NationStates Jolt Archive


So You Want To Vote?

Tom Joad
24-04-2005, 23:37
This brief guide outlines the voting application system currently in use within the Incorporated States of Tom Joad, it should be seen as a brief guide only and not a definitive account of voter application or military service.

So You Want To Vote?
Ever since the Executive Committee came to power nearly forty years ago the process of government has changed remarkably, no longer does the inefficient and meaningless system of supposed representation of the populace through election exist. Instead, an alternative was created; you wanted to vote then you had to prove that your nation meant something to you, no simple come of age and sign on the dotted line deals, simply prove your worth as a voting member of society.
The supposed representative government are flawed deeply, the number of people excluded is vast in all nations and the level of participation is pathetically low, this is what they term a government by the people, for the people and of the people. Those in power are motivated by the lowest possible and least reliable reasons.

The result has been record levels of voting ever since, those who have served their country, proved themselves beyond any doubt that they hold the nation as a whole to be greater than its components. These voters know what it means to have the responsibility to vote; that they should ever neglect to do so is a rarity, only physical inability prevents the few.

To vote you must be enfranchised, there are plenty of citizens in the nation but comparatively few are actually voters, which requires a term of military service of at least three and a half years or as long as required by an act of government. Those who complete their service, request enfranchisement and complete the final hurdle of swearing a voter’s oath are then presented with their voting information; this includes information on the process of elections at various levels of government, voting identification card and wall-mountable certificate of enfranchisement.

There is only one requirement to attempt enlistment and that is to be eighteen, even if you are a blind cripple and insist on signing up you will not be forced to leave, naturally such a person is unlikely to attempt enlistment however should something of that nature occur a job would be created for them, such as counting the number of aircraft over flying a particular stretch of land.

Term of Service? Easy
There is no great difficulty in joining the military, rather applying is no great hurdle, you need simply turn eighteen and find yourself the nearest recruitment centre. Assuming the recruitment officer even believes you are capable of finding your way back there for interviewing, testing, medical and fitness trials, then assuming you pass those stages you will be shipped off to whichever training facility is appropriate based upon your choices and subsequent aptitude. It is not actually possible to fail the initial medical, those who do meet the requirements are found roles that suit their abilities such as testing experimental underwater survival equipment or testing vaccines, there is a standard to be maintained in the ISDF and so it is but there is no discrimination or restriction other than one in attempting to serve.

Those who for whatever reason fail to attend one of the sections of this trial stage are simply marked as absent on temporary records which are used purely for census information, there are no recriminations, pursuits or any other action. The matter is simply closed.

From the moment you begin training you will face twenty-eight weeks of punishing exercises, choose to leave and that is it, your big chance is over to ever become a voting citizen. You will be instructed in drill, weapons handling, field craft, section level tactics, discipline, technical skills, range work and naturally that particular facilities slant on training; be it Mobile Infantry, Aerospace or Naval Command all recruits gain that same basic building block. There is nothing sadistic about this training though, it is simply there to weed out those who are not capable of working in the field and to get rid of those who are just plain weak.

It should be noted that on average two-hundred deaths are recorded each year as a result of training, this is training across the board and not simply restricted to basic training.

Once you complete the twenty-eight week course you will go on to specialist training, in whichever area is appropriate, lasting approximately a year, this conducted largely in a non-active duty role however at any time final stage trainees not at the two-month stage may be called upon to take an active duty role. The final two months of the specialist training is conducted as part of active duty, from this point on you actually begin your term of service.

The instructors themselves are by no means sadists or bullies, both of those personality types would prove inefficient in their role of moulding minds and bodies, instead they are veterans selected because they have the right mentality and experience to create men and women like them and better.

Assuming you manage to pass basic training, assuming you manage to convince the selection board that after all the time and money invested that you are worth investing in further, then and only then do you graduate to become a fully fledged member of the Incorporated States Defence Force, along with your particular branch.

Then three and a half years later you gain the option to be enfranchised, this is a difficult process for many as at that point further opportunities become available to keep a soldier, sailor or airmen in the service for longer. Only a quarter of those eligible for enfranchisement actually take the option, the rest continue in their service until they can no longer discharge their duties capably and depending on circumstances are offered reserve roles such as training, R&D, Milnet or OCS - all of these areas would be at a senior level and not necessarily involve direct action primarily being a commandant.

Still Want To Vote?
The ISDF does not really need you, the nation does not really need you to vote instead we simply give you the option to change that view. The notion of rights is misleading the term responsibility is a more apt description, thus your responsibility as a voter must be earned through a display instead of signing on the dotted line.

