"...And Widespread Economic, Political, Social Reforms"
Excerpt|:- INN Solar; Transcript of The Debate, [10.05.02D.E./10.05.04C.E.]
The Panel: Lady Ima Dejure, political analyst; Sir Anyej Illun-Rihad, public image consultant; The Right Honourable Lord Halip ux-Rihad, First Echelon (elected) Speaker of Imperial House (Minister for the Interior)
CHAIR:- And with that, we move onto our main story. The joint announcement by all six branches of Her Majesty's Imperial Government has rocked the EOTED political scene in a manner not seen since the short-lived foreign-promoted Revolution of Infancy last year. With me in the studio are the Right Honourable Lord Halip ux-Rihad, Minister for the interior; Lady Ima Dejure, political analyst; and Sir Anyej Illun Rihad, a public image consultant for Virile, the Empire's leading image consultancy firm. - Lord Minister, as a major backer for this move by Her Majesties Imperial Government, could you please outline the basic aims behind the proposed 'constitutional congress'?
HALIP UX-RIHAD:- Certainly. The constitutional congress is the critical 'second phase' in the growth and change that was spoken of in Emperor Si Ling I's first Imperial Decree, in the Dawn Year. To summarize, the constitutional congress is exactly what it is stated to be: the gathering of individuals and entities to discuss and ratify a full constitution for the new Empire. The Empire may even be renamed by the constitutional congress; that would be the decision of the people selected and elected to represent the entities, peoples, and leadership of the Empire...
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"And although some may feel that the Empire is already as effective and efficient as it could be, it surely is doomed to fail if those who believe such nonsense are those who dictate it's Path."
"Certainly this is true, but if those who believe eternal change will bring eternal peace are left to lead, then doom will just as surely follow." ~ Lord Imiri Rihad (Second Echelon, Ministry of Social Science, unelected) answering Lady Isim fer-Telemra (First Echelon, Culture Minister, elected) during the debates in Imperial House regarding the constitutional congress
"A blade in the back is worth one in each hand - which just goes to prove that logic is often useless. Use your head, man! Stability was essential; public opinion is, was, and looks likely to continue to be clearly behind the action." ~ High Lord Ambassador Dejure, speaking in response to claims that the Imperial Executive Council response to the recent political/terrorist insurrection attempt involving the late (executed) High Lord Aquinall, as well as the High King's equally-late brother, was excessively forceful and 'despotic'
"Is the constitutional congress necessary? Absolutely! Without it, the Government can have no true validity - either at home, or before the world community. How can we hope to promote peace, stability, and harmony on a stellar basis if we cannot even count on the truth of our own message? How can our potential friends trust us if this is so? I do not say that it is, but surely it is easy for it to appear to be so." ~ Empress Rialla ux-Rihad II, speaking on the necessity of the constitutional congress
"Everything is on the table. Including, thank the Stars, all the food we'll need. And how many times in history have we claimed that?" ~ High Lord Aglar ux-Rihad, confirming that 'everything is on the table'
"And the Empire said, let there be light; and there was light. - Or so the patriots would have us believe. Let the congress be the end to Imperial hypocrisy!" ~ Federal Political Association statement excerpt
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A PROVISIONAL LISTING OF ALL ENTITIES TO BE PRESENT; INCLUDING CITIZENRY, NOBILITY, HIGH NOBILITY PROVISIONAL REPRESENTATION QUOTAS
note:- to be debated by joint session of the Imperial Executive Council, the Imperial House, and Citizens House
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STATES
Ma-Nenya
Ma-tek
Ax-turath
Vilya Elenosto and Associated Colonies & Entities
The Wolf Ville Commission for Popular Opinion *
CITIES and REGIONS
Nenya
Turath
Tek
Shelbattanu
Rhea
Telnor
Shapa
Rei
Ria-shelhamn
POLITICAL ENTITIES
The Crown
The Imperial Executive Council
The Imperial House
The Citizens House
The Imperial Criminal Court
The Imperial Environmental Court
The Imperial Economic Court
The Civil Service
(also: various political pressure groups, inc. Federal Political Association, Nationalist Alliance, and Empire First)
THE HIGH NOBILITY
All High Nobility.
THE NOBILITY
At least 20 in each region, not including local/national/supra-national governement representatives.
THE CITIZENRY
At least 20 in each region, not including local government representatives.
