Constitution Charter of Willow

[Town of Willow]

IN THE
TOWN OF
WILLOW
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A BILL TO

ESTABLISH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE TOWN OF WILLOW




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The Residents of Willow, through the Willow Interim Administrative Board and the Willow Community Assembly established under Executive Order 53/26, and pursuant to Section 11 of that Order, do hereby submit the following Constitution for the Town of Willow:
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1 - Short Title and Enactment
(1) This document may be cited as the 'Willow Constitutional Charter'.
(2) This Charter shall take effect upon the establishment of the Town of Willow by amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Redmont.
(3) This Charter has been authored by: winterwolf, exclusiv3z, A__C, antonfr and xXTheoryXx.

2 - Reasons
(1) Executive Order 53/26 requires the preparation of a draft Town Charter within thirty days.
(2) Willow requires a clear and functional framework of local government consistent with federal law, the Staff Veto governing the agricultural area, and the protections required by Executive Order 53/26.

3 - Establishment
(1) The following shall be the Constitution of the Town of Willow:

PREAMBLE
We, the Residents of Willow, in order to form a more perfect democracy, ensure the rights and liberties of all residents, promote transparent and accountable governance, and secure the future of Willow, do establish this Constitution.

The Willow Town Government consists of two branches, the Legislature and the Executive.

All laws passed by the Congress of the Commonwealth of Redmont, all Executive Orders signed by the President, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Redmont are binding and enforceable within the Town of Willow.

Willow is an agricultural town. Its purpose is to provide accessible farming opportunities to the players of this server, and particularly to new players. Every provision of this Constitution is to be read in service of that purpose.

ARTICLE I. RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

Section I - All residents of Willow retain the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Redmont Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Section II - No bylaw shall restrict a resident from voting in Willow elections or referendums, except where reasonably necessary to ensure legitimate and active voters.

Section III - No player eligible to sit in the People's Will shall be deprived of their right to sit in that chamber and to vote on any matter placed before it.

Section IV - All residents have the right to farm lawfully on their leased farmland without obstruction by the Town Government. This right does not create any entitlement to purchase, own in freehold, or acquire permanent tenure over any farm plot.

Section V - All votes of the Willow Commission shall be publicly recorded. Commissioners are encouraged, but not required, to publicly explain their vote.

ARTICLE II. AGRICULTURAL LAND AND TERRITORY

Section I - Primacy - Agricultural activity is and shall remain the primary purpose of the Town of Willow. No bylaw, policy, or act of any Willow official may be inconsistent with that purpose.

Section II - Farm Plots - Farm plots shall remain leasehold. They may not be sold, converted to freehold, or removed. Large farm plots may be subdivided only with the approval of the appropriate Federal authority. Freehold plots in existence on the date this Constitution takes effect are grandfathered and are not affected.

Section III - Ranch Plots - Ranch plots may remain freehold and may be privately held as long-term agricultural properties. They may not otherwise be amended or removed.

Section IV - Register and Baseline - The Town shall maintain and publish the register of farm plots established under Executive Order 53/26, updated no less than monthly. The figure recorded on commencement of that Order is the baseline against which farmland availability is assessed.

Section V - Reversion - Where the number of farm plots available for lease falls below the baseline, all authority over farm plots vests in the Department of the Interior until the figure is restored. Server Leadership may act directly in respect of farm plots at any time and shall determine when the figure has been restored. No vote, petition, or act of any Willow body is required for this reversion to take effect, and none may delay or reverse it.

Section VI - Commercial Activity - All activity within the Town other than agriculture must remain incidental to its agricultural purpose. Commercial activity is permitted only where it directly supports or complements the agricultural community, and must not undermine the primary agricultural function of the Town.

Section VII - Territory - The Town is limited to the boundaries allocated to it and may not reclaim, annex, or otherwise expand into major bodies of water beyond the shoreline as it existed in February 2026.

Section VIII - Natural Areas and National Infrastructure - Mountain and highland areas adjoining the Town remain outside its jurisdiction and are maintained by the Department of Construction and Transportation as natural areas. The highway and any other national infrastructure passing through or adjoining the Town may not be altered, rerouted, obstructed, or built over except by that Department.

Section IX - Building Height - No structure within the Town may exceed 40 blocks in height.