A term of service is by no means a certain method of becoming a voter, plenty have completed years of service and still failed to become voters, once you sign up for the ISDF the only way you will get to leave without giving yourself a permanent note on your file is to either die or retire honourably.
It is easy enough to leave basic training, sign your name on the dotted line and pack your bags but do not forget to tear up your voting responsibilities booklet.
Tom Joad
25-04-2005, 20:52
Nobody feel like trying their hand at voting then?
Kaukolastan
25-04-2005, 21:32
OOC: Read much Robert Heinlein? Starship Troopers, perhaps? :)
Aust
25-04-2005, 21:37
Tag
No endorse
26-04-2005, 02:22
OOC: Read much Robert Heinlein? Starship Troopers, perhaps? :)

That's what I was thinkin...

"Come on you apes, you want to live forever?"
"To the everlasting glory of the infantry!"
best.book.ever.

Pretty cool setup for a government.
Calpe
26-04-2005, 03:19
indeed...pretty nice...too bad i didnt think of that
Ohh well...tag in case i ever decide to start a new nation
Tom Joad
26-04-2005, 17:31
Admittedly it is borrowed in the sense I entirely stole the form of government, however I feel that my method is much better in the grand scheme of things and regulations go further in terms of political parties but I'll release that info when I feel the urge.
Thundersbury
26-04-2005, 19:58
BOOM :sniper:
Tom Joad
27-04-2005, 17:58
How insightful, next time either form a sentence of use or simply avoid posting.
Tom Joad
15-07-2005, 22:59
National Legislature
The nation is divided in to six Designated Command Zones (DCZ) each DCZ has a Zone Legislature (ZL) consisting of seven individuals elected by the enfranchised populace of that Zone. Consisting of the six key areas and a chairman, who has typically served in different directorates, the Zone Legislature overseas the administration of the DCZ.

Those who are selected to attend the National Congress are able to promote and select a deputy to continue the majority of their role whilst elected in the National Congress. Each DCZ has a legislative capital that acts as a communications hub for civilian purposes as well as a command centre for the ISDF during a time of crisis, unlike other major cities the ZL also administrates the legislative capital whereas the other major cities elect their own city councils. These city councils are responsible for the city they reside in, their responsibility does not extend beyond agreed borders where a borough council holds responsibility. Both the city and borough councils are elected in similar fashions and conduct similar roles although on different scales, neither one is senior in hierarchy except the ZL itself.

From each of the ZL three individuals are selected by the enfranchised populace to take a seat in the National Congress (NC) that acts as a forum for inter-Zone issues to be raised from all departments and agencies of the government, such as pollution, migration, environmental concerns and defence issues. The National Congress reports to the Executive Committee (EC) via the National Congress Oversight Committee (NCOC), members of the NCOC after having been elected for two terms to the National Congress each term lasting three years are selected by the Executive Committee. At present the National Congress consists of eighteen elected individuals and a further thirty-six deputies, whilst the National Congress Oversight Committee consists of twelve individuals and twelve deputies.

The Executive Committee is composed of life long members; only the Committee itself can remove members or elect new members. Each member represents the various areas of national importance they are listed in priority; Trade and Industry, Defence, Foreign Commissariat, Emergency Services, Education and Health.

The Chairman of the Executive Committee is currently Malone Kaiser, who has been in the position since 1972.
The Minister for Trade and Industry is Jay Sutherland.
The Minister for Defence is Mason Sullivan.
The Minister of the Foreign Commissariat is Tom Layne.
The Minister for Emergency Services is Linda Garvie.
The Minister for Education is Sophie Hale.
The Minister for Health is Thomas Stonewall.

In contrast to most permanent governments the Executive Committee is infrequently engaged in guiding the day-day issues of the nation, instead its role is directed towards international relations beyond that of the Foreign Commissariats who merely maintains contact and intervenes on the behalf of private interests engaging in contracts abroad. The entire nations efforts are directed towards making it certain that foreign aggression is anticipated, countered and prepared for in advance whereas the National Congress is responsible for the day-day issues of the Designated Command Zones, with the will of the Executive Committee being enforced through the National Congress Oversight Committee.

With all levels of government up to the National Congress being elected by the populace the immediate desires for the populace to have a voice in issues that affect them can be satiated whilst national direction and preparation is still undertaken by the Executive Committee through the National Congress Oversight Committee.

Voting can only be conducted in person and special permission must be granted by the Foreign Commissariat for voting to occur from abroad. Only those who have been enfranchised by the National Voter Registry are eligible to vote, requirements that service to the nation of been completed to the satisfaction and requirements agreed upon at enlistment. To actually vote the requirement is for an individual to of remained in the DCZ of their residence for the two weeks leading up to the election and to of not left the country for more than one month.

The National Voter Registry holds no legislative powers beyond enfranchising citizens or removing said enfranchisement for reasons of criminality, enlistment or incapacitation for medical reasons.
Tom Joad
17-07-2005, 23:19
A bump for comments, it is only for reference I know but some comments on the style, mistakes or anything vaguely constructive would be nice.