NationStates Jolt Archive

Notice: This Post is the organisational one and all of its contents are purely out of character.
The Constitution itself is, obviously, public IC knowledge.
Please also refer to this here thread: Coups and Revolutions: Taraskovyan National Sports (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=414324)

P.S. And now need to do all the coding. Yay -_-
Also note that, apart from typos, wrong article numerations and that Chapter on Transitory Provisions, everything else is, I guess, set in stone. Which means that, yes, I will have to put up fancy referendum posts to amend things I don't like.

P.P.S. Special thanks to:
- the authors of the Swiss Constitution of the year 2000 and the authors of the Swiss Constitution of the year 1874
- the authors of the Russian Constitution
- the authors of the US Constitution
- the authors of the Constitutions of several European monarchies
- the player behind Knootoss for proofreading and some input into the economic parts of the thing
- the player behind Valinon for helping in formulating phrases in correct english
- other folks who proofread it in full or partially and gave some comments, such as the players behind Ma-tek, Menelmacar, C'tan, New York and Jersey
- some American NS players who explained to me the election procedures into the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, namely the ones behind Dread Lady Nathicana and New York and Jersey

P.P.P.S. As of why I did it, well, just felt like doing it. Even if it is just modifying an already existing document, it did take weeks to figure things out and stuff.

***
Important Events:

Start of the referendum on the Federal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8836830#post8836830)
Results of the referendum on the Grand Ducal Constitution: Constitution accepted (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8986567#post8986567)
Start of the first Parliamentary elections (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=9010405#post9010405)
Results of the first Parliamentary elections (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=9120264#post9120264)


***

Federal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka

Title 1: General Provisions (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816483#post8816483)

Title 2: Fundamental Rights, Civil Rights and Social Goals

Chapter 1: Fundamental Rights (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816492#post8816492)

Chapter 2: Citizenship and Political Rights

Chapter 3: Social Goals (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816497#post8816497)

Title 3: The Grand Duchy, the Fiefdoms and the Municipalities

Chapter 1: Relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816502#post8816502)

Chapter 2: Powers
Section 1: Relations with Foreign Countries
Section 2: Security, National and Civil Defence
Section 3: Education, Research, Culture and Environment (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816504#post8816504)
Section 4: Transportation
Section 5: Energy and Communication
Section 6: Economy (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816506#post8816506)
Section 7: Housing, Work, Social Security and Health
Section 8: Residence and Domicile of Foreigners
Section 9: Civil and Criminal Law, Weights and Measures (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816525#post8816525)

Chapter 3: Finances (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816543#post8816543)

Title 4: People and Fiefdoms

Chapter 1: General Provisions

Chapter 2: Initiative and Referendum (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816565#post8816565)

Title 5: Grand Ducal Authorities

Chapter 1: General Provisions (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816575#post8816575)

Chapter 2: Grand Ducal Parliament
Section 1: Organisation
Section 2: Procedure
Section 3: Powers (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816575#post8816575)

Chapter 3: Grand Ducal Government and Grand Ducal Administration
Section 1: Organisation and Procedure
Section 2: Powers (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816584#post8816584)

Chapter 4: Grand Ducal Tribunal and other Judicial Authorities (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816609#post8816609)

Title 6: Revision of the Grand Ducal Constitution and Transitory Provisions

Chapter 1: Revision
Chapter 2: Transitory Provisions (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8816678#post8816678)

Title 1: General Provisions

Art 1. The Grand Duchy of Tarasovka.

The Taraskovyan People, the High Fiefdom of Vigvar and the Fiefdoms of Amalor, Kethar, Zerth, Alukshir, Cardinia, Uith, Kshas-Uith, Uil, Kshas-Kharit, Setar, Elutar, Kidaksh, Tal-Nathir, Kem, Northern Cardinia, Yugozemie, Zlatoslavia, South Aphyr, Northern, Tal-Nathil, Pomorie, Borie, Zapadozemie, Novozemie, Uthar, Southern Cardinia, Vyshna form the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka.

Art. 2 Purpose.

1. The Grand Duchy of Tarasovka shall protect the freedoms and rights of its people, and shall ensure the independence and security of the country.
2. It shall promote the common welfare, the sustainable development, the inner cohesion, and the cultural diversity of the country.
3. It shall ensure equal opportunities for all citizens to the extent possible.

Art. 3 Fiefdoms.

The Fiefdoms are sovereign insofar as their sovereignty is not limited by the Grand Duchy.

Art. 4 National languages.

The national languages are Taraskath, Russian and Dutch.

Art. 5 Rule of Law.

1. The state’s activities shall be based on and limited by the Rule of Law.
2. State activity must be in the public interest and proportional to the goals pursued.
3. State organs and private persons must act in good faith.

Art. 6 Individual and Social Responsibility.

All persons are responsible for themselves, and shall make use of their abilities to contribute to achieving the goals of state and society.

Title 2: Fundamental Rights, Civil Rights and Social Goals

Chapter 1: Fundamental Rights

Art. 7 Human Dignity

Human dignity shall be respected and protected.

Art. 8 Equality before the Law.

1. All human beings are equal before the law.
2. No Citizen shall suffer discrimination, particularly on grounds of origin, race, sex, age, language, social position, religious, philosophical or political convictions, or because of a corporal or mental disability.
3. Men and women have equal rights.

Art. 8bis On rights of living sapient beings.

All living sapient beings benefit from fundamental rights to the same extent as humans, as defined by Statute.

Art. 9 Protection against the Arbitrariness and Principle of Good Faith.

Every person has the right to be treated by the state organs without arbitrariness and in good faith.

Art. 10 Right to Live and Personal Freedom.

1. The right to live shall not be violated except, in cases laid down by the Grand Ducal law, by order of the courts.
2. The right to personal liberty, particularly to corporal and mental integrity, and to freedom of movement shall not be violated except, in cases laid down by the Grand Ducal law, by order of the courts.
3. Torture and any other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, are prohibited except when necessitated by extraordinary circumstances for the purposes of gathering vital information unattainable by other means.

Art. 11 Protection of Children and Young People

1. Children and young people have the right to special protection of their integrity and to encouragement of their development.
2. They may exercise their rights themselves to the extent of their capacity to discern.

Art. 12 Right to Aid in Distress

Persons in distress and incapable of looking after themselves have the right to be helped and assisted, and to receive the means that are indispensable for leading a life in human dignity.

Art. 13 Right to Privacy

1. All persons have the right to receive respect for their private and family life, home and secrecy of mails and telecommunications except, in cases laid down by the Grand Ducal Law, by order of the courts.
2. All persons have the right to be protected against the abuse of personal data.

Art. 14 Right to Marriage and Family.

The right to marry and to have a family is guaranteed for couples of opposite sexes.

Art. 15 Freedom of Religion and Philosophy.

1. The freedom of religion and philosophy is guaranteed insofar as it does not endanger the national traditions, morale or mentality.
2. All persons have the right to choose their religion or philosophical convictions freely and to profess them alone or in community with others.
3. All persons have the right to join or to belong to a religious community and to follow religious teachings.
4. No person shall be forced to join or belong to a religious community, to participate in a religious act, or to follow religious teachings.

Art 16 Freedom of Opinion and Information.

1. The freedom of opinion and information is guaranteed.
2. All persons have the right to form, express and disseminate their opinions freely.
3. All persons have the right to receive information freely, to gather it from generally accessible sources, and to disseminate it.
4. The Government has the right to impose censorship insofar as it is necessitated by the need to preserve national traditions, morale, mentality or public order.

Art 17. Freedom of the Media

1. The freedom of public telecasting of productions and information is guaranteed.
2. Editorial secrecy is guaranteed.
3. The Government has the right to impose censorship insofar as it is necessitated by the need to preserve national traditions, morale, mentality or public order.

Art. 18 Freedom of Language

The Freedom of Language is guaranteed.

Art. 19 Right to Primary Education

The right to sufficient and free primary education is guaranteed.

Art 20 Freedom of Science

The freedom of scientific research and teaching is guaranteed.

Art 21 Freedom of Art.

The freedom of art is guaranteed insofar as it does not endanger the national traditions, morale or mentality.

Art.22 Freedom of Assembly

1. The freedom of assembly is guaranteed except, for cases laid down by the Grand Ducal law, by order of the courts.
2. Every person has the right to organize assemblies, to participate in them or to stay away from them.

Art. 23 Freedom of Association.

1. The freedom of association is guaranteed except, for cases laid down by the Grand Ducal law, by order of the courts.
2. Every person has the right to form associations, to join or to belong to them, and to participate in their activities.
3. No person shall be forced to join or to belong to an association.

Art. 24 Freedom of Domicile

1. Taraskovyan citizens have the right to establish their domicile anywhere within the country.
2. They have the right to leave or to return to Tarasovka.

Art. 25 Protection against expulsion and extradition; and removal by force.

1. Taraskovyan citizens may not be expelled from the country; they may be extradited to a foreign authority only with their consent.
2. The Grand Duke, acting in accordance with the interests of national security, may order extradition of Taraskovyan citizens in exceptional cases.
3. The Grand Duchy shall guarantee its citizens defence and patronage beyond its boundaries
4. Non-citizens without valid accreditation are subject to being removed by force by order of a court.

Art. 26 Right to property.

1. The right to own property is guaranteed.
2. Expropriation and restrictions of ownership equivalent to expropriation shall be fully compensated.

Art. 27 Economic Freedom.

1. Economic freedom is guaranteed.
2. It includes particularly the freedom to choose one’s profession and to enjoy free access to and free exercise of private economic activity.
3. The right to enter contracts is guaranteed, insofar as not limited by the Grand Ducal law and not contradicting national traditions, morale or mentality.

Art. 28 General Procedural Guarantees

1. In judicial and administrative proceedings, every person has the right to equal and fair treatment as well as adjudication within reasonable time.
2. The parties have the right to be heard.
3. Every person lacking the necessary means has the right to free legal assistance, provided the case does not seem to lack any merit. To the extent necessary for the protection of one's rights, the person also has the right to free legal counsel.
4. Every person has the right to have legal disputes decided by judicial authority. The Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms may in exceptional cases exclude judicial proceedings.

Art. 29 Judicial Proceedings

1. Every person whose case must be judged in judicial proceedings has the right to have this done by a court that is established by law, has jurisdiction, and is independent and impartial. Exceptional tribunals can be set up only when their existence is justified by the need to preserve public order, when such tribunals are in the interest of national security and when they are authorized by the Grand Duke.
2. A person against whom a civil action is brought has the right to have the case heard before the court at the person's domicile. Legislation may provide for another jurisdiction.
3. The court hearings are public, and the judgment is publicly proclaimed. Legislation may provide for exceptions.

Art. 30 Right to liberty

1. No person may be deprived of liberty except in the cases and in the forms provided by the law.
2. All persons deprived of their liberty have the right to be informed immediately of the reasons for their detention and of their rights. They must have the opportunity to assert their rights. In particular, they have the right to have their close relatives informed within the most reasonable time.
3. Every person taken into preventive detention has the right to be brought before a judge without delay; the judge decides whether the person remains in detention or is released. Every person in preventive detention has the right to be judged within a reasonable time.
4. All persons who are deprived of their liberty without a trial have the right to seize a court at any time. The court decides as soon as possible whether the detention is legal, with exception of specific cases when the detentions are carried out by Grand Ducal authorities acting in the interest of national security.


Art. 31 Criminal procedure

1. Every person is presumed innocent until the person is subject to a condemnation having force of law. Such condemnations are only issued by a court, except for exceptional cases necessitated by the need to preserve public order and act in the interest of national security.
2. Every accused person has the right to be informed as soon as possible and in full detail of the accusations. The person must have the opportunity to exercise its means of defence.
3. Every condemned person has the right to have the judgment reviewed by a higher court. The cases where the Grand Ducal Tribunal sits as a court of sole instance are reserved.

Art. 32 Right of Petition

1. Every person has the right to address petitions to authorities without suffering prejudice.
2. The authorities must take cognizance of petitions.

Art. 33 Political Rights

1. The political rights are guaranteed.
2. The guarantee of political rights protects the free formation of opinion by the citizens and the unaltered expression of their will insofar as it does not endanger the national traditions, morale or mentality.

Art. 34 Realization of Fundamental Rights

1. The fundamental rights are realized in the entire legal system.
2. Whoever exercises a function of the state must respect the fundamental rights and contribute to their realization.
3. The authorities ensure that the fundamental rights also be respected in relations among private parties whenever the analogy is applicable.

Art. 35 Limitations of Fundamental Rights

1. Any limitation of a fundamental right requires a legal basis. Grave limitations must be expressly foreseen by statute. Cases of clear and present danger are reserved.
2. Any limitation of a fundamental right must be justified by public or national interest, or serve for the protection of fundamental rights of other persons.
3. Limitations of fundamental rights must be proportionate to the goals pursued except for cases when such limitations are necessitated by the need to preserve public order and act in the interest of national security.

