Constitution of the Darkstar Alliance

March 2026

Preamble

Individuals in a state of isolation are vulnerable. Vulnerable to aggression, to predation, to the arbitrary exercise of power by those stronger than themselves. It is to escape this condition that free individuals choose to associate, and it is to guarantee their security that they consent to be governed. The Darkstar Alliance exists because freedom without security is an illusion, and because no one should have to face alone what can be faced together.

But Darkstar is more than a defensive pact. An alliance worth belonging to is one where every member's effort makes the whole stronger, and the strength of the whole makes every member's effort worth more. Where those who contribute are recognized, where those who lead are expected to deliver results, and where the collective power built by all is never turned against any. This is the foundation upon which Darkstar is built: not a loose association of individuals shielding themselves from the world, but an organized body whose power comes from the commitment of its members and whose purpose is to reward that commitment.

Power of this kind demands order. A community that cannot coordinate, that cannot act swiftly, that cannot enforce discipline in war and fairness in peace, is not a community, it is a crowd. The government of Darkstar is therefore strong by design. It is empowered to act decisively because hesitation costs lives and resources, and because those who chose to be here did so to be part of something that works, not something that deliberates while it burns.

But power entrusted is not power surrendered. Those who govern Darkstar hold their authority because they produce results, and they keep it only for as long as they do. This Constitution establishes the mechanisms by which that authority is checked: the rights that no government action may violate, the procedures that ensure no member is punished without cause, and the ultimate safeguard, the power of the membership to remove those who have failed them. The government commands because the members consent, and the members consent because they can withdraw that consent.

This is a game. Every member has a life beyond it, obligations that rightly take precedence, and limited time to give. The purpose of this alliance is not to demand sacrifice but to ensure that the time each member gives is well spent: protected, well-governed, and part of something greater than what any one person could build alone.

Article I — Bill of Rights

Section 1 — Respect

All members shall have the absolute right to have their integrity of person respected by all other members, including members of the government. Attacks on a member's person, integrity, or character shall be prohibited.

All members shall be treated equally under this Constitution and under alliance regulations. Differential treatment shall be permitted only when based on legitimate alliance interests such as seniority, activity, contribution, or role, and never on arbitrary or personal grounds.

Section 2 — Freedom of Expression

All members shall have the right to freedom of speech within the Discord server, subject only to restrictions necessary for the maintenance of order, the protection of other members' rights under this Constitution, and compliance with Discord's Terms of Service.

No member shall be punished for expressing opinions or criticizing government policy, provided such expression does not constitute harassment of individuals or disclosure of classified military or diplomatic information.

Section 3 — Economic Rights and Property

All members shall have the right to store resources in the alliance bank's offshore accounts, subject to reasonable administrative procedures established by the Ministry of the Economy.

All members shall have the right to freedom of entrepreneurship, including the right to engage in trade, establish enterprises, and pursue economic activities within the game, subject only to restrictions necessary for alliance security or collective economic policy.

All members in good standing shall have the right to apply for and receive grants in accordance with criteria established by the Ministry of the Economy, provided that granting such funds would not compromise the alliance's financial security or war readiness.

No member's in-game assets held within alliance accounts shall be confiscated arbitrarily. Confiscation shall occur only as a sanction following adjudication or trial, as reimbursement for documented damages caused by the member, or upon departure from the alliance where assets were held conditionally. Angary may be undertaken in times of war, with fair compensation and return of assets to be provided during or after the war.

Members shall receive reasonable advance notice of changes to tax rates or mandatory contribution policies before such changes take effect.

Section 4 — Protection

All members in good standing shall have the right to military protection by the alliance against external aggression, to the extent that such protection is feasible given the alliance's strategic circumstances.

Section 5 — Departure

All members shall have the right to depart the alliance at any time without penalty, provided that outstanding obligations are discharged or forgiven. Outstanding obligations shall include both those incurred voluntarily and those arising from the receipt of alliance resources allocated for a specific purpose, such as war chests or grants conditional upon continued membership or participation. The specific terms and procedures governing the return of conditionally allocated resources shall be defined in Alliance Regulations or departmental policy.

Where a departing member fails to discharge outstanding obligations and no forgiveness is granted, the alliance shall be entitled to pursue restitution through in-game means. This right shall not extend to harassment or action outside the game.

Section 6 — Non-Retaliation

No member shall be punished, demoted, or subjected to adverse treatment for exercising any right protected by this Constitution, including but not limited to: requesting adjudication, criticizing government policy, voting in emergency elections, or filing constitutional complaints.

