The Diplomacy & Recognition Act
(summary)
Article I.
Preamble
Section I.
The Senate understands that with an estimated 20 million inhabited worlds in the galaxy, each with their own peoples and politics, the New Republic Diplomatic Corps cannot possibly be expected to have determined its policies and relations specific to each one. It is with this understanding, and in the interest of establishing coherent and cohesive standards for the New Republic's foreign policy, that the following articles shall take effect upon the passage of this act.
Article II.
Designations & Definitions
Section I.
The term "protected" (or "preserved") shall, in this act, refer to a world or region which the Senate has declared insulated from outside interference, for cultural, environmental, humane or historical reasons, Provided; the world or region in question, if it is A.) inhabited, and B.) legitimately governed, consents to the status. New Republic member worlds, and private interests, individuals, and businesses under their auspices, are prohibited from establishing political or commercial relations with, or purchasing or claiming as their own a "protected" (or "preserved") world or region, unless with the consultation and consent of the New Republic Diplomatic Corps. Travel to such worlds or regions is also prohibited, unless with the consultation and consent of the N.R.D.C. or with a business (such as a travel agency, cruise line, or resort) so authorized.
The Senate may not declare a world or region "protected" (or "preserved") if that world or region is the property of a private interest, individual, or business, Provided; the world or region in question was legitimately purchased, or otherwise legitimately acquired.
Section II.
The term "unaligned" shall, in this act, refer to an inhabited world with no appreciable political relations or correspondence with the New Republic, or with any other political entity, Provided; the world in question is not subordinate to any other world or political entity, and that no other world or political entity can legitimately claim it as such. "Unaligned," in this sense, may also refer to a union of worlds or persons meeting the same conditions as described.
The New Republic may use force against "unaligned" worlds, or unions of worlds or persons, Provided; such force is prudent and necessary for the New Republic's security interests, commercial interests, or for the purposes of law enforcement or the protection or extraction of its citizens. New Republic member worlds may use force against "unaligned" worlds, or unions of worlds or persons, under the same conditions, and with the consultation and consent of the New Republic Diplomatic Corps (see "Sovereignty Act of 11 ABY," Article II).
Section III.
The term "neutral" (or "nonaligned") shall, in this act, refer to an inhabited, legitimately governed world, with or without political or economic relations with the New Republic, which has declared, without coercion, that it is impartial to the New Republic and to any other political entity belligerent to the New Republic, Provided; that the "neutral" (or "nonaligned") world in question is not subordinate to any other world or political entity, and does not provide, preferentially, goods and services to, or allow the use of its territory, property, or communications by a political entity, for belligerent uses or purposes. The term, in this sense, may also refer to a union of worlds or persons meeting the same conditions as described.
A "neutral" (or "nonaligned") world, or union of worlds or persons, is expected to take any and all measures prudent and necessary to preserve its neutrality, and to enforce the provisions of its neutrality among private interests, individuals, and businesses under its auspices. Furthermore, "neutral" (or "nonaligned") worlds, or unions of worlds or persons, may have Observer Status in the New Republic, and its Senate. The New Republic, and its member worlds, are prohibited from using force against a "neutral" (or "nonaligned") world, or union of worlds or persons, unless the world or union has forfeited the terms of its neutrality. In this instance, the consultation and consent of the New Republic Diplomatic Corps is required.
Section IV.
The term "allied" (or "aligned") shall, in this act, refer to an inhabited, legitimately governed world, with political and commercial relations with the New Republic, which has declared itself allied with, but not a member of, the New Republic, Provided; the world in question, and the private interests, individuals and businesses under its auspices, have no political or commercial relations with a political entity belligerent to the New Republic (such as, namely, the Imperial Remnant). "Allied" (or "aligned") in this sense, may also refer to a union of worlds or persons meeting the same conditions as described.
"Allied" (or "aligned") worlds, or unions of worlds or persons, may have Observer or Affiliate status in the New Republic, and its Senate; they may have extradition and dual-citizenship arrangements with the New Republic, and may bring cases before the Court of Justice for redress of grievances; they may also hold property on New Republic worlds and regions, and have political and commercial relations with individual member worlds, and vice versa. They may not use force upon individual member worlds without the consent of the New Republic Diplomatic Corps, and vice versa; they also shall not have access to voting rights and public funds, as they do not pay tax (except tax on properties held within the New Republic, where applicable).
