Terran/The Constitution of the Noble Republic of Terran

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The Constitution of the Noble Republic of Terran

Whereas the Nobles of the Duchies of the Chateau Saffalore and Chesney, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Republic under the Title of the Noble Republic of Terran, and under the Constitution hereby established which all Nobles of the Republic shall swear to protect and defend:

And whereas it is expedient to provide for the admission into the Republic of other colonies, regions and possessions of the Nobility:

Be it therefore enacted by the authority of the Chief Magistrate, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and the Nobility, in this present Senate assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:--

Article 1: The Government

A. The legislative power of the Republic shall be vested in the Senate, which shall consist of the High Magistracy and all other elected Senate representatives, and which is herein-after called "The Senate," or "The Senate of the Republic of Terran”.

B. The High Council shall consist of the reigning Chief Magistrate, along with their senior advisors, amounting three positions, that of the Magistrate of War, the Magistrate of Justice and the Magistrate of Trade, along with any nobles who hold Ducal title, through which the executive powers of government shall be established amongst the people.

C. All Magistrates of the High Council shall be directly elected by the Nobility for a term of exactly four months, upon which time they must seek re-election to continue on in their current capacity. The right to appoint the Dukes of Terran, and any other Imperial Lords, remains the sole privilege of the Chief Magistrate with the advice of the Senate.

D. All other Lords of Terran shall be directly elected by the Nobility of Terran in a permanent capacity until either they relinquish their claim to the land, or death, or incapacitation render them unable to perform their duties. In special circumstances, a Lord may also be stripped of their title by order of the High Court of Terran.

E. The Senate shall consist of the reigning Chief Magistrate, along with her senior advisors previously mentioned, and the Lords of every region under the Republic's dominion, in addition any other Nobles given special authority by majority vote from the sitting Senate, shall be given places within the Senate to further represent the rights of the un-landed nobility.

F. The government has the right to exercise their powers of regional maintenance and the economy, taxation of the People and Nobles, formation of National Armed Forces and foreign and internal affairs, these branches of government, each overseen by their respective members of the High Council, are indelible, and the sole right of the government, which the people have elected, to exercise.

G. The seat of Government of the Republic shall be determined by the reigning Chief Magistrate upon receiving advice from the Senate, and shall be within territory which has been granted to, or acquired by the Republic, and shall be vested in and belong to the Republic.

Article 2: Powers of the Council

A. The executive power of the Republic is vested in the reigning Chief Magistrate and is exercisable by her senior advisors, as members of the High Council, and extends to the execution and maintenance of this Constitution, and of the laws of the Republic.

B. The reigning Chief Magistrate has the sole right to veto any legislation which is passed through the Senate; however, if the Senate deems the legislation worthy of overall public recognition and wishes to contest the decision of the reigning Chief Magistrate, it is within the Lords' rights to bring the legislation to the Nobility.

C. Once legislation has been brought to the Nobility; it may be passed by a two thirds majority of all active Nobles, overruling the reigning Chief Magistrate's right of veto. Furthermore, if two thirds of the active Nobles present in the realm express their disagreement about any governmental action, the ruling class must comply. However, should the ruling class, including the reigning Chief Magistrate, fail to follow the demands of the Nobles, it is within their full rights to Publicly Protest, without chastisement or punishment, to remove the High Council from office

E. To preserve the freedom of the Nobility and the efficiency of their government, it is forbidden for any member of the High Council to hold more than one Magistracy at one time. Though they reserve the right to be appointed to other offices, or elected to Lordly title.

F. Additionally, before an incumbent High Council member may run for a separate office within the High Council, they must first step down, to prevent election in two offices, thereby impinging upon regulations set by Article 2, Section E.

G. However, during times of crisis, with the permission of the Senate through a majority vote, emergency powers may be granted, for a period of one month, to the reigning Chief Magistrate to preserve the sovereignty of the Republic.

H. Additionally, the reigning Chief Magistrate has the right to sustain the restrictions imposed upon the High Council by Article 2, Section E, to allow any Noble to be elected into as many positions as deemed necessary for the entire period of the effect of the emergency powers.