Any such retaliation shall itself constitute a violation of this Constitution, subject to the remedies provided herein.

Section 7 — Due Process

No member shall be sanctioned for an offense without being informed of the specific conduct alleged and given the opportunity to respond before a decision is rendered.

No member shall be tried twice for the same offense after a final decision has been rendered.

Proceedings shall be concluded within a reasonable time. Indefinite delays without cause shall constitute denial of due process.

Section 8 — Access to Government

All members shall have the right to seek entry into government and to participate in governance.

No member may be denied the opportunity to join governmental structures on grounds other than demonstrated unsuitability through prior conduct.

Section 9 — Consistency of Communication

Channels used to announce official information shall be kept up to date with current documents, so that members do not mistakenly act upon outdated information.

No member of the government shall distribute any document that contains information inconsistent with current official documents.

Section 10 — Transparency and Accountability

All members have the right to ask questions about, and receive answers regarding, any non-military affair to which they have rightful access.

The Minister of the Interior shall be jointly responsible with the in-game leaders for the administration of monthly reviews of the government, in which the effectiveness of each Department and feedback to the government shall be assessed.

The Minister of the Interior shall be responsible, under the authority of the in-game leaders, for conducting surveys of members for purposes of feedback.

Article II — Duties and Prohibitions

Section 1 — Obligations of Government

The government shall exercise its authority for the benefit of the alliance and its members, not for the personal enrichment or advantage of those holding power.

The government shall pursue the collective welfare of members, understanding that this requires balancing competing interests and making decisions that may disadvantage some for the benefit of all.

The government shall issue only orders and instructions that are lawful under this Constitution and published regulations, reasonably related to legitimate alliance purposes, and not designed to harm or exploit individual members.

The government shall not issue orders that require members to violate this Constitution, Discord's Terms of Service, or the rules of Politics and War.

Where the alliance as an entity is the injured party, including but not limited to cases of espionage, sabotage, or unauthorized disclosure of classified information, the government shall have the authority to take immediate protective and retaliatory action, including expulsion, asset seizure, and military action, without prior adjudication or trial. Any member subjected to such action shall retain the right to contest it through the procedures of Article V within fourteen days. Where a conflict of interest makes it impossible to form a neutral panel under Article V, the matter shall be submitted to a vote of the general membership.

Section 2 — Obligations of Members

Members shall comply with lawful orders issued by competent authority, where lawful means consistent with this Constitution and published regulations.

Members shall maintain reasonable activity as defined in administrative documents, both in the Discord server and within Politics and War.

Members shall not act in ways that materially harm the alliance's interests, reputation, or security.

Members may refuse to comply with orders they reasonably believe to be unlawful, but bear the burden of justifying such refusal if challenged.

Section 3 — Disciplinary Authority

Members of the government designated by Alliance Regulations shall have the authority to impose minor disciplinary measures for violations of published Codes of Conduct, Alliance Regulations, or server rules. Minor disciplinary measures include warnings, temporary muting, temporary restriction of channel access, and other measures of comparable severity.

No minor disciplinary measure shall exceed a duration of seventy-two hours without review by a second member of the government.

No minor disciplinary measure shall include expulsion, asset seizure, demotion from a governmental role, or any permanent restriction of rights. Such sanctions shall require reinforced adjudication under Article V, or, where the alliance as an entity is the injured party, the emergency procedures of Article II, Section 1, clause 5.

Any member subjected to a minor disciplinary measure shall be informed of the specific rule violated and shall retain the right to contest the measure through adjudication under Article V.

Repeated imposition of minor disciplinary measures against the same member for the same conduct, where such repetition effectively amounts to a sanction exceeding the limits of this Section, shall be treated as a circumvention of due process protections.

Article III — Government Structure

Section 1 — High Command

High Command shall consist of the two in-game leader roles and the members of the High Council.

Should either in-game leader resign, be removed from power, or otherwise lose their position, the remaining in-game leader shall, within fourteen days, nominate a replacement to be confirmed by a majority of High Command.

Should both in-game leader positions become simultaneously vacant, the most senior member of the High Council shall assume power as acting leader on an interim basis. If no High Council member is available, the Minister of the Interior shall assume the role. The acting leader's authority shall be limited to the administration of current affairs. The acting leader shall organize a general election within fourteen days of assuming power, in which all members meeting the activity requirements of Article IV, Section 2 shall be eligible to vote. The acting leader shall not be barred from standing as a candidate in said election.

