Constitution:Draft I

Outline:

Preamble

We, the members and delegates of the Academic Decathlon Scores and Information Center, in order to create a more politically correct system, hereby present this Constitution of ADSIC to act as a formal guideline for the administration and operation of this site.

Date of Expiry

The Constitution of ADSIC will only expire chiefly in two ways:

1) Suspension of Constitution - In any case the Constitution is suspended, it shall expire for the duration of the suspension. The expiry is only temporary, and will end upon reinstitution of the constitution.

2) Ratification of a new Constitution - If a new Constitution is ratified, this constitution shall expire immediately.

Functions of ADSIC

The Functions of ADSIC are as follows:

1) Create a database of scores from Regional, State, and National Competitions.

2) Create a universal system of tableization, be it a HTML table or WIKI table

3) Upload any form of electronic score report as a backup and proof of validity. (Word and Excel Files are fabulous examples)

4) To create a sense of community with Decathlete's or fans who want to celebrate acheivements, and even possibly create debate on who the best team is in all history.

5) To have a executive and a legislative branch designed to instil a sense of democratic process, as well as promote activity on ADSIC

6) To have a back-up plan in case the undesirable happens.

7) To Relax, and to have fun.

General Guidelines of ADSIC

1) Keep it Clean: No use having unnecessary pages even out of place pages. We have a system, keep to it the best you can, and if you make a honest mistake, just let one of the admins know, and we'll move it, delete it, fix up the entire situation.

2) Assume Good Faith: Everyone will eventually make some sort of edit. One must assume that the edits made are correct, or will be corrected. If you know something is MAJOR wrong, you can fix it. However, don't be nit-picky on other peoples stuff. This policy also goes in hand the policies of don't be a dick and that any user has the right to screw up their edits. The Article on Wikimedia for said policy is here. However, screwing up other peoples edits deliberately is NOT good faith, it's Vandalism.

3) Keep to the table format: If you can't use the wizard, try ripping a table off at another place, and fooble with it for a while. You'll also learn HTML code this way, and can make minute edits with relative ease.

4) If you forgot to add something: Go back and edit it. Just checkmark the minor edit box if it's minor.

5) Always check the todo list: Withe the to-do list, you can find out what needs done, and if you've got something to add that's not on the list, add it on. If you've done something on the list, strike it out. We'll clean up the list every week or so.

6) If you are serious about contributing beyond just scores, and want to help "hold down the fort", consider running for a seat in the Dáil ADSIC. All Seats come up for election every six months, and there are plenty of seats available thanks to policies of reallocation (see Tweede Kamer below).

Superseding Clause I: MediaWiki Software editing Prohibited

MediaWiki is the software that runs ADSIC. For this purpose, normal users of ADSIC as well as members are strictly PROHIBITED from editing the software, lest they cause a crash, and halt service of ADSIC to its visitors.

There are three execptions to this Article:

1) David Gilman: ADSIC is on his account and server space, and he established the MW software, so he has full editing power. Should ADSIC break down for any reason because of Gilman's power, David Gilman formally apologizes in advance.

2) Kort Everett Jackson: Kort Everett Jackson has access to the MW software for one primary purpose: To send ADSIC into Lockdown mode should mass vandalism occur.

3) Adam Cornish: Adam Cornish has access to the MW software as well for the same primary purpose: To Lockdown ADSIC.

Superseding Clause II: Rights on Server as Whole

Regardless to your elected/apointed/registered position on ADSIC, all members are guests on David Gilman's server.

Any FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Requests need to be cleared by Gil prior to execution.

There is a limited amount of people who have FTP access to Gil's server, and access is granted based on contribution/competency level.

The reasoning for this superseding clause is to prevent the shutdown or removal of ADSIC from the server or even the termination of service

Part II: Sysops

Gil is not the only sysop, for Gil cannot watch ADSIC 24/7/365. At this time, Kort Everett Jackson and Adam Cornish are also sysops, and have FTP access.

Superseding Clause III: Legislation Rights

While the legislative branch has quite a bit of power, any legislation that can be deemed haphazard or hazardous to the existence of ADSIC may be struck down by Gil. Any bills approved by the President (after passed by the legislature) must be approved by Gil, providing of course, Gil is not the President at the same time, otherwise, Gil will be able to approve it once.

