Pontbouleau, located in the Main World of Ecocitycraft, is a town centred upon its culture, its people and its equality, welcoming all players with open arms: builders, residents, merchants, property-seekers and the elite. Everyone has a place in Pontbouleau. Pontbouleau is a unique town in many senses within the realms of Ecocitycraft, most notably its lack of a dictatorial Mayor and evident feudal system. Pontbouleau has an elected Mayor that governs the town in compliance with the Duke/Duchess of Pontbouleau, and a democratic council that meets on a regular basis to discuss issues and pass laws that are enforced through the town's own policing force. Pontbouleau is also a taxed town to ensure a smoother economy, and taxes allow Pontbouleau to be "open to all" as there is no pressure to evict residents for the sake of commerce. As long as you pay your taxes, serve your duty and abide by the laws, no Statesman can attempt to remove you from the town. And, finally, different to most towns, many of Pontbouleau's ordinary features are not written in English, but in French, such as most official signs and some legal documents. This said, anyone of any language is welcome to Pontbouleau, and only very basic French is required to get your way around town. In this thread is a summarised list of the laws of Pontbouleau, and information regarding taxes and the political system. The laws here are summarised. They are not official, and there are additional laws that may only be applicable in certain conditions, and if you wish to take a closer look into the laws, you will have to acquire copies of them from one who has it. Laws and the taxation and political systems are bound to change, and please do not assume that they will stay the same. I. The Political System of Pontbouleau Pontbouleau [PB] is divided into four districts, the Centre-Ville [CV], Courteil [CT], St Christine [SC] and the Ordarian Quarter [OQ]. Each district has its own District Hall, a special uniqueness to it and warm-hearted residents. No two districts are the same. For example, the commercial Centre-Ville and its long, large boulevards differs much from the residential quietness of the Ordarian Quarter, and the large Place St Christine is so different from the somewhat irregular street patterns of Courteil. District Halls serve many purposes. Predominantly, they are tax collection points, and residents must visit them every fortnight to pay their taxes, and they also serve as polling booths. They are also offices to councillors, and there is one councillor per district. The job of the councillor, who is elected by his local people, is to make sure that taxes are collected, and a councillor must listen to the concerns of his residents and make sure that their demands are carried out. Each councillor may also hire an assistant to help with their work and work for them if they are absent. Councillors also make up half of the seats of the Premier Conseil (the First Council), the most important authoritative body of Pontbouleau. The First Council is a Parliament that meets on a regular basis to discuss and pass laws, and consists of Councillors, Deputy Mayors, the Mayor and the Duke or Duchess. In the First Council, laws can be passed, modified and abolished so long as the majority of voters agree to it and there is no outright contradiction that it creates to the culture of Pontbouleau. There are two Deputy Mayors of Pontbouleau, the first is elected by the First Council, the second is appointed by the Duke/Duchess with the advice of the Mayor. The role of a Deputy Mayor is to oversee the work of the Councillors, to ensure that there is no evident breach of laws and to be certain that everything is going along well. They must obey the commands of the State and the Dukedom. Every two months, a town-wide election is hosted for the Mayor of Pontbouleau. The Mayor's job is to represent his people to the server of ECC, to ensure everyone is working with each other and to keep a control over every aspect of the town alongside the Duke and his Deputy Mayors. The Duke/Duchess holds the traditionally, but not practically, most important role of Pontbouleau. He/She runs the whole town, has the ability to reject the votes of the First Council and reject the appointment of new Mayors. However, they cannot implement any new laws without the vote of the First Council and must work alongside other political figures, as not doing so can lead to the First Council raising the State of Revolution. II. Enforcing the Political System of Pontbouleau Pontbouleau has its own Gendarmerie, a policing body that enforces the law. Gendarmes are appointed by the Marshal of Pontbouleau, who is appointed by the Duke of Pontbouleau, and who manages the Gendarmerie. The duties of the Gendarmerie also include helping whoever needs help and discovering griefs and unauthorised underground mine shafts. The Gendarmerie is aided by a selection of impartial Judges, whose job it is to host court sessions in order to resolve disputes and justify punishments. Judges must be impartial and unbiased, and have no say in the Law (they cannot vote) but must follow it. They are appointed by the Duke/Duchess, who represents their needs to the First Council and also serves as the final adjudicator. Judges do not have the power to evict, but must file eviction requests to the Duke/Duchess or Mayor in order to carry out evictions. In times of need, a Treasurer may also be appointed to manage the town's finances. He is in the most trusted position of the political system and is appointed by the Mayor if the Duke/Duchess allows it. Tax revenue pays for everyone in the political system, except Deputy Councillors. Everyone gets a share of tax revenue, and the more tax paid, the richer the politicians become. Special