Melhed/History/Age of Reason/Seven Slabs

Seven Slabs

Nobles of Melhed,

Today I present to you something of importance to us and those who will come after us. For today is the day I present the final draft for the Seven Slabs. Seven tablets of stone to which will be carved into them the laws that will govern this republic, protecting the rights of its citizens and providing a solid foundation for us to live and prosper. But before these laws are enscribed they must be reviewed, finalized and most importantly voted on. As always the Senate shall vote, but all of the Forum may comment and suggest.

I only ask that you read carefully and consider what is written for if there is something to add, subtract or change now is the time.

I. Constitutional Principles

1) Every noble has the right to speak freely

2) Every noble has the right to sit on the Forum, unless convicted of a capitol crime

3) All citizens have the right to believe in any religion so long as its practices do not conflict with the law.

4) Putting to death of anyone un-convicted, no matter who they might be, is forbidden.

5) No noble is to be punished for the crimes of their family, without direct involvement

6) The laws of the republic hold true for all citizens no matter how far they might travel

II. Government

1) The Senate is the governing body of the Republic and made of all nobles holding land, the Prime Minister, and an Augur of the Old Gods.

2) The Senate determines every aspect of realm governance through voting; in which each Senator has one vote per issue.

3) The Senate gathers to vote, or Conventus, every (Choose two days, I suggest Friday and Saturday). Senators have 48 hours to cast their votes on matters discussed during the week's Consilium, or deliberation. All who do not vote are assumed to abstain.

4) Senate positions are determined by election with all nobles eligible for position and permitted to vote. Positions are held until either: abdication by mortal injury, retirement, or abdication for dereliction of duty.

5) A noble is only eligible for the title of Duke if they hold land.

6) The Forum, made of all nobles interested in the affairs of state and the Senate. Non-Senators have no obligation to realm governance, though may comment as they wish.

7) The Consuasor, composed of the Dukes of the realm advise the Prime Minister.

8) All correspondence from a foreign nation dealing with matters of state are to be made known to the Forum, unless the foreign nation deems them sensitive and then they are to be sent to the Senate alone.

9) All Senatorial decisions are to be presented to the Forum before acted upon, though approval is not needed.

10) Changes to the law by addition, subtraction or alteration require a vote be held in the Forum.

III. Voting Laws

1) Each noble has one vote per issue, weather for a position or a course of action.

2) Should a noble be unable to make the vote day they may, in advance, declare another to hold their vote via proxy.

3) After an election is called for the position(s) of: landed gentry, Minister of Finances, Minister of Defence, or marshal, interested nobles have 48 hours to declare their candidacy (NB: Aldo Unti is always a candidate even if not eligible). After this period, votes may be sent to the realm at large or the Judge.

4) The office of Prime Minister and Grand Justiciar will be elected once every 30 days, by secret ballet.

5) For votes done by the Senate all votes are to be sent to the Senate, or Forum.

6) A vote to remove a Senator from office for dereliction of duty may only be started by a member of the Forum on the behalf of the nobles of the realm and requires 60% of all nobles in favour to pass. For such a vote two tribunals are appointed, one by the Senate and one by the Forum to count the votes.

IV. Court

1) All nobles have the right to a fair trial, and know the charges against them.

2) Trials are to be held in public so all nobles know the evidence and crime

3) The Justicar may only use his authority in punishing of those convicted

4) If someone is called to go to court, he is to go. If he doesn't go, then he should be captured.

5) Only a landowner can offer collateral for another landowner. But any civis can offer collateral for a civis.

6) If one shall permit himself to be summoned as a witness, if he does not give his testimony, let him be noted as dishonest and incapable of acting again as witness.

7) For matters where the Grand Justicar is in doubt, but not so much so that they should be removed, the Senate should appoint another to oversee the trial and their decision abided by. If the Grand Justicar is in great doubt he should retire from office so the nobles can elect another.

8) For matters where the guilt of a person is without question, having been caught in the act of malicious action with forethought, no trial need be brought to the realm and the Justicar may decide based on the laws.

V. Tort

1) The penalty shall be severe for a judge or Senator, legally appointed, who has been found guilty of receiving a bribe.

2) Treason: he who has roused up a public enemy, handed over a citizen to a public enemy or worked in the name of a public enemy must suffer exile or capital punishment.

3) Someone who has brought a false claim shall be brought before the judge, and shall pay a double penalty.

4) Those who tell falsehoods about their fellow nobles as though they are truth will suffer the penalty of shunning.

5) The holdings of a noble are theirs, to do with as they wish so long as they break no laws.

6) If one has maimed another and does not buy his peace, let there be retaliation in kind whether by the wronged or the Justicar depending on the need. Should no agreement be reached the Justicar may assign the fee.

7) Any person who destroys by burning any building or heap of food shall be bound, scourged, and put to death by beheading provided that he has committed the said misdeed with malice aforethought. However if he shall have committed it by accident, it is ordained that he repair the damage or, if he be too poor to be competent for such punishment, he shall receive a lighter punishment.

8) If a theft has been done by night, if the owner kills the thief, the thief shall be held to be lawfully killed. If a theft has been done by day, or the thief not killed, then the thief is to be charged and sentenced in just court to server those they would rob as a slave. If they can or will not, then their hand is to be removed.

VI. Peasant Tort

1) No peasant shall be permitted within the walls of the Senate

2) Matters of justice among peasants are to be settled by the Senator who is their lord. The Justicar may assist.

3) No peasant may marry a noble.

4) No peasant may raise his hand against a noble, nor hurl insults or make damage upon their property.

5) A peasant is a thing not a person.

VII. Taxes

1) The rate of tax shall be determined by the Senate during open discussion in the Forum. Once set tax should then be collected by each Senator from their peasants and distributed to the nobility of the realm.

2) The embezzlement of gold is to be punishable by abdication for dereliction of duty.

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Note

Being a historical text some of the things mentioned here have since been changed. The full document is provided, unaltered, for the sake of completion. Information found elsewhere that contradicts what is written here should be considered more accurate.