Superseding Clause IV: Prevention of SPAM

The official ruling of the death of the old acadecscores at http://acadecscores.xwiki.com was the excessive spamming of the board (the site has since reopened for transferring scores, no new scores can be added there), and the lack of people with capable knowledge to combat the SPAM.

To take precautions to prevent spam, all members MUST register and CONFIRM an E-Mail address to begin editing (however, registration is NOT required to read or access already published information)

ANY INSTANCES OF SPAM FOUND ON ADSIC WILL BE DEALT WITH SWIFTLY AND HARSHLY, IN THE FORM OF A PERMANENT BAN OF THE USER, A POSSIBLE IP (Internet Protocol) TRACE, AND A POSSIBLE IP ADDRESS BAN.

ANY MALICIOUS ATTEMPT TO CAUSE HARM TO ADSIC WILL RESULT IN POSSIBLE PURSUIT OF CRIMINAL CHARGES.

GHOST ACCOUNTS ARE BANNED, FOR THEY CONSTITUTE A DIFFERENT FORM OF SPAM. If you find yourself creating a new account, please alert administration to close the old account.

The Entire Government of ADSIC

The Government of ADSIC is considered to be a technocracy of devolved power.

While NOT an official part of DemiDec, the organization of ADSIC is regarded as a close affiliate, thus sharing a form of devolution.

The Entire scope of the Government of ADSIC is defined as the Oireachtas.

The pronunciation of Oireachtas is as such: Ayer-AXT-us.

The Oireachtas is split into two parts:

1) Eerste Kamer (First Chamber)- Consisting of the President, Taoiseach, and Tánaiste (or Tánaistí for plural)

The Pronunciation of Eerste Kamer is: eir-stay Kahm-er

2) Tweede Kamer (Second Chamber) - Consisting of the lower house of the legislative, the Dáil ADSIC.

The Pronunciation of Tweede Kamer is: Tuwe-day Kahm-er

Eerste Kamer

In accord to the ADSIC constitution, The Eerste Kamer is the executive branch, hosting the three main officials of ADSIC:

1) The President of ADSIC

2) The Taoiseach of ADSIC

3) The Tánaiste (or Tánaistí for plural) of ADSIC

Powers, Duties, and Abilities of the President of ADSIC

The Duties and abilities of the President are quite powerful, but not omnipotent.

The President shall have the ability to:

1) Add, submit, edit and verify scores

2) Order a Movement of Page

3) Order a page to be protected

4) Set up Patrol

5) Can delete a page with or without starting an AFD (Article for Deletion) Discussion

6) Can deliver a State of ADSIC address every six months as necessary

7) Can Call an Election, upon requirement or by whim, as long as the Election Code Standards are met)

8) Can Resign or Retire.

9) Can step down temporarily.

10) Can introduce legislation for the Dáil ADSIC into the Tweede Kamer after consulting the Taoiseach.

11) Develop a PR campaign and increase awareness of ADSIC.

This is only a general list, and is not all inclusive.

Powers, Duties, and Abilities of the Taoiseach

The Taoiseach is the "Premier of ADSIC". The Taoiseach is the only member in the Eerste Kamer that has remarkable control on the Tweede Kamer.

The Taoiseach has the power to:

1) Add, Submit, Edit and Verify Scores

2) Call for Movement of a Page

3) Call for a AFD Discussion

4) Call the Dáil ADSIC into session in the Tweede Kamer

5) Introduce Legislation for the Dáil ADSIC into the Tweede Kamer

6) Can deliver at State of the Tweede Kamer Address every six months as necessary

7) Can call a audience with the President to retire, resign, or discuss private matters. The President grants such audiences at his/her own pleasure.

8) Can develop a PR campaign, and increase awareness of ADSIC.

9) Can Step down temporarily after informing the President of such manner.

This list is not all inclusive.

Powers, Duties, and Abilities of the Tánaiste

The Tánaiste of ADSIC is the Deputy Premier, and can execute any functions of the Taoiseach if the Taoiseach is unavailable.

The Tánaiste may Add, Submit, Edit, or Verify scores at will, even if the Taoiseach is available.

Terms of Office

The President of ADSIC serves a term of six months, with no term limits

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste (Tánaistí is plural) are not elected, and are appointed by the president. Again, there is no term limit.