Chapter 2: Citizenship and Political Rights

Art. 36 Acquisition and Loss of Citizenship

1. The Grand Duchy regulates the acquisition and the loss of citizenship through descent, marriage, adoption and naturalization. Moreover, it regulates the loss of Taraskovyan citizenship on other grounds, and the reinstatement of citizenship.
2. The Grand Duchy facilitates the naturalization of stateless children.

Art. 37 Exercise of Political Rights

1.. The Grand Duchy regulates the exercise of political rights in grand ducal matters; the Fiefdoms regulate the exercise of these rights in fiefdom and municipal matters.
2. A Taraskovyan citizen has the right to exercise his political rights anywhere in the territories under Grand Ducal jurisdiction. No political mandates, except for cases laid down by law, are cumulative.

Art. 38 Taraskovyan citizens domiciled abroad

1. The Grand Duchy encourages links amongst Taraskovyan citizens domiciled abroad, and their links with Tarasovka. It may support organizations which pursue this goal.
2. It legislates on the rights and obligations of Taraskovyan citizens domiciled abroad, in particular on the exercise of the political rights on the Grand Ducal level.

Chapter 3: Social Goals

Art. 39 [General Provisions]

1. The Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms strive to ensure that, in addition to personal responsibility and private initiative,
a. every person benefits from social security;
b. every person benefits from necessary healthcare;
c. the family as a community of adults and children is protected and encouraged;
d. every person capable of working sustains himself or herself through working under fair and adequate conditions;
e. every person looking for housing shall find, for himself or herself and his or her family, appropriate housing at reasonable conditions;
f. children and young people and people of working age shall benefit from initial and continuing education according to their abilities;
g. children and young people are encouraged in their development to become independent and socially responsible persons, and they are supported in their social, cultural, and political integration.
2. The Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms strive to ensure that every person is insured against the economic consequences of old age, disability, illness, accidents, unemployment, maternity, orphanhood, and widowhood.
3. They strive to realize the social goals within the framework of their constitutional powers and with the means available to them.
4. No direct subjective claims to state subsidies can be derived from the social goals.

Title 3: The Grand Duchy, the Fiefdoms and the Municipalities

Chapter 1: Relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms

Art. 40 Tasks of the Grand Duchy

1. The Grand Duchy accomplishes the tasks which are within its jurisdiction.
2. It assumes the tasks which require uniform regulation.

Art. 41 Tasks of the Fiefdoms

The Fiefdoms define the tasks which they shall accomplish within the framework of their powers.

Art. 42 Implementation of Grand Ducal Law

1. The Fiefdoms implement Grand Ducal law in conformity with the Constitution and the statute.
2. The Grand Duchy leaves the Fiefdoms as large a space of action as possible and takes their particularities into account.
3. The Grand Duchy takes into account the financial burden that is associated with implementing Grand Ducal law by leaving sufficient sources of financing to the Fiefdoms, and by ensuring an equitable financial equalization.

Art. 43 Autonomy of the Fiefdoms

The Grand Duchy respects the autonomy of the Fiefdoms.

Art. 44 Inter-Fiefdom Treaties

1. The Fiefdoms may enter into inter-fiefdom treaties, and may create common organizations and institutions. They may, in particular, join forces to fulfil tasks of regional interest.
2. The Grand Duchy may participate in such organizations or institutions within the limits of its powers.
3. Inter-fiefdom treaties may not be contrary to the law or the interests of the Grand Duchy, nor to the rights of other Fiefdoms. The Grand Duchy must be notified of such treaties.

Art. 45 Supremacy of and Respect for Grand Ducal Law

1. Grand Ducal law takes precedence over contrary Fiefdom law.
2. The Grand Duchy ensures that the Fiefdoms respect the Grand Ducal law.

Art. 46 Autonomy of Municipalities

1. The autonomy of Municipalities is guaranteed within the limits fixed by fiefdom law.
2. In its activity, the Grand Duchy takes into account the possible consequences for the Municipalities.

Art.47 Fiefdom Constitutions

1. Every Fiefdom adopts a constitution in accordance with the Grand Ducal law and Constitution. The Fiefdom’s constitution must be approved by the people, and must be subject to revision if a majority of the people so requires.
2. The constitutions of the Fiefdoms must be guaranteed by the Grand Duchy.

Art. 48 Constitutional Order

1. The Grand Duchy protects the constitutional order of the Fiefdoms.
2. It intervenes if the inner order of a Fiefdom is disturbed or threatened and cannot be protected by the Fiefdom alone or with the help of other Fiefdoms.

Art. 49 Existence and Territory of the Fiefdoms

1. The Grand Duchy protects the existence and the territory of the Fiefdoms.
2. Modifications of the number of Fiefdoms, of the status of Fiefdoms are subject to the assent of the population concerned and of the People of the Grand Duchy.
3. Modifications of the territory of a Fiefdom are subject to the assent of the population concerned and the assent of the Grand Ducal Parliament in the form of a Grand Ducal decree.
4. Inter-fiefdom boundary settlements may be made by treaty between the Fiefdoms concerned.

Chapter 2: Powers

Section 1: Relations with Foreign Countries

Art. 50 Foreign Relations

1. Foreign Relations are a Grand Ducal matter.
2. The Grand Duchy strives to preserve the independence of Tarasovka and its welfare.
3. It takes into consideration the powers of the Fiefdoms and protects their interests.

Art. 51 Participation of the Fiefdoms in Decisions of Foreign Policy

1. The Fiefdoms participate in the preparation of decisions of foreign policy which concern their powers or their essential interests.
2. The Grand Duchy informs the Fiefdoms timely and fully, and consults them.
3. The position of the Fiefdoms has particular weight when their powers are concerned. In these cases, the Fiefdoms participate in international negotiations as appropriate.

Art. 52 Relations between the Fiefdoms and Foreign Countries

1. The Fiefdoms may conclude treaties with foreign countries within the scope of their powers.
2. These treaties may not be contrary neither to the law nor to the interests of the Grand Duchy nor to the laws of other Fiefdoms. Before concluding a treaty, the Fiefdoms must inform the Grand Duchy.
3. The Fiefdoms may deal directly with lower ranking foreign authorities; in other cases, the relations of the Fiefdoms with foreign countries are conducted by the Grand Duchy acting on their behalf.

Section 2: Security, National and Civil Defence

Art. 53 Security

1. The Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms ensure, within the framework of their powers, the security of the country and the protection of the population.
2. They coordinate their efforts in the field of inner security.

Art. 54 Army

1. Tarasovka has a standing professional army based on volunteer service.
2. The army contributes to prevent war and to maintain peace; it defends the country and protects its population. It lends support to the civil authorities when they must repel serious threats to internal security or master other exceptional circumstances. The statute may provide for further tasks.
3. The use of the army is a grand ducal matter. The Fiefdoms may engage their troops to maintain public order on their territory, if the means of the civil authorities no longer suffice to repel serious threats to inner security.

Art. 55 Military Service

1. Military service is voluntary for all Taraskovyan citizens.
2. Taraskovyan citizens who render military service have a rebate on taxes and priority for working opportunities related to the State authorities.
3. Those who render military service and thereby suffer health impairment or lose their lives, have the right for themselves or their relatives to adequate support by the Grand Duchy.

Art. 56 Organisation, Instruction, and Equipment of the Army

1. Legislation on the military and on the organisation, the instruction, and the equipment of the army, is a Grand Ducal matter.
2. Within the limits of Grand Ducal law, the Fiefdoms have the power to form Fiefdom forces, to appoint and to promote officers of such forces, and to furnish a part or the entirety of their clothing and equipment.
3. The Grand Duchy may take over military installations of the Fiefdoms against fair compensation.

Art. 57 Civil defence

1. Legislation on civil defence is a Grand Ducal matter; civil defence has the purpose of protecting persons and property against the consequences of armed conflicts.
2. The Grand Duchy legislates on the intervention of civil defence in catastrophes and emergencies.
3. The Grand Duchy may make the civil defence service compulsory for men. For women, it is voluntary.
4. The Grand Duchy legislates on fair compensation for loss of income in case of compulsory service.
5. Those who render civil defence service and thereby suffer health impairment or lose their lives, have the right for themselves or their relatives to adequate support by the Grand Duchy.

Section 3: Education, Research, Culture and Environment

Art. 58 Education

1. Education is a fiefdom matter within the limits of the Grand Ducal National Curriculum.
2. The Fiefdoms ensure a sufficient primary education open to all children. This education is compulsory, and shall be placed under state direction or supervision. It is free of charge in public schools. The school year begins between mid-August and mid-September.

Art. 59 Professional Education and Universities

1. The Grand Duchy legislates on professional education.
2. It operates technical universities. It may create, operate, or support other universities and institutions of higher learning. It may make its support conditional upon taking coordination measures.

Art. 60 Research

1. The Grand Duchy encourages scientific research.
2. It may make its support conditional, in particular, upon taking coordination measures.
3. It may create, take over, or operate research institutions.

Art. 61 Support of Education

The Grand Duchy may grant subsidies to the Fiefdoms for the expenses that they may incur for scholarships and for other assistance towards education.

Art. 62 Education of Young People and Adults

1. The Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms, when fulfilling their tasks, take into account children's and young people's special needs for development and protection.
2. The Grand Duchy may complement Fiefdom measures and support the extra-curricular work with children and young people and the education of adults.

Art. 63 Sport

1. The Grand Duchy promotes sport, particularly sport education.
3. It may legislate on youth sport, and may make sport education in schools compulsory.

Art. 64 Culture

1. The field of culture is a Fiefdom matter.
2. The Grand Duchy may support cultural activities of national interest, and encourage art and music, in particular in the field of education.
3. In accomplishing its tasks, it takes into account the cultural and linguistic diversity of the country.

Art. 65 Official Languages

1. The official languages of the Grand Duchy are the Taraskath and Russian.
2. The Fiefdoms where national languages besides Taraskath and Russian are spoken by a reasonable share of the population shall have the right to institute said languages as additional official Fiefdom languages. They shall be used alongside the official languages of the Grand Duchy.
3. The Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms encourage understanding and exchange between the linguistic communities.
4. The Grand Duchy guarantees the right for speakers of a recognized national language to study in that language in the places of compact living of such speakers.

Art. 66 Sustainable Development and Protection of Environment

1. The Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms shall strive to establish a durable equilibrium between nature, in particular its capacity to renew itself, and its use by man.
2. The Grand Duchy legislates on the protection of man and the natural environment against harm and nuisance.

Art. 67 Protection of Taraskovyan black wolves.

1. The protection of Taraskovyan black wolves is a Grand Ducal matter under the Grand Duke’s personal supervision.
2. All ownership, hunting, use, trade, slaughter of Taraskovyan black wolves, as well as experiments on them, are strictly prohibited, except for rights reserved to the Grand Ducal Household.
3. The Grand Duke has the right to offer Taraskovyan black wolves as tokens of respect and honour to the most prestigious foreign dignitaries and Taraskovyan citizens who are worthy of such honour. However, only one black wolf of an age no less than four weeks old can be presented to any one individual – either foreign dignitary or Taraskovyan citizen. In cases such as these, the normal laws prohibiting the ownership of the black wolves are waived

Section 4: Transportation

Art. 68 National Transport Routes

The creation and supervision of national transport routes is a Grand Ducal matter.

Art 69 Local Transport Routes

The creation and supervision of local transport routes is a Fiefdom matter.

Section 5: Energy and Communication

Art. 70 Energy Policy

1. The Grand Duchy establishes principles on the use of domestic and renewable energy, and the economical and efficient use of energy.
2. National energy networks are a Grand Ducal matter.
3. Local energy networks are a Fiefdom or a private matter.

Art. 71 Postal and Telecommunication Services

1. Postal and telecommunication services are a Grand Ducal matter.
2. The Grand Duchy ensures sufficient and reasonable basic postal and telecommunication services in all regions. The rates are fixed according to uniform principles.

Art. 72 Telecasting Services

1. Public telecasting of features and information is a Grand Ducal matter.
2. The independence of private telecasting services and the autonomy of their programming are guaranteed by the Grand Duchy insofar as the former do not endanger national traditions, morale or mentality.
3. The situation and the role of other media, in particular the press, are taken into account.
4. It shall be possible to submit complaints about programs to an independent authority.

Section 6: Economy

Art. 73 Principles of Economic Order

1. The Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms respect the principle of economic freedom.
2. They safeguard the interests of the national economy and, together with the private sector of the economy, contribute to the welfare and economic security of the population.
3. Within the limits of their powers, they strive to create favourable conditions for the private sector of the economy.
4. Derogations from the principle of economic freedom, in particular measures against competition, are allowed only if foreseen by the grand ducal law or are necessitated by the needs of national security.

