CON:Bylaws

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Do not make any changes to this area unless you are part of the Constitution Rewrite Committee.
Unauthorized changes will be reverted.
NOTE: These documents/proposed changes are drafts and are NOT in effect.
For the current Constitution that governs our group, visit UFOP Constitution.


IMPORANT: This page is part of the defunct Constitution Rewrite project from 2004. None of its provisions are in effect, but the contents are kept here for historical purposes and for reference as certain ideas are considered for implementation. The latest version of our constitution and its bylaws can be found here: UFOP Constitution.
Constitution Rewrite series
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Here are the bylaws in their original form. Use the navigation bar to the right to edit each individual bylaw as you please.

Command of Ships (Pre-Constitution)

  1. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this rule, ships shall mean any installation, vessel or base on which other officers are stationed.
  2. TEMPORARY COMMAND. No commander or lower ranked officer shall have command of a ship other than temporarily as follows:
    1. If a full captain gives command to such officer, the command shall be for a set duration of time not to exceed 60 days. If such time shall end without the captain returning to resume command, the EC shall act to deactivate the ship and place the officers and crew thereon in other positions.
    2. If a full captain shall either retire or become AWOL, the lower ranked officer shall assume command only until the EC shall act in accord with (a) above.

Promotion of Commanding Officers (EC2378-0001, -0002, CC2380-0002)

  1. PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF COMMANDER. For an officer to be eligible for promotion to the rank of Commander the following criteria must be satisfied:
    1. The officer must hold the rank of Lieutenant Commander and have held said rank for a minimum of 90 days;
    2. The officer must act as the primary and lead training officer for at least TWO training sessions in the Academy;
    3. The officer must first be nominated by their Commanding Officer (CO) (who must hold the rank of at least Commander), AND second by their acting First Officer or another officer of at least the rank of Commander;
    4. The officer may not nominate him or herself;
    5. The nomination shall be to the Captain Council list or what ever format of communication the Captain's Council as constituted by the UFOP Constitution is currently using.
If the above criteria are satisfied, the command examination proctor (holding the post continually and appointed by the EC) shall contact the nominee and schedule a sitting for the written exam. After successful completion of the written exam, the officer's CO shall submit the results of a practical exam to the CC before the promotion may take place.
The practical exam should require the nominee to demonstrate leadership abilities, and may be conducted under normal plot circumstances. The practical exam shall not, however, require the officer to command their vessel in a situation where the CO is absent out of character. Should at any time the CO be absent for more than 14 days, unannounced, the EC will either substitute another officer of the rank of Captain or above to complete the practical, or will stop the practical until it can be resumed under suitable conditions.
The results of the practical exam shall be submitted in the format of a completed template form, hereafter referred to as the 'Practical Evaluation Form' (PEF). The PEF must have been pre-approved by the CC and the most up-to-date version of it shall be stored on the UFOP website and continually held by the command examination proctor. Outdated versions of the PEF are void and may not be used once an updated version has been approved by the CC. The practical exam will be designed by the nominee's CO. Ideally these results should be submitted no later than 6 months after the Commander's written test is taken. Nothing in this by law prevents the practical exam from being administered before the written exam.
Once both the written and practical examination results have been submitted to the CC, the council membership shall vote on the sum of the nominee's skills and performance on the examinations and approve or deny the promotion to Commander.
Should the promotion be approved the officer immediately receives an Out of Character (OOC) club promotion to Commander. The date of final CC approval shall be entered into UPDS as their effective date of promotion. The nominee should be promoted in name and practice In Character (IC) as soon as realistically possible within the plot.
  1. PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. For an officer to be eligible for promotion to the rank of Captain the following criteria must be satisfied:
    1. The officer must hold the rank of Commander and have held said rank for a minimum of 90 days;
    2. The officer must be nominated by at least two officers of no less than Commander rank to the EC or one of its members;
If the above criteria are satisfied the EC shall vote as to whether to approve the nomination of the candidate. If the nomination is approved the officer shall be submitted for the relevant assessment(s) as conducted by an EC-authorised body.
  1. PROMOTION BEYOND THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. For an officer to be eligible for promotion beyond the rank of Captain the following criteria must be satisfied:
    1. The officer must hold a rank no less than one rank below the nominated rank and have held said rank for a minimum of 90 days;
    2. The officer must be nominated by at least two officers of Captain rank or greater to the EC or one of its members.
If the above criteria are satisfied the EC shall vote as to whether to approve the nomination of the candidate. If the candidate is a member of the EC then the candidate is ineligible to vote on the matter and the "captain at large" shall be included in the vote.

