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The '''Curia''' is both a forum on [[Total War Center]] and an institution running since 2003. It originally housed the Civitiate class (the early citizens who were selected for their acumen and debate skills) and gave them a place for 'higher discussion'. Over time it came to elect staff positions, add countless influential modders via the new Artifex badge, elect an admin position and theoretically serve as the front line of accountability. Easily as early as 2005, there was a downwards spiral in faith for the Curia's purpose. If anyone has collected a coin for every declaration that the Curia is dead, pointless or horribly flawed since then, they would be very wealthy indeed.
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The '''Curia''' is a forum on [[Total War Center]] and an institution running since 2003. It is a place where users can be nominated and voted in for various [[Curial Awards]] and a legacy spot for members of the site to talk site politics.  
  
Over many [[History of the Syntagma|amendments]] and redrafts of the founding document (now called the [[Constitution]]), the Curia has since lost most of its power and responsibility. Today it elects two [[Magistrate|magistrates]] for the [[Tribunal]], offers a selection of [[awards]] for both Curial and wider site contributions, votes in new citizens for its ranks and occasionally launches initiatives or serves as a think tank for site issues.
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The Curia is mainly composed of [[Citizens]], though its main area may be posted in by full members. These citizens have voting power on discussions and decisions in the forum, and overall the forum is run by the [[Consul]] with occasional support from the [[administration]].
 
 
The Curia is governed by the [[Consul]], who appoints two [[Censor|Censors]] for day-to-day management. The Consul has a wide range of moderation powers within the Curia forums, but is governed by the Constitution and upon abuse/neglect may be subject to a Vote of No Confidence by the citizenry. Citizens may remove one of their own via a process known as Ostraka, where a sufficient majority vote is needed to oust them. Otherwise there is notably reduced moderation in the Curia, especially regarding personal references. Handling minor breaches and general conduct is the Consul's responsibility; larger issues default to the site moderators or [[Hexagon Council]] that holds ultimate power over all aspects, including the Curia's decisions.
 
  
 
==The Curia by Section==
 
==The Curia by Section==
Excluding the Prothalamos, all Curia sections are restricted to citizen posting. Its heart, the Symposium is citizen exclusive for viewing as well. Most sections have a clearly defined purpose in the Curia's bureaucracy, and ensuring it runs smoothly is the duty of the Consul.
 
 
 
===[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?12-CVRIA CVRIA]===
 
===[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?12-CVRIA CVRIA]===
The 'home' forum with most of the below forums. It contains the Constitution, threads with extra curial information, a Townhall for citizen chat, and a few more threads to aid in its purpose. Below these pins are discussions about Curial topics, some more serious than others.
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The center of the Curia, which may be posted in by non-citizens but where only citizens are able to vote. It is used for general discussion in its sticky threads and to post decisions, discussions and award nominations.
  
 
===[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?16-SYMPOSIVM SYMPOSIVM]===
 
===[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?16-SYMPOSIVM SYMPOSIVM]===
A citizens only discussion forum, present since the founding of the Curia itself. Originally made for citizens to hold 'higher discussion' in confidence. It is now an archive of those days and dedicated subforums for curial committees and juicy threads regarding site history. On occasion it holds discussions as well, but the gradual opening of the Curia has left it sparsely used even in favor of the 'main' section.
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A citizens only discussion forum, present since the founding of the Curia. Originally made for citizens to hold 'higher discussion' in confidence. It is now an archive of those days, hosting dedicated subforums for curial committees, old procedures and juicy threads regarding site history. On occasion it holds discussions as well, but the gradual opening of the Curia and the decline of overall traffic has made this a rare instance.
 
 
===[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?325-Quaestiones-Perpetuae Quaestiones Perpetuae]===
 
Citizen applications are posted here and voted on by the citizenry.
 
 
 
Soon a reference for this will be linked.
 
  
===[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?13-Curia-Vote Curia Vote]===
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===[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?13-Curia-Vote TWC's Living History Forum]===
A forum where all subjects 'moved to vote' from the [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?15-Prothalamos Prothalamos] or regarding elections are put here, where the citizens vote (citizens alone). Simple majority decides most things, but refer to the constitution for specifics.
 
 
 
A subforum, the Tabularium exists to hold records of votes (pinned) and archive threads.
 
  
 
===Politia===
 
===Politia===
The Politia has changed with generations of how the Curia is managed. Previously held the [[Citizen's Triumvirate]], citizen referrals, the offices for [[Praefects]], and other historical content. Today it is the office of the Consul and appointed assistants, as well as their main contact with site administration.
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The Politia has changed with generations of how the Curia is managed. Previously held the [[Citizen's Triumvirate]], citizen referrals, the offices for [[Praefects]], and other historical content. Today it is the office of the Consul in contact with the administration, and also available for curial assistants to view should the need arise.
 
 
===[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?15-Prothalamos Prothalamos]===
 
This forum is structured to post a few types of thread: Decisions, Discussions, Amendments and Awards (not citizenship). Anyone on the site may post a thread following the general conventions that are set by previous example, and upon the support of three citizens it may be moved to vote upon thread creator's request. If the thread goes inactive for 28 days or is invalid, it may be archived by the Consul.
 