Art. 74 Private Economic Activity

1. The Grand Duchy may legislate on the exercise of private economic activity.
2. It guarantees that persons having a university education or a Grand Ducal or Fiefdom education certificate can exercise their activities throughout the Grand Duchy.

Art. 75 Consumer Protection

1. The Grand Duchy takes measures for consumer protection.
2. It legislates on the remedies available to consumer organizations. In the field of Grand Ducal legislation against unfair competition, these organisations have the same rights as professional and economic associations.
3. The Fiefdoms provide a conciliation procedure or a simple and speedy judicial procedure for cases below a certain value in dispute. The Grand Ducal Government establishes this value.

Art. 76 Banking and Insurance

1. The Grand Duchy legislates on banking and stock exchanges; it takes into account the specific task and position of the fiefdom banks.
2. It may legislate on financial services in other fields.
3. It legislates on private insurance.

Art. 77 Monetary Policy

1. Money and currency are a Grand Ducal matter. The Grand Duchy has the exclusive right to coin money and to issue bank notes.
2. As an independent central bank, the Taraskovyan Central Bank follows a monetary policy which serves the general interest of the country; it is administered with the cooperation and under the supervision of the Grand Duchy.
3. The Taraskovyan Central Bank creates sufficient monetary reserves from its profits.

Art. 78 Policy on Economic Development

1. The Grand Duchy takes measures to ensure a balanced economic development and, in particular, to prevent and fight unemployment and inflation.
2. It takes into account the economic development of the various regions. It cooperates with the Fiefdoms and the economic circles.
3. In the fields of credit and currency, in foreign trade and in public finance, it may, if necessary, depart from the principle of economic freedom.
4. In their budgetary policy, the Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms take into account the economic development.
5. In order to stabilize the economy, the Grand Duchy may temporarily levy surcharges, or grant rebates on Grand Ducal taxes and dues. The accumulated funds shall be frozen; after their release, direct surcharges are individually reimbursed and indirect surcharges are used to grant rebates or to create employment.
6. The Grand Duchy may oblige businesses to accumulate reserves for the creation of employment; for this purpose, it grants tax privileges, and may also oblige Fiefdoms to grant such privileges.After the release of the reserves, the businesses are free to decide how to use them within the purposes prescribed by statute.

Art. 79 Foreign Trade

1. The Grand Duchy safeguards abroad the interests of the Taraskovyan economy.
2. In special cases, it may take measures to protect the domestic economy. It may, if necessary, depart from the principle of economic freedom.

Art. 80 Supply of Essential Goods and Services

1. The Grand Duchy ensures the country's supply of essential goods and services in case of threats of military or economic war, or of severe shortages which the economy cannot counteract by itself. It takes provisional measures.
2. It may, if necessary, depart from the principle of economic freedom.

Art. 81 Structural Policy

1. The Grand Duchy may support economically threatened regions and promote branches of the economy and professions, if the measures of self-help that can reasonably be accepted are insufficient to ensure their existence.
2. It may, if necessary, depart from the principle of economic freedom.

Art. 82 Weapons and Military Material

1. The Grand Duchy shall legislate on the misuse of weapons, associated equipment, and ammunition.
2. It shall legislate on the production, acquisition, distribution, importation, exportation, and transit of military material.

Section 7: Housing, Work, Social Security and Health

Art. 83 Promotion of Construction and Ownership of Housing

1. The Grand Duchy shall encourage the construction and the ownership of housing for private persons' own use, and the activity of developers and organisations for social housing.
2. It shall promote, in particular, the acquisition and development of land, the efficiency of construction, and the reduction of construction and housing costs.
3. It may legislate on the development of land for the construction of housing, and on efficiency in construction.
4. In fulfilling this task, it shall, in particular, take into account the interests of families and elderly, needy, and disabled persons.

Art. 84 Landlord and Tenant

1. The Grand Duchy shall issue regulations against abuses in the field of landlord and tenant, particularly against abusive rent, on avoiding abusive notices of termination, and on the limited extension of tenancies.
2. It may legislate to confer generally binding effect on general contracts between landlords and tenants. Contracts may become generally binding only if they take fairly into account justified minority interests and regional differences, and respect the principle of equality before the law.

Art. 85 Labour

1. The Grand Duchy may legislate on:
a. the protection of employees;
b. the relationship between employees and employers, in particular the common regulation of matters concerning an enterprise or a trade;
c. placement services;
d. conferring generally binding effect on collective labour contracts.
2. Collective labour contracts may receive generally binding effect only if they take fairly into account justified minority interests and regional differences, and respect the principle of equality before the law.

Art. 86 Social Security for the Elderly, Survivors, and Disabled Persons

1. The Grand Duchy shall take measures for an adequate social security for the elderly and disabled persons. These shall be based on three pillars, namely, Grand Ducal old age and disability insurance, employee pension plans, and provision by individuals for their own future.
2. The Grand Duchy shall ensure that the Grand Ducal old age and disability insurance, and the employee pension plans may fulfil their purpose durably.
3. It may oblige the Fiefdoms to exempt from taxation the institutions of the Grand Ducal old age and disability insurance, and the employee pension plans, and to grant tax relief to persons insured and their employers for contributions paid, and entitlements to future benefits.
4. In cooperation with the Fiefdoms, the Grand Duchy shall encourage individuals to provide for their own future, particularly by fiscal measures and by policies encouraging ownership.

Art. 87 Old age and Disability Insurance

1. The Grand Duchy shall legislate on the old age and disability insurance.
2. In doing so, it shall respect the following principles:
a. The insurance shall be mandatory;
b. The pensions must cover basic living expenses appropriately;
c. The maximal pension shall not exceed twice the minimal pension;
d. The pensions shall at least be adapted to the development of prices.
3. The insurance shall be financed:
a. by contributions of the insured persons;
b. by subsidies of the Grand Duchy and, if the statute so provides, of the Fiefdoms.
4. Together, the subsidies of the Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms shall not exceed half the disbursements.
5. The Grand Duchy shall encourage the integration of disabled persons, and support efforts to assist the elderly and disabled persons. To this end, it may use the funds of the old age and disability insurance.

Art. 88 Employee Pension Plans

1. The Grand Duchy shall legislate on employee pension plans.
2. In doing so, it shall respect the following principles:
a. Employee pension plans together with the old age and disability insurance shall ensure appropriately that the previous lifestyle may be maintained;
b. Employee pension plans shall be mandatory for employees; the statute may foresee exceptions;
c. Employers shall insure their employees with a pension institution. If necessary, the Grand Duchy shall give them the possibility to insure their employees with a grand ducal pension institution;
d. Self-employed persons may voluntarily insure themselves with a pension institution;
e. For particular groups of self-employed persons, the Grand Duchy may declare employee pension plans mandatory, in general or only for particular risks.
3. Employee pension plans shall be financed through contributions by the insured persons.
4. Employee pension institutions must satisfy grand ducal minimum requirements; the Grand Duchy may provide for nationwide measures to resolve particular problems.

Art. 89 Unemployment Insurance

1. The Grand Duchy shall legislate on unemployment insurance.
2. In doing so, it shall respect the following principles:
a. The insurance shall guarantee an appropriate compensation for loss of earnings, and shall support measures to prevent and fight unemployment;
b. Insurance shall be mandatory for employees; the statute may provide exceptions;
c. Self-employed persons may voluntarily insure themselves.
3. The unemployment insurance shall be financed by the contributions of the insured persons. Half the contribution of employees shall be paid by their employers.
4. In extraordinary circumstances, the Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms shall provide subsidies.
5. The Grand Duchy may legislate on social assistance to the unemployed.

Art. 90 Assistance to Persons in Need

Persons in need shall be assisted by the Fiefdoms in which they are domiciled. The Grand Duchy may provide for exceptions, and shall determine the competent authorities.

Art. 91 Family Allocations and Maternity Insurance

1. In fulfilling its tasks, the Grand Duchy shall take into account the needs of the family. It may support measures to protect the family.
2. It may legislate on family allocations and operate a Grand Ducal family compensation fund.
3. It shall institute a maternity insurance. It may also oblige persons to contribute who cannot benefit from the insurance.
4. The Grand Duchy may declare mandatory joining a family compensation fund and maternity insurance generally or for certain categories of persons, and may make its subsidies dependent upon fair contributions by the Fiefdoms.

Art. 92 Health and Accident Insurance

1. The Grand Duchy shall legislate on health and accident insurance.
2. Health and accident insurance shall be mandatory.

Art. 93 Protection of Health

Within the limits of its powers, the Grand Duchy shall take measures for the protection of
health.

Art. 94 Medical Assistance to Procreation and Gene Technology in the Human Field

Persons shall be protected against the abuse of medically assisted procreation and gene technology.

Art. 95 Transplantation Medicine

1. The Grand Duchy provides regulation for transplantation of organs, tissue, and cells. It thereby protects human dignity, personality, and health.
2. The trade of human organs is prohibited.

Section 8: Residence and Domicile of Foreigners

Art. 96 [General Provisions]

1. Legislation on immigration, emigration, residence and domicile of foreigners, and on granting asylum are Grand Ducal matters.
2. Foreigners who endanger Tarasovka's security may be removed from Tarasovka by force.

Section 9: Civil and Criminal Law, Weights and Measures

Art. 97 Civil Law

4. Legislation in the field of civil law and civil procedure is a Grand Ducal matter.
5. The organization of the judiciary and civil justice are Fiefdom matters, unless otherwise provided by statute.
3. Judgments in civil law are enforceable throughout Tarasovka and territories under Taraskovyan jurisdiction.

Art. 98 Criminal Law

1. Legislation in the field of criminal law and criminal procedure is a Grand Ducal matter.
2. The organization of the judiciary, criminal justice, and execution of criminal penalties and measures are Fiefdom matters, unless otherwise provided by statute.
3. The Grand Duchy can grant funds to the Fiefdoms for:
a. the establishment of institutions;
b. the improvement of prisons and correctional facilities;
c. institutions conducting educational measures regarding children, youths, and young adults.

Art. 99 Aid to Victims of Criminal Acts

The Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms shall ensure that the victims of criminal acts against the corporal, mental, or sexual integrity receive assistance and appropriate compensation if, as a consequence of the criminal act, they suffer financial difficulties.

Art. 100 Weights and Measures

Legislation on weights and measures is a Grand Ducal matter.

Chapter 3: Finances

Art. 101 Budget

1. On the long run, the Grand Duchy keeps its expenditure and revenues in balance.
2. Details are determined by statute.

Art. 102 Principles of Taxation

1. The general principles of taxation, particularly the circle of taxpayers, and the object of the tax and its calculation, shall be established by statute.
2. To the extent that the nature of the tax allows it, the principles of universality and equality of tax treatment and of taxation according to economic capacity shall be followed.
3. Inter-fiefdom double taxation is prohibited. The Grand Duchy shall take the necessary measures.

Art. 103 Direct Taxes

1. The Grand Duchy may raise a direct tax as decided by the statute.
2. In establishing the tax scales, the Grand Duchy shall take into account the burden of direct taxes on the Fiefdoms and Municipalities.
3. The effect on natural persons of the shift into higher tax brackets due to inflation shall be periodically equalized.
4. The Fiefdoms shall assess and collect the taxes.
5. The Fiefdoms shall contribute to the Grand Ducal budget proportionally to their economic welfare.

Art. 104 Harmonization of Taxes

1. The Grand Duchy establishes principles on the harmonization of direct taxes of the Grand Duchy, Fiefdoms, and Municipalities; the Grand Duchy takes into account the efforts of the Fiefdoms to harmonize their taxes.
2. The harmonization extends to the duty to pay taxes, the object of taxation, its period, and procedural and criminal law on taxation. Harmonization does not cover tax scales, tax rates, and tax-exempt amounts.
3. The Grand Duchy may issue regulations against arrangements granting unjustified tax advantages.

Art. 105 Customs Duties

Legislation on customs duties and other levies on trans-border goods traffic is a Grand Ducal matter.

Art. 106 Exclusion of Fiefdom and Municipal Taxation

What Grand Ducal legislation subjects to direct tax may not be taxed by the Fiefdoms and the Municipalities with taxes of the same kind.

Art. 107 Financial Equalization

1. The Grand Duchy shall promote financial equalization among the Fiefdoms.
2. When granting subsidies, it shall take into account the financial capacity of the Fiefdoms.