Section X - Entrenchment - No provision of this Article may be amended, suspended, or repealed by any Willow body, by any means, including amendment of this Constitution. Amendment may occur only by a corresponding change to federal law, the federal Constitution, or the Staff Veto governing the agricultural area.

ARTICLE III. THE WILLOW COMMISSION

Section I - Legislative authority within the Town of Willow is vested in the Willow Commission, hereinafter the Commission, together with the People's Will as provided in Article IV.

The Commission shall consist of five (5) Commissioners, inclusive of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. No other body of the Town shall hold a legislative vote.

Section II - The Commission has the authority to:

• Draft, propose, and amend town bylaws through bills, passed by a simple majority vote of Commissioners and thereafter transmitted to the People's Will.
• Pass bills amending this Constitution by a supermajority vote of Commissioners, subject to Article IV and Article IX.
• Approve or deny the nomination of Executive Officers by the Mayor through a simple majority vote, whereafter the nominee is transmitted to the People's Will for confirmation.
• Remove the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, or any Executive Officer by a supermajority vote.
• Elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members as provided in Article VII.
• Create and pass internal Standing Orders, which shall have the force of law in governing the conduct of the chamber.
• Open hearings into any Town official by simple majority. All hearings must be held in a publicly viewable channel.

Section III - Where a Commissioner is the subject of a vote to remove them from any office, their vote shall automatically be recorded as an abstention.

Section IV - Chair of the Chambers - The Mayor shall preside over both the Commission and the People's Will as Chair of the Chambers. In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall serve as Chair.

The Chair shall exercise the following powers impartially:

• Maintain order and efficiency within the chambers.
• Facilitate voting on bills, nominations, and motions.
• Act as the final arbiter of chamber procedure and the interpretation of the Standing Orders.

The Chair's first order of business upon assuming office shall be to amend or reaffirm the existing Standing Orders.

ARTICLE IV. THE PEOPLE'S WILL

Section I - The People's Will is a standing referendum of the residents of Willow. It holds no seat, no fixed membership, and no executive or administrative authority, and is not a council or governing body of the Town.

Section II - Any player may participate in the People's Will who:

• Is a current resident of Willow;
• Has accrued eight (8) hours of total playtime; and
• Has joined the official Town of Willow Discord.

Section III - All bills and nominations passed by the Commission shall be presented to the People's Will by the Chair. Matters are presented weekly in a designated channel on the Town of Willow Discord, alongside a poll open for forty-eight (48) hours.

Section IV - Bills presented to the People's Will may not be amended. They shall be passed or rejected by simple majority. Bills amending this Constitution require the approval of at least 75% of votes cast. Should a tie occur, the matter fails.

Section V - All bills passed by the People's Will become law immediately, unless stated otherwise within the bill. Any eligible player who does not cast a vote shall be recorded as an abstention and excluded from the count.

Section VI - Emergency bills, appropriation bills, and Executive Officer confirmations are excluded from the weekly schedule, may be presented at any time, and shall have a voting period of twenty-four (24) hours. The standard for an emergency bill shall be determined by bylaw.

ARTICLE V. THE EXECUTIVE

Section I - Executive power in the Town of Willow is vested in the Mayor, and is exercised jointly with the Deputy Mayor and the Executive Officers. All members of the Executive derive their authority by delegation from the Commission, which may revoke it at any time.

Section II - The Mayor - The Mayor is the head of the Town Government and is tasked with:

• Nominating Executive Officers and Commission Advisors.
• Serving as Chair of the Chambers under Article III.
• Holding press briefings on behalf of the Town.
• Overseeing the layout, sequencing, and delivery of the Willow expansion.
• Publishing and maintaining a building and aesthetic standard consistent with the rural and agricultural character of the Town, and applying it to all public builds.
• Promoting the outreach of the Town to new players and overseeing the onboarding of new residents and new farmers.
• Representing the Town in court, or appointing another player to do so.

Section III - The Deputy Mayor - Where the Mayor is absent or unable to perform their duties, the Deputy Mayor shall assume the office of Mayor until the Mayor is again able to serve.

Where the office of Mayor becomes vacant by removal, resignation, or inability to serve, the Deputy Mayor shall assume the office of Mayor for the remainder of the term, and the Commission shall elect a new Deputy Mayor from among its members within ninety-six (96) hours.

