Velvet Hand Thieves Constitution

Preamble
We the members of the Velvet Hand Thieves, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for our
alliance.

Legislative Branch
A corps of Officers shall be established.

This Corps shall not exceed 20 members.

These officers shall be established in the following manner:

 By appointment of the consul.

 By nomination of an officer, along with the approval of 2 other officers.

An officer may be removed in the following manner.

 An officer may be stripped of command by the Consul with the second of two officers.
 An officer may appeal the removal of command by requesting a vote of all the officers to veto
the Consul’s decision. A simple majority rules and a quorum is at least 50% of officers.

Executive Branch
The office of Consul is hereby established. The Consul is the alliance leader and shall have general
responsibility for setting the long term strategy for the alliance and be the principal decision maker.

The Consul shall have the following powers and responsibilities:

 Diplomacy
 The establishment of the Vice Consul
o The vice consul assumes power during absence of the consul and the concurrence of
two officers.
o The Vice Consul is the Clerk of the alliance and is responsible for elections.
 The establishment of Ministries
 The Power to Declare War (subject to veto)
 The expulsion of members and officers.
 The establishment of Recruiting Rules, Regulations, Member Rights and Member Requirements.

The Consul is elected in the following manner:

 The person who receives the most votes from a quorum of at least 75% of officers.
  Any officer, upon receiving a second and third supporting officer, can call for an election for
consul.

Officer Rights
Officers are representatives of the alliance. They have demonstrated excellence in construction and
empire design and have demonstrated military capabilities. They are the vanguard of the alliance.

Officers have the following rights:

 To announce to other alliances their role as officer and hold limited diplomatic discussions.
o In discussions with other alliances and recruiting, officers must make clear they only
have limited authority and all discussions are subject to approval.
o Officers may nominate for recruitment new members and invite new members.
o Officers may declare war, regionally, subject to the rules of engagement set by the
Consul.
o Officers may authorize military operations of members subject to the rules of
engagement set by the Consul.
o To propose the formation of a war council.

Officers have the following responsibilities:

 Meet the minimum troop requirements

 Provide for defenses when alliance members are attacked
 Conduct limited diplomacy
 Recruit new members
 Follow the direct orders of the consul.

Member Rights
Members have the right of fair trade, access to alliance resources and the protection of the alliance
military.

 Members shall consult with an officer prior to any military operations or threatening other
players with military operations.
 Members shall generally focus on the following principles, in this order:
o Developing resources
o Developing defensive capability
o Developing offensive capability
 Members shall generally strive for a ratio of at least 7 Resource Cities to 1 Castle.
 Members shall not make representations on behalf of the alliance to other alliances.
 Members shall take care to establish relations with neighbors and trade actively.
 Members shall not reveal forum information to other alliances.
War Council
 Notwithstanding anything in this section, the consul has the power to declare war.
 A War Council can be established to authorize military operations and veto military operations.
o Any Officer can establish a War Council upon receiving the second of another officer.
o Once established a Officers Lounge Forum Item is posted discussing the details of the
operation.

 Offensive Military Actions:

o Subject to the rules of engagement (ROE) and war council voting thresholds established by
the Consul, the war council can be authorized for attack upon the concurrence of at least
four officers (depending on ROE) and only after it has been posted on the forum for 24
hours to allow officer comment.
 A war council that is vetoed by the Consul requires a 75% Quorum and a 50% vote
of officers to be approved inspite of the veto.
 An officer desires to veto a war council, upon receiving a second from another
officer they can extend the war council notification period by 24 hours.
 A officer receiving the support of a minimum of three other officers can veto a war
council vote, subject to the following condition:
 The vetoing officer must have the support of at least 75% of the number of
officers that support the action.
 Veto Military Operations:
 A war council to veto a Consul action shall require at least four officers. When a war
council has four officers that agree to veto a consul action a vote shall be called.
 A veto brought to a vote requires a 75% Quorum of officers and a simple majority.