We the people, in order to form a world economically, socially and spiritually just and to insure worldwide tranquility, provide for common understanding, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty for all in perpetuity, do hereby agree to abide by these World Community Bylaws.
All powers of governance of the World Community shall be vested in a Governing Body consisting of three branches including a World Community House of Representatives (hereinafter the “House”), a World Community Senate (hereinafter the “Senate”), and a World Community Executive Office (hereinafter the “Executive”). The House and Senate collectively shall be referred to as the World Congress. Throughout these Bylaws the term “Executive”, “Administrator” and “President” all refer to the duly elected head of the World Community Executive Office.
The House shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the registered users of https://grpledge.com (hereafter “The Golden Rule domain”, “website” or “site”). Registration at the site shall always be free and open to any real individual world wide.
No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of sixteen years and been seven (7) months a registered user of the website, and who shall, when elected, be an inhabitant of that territory for which chosen. All Representatives who have not attained the age of twenty-one (21) by the date of their first term of office shall require parental or legal guardian consent in writing before engaging in the activities of a duly elected Representative.
Representatives shall be apportioned among the one hundred ninety-five (195) countries of the world (hereinafter referred to as territories), which may be included within the World Community Congress (hereinafter the “Congress), according to the total number of unique users registered with the respective territory.
The number of persons representing a territory shall be based upon the average number of registered users for the territory during the ninety-days immediately preceding Election Day. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every ten thousand registered users. However, each territory shall have at least one Representative. Until the first election is held, every territory will have one representative appointed by the Executive.
When vacancies happen in the Representation of any territory, the House by a majority vote shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. The House shall choose their speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment. Each Representative shall have one vote. No member of the House shall serve more then three consecutive terms.
The Senate shall be composed of two Senators from each territory, chosen by the registered users thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. No member of the Senate shall serve more than two consecutive terms.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes drawn by lots. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year. So that one third may be chosen every second year
When vacancies occur in the Senatorial representation of any territory, the Senate by a majority vote shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-one years, and been seven (7) months a registered user when elected and an inhabitant of that territory for which chosen.
The Vice President of the World Community, shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless the Senate be equally divided.
The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President Pro Tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when the Vice President shall exercise the office of President of the World Community.
The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the World Community is tried, the Chief Justice of the World Community Supreme Court shall preside or appoint a presiding officer: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members of the Senate.
Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit in the World Community: but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law where applicable.
The Congress (consisting of the two branches, i.e. the House and the Senate) shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by majority consent, appoint a different day or days. Meetings need not be held in a physical space.
Each branch shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the participation of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each branch may provide.
Each branch may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.
Each branch shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and annually publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment place in jeopardy any user of the site, member of Congress or the U+0045ecutive and Judicial Branch. The yeas and nays of the members of either branch on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.
Neither branch, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days.
The Senators and Representatives may receive compensation for their services, the amounts of which to be set by a majority vote of the registered users of the site and paid out of the financial resources of the World Community.
Plans effecting World Community revenues may originate from any source and be taken up by either the House or the Senate. Every plan which has passed the House and the Senate, shall be presented to the President. Upon the President’s signature the plan shall be implemented, but if not signed it shall be returned, with objections noted to that branch in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider the plan.
If after such reconsideration two thirds of that branch shall agree to approve the plan, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other branch, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that branch, the plan shall be implemented. However, in all such cases the votes of both branches shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against a plan shall be entered on the journal of each branch respectively and shall be available at https://thewordwidecommunity.com (hereafter World Community website).
If any plan shall not be returned by the President within ten (10) days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be implemented, in like manner as if the President had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be implemented.
To pay the debts and provide for the common legal defense and general costs of the World Community, the House shall have the power to set and collect fees from all registered users. Any fee per user, per year that exceeds the minimum one dollar ($1USD) fee amount shall require a simple majority consent of registered users. All fees exceeding the minimum amount shall be uniformly apportioned throughout the several territories of the World Community based upon the Population and Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of each territory.