Title 4: People and Fiefdoms

Chapter 1: General Provisions

Art. 108 Political Rights

1. All Taraskovyan citizens who are 18 years or older, and are not under guardianship because of mental illness or weakness, shall have political rights in grand ducal matters. All shall have the same political rights and obligations.
2. They may participate in elections to the Grand Ducal Duma and in Grand Ducal votations, and may launch and sign popular initiatives and referenda in Grand Ducal matters.
3. Statutes may foresee for exceptions.

Art. 109 Political Parties

The political parties shall contribute to the forming of the opinion and the will of the People.

Chapter 2: Initiative and Referendum

Art. 110 Popular Initiative for Total Revision of the Grand Ducal Constitution

1. 20% of citizens entitled to vote may within 18 months of the official publication of their initiative demand a total revision or abolishment of the Grand Ducal Constitution.
2. If the initiative violates the principle of unity of form, the principle of unity of subject matter, national traditions, morale or mentality, the Grand Ducal Parliament or the Grand Duke declares it invalid, in whole or in part.
3. This proposal has to be submitted to the people and to the Fiefdoms by referendum.

Art. 111 Formulated Popular Initiative for Partial Revision of the Grand Ducal Constitution

1. 4% of citizens entitled to vote may within 18 months of the official publication of their formulated initiative demand a partial revision of the Grand Ducal Constitution.
2. If the initiative violates the principle of unity of form, the principle of unity of subject matter, national traditions, morale or mentality, the Grand Ducal Parliament or the Grand Duke declares it invalid, in whole or in part.
3. The initiative is submitted to the vote of the people and of the Fiefdoms. The Grand Ducal Parliament and the Grand duke recommend the initiative for adoption or rejection. The Grand Ducal Parliament may contrast the initiative with a counterproposal.

Art. 112 General Popular Initiative

1. 2% of citizens entitled to vote may, within 18 months of the official publication of their initiative in the form of a general suggestion, demand to change or abolish provisions of the Grand Ducal Constitution or Statutes.
2. If the initiative violates the principle of unity of form, the principle of unity of subject matter, national traditions, morale or mentality, the Grand Ducal Parliament or the Grand Duke declares it invalid, in whole or in part.
3. If the Grand Ducal Parliament and the Grand Duke consent to the initiative, they adopt the requisite change of the Grand Ducal Constitution or of grand ducal law.
4. The Grand Ducal Parliament may contrast the requisite change by the initiative with a counterproposal. The requisite change and the counterproposal are submitted to the vote of the people and the Fiefdoms, the requisite change of Grand Ducal law and the counterproposal are submitted to the vote of the people.
5. If rejected by the Grand Ducal Parliament, the initiative is submitted to the vote of the people. If the initiative is adopted, the Grand Ducal Parliament establishes the requisite change of the Grand Ducal Constitution or of grand ducal law.
6. If rejected by the Grand Duke, the initiative is voided.

Art. 113 Procedure for Initiative With Counterproposal

1. The voters cast their ballot at the same time for
a. the popular initiative and the requisite change and
b. the counterproposal of the Grand Ducal Parliament.
2. They may adopt only adopt one proposal.

Art. 114 Mandatory Referendum

1. The following shall be submitted to the vote of the People and the Fiefdoms:
a. Revisions of the Grand Ducal Constitution;
b. The entry into organizations for collective security or into supranational communities;
c. Grand Ducal Statutes declared urgent which have no constitutional basis; such Grand Ducal Statutes must be submitted to the vote within one year after their adoption by the Grand Ducal Parliament.
2. The following shall be submitted to the vote of the People:
a. Popular initiatives for total revision of the Grand Ducal Constitution;
b. Popular initiatives for partial revision of the Grand Ducal Constitution in the form of a general suggestion which were rejected by the Grand Ducal Parliament;
c. The question whether a total revision of the Constitution should be carried out if both Chambers disagree.

Art. 115 Optional Referendum

On the demand by 1% of citizens entitled to vote or 7 Fiefdoms, within 100 days of the official publication, the following instruments are submitted to the vote of the People:
a. Grand Ducal Statutes;
b. Grand Ducal Statutes declared urgent;
c. Grand Ducal decrees to the extent the Constitution or the statute foresee this;
d. International treaties which:
1. are of unlimited duration and may not be terminated;
2. provide for the entry into an international organization;
3. include important legislative provisions or require the adoption of Grand Ducal law.

Art. 116 Implementation of International Treaties

1. If the approval of an international treaty is subject to a mandatory public referendum, the Grand Ducal Parliament may include into the approval act those amendments to the Constitution necessary for the implementation of the treaty.
2. If the approval of an international treaty is subject to a facultative public referendum, the Grand Ducal Parliament may include into the approval act those changes of the law necessary for the implementation of the treaty.

Art. 117 Required Majorities

1. Proposals submitted to the vote of the People shall be accepted if the majority of those voting approves them.
2. Proposals submitted to the vote of the People and the Fiefdoms shall be accepted if the majority of those voting and the majority of the Fiefdoms approve them.
3. The result of a popular vote in a Fiefdom determines the vote of that Fiefdom.
4. Abrogated
5. The High Fiefdom of Vigvar has two Fiefdom votes.

Title 5: Grand Ducal Authorities

Chapter 1: General Provisions

Art. 118 Eligibility

Every Taraskovyan citizen entitled to vote is eligible for membership in the Grand Ducal Duma and the Grand Ducal Tribunal.

Art. 119 Incompatibilities

1. Members of the Grand Ducal Duma, of the Grand Ducal Senate, of the Grand Ducal Government, and Judges of the Grand Ducal Tribunal may not at the same time be members of another of these bodies.
2. The full-time judges of the Grand Ducal Tribunal may not carry out another function of the Grand Duchy or a Fiefdom, nor may they exercise another gainful activity.
3. The statute may provide for other incompatibilities or exceptions.

Art. 120 Term of Office

The members of the Grand Ducal Duma and of the Grand Ducal Senate shall be elected for four years. The judges of the Grand Ducal Tribunal shall be elected for six years.

Art. 121 Answerability of the State

The Grand Duchy shall be answerable for damage caused illegally by its organs in the exercise of their official activities.

Art. 122 Hearings and Consultations

The Fiefdoms, the political parties, and the interested circles shall be heard in the course of the preparation of important legislation and other projects of substantial impact, and on important international treaties.

Chapter 2: Grand Ducal Parliament

Section 1: Organisation

Art. 123 Status

1. Subject to the rights of the People and the Fiefdoms, the Grand Ducal Parliament is the highest legislative authority of the Grand Duchy.
2. The Grand Duke may at any time dismiss the Grand Ducal Parliament so long as it is in accordance with the interests of the Grand Duchy. However, a new general election must be held no longer than a year from the date upon which the Parliament was dismissed, the Grand Ducal Government assuming the powers of the Grand Ducal Parliament in the stated period of time.
2. It has two Chambers, the Duma and the Senate, which have equal powers.

Art. 124 Composition and Election of the Duma

1. The Duma shall be composed of 400 deputies of the People.
2. The deputies shall be elected directly by the People according to the system of proportional representation. The Duma shall be renewed in full every four years.
3. Each Fiefdom shall form an electoral district.
4. The seats shall be distributed among the Fiefdoms in proportion to their population. Each Fiefdom shall have at least one seat.

Art. 125 Composition and Election of the Senate

1. The Senate shall consist of 58 delegates of the Fiefdoms.
2. The delegates shall be elected directly by the People. No Taraskovyan citizen bearing title below that of Count shall be eligible for membership in the Senate.
3. The High Fiefdom of Vigvar shall elect four Senators, the other Fiefdoms shall elect two Senators each.

Art. 126 Session Periods

1. The Chambers shall meet regularly for sessions. The Statute shall regulate the calling of sessions.
2. One fourth of the members of a Chamber or the Grand Duke may request that the Chambers be called to an extraordinary session period.

Art. 127 Presidency

Each Chamber shall elect from its midst for a term of one year, a President, the first Vice-President, and the second Vice-President. These mandates shall not be renewable for the following year.

Art. 128 Parliamentary Commissions

1. Each Chamber shall appoint commissions from its midst.
2. The statute may foresee joint commissions.
3. The statute may delegate certain powers that are not of a legislative nature to commissions.
4. To fulfil their tasks, the commissions shall have the right to obtain information, to consult documents, and to conduct inquiries. The statute shall define the limits of these rights.

Art. 129 Parliamentary Groups

The members of the Grand Ducal Parliament may form parliamentary groups.

Art. 130 Parliamentary Services

The Grand Ducal Parliament shall benefit from parliamentary services. It may call upon the services of the Grand Ducal Administration. The statute shall regulate the modalities.

Section 2: Procedure

Art. 131 Separate Deliberation

1. The Duma and the Senate shall deliberate separately.
2. Decisions of the Grand Ducal Parliament shall require the approval of both Chambers.
3. The law establishes provisions to ensure that decisions are possible in spite of dispute of the Chambers regarding:
a. the validity or partial validity of a popular initiative;
b. the implementation of a general popular initiative adopted by the People;
c. the implementation of a proposal by the Grand Ducal Parliament to amend the Grand Ducal Constitution that has been approved by the People;
d. the budget proposal or budget revision.

Art. 132 Joint Deliberation

1. The Duma and the Senate shall deliberate in common as the Grand Ducal Parliament in Joint Session under the chairmanship of the Grand Duke in order to
a. hold elections;
b. rule on jurisdictional disputes between the highest grand ducal authorities.
2. The Grand Ducal Parliament in Joint Session shall assemble for special occasions, and to hear declarations of the Grand Ducal Government.

Art. 133 Meetings to be Public

The meetings of the Chambers shall be public. The Statute may provide for exceptions.

Art. 134 Quorum and Majority

1. The Chambers may vote validly if the majority of its members are present.
2. The decisions are taken in both Chambers separately or in the Grand Ducal Parliament in Joint Session by the majority of those voting.
3. However, the qualified majority of the members of each Chamber shall be required for:
a. the declaration of urgency of Grand Ducal Statutes;
b. the increase of total expenditure in the case of extraordinary financial need.
4. By ordinance, the Grand Ducal Parliament may adjust the amount according to Paragraph (3) b. to inflation.

Art. 135 Right to Initiatives and Motions

1. Every member of the Grand Ducal Parliament, every parliamentary group, every parliamentary commission, and every Fiefdom, have the right to submit initiatives to the Grand Ducal Parliament.
2. The members of the Grand Ducal Parliament and of the Grand Ducal Government may present motions concerning a proposal under deliberation.

Art. 136 Prohibition of Instructed Mandates

1. The members of the Grand Ducal Parliament shall vote without instructions.
2. They shall reveal their links with interest groups.

Art. 137 Immunity

1 The members of the Grand Ducal Parliament and the Grand Ducal Government, and the Grand Ducal Chancellor may not be held responsible for their statements in the Chambers and before parliamentary organs.
2. The statute may provide for further forms of immunity, and extend them to other persons.

Section 3: Powers

Art. 138 Form of Laws and Decrees by the Grand Ducal Parliament

1. The Grand Ducal Parliament shall enact rules of law in the form of a Grand Ducal Statute or ordinance.
2. The other acts shall use the form of a Grand Ducal decree. A Grand Ducal decree not subjected to referendum shall be called a simple Grand Ducal decree.

Art. 139 Legislation

All important provisions establishing rules of law must be enacted in the form of Grand Ducal Statutes. These include the fundamental provisions on:
a. the exercise of political rights;
b. the restrictions of constitutional rights;
c. the rights and obligations of persons;
d. the circle of tax payers, and the object and the calculation of taxes;
e. the tasks and services of the Grand Duchy;
f. the obligations of the Fiefdoms when implementing and executing Grand Ducal law;
g. the organization and the procedure of Grand Ducal authorities.

Art. 140 Urgent Legislation

1 .A Grand Ducal Statute whose coming into force tolerates no delay, may be declared urgent by the majority of each Chamber and put into force immediately. It must be limited in time.
2. If a referendum is demanded against an urgent Grand Ducal Statute, it shall lapse one year after its adoption by the Grand Ducal Parliament, unless it is approved by the People within that period.

Art. 141 Foreign Relations and International Treaties

1. The Grand Ducal Parliament shall participate in shaping foreign policy.
2. It shall approve international treaties, with the exception of those which by statute or international treaty are within the powers of the Grand Ducal Government.

Art. 142 Finances

1. The Grand Ducal Parliament shall decide on Grand Ducal spending, shall adopt the budget, and shall approve the grand ducal accounts.
2. The Grand Ducal Government can override the decisions of the Grand Ducal Parliament by a decree of the Grand Duke.

Art. 143 Elections

1. The Grand Ducal Parliament shall elect the judges of the Grand Ducal Tribunal.
2. The Statute may empower the Grand Ducal Parliament to carry out further elections or to confirm appointments.