 
 
Previously there was a forum for non-citizen proposals working the same way the Proth does now called the Rostra. It contains four threads made consecutively in the same year by the same person and was never used again.
 
 
 
The forum was once in the "Curia Proper", but in the [[Curial Order 66|amendment to open it to non-citizens]] it was moved out to sit just below the main Curia.
 
  
 
==History of the Curia==
 
==History of the Curia==
 
''See more: [[History of Total War Center]]''
 
''See more: [[History of Total War Center]]''
  
The Curia's history is deeply entwined with site leadership and member investment. Its chapters are lengthy and are in greater description via the above and the sublinks on the bottom, including its council the [[Consilium de Civitate]], the [[Old Syntagma]], the [[Houses of TWC]] and much more. In time this section should be expanded following the revival of the Head Historian position.
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The Curia was originally a staff-supervised meeting ground for [[Civitates]], an in-group of users who showed their merits through quality posting when TWC was more of an intellectual discussion hub connected to the Total War series. This group expanded and in its earliest history was actually trimmed a few times for 'quality control' reasons. Eventually it became large enough for its new membership process to delegate to the [[Consilium de Civitate]], a body of 12 citizens to vote on new arrivals as well as handle discipline. Over the years up to the late 2010s there has been an ethos of 'higher standards' held above the 'average' user; this standard, rather abstract, has caused controversy over time ultimately resulting in the concept being dropped entirely in later years, corresponding with a drop in the use of any curial disciplinary process. In its earliest times it had elected an administrator, developed a complicated system of [[Houses of TWC]], and was governed by the [[Old Syntagma]]. Around the time the site re-entered independent ownership the governing document was renamed to [[The Constitution]], and the Curia has been in a steady decline as its earlier years of impact were steadily supplanted by a stable staff and loss of purpose over the following decade.
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The following sections are spotty and really only chronological to the late 2010s and the 2020s, when updates were posted.
  
 
===Controversy===
 
===Controversy===
Throughout its existence the Curia has been a controversial subject. Even in its foundation there were those that opposed it, namely [[The Black Prince]]. Many have claimed the Curia is not an effective administrative body, that mob rule simply does not work on a forum, or that the Curia does not have the ability to undertake its goals. Under various Admins the Curia has struggled to define its place on the site, to what authority it should truly command. Under [[Ogre's Network]] the Curia's existence came up in various arguments, but the most pressing event was just before the sale of the site to [[Imb39]], where the Curia was almost deleted. One major proponent of reforms to the Curia was [[Professor420]]; many others have left their marks as conservative advocates, critics, radicals, janitors and infamous members.
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Throughout its existence the Curia has been a controversial subject. Even in its foundation there were those that opposed it, namely [[The Black Prince]] (one of the [[Triumvirate|three top administrators]] of the time). Many have claimed the Curia is not an effective administrative body, that mob rule simply does not work on a forum, or that the Curia does not have the ability to undertake its goals. Under various Admins the Curia has struggled to define its place on the site, to what authority it should truly command. Under [[Ogre's Network]] the Curia's existence came up in various arguments, but the most pressing event was just before the sale of the site to [[Imb39]], where the Curia was almost deleted. One major proponent of reforms to the Curia was [[Professor420]]; many others have left their marks as conservative advocates, critics, radicals, janitors and infamous members.
  
 
===[[Curial Overhaul 66]]===
 
===[[Curial Overhaul 66]]===
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===Further Simplification of the Curia===
 
===Further Simplification of the Curia===
With the [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?807061-Amendment-Getting-rid-of-the-praefects removal of the role of the Praefects] and the [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?807119-Amendment-Ye-Olde-Referral-Removal cancellation of the Citizens referrals], the Curia has been further simplified in disciplinary protocols. Suspension of Citizenship upon site infraction is now automatic, and Citizenship can only be permanently removed by the means of an [[Ostrakon]].
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With the [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?807061-Amendment-Getting-rid-of-the-praefects removal of the role of the Praefects] and the [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?807119-Amendment-Ye-Olde-Referral-Removal cancellation of the Citizens referrals], the Curia has been further simplified in disciplinary protocols. Suspension of Citizenship upon site infraction became automatic, and Citizenship could only be removed through [[Ostrakon]].
 +
 
 +
===The Rostra & The Prothalamos===
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The Rostra was created to allow non-citizens to make proposals for the Curia with the support of three citizens. The forum was rarely used, and later Curial Overhaul 66 would make the Protholamos open to posting from non-citizens with support from citizens. Given the overlap the Rostra was moved to the Proth's Archives. A [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?811547-Decision-Remove-the-Rostra decision] removed the forum entirely and merged the contents with the Proth Archive. In April 2024 the Prothalamos itself was archived into the Symposium, as its purpose had merged with the main Curia forum.
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 +
===The Intervention===
 +
At the end of March 2023, the standing Consul was removed for abuses of power. Following public and private discussion, the administration collectively decided that the Curia must be simplified. Thus it was; old bureaucratic forums were archived, the function of the Prothalamos, curia vote and new citizenships were merged into Curia main, and its elected offices were transitioned to strictly appointed positions or removed, citing the severe lack of participation the Curia was seeing by this point and its inability to perform activities beyond token self adjustments and reruns of its traditional drama.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
Line 55: Line 44:
 