Further, the Congress shall have the power:
1) To dialogue with any individual, corporation, organization, or governmental agency in pursuit of its responsibilities;
2) To establish uniform rules of conduct for users of the site and affiliated websites;
3) To provide for the punishment of behavior on the part of any individual user, member of Congress, member of the Executive or Judicial branch or any paid employee thereof that is inconsistent with the high standards set for the World Community;
4) To establish standards of content delivery;
5) To establish standards of Privacy Protection;
6) To promote the inclusion of valuable Copyright, Creative Commons and Open Source content by implementing appropriate protections for property rights of authors and other holders of intellectual property;
7) To make all rules and regulations which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by these Bylaws in the governance of the World Community, or in any department or officer thereof.
Each territory shall be given a sub-directory at the World Community website which shall be administered by a Content Manager selected by the duly elected Congressional members of that territory.
Removal of content and revocation of a user’s registration shall not occur without due cause and a two-thirds majority vote of both branches of Congress. Only registered users shall have the right to rate content.
Except in the case of the World Community website parent domain, the price of content created by the sub-directory of one territory and featured at another territory’s sub-directory is subject to negotiation between the parties involved. It is expressly understood any territory may link to the content of another territory at no cost providing the source territory is given attribution. Any territory that violates the intellectual property rights of any content creator is subject to fines or penalties or both.
No territory shall enter into any alliance, confederation, letters of intent or agreement with any third party that would bind any other territory without prior written consent of all territories involved including the consent of the Executive.
The executive power shall be vested in the President of the World Community. The President shall hold office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected by a majority vote of all World Community registered users.
No person except a registered user of the site shall be eligible to fill the office of President. Neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been two years a registered user in good standing.
In case of the removal of the President from office, or the death of the President, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by these bylaws provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
The President shall, at stated times, receive for services, a compensation, which shall be set by a majority vote of users of the site.
Before engaging in the activities of the office, the President shall take the following oath or affirmation:–“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the World Community, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Bylaws of the World Community.”
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Administrative branch of the World Community.
The President shall have the power to appoint individual members of the Executive branch to assist in the fulfillment of the Executive duties and responsibilities.
The President shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of two thirds of the Senators present and concurring to appoint Judges of the World Community Supreme Court.
The President shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the World Community, except in cases of impeachment.
The President shall from time to time give to the Congress information relevant to the state of the World Community and recommend to their consideration such measures as the President shall judge necessary and expedient; the President may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, the President may adjourn them to such time as the President shall think proper; the President shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; the President shall take care that the regulations adopted by the World Community be faithfully executed.
The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the World Community, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of treason or bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
The judicial power of the World Community, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges (both of the supreme and inferior courts) shall hold their offices during good behavior, and may receive compensation for their services. Said compensation to be suggested by Congress and requiring a simple majority vote of all voting registered users.
The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in regulations and equity, arising under these Bylaws
In all cases affecting the Executive and Congressional branches, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.
The trial of all breaches of duly promulgated regulations, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the territory where the said breach shall have been committed; but when not committed within any territory, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.
No person shall be convicted of a breach of a duly promulgated regulation of the World Community unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession by the alleged perpetrator of the breach.
The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment for a breach of any duly promulgated regulation.
Full faith and credit shall be given in each territory to the contributions of every other territory. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such contributions shall be proved, and the effect thereof.
The users of each territory shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of users in the several territories.
The users of each territory are duty bound to cooperate in bringing to justice any user charged with a felony or other crime who shall flee from justice in any territory governed under a democratic process.
New territories may be admitted by the Congress into the World Community; but no new territories shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other territory; nor any territory be formed by the junction of two or more territories, or parts thereof, without the consent of a two thirds majority of users from all impacted territories.
The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the governance of the World Community. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the World Community, or of any particular territory.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both branches shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to these Bylaws, or, on the application of two thirds of the registered users, shall call a Convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of these Bylaws, when ratified by a two thirds majority vote.
These Bylaws, and all regulations and amendments which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all agreements made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the World Community, shall constitute the supreme governance of the all activities of the World Community.
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned and Executive and Judicial officers of the World Community and of the several territories, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support these Bylaws.
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification nor shall a person of faith be prohibited from holding any office or public trust under the World Community.
The ratification of these Bylaws by a majority vote of registered users once the total number of registered users reaches one hundred (100,000) thousand shall be sufficient for the establishment of these Bylaws. Until such ratification, the World Community shall operate as if these Bylaws had been ratified.