Voting Procedure for the Executive and Captains Councils (EC2378-0003)

  1. DEFINITIONS. This bylaw is written in terms of the Executive Council, however, it is also binding to the same extent upon the Captains Council.
  2. PROCEDURE. Any issue that is brought before the Executive Council (EC) and which requires a vote of said council's members to reach a decision, or any issue upon which a vote is called for of said council, should be decided by a vote of said council in the following manner:
    1. The council magistrate, in response to a call for a vote or in anticipating the need for a clear decision on any issue, assigns the issue a unique, sequential index code. The index code shall be of the form ccyyyy-iiii. Where cc represents the council in question (EC or CC), yyyy represents the UFOP year during which the voting period begins and iiii is a sequential index number beginning 0001 for the first issue voted upon in the year;
    2. The magistrate sends an e-mail to the council, clearly referenced with the issue's unique index code, setting out a specific question with a clear list of possible answers, the default answers being 'yes' or 'no';
    3. The magistrate may also include, with the question, a brief explanation of the issue upon which the vote is to be held, any pertinent information or reference any previous votes which may be relevant;
    4. In the said e-mail the magistrate must include a set time period for which voting is valid and at the end of which period no further votes may be accepted;
    5. The council members may then discuss the issue and cast their votes. Votes must be clearly referenced to the relevant issue (preferably by use of the unique issue index code) and be of the form "(member) votes 'yes' or votes 'no' on the question";
    6. At the end of the voting period the magistrate tallies the votes, ensures that the vote was valid (at least 60% of members voted) and announces, by way of an email to said council, the council's decision on the issue.
    7. The magistrate must also make a note of the vote in permanent logs, including at least the issue index number, the question proposed and the result of the vote. These logs are to be maintained and handed over to the EC at the end of each year.

Concerning the Introduction of New Races into Group Canon (CC2379-0002)

  1. In voting for or against the creation of a new canon race for character simming (as opposed to the creation of NPC races to advance plots, which are NOT permanent and which shall NOT circumvent this rule or the section of the Constitution applying to race creation), the following standard shall apply to the vote. Each voting member of the CC is required to apply this standard when voting.
  2. The new race shall enjoy a PRESUMPTION of admissibility (to exist as a new canon race). Unless one or more of the following factors are, in the judgement of the voter, present (any of which factors mitigate against admissibility), the vote SHALL be in favour of creation. A vote FOR or AGAINST creation or not creation is thus entrusted to the honour and discretion of each voting member of the council as weighed against these factors:
    1. The race so closely duplicates an already existing race that it is unnecessary unless the close relationship between the proposed race and an existing race will be a factor which contributed to ST lore or drama in simulation (e.g., a new Gorn offshoot which is substantially the same as Gorn but which creates religious or political pressure which will contribute to simming that race).
    2. The race posseses powers or capabilities which, while biologically justified, are out of proportion to game balance (e.g., members of the Q, Gothans).
    3. The race in any way detracts in some fashion or feature from the dignity of UFOP or Star Trek generally (e.g., pixies, a clown race, etc).
    4. The race is insufficiently documented from a biological or other perspective such that it is not sufficiently "realistic" enough to exist.
    5. Any other compelling reason which in the view of the voter mitigates against admission of the race.

Returning Officers - Manner of Departure as Affecting Return (EC2379-0004)