Article 3: The Judiciary

A. The judicial power of the Republic shall be vested in the High Court of Terran. The High Court shall consist of the Magistrate of Justice as its head and all members of the Senate, despite the Chief Magistrate's seniority. A further two un-landed Nobles will also be temporarily appointed to the Senate, and will be selected by the Magistrate of Justice to represent the greater Nobility.

B. The High Court may be called into action should the Nobility deem that a Noble need be reviewed by Judicial proceedings, or if a Noble already punished by the Magistrate of Justice wishes to contest a verdict, pertaining to alleged actions committed against the realm.

C. For a guilty verdict to be reached, the High Court must prove beyond reasonable doubt, the guilt of the Noble in question, and reach a majority vote according to the wishes of the Magistrate of Justice, thereby deciding upon the guilt of the Noble in question.

D. Punishment for a noble, inside or outside the High Court is the sole responsibility and privilege of the Magistrate of Justice as the enforcer of the Laws of the Republic, under the laws laid down by Article 1, Section F.

E. Furthermore, in most cases, the judicial power of the High Court will remain unused as it is the sole right of the Magistrate of Justice to exercise the powers of justice within the Republic, unless the Nobility wish for a Court to reach a special verdict.

Article 4: Finance and Trade

A. The economy of the Republic shall be vested into the care of the Magistrate of Justice.

B. Furthermore, as the advisor of the reigning Chief Magistrate and member of the High Council, the Magistrate of Justice shall exercise the powers of the executive arm of the government, under the jurisdictions laid down in Article 1, Section F, over all Nobles who have undertaken the task of regional maintenance, a sole responsibility of the High Council to regulate.

C. The organization of trade between realms although found under the jurisdiction of the Magistrate of Trade, is also regulated according to the wishes of the High Council, in conjunction with the Senate.

D. The right to lay down the laws of external trading operations and economic ventures are the responsibility of the Magistrate of Trade.

E. However, punishments for impinging upon laws laid down by the Magistrate of Trade, whether internally or externally, are not the responsibility of the Magistrate of Trade and must be referred to the Magistrate of Justice and, in the case of contestation, the High Court for review.

Article 5: Rights of the Military

A. The Military affairs of the Republic are the sole responsibility of the Magistrate of War, as a senior advisor to the reigning Chief Magistrate, and member of the High Council.

B. All Nobles, unless of priestly class or having chosen to enter under the jurisdiction of the Magistrate of Trade and the economy, are required to, in accordance with their pledge of allegiance to the Republic of Terran and its Constitution, serve within the Armed Forces, under the jurisdiction of the High Marshal in accordance with Article 1, Section F of the Constitution.

C. The Armed Forces shall consist of any formations under the jurisdiction of the Magistrate of War which constitute national defense, whether through external or internal operations.

D. Although the rights to command the army lie with the Magistrate of Justice, the right to declare war rests within the Chief Magistrate’s jurisdiction of foreign affairs and by the consent of the Senate.

E. It is the Magistrate of War’s right to require lieutenants from the Duchies of Terran however, the positions of the Army Marshals shall be the sole right of the Dukes of Terran to appoint.

G. In the event of incapacitation, or the Senate deeming a Magistrate of War unfit to command, it is the right of the most senior Army Marshal to take command of the Army, until a new Magistrate of War can be appointed or the incumbent Magistrate of War returns to active duty.

Article 6: Alterations to the Constitution

A. In the event that a Noble of the Republic deems it necessary to make amendments and other alterations to the Constitution, such a request must be taken to the Nobility.

B. To ensure that an amendment is fully considered and discussed, alterations cannot be made until two criteria are met, firstly, a full week of debate and discussion must be held upon the issue.

C. Finally, once the week of discussion has reached its conclusion, amendments can only be made with a two thirds majority of all active Nobles, irregardless of the wishes of the High Council.

D. To preserve the rights of the Senate and the Nobility, the High Council is without the ability to propose changes to the Constitution.

Definitions

Nobles: represents all Nobles of the realm irregardless of their rank or position (excepting the High Council). The Nobility: represents all Nobles who are not in the High Council or the Senate. The Senate: represents all landed nobles, including the members of the High Council, along with any other Nobles vested with special honour bestowed by a majority vote of the sitting Senate.