Where the office of Deputy Mayor becomes vacant, the Commission shall elect a replacement from among its members within ninety-six (96) hours.

Where both offices are vacant simultaneously, the Commission shall elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members within ninety-six (96) hours. Until they do so, the Executive Officer first confirmed in the current term shall serve as Acting Mayor.

Section IV - Executive Officers - Within seven (7) days of the Mayor taking office, five Executive Officers shall be nominated to the Commission for the following positions:

• Head of Commerce
• Head of Civic Engagement
• Head of Legal Affairs
• Head of Development
• Town Marshal

Executive Officers hold no seat in the Commission and no legislative vote by virtue of that office. They exercise only delegated administrative authority and serve at the pleasure of the Commission. A Commissioner may concurrently hold an Executive Officer position.

An Acting Executive Officer may serve without approval by the Commission and confirmation by the People's Will for a period of up to seven (7) days from assuming the position. After that period, the Acting Executive Officer must receive nomination and approval from the Commission and confirmation by the People's Will in order to continue. A player who has served as an Acting Executive Officer may not serve again in an acting capacity for twenty-one (21) days.

No player may hold more than one Executive Officer position.

ARTICLE VI. EXECUTIVE BRANCHES

Section I - This Constitution establishes the following branches to assist in the administration of the Town. No branch may be established otherwise than by amendment to this Constitution.

a) Commerce Branch
The Commerce Branch is charged with:
(1) Applying for federal town grants and administering funds received.
(2) Managing the Town treasury.
(3) Determining the rents of Town rental regions, provided that farm plot rents must be set at a level that maintains accessibility for new players.
(4) Registration of local businesses.
Leadership: Head of Commerce.

b) Civic Engagement Branch
The Civic Engagement Branch is charged with:
(1) Holding press releases with the public.
(2) Hosting events within the Town.
(3) Assisting residents who wish to host their own events.
(4) Promoting the Town and managing its social media.
Leadership: Head of Civic Engagement.

c) Development Branch
The Development Branch is charged with:
(1) The development and maintenance of Town infrastructure and public builds.
(2) Management of the Willow public transport system.
(3) Requesting and coordinating evictions and property transfers through the Department of Construction and Transportation.
(4) Drafting building and property regulations for the approval of the Commission, and enforcing them once approved.
The Development Branch may not create, remove, or alter the tenure of any farm plot, and may not act inconsistently with Article II.
Leadership: Head of Development.

d) Legal Affairs Branch
The Legal Affairs Branch is charged with:
(1) Advising the Commission on legal matters.
(2) Ensuring all Town bylaws comply with the federal Constitution and federal law.
(3) Managing legal and criminal matters concerning the Town.
Leadership: Head of Legal Affairs.

e) Office of the Town Marshal
The Town Marshal is charged with:
(1) Promoting peace and good order within the Town.
(2) Coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security on public safety matters.
The Town Marshal must hold at least the rank of Police Officer in the Department of Homeland Security. This requirement applies equally to any Acting Town Marshal.
Leadership: Town Marshal.

ARTICLE VII. ELECTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Section I - Commissioner Requirements - In order to run for and maintain a seat on the Willow Commission, a player must:

• Have been two (2) weeks since their initial join date;
• Have accrued 48 hours of total playtime;
• Have accrued 12 hours of active playtime within the last 30 days;
• Hold Willow residency, and maintain it for the entirety of their term.

Section II - Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Requirements - In order to be elected to and hold the office of Mayor or Deputy Mayor, a player must:

• Be a sitting Commissioner;
• Have been one (1) month since their initial join date;
• Have accrued 48 hours of total playtime;
• Have accrued 12 hours of active playtime within the last 30 days;
• Hold Willow residency, and maintain it for the entirety of their term;
• Not be the Mayor or Deputy Mayor of another Town.

These requirements do not apply to a player serving as Acting Mayor under Article V.

Section III - Executive Officer Requirements - In order to be appointed to and hold an Executive Officer position, a player must:

• Have been two (2) weeks since their initial join date;
• Have accrued 48 hours of total playtime;
• Have accrued 12 hours of active playtime within the last 30 days;
• Hold Willow residency, and maintain it for the entirety of their appointment.

