barred from taking punitive actions against the real or perceived originator of any Vote of Confidence petition. A Senior Officer may not be subjected to a Vote of Confidence during a period of 90 days after assuming the position of Captain, or for a period of 120 days following the successful result of a Vote of Confidence.
If the leader fails to receive a majority of votes to retain his position, a General Election will be called.
If a leader voluntarily steps down or is removed by the Command Staff, the General Election procedures (below) are followed.
(VI.2) General Election
(VI.2.a) Auxiliary Departments
If a VoC results in “No Confidence” in an Auxiliary Department leader (Marine Officer-in-Charge, etc), only members of that sub-group may vote or hold that position. In other words, if the M.A.C.O. Team Leader received a “No Confidence”, only M.A.C.O.s can choose another Team Leader, and the Team Leader must already be a M.A.C.O.)
Procedure:
The Election Officer calls for a volunteer from among the eligible members of the Auxiliary Department.
(VI.2.b) Loyalty Officer
If a VoC results in “No Confidence” in the Loyalty Officer, a general election is held to find a replacement for that position. Only the position of Zampolit is filled.
Procedure:
The Election Officer calls for a volunteer from among the eligible members of the crew.
(IV.2.c) Captain/First Officer
If a VoC results in “No Confidence” in the either the Captain or the First Officer, a general election is held for both Captain and First Officer.
The Election Officer calls for a volunteer for each position from among the eligible members of the crew.
(VI.2.a) Auxiliary Departments
If a VoC results in “No Confidence” in an Auxiliary Department leader (Marine Officer-in-Charge, etc), only members of that sub-group may vote or hold that position. In other words, if the M.A.C.O. Team Leader received a “No Confidence”, only M.A.C.O.s can choose another Team Leader, and the Team Leader must already be a M.A.C.O.)
Procedure:
The Election Officer calls for a volunteer from among the eligible members of the Auxiliary Department.
- If there are no volunteers, the leader who just received the “No Confidence” is re-instated.
- If there is only one volunteer who is eligible for the position, the Election Officer calls for a VoC in this volunteer. If he receives a “Confident” vote, he assumes the post and the duties thereof.
- If there are multiple volunteers who are eligible, the Election Officer distributes ballots. (He may postpone the election for a month in order to gather proxy votes for those members who aren’t present.) After distributing the ballots to eligible voters and allowing them a reasonable period of time, he will collect the ballots and tally the votes. A simple majority is needed to win.
- The Election Officer will then announce the winner, who will assume leadership of that sub-group immediately.
(VI.2.b) Loyalty Officer
If a VoC results in “No Confidence” in the Loyalty Officer, a general election is held to find a replacement for that position. Only the position of Zampolit is filled.
Procedure:
The Election Officer calls for a volunteer from among the eligible members of the crew.
- If there are no volunteers, the leader who just received the “No Confidence” is re-instated.
- If there is only one volunteer who is eligible for the position, the Election Officer calls for a VoC in this volunteer. If he receives a “Confident” vote, he assumes the post and the duties thereof.
- If there are multiple volunteers who are eligible, the Election Officer distributes ballots. (He may postpone the election for a month in order to gather proxy votes for those members who aren’t present.) After distributing the ballots to eligible voters and allowing them a reasonable period of time, he will collect the ballots and tally the votes. A simple majority is needed to win.
- The Election Officer will then announce the winner, who will assume the office of Zampolit immediately.
(IV.2.c) Captain/First Officer
If a VoC results in “No Confidence” in the either the Captain or the First Officer, a general election is held for both Captain and First Officer.
The Election Officer calls for a volunteer for each position from among the eligible members of the crew.
- If there are no volunteers, the leaders who just received the “No Confidence” are re-instated.
- If there is only one volunteer who is eligible for each position, the Election Officer calls for a VoC for the volunteers. If they each receive a “Confident” vote, each will assume his new post and the duties thereof at the beginning of the next meeting, following a brief Change of Command ceremony. If one of the volunteers does not receive a “Confident” vote, other volunteers must be called for, or the leader just removed from that position will be re-instated therein.
- If there are multiple volunteers who are eligible, the Election Officer distributes ballots. (He may postpone the election for a month in order to gather proxy votes for those members who aren’t present.) After distributing the ballots to eligible voters and allowing them a reasonable period of time, he will collect the ballots and tally the votes. A simple majority is needed to win.
- If the Captain (having received a “Confident” vote in the VoC) is re-elected to the Captaincy, he retains command, and no Change of Command is necessary.
- If the First Officer (having received a “Confident” vote in the VoC but the Captain received a “No Confidence”) is re-elected as First Officer, he will assume temporary command until the Change of Command.
- If, however, the First Officer (having received a “Confident” vote in the VoC but the Captain received a “No Confidence”) is then elected as Captain, he will assume temporary command until the Change of Command, whereupon his command becomes permanent.