privileges are also given to those who are part of the political system. III. Joining the Political System of Pontbouleau To join the Political System of Pontbouleau, the requirements are: - Citizenship: Clean grief records and an initiation ceremony witnessed by the local councillor, a Deputy Mayor and a Judge. - Councillor: Citizenship, at least one residential property within the local district and candidature via the Mayor. - Deputy Mayor: Citizenship. For appointed DMs, appointment by the Dukedom and State, for elected DMs, candidature via the Mayor and a place as Councillor in the First Council. - Mayor: Citizenship and rank of Councillor or Deputy Mayor, as well as acceptance by the Duke/Duchess. - Judge: Citizenship, at least one residential property in Pontbouleau and appointment by the Dukedom. - Marshal: Membership of the Gendarme, appointment by the State. - Treasurer: Appointment by the State with acceptance from the Duke/Duchess (there is no need to have any prior affiliation with Pontbouleau). - Duke/Duchess: Appointment by the preceding Duke/Duchess after his/her permanent resignation. IV. Taxation System of Pontbouleau There are two taxation categories in Pontbouleau: Main Type Taxes and Protection Taxes. There are seven types of Main Type Taxes: firstly, Main Residential Tax [MRT] and Main Commercial Tax [BCT] for independent, non-branch stores and regularly-used residencies, then Secondary Residential Tax [SRT] and its commercial counterpart Branch Commercial Tax [BCT] for non-primary residencies and commercial properties that are only branches of a much larger company, and finally Vacant Residential/Commercial Tax [VRT/VCT] for properties and commercial spaces that are not used at all or are closed. There is an additional Opening Commercial Tax [OCT] for newly-purchased stores that are under construction. Each property has to pay one Main Type Tax depending on its usage, and lying about what type you are supposed to pay could have serious consequences. There are then three types of Protection Taxes: Community Service Tax [CST] for grief protection, Policing Body Tax [PBT] for the Gendarmerie and Town Funds Tax [TFT] for town savings. CST is a very unique tax. If you are griefed, you have the option of either paying for the damages yourself, or using your previous CST payments to cover up the damage. CST isn't counted as tax revenue - the State just holds it so that when you're griefed, costs can be covered by the State. You don't have to pay CST if you can provide evidence that you are regularly paying an ECC house insurance company, and you don't have to accept CST money after a grief if it's a small grief. The State buys materials to cover griefs at twice the server price, so it's not worth it for a stone brick or a block of dirt! Residential Main Type Tax goes towards paying the Councillors, the Deputy Mayors, the Mayor and the Duke/Duchess. Commercial Main Type Tax goes towards paying the Deputy Mayors, the Mayor, the Duke/Duchess and the Treasurer. PBT goes towards Judges, the Marshal, the Duke/Duchess and the Gendarmerie, and TFT goes towards those getting the PBT in different proportions and the Town itself. The proportion of money may change depending on the existence of a Treasurer and the amounts of Judges and Gendarmes there are, as well as the necessity for town income, which can also be obtained through fines and license-giving. Deputy Councillors are not paid by the State, but by their masters themselves if a Councillor wants to have one. Taxes are paid every fortnight in the local District Hall. Failure to pay tax results in a Tax Default, where you must pay the Tax and a fine of $50 the next fortnight, and consecutive or repetitive Tax Defaults could lead to a court session and further punishments. V. Laws of Pontbouleau This is a condensed and reworded list of laws. It is only a guide, and to view the full ones please obtain copies via forum conversation from those who have them. The condensed list is thus: You may not perform exterior changes to your plot, including to exterior walls, without the permission of your local authority (unobtainable. Architecture is a huge part of our culture, changing one building means changing every building). You may not expand your plot without the permission of your local authority (this is obtainable - even encouraged sometimes!). You may not "grief." You may not possess a plot of more than twelve joined parcelles (a parcelle = 12x12x6). Residents (i.e. non-Citizens) can only have two plots. There is a limit to height of buildings at two parcelles. You cannot "corrupt" or have intention to "corrupt" the town's culture, democratic political system or nature. No farms. End of. You cannot perform treason to the Dukedom. You cannot threaten. You cannot hold a weapon in public without good reason. Do not be arrogant. Do not mine without the appropriate permission from the local authority. Do not report griefs to moderators. In Pontbouleau, we prefer to conduct private investigations into griefs and treat griefs ourselves, so rather than report griefs to moderators, report them to the Gendarmerie or Local District Authority as soon as possible. Do not hire an investigation service, do not file a complaint, but do wait patiently, do inform us and do remain calm. In addition to the above, everyone in Pontbouleau have the following rights and duties: Duty to the State and Dukedom. Duty to report griefs to the Gendarmerie or Local District Authority. Duty to the town's culture, economy and people. Duty to welcome and assist newcomers. Duty to represent their people (if Councillor+). Duty to secrecy. The Gendarmerie may not reveal information regarding griefs, arrests and evictions (unless necessary or asked with appropriate authority or on appropriate grounds) to