World Assembly forum

The World Assembly forum is the section of the NS forums devoted to the discussion of the World Assembly (formerly the United Nations), mainly debating resolutions and proposals, but not necessarily gameplay issues involving WA membership. The forum is somewhat unique in being semi-IC, semi-OOC. Notable features of the forum include the commonly used "ping-pong" debating style, the Strangers' Bar, a directory of WA ambassadors, and a multitude of running jokes.

Legislation

The main purpose of the WA forum is to discuss proposed or passed resolutions (and/or whether they warrant repeal); this includes helping to improve legislation while it is still in proposal form, debating resolutions that come to vote, and considering what effects legislation would have after it becomes law.

Proposal drafting

Authors are encouraged to draft potential resolutions in the WA forum. Oftentimes when illegal proposals are submitted, moderators will tell the proposers to post their proposal text in order to get feedback from GA regulars before trying to submit again. A number of veterans of the General Assembly are usually on hand to aid in ironing out potential illegalities in proposed legislation; the most frequent problems appear to be choosing the wrong category/strength level or duplicating/contradicting standing resolutions, but of course, other issues may inevitably arise. Much of the time, forum users will object to a proposal idea as not warranting the WA's attention, including those that may intrude on national sovereignty, but there could be division on whether a proposal is worthwhile or not. Authors are advised against submitting a proposal too soon, and to wait a short while for an appropriate amount of feedback before seeking delegate approvals. Although there is no formal timetable for this, some resolutions dealing with more complex issues (for example, human rights, war crimes or advanced weapons systems) may take weeks to hone, not days.

Theoretically, at least, drafting a proposal on the GA forum is the best way to perfect it before proceeding to the submission and approval process.

Debating resolutions

Once a proposal has attained quorum (pending mod oversight), it is considered a resolution and official debate commences, with diplomats (and/or the players they represent) each taking a formal position on the legislation, and sometimes defending their stances with sustained debate. Proposers who fail to show up for the formal debate are often criticized for their silence. Sometimes forum regulars will be nearly unanimous in either supporting or opposing a resolution; other times great divisions arise and stormy debates will ensue. Historically there have been profound, even resentful disagreements between those who assume a more sovereigntist (or "NatSov") stance on WA matters, and those who believe in a more powerful and proactive WA. (The latter faction calls itself "international federalist," or "IntFed.") The gameside vote count is closely monitored during such discussions, especially when the vote is close, and the actions of individual delegates are at times scrutinized.

Debates on resolutions can be almost entirely roleplayed, or mostly done in OOC fashion, or become a hybrid of both, depending on the subject matter and the mood of the participants.