*[[Houses of TWC]]
 
*[[Houses of TWC]]
  
==External Links==
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===External Links===
 
*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12 The Curia on TWC]
 
*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12 The Curia on TWC]
 
*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=86574 The Constitution on TWC]
 
*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=86574 The Constitution on TWC]

Latest revision as of 05:35, 17 April 2024

The Curia is a forum on Total War Center and an institution running since 2003. It is a place where users can be nominated and voted in for various Curial Awards and a legacy spot for members of the site to talk site politics.

The Curia is mainly composed of Citizens, though its main area may be posted in by full members. These citizens have voting power on discussions and decisions in the forum, and overall the forum is run by the Consul with occasional support from the administration.

The Curia by Section

CVRIA

The center of the Curia, which may be posted in by non-citizens but where only citizens are able to vote. It is used for general discussion in its sticky threads and to post decisions, discussions and award nominations.

SYMPOSIVM

A citizens only discussion forum, present since the founding of the Curia. Originally made for citizens to hold 'higher discussion' in confidence. It is now an archive of those days, hosting dedicated subforums for curial committees, old procedures and juicy threads regarding site history. On occasion it holds discussions as well, but the gradual opening of the Curia and the decline of overall traffic has made this a rare instance.

TWC's Living History Forum

Politia

The Politia has changed with generations of how the Curia is managed. Previously held the Citizen's Triumvirate, citizen referrals, the offices for Praefects, and other historical content. Today it is the office of the Consul in contact with the administration, and also available for curial assistants to view should the need arise.

History of the Curia

See more: History of Total War Center

The Curia was originally a staff-supervised meeting ground for Civitates, an in-group of users who showed their merits through quality posting when TWC was more of an intellectual discussion hub connected to the Total War series. This group expanded and in its earliest history was actually trimmed a few times for 'quality control' reasons. Eventually it became large enough for its new membership process to delegate to the Consilium de Civitate, a body of 12 citizens to vote on new arrivals as well as handle discipline. Over the years up to the late 2010s there has been an ethos of 'higher standards' held above the 'average' user; this standard, rather abstract, has caused controversy over time ultimately resulting in the concept being dropped entirely in later years, corresponding with a drop in the use of any curial disciplinary process. In its earliest times it had elected an administrator, developed a complicated system of Houses of TWC, and was governed by the Old Syntagma. Around the time the site re-entered independent ownership the governing document was renamed to The Constitution, and the Curia has been in a steady decline as its earlier years of impact were steadily supplanted by a stable staff and loss of purpose over the following decade.

The following sections are spotty and really only chronological to the late 2010s and the 2020s, when updates were posted.

Controversy

Throughout its existence the Curia has been a controversial subject. Even in its foundation there were those that opposed it, namely The Black Prince (one of the three top administrators of the time). Many have claimed the Curia is not an effective administrative body, that mob rule simply does not work on a forum, or that the Curia does not have the ability to undertake its goals. Under various Admins the Curia has struggled to define its place on the site, to what authority it should truly command. Under Ogre's Network the Curia's existence came up in various arguments, but the most pressing event was just before the sale of the site to Imb39, where the Curia was almost deleted. One major proponent of reforms to the Curia was Professor420; many others have left their marks as conservative advocates, critics, radicals, janitors and infamous members.

Curial Overhaul 66

In 2018 a joint proposition from the Hexagon Council spearheaded by Hader brought major changes to the Curia's layout. Its moderation was put under the Praefect, the Protholamos was opened and Hader himself oversaw this structure in three consecutive terms.

Further Simplification of the Curia

With the removal of the role of the Praefects and the cancellation of the Citizens referrals, the Curia has been further simplified in disciplinary protocols. Suspension of Citizenship upon site infraction became automatic, and Citizenship could only be removed through Ostrakon.

The Rostra & The Prothalamos

The Rostra was created to allow non-citizens to make proposals for the Curia with the support of three citizens. The forum was rarely used, and later Curial Overhaul 66 would make the Protholamos open to posting from non-citizens with support from citizens. Given the overlap the Rostra was moved to the Proth's Archives. A decision removed the forum entirely and merged the contents with the Proth Archive. In April 2024 the Prothalamos itself was archived into the Symposium, as its purpose had merged with the main Curia forum.

The Intervention

At the end of March 2023, the standing Consul was removed for abuses of power. Following public and private discussion, the administration collectively decided that the Curia must be simplified. Thus it was; old bureaucratic forums were archived, the function of the Prothalamos, curia vote and new citizenships were merged into Curia main, and its elected offices were transitioned to strictly appointed positions or removed, citing the severe lack of participation the Curia was seeing by this point and its inability to perform activities beyond token self adjustments and reruns of its traditional drama.

See Also

External Links


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