Riombara/Laws

Preface and definitions:

Constitutional Articles: Our most basic laws, defining rights and duties from regular nobles up to members of the High Council. Any noble of Riombara is expected to be familiar with our 5 basic articles before he may swear an oath of fealty. (note: closer definition added on March 1011)
Laws: These define our constitutional articles in closer detail. Before running for any regional command a noble must be familiar with the laws of article #1-#3. Before running for an Advisory Council position a noble must be familiar with all our laws. (note: closer definition added on March 1011)
Customs: the customary way of doing things in Riombara. Not (or not yet) defined and voted upon as laws.

Both constitutional and regular laws can be changed or created only through full realm votes. Customs may be freely changed. Breaking a law carries immediate consequnces, not acting as per custom does not carry a legal penalty, only loss of face.

Information for nobles having recently arrived in Riombara: Any noble in Riombara does enjoy all rights from the moment he arrives - and has no duties except for following civil conduct. Before swearing fealty to a lord he is expected to be aware of our 5 basic articles. Once he decides to join an army he is subject to military obedience.

Constitutional article #1 - Rights and duties

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Being a noble of Riombara gives one rights and duties. The higher the position, the stricter the duties

laws concerning article #1

rights:

• 1a) Each noble may call for a Full Realm Vote on any subject (including any position, law, policy, diplomatic status) if he has a number of supporters of at least 1 in ten of Riombaras nobles (note: added on March 1011. Was '4 nobles' beforehand)
• 1b) Each noble may freely discuss any topic but is expected to act politely and constructively
• 1c) Each noble may run for any position
• 1d) Preferably while running for a position but latest before being sworn into a position a noble must swear to uphold all Riombaran laws. This does also apply to priests - if a Riombaran law runs contrary to personal belief then the priest must uphold Riombaran law. If he cannot do so he must immediately step down.
• 1e) Each noble is welcome in Riombara unless he is known to have acted against the realm in the past.
• 1f) Riombaran law stands above an oath of fealty. Thus adherence to riombaran law is more important than following a liegelords command. (note: added on March 1011)

duties:

• 1g) Until applying for a position, a riombaran noble does not have any duties except military obedience - and this only if he is a member of an army (note: moved from article 2 to article 1 - March 1011)
• 1h) Obedience within the military is absolute. If a noble is a member of an army and receives an order from any noble within his chain of command as defined in the generals bulletin he may complain but must comply.
• 1i) All regions and cities must send 25% of its tax income to the realm through either duchy taxes or imperial taxes. Duchy taxes should then be sent 100% to the realm.
• 1j) Tax share for everyone must be set to 100% (or as high as the current system allows, which is 83.4%. The new tax system, when implemented, will allow for 100%.)

customs concerning article #1

• No favors based on friendship or relation. All nobles can aspire to any position.
• Giving as much responsibility (full votes) and information (food status, morale status, diplomacy...) as possible to all nobles.
• Encouraging ideas and constructive criticism in an open forum.
• The realm of Riombara comes first, before any individual noble's interest, including—and especially—the Prime Minister and Dukes.
• Riombaran nobles are expected to avoid any forms of looting which unduly harm the peasantry.
• Riombaran nobles are expected to avoid the use of brutal takeovers if there is any viable alternative.
• Liegelords may only dispatch their liegesworn to an army if they agree with it (added on March 1011)

Constitutional article #2 - positions

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Each family may only hold one position within Riombara.

laws concerning article #2

• 2a) positions are defined as: the 4 government seats of Chancellor, Constable, Chamberlain and Treasurer; each regional command; (ambassador was removed from this list)
• 2b) exception to article #2: in times of duress the position of Treasurer may be held by a noble who also holds a regioncommand - if no other candidate for the position of Treasurer is forthcoming. (note: new addition based on the situation during the 4th Invasion, March 1011)

customs concerning article #2

• functions are: Advisory Minister (including a voting seat on the High Council if he does not already have one), marshal, vice marshal, ambassador. It is possible for a family or single noble to hold both a position and one or more functions.
• marshals are nominated by the High Constable but should receive the acclaim of the Military Council (if active)
• ambassadors are appointed by the High Chancellor
• regionlords are expected to only accept an oath from a noble if the noble is familiar with our 5 basic articles (note: added March 1011)
• information: article #2 is our oldest and most sacred law. It stems from Balins betrayal and the resulting destruction of Riombara during the First Age.

