Leadership Responsibility Act
Leadership Responsibility Act
Preamble
WHEREAS Government Officials are entrusted with the responsibility to serve the interests of the people and uphold the integrity and trust of SimDemocracy,
AND WHEREAS excessive commitments to positions in other nations may compromise their ability to dedicate sufficient time, focus, and effort to their duties in SimDemocracy,
AND WHEREAS it is essential to ensure that all government officials are fully capable of fulfilling their roles without conflicts of interest or undue burdens, and to maintain transparency, accountability, and public confidence in their service,
THE SENATE OF SIMDEMOCRACY PROCLAIMS
Article 1: Commencement
§1.1. This Act comes into effect 1 week after it is passed.
Article 2: Definitions
In this Act:
§1. The word “role” refers to a position in the government of SimDem.
§2. The phrase “foreign position” refers to a position in the government of another community, where a significant purpose of the community is to simulate a particular government, governing system, or political framework.
§3. The phrase “Overly burdensome” refers to any position or obligation that requires a significant commitment of time, energy, mental focus, or any other type of commitment that might reasonably impair an individual’s ability to effectively and consistently perform the responsibilities and duties of their role in SimDemocracy.
§4. The word “election” refers to a constitutionally required election, and does not include referendums.
§5. The phrase “election ballot” refers to any form or other thing which is generally used for the casting of votes in a legally recognized election.
§6. The phrase “government official” refers to any constitutionally recognized government official, or an official recognized by any other law, including the President.
§7. The phrase “Elections Commission” refers to the Elections Commission established under the Voter Rights Act 2023, or any similar governmental organization that manages and safeguards the elections of Sim Democracy.
§8. The phrase “Call for Candidates” refers to the Call for Candidates for a specific election.
Article 3: Limitation on Appointments
§3.1. Notwithstanding any other written law, a government official selecting persons for appointment to a government position shall favorably consider a candidate if, in the opinion of the appointing official, the candidate does not serve in any foreign position, or if they do serve in a foreign position that:
- Is not overly burdensome,
- Is not contrary to the national interest, and
- Does not otherwise detract from their duties in SimDemocracy.
The appointing official shall negatively consider any candidate who, in their opinion, serves in a foreign position that does not meet the criteria outlined in (a) to (c).
Article 4: Mandatory Information
§1. All election ballots must include a visible and relevant symbol next to the name on the selectable option of any candidate who is serving in a foreign position that the Elections Commission is satisfied meets any of the following criteria:
- Overly burdensome,
- Contrary to the national interest, or,
- Would otherwise detract from their duties in SimDemocracy.
- §1.1. The visible symbol in this section must be explained somewhere else in the ballot before the point where the ballot is submitted in the manner provided in the First Schedule.
§2. The Elections Commission must notify the candidates who will have the symbol regulated by §4.1 placed next to their name as soon as possible after the closure of the Call for Candidates.
§3. Appeals to the Elections Commission
- §4.3.1. Any person who will have the symbol regulated by §4.1 placed next to their name may appeal directly to the Elections Commission to not have the symbol regulated by §4.1 placed next to their name within 24 hours of the notice by the elections commission, and the Elections Commission must provide a reason if such a request is rejected within 24 hours or before the election, whichever is earlier.
- §3.2. Any person who feels that a candidate should have the symbol regulated by §4.1 placed next to their name may ask the Elections Commission to display the symbol regulated by §4.1 placed next to that candidate’s name within 24 hours of the closure of the Call for Candidates, and the Elections Commission must provide a reason if such a request is rejected within 24 hours or before the election, whichever is earlier.
- §3.2.1. A fraudulent request under §4.3.2 shall be prosecuted under Article 36b of the Criminal Code.
- §3.3. If the Elections Commission does not respond to a request made under §4.3.1 or §4.3.2 within the deadlines set, a court may make the determination in §4.1 and order the Elections Commission to perform acts in respect to their obligation under §4.1.
§4. A rejection under §4.3.1 or §4.3.2 may be appealed to a court, but the existence of such an appeal does not provide cause for the election to be delayed.
§4.5. Any person who fills out a Call for Candidates shall declare all the foreign positions they and their running partner hold within the Call for Candidates, or provide a declaration that they do not hold any foreign positions.
- §5.1. This declaration shall not be considered part of the Candidate’s statement by the Elections Commission for the purposes of preparing the ballot.
- §5.2. A false declaration under this section shall be prosecuted under Article 36b of the Criminal Code.
Article 5: Severability
§5. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, word, provision or application of this Act is found to be invalid, illegal, unconstitutional, or unenforceable, that finding shall not affect or undermine the validity of any other section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, word, provision, or application of this Act.