Section IV - Terms and Election Cycle - Commissioners serve a two-month term. Elections for the Willow Commission shall begin in February, April, June, August, October, and December, on the 15th day of each assigned month. All five seats shall be contested in a single general election.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor serve for the duration of the Commission which elected them. No player may serve as Mayor for more than two consecutive terms.

Section V - Commissioner Elections - Elections for the Willow Commission shall be facilitated by the Department of State and conducted by Single Transferable Vote as set out in the Electoral Act.

All elections shall have a nomination period of 48 hours, followed by voting open for 48 hours.

Where fewer than five candidates declare, the declaration period shall be extended by 24 hours. This may repeat up to three times. After the third extension, all declared candidates shall be elected automatically and a special election held for the remaining seats. Where exactly five candidates declare, they shall be elected automatically.

Section VI - Mayoral Selection - Within ninety-six (96) hours of a new Commission taking office, the Commission shall elect a Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from among its members by First Past the Post.

The election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor shall be conducted transparently and in full public view.

Section VII - Removal and Recall - Any member of the People's Will may petition for the removal of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, any Executive Officer, or any Commissioner.

A petition must receive signatures from twenty (20) Willow residents, or from 25% of Willow residents, whichever is fewer, to be accepted. Once accepted, the Department of State shall publicly announce and conduct a removal vote. Removal requires the approval of 75% of votes cast.

Where a recall passes for a Commissioner, the Department of State shall hold a special election for the remainder of the term. Where a removal passes for an Executive Officer, the Mayor shall remove them from their duties. Where a removal passes for the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, Article V Section III applies.

Section VIII - No bylaw shall be made into law that amends the electoral process during an election period.

Section IX - Processes and structures of elections not defined in this Constitution are at the discretion of the sitting Commission, and may be defined by bylaw or by amendment to this Constitution.

ARTICLE VIII. FEDERAL RELATIONS

Section I - Supremacy - This Constitution and all Willow bylaws are subordinate to the federal Constitution, federal law, and Executive Orders of the President. Where any conflict arises, the federal provision prevails.

Section II - Staff Authority - Nothing in this Constitution limits the reserve power of Server Leadership. Where any provision of this Constitution is silent or ambiguous, it shall be read consistently with the Staff Veto governing the agricultural area.

Section III - Federal Departments - Federal Departments shall not conduct business within the Town of Willow without the approval of the Mayor, excluding:

• The Department of State, to facilitate all Willow elections, referendums, and recalls, and to maintain the residency record;
• The Department of the Interior, to administer farm and ranch plots, maintain the register under Article II, and maintain the town animal shelter;
• The Department of Construction and Transportation, to action evictions and property transfers, and to maintain roads, the airstrip, and the natural areas under Article II Section VIII;
• The Department of Homeland Security, in respect of public safety and the Federal Criminal Code;
• The Department of Health, to maintain the Town clinic.

Section IV - Retention of Office - Where the Department of State notifies the Town that an office holder no longer meets the requirements of Article VII, the Town shall remove or replace that player within four (4) days, failing which the Department may act directly.

Section V - Transition - Upon the first Mayor of the Town taking office, the Willow Interim Administrative Board established under Executive Order 53/26 dissolves, and its functions pass to the Town.

ARTICLE IX. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

Section I - A bill amending this Constitution requires a supermajority vote of the Willow Commission, followed by the approval of at least 75% of votes cast in the People's Will.

Section II - Article II may not be amended by any means provided in this Constitution. Section I of this Article does not apply to it.

Section III - No amendment to this Constitution may take effect where it is inconsistent with the federal Constitution, federal law, or the Staff Veto governing the agricultural area.

ARTICLE X. DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply across this Constitution and all bylaws of the Town of Willow.

Abstain - Any eligible voter who abstains shall be excluded from the total vote count.
Simple Majority - More than 50% of votes counted.
Supermajority - Greater than or equal to 2/3 of votes counted.
Resident - A player whose in-game residency is set to Willow.
Farm Plot - Any plot within the Town designated for agricultural use and held on lease.
Ranch Plot - Any plot within the Town designated for ranching and capable of freehold ownership.
Bylaw - Legislation created by the Town of Willow.[/CENTER]