Art. 144 High Supervision

1. The Grand Ducal Parliament shall exercise the high supervision over the Grand Ducal Tribunal and the other organs entrusted with tasks of the Grand Duchy.
2. Official secrecy shall not be opposable to those special delegations of supervisory commissions that are appointed as provided by Statute.

Art. 145 Relations between the Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms

1. The Grand Ducal Parliament shall maintain the relations between the Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms.
2. It shall guarantee the Fiefdoms’ constitutions.
3. It shall decide whether to approve inter-fiefdom treaties and treaties between Fiefdoms and foreign countries, should the Grand Ducal Government or a Fiefdom raise an objection.

Art.146 Further Tasks and Powers

1. The Grand Ducal Parliament shall further have the following tasks and powers:
a. It shall take measures to enforce grand ducal law;
b. It shall decide on the validity of popular initiatives that meet the formal requirements;
c. It shall cooperate in important planning of state activities;
2. The Grand Ducal Parliament shall moreover deal with all subjects that are within the powers of the Grand Duchy, and are not attributed to another Grand Ducal authority.
3. The Statute may assign other tasks and powers to the Grand Ducal Parliament.

Chapter 3: Grand Ducal Government and Grand Ducal Administration

Section 1: Organisation and Procedure

Art. 147 The Grand Duke and the Grand Ducal Government

1. The Grand Duke is the supreme authority of the Grand Duchy.
2. The Grand Duke is beyond the bounds and measures of the Grand Ducal Statutes in their entirety so long as he acts in the interests of the Grand Duchy.
3. The Grand Duke has the power to revoke any decision taken by any Grand Ducal or Fiefdom authority and to annul the results of a referendum, insofar as the referendum has not been adopted by three quarters of the People and of the Fiefdoms.
4. The Grand Duke shall decide on petitions for pardon and declare amnesties.

Art. 148 Composition and Election

1. The Grand Ducal Government shall consist of the number of members determined by the Grand Duke.
2. The members of the Grand Ducal Government shall be appointed by the Grand Duke without approval by the Grand Ducal Parliament.
3. Only Taraskovyan citizens are eligible for membership in the Grand Ducal government.
4. The Grand Duke may at any time dismiss any or all Government members and appoint replacements.

Art. 149 Grand Ducal Administration

1. The Grand Ducal Government shall direct the Grand Ducal Administration. It shall ensure its efficient organization and the effective fulfilment of its tasks.
2. The Grand Ducal Administration shall be divided into Ministries; each Ministry is directed by one member of the Grand Ducal Government.
3. The statute may attribute administrative tasks to organizations and persons of public or private law outside the Grand Ducal Administration.

Art. 150 Grand Ducal Chancellery

The Grand Ducal Chancellery is the general staff of the Grand Ducal Government. It shall be directed by a Grand Ducal Chancellor appointed by the Grand Duke.

Section 2: Powers

Art.151 Government Policy

1. The Grand Ducal Government shall determine the goals and the means of its government policy. It shall plan and coordinate the activities of the state.
2. It shall inform the public timely and fully of its activity, unless preponderant public or private interests prevent this.

Art. 152 Initiative

The Grand Ducal Government shall submit to the Grand Ducal Parliament drafts of its legislation.

Art. 153 Legislation and Implementation

1. The Grand Ducal Government shall legislate in the form of ordinances and decrees, insofar as the Constitution or the statute empower it to do so.
2. It shall ensure the implementation of statutes, of decrees of the Grand Ducal Parliament, and of judgments of the Grand Ducal judiciary.

Art. 154 Finances

1. The Grand Ducal Government shall prepare the financing plan, draft the budget and establish the grand ducal accounts.
2. It shall ensure correct financial management.

Art. 155 Foreign Relations

1. The Grand Ducal Government shall conduct foreign relations safeguarding the Grand Ducal Parliament's participation rights; it shall represent Tarasovka abroad.
2. It shall sign treaties and ratify them. It shall submit them to the Grand Ducal Parliament for approval.
3. When the safeguard of the interests of the country so require, the Grand Ducal Government may issue ordinances, decrees and orders.

Art. 156 External and Inner Security

1. The Grand Ducal Government shall take measures to secure the external security and the independence of Tarasovka.
2. It shall take measures to safeguard the inner security.
3. It may base itself directly on the present article to issue ordinances and orders to obviate existing or imminent great disturbances of the public order, the external or the inner security.
4. In urgent cases, the Grand Ducal Government may mobilise the army for both external and inner tasks.

Art. 157 Relations between the Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms

1. The Grand Ducal Government shall entertain the relations between the Grand Duchy and the Fiefdoms, and shall collaborate with the Fiefdoms.
2. It shall approve fiefdom legislation where the implementation of grand ducal law so requires.
3. It may raise objections against or void treaties amongst Fiefdoms, or between Fiefdoms and foreign countries.
4. It shall ensure the implementation of Grand Ducal law, Fiefdom constitutions, and inter-fiefdom treaties, and shall take the necessary measures.

Art. 158 Further Tasks and Powers

1. The Grand Ducal Government shall further have the following tasks and powers:
a. It shall take measures to safeguard the external security and the independence of Tarasovka;
b. It shall take measures to secure the inner security;
c. If extraordinary circumstances so require, it may issue ordinances or simple Grand Ducal decrees to fulfil the tasks according to letters a and b;
d. It shall supervise the Grand Ducal Administration and the other organizations or persons entrusted with tasks of the Grand Duchy;
e. It shall regularly inform the Grand Ducal Parliament of its activity and on the state of the country;
f. It shall carry out the appointments that are not in the powers of other authorities;
g. It shall decide on remedies where the statute so provides.
2. The statute may attribute further tasks and powers to the Grand Ducal Government.

Chapter 4: Grand Ducal Tribunal and other Judicial Authorities

Art. 159 Position of the Grand Ducal Tribunal

1. The Grand Ducal Tribunal is the highest grand ducal judicial authority.
2. Its organization and procedure are regulated by statute.
3. The Tribunal provides for its own administration.
4. In electing the judges of the Grand Ducal Tribunal, the Grand Ducal Parliament takes into account the representation of the official languages.

Art. 160 Jurisdiction of the Grand Ducal Tribunal

1. The Grand Ducal Tribunal adjudicates disputes regarding:
a. grand ducal law;
b. public international law;
c. inter-fiefdom law;
d. fiefdom constitutional rights;
e. local autonomy and other guarantees by the Fiefdoms to public law institutions;
f. grand ducal and fiefdom provisions regarding political rights.
2. The Court adjudicates disputes between Fiefdoms.
3. The law may provide for additional jurisdiction of the Grand Ducal Tribunal
4. Acts by the Grand Ducal Parliament and by the Grand Ducal Government cannot be disputed in front of the Grand Ducal Tribunal. Exceptions are determined by law.

Art. 161 Civil, Criminal, and Administrative Jurisdiction

1. The jurisdiction of the Grand Ducal Tribunal in matters of civil, criminal, and administrative law as well as other areas of law is specified by statute.
2. The Fiefdoms may, with the consent of the Grand Ducal Parliament, assign matters of fiefdom administrative law to the jurisdiction of the Grand Ducal Tribunal.

Art. 162 Relevant Law

Grand Ducal statutes are binding laws for the Grand Ducal Tribunal and other law-applying public institutions.

Art. 163 Access to the Grand Ducal Tribunal

1. The law provides for access to the Grand Ducal Tribunal.
2. Regarding disputes that do not concern judicial questions of fundamental importance, the law may specify a threshold value.
3. For specific areas of law the lay may exclude access to the Grand Ducal Tribunal
4. Regarding claims that obviously lack any merit the law may specify simplified proceedings.

Art. 164 Judicial Agencies of the Fiefdoms

1. The Fiefdoms establish judicial agencies to adjudicate civil law matters as well as criminal matters.
2. They may establish common judicial agencies.

Art. 165 Judicial Independence

The judicial agencies are independent and only subject to the law in their adjudicative activity.

Title 6: Revision of the Grand Ducal Constitution and Transitory Provisions

Chapter 1: Revision

Art. 166 General Principle

1. The Grand Ducal Constitution may be subjected to a total or a partial revision at any time.
2. Where the Grand Ducal Constitution and implementing legislation do not provide otherwise, the revision shall follow the legislative process.

Art. 167 Total Revision

1. A total revision of the Grand Ducal Constitution may be proposed by the People or by one of the Chambers, or may be decreed by the Grand Ducal Parliament.
2. If the initiative emanates from the People or if the Chambers disagree, the People shall decide whether a total revision shall be undertaken.
3. Should the People accept a total revision, both Chambers shall be newly elected.

Art. 168 Partial Revision

1. A partial revision of the Grand Ducal Constitution may be requested by the People, or be decreed by the Grand Ducal Parliament.
2. A partial revision must respect the principle of the unity of subject matter.
3. A popular initiative for partial revision must, moreover, respect the principle of the unity of form.

Art. 169 Entry into Force

The Constitution revised in total or in part shall enter into force as soon as it is accepted by the People and the Fiefdoms.

Chapter 2: Transitory Provisions

Art. 170 Transitory Provisions on the First Convocation of the Grand Ducal Parliament

The first Grand Ducal Parliament shall be elected for a two-year term.

Art. 171 Transitory Provisions on Federal Statutes

The Federal Statues and other legal acts in effect on the territory of the Grand Duchy until the enactment of this Constitution are enforced in so far as they do not contravene the Grand Ducal Constitution.

[OOC: This Chapter is the only part of the document that is subject to have things added as I figure out what else can I make Transitory Provisions on =) ]

OOC: Very shiny! #tag#

[OOC: Yay! Yes. Shiny. *read thoroughly again, curious to see if anything has changed/how much has changed since his last look*]

Excerpt from the Vigvar Daily

Taraskovyan Citizens Called to the Polls to Decide on New Constitution.

After publishing the project text of the Federal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka, the Ruling Council of the Federation has announced the details of the upcoming referendum. It has been decided that, due to the importance of the event, the voters will use physical ballots and will thus have to turn up to the polling stations. They shall also be expected to impose their signatures on physical voters’ lists. The physical ballot shall be immediately backed by an electronic vote.

It is true that the Federation has the capacity to proceed with an electronic vote without calling the citizens to the urns, but the Ruling Council has deemed that the referendum on the Federal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka, due to its importance, shall proceed in its announced form to avoid any talks about vote rigging. It is not clear how many days the referendum will last, for the Federation counts approximately three billion voters and making all of them vote in a single day might prove hazardous. What is clear for now, however, is that the referendum shall happen in thirty two days.

Further in this article we shall discuss some points of the new Constitution.

Continued on page 2.

[OOC:
NB Those who'd wish to send observers to the referendum proper are free to do so and, as such, to post their interest or whatever right away. Although, knowing the partition of political systems in NSverse, I doubt many nations would really send observers to oversee free and fair referendums considering their own domestic policies ;)

Oh, and usual rules on terrorist attacks and other agressive stuff apply - big NO NO unless consulted and agreed upon first.]

((OOC: I'll send observers. We love free and fair elections. :) ))

Excerpt from the Cardinian Herald

Opinion polls suggest favourable majority for the Constitution project

Eight opinion polls (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Namellar/GDT/ConstitutionReferendum_Test2.png) conducted by various Taraskovyan organisations and groups indicate that a clear majority of the Federal population are favourable to the new Constitution. And whilst the popular vote is estimated at 57% in favour, the opinion poll by Fiefdom votes indicates that 9 of the 28 Fiefdoms disagree with the new document, even if sometimes at a slight majority of the local poll. The supporters of the Constitution include the Fiefdoms with a majority Slavic population, as well as the traditional Taraskath Fiefdoms of Alukshir, Vigvar, Amalor, Kshas-Kharit and Elutar.

The opponents to the new Constitution are composed of the Fiefdoms of Kshas-Uith, Uith, Kidaksh, Northern Cardinia, Kethar, Uil, Setar, Dajdbog and Stribog, with the overall Federal popular vote expected to be at 21% against the new Constitution. The opposition to the project is divided into two groups, with the seven metropolitan Fiefdoms and the two Martian Fiefdoms of Dajdbog and Stribog. The first group consists of historically Taraskath Fiefdoms, fierce defenders of their ethnic culture and traditions that view with suspicion the new text that grants too many powers not only to the Slavic majority, but also to various other minorities. The Fiefdom of Zerth is clearly parted in two, with the city of Ekaterinburg, one of the major population centres in Tarasovka, voting in favour of the new Constitution, whilst the smaller cities are expected to vote against.

