Constitution of the Union Democratic Movement
ARTICLE 1. Foundation of the Union Democratic Movement.
1. This is a political party, headquartered in the cities of Lindstrom and Dos Gardenias, and central offices in Redquill, St. Andre, Frenzyville, Triegon, and Marmont.
2. This political party is officially called the Union Democratic Movement (or 'the political party') and is the
successor to the Democratic Alliance.
3. The political party is composed of all of its members, memberships duly registered and in good standing with the political party.
4. The political party shall have a motto, "
rex et patria", "King and country", with the King referring to the Emperor of Natopia.
ARTICLE 2. Membership.
1. Any adult Natopian subject not otherwise serving a judicial sentence is eligible for membership.
2. Membership is completed upon enrollment in the Member Registry by the Party Leader or the Party Secretary by purchasing a party membership. Prices are set by the Party Leader but approved by the Party's Executive Committee first.
3. A party member may be expelled for cause by a majority vote of the Party Conference, or for disloyalty to the party, by a three-fourths majority of all the members of the Party Executive Committee.
4. A party member may resign membership by written instrument addressed to the Party Leader or the Party Secretary.
ARTICLE 3. Leadership.
1. There shall be a Leader of the Union Democratic Movement (or 'Party Leader'), who shall be the head of the political party for all purposes in governance and the Chair of the Party's Executive Committee, also serving as the Party's nominee for Chancellor of Natopia.
2. The nomination for Chancellor of Natopia may be separated or severed from the position of Party Leader by a majority vote of the Party Convention. Separation would trigger a new election for party nominee for Chancellor of Natopia.
3. There shall be a Chairman of the Union Democratic Movement (or 'Party Chairman'), who shall be the chief coordinator of the party with demesnial and local governments, and the elections thereof, and who shall serve as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee.
4. There shall be a Deputy Leader of the Union Democratic Movement (or 'Deputy Leader', who shall act as the head of the Legislative Caucus and Whip in the Chamber of Deputies and shall be responsible for the coordination of legislation. The Deputy Leader shall have a seat on the Executive Committee, and shall, whenever the political party shall hold the Office of Chancellor of Natopia, be recommended to the Sovereign to a position in the Government.
ARTICLE 4. Executive Committee.
1. The Statutory Members of the Executive Committee are:
- The Party Leader;
- The Party Chairman;
- The Party Deputy Leader;
- The Chief Party Whip.
2. Statutory Members may not be dismissed from the Committee unless they lose their positions through incompetence, resignation, or incapacitation; whether voluntary or compelled by a three-fourths majority of the remainder of the Executive Committee.
3. Additionally, the Party Leader and Party Chairman shall each appoint one (1) Member to the Executive Committee, who shall serve at their leisure.
ARTICLE 5. Party Convention.
1. A Party Convention of the Union Democratic Movement Conference (or 'Party Convention') shall be held regularly, called by the Party Chairman and Executive Committee every 5 AN years.
2. Extraordinary Party Conventions may be held if the Executive Committee so decides by a simple majority vote, defined hereafter as more than half of the votes cast plus one vote.
3. There shall be a Chairman of the Party Convention that will organize the Convention and serve as its impartial chairman.
4. The first Order of Business for a Party Convention should always be the election via a simple majority of its Chairman, with a vote conducted by the Party Chairman.
5. Only the Party Convention can amend this Constitution, and by a simple majority.
6. Only the Party Convention can repudiate this Constitution and ratify a new one, and by a simple majority.
7. The Party Leadership shall be elected by the Party Convention every 5 AN years, and by simple majority.
8. The Party Platform shall be approved by the Party Convention every 5 AN years, and by simple majority.
ARTICLE 6. Eligibility of Candidacy to Party Leadership.
1. Eligibility of candidacy to any office leading the Union Democratic Movement shall be determined by
Seniority, using the following factors as determinants:
- a. Length of Membership in the Party;
b. Prior Service in the Imperial Government;
c. Prior Service in the Most Serene Union's Government;
d. Prior Service in the Judiciary;
e. Prior Service in the Military;
6. Prior Service in any other Government Capacity;
f. Post Count;
g. Coin Toss.
2. Where its application is not obviously detrimental, seniority shall be the primary determining factor in the application process for Party office.
ARTICLE 7. Removal of Party Leadership.
1. Any Member of the Party may move to remove any officer from their office, and such motion shall state clearly the particular reasons for the motion to remove the officer, and the motion shall require two seconds.
2. A period of 48 Hours shall then be allotted for a debate of the entire party to discuss the motion, and following this a 48 hour period for voting shall be conducted, those voting Aye vote to remove the officer, those voting nay vote to keep the officer in office.
ARTICLE 8. Local Party Organizations.
Aside from the National Party, there shall be Demesnial and Local Party Organizations, each shall have their own Executive Committees, consisting of a chairman and 4 other members, and they shall keep a count of the persons who claim membership in their geographic area, and they shall conduct votes for primaries as set out in Article 3.
ARTICLE 9. Candidates for Office.
1. Any Candidate who shall stand for election in the name of the political party must be a member of the political party, and must affirm that they subscribe to the views of the political party and its platform.
2. If there shall be more than one candidate for an office, they shall each collect a petition of party members in the geographic area, numbering at least 5% of the total membership for the area, and the Local Party Organizations shall take a vote, listing on the ballot each candidate attaining a petition of 5%. In cases of indirectly elected offices, such as the Ministers, this method shall not apply.