Constitutional article #3 - voting on Positions

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Each position can only be gained through a full realm vote.

laws concerning article #3

• 2a) Full realm vote is defined as: each riombaran noble has one single vote, simple majority decides.
• 2b) must be voted upon monthly: Chancellor and Chamberlain
• 2c) should be voted upon every 3 months: Constable and Treasurer
• 2d) must be voted upon on vacancy: each regional command
• 2e) in addition to regular voting, each position may be called for a full vote by either a councilvote or a noble with sufficient supporters.
• 2f)  the position of the Advisory Minister is defined as function (and thus may be appointed by the High Council): if a High Council Member loses his seat through a vote he automatically replaces the former Advisory Minister.
• 2g) If someone who already holds a position is elected to a new position, he or she must step down from the old position before being appointed to the new position

customs concerning article #3

• exception to 2d) If a region command was lost due to war, rebellion, wounds or imprisonment (suggestion: and if the region is regained within 4 weeks,) then the former regionlord is reinstated.
• Anyone may vote for any candidate, including themselves.
• No vote has to be made public, but can be if the voter decides to go that route. No one may force anyone you reveal his vote.

Constitutional article #4 - High Council

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Voting Seats on the High Council are: The 4 Government positions; each duke; if active: the Advisory Minister

laws concerning article #4

• 4a) these actions can only be decided by a Full Realm Vote: creation or change of a law; declaration of war; raising of relations from war to neutral; joining an alliance; executing a riombaran noble; executing a foreign noble; outlawing a religion
• 4b) All other issues may be decided by simple majority by either a Council Vote or Full Realm Vote
• 4c) items that need at least a council vote: any change of diplomatic relations; deporting a foreign noble; prohibiting preaching for longer than 1 week, destruction of a temple or shrine.
• 4d) Any Councilmember may declare a case of emergency, must then define it and may then take or order an action that would otherwise need a Council or Full realm vote. Afterwards a full realm vote must be started immediately on wether his action was justified. If the realm votes in favor of the action all is well. If the realm is not in favor the Councilmember must step down immediately and is barred from holding any position for a period of at least 3 months. (note: this is not new but was never before clearly defined)

customs concerning article #4

• Council must vote on any issue within 3 days.
• Councilmembers who miss 3 votes in a row should consider stepping down.
• Chancellor is expected to issue a realm report weekly or biweekly
• Chancellor is expected to keep the members of the High Council listed in the ruler report - or at least who is the current Advisory Minister.
• Chancellor may petition for money to finance special projects
• Constable must keep chain of command defined in his bulletin
• Before the creation of new armies and assignment of marshals the Constable should be consulted
• Chamberlain is expected to keep outlawed religions listed in his bulletin
• Treasurer is expected to issue a food report bi-weekly
• All Councilmembers are expected to keep our nobles as well informed as possible
• all important policy changes are expected to be openly discussed

Constitutional article #5 - Religion

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All religions are welcome in Riombara

laws concerning article #5

• 5a) Everyone is free to follow any Religion, but riombaran law takes precedence before any religious decision.
• 5b) No religious persecution or religious wars is permitted on riombaran soil.
• 5c) There will never be a state-sponsored religion.
• 5d) Any religion may be freely preached in Riombara, as long as it does not declare another religion present in Riombara evil. If a priest still preaches he may be fined by the Chamberlain, then banned per council vote.
• 5e) Any religious comment has to stay civil. Our judge is free to fine any noble making insulting or threatening comments toward another noble in regards to their religion.
• 5f) If a region lord (or four nobles) requests, our judge (not individual the region lords) can order priests to stop preaching their religion in one or more regions for the time of one week. A longer request needs a Council Vote.

Suggestions for the future:

- raise constitutional articles to the (to be defined) status of 'constitution': can only be changed by Full Vote, 2/3 majority
- give ambassador a nonvoting seat on the High Council if not already present
- define which changes in diplomatic relations may be done by the Chancellor without holding a Councilvote.