Interstellar Cooperation Organization

[Zeradias Mant]

The Interstellar Cooperation Organization (ICO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between several independent systems formed after the ratification of the Interstellar Defense Pact (IDP). It is a collective defense treaty in which it's member factions agree to mutual defense in response to attack by any external party.

The ICO Headquarters is located in the Federal District of Coruscant, while the headquarters of the ICO Central Command is located on Naboo. It is administratively led by a Secretary-General, a head of state from one of the constituent factions and is subject to a one year renewable term.

It does not maintain a central standing army, but rather liaises and cooperates with each other when conducting joint training exercises or are deployed in defense of a constituent system. All forces deployed under the IDP agreement fall under the centralized command of the Supreme Allied Commander, a flag officer from one of the participating factions.

CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP
​The member factions may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other independent state in a position to further the principles of this Pact and contribute to the collective security to accede to this Pact. While there is no set criteria for membership, candidates must be willing and able to contribute to the defense and missions of the organization, promote domestic policy which is compatible with ICO cooperation, and devote sufficient resources to the efforts of the organization as required. Factions wishing to join must be sovereign and independent and cannot have planetary holdings or territories beyond their homeworld. Membership of another organization contradictory of ICO's mission will be precluded from consideration.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP


Often times, smaller planetary governments lack the necessary resources to effectively counter threats to their planet's security. Under ICO, member states pledge to come to the assistance of other member states in order to effectively counter threats to security as well as deter any faction which may consider hostile action against another. While ICO is a military alliance in nature, member states can collaborate politically and economically if it improves collective security.

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Current membership of the Interstellar Cooperation Organization is as follows:

ICO LEADERSHIP

• Secretary-General: TBA
• Supreme Allied Commander: TBA

MEMBER FACTIONS

• GALACTIC CITY AUTHORITY, CORUSCANT
• CORELLIAN CONFEDERATION, CORELLIA
• ATRISIAN COMMONWEALTH, ATRISIA
• KUAT DRIVE YARDS, KUAT
• THE KRATH, EMPRESS TETA (?)
• SOVEREIGN SYSTEM OF NABOO, NABOO (?)

 

[Zeradias Mant]

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

OPTION 1: NATO-themed
The Interstellar Cooperation Organization (ICO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between several independent systems formed after the ratification of the Interstellar Defense Pact. It is a collective defense treaty in which its member factions agree to mutual defense in response to attack by any external party.

Like any alliance, ICO is ultimately governed by its member states. However, the IDP outlines how decisions are to be made within ICO. Each of the member factions send a delegation to ICO's headquarters in the Federal District of Coruscant. Together, members form the Central Governance Council (CGC), a body which meets regularly and has effective governance authority and powers of decision in ICO. From time to time, the Council also meets at higher level meetings involving foreign ministers, defense ministers, and heads of state, and it is at these meetings major decisions are made. However, it is worth noting that the Council has the same authority and decision making powers, and its decisions have the same status and validity at whatever level it meets. CGC meetings are chaired by the Secretary General of ICO. Supermajority (2/3) is required for ICO action. Each faction represented in the CGC or any of it's subordinate committees retains complete sovereignty and responsibility for its own decisions.

OPTION 2: EU/UN hybrid
The Interstellar Cooperation Organization (ICO) is an intergovernmental organization of independent factions tasked with the promotion of interfaction cooperation and to create and maintain interstellar order within the Core regions of the galaxy.

All members of ICO are afforded membership in the ICO General Assembly, the main deliberative assembly of ICO. The General Assembly meets regularly, but emergency sessions can also be called. The Assembly is led by a president, elected from among the member factions on a rotating basis. When the General Assembly votes, a supermajority (2/3) is required. Apart from budgetary matters, resolutions are not binding, but carry significant political weight when making recommendations to the ICO Security Council or other interstellar decisions.

The ICO Security Council is charged with maintaining peace and security of ICO member regions. While the General Assembly and its subordinate committees can only make "recommendations" to member states, the Security Council has the power to make binding decisions that member states have agreed to carry out. The Security Council is made up of X member factions, X of which are permanent and X of which are non-permanent and rotational. ICO Security Council permanent members hold veto power over ICOSC resolutions, but not debate. The ICOSC is chaired by a president who holds the seat for a one year term and may not hold consecutive terms. Heads of state may represent their faction at ICOSC meetings, but may not serve as ICOSC President.

The Secretary-General serves as the chief administrative officer of ICO and holds no unilateral decisionmaking authority. The Secretary-General is nominated by the Security Council and confirmed by the General Assembly and holds a two year term. The Secretary-General is the de facto spokesperson of ICO and can bring any matter to the Security Council's attention in which in their opinion may threaten the maintenance of interstellar peace and security. In addition to serving as the chief administrator of ICO, the Secretary-General also serves as the chief arbitrator and mediator in internal disputes.

JOINT MILITARY COMMAND
ICO does not maintain a central standing army, but rather liaises and cooperates with each other when conducting joint training exercises or are deployed in defense of a constituent system. All forces deployed under the IDP agreement fall under the centralized command of the Supreme Allied Commander Core (SACCOR), a flag officer from one of the participating factions.

ICO forces are represented administratively by the Chairman of the ICO Military Committee (CMC), and serves as the liaison and advisor to ICO's governing body on military policy and strategy. The CMC is one of the foremost officials of ICO, next to the Secretary-General and SACCOR.

ICO maintains several commands scattered throughout its constituent systems.

• SUPREME ALLIED POWERS CENTRAL COMMAND (TBD)
• ALLIED JOINT NAVAL FORCES COMMAND (TBD)
• ALLIED JOINT STRIKE FORCES COMMAND (TBD)
• ICO STRATEGIC COMMAND (TBD)
• ICO CYBER COMMAND (TBD)