There are rumours that the Order of the Seven might be meddling into the referendum, especially in the Fiefdom of Zerth that borders the Sacred Citadel of Zynthris. The seven High Templars have rejected the accusations. “The Order of the Seven has accepted the separation between the Church of the Seven Deities and the Taraskovyan State in 417 A.S. following the Treaty of Uiliath between the Shokath-Kshas Alexander Ist and the seven High Templars. The legal situation of the Namel Zethanekh is its own internal affair and the Order shall not act neither in favour nor against the referendum. We do, however, call on the Shokath-Kshas to respect the interests of his original kin.” Such were the words of a recent statement by the Order of the Seven in reaction to the accusations.

The population of the two Martian Fiefdoms of Dajdbog and Stribog is keen to vote against the new Constitution for the two territorial units shall have less rights on the Grand Ducal political arena than the other Fiefdoms. Indeed, each of the two shall have only one Senator and only half of a Fiefdom vote in referendums. The Ruling Council has explained it by the fact that, under Federal legislation, Dajdbog and Stribog form a single Fiefdom under a single Governor and the new Constitution, in order to avoid disputes on historic grounds, has used the Federal legislation on the administrative and territorial division. That said, one must note that nothing prevents the Constitution to be amended in order for the two Fiefdoms to get the two Senators and a full vote each.

There is still an important portion of the population that has not decided whether it will vote for or against. Indeed, 22% of the interviewed persons failed to decide themselves. A clear indication to the Taraskovyan authorities to step up the information effort in order to lure as many people as possible to their cause.

[OOC: Administrative map (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Namellar/GDT/AdminGDT_wip.png) of the Taraskovyan metropoly. Enjoy =P ]

Our Times – Special Edition

That evening, the famous TRT1 channel was broadcasting the popular TV show “Our Time” which specialized in political, legal and economic debates. That time, however, the famous presenter Yury Mnogoznayev decided to make a special debate on the project of the Grand Ducal Constitution.

“This is preposterous!” Exclaimed an old gentleman as he cleaned his spectacles before putting them back on. “This so called Federal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka shall bring absolutely no change to anything! Just read the article one hundred and fourty seven, paragraph three.” With that, he hit several buttons on a screen in front of him before reading out a bit of text. “The Grand Duke has the power to revoke any decision taken by any Grand Ducal or Fiefdom authority and to annul the results of a referendum.” He raised his gaze back at the presenter. “What else do you need? The so called democratization of the country is just a façade! Nothing will change.”

“Allow me to disagree, professor Vechnonesoglasnov.” Said an imposing man in whom everybody would immediately recognize the Duke Anatoly Orlov. “As one of the authors of the new Constitution, I disagree that nothing will change. That same paragraph that you have cut at a moment which suited you well also says quite explicitly that should an initiative get adopted by at least three quarters of the People and of the Fiefdoms, the Grand Duke shall have no right to revoke it.”

“Ha! There you have it! Three quarters of the People and Fiefdoms, not three quarters of the Voters and Fiefdoms! You really think that any votation shall score at least a seventy five percent voter turnout with a hundred percent voting in favour of it?”

“It does sound improbable, however, I it is not impossible. If the People want to really change something and are fed up with the Grand Duke, then I am quite keen to believe that they will show up massively at polling stations to vote an initiative.”

“Gentlemen, if I may interrupt you.” Mnogoznayev said as he smiled with his trade mark charming smile, showing two rows of perfectly white teeth. The two arguing men looked at him and nodded approvingly. “Excellent! The text of the Constitution says that the Grand Duke “has the power to revoke” a decision or to annul a referendum. This does not mean that he will do it at every single initiative, am I correct?”

“Indeed, you are correct.” Orlov nodded as he looked at the cameras, addressing the people looking at him through their TV screens. “Many nations that qualify as ‘democratic’ have a rule in which the executive authority, for example, must approve a decision, for example a law project, for it to be passed. In our case, the agreement of the Grand Duke is taken for granted unless he specifically states his disagreement and moves in to revoke a decision.”

Vechnonesoglasnov rolled his eyes as he rubbed his snow white beard. “Oh, puh-lease!” “Don’t you ‘puh-lease’ me, Professor.” The Duke spoke with a tone that left no alternative but to obey him. “This shall avoid us a great deal of bureaucratic morass in the future!”

“But the Grand Duke has the right to void months of work by a single word!”

“But the main point is that you shall be allowed to do this work in the first place, not like before when the rulers could just say ‘No’ and you had to obey. Before, the Grand Duke or the Ruling Council could pass a ‘law’ without asking anybody. With the new Constitution, the Grand Duke shall no longer have the supreme legislative authority, but just an extensive veto power.”

A laughter went through the public as the old Professor mumbled something into his beard. The Duke sat back in his chair, clearly content to have shut the old man up. Indeed, he had scored a major point. Before, the Grand Duke or the Ruling Council could just say something and it had to be obeyed. The presenter nodded approvingly as he turned his attention to one of the other guests that sat by the ‘round table’. Mnogoznaev looked at a man dressed as an Orthodox priest.

“Father Innokentiy, the new Constitution puts at an equal basis all of the religions in Tarasovka. What are your thoughts on the matter?”

The priest, appearing in his thirties, smiled at the presenter. “The Orthodox Church has always been tolerant towards other religious currents.”

“But we remember the days of the old Grand Duchy when the Church of the Seven had the status of official religion. Will this new state of things not provoke tensions between the two major faiths of Tarasovka?”

“Not at all. The Patriarchate and the Order have a very pragmatic relationship and this new ‘state of things’, as you put it, shall not influence on our relations.”

“And what about the Catholics?” Asked Count Boguslawski, a representative of the Polish and, by the same occasion, of the Roman Catholic minority to the debate. Father Innokentiy looked at him and smiled again.

“The relations with the Patriarch of Rome shall remain as they were, vashe Siyatelstvo.”

The Pole sighed and shook his head as Mnogoznayev quickly changed the topic of the discussion to avoid any religious strife from ruining his show.

“I think it is time we take some phone calls from our viewers with their own questions.”

He smiled with his trade mark smile again as he faced the camera, giving out the number for the viewers to dial should they wish to ask their questions.

[OOC: If you wish to ask your questions, go ahead, but I actually broke the post at this point since I am too lazy at the moment to type the rest. =)
I shall continue this post later.]

“And I think we have a caller.” Said Mnogoznayev as he smiled into the camera. “Please, ask your question.”

“First of all, hello everybody…” A rather timid young voice said. “I would just want to know why the constitution uses the term human instead of the widely used term sentient.”

Mnogoznayev nodded approvingly to the question and turned to look at Duke Orlov. “I think this one would be for you, Sir.”

The Duke smiled and nodded to the question. “You see, Miss… ?”

“Just call me Lena.”

“Right. You see, Lena, there has been an entire debate between the authors on whether to use the term sentient or human. There is a great difference between the two from the Taraskovyan point of view. Indeed, the Taraskath have always identified all those who were similar to them and with whom they could interbreed as more or less equal to them. From there on, of course, there was the superior kin, the Taraskath, there were lesser ones.”

A laughter went through the studio as the Duke continued. “But, it is rather difficult to explain on the spot… Well, take the most widespread differentiation between the ‘humans’ and, for example, ‘elves’. Many nations consider the two as separate entities. The Taraskath would consider them as two parts of the same entity that we would call ‘humans’. As such, the term ‘elves’ would refer to an ethnic group on the same level as, for example, the Slavic group.”

“We all know that the elves consist of many ethnicities, such as the Noldor, the Sindarin, and the Slavic group consist of the Rus’, the Serbs, the Bulgars…”

“The Poles…” Boguslawski added with a smile, his remark provoking an other wave of laughter. Orlov grinned and nodded to the Count before continuing. “Indeed. The Taraskath themselves are rather varied, although there is a much greater unity on the cultural and language level than between the Elves, for example.”

“Yes, but why not use the term sentient then?” Lena asked again, Orlov nodding and making a gesture with his hand that called for patience.

“The term sentience refers to a much larger category. We do not, for example, deny that some of the extra-terrestrial life forms out there have sentience, but do not fall under what we recognize as being human.”

“So this means their rights are not respected?”

“You cannot respect something that does not exist, dear Lena.” A loud laughter filled the studio as the public applauded the joke. “I hope this answers your question.”

“It does, thank you, Sir.”

Orlov nodded politely as Mnogoznayev turned to a rather ugly, skinny woman, with a short hair and spectacles. “Tonight, we have with us Irina Komunada (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Namellar/GDT/komunada.jpg) from the… euh… Illegal Alien Apprehension Group*. I think you have some comments to make on the issue…”

The Komunada nodded and smiled (which didn’t make her look better) before speaking. “Indeed. It is time that we Taraskovyans…”

“Oh, I am sorry. We must stop for a commercial break now. But we shall continue with other questions later.” Mnogoznayev said as he smiled into the camera, the public applauding before the image was replaced with a series of commercials.

[OOC: Apprehension in this case is used as ‘understanding’.]

Referendum on the Grand Ducal Constitution,
Day 1

Finally, the long awaited day arrived, the beginning of the referendum that would decide on the fate of the nation. Polling stations around the nation had been set up, police and military personnel readied, ballots printed, observers asked to wait in that café two hundreds meters away. All in all, by ten o’clock on the first day of the referendum, everything was ready to greet the voters. At twelve o’clock, the first voters began coming to the stations, slowly but steadily.

Each voter, meaning a Taraskovyan citizen eighteen years of age or older, would have to have his identity card checked, his signature imposed on a voter’s list, the process immediately backed up digitally. He would then receive a ballot after which he would retire into a booth to answer a single question: “Do you accept the Federal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka of May 15, 1148 A.S.?”

Having checked the corresponding case, the voter would then pass the ballot through a little machine that was in the booth, which scanned the ballot’s serial number and the answer given, backing all the information electronically. Having done all that, the voter would happily exit the booth, cast his physical ballot into a transparent urn by which sat several members of the Election Committee to make sure that nobody cast more than one ballot.

Obviously, the entire procedure left a number of spaces open to fraud, but the general attitude was not to cheat during maybe the first ever free election that had some greater importance than electing a consultative legislature without any real powers, as was the case with the Council of Duchy of the past.

Referendum on the Grand Ducal Constitution,
Day 2

The first day of the referendum went on without any major events. People came, people voted, by 22:00, the time at which the stations closed, the voter turn out was at 15%. It was the weekend so, instead of going to the polls, people went to the parks or to restaurants to enjoy themselves. The second day of the referendum promised nothing in particular, either. It was Sunday, the weather was good and the election committee personnel at the polling stations were bored, cheered up by a voter peering in from time to time to vote before vanishing, giving a glance at a snoring observer sleeping by a table in a corner of the room.

At 22:00, the overall voter turn out, counting the first day, hit 29,5%. There was no quorum to declare the referendum valid and, as such, if on the third day people wouldn’t turn up to vote, then it would mean that only a third of the Taraskovyans actually cared about the entire Constitution. But knowing the innate Taraskovyan habit of always doing things on the very last hour, the authorities were already discussing closing the stations at midnight…

Referendum on the Grand Ducal Constitution,
Day 3

As expected, the polling stations were full of people. Monday was a working day, but, instead of going to work like all other people in the world would, the Taraskovyan citizens decided to use that as an opportunity to skip some work time and go to vote. Never mind that voting proper cost them approximately half an hour (depending on the queue) and they vanished from work for the day. But most employers made it clear that they would not mind such a behaviour, the ‘most’ representing approximately 90% of them, including all government agencies and services.

By evening, the voter turn out hit 81% and as the stations closed at ten in the evening, the Taraskovyan government could celebrate a preliminary success. At least, it managed to get the Taraskovyans out to vote and, they hoped, to approve the new Constitution. The previous opinion polls were favourable, with the ‘Yes’ vote estimated at sixty five to seventy percent judging by exit polls. And as people in the Fiefdoms favourable to the Constitution were preparing to celebrate while those in the Fiefdoms that voted against it people got ready to accept the inevitable defeat.

At half past midnight, all TV channels and networks stopped broadcasting their scheduled programs to tune in to a special transmission from the Winter Palace. It featured the Grand Duke, sitting by his office desk, with the Federal flag and the banner of the Dynasty on the background. He wore a ceremonial uniform as his face shined with joy.

“Dear and loyal citizens,” he said as he smiled into the camera, “the past three days have been a grand moment for our nation, a moment that shall mark the beginning of a new era in our country’s history. I have here with me the final results of the vote. With sixty two and three quarters percent of the popular vote and with twenty three Fiefdom votes, the Grand Ducal Constitution has been accepted. Against it voted thirty seven and one quarter percent of the population and five Fiefdoms.

I commend you for approving this document that shall serve as a legal basis to shape the future of Tarasovka. The Taraskovyan people has spoken and I, as Grand Duke and Shokath-Kshas, shall abide by your decision.” With that, he brought his hand to his heart, then to his eyes and extended it towards the camera, a smile on his face. The image was soon replaced by the views of millions of people celebrating on the streets of Vigvar, Amalor, Ekaterinburg, Uthar, Severovolost...

