Citizen-Speaker’s Note: this version of the Constitution has been copied onto the forum in good faith for the public benefit. However, the dispatch version should be used whenever possible to ensure consistent letter/numbering of each section.
Link to dispatch: https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1957959
1. The Rights of Nations
- All nations shall be sovereign and equal before the Constitution and the Laws.
- All nations shall have the right:
- To determine their own internal policies;
- To conduct diplomacy, establish treaties, engage in trade and associate freely with other nations;
- To participate in the World Assembly, and to give and receive endorsements;
- To express themselves via telegrams, the regional message board, flags, mottos, factbooks and dispatches;
- To petition the Government for the redress of grievances; and
- To require an account of the Government and public officials’ administration.
- The practice of these rights may not threaten the common good and may be restricted when necessary to prevent such a threat. The common good shall be considered the preservation of the security of the Region, the continuity of the State, the sovereignty of the nations and the public peace.
- No nation shall be ejected or banned unless they present an immediate threat to the security of the Region or the public peace, or have been found guilty of a crime by the due process of law.
- All nations shall have the right to publicly appeal any ejection or ban to the Senate.
- The Law shall neither forbid nor compel action by any nation unless necessary to preserve the common good.
- The Law shall provide only for such punishments as are strictly and obviously necessary to preserve the common good. The Law may neither convict nor punish any nation without the due process of law, nor may it punish any offense prior to its adoption.
- The common good requires the endorsement of designated nations. Such nations shall be designated for the good of all and not their individual advantage.
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2. The Monarchy
- There shall be a Monarch who shall assume the Throne of Carcassonne and shall serve as head of state. The Monarch shall hold the title of Emperor or Empress.
- The Monarch shall hold the office of World Assembly delegate and shall be responsible for regional security. The Monarch may assign regional Border Control powers to senators in good standing.
- The Monarch shall receive representatives from foreign regions and dispatch the Government’s representatives to them.
- The Monarch shall receive declarations of war and shall command the armies of the Region.
- The Monarch may issue decrees on matters of regional security. Such decrees shall have the force of law but may not contradict the Laws adopted by the Ecclesia.
- The Monarch shall forfeit the office of senator upon assuming the Throne, but should the Monarch abdicate they shall receive the office of senator.
- Any and all powers privileges essential to the necessary functioning and security of the Region are reserved to the Monarch.
3. The Senate
- There shall be a Senate composed of distinguished citizens which shall be responsible for the continuation of the State.
- The Senate may admit citizens in good standing, who have continuously held their citizenship for six months, as senators by a two-thirds majority vote. Should a senator forfeit their citizenship, they shall forfeit the office of senator.
- The Senate may remove a senator by a two-thirds majority vote of its total membership. The Monarch may remove a senator subject to such a vote as a regional officer while the vote is ongoing.
- Senators shall possess a World Assembly nation and shall endorse the Monarch unless on campaign while serving as member of the army or otherwise recieving a waiver by the Monarch. Should a senator cease to meet this requirement for a week, they shall forfeit the office of senator.
- The Senate shall establish among its members an order of seniority. Should circumstance require it, the most senior available senator shall serve as Regent.
- Should the Monarch abdicate, cease to exist or forfeit the office of World Assembly Delegate without the advice and consent of the Senate, the Senate shall elect a new Monarch from among its members. The Regent shall assume the powers and duties of the Monarchy until a new Monarch assumes the Throne.
- The Monarch may temporarily forfeit the position of World Assembly delegate with the advice and consent of the Senate. Should the Monarch do so, the Regent shall assume the onsite position of World Assembly Delegate until the Monarch resumes the office of World Assembly Delegate.
- The Senate shall hear appeals of criminal trials.
- The Senate shall determine the constitutionality of both decrees of the Monarch and laws of the Ecclesia.
- The Ecclesia may overturn any such decision by a three-quarters majority vote.
- The Senate may compel the Monarch to abdicate by an absolute two-thirds majority vote.
- Any and all powers and privileges essential to the necessary functioning of the Senate are reserved to the Senate.
- Clarification on the responsibilities and operation of the Senate may be provided for by Law with the advice and consent of the Senate.
4. The Ecclesia
- Citizens shall consist of those nations in Carcassonne who swear allegiance to the Monarchy and affirm to uphold this Constitution, the Laws and the regional interest.
- Additional requirements for citizenship may be provided for by law to further regional security.
- No person may hold citizenship with multiple nations at a time.
- The Law shall be the expression of the general will, and all citizens may participate in its foundation. The body of citizens shall form an Ecclesia, which shall be the legislature of the Region.
- The Ecclesia shall elect a Speaker from among its members. The Speaker shall administer votes of the Ecclesia, keep a record of the laws, and process the oaths of citizens. The Speaker may deputize citizens in good standing to assist them in their duties.
- The Ecclesia may adopt bills to make changes to the Law by a simple majority vote. The Monarch shall grant such bills royal assent unless they consider that the bill contradicts this Constitution. Should the Monarch refuse royal assent, the bill shall be referred to the Senate, who may by a majority vote find that the bill does not contradict this Constitution and compel the Monarch to grant royal assent. Bills granted royal assent shall become law.
- Citizens may petition the Monarchy, Senate, or Government for assistance or redress of grievances.
- The Speaker shall serve while they enjoy the confidence of the Ecclesia, and shall tender their resignation to the Monarch should they be unable to serve or the Ecclesia votes no confidence in their Speakership.
- All majorities in this Constitution shall consider only substantive votes, without regard for abstentions or other unsubstantive votes without clear intent for or against a proposal.
5. The Government
- The Ecclesia shall elect a Minister-President from among the citizens of Carcassonne.
- The Minister-President shall organize a Government of Ministers from among those citizens in good standing.
- The Minister-President and their Government shall be responsible for the execution of the laws, administration and growth of the region, and foreign relations with other regions.
- The ministries of the Government shall be determined by Law, or by the Minister-President where it does not contradict the Law.
- The Minister-President may request the onsite regional powers of Appearance, Communications, Embassies, or Polls for themselves and their ministers.
- The Government may:
- Appoint judges and magistrates with the advice and consent of the Senate;
- Appoint and promote military officers with the advice and consent of the Monarch;
- Negotiate and conclude treaties with foreign regions with the advice and consent of the Ecclesia and Senate, or with the support of a two-thirds majority vote in the Ecclesia;
- Encourage World Assembly membership among resident nations, and guide World Assembly policy with the advice and consent of the Monarch; and
- Present security concerns to the Senate.
- The Minister-President shall serve while they enjoy the confidence of the Ecclesia, and shall tender their resignation to the Monarch should they be unable to serve or the Ecclesia votes no confidence in their Government.
6. Amendments
- The Ecclesia may amend this Constitution by a two thirds majority of its voting members. Such a vote must be open for at least one week.
- Amendments which alter the form, powers or privileges of the Monarchy or Senate shall additionally require the advice and consent of the Senate. This shall include amendments to this clause.