High Council members shall be appointed solely by the in-game leaders, and shall act primarily as advisors, both to the in-game leaders and to the Ministers.

There shall never be more than two members of the High Council.

High Command shall be empowered to create and maintain Government Codes of Conduct, but must not breach existing and active documents of such nature.

High Command shall have the authority to adopt Alliance Regulations of general application, binding upon all members. Alliance Regulations shall be adopted by a majority of High Command and published to all members before taking effect.

High Command shall have the authority to designate information as classified and to establish classification levels and handling procedures through Alliance Regulations.

Section 2 — Department Leadership

Each Minister shall be nominated by the previous Minister and confirmed by High Command.

Each Minister shall select an Undersecretary, who shall be able to act in their absence and shall be the nominee for Minister in the absence of an explicitly nominated successor.

A Minister shall appoint an Undersecretary within seven days of assuming office. Should no appointment be made within that period, any member of High Command may designate an Undersecretary for that Department. The Undersecretary shall hold the same powers as the Minister when acting in that capacity, but shall remain subordinate to the Minister in all ordinary circumstances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the authority to set or modify departmental quotas and to issue warnings or dismissals to department staff shall remain exclusively with the Minister and shall not be exercised by the Undersecretary.

In the event of vacancy within both Minister and Undersecretary positions of a single department, any member of High Command may be appointed by the in-game leaders as an acting Minister with the full powers and authority of the role.

The full duties and responsibilities of each Minister shall be defined within a Darkstar Government Structure document, which shall be updated no less often than every time a Minister position changes hands.

A Minister who fails to fulfill their duties or maintain reasonable activity on the alliance Discord server for a continuous period of seven days without prior notice to High Command shall be deemed to have vacated their position. The Undersecretary shall assume the role of Minister upon declaration of vacancy by any member of High Command. A Minister removed under this clause shall be demoted to staff rank or removed from government at the discretion of High Command. Where both the Minister and the Undersecretary are inactive, the procedure of clause 4 of this Section shall apply.

The core duties of the Minister of the Interior are ensuring alliance internal stability, cohesion, compliance, moderation, and the adjudication of disputes.

The core duties of the Minister of the Economy are managing alliance funds, both on- and offshore; ensuring alliance internal growth and prosperity; and ensuring adequate supply for times of war.

The core duties of the Minister of the Military are ensuring alliance defense, coordinating wars, and developing strategies based on past successes and failures.

The core duties of the Minister of Foreign Affairs are representing the alliance in its relations with other alliances, conducting diplomatic negotiations, managing treaties and agreements, and gathering external intelligence relevant to alliance security.

Section 3 — Department Autonomy

Each Department shall have the authority to conduct its own affairs without obstruction.

High Command may bypass this authority only in times of crisis, failure to fulfill core duties, or urgency.

No Minister may be removed involuntarily except through reinforced adjudication under Article V.

No significant change in Department policy may be made without agreement between its Minister and at least one member of High Command.

Section 4 — Foreign Policy

The power to ratify treaties and agreements binding the alliance shall belong exclusively to the in-game leaders. High Command shall be informed before ratification.

The power to declare war and to authorize offensive military operations shall belong exclusively to the in-game leaders. High Command shall be informed at the earliest opportunity.

Article IV — Accountability Mechanisms

Section 1 — Surveys and Reviews

The Minister of the Interior shall conduct periodic surveys measuring member satisfaction with senior leadership and with the government as a whole. The results of such surveys shall be made available to all members of High Command and shall inform governmental decision-making.

Each Department shall undergo periodic qualitative reviews conducted by High Command in consultation with department members, assessing fulfillment of mission, responsiveness, and adaptation to circumstances.

Survey results are consultative and shall not by themselves trigger binding consequences. Their purpose is to maintain awareness of member sentiment and to identify issues requiring governmental attention.

Section 2 — Emergency Elections

An emergency election shall be triggered upon written petition by at least one-third of members in good standing who meet the activity requirements defined in this Section. The petition must specify the member or members of High Command whose removal is sought and state the grounds for removal.

The voting body for such elections shall consist of members with at least ten days of seniority who meet an activity requirement: during peacetime, positioning on the alliance's designated colour bloc; during wartime as designated by High Command, game activity within the three days preceding the vote's conclusion.

The vote shall last three days. A simple majority of participating voters shall be sufficient to remove any member of High Command subject to the vote.

This mechanism shall not be suspended, modified, or abolished except by the amendment process specified in this Constitution, and no such amendment shall take effect while an emergency election is pending or in progress.