Excerpt from the Vigvar Daily

FIRST POLITICAL PARTIES REGISTERED AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

A week after the end of the referendum on the Grand Ducal Constitution, the Grand Duke has announced the start of the campaign for the first Parliament, thus definitely legalizing the existence and creation of political parties and movements. The first to register itself with the Interior Ministry was the Conservative Party, that was created after the merger of two major political parties under the reign of Mikhail Ist - the “Kshas-Keinarekh” of High Duke Il’liar Tal-Nash and the Loyalist Party of Duke Anatoly Orlov. It is still unclear how the two sworn enemies ended on the same side, but recent evens suggested that the Orlov and Tal-Nash Houses have put their long standing enmity behind in the moments leading to the return of the Grand Duke Mikhail II. The Conservative Party has not yet revealed its intentions, but we may be certain that they shall reflect those of the two previous parties, maybe the Taraskath shall drop their appeals to restore the Church of the Seven as official religion and the Slavs shall drop their appeals to instate Orthodoxy as official religion.

Remarkably enough, the second party to have registered itself is the Illegal Alien Apprehension Party of Irina Komunada, formed from the Illegal Alien Apprehension Group. We expect the campaign base of this party to be the same as the one propagandized by the IAAG, that is a more open approach to foreigners, abolishment of the harsh laws against illegal immigrants, abolishment of monarchy and creation of a republic.

So far, the Interior Ministry reports only these two parties as having been officially registered. The Parliamentary elections into both Houses shall happen within two months, with parties having a month to register themselves to be able to campaign for the seats. The official campaign shall only begin after the deadline for party registration passes, but various movements, including those unregistered, have already begun propagandizing their message in the public.

It should be noted, however, that most of these movements appear to have been born either during the first Grand Ducal period, either as underground movements during the second Grand Ducal period, with their respective messages being already spread among the population.

Excerpt from the Vigvar Daily

WHITE LEGION LEGALISED?

The Press Office of the Interior Ministry has communicated yesterday that several other parties have officially registered to participate in the coming elections. The most important one of them appears to be an up to now unknown National Patriotic Christian Alliance. The party takes over the emblems used by the infamous White Legion and, whilst the program of the party is not known yet, we can be sure that it will in most points reflect the ideals of the aforementioned terrorist organisation.

The Grand Ducal Government has been unavailable for comment, but rumours are already spreading that the Grand Duke has made a truce with the White Legion, promising them the possibility to run in elections against disarmament. Victims that suffered by the hand of the indiscriminate campaign of ethnic cleansing led by the White Legion during the Federal period have already voiced their disagreement with letting criminals run for parliament seats.

We shall return to that problematic later on in the article. The other parties to have been officially registered are the Communist Party and the Liberal Socialist Party. The former presents no great difference from a similar party abroad, whilst the LSP, which has already published its program, appears to be much more pragmatic in its approach to socialism. It is expected that the two parties shall form a coalition between them, with a possible alliance with the IAAP, the three parties striving to the creation of a republic and abolishment of monarchy and nobility.

On the next pages of the article, we shall explore the rumours surrounding the NPCA, which has already been dubbed as the main rival of the Conservative Party.

Continued on page 2

Excerpt from the Vigvar Daily

FINAL ALLIANCES SEALED, FIRST PREDICTIONS MADE

It has been confirmed in the matter of pas days that in the Parliamentary elections, the Conservative Party shall be joined by the Democratic Conservative Party. The views of the two political movements are very similar, both support monarchy and the current Grand Duke. However it shall be interesting to see how the Conservative Party copes with the expectations of their allies for a greater democratization of the country and transparency of the institutions of State. Their coalition has no official name, but many analysts already refer to it as the “Loyalist Alliance”.

The second group of parties shall form a coalition known as the Left-Wing Coalition. The parties composing it shall be the Communist Party, the Liberal Socialist Party, the Illegal Alien Apprehension Party and, a complete newcomer in the political arena, the National Party for Universal Happiness. The latter is a group that reunites young Taraskovyans that strive for greater freedoms and an abolishment of the strict anti-drug laws. The analysts have already dubbed it of “Hippy Gang” and predict a quick collapse, notably due to the fact that the party’s popularity is due to its originality and non-conformity, a temporary effect that will vanish before the First Parliament ends its term. Whilst the views vary greatly from one party to the other within the Left-Wing Coalition, the four groups are united by their anti-monarchist sentiments and a desire to establish a Republic. It is, though, unsure that the Taraskovyan population shall really appreciate the idea of a ‘Socialist Republic’, knowing the individualistic nature of our society.

The last major group is formed by a single party, the National Patriotic Christian Alliance. Whilst the party is monarchist, it is clearly opposed to the presence of a ‘pagan’ Grand Duke on the Taraskovyan ‘throne’. It is also striving to establish Orthodoxy as state religion, with a special status reserved to other Christian Churches present on Taraskovyan territory. The NPCA, thus, refused to ally itself with none of the other two major blocks, going as far as qualifying the Left-Wing Coalition of “Reddist Filth”.

The other parties competing for the Parliament seats are, following the public opinion polls, unsure of getting any. Among them is the Apathy Party, which has already stated that it won’t really care should it lose the elections. Other small parties can be found in the list available at the Ministry of Interior, describing the parties and their points of view.

With the Parliamentary elections coming in a week, the various campaigns have hit a new high. Whether they are successful or not at gaining votes shall be known next Tuesday. However, following several public opinion polls, we can already predict a majority for the Conservative Party alone, with the Loyalists getting up to two thirds in the Duma counting the seats of the Democratic Conservatives. The other two major blocks are estimated at an equal amount of seats, with some polls giving an advantage to the NPCA. Parties outside of the three blocks are predicted to win no seats at all.

The situation is trickier for the Senate, however, due to the fact that the Senators are elected directly without the need to belong to a party. It is predicted that the Conservative Party, due to the fact that the majority of Taraskovyan nobles are members, would win the majority in the Senate. The National Patriotic Christian Alliance is expected to get five to ten seats. The rest of the seats shall be occupied by independent candidates, belonging to neither of the parties. However, some nobles have joined the Liberal Sociliast Party, so the partition of the seats in the Senate is left open to surprises.

Excerpt from the Vigvar Daily

NO TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY FOR THE LOYALISTS

The final results of the Parliamentary elections have yielded quite many surprises, the first being the failure by the so-called Loyalist Coalition to obtain a two-thirds majority in the Grand Ducal Duma (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Namellar/Duma.jpg), even if the Conservative Party alone took the absolute majority of seats with 216 out of the available 400. The Democratic Conservative Party, the second party of the Loyalist Coalition, managed to strike a fine enough result with 34 seats, giving the Loyalists a total of 250 Seats or 62,5% of the total number of seats, short of the foreseen two-thirds majority. The leaders of the respective parties have expressed their satisfaction with the results and have already vowed to undertake a series of reforms, especially concerning certain obsolete elements of the Federal legislation.

The second party with the most seats is the National Patriotic Christian Alliance, which managed to score 79 out of the 400 available. This success is explained by the moderate rhetoric used by the NPCA during its election campaign, contrasting with the radical and criminal actions of the White Legion. It would, thus, appear that the campaign of dissipating the rumours of the NPCA being a pawn of the Legion was quite successful. The nationalist party has confirmed its intentions not to enter into neither the Loyalist nor the Left-Wing Coalitions and form an opposition force apart.

And speaking of the opposition, the Left-Wing Coalition did well enough, despite doubts on the viability of two of its parties. Indeed, analysts predicted a complete failure to the Communist Party and possibly a seat to the National Party for Universal Happiness. The Communists scored two seats and the Hippies got five. The other members of the Left-Wing Coalition stand at 51 seats for the Liberal Socialist Party and 11 seats for the Illegal Alien Apprehension Party, the total standing at 69 seats for the second opposition force. The leaders of the Communist Party have already accused the authorities of fraud whilst the Liberal Socialists accept the results, promising to do better during the next elections.

To finish with the Grand Ducal Duma, the last and greatest surprise was the Apathy Party and its two seats, which it used to immediately form a fourth group in the Duma, the “Who Cares?” Block. The analytic community was taken completely by surprise and is now fighting to find an explanation to the event, but the two deputies from the Apathy Party have already commented their success with a ‘Bah!’ and ‘Whatever…’

The Grand Ducal Senate (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Namellar/Senate.jpg) also reserved a surprise for the political community with a Liberal Socialist, Count Vologdov, getting the seat as one of the two Senators representing the Fiefdom of Yugozemie. The Conservative Party got 32 Seats of the available 56, the National Patriotic Christian Alliance lagging behind with 9 seats. Many voters preferred to place their faith into independent candidates and chose 14 Senators that belong to none of the various Taraskovyan political parties.

It would seem that, despite predictions, the Grand Ducal Parliament came to reflect the variety of political movements in the Grand Duchy. The Grand Duke has already expressed his satisfaction with the results, calling it a “historic moment” and a “new, bright start for a nation where the leaders rule not despite the people, but for and because of the people”. He has also thanked the Taraskovyan population for placing faith into the party that is openly favourable to him, promising to “work closely with the Parliament to make Tarasovka a great and formidable nation”.

The First Parliament, which shall be inaugurated within two days, shall have the important task of reviewing the Federal and old Grand Ducal legislation and correct the documents that violate the Grand Ducal Constitution. But with the Loyalists having the absolute majority, the Parliament is expected to lead a campaign clearly favourable to His Highness Grand Duke Mikhail II of all Taraskovya.

[OOC: Below is a rough version of the description of various parties. Various mistakes are highly probable, but will correct them upon return from a short trip to Belgium.

Thank you for your attention.]

Loyalist Coalition (Majority)

Conservative Party

Politics: Conservative, more Authoritarian, less Democratic
Economics: Liberal
Religious doctrine: Secular
Leaders: Duke Anatoly Orlov, High Duke Il’liar Tal-Nash
Number of Seats:
Duma: 216
Senate: 32

The Conservative Party was born after the merger of the two major political parties that existed under the Grand Duke Mikhail I. These parties were the “Kshas-Keinarekh” of High Duke Il’liar Tal-Nash, a group that stood for the preservation of ancestral Taraskath values in face of various modernizations introduced by Mikhail I, and the Loyalist Party of Duke Anatoly Orlov that supported the Grand Duke’s desire to modernize the country. The two parties often led a fierce battle in the Council of Duchy, the consultative legislative body created on the initiative of the Crown Archduke.

The Conservative Party, as its names indicates, stands for the preservation of ancestral Taraskovyan values. The party supports the right for free carrying of cold weapons for the Taraskovyan citizens, respect of property and privacy by the state and also respect towards the flora and fauna of the Grand Duchy (in the limits of pragmatism, without being crazy ecologists). But, whilst individual freedoms are very important, they esteem that it is the State’s responsibility to protect its citizens and, should need arise, even to deprive them of some of their rights. They do not see any need for any further democratization of the country as the party clearly supports the Grand Duke and values a strong central power while preserving the ancestral autonomy of the Fiefdoms. The majority of the Taraskovyan nobility claims membership in the Conservative Party, which gives it a clear advantage in the Grand Ducal Senate.

Despite some ongoing disputes about the State Churches in Tarasovka, the two main factions of the Conservative Party decided to leave aside their differences on whether the Church of the Seven Deities or the Taraskovyan Orthodox Church is to be the State Church. As such, they have decided to promote a secular state with a freedom of religion (within reasonable boundaries, of course). The members of the party are also firm defenders of the multi-ethnic system and clearly oppose ethnos based nationalism if it is directed by some Taraskovyans against other Taraskovyans, thus making them clear opponents of the NPCA which promotes Slavic values to the detriment of other Taraskovyan peoples.

The Conservative Party adopts promotes a very cautious approach to the international community, without calling for outwards isolationism. In economy, they adopt a liberal approach to most matters and are clearly pro-market, but do think that protective measures should be enacted if the welfare of Taraskovyan citizens is at risk. The party also promotes social welfare, to a reasonable extent, and free basic healthcare.


Democratic Conservative Party

Politics: Moderately Conservative, Democratic
Economics: Liberal
Religious doctrine: Secular
Leaders: Maurits Treurnicht, Leo Luis
Number of Seats:
Duma: 34
Senate: None


The Democratic Conservative Party was formed by former Knootians on the Europolis Islands, who were formerly active in the RCPK, in the wake of the restoration of the Grand Duchy. The DCP quickly spread as a popular movement into the former territories of the Vortex Corporation. The Party is very similar to the ruling Conservative Party in its policies towards the economy, religion, civil rights and the environment and in most cases it will vote along the same lines. Like the CP, the party is generally supportive of the Grand Duke as a ‘unifying element’ and it wants to preserve the autonomy of the fiefdoms.

