Bravo Fleet Charter

Article I – The Charter

Section 1 – Purpose

This Charter details the systems and proceedings within Bravo Fleet. It serves to guide the membership in knowledge of our basic structure and show them the way to our policies and procedures. The Charter is the written authority that establishes the basic organization, the powers and limits of the leaders, and the rights of the membership.

Section 2 – Official Policies

The Bravo Fleet Charter provides the basic foundational structure for Bravo Fleet. The rules and regulations governing the day-to-day operations of Bravo Fleet within that foundation are outlined through official policies set forth by the leadership. These policies may be freely updated by the leadership, and are clearly outlined and posted for the member’s reference. In any and all circumstances, this Charter supersedes any other policies, rules, or regulations within Bravo Fleet.

Section 3 – Voting

• Eligible Voters - Unless otherwise stated, all votes called for under the Charter will be votes among the eligible voters of Bravo Fleet Command, other than votes of the Conservatorship. The eligible voters consists of (1) the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer; (2) the Bravo Fleet Executive Officer; (3) the Senior Staff; and (4) the leader of each Task Force of the Fleet.
• Discussion Period & Vote - Any vote required by this Charter must be preceded by a 48-hour discussion period. During the discussion period, the voting members are free to ask any questions they may have, state any concerns or opinions, or ask to see the other applications for comparison. At any time after the initial 48 hours, the BFCO may—but is not required to—call for the vote, at which time discussion does not end, but votes may be entered. Votes that are not received within 48 hours of the call for votes are considered to be abstentions.
• Vote Tallies & Abstensions - Unless otherwise stated in this Charter, votes by the eligible voters require a simple majority (51%) to pass. Votes to change the Articles I, IV, V, and VI of the Charter require a two-thirds majority of the eligible voters to pass. Unfilled positions are not tallied in the voting totals in any fashion. If a position is empty, the total number of votes needed to pass a measure is reduced by one. Members are free to abstain from voting. Members who are directly involved in a vote (e.g. their own nomination) are required to abstain. Should a member abstain from voting, the required number of votes to pass the measure is reduced by one.
• Prohibition on Multiple Voting - To the extent a member may be in multiple positions that would grant him two votes on the same topic, that member must choose in which voting capacity he will enter his vote. For example, a member that is in both the eligible voters and the Conservatorship must choose to vote either as a member of the eligible voters or as a member of the Conservatorship, and may not vote twice. This provision does not prevent any member from serving in dual capacities, only from voting on the same topic in dual capacities.
• At the end of each vote the vote tally shall be made publicly viewable.

Article II – Membership

Section 1 – Rights of the Membership

• The first duty of the fleet’s leadership should always be to serve the organization and its members, recognizing that the members and our shared community here are the reason why the fleet exists in the first place.
• Every member has a right to be treated with respect and without bias or disregard, irrespective of their tenure or position in the fleet, as all members are valuable and deserve to be here, as long as they participate in discussions and other fleet activities in good faith.
• All members regardless of their position shall be held accountable under the same standards of conduct.
• Every member has the right to a fair and impartial system of justice. All indictments, trials, and subsequent punishments will make no distinction between members based on tenure or position within Bravo Fleet.
• Every member has the right to bring their concerns or complaints to the fleet’s leadership through their task force staff or through the Bravo Fleet Magistrate, without fear of reprisal or negative consequences for their standing within the fleet.
• Every member has the right to be adequately acknowledged and rewarded for time, activity and efforts, and shall not be denied adequate and timely recognition based on personal bias and prejudice of their superiors. All rewards, promotions, and recognitions are given according to merit.
• All Bravo Fleet members are entitled to a harassment-free environment. Any act of harassment and/or discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, pregnancy, sexual orientation, an order of protection, gender identity and expression, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, unfavorable military discharge, status as a veteran, or sex is a violation of this policy and will not be tolerated.
• All members of Bravo Fleet have the right to bring forth a proposal to Bravo Fleet Command, through their task force staff or through public commenting options located within the fleet’s communication platforms.
• Every member, administrator, and owner of Bravo Fleet's digital infrastructure has the right to be protected from legal liability. Members who violate the Bravo Fleet Legal Policy forfeit their membership in perpetuity. Violation of the Legal Policy includes but is not limited to: threatening real world legal action, repeated copyright infractions, or failure to comply with the Bravo Fleet Intellectual Property Policy.
  • When a member is removed in this fashion, the BFCO must immediately report it to the Magistrate for review. If the Magistrate concurs, no further action is taken. If the Magistrate disagrees, the removal is overturned.

Article III – Structure of the Fleet

Section 1 – Bravo Fleet Command

• Overview - Bravo Fleet Command assists the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer in the administration and running of the fleet. It derives its powers from the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer.
• Authority - The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer and Senior Staff have the authority to make official policies and procedures within the limits of their positions as to the daily operations of the Fleet. Upon advice from and coordination with the rest of Bravo Fleet Command, the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer and the Senior Staff can affect changes to policies, procedures and structures of the Fleet.
• Executive Action - With powers derived from the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer, Bravo Fleet Command actions are executive in nature and do not affect or usurp the performance or jurisdiction of the Bravo Fleet Magistrate’s office.

Section 2 – Members of Bravo Fleet Command

Membership - Bravo Fleet Command consists of members in several positions created by the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer to perform specific functions. They are, in order of succession:

• The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer
• The Bravo Fleet Executive Officer
• The Senior Staff, consisting of the following:
  • The Bravo Fleet Loremaster
  • The Bravo Fleet Chief of Staff
  • The Bravo Fleet Operations Officer
  • The Bravo Fleet Communications Officer
  • The Bravo Fleet Internet Officer
  • The Bravo Fleet Gaming Officer
• The Task Force Commanding Officers
• Senior Staff Department Deputies (In the order listed above for the senior staff)
• Task Force Executive Officers
• The Bravo Fleet Magistrate is not a member of Bravo Fleet Command, but is generally included in all Bravo Fleet Command deliberations and actions.

Section 3 – Conservatorship

• The Bravo Fleet Conservatorship is the apolitical board of trustees of Bravo Fleet.. The Conservatorship is charged with safeguarding Bravo Fleet’s long term security as guardians of the real world digital infrastructure (“assets”) of the organization.
• Members of the Conservatorship are specifically tasked with holding the real-world assets of Bravo Fleet including, but not limited to: the domain(s), fleet and/or sim hosting, donation Paypal account, and Discord ownership.
• All former Bravo Fleet Commanding Officers who have served in the position of BFCO since April 7, 2020 and are in good standing are automatically members of the Conservatorship. Any sitting members of the Conservatorship as of (date of adoption) are grandfathered in as members.
  • Members of the Conservatorship automatically and immediately lose good standing when one of the following occurs:
    • The member is convicted by a Magistrate proceeding;
    • The member is removed as Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer and/or Magistrate, which includes resigning once a removal discussion begins;
    • The member holds office in a competing Star Trek organization’s leadership.
  • If a member fails to respond to Conservatorship communications within 72 hours via escalating means (Discord, then email, then telephone), when a response is required, and is not otherwise accounted for (e.g.: LOA) their Conservatorship membership will be considered suspended.
    • While suspended, their vote will not be tallied in any votes of the Conservatorship and the number of votes to pass a measure is reduced by one.
    • A suspended member may regain their full status by returning to activity and remaining in contact for a period of thirty days.
• All official actions of the Conservatorship require approval. No member of the Conservatorship has independent authority within Bravo Fleet as a Conservator outside of their ability to vote within the Conservatorship.
• The incumbent Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer sits on the Conservatorship as a representative of Bravo Fleet Command, but does not have a vote within the Conservatorship itself. For the sake of clarity: a Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer that is serving a subsequent term as the sitting BFCO only serves as a non-voting member of the Conservatorship for the duration of their term.
• The Conservatorship may, as needed and by unanimous vote, temporarily add other members of the fleet to help facilitate its duties including, but not limited to: technical expertise on digital assets, legal counsel, interpretation of the Charter, etc.
• Discussions of the Conservatorship are generally confidential, with transparency of the organization’s actions being announced through reports of the sitting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer.

Section 4 – Fleet Units

• Overview - The membership of Bravo Fleet consists of members of Task Forces, training units, and Reserve members that are not within an active unit. The primary unit of the fleet is the Task Force, and these will have at least two Task Groups as sub-units.
• Purpose - The Task Force units of the fleet provide an appropriately-sized venue for members to participate in activities, meet other members, develop as a member and leader, and otherwise become an active member. Task Forces also exist to provide a competitive atmosphere to facilitate Fleet Actions and encourage activity across the organization.
  • Leadership - The leadership of the Task Forces and their sub-units are charged with the administration and activity of the unit as they see fit and in conformity with the Charter and Fleet Policies. They create and maintain the identity and culture of the unit. Task Force leadership in the form of the Task Force Commanding Officer is appointed by the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer under advisement from the members of Bravo Fleet Command.

Article IV – Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer

Section 1 – Authority of Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer

• The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer is the chief executive in the fleet, as granted to them by the membership through this Charter, and primarily serves as Chairperson of Bravo Fleet Command
• Authority not clearly delineated or reserved by this Charter is reserved for the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer.
• Actions taken by the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer are executive in nature and do not affect or usurp the performance or jurisdiction of the Bravo Fleet Magistrate’s office.

Section 2 – Appointment of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer

• Upon leaving their position, the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer can nominate a member to succeed them as the BFCO. The eligible voters will then vote to ratify the nominee with a two-thirds vote.
  • For the purposes of this vote only, the retiring Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall be considered a member of the eligible voters.
• If the eligible voters do not ratify the nominee, the Magistrate shall nominate a new Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer, with a simple majority required to ratify the nomination. The process will continue until a new Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer is chosen.
• The Conservatorship must approve of the new Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer. This approval will be assumed unless the Conservatorship unanimously vetoes within 48 hours of the election. The eligible voters may, with a unanimous vote, overturn a veto by the Conservatorship.
• The procedure for appointing an acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer in the event of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer’s unforeseen absence, as determined by the Magistrate in consult with Bravo Fleet Command, shall use the chain of succession based on position of order in Article III, Section 2, then time served, without requiring a vote. This acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall not have the power to amend the Charter and is required to stand for a vote of appointment within two weeks of assuming the position as outlined above.

Section 3 – Removal of Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer

• Removal by Eligible Voters - Bravo Fleet Command may remove a sitting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer, ratified by a two-thirds majority of the eligible voters.
• Removal by Indictment - A Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer may be removed by indictment through the following process:
  • The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer has no voting rights in the eligible voters with regards to their own indictment, and the total number of votes needed to pass a measure under this section is reduced proportionally by one.
  • A complaint may be brought by any member of the fleet to the Bravo Fleet Magistrate. The Bravo Fleet Magistrate will determine if the claim is actionable under the fleet’s rules. A member may appeal to Bravo Fleet Command on the Bravo Fleet Magistrate’s ruling on whether the charge is actionable. The eligible voters may overturn the Bravo Fleet Magistrate’s ruling on the charge’s actionability by a majority vote. Members that bring charges which are unactionable may be prosecuted under the Magistrate Code per the Bravo Fleet Magistrate’s discretion.
  • The Bravo Fleet Magistrate will investigate all actionable claims that are brought before them. The Bravo Fleet Magistrate must give the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer notice of the investigation. Failure to do so will result in a mistrial. The Bravo Fleet Magistrate must send all actionable charges to the eligible voters and the Conservatorship for a vote.
  • During the vote, the eligible voters or the Conservatorship must decide on whether the charge warrants a trial. If a majority of the eligible voters votes yes, or if the Conservatorship unanimously declares, a trial by jury will be convened by the Bravo Fleet Magistrate’s office as described in the Magistrate Code. If the claim is determined to be unworthy of a trial due to the charge being frivolous or with uncertain motives, the indictment process will cease.
    • The following members are ineligible to serve as jury members for the trial: (1) members of the eligible voters; (2) the complaining member; and (3) any members of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer’s assistant staff.
  • The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer is afforded the same right to appeal his case as given to all members. However, during his appeal, the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer will be held under an Order of Advanced Incarceration and the Bravo Fleet Executive Officer will be acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer during this time.
  • If the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer is found guilty of the indictment, he will be removed from his position.
• To remove the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer, all of these steps must be followed in order.
• Upon removal, the Bravo Fleet Magistrate will initiate the process of succession as described in this Charter.
• A Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer who has been so removed shall not have the ability to nominate a successor for ratification or vote in any further elections.

Section 4 – Terms of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer

• The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer is limited to terms.
  • Each term is a period of 12 months from the day of the appointment.
  • A Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer may serve more than one term, and given the specific nature of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer, may serve unlimited consecutive terms following the guidelines in Article IV, Section 2 at the end of each 12-month term.
  • A Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer who has not had their term renewed shall not have the ability to nominate a successor for ratification or vote in any further elections.
    • The procedure for appointing an acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer in the event of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer not having their term renewed shall use the chain of succession based on position of order in Article III, Section 2, then time served, without requiring a vote. This acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall not have the power to amend the Charter and is required to stand for a vote of appointment within two weeks of assuming the position as outlined above.
    • If the interim Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer is not confirmed within the two weeks, the chain of succession based on position of order in Article III, Section 2 begins until a nominee is confirmed as the new Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer.
• The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer may resign at any time during their term.

Article V – Bravo Fleet Magistrate

Section 1 – Authority of the Bravo Fleet Magistrate

• The Bravo Fleet Magistrate is the Chief Judge of the Bravo Fleet Magistrates Office, and convenes the court as necessary. The Bravo Fleet Magistrate is second to none with authority in the execution of justice.
• Actions taken by the Bravo Fleet Magistrate are judicial in nature and do not affect or usurp the performance or jurisdiction of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer. Limitations and rules placed on the judiciary in this Charter do not apply to the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer unless the application is clearly stated.
  • The Bravo Fleet Magistrate is not a member of Bravo Fleet Command, but is generally included in all Bravo Fleet Command deliberations and actions, there to advise in any rules interpretation or dispute mediation.

Section 2 – Appointment

• The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall nominate a member to the vacant position of Bravo Fleet Magistrate.
• The eligible voters must confirm the nomination with a two-thirds vote.

Section 3 – Removal of the Bravo Fleet Magistrate

• The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer may move for the Bravo Fleet Magistrate’s removal. The Bravo Fleet Magistrate will then be removed if the motion is approved by two-thirds of the eligible voters.
• The Bravo Fleet Magistrate may otherwise be removed by a two-thirds vote of the eligible voters.
• If, for any reason, charges are being brought against the Bravo Fleet Magistrate, the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer will appoint an acting Bravo Fleet Magistrate from the Conservatorship for handling that one case only.

Section 4 – Terms of the Bravo Fleet Magistrate

• The Bravo Fleet Magistrate is limited to terms.
  • Each term is a period of 12 months from the day of the appointment.
  • A Bravo Fleet Magistrate may serve more than one term, and given the specific nature of the Bravo Fleet Magistrate, may serve unlimited consecutive terms following the guidelines in Article V, Section 2 at the end of each 12-month term.
• The Bravo Fleet Magistrate may resign at any time during their term.