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* uncertain
[OOC: I'm kinda-not-roleplaying at the moment (not reliably), but I'm adding this now and then I'm going to track back and show how the constitution was formed. OOC comments on the constitution are very, very welcome.]
IC:
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE EMPIRE OF THE ILUVAUROMENI DAWN
PRE-AMBLE
We the Iluvauromeni People have gathered here on Mount Tumnore in the Second Year of the Era of the Dawn to write a constitution to entomb and revise our fledgling and humble Empire. We intend this document to be flexible and fair, with capacity for revision throughout its future history, as experience builds and knowledge expands. We create not a stone tablet, but the beginning of a tapestry, and we expect our descendants to weave an ever more beautiful structure as the years pass by. We assert here that we hope to establish and forever uphold the following principles: the rule of law; the equality of all before the law; individual freedom of movement, association, and expression; freedom from politcal or economic tyranny but the obligation to discipline and self-control; control of one's work life and the value thereof; and respect for our land's heritage, sovereignty, and its right to freedom from unwarranted and unnecessary Sentient exploitation.
ARTICLE 1. Legislative department
Section 1. The legislative bodies
1.1.1 The legislative body for national issues will be three two house bodies, one one house body, and two supranational combined legislative bodies; consisting of Imperial House of Ma-Nenya, Imperial House of Ma-tek, the Imperial Space Administration, Citizens House Ma-Nenya, Citizens House Ma-tek, and Citizens House Ax-turath. There will be two single units, composed of the two-tier structure: the Supranational Imperial House will consist of Imperial House of Ma-Nenya, and Imperial House of Ma-tek. The Supranational Citizens House will be composed of Citizens House Ma-Nenya, Citizens House Ma-tek, Citizens House Ax-turath, and the Imperial Space Administration.
1.1.2 All of the Imperial Houses will be composed of nine hundred members, with 35% selected every year by a lottery drawn from a list of all EOTID residents over twenty-five years old. The remaining 65% of each body will be elected by the general population over the age of 22. The elections will be strictly non-partisan.
The Citizens Houses will be composed of nine hundred members, with 65% selected every year by a lottery drawn from a list of all EOTID residents over fifty-two years old. The remaining 35% of each body will be elected by the general population over the age of 16. The elections will be strictly non-partisan.
All national legislative bodies will meet 260 days of the year, in five 53 day-long sessions, with 105 days of inactivy excepting cases of exceptional circumstances. When a leap year occurs, the legislative bodies will meet 261 days out of the year. The supranational legislative bodies will be composed of the sum total of the national bodies conjoined to produce those supranational legislative bodies.
1.1.3 The Imperial Space Administration will convene 50 days of the year, always beginning the twenty-first day of April. The ISA will be entirely selected from the population of the space colonies being over the age of 19 Terran years.
1.1.4 The Supranational Imperial House will convene whenever circumstances merit such action. The circumstances will be determined as 'meriting such action' either by unanimous vote of the executive branch, or by two-thirds majority of at least two of the national Imperial Houses.
1.1.5 The Supranational Citizens House will convene whenever circumstances merit such action. The circumstances will be determined as 'meriting such action' either by unanimous vote of the executive branch, or by two-thirds majority of at least two of the national Imperial Houses.
Section 2. Powers granted to the Imperial Houses
1.2.1 The Imperial Houses, nationally, are responsible for ensuring that the EOTID legal system remains sound and entirely wholesome. When change is required, the Imperial Houses are given the power to enact that change, pending review by first the Supranational Imperial House, and then the appropriate Citizens House, followed by the Supranational Citizens House.
1.2.2 The Supranational Imperial House will elect half of the environmental court justices.
1.2.3 The Supranational Imperial House will elect one third of the economic court justices.
1.2.4 The Supranational Imperial House will examine all legislation passed by inferior national Houses, and determine whether that legislation is to be passed back to the inferior House for further debate, or if it is passed up the chain to the appropriate Citizens House.
Whenever a larger-than-two-thirds majority occurs in one of the inferior Houses, the Supranational Imperial House must convene within five days to debate the issue, and stay in session for as long as required to render a decision.
In the case of an emergency, legislation may be passed straight to Citizens House for consideration and debate, to speed the process and ensure the safety and security of the Empire and/or our allies.
