Representation and Oversight Board Charter

ESTABLISHED by Constitutional Order of the Koru of the Hokorian State under the Constitution of the Hokorian State.

Part I- Purpose and Status

Section 1- Purpose of this Charter

1. This Charter establishes the Representation and Oversight Board.
2. The purpose of the Board is:
   • to provide democratic representation within the governance of the State; and
   • to exercise oversight of statutes made under the Council of Officers Charter, in accordance with this Charter.
3. The Board exercises only such authority as is delegated by this Charter.

Section 2- Constitutional Status

1. This Charter has constitutional force.
2. This Charter has effect only for so long as it remains established by Constitutional Order.
3. This Charter is subject to:
   • the Constitution of the Hokorian State; and
   • the Sovereignty and Koru Charter.
4. Nothing in this Charter limits the authority of the Koru.

Part II- Establishment and Composition

Section 3- Establishment of the Board

1. The Representation and Oversight Board is hereby established.
2. The Board is a governance structure for the purposes of the Sovereignty and Koru Charter.
3. The Board has no inherent authority.

Section 4- Membership and Elections

1. Members of the Board shall be elected by citizens of the Hokorian State.
2. The number of members of the Board shall be as provided by statute.
3. The following matters shall be determined by Statute of the Council of Officers:
   • electoral processes and administration;
   • term length;
   • eligibility and disqualification;
   • removal and vacancy;
   • participation thresholds, if any.

Part III- Powers and Functions

Section 5- Proposal of Statutes

1. The Board may propose statutes to the Council of Officers.
2. A proposal of the Board has no legal effect unless:
   • adopted as a statute under the Council of Officers Charter; and
   • assented to by the Koru.
3. The Council of Officers is not required to consider or adopt a proposal of the Board.

Section 6- Suspension of Statutes

1. The Board may, by resolution supported by a simple majority of its members, suspend the operation of a statute.
2. A suspension under subsection (1) may be exercised only where:
   • the statute was passed within the preceding two weeks; and
   • the suspension is made within that two week period.
3. A suspension under this section:
   • is temporary;
   • does not repeal or invalidate the statute; and
   • has effect only for such period as specified by statute or, if none is specified, until the expiry of the suspension period provided by statute.
4. A statute may not be suspended more than once unless expressly authorised by statute.

Section 7- Effect of Suspension

1. While a statute is suspended:
   • it shall have no operative effect; and
   • no regulation may be made under its authority.
2. Upon the expiry or termination of a suspension, the statute shall revive automatically unless otherwise provided by law.

Part IV- Procedure and Organisation

Section 8- Internal Organisation

1. The Board may organise its internal affairs only to the extent authorised by statute.
2. Without limiting subsection (1), statute may provide for:
   • parties or groupings;
   • a Speaker or presiding officer;
   • rules of debate and voting; and
   • committees or other internal bodies.

Section 9- Procedure

1. The validity of any act of the Board depends only upon authority conferred by this Charter and any applicable statute.
2. No failure of internal procedure shall of itself invalidate a suspension or proposal.

Part V- Relationship to Other Authorities

Section 10- Relationship with the Council of Officers

1. This Charter does not limit the power of the Council of Officers to propose or pass statutes.
2. The Council of Officers remains the sole source of ordinary law.

Section 11- Authority of the Koru

1. The Koru may:
   • override a suspension made by the Board; or
   • suspend or terminate the operation of this Charter,
     by Constitutional Order.
2. Nothing in this Charter limits the power of the Koru to act with or without advice.

Part VI- Continuity and Interpretation

Section 12- Continuity

1. The absence, inactivity or vacancy of the Board does not prevent the exercise of sovereign authority.
2. Where the Board is inactive, governance shall continue without its participation.

Section 13- Interpretation

1. This Charter shall be interpreted so as to preserve continuity of governance and delegated authority.
2. Where ambiguity arises, the interpretation most consistent with the authority of the Koru shall prevail.

Part VII- Final Provisions

Section 14- Relationship to Other Charters

1. This Charter operates consistently with the Council of Officers Charter.
2. In the event of inconsistency, the Charter higher in constitutional hierarchy shall prevail.