Section V.
The term "protectorate" shall, in this act, refer to any of the above worlds, or unions of worlds or persons, which have entered freely into an arrangement with the New Republic wherein the New Republic has agreed to use its forces to defend such a world, or union of worlds or persons, in the event it is attacked by a political entity belligerent to the New Republic (such as, namely, the Imperial Remnant), Provided; the world in question does not have appreciable means of self defense. The term is not mutually exclusive to any of the above designations; it will commonly, but not necessarily, refer to "allied" worlds or their properties, or the properties of New Republic member worlds. It is not to be confused with "protected" (or "preserved") worlds, or unions of worlds or persons, which refers to a different designation.
Section VI.
The term "belligerent" shall, in this act, refer to an inhabited world that is subordinate to, or under the de facto administrative control of a government or political entity belligerent to the New Republic (such as, namely, the Imperial Remnant). The New Republic, and its member worlds, are in a state of war with such worlds; however, member worlds may not use force against "belligerent" worlds, unless in self defense, or with the consultation and consent of the New Republic Diplomatic Corps, and the Joint Defense Operations Staff.
Article III.
Recognition & Determination of Status
Section I.
The New Republic Diplomatic Corps, with the consultation of the Chief of State, may, at any time, designate a world, or union of worlds or persons, whichever of the above terms it deems most appropriate to that world or union. The New Republic Diplomatic Corps may, conversely, withdraw such recognition at any time, Provided; it is not prohibited from doing so by treaty obligations, or the provisions of this act. The Senate may also, by majority vote, instruct the New Republic Diplomatic Corps to recognize or withdraw recognition from a world or union of worlds or persons; the N.R.D.C. and the Chief of State must abide this instruction.
Section II.
A distinction is made between "deliberate" recognition and "provisional" (or de facto) recognition; "deliberate" recognition refers to a decision of the New Republic Diplomatic Corps, with the consultation of the Chief of State, to designate a world, or union of worlds or persons, any of the above terms, as described in Article III, Section I. This is common, but not specific, to "allied," "neutral," and "protected" worlds. "Provisional" (or de facto) recognition refers to a condition in which a world, or union of worlds or persons, meets the characteristics of an "unaligned" or "belligerent" world, but has not been formally designated as such. In this case, the world in question is, by default, provisionally designated the appropriate status.
Article IV.
Supremacy of this Act, Relative to Prior Acts
Section I.
Any provisions of prior acts of the Senate that contradict the provisions of this act shall henceforth be superceded by the provisions of this act, where applicable.
Article V.
Enforcement
Section I.
New Republic member worlds who violate the provisions of this act, specific to political or economic relations, or the use of force (namely; to use force without the consultation and consent of the New Republic Diplomatic Corps, or the Joint Defense Operations Staff, where applicable), may have those individuals responsible for the violation, and individuals participating in the violation, fined a minimum of 10,000 credits each, or imprisoned for no more than 3 standard years, or both, per violation, as determined by the courts (see "Sovereignty Act of 11 ABY," Article II). Private interests, individuals, and businesses under the auspices of a New Republic member world who violate the provisions of this act may be prosecuted in the same manner as described.
Section II.
Upon passage of this act, the New Republic Diplomatic Corps (or the Joint Defense Operations Staff, where applicable), with the consultation of the Chief of State, may choose to invoke a moratorium on the use of force, occurring presently, in specific instances, by the New Republic or its member worlds, in order to review and implement the provisions of this act in such instances.
Section III.
This act officially establishes a "New Republic Senate Council on Diplomacy and Interstellar Relations," responsible for overseeing political relations between the New Republic and other political entities, between New Republic member worlds and other political entities, and between New Republic member worlds and other member worlds. The Council will also oversee the New Republic Diplomatic Corps, and review and consider all interstellar treaties, and all legislation relating to foreign policy.
Eli Fitzgerald