1.2.5 The Imperial Houses will adhere to international law at all times, unless ethical considerations are involved.
Section 3. Powers granted to the Citizens House
1.3.1 The Citizens Houses are responsible for examining the legislation passed by the Imperial House.
1.3.2 The Citizens House is responsible for examining the legislation passed by an inferior national Citizens House, or the legislation passed by the Imperial House in the exceptional circumstances described in Article 1, Section 2, Clause 4, Paragraph 3.
1.3.2 The Citizens House will elect one quarter of the environmental court justices.
1.3.3 The Citizens House will elect one third of the economic court justices.
1.3.4 All laws passed by Citizens House will also be reviewed by the Economic and Environmental Courts before becoming active Imperial Law.
Section 4. Powers granted to the Imperial Space Administration
1.4.1 The Imperial Space Administration may pass legislation for the Orbital Colonies, but may only do so at the discretion of the executive branch of the government.
ARTICLE 2. Executive Branch
Section 1. The Imperial Executive Council
2.1.1 The executive council will be appointed by the head of state.
2.1.2 Each council member will represent one member state of the Empire, and all member states must be represented.
2.1.3 Each council member will become a lifelong member of the High Nobility, and will hold the title High Lord or High Lady.
2.1.4 At least two Executive Council members must be military representatives, former military officers with military and strategic warfare abilities and experience, or high-ranking officers.
2.1.5 At least one Executive Council member must be an active or previously active Ambassador for the Empire.
Section 2. Powers of the Imperial Executive Council
2.2.1 The executive council shall command the Imperial Police Force, the Imperial Security Administration, and the Imperial Defence Forces.
2.2.2 The executive council, subject to review by the legislative branch of government, and, if necessary, the economic and environmental courts, shall have the power to make foreign policy decisions of all kinds, including but not restricted to: treaties including alliances of both military and economic classes, declaration of all three varieties of acceptable warfare or conflict (Defensive Warfare, Prevention of Unacceptable Loss of Sentient Life, or Limited Enforcement of Accepted Foreign Policy), and the upgrading or downgrading of the trading status of foreign states.
2.2.3 The Executive Council will select one quarter of the environmental court justices.
2.2.4 The Executive Council will select one third of the economic court justices.
2.2.5 The Executive Council will select all leaders of the armed forces. All selections must be by merit and merit alone.
2.2.6. The Executive Council will select all of the criminal court justices.
Section 3. The Crown
2.3.1 The Crown shall consist of the head of state for the Empire, the Emperor or Empress, and their consort, the High King or High Queen of Ma-Nenya.
Section 4. The powers of the Crown
2.4.1 The head of state, the Emperor or Empress, shall be the Chairperson of the Imperial Executive Council as well as the Board of the Imperial Trade Conglomerate, to help ensure a commonality between foreign policy and the economy.
2.4.2 The head of state shall be the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Defence Forces.
2.4.3 The High King or High Queen of Ma-Nenya shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Defence Forces, underneath the head of state in the chain-of-command.
2.4.4 The Empress has the right to issue an Imperial Decree of any kind, so long as it does not infringe upon the Constitution. An Imperial Decree may not be repealed.
ARTICLE 3. Judicial branch
Section 1. The environmental court
3.1.1 The environmental court shall consist of sixty-six members.
3.1.2 Individuals appointed to the court shall hold their office for twenty years.
Section 2. Powers granted to the environmental court
3.2.1 The environmental court shall have the power to review all laws passed by the economic court for their impact on the environment both inside the Empire and out, and shall also examine all activities of the Imperial Trade Conglomerate on a month-to-month basis. The court shall provide detailed reports and explanations of all its activities and decisions to both the legislative and executive branches of government, as well as to the economic court (if required).
3.2.2 The environmental court shall rule on all cases brought before it in accordance with the ongoing task of the EOTID government to ensure that all citizens are entitled to long, healthy lives that are not negatively impacted by unsafe environmental economic practices and/or legislative actions regarding the environment and the treatment thereof.
3.2.3 The environmental court will also grant local economic powers to the local governments, so long as those powers do not overlap the powers of any other branch of government.
Section 3. The economic court
3.3.1 The economic court shall consist of twelve senior members and sixty-six junior members. Court members shall hold their office for fifteen years.