Article V — Dispute Resolution

Section 1 — Standard Adjudication

There shall be a channel within the main server to request adjudication, which all members shall have access to.

Any two members of the government without a stake in the matter in question shall be qualified to jointly adjudicate. They shall be able to issue judgment favoring one, both, or neither side.

Standard adjudication may not impose expulsion, asset seizure, demotion from a governmental role, or any permanent restriction of rights.

Section 2 — Reinforced Adjudication

Where the sanction under consideration includes expulsion, asset seizure, demotion from a governmental role, or any permanent restriction of rights, the matter shall be subject to reinforced adjudication.

No reinforced adjudication shall proceed without a written referral specifying the alleged facts, the supporting evidence, and the specific provisions of this Constitution, Alliance Regulations, or Codes of Conduct alleged to have been violated. General accusations without factual basis shall be inadmissible.

The adjudicating panel shall consist of at least two members holding an in-game role whose authority level equals or exceeds that of the member subject to proceedings, none with undisclosed bias or stake in the matter. Where unavoidable bias exists, two adjudicators with counteracting biases shall be appointed.

The member subject to proceedings shall be informed of the referral and given no fewer than forty-eight hours to respond before a decision is rendered.

Any adjudicator who has a personal interest in the matter shall be disqualified. If disqualification makes it impossible to form a panel of at least two qualified adjudicators, the matter shall be referred directly to the membership under the emergency election procedure of Article IV.

Article VI — Constitutional Complaints

There shall be a channel within the main server to file constitutional complaints, which all members shall have access to.

Any member who believes that a government action or policy violates this Constitution may file a complaint through this channel.

Where the complaint does not concern a member of High Command, High Command shall review the complaint and issue a written determination within seven days, either dismissing the complaint with reasons or finding a violation.

Where the complaint concerns a member of High Command, the complaint shall be reviewed by the remaining members of High Command who are not implicated. If fewer than two uninvolved members of High Command are available to review, the complaint shall be treated as grounds for an emergency election petition under Article IV, Section 2, and the petition threshold shall be reduced to one-quarter of members in good standing for that specific complaint.

If a violation is found, the determination shall specify what remedy is required, which may include: cessation of the unlawful action, reversal of its effects where practicable, or amendment of the policy to conform with this Constitution.

If the in-game leaders refuse to implement the required remedy, the complaint and determination shall be published to all members, and the refusal shall constitute grounds for an emergency election petition under Article IV.

Filing a constitutional complaint shall be protected under Article I, Section 6. Retaliation against a complainant shall itself constitute a constitutional violation.

Article VII — Amendment Process

Section 1 — Proposal

Any amendment to this Constitution may be proposed either jointly by both in-game leaders or by a two-thirds majority of High Command.

Section 2 — Process of Enactment

A proposed amendment shall be published to all members upon submission. Members shall have a comment period of no fewer than five days. An amendment is enacted when it receives the approval of a majority of the government, inclusive of at least one member of High Command. Should one-quarter or more of members in good standing submit written objections during the comment period, the amendment shall require approval by a two-thirds majority of the government to proceed.

Amendments take effect upon publication to all members.

No amendment may abolish or suspend the emergency election mechanism of Article IV while such an election is pending or in progress.

Section 3 — Protection of the Bill of Rights

No amendment shall abolish, suspend, or restrict the substance of the following provisions: Section 1 (Respect), Section 5 (Departure), Section 6 (Non-Retaliation), Section 7 (Due Process) of Article I, and the emergency election mechanism of Article IV.

Article VIII — Hierarchy of Norms

This Constitution shall be the supreme law of the alliance. Treaties lawfully entered into shall rank below this Constitution but above Government Codes of Conduct. No treaty provision that conflicts with this Constitution shall have effect.

Alliance Regulations and Government Codes of Conduct issued by High Command shall be subordinate to this Constitution. Alliance Regulations shall take precedence over Government Codes of Conduct.

Departmental policies shall be subordinate to this Constitution, Alliance Regulations, and Government Codes of Conduct.

Any provision of a lower document that conflicts with a higher document shall be void to the extent of the inconsistency.

Article IX — Ratification and Entry into Force

This Constitution is the product of deliberation, not of decree. It binds because those it governs have chosen to be bound. This Constitution shall enter into force upon ratification by a majority of members present at the time of its submission, within a voting period of fourteen days.

Promulgated by the in-game leaders of the Darkstar Alliance on this 22nd day of March, 2026, and ratified by vote of its members, as recorded hereafter.