Tweede Kamer

To create a semi-formal/in-formal body of legislation, ADSIC will found a Unicameral legislative branch.

In accord to the Government of ADSIC, The Tweede Kamer will be home to the Dáil ADSIC, or the Legislative House of Commons for ADSIC.

Composition of the Dáil ADSIC

The Dáil is comprised of elected members of ADSIC to serve as a voting body for legislation and possible amendments or the re-writing of the Constitution of ADSIC.

The Dáil has no SET and FINAL number of members, but does have a minimum of one zetel (seat) per participating state in the United States Academic Decathlon. The maximum zetels per state are 1 per participating state in the United States Academic Decathlon, with a extra zetel for every state ranking in the top five at least once, and a final extra zetel for the Big Five, (California, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois and Arizona) Under normal circumstances, a state should not have more than three, but may actually have more due to reallocations of empty zetels. see Current Composition of the Dáil ADSIC for current seating

The Leader of the Dáil ADSIC

The Leader of the Dáil is called the Ceann Comhairle (abbreviated as CC), whose job is to

1) Keep Order

2) Conduct the business on the docket in a orderly manner, holding to job function #1 above

3) If in case of severe disorder or lack of quorum, defined at 20% of the members, may choose to adjourn the meeting of the Dáil online until another time.

Terms of Office

The Dáil is elected IN WHOLE every six months. There are no term limits.

The Ceann Comhairle is elected by the Seanad themselves, and the election occurs once the Senators of the Seanad takes their seats. The process repeats ad infinitum upon every occurrence of the MDOA (Members of the Dáil Oireachtas ADSIC) taking their zetels (seats).

If, after the registration process for "ballot access" has expired, and states have unclaimed seats, these seats are redistributed to states that have more candidates than seats, but no state shall have an excessive amount of seats.

Election Process

The following is a rough timeline on how the election goes:

1. Election is Called

2. Ballot Access Registration begins for President and Dáil (one week)

3. Ballot Access Registration ends

4. "extra seats" reallocated (one day)

5. Additional Ballot Access Registration time for Dáil (three days)

6. Additional time ends

7. Campaign Time (no less than 14 days, no more than 28)

8. Election Days (48 hours total)

9. Tabulations and results (one day)

10. Runoffs (if necessary, held within one week)

Rules of Election

This constitution will not state rules of election. Rules will be set per election.

Percentage to Win

Dáil: Plurality. Since many people are running, the highest vote getters get the seats. If a tie ensues for the last seat, a runoff shall be held.

President: 51 percent of all votes. Failure to garner this will result in a two person runoff.

Overall Flow Chart of the Oireachtas

Official Voting Chart

Seat	State	Name	School	Vote
1	Texas	Kort Everett Jackson	Oliver Wendell Holmes	YES/APPROVE
2	California	Carlos Francisco Lopez Jimenez	Palisades Charter	YES/APPROVE
3	Nebraska	David Gilman	Omaha Creighton Prep	Awaiting
4	Pennsylvania	Phil Cerami	North Penn	Awaiting
5	Washington	Jonathan Spatolla-Knoll	Olympia	NO/ABSTAIN

Confirmed,Potential Candidate

Seat	State	Name	School	Status
1	California	Alpaca	William Howard Taft	Potential
2	Texas	Kort Everett Jackson	Oliver Wendell Holmes	CONFIRMED
3	Wisconsin	TBA	TBA	TBA
4	Arizona	TBA	TBA	TBA
5	Illinois	TBA	TBA	TBA
6	Nebraska	David Gilman	Omaha Creighton Prep	CONFIRMED
7	Nebraska	Adam	Omaha Central	Potential
8	Washington	Woodge	Olympia	Potential
9	Washington	Jonathan Spatolla-Knoll	Olympia	CONFIRMED
10	Washington	Narutard	Olympia	Potential
11	Pennsylvania	vaaarr	?	Potential
12	Kansas	Captaink	Shawnee Mission South	Potential
13	Pennsylvania	Phil Cerami	North Penn	CONFIRMED
14	California	Carlos Francisco Lopez Jimenez	Palisades Charter	CONFIRMED
15	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
16	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
17	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
18	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
19	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
20	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
21	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
22	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
23	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
24	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
25	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
26	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
27	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
28	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
29	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
30	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA