Bravo Fleet Charter

Article I – The Charter

Section 1 – Purpose

This Charter details the systems and proceedings within Bravo Fleet (BF). The Charter is the written authority that establishes the organization’s structure, the powers and limits of its leaders, and the rights of its members.

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.

• Bravo Fleet’s day-to-day operations are governed through official policies set forth by the Bravo Fleet Senior Staff (BFSS) within the bounds of this Charter.
• Official policies are clearly outlined on the Wiki for members’ reference, and may be freely updated by the BFSS as necessary.
• This Charter supersedes any and all other policies, rules, or regulations within Bravo Fleet.

Section 3 – Voting

• Electorate - Unless otherwise stated, all votes called for under the Charter will be votes among the Electorate of Bravo Fleet Command (BFC), other than votes of the Conservatorship. The Electorate consists of (1) the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer (BFCO); (2) the Bravo Fleet Executive Officer (BFXO); (3) the Bravo Fleet Senior Staff; and (4) the leader of each Task Force of the Fleet.
  • Chair - The Electorate and any of its votes are chaired by the BFCO, except in cases where the vote concerns them specifically, in which case the member next in the line of succession shall serve as Chair. The Chair opens, closes, and announces the results of votes.
• 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 Chair 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 Electorate 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 Electorate 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 them two votes on the same topic, that member must choose in which voting capacity they will enter their vote. For example, a member that is in both the Electorate and the Conservatorship must choose to vote either as a member of the Electorate 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

• Bravo Fleet recognizes and acknowledges that, first and foremost, the organization is an amalgamation of its members. The most important aspect, as well as the most valuable resource, is 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 person that follows the rules of this Charter and has signed up for and agreed to the terms and conditions of joining Bravo Fleet has the right to be a member of the Bravo Fleet.
• 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 Judge Advocate General (JAG) , 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 awards, promotions, prestige grants, and other 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 JAG for review. If the JAG concurs, no further action is taken. If the JAG 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 JAG’s office.

Section 2 – Members of Bravo Fleet Command

• Overview - Bravo Fleet Command is the communicative body of Bravo Fleet which helps disseminate pertinent information to the fleet as well as assisting the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer in the day-to-day administration and running of Bravo Fleet.
• 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 Intelligence Officer
    • The Bravo Fleet Chief of Staff
    • The Bravo Fleet Engineering Officer
    • The Bravo Fleet Logistics Officer
    • The Bravo Fleet Operations Officer
    • The Bravo Fleet Science Officer
    • The Bravo Fleet Communications Officer
    • The Bravo Fleet Security Officer
    • The Bravo Fleet Academy Commandant
  • 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 Judge Advocate General is not a member of Bravo Fleet Command, but is generally included in all Bravo Fleet Command deliberations and actions.
• Chain of Succession - The chain of succession to the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer is determined first by the order of the positions in the preceding subsection and then by the length of their concurrent service on the BFC.

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. These assets include, but are not limited to: the domain(s), server(s), donation Paypal account, social media accounts, and Discord server ownership.
• All former Bravo Fleet Commanding Officers who have served in the position of BFCO since April 7, 2020, have not been forcibly removed from the position including resigning when removal motions begin, do not hold office in a competing Star Trek organization’s leadership, and are in good standing are automatically members of the Conservatorship. Any sitting members of the Conservatorship as of January 4, 2021 are grandfathered in as members.
  • Good Standing - A member of the Conservatorship is in good standing so long as the member can and will respond to Conservatorship communications within three days where a response is clearly indicated as required, unless the member is on a previously announced leave of absence. A member who loses good standing in this manner may regain their full status by returning to activity and remaining in contact for a period of thirty days. 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. In addition, a member is no longer in good standing if they are convicted by the Judge Advocate General under the Judicial Code. A member who loses good standing in this matter is automatically removed from the Conservatorship.
• 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.
• Discussions and activities of the Conservatorship are generally confidential, with transparency of the organization’s actions being announced through reports of the sitting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer.
  • The Conservatorship may, as needed and by majority vote, temporarily enlist the support of others to facilitate its duties including, but not limited to: technical expertise on digital assets, legal counsel, interpretation of the Charter, etc.

Section 4 – Fleet Units

• Overview - The membership of Bravo Fleet consists of members of Task Forces, Starbase Bravo, 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 Judge Advocate General’s office.

Section 2 – Appointment of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer

• Nomination and Confirmation - The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer can nominate a member to succeed them as the BFCO, if they decide to resign the office or decline to seek another term, as specified in Article IV, Section 4. This appointment must be confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Electorate.
  • For the purposes of this vote, the retiring Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall be considered a member of the Electorate, even if they have already left office.
  • Should the BFCO resign without nominating a successor, an Interim BFCO shall be appointed.
• Conservatorship Approval - 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 Electorate may, with a unanimous vote, overturn a veto by the Conservatorship.
• Failure of Confirmation - If the Electorate does not ratify a nominee or if the Conservatorship vetoes a nominee and this veto is not overturned by the Electorate, the confirmation has failed. If the outgoing BFCO is still in office, he or she may nominate another candidate for confirmation. If the office is vacant, an Interim Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall be appointed.
• Interim Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer - An Interim Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall be appointed in the case of vacancy of the office of BFCO, unless a nomination has been made and is actively being considered or an Acting BFCO has already been appointed. The JAG shall appoint the next member in the chain of succession as outlined in Article III, section 2 as Interim BFCO without requiring a vote. An Interim BFCO must stand for a vote of confirmation within 14 days, as outlined above. Should this vote pass, they will become Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer, and should it fail, the JAG shall appoint the next member in the chain of succession, continuing this process until a BFCO is confirmed.
  • If an Acting BFCO has already been appointed as outlined below, they will automatically become Interim BFCO upon vacancy of the office without requiring a vote.
  • An Interim BFCO shall not have the power to amend the Charter.
  • An Interim BFCO shall not have the power to remove members of the BFC without approval by a majority vote. Any appointments an Interim BFCO makes to the BFC will be themselves considered interim appointments and will not have a place in the chain of succession or the right to vote, unless the appointee was already a member of the BFC, in which case they would derive their place in the chain of succession and voting rights from their original position. If the Interim BFCO is confirmed, these appointments will also be confirmed, but they will expire if the Interim BFCO is not confirmed.
• Acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer - An Acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer will be appointed in the case of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer’s planned or unplanned absence.
  • An Acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall not have the power to amend the Charter.
  • An Acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall not have the power to appoint or remove members of the Electorate.
  • Planned, temporary absences of the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer must be announced in an appropriate area of the Bravo Fleet Discord server. The next officer in the chain of succession as outlined in Article III, Section 2 shall serve as Acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer from the declared start of the absence of the BFCO until the return of the BFCO, without requiring a vote.
  • If the BFCO cannot be reached for more than 7 days through escalating means (Discord, Email, Phone), the JAG shall consult with the BFC to confirm that the BFCO is unexpectedly absent and then shall appoint an Acting BFCO using the chain of succession outlined in Article III, Section 2. This appointment ends upon the BFCO's return to contact.
  • An Acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer appointed by any means is required to stand for a vote of appointment if they hold the position for longer than two weeks (14 days). If this vote fails, the next officer in the chain of succession as outlined in Article III, section 2 shall be appointed Acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer.

Section 3 – Removal of Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer

• Removal by Electorate - Bravo Fleet Command may remove a sitting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer, ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Electorate.
• 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 Electorate 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 Judge Advocate General. The Bravo Fleet JAG will determine if the claim is actionable under the fleet’s rules. A member may appeal to Bravo Fleet Command on the Bravo Fleet JAG’s ruling on whether the charge is actionable. The Electorate may overturn the Bravo Fleet JAG’s ruling on the charge’s actionability by a majority vote. Members that bring charges which are unactionable may be prosecuted under the Judicial Code per the Bravo Fleet JAG’s discretion.
  • The Bravo Fleet JAG will investigate all actionable claims that are brought before them. The Bravo Fleet JAG must give the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer notice of the investigation. Failure to do so will result in a mistrial. The Bravo Fleet JAG must send all actionable charges to the Electorate and the Conservatorship for a vote.
  • During the vote, the Electorate or the Conservatorship must decide on whether the charge warrants a trial. If a majority of the Electorate votes yes, or if the Conservatorship unanimously declares, a trial by jury will be convened by the Bravo Fleet JAG’s office as described in the Judicial 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 Electorate; (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 their case as given to all members. However, during their appeal, the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer will be held under an Order of Advanced Incarceration and an Acting Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer shall be appointed using the procedure in Article IV, Section 2.
  • If the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer is found guilty of the indictment, they will be removed from their position.
• To remove the Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer, all of these steps must be followed in order.
• Upon removal, the Bravo Fleet JAG 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 been confirmed via the voting procedures in Section 2 above shall not have the ability to nominate a successor for ratification or vote in any further elections. They may not add or remove members of the Electorate for the remainder of their term.
• The Bravo Fleet Commanding Officer may resign at any time during their term.

Article V – Bravo Fleet Judge Advocate General

Section 1 – Authority of the Bravo Fleet Judge Advocate General

• The Bravo Fleet Judge Advocate General(aka “JAG”) is the Chief Judge of the Bravo Fleet Judge Advocate General’s Office, and convenes the court as necessary. The Bravo Fleet JAG is second to none with authority in the execution of justice.
• Actions taken by the Bravo Fleet JAG 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 JAG 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 JAG.
• The Electorate must confirm the nomination with a two-thirds vote.

Section 3 – Removal of the Bravo Fleet Judge Advocate General

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

Section 4 – Terms of the Bravo Fleet Judge Advocate General

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