The Democratic Conservative Party is openly at odds with the National Patriotic Christian Alliance, for instead emphasizing patriotic Slavic values, like the NPCA does, the DCP promotes the idea of a ‘multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and peaceful Grand Duchy’ with special emphasis on the rights of Dutch-speaking and Taraskath citizens. It is also a bit more open-minded and less isolationalist in its preferred foreign policy, perhaps reflecting the cultural background of their formerly TVC and Knootian constituents. The party also wants more democratic reform, which makes the Conservatives rather Liberal from a Taraskovyan perspective, and decentralisation of powers for what they consider ‘local’ issues. Their support base is the strongest on the Europolis islands, and more importantly in the Fiefdoms of South Cardinia and Uthar.



Nationalist Opposition

National Patriotic Christian Alliance

Politics: Ultra-Conservative, Authoritarian
Economics: More or less liberal
Religious doctrine: Taraskovyan Orthodoxy
Leaders: Count Alexander Bogoslavov
Number of Seats:
Duma: 79
Senate: 9


The National Patriotic Christian Alliance is a party promoting Christian values, especially the Eastern Orthodox ones, and advocating Pan-Slavism not only in Tarasovka, but throughout the world. One of its main policies consists in granting the Taraskovyan Orthodox Church status of State Church in Tarasovka, while reserving a special status to other Christian churches present on the Taraskovyan soil. The NPCA was formed by former supporters of the White Legion after the aforementioned organisation officially disbanded upon a special agreement with the Grand Duke.

It is a monarchist party and claims many nobles as members; however it disagrees with the fact that the Taraskovyan Grand Dukes have to be followers of the Seven Deities (for the coronation of a Grand Duke consists in his giving an Oath of Faith to the Seven Deities). For the NPCA, the Grand Dukes are to be Taraskovyan Orthodox and crowned by the Vigvar Patriarchate. These two elements are those that strike a clear difference between the NPCA and the Loyalist Coalition, for otherwise the views of the two blocks concur in many ways. The NPCA is pro-market, quite cautious of foreigners (except for Orthodox Slavic nations), supportive of the autonomy of Fiefdoms, even if they strive for a reinforcement of the already quite rigid central power.

The NCPA is in clear opposition to the Grand Duke and to the Loyalist Coalition, but refuses to form a united opposition coalition with the ‘Reddist Filth’ (as it calls the Left-Wing coalition).



Left-Wing Coalition (Opposition)

Liberal Socialist Party

Politics: Progressive, Democratic
Economics: Left Wing
Religious doctrine: Secular
Leaders: Dragica Liubenova
Number of Seats:
Duma: 51
Senate: 1


The Liberal Socialist Party can be described as a mixture of socialism with elements of capitalist reasoning. As such, it respects the right to property and accepts the fact that in a society there will be people richer than others and, whilst not promoting complete equality, strives for social justice where every individual would have acceptable living conditions. It is, thus, no wonder that the party advocates an extensive social welfare program. It also campaigns for further democratization of the political system and for the creation of a democratic republic, which places it into opposition with the Loyalist Coalition and the Grand Duke. However, the LSP is clearly against any use of force in achieving its goals and its moderate and pragmatic nature has even attracted some members of the Taraskovyan nobility to join it, which allowed it to gain a seat at the Senate, the fact coming as a complete surprise to the CP and the NPCA

The party promotes a more open approach to the international community and strives to put an end to the latent isolationism and xenophobia of Tarasovka.


Taraskovyan Communist Party

Politics: Authoritarian
Economics: Radical Left Wing
Religious doctrine: Atheist
Leaders: Nikolay Kuznetsov
Number of Seats:
Duma: 2
Senate: None


The Taraskovyan Communist Party (abbreviated as ComParty to avoid confusion with the Conservative Party’s CP abbreviation) is similar to other Communist Parties in other countries. It advocates the overthrow of the monarchy by any means available, creation of a republic (although it does not guarantee that it would be a democratic one) in Tarasovka and wants to see complete social equality without neither rich nor poor.

In its foreign policy the ComParty promotes ties with other Communist movements in the world, while viewing capitalist nations with a great deal of suspicion. In its interior policies, the ComParty is in a clear opposition with the Grand Duke and the Loyalist Coalition, but also has very hostile relations with the NPCA (there have been numerous murders of communist activists during the 1147 Uprising by members of the White Legion). The Party decided to ally itself with the Liberal Socialist Party before the Parliamentary elections, a move that increased its popularity and granted it two seats in the Grand Ducal Duma.


National Party for Universal Happiness

Politics: Anarchist
Economics: Anarchist
Religious doctrine: Secular
Leader: Gashish Konoplev
Number of Seats:
Duma: 5
Senate: None


The NPUH was formed in the wake of the restoration of the Grand Duchy by a group of Taraskovyan youngsters. Its anarchist views and the romantic image of rebels attracted quite a deal of members to the party. The party is against any central power, it is against any unfair economic system, it promotes opening of Taraskovyan borders and embracing the outside world. One of the most important points in its politics is the legalization of drugs, because the NPUH is clearly hostile to the very strict and intolerant anti-drug laws of Tarasovka.


Illegal Alien Apprehension Party

Politics: Progressive, Democratic
Economics: Accepts anything realistic, but does not promote any particular system
Religious doctrine: Secular
Leaders: Irina Komunada (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Namellar/GDT/komunada.jpg)
Number of Seats:
Duma: 11
Senate: None


The Illegal Alien Apprehension Party was formed on the base of the Illegal Alien Apprehension Group that promoted a more open approach to the international community and an end to the harsh Taraskovyan anti-immigration laws. It does not preoccupy itself much with economics, but concentrates instead on politics and strives for the creation of a republic because, in the Party’s opinion, the Monarchal system only promotes intolerance to non-Taraskovyans.



“Who Cares?” Block

Apathy Party

Politics: Who cares?
Economics: Whatever…
Religious doctrine: Why bother?
Leaders: None, the members of the party never actually bothered to elect a leader.
Number of Seats:
Duma: 2
Senate: None


The party’s motto is “We don’t care” and many believe it was created as a joke by a group of young people who just wanted to use their right to create a party. However, due to the particularity of the Taraskovyan mentality, the Party attracted quite many members and even managed to get enough people to vote for them to grant them two seats at the Duma. Many analysts agree to say that this is due entirely to the love Taraskovyans hold for having fun and that the Apathy Party would most surely not get into the Second Parliament.

Excerpt from the Vigvar Daily

GRAND DUCAL GOVERNMENT CONFIRMED

The Grand Duke has confirmed that he will not change the composition of his Government (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Namellar/GDT/government.jpg) following the Parliamentary elections. It shall, thus, consist of the seven Ministries plus the Head of Government, with the Grand Duke fulfilling the obligations of the latter and of the Minister of National Security. High Count Ithun Khat is confirmed as Foreign Minister, despite his young age and close relations with a foreign dignitary.

But the most interesting feature of the confirmed Government is the Grand Duke’s decision to keep the Orlov and the Tal-Nash at key posts, Defence and Interior respectively, whilst dividing the Economy and Finances Ministry between the two noble clans. It is still unclear whether the Grand Ducal Government in this composition will remain viable for long, but it has shown no sign of collapsing in the past two months and the Grand Ducal Parliament has expressed its trust in the Grand Duke and his Government.

The relations between the Parliament and the Government shall remain an interesting issue, considering that half of the Government hails from the Conservative Party, the other half being independent, with the Grand Duke confirming his intentions to join no party what so ever. With the Conservative Party in control of both chambers of the Parliament, analysts expect that the only thing that could prevent it from conducting its reforms is the Referendum. It would thus seem that for the two coming years at least the Grand Duke can rest assured in his domination of the political arena.

Continued on page 7

Chamber of the Duma, Northwind Palace, Capital City of Vigvar

“The Chamber shall now debate the project of law ‘On the Restructuring of VertTech Conglomerate’s Ownership’ proposed by the Left-Wing Coalition. I shall now call for the leader of the Left-Wing Coalition, Deputy Liubenova, to come forward and expose the arguments.” The Speaker of the Duma, Duke Khaor Nakhart, laid his eyes upon one of the Deputies, a charming woman in her early thirties, light brown hair and lively allure, as she walked towards the tribune under applauses of the Deputies from her formation and random whistles from the sector belonging to the deputies from the National Patriotic Christian Alliance.

Dragica gave the chamber a charming smile before starting. “Honourable Speaker of the Duma,” she began as she glanced behind her at the seat occupied by the Speaker, “Honourable Colleagues,” her eyes fell upon the other deputies. “My party and our allies have reiterated our respect of private property on numerous occasions. Yet, in cases when property can no longer be considered as private and be used for private benefits, we deem that it is our duty to react.” The deputies from the Conservative Party remained silent and composed, so did the ones from the Democratic Conservative Party. The NPCA deputies, however, seemed to pierce the leader of the Liberal Socialist Party with a myriad of daggers as they looked upon her.

“Vertev’s Technologies started out as a small company dozens of years ago. It grew up, became prosperous, for which we commend its leadership. And as it grew, it… integrated… other companies to become the most important Taraskovyan company, a Conglomerate as it is officially called nowadays, with influence over every sector of our economic and even social life.” She paused for a second before continuing. “It has been no secret that ever since His Highness Mikhail the First purchased the majority of the company’s shares the Ruling Family profited from the prosperity of the Conglomerate. Not only did it reap the economic benefits, but the Ruling Family also has the power to force VerTech to take decisions profitable to the Shakhovskoy. They can even influence our lives through the company.”

The ‘Loyalists’ remained calm, some of them even covering their mouths to hide yawns of boredom, as Dragica Liubenova continued. “Due to the sheer size and power of the Conglomerate, it is in the opinion of all of the parties of my formation that the Conglomerate should serve national interests instead of those of the royal family. Thus, we propose to pass the law On the Restructuring of VertTech Conglomerate’s Ownership’ that would transfer the shares owned by the Grand Duke to the Taraskovyan State. The Grand Duke would keep a generous share of dividends. This law would enable us to…”

She did not have the chance to finish her phrase as a deputy from the NPCA area stood up. “Preposterous!” The Speaker’s eyes immediately fixed upon the shouting man, who was none else than Count Strogoverov, a nationalist renowned for his hatred of the socialists and communists. “I ask that you retake your seat and let…” “This is not only a violation of private property, it is a dangerous precedent should it get passed! First they strip the Grand Duke, which we could tolerate, but then they would pass on to the Church!”

“I request that you retake your sit, otherwise I shall be forced to remove you from this chamber.” The Speaker said, his voice calm and cold. The NPCA deputy, however, did not flinch as he continued with his yelling, until a bailiff came up to him and attempted to remove him peacefully. The deputy, however, was one of those who used the ancestral right to bear cold arms and, instead of following the bailiff, drew his sword and pointed it at the man. “Get your hands off me!”

Duke Nakhart stood up from his seat, his eyes reflecting his anger as they burned with an icy fire, looking at Count Strogoverov. “You shall holster your sword and leave this chamber until further notice.” Deputies from the Left-Wing Coalition applauded the Speaker’s voice as the two Communist deputies whistled at the angry NPCA member. This was the wrong thing to do as a number of NPCA deputies stood up from their seats and, drawing their swords, advanced towards the Communists. The few LSP deputies who used their right to bear cold arms drew their own weapons and stood up, preparing for the nationalists. Members of the Conservative Party stood up as they pondered whether to intervene between the two sides, with neither of the sides being friends with the Conservatives. The Speaker, in the meantime, did not lose time, for he knew that it was useless to appeal members of the NPCA that were about to kill some communists, and called in the police that were guarding the Northwind Palace. It was not long before numerous officers erupted into the chamber, using force to separate the warring sides. Count Strogoverov was incapacitated and dragged out of the room as Duke Nakhart postponed the debates until the day after.

From the Vigvar Daily

Parliament Guard to protect the parliamentarians from themselves and… everything else

The project for the creation of a special armed unit by the name of ‘Parliament Guard’ has been agreed to by both chambers of the Parliament, with the unit being under command of a joint ‘Guard Committee’ elected from among both chambers of Parliament. The creation of the unit came as a response to the increased risk of deputies from the National Patriotic Christian Alliance of slaughtering members of the Left-Wing Coalition in the Grand Ducal Duma. The most recent incident required the police guarding the Northwind Palace to intervene against a number of NPCA deputies after the latter were about to charge the two Communist deputies in the Duma.

Members of the Democratic Conservative Party proposed a special law that would forbid the carrying of weapons in government buildings, but that project provoked a negative reaction from the NPCA as well as from the Conservative Party. The two formations reminded that the right to bear cold