Section 4. Powers granted to the economic court
3.4.1 The economic court's senior members shall have the power to review all actions by the executive branch that can be considered to have any impact on the economy. Although the court may not prevent such actions, it is expected to examine those actions and determine a ruling to be delivered to the ITC to prevent negative effects. If those expected negative effects enter an envelope considered to be 'severe' (to be established by review every five years by the senior justices of the economic court, and reviewed by the ITC Council), then the action by the executive branch may be halted by unanimous decision of the economic court.
3.4.2 The economic court will examine all cases brought before it regarding the decisions of the Imperial Trade Conglomerate.
3.4.3 The economic court will regulate the Imperial Trade Conglomerate, and ensure that it does not breach Imperial Law and/or economic court judgements relating to the economy.
3.4.4 The economic court will also grant local economic powers to the local governments, so long as those powers do not overlap the powers of any other branch of government.
ARTICLE 4. Local government
4.4.1 Local government will be 50% selected by lottery, and 50% elected by each constituency. Each constituency will hold the powers granted it by the economic and environmental courts.
4.4.2 The regions of Tek, Turath, Shelbattanu-Rhea and Telnor will be granted the powers of +/-2%AverageTax at each yearly review by the Imperial Executive Council with regards to spending inside their constituencies.
4.4.3 Vilya Elenosto and the Colonies will have no local government. This clause is subject to review in 05 D.E. by a specially created Commission, to be appointed by the Executive Council and the Imperial Space Administration.
ARTICLE 5. Individual rights and obligations
Section 1. Individual rights
5.1.1 Freedom of movement and assembly.
5.1.2 Religous freedom.
5.1.3 Freedom of speech.
5.1.4 Right to vote in all elections not to be abridged.
5.1.5 Right to legal counsel, timely trial, and habeas corpus.
5.1.6 Freedom from unreasonable search or seizure, double jepardy, or self-incrimination of any variety excepting explicitly voluntary and regulated psychic probing.
5.1.7 Freedom from cruel or unreasonable punishments.
5.1.8 Right to choice of employment.
5.1.9 Right to the majority of the economic benefits of one's own labour, as calculated by the now inactive Commission for Sustainable Working Benefits (the Commission is to be re-activated in 05 D.E.), but never less than 50 per cent in any case.
5.1.10 Right to a meaningful part in the management of one's work.
5.1.11 Right to a minimum living wage for life.
5.1.12 Right to excellent health care.
5.1.13 Right to a minimum food budget.
5.1.14 Right to a safe working environment.
5.1.15 Right to an optimally healthy environment in the Empire.
5.1.16 Right to be safe from lethal arms, and to be protected from criminal actions.
5.1.17 Right to (at least) adequate and safe housing.
5.1.18 Right to a politically and ideologically impartial education of a high and exacting standard in as many disciplines as possible.
5.1.19 Right to property for the use of political or ideological debate.
5.1.20 Right to freedom from partisan politics.
Section 2. Individual obligations
5.2.1 The citizens of the Empire shall, over the course of their lives, give up to ten years of work to Imperial Service and the Public Good, such work to be defined as;
non-commissioned military service of two years, to be completed between the ages of 18 and 25;
mandatory agricultural service of one year, to be completed between the age of 25 and 45;
political service of some variety, for up to seven years.
Section 3. Obligations of the Crown
5.3.1 The Crown, as defined in Article 2, Section 3, shall be expected to be fully trained in military matters, and shall also be expected to be proficient in swordplay, diplomatic discussion, and other matters relating to the proper chairing of the executive branch. The Crown shall raise their children with such matters in mind; if any heir is found to be wanting at their Ascension, they will automatically be declared null and void and a new heir must be appointed by the Crown.
ARTICLE 6. Amendments to this constitution
Whenever two-thirds of the members of both supranational legislative houses, or a majority of voters in a majority of settlements of EOTID, shall propose amendments to this constitution, the proposed amendment shall be put to a general Empire-wide vote within six months, and shall require a super-majority of two-thirds to pass. No individual rights may be removed, however.
ARTICLE 7. Ratification of the constitution
After approval of the text of this constitution, point by point, by a majority vote of the representatives of the constitutional congres, the constitution as a whole shall be presented to all the people of the Empire of the Iluvauromeni Dawn over 15 years old, for a vote of approval or disapproval, and if it recieves a supermajority of two-thirds in approval, shall become the supreme law of the Empire.