  1. The UFOP recognizes that non-UFOP priorities require, from time to time, leaving active duty on a short or long term basis.
  2. The UFOP recognizes that in such eventualities, every effort should be made to: (1) encourage attention to such non-UFOP priorities by allowing leave without actual or apparent penalization and (2) provide for the smooth and orderly re-integration and re-activation of said officers who properly take leave.
  3. The UFOP also recognizes, however, that officers of all ranks must be encouraged to take leave in the Constitutionally madated manner (as supplemented by by-laws or administrative regulations), and not otherwise.
  4. For purposes of re-integration to active duty of characters who leave active duty, the following terms and definitions apply to ARTICLE V of the UFOP CONSTITUTION. This by-law does not affect the powers of the former command officer of a character returning from leave or the powers of the EC concerning voting on the character's return as discussed in ARTICLE V EXCEPT as discussed hereafter.
  5. To take leave in GOOD STANDING a character must send an E-Mail message (not an IQC or IM) to his current command officer, to Admiral Wolf, and to EITHER the EC, the CC OR any individual member of either of those groups (redundancy being desireable over misdelivered messages). The candidate for leave must ALSO complete any on-line forms or follow any other on-line procedure the CC and/or EC may designate. The message MAY also, at the sender's option, be copied to any other UFOP member he feels should see it. The message, to be a valid leave-taking, MUST state AT LEAST the following elements:
    1. The reason for leave (for informational purposes only, the reason's 'weight' will not be used against the character in any way or at any time);
    2. The expected duration (for informational purposes only, the character will not be held to the time);
    3. The effective starting date of leave;
    4. The awareness of the character that the leave must be updated within one calendar year of the effective leave date for it to remain valid (at the initiation of the leaving character) or the leave will automatically be deemed a resignation (note that this shall not obviate the right of the former command officer to initiate contact himself prior to the one year date).
  6. GOOD STANDING means that the character SHALL return to active duty when the character wishes at thier former rank, subject to no objection to the contrary by any party (although any command officer retains the option of not allowing placement on his or her ship, which power is discretionary and absolute, subject only to charges of abuse or dishonorable excercising of said discretion).
  7. GOOD STANDING shall attach to said leave for one year from the effective date of the leave and SHALL continue to attach for the duration of the leave in perpetuity as long as EACH of the following conditions occur or continue:
    1. The character does not do anything which would subject him to discipline during the leave (or in the manner of taking leave, such as a command officer leaving his ship in extremis without making arrangements to deal with the situation) which would, if discipline were meted out, prevent the character from retaining his rank under active duty conditions (in other words GOOD STANDING and the resultant right to retain rank is not a defense to conduct which would otherwise strip rank) AND;
    2. The character provides a written update via email within/on the one year anniversary of thier effective date of leave, said update providing at least the desire that the leave remain effective (or that the character wishes to resign) and providing that the character will continue to provide such updates during/on each year the character is on leave (as well as new email contact information if that information changes during leave).
  8. Recognizing that, while on leave, the character shall have no further affirmative obligation to UFOP other than those above discussed, it SHALL NOT reflect badly or in any official way on said character if, during the course of the year of leave, the character cannot be reached. In other words, non-contact (other than providing the yearly updates to leave status) shall not be used against the character on leave.
  9. Taking -- or continuing -- absence from active duty in any other way other than that proscribed above shall be deemed leave NOT IN GOOD STANDING (AWOL or RETIREMENT). Once it is determined that AWOL or RETIREMENT status attaches to a character departure, that status SHALL so remain UNLESS the character involved can demonstrate to the EC's satisfaction (determined by majority vote) that the AWOL or RETIREMENT status was the result of mistake (electronic or human error); ie, the character did send messages to activate leave in good standing, but those messages did not arrive, they were not read, etc.
  10. The EC magistrate or other designated record keeper shall maintain at all times a list of characters who enjoy leave in GOOD STANDING. Since maintaining a list of AWOL or RETIRED characters is deemed prohibative, ANY character NOT in GOOD STANDING (and thus on the list) is considered AWOL or RETIRED.
  11. Determination of AWOL status is left to the discretion of the command officer under whom the involved officer serves, but the MINUMUM requirements for AWOL status are as follows (in other words, AWOL cannot attach until the following conditions are met):
    1. The character has been out of email contact for no less than 30 days without reason or warning OR;
    2. The character email address is non-responsive for the same period.
  12. It is recognized that, consistent with the pertinent specific and general sections of the CONSTITUTION, ship commanders are granted significant powers, among them this power to determine AWOL status. Since AWOL status fundamentally affects the rights of characters and since said status cannot be reversed (except for the conditions of section 9, above) once applied, the determination of AWOL status by a ship commander is bounded only by the following:
    1. The ship commander must excercise in determining AWOL status that same degree of honor, proffessionalism, fairness, compassion and integrity which is required of all ship commanders and which is impied in the covenant of that responsibility AND
    2. While this by-law establishes the MINIMUM requirements for determination of AWOL status, nothing shall herein proscribe the rights of ship commanders to allow MORE than the time set forth in section 11, if they so choose AND
    3. A ship commander must do everything within her power to advise characters of thier rights regarding leave-taking so that the character is able to properly invoke thoese rights, up to and including a ship commander's right to unilaterally alter the manner of leave-taking herself if she feels that a character mistakenly or negligently failed to properly place themselves on leave (such as when the player is emotionally durressed by real world concerns) in order to preserve GOOD STANDING.
  13. For purposes of the EC's power (and that of the former command officer) to allow the return to active duty and GOOD STANDING a character who has not been on leave in GOOD STANDING as discussed in ARTICLE V of the CONSTITUTION, 'AWOL' and 'RETIRED' shall have the same administrative effects. HOWEVER, the manner of depature (ie, AWOL or properly and honorably retired) SHALL be taken into DISCRETIONARY consideration for purposes of any vote which determines EITHER the character's right to return OR the rank upon return (in that AWOL shall mitigate unfavorably and proper retirement shall mitigate favorably).
  14. There shall be no limit to either the length of leave (as long as proper updates take place) nor the number of leaves in a character's career. There shall be no official or unofficial effect on the character's standing or rights as enjoyed in UFOP and under the CONSTITUTION, such as promotion rights, rights to awards and honors, rights to appointments to administrative positions, etc.

Monthly Captain Reporting (CC2379-0001)

  1. To promote communication and across fleet awareness within UFOP, each Commanding Officer of a vessel is responsible to submit a monthly report. The writing and submission of said report may be delegated to another officer (such as the First Officer), but ultimately it falls to the Commanding Officer to assure that the report is done.
  2. The period of reporting shall be between the 1st and 15th of every month. The means of submitting the report shall not be specified here (email or online form), but shall be consistent across all ships. The report form shall be as follows:
    1. Vessel name
    2. Commanding Officer's name and e-mail address
    3. First Officer's name and e-mail address
    4. Mission report (for possible Reporter use)
    5. Promotions, if any (for possible Reporter use)
    6. OOC Report (any changes or unique information, including but not limited to: commanding officer on leave, crew member removed from list, virus infection, splitting ship, web site moved, discipline issue, etc.)
    7. Ship assessment
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