New England Confederation Alliance

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The New England Confederation Alliance (NECA) is an alliance based on 'Working toward greater cooperation among the six New England states. Creating greater sovereignty and greater autonomy for the region in economic, political and social policy.' The NECA consists of the six New England states (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut) in the Northeast of the United States. The Alliance promotes the purchase and support of 'Made in New England' products and services as well as spreading the word of the Alliance and flying the New England flag.

Their policies consist of the following: (Taken from the NECA website)

State powers and privileges 1.1 Sovereignty 1.1.1 Each state is independent and sovereign.

1.1.2 It retains all such freedoms, powers, jurisdictions, rights and privileges not expressly delegated to the Confe­deration.

1.2 Defense 1.2.1 Each state has the right to maintain its own defense forces and the right to defend itself against actual invasion. 1.2.2 No state's military forces may enter another state without that state's consent. 1.3 Secession Each state has the right to secede from the Confederation on the direct vote of its citizens.

1.4 Superior law Subject to part one (the compact) of this constitution and each state's jurisdiction, state laws and treaties are superior to confederate laws and treaties.

1.5 State assumption of a confederate service 1.5.1 Each state has the right to take over or discontinue the provision of a confederate task or service within its jurisdiction.

1.5.2 The state shall receive a financial compensation from the Confederation equal to the Confederation's realizable savings.

1.6 Treaty powers 1.6.1 Each state retains the right to make treaties with any other state or foreign state, provided that such treaties either shall be made for a fixed term shorter than 35 years or with a notice of termination shorter than 3 years.

1.6.2 Treaties may not contain secret clauses.

1.7 Regional bodies 1.7.1 Two or more states may, by treaty, establish a regional body and grant it part of their powers and privileges according to this consti­tution.

1.7.2 The founding treaty shall enumerate those regional powers and privileges to be enjoyed concurrently with the member states and those powers and privileges exclusive to the regional body.

1.7.3 Each state may be a member of any number of regional bodies as long as their powers or privileges do not conflict, or can be made not to conflict, with each other, or with those of each state.

1.7.4 Regional bodies may be non-contiguous

1.7.5 Regional bodies enjoy constitutional protection.

1.7.6 Regional bodies are bound by this constitution, concurrent with, and on the same terms as each state.

1.8 The constitutional tribunal 1.8.1 Conflicts between one or more states and the Con­federation shall be referred to the consti­tutional tribunal for final decision.

1.8.2 The tribunal shall, in each instan­ce, consist of 9 judges drawn by lot from the candidates of the tribunal.

1.8.3 The candidates of the tribunal shall consist of 5 judges selected from the supreme court of each state by that state.

1.8.4 When selected they shall remain as candidates during good behavior.

1.8.5 They shall receive for their services a com­pensation which shall not be diminished during their con­tinuance as a candidate.

1.8.6 The tribunal shall maintain no of­fices in the capital of the Confederation, neither must its proceedings take place in the capital.

1.9 Amendments to part one (the compact) 1.9.1 The power to propose amendments to this cons­titution affecting the freedoms, powers, privileges, indepen­dence or sovereign­ty of the individual states, including amendments to any section of part one (the compact), shall be the exclusive privilege of each state.

1.9.2 To qualify for the ballot, such proposed amendment must be supported by at least one third of the states or by states that together have at least one third of the total population of the Con­federation.

1.9.3 Qualified proposals must be submitted to the citizens for decision within 465 days.

1.9.4 The proposed amendment shall be approved by a double majority of 60%, with each state's vote being equal.

1.9.5 Notwithstanding the previous subsection, no amendment to part one (the compact) becomes binding on or in relation to a state whose citizens have not approved the amend­ment.

[edit] External link

• NECA