towns that are not allied with Pontbouleau or to the general public. Private investigations must also remain private. Duty of honesty to the State and Dukedom. Duty to impartiality and unbiased judgements (if Judge+/Gendarme+) Right to a democratic, unbiased and unpressurised vote for local and town-wide representation. Right to application for Citizenship (Residents). Right to legal representation in any of the Courts of Pontbouleau. Right to demand of the State and Dukedom. Right to outvote the rulings of the First Council (Dukedom). Right to refuse the implementation of laws demanded by the people (State/Dukedom). Right to be titled. Right to refuse to vote. VI. Punishments In Pontbouleau, a range of punishments are applied to offenders of the Laws of Pontbouleau: Fining: For any crimes seen as treason to the economy, or any physical damage caused. Fines can stretch from $10 to $15,000, excluding any investigation service that the State has paid for and the cost of damages that the player’s CST [Community Service Tax] payments cannot cover. In Pontbouleau, the value of an object is twice that of a server price, and is bought from the players. Residents have the right to refuse income for grief coverage from their CST if they do not find it worthwhile. Fines may also double if not paid within a certain period of time. Tax Default: For the failure to pay tax without the foreknowledge of at least forty-eight hours by the Local District Authority. Tax Defaults consist of the player having to pay the tax that was not paid on his next payment, including a $50 fine for the default. A player can have two non-consecutive defaults within a four month period before facing further punishment. Renouncement of rights: For license-holders who abuse their terms and conditions of possession of the license. The license is removed with or without an additional punishment depending on the severity. Renouncement of rank: For those employed by the State or Dukedom who abuse their privileges as their rank and abuse their terms and conditions of possession of the rank. The rank is removed with or without an additional punishment depending on the severity. Exclusion from suffrage: For those with the privileged ability to vote who abuse their rights to vote. They are excluded from a particular vote. Temporary Suspension of Rights: For those who are believed to be in imminent danger of causing grief or physical damage to the town, and are thus removed for security reasons without forewarning. Rights-holders of Pontbouleau must accept that they may be issued a Temporary Suspension of Rights in the conditions of their acquisition of rights, and must accept that the State cannot be denounced for the immediate withdrawal of rights unless it cannot provide a realistic, evidence-backed explanation to its actions and does not take further action within 48 hours of the issue. Eviction: For those causing major or repetitive damage to the State or Dukedom. As by the Eviction of Property Act 2013, a resident may be evicted if: They pose a threat to the security of the State. They receive more than two (non-)consecutive Tax Defaults in less than four months. They have broken numerous laws. They have griefed in other towns. They have not satisfactorily followed a previous punishment’s requirements. They have been arrogant. They have been banned and have an unrealistic chance of returning. They have refused to surrender their property to the State even after the State has given a reasonable and realistic price for its acquisition. The eviction has been performed in compliance with the laws of the town and the server. A judge has filed a request for eviction to the Mayor or Dukedom, and it has been accepted. VII. State of Revolution A State of Revolution is a decree that may be passed on several grounds. During a State of Revolution, the town may be openly griefed and damaged without any fear of governmental oppression, barricades set up and properties stormed and seized. The First Council must be closed before a State of Revolution is issued, and a 48-hour warning given to all residents to flee the town alongside their valuables unless they wish to choose to stay and witness the destruction or help its course through the town. It may then be lifted if a compromise is reached. There are three main reasons why a State of Revolution may be issued: Overpowered First Council. Overpowered Dukedom. Lack of compromise between the First Council and/or Dukedom and the people. However, legally, a State of Revolution can only be decreed if: There is undoubted restlessness and failure of compromise between the First Council andthe demand of its people. The First Council or Dukedom may thus raise the State of Revolution. The First Council is equally divided over a particularly intense and divisive vote and no compromise is reached over a relatively long period of time. The First Council or Dukedom may thus raise the State of Revolution. The relationship between the Dukedom and First Council collapses. The First Council or Dukedom may thus raise the State of Revolution. Laws have not been followed by servers of the State and Dukedom. The Dukedom may thus raise the State of Revolution. A State of Revolution can only be lowered if a compromise is reached between the two opposing parties. All proprietorial rights-holders must accept that the State of Revolution may occur and they may lose their properties if it comes into place. VIII. Further Reading I pray that you have all benefited from reading through this thread on the general information for the Laws of Pontbouleau. Any changes to the Laws or the running of the town shall be detailed in a reply to this thread. The general town thread is located here. For inquiries, please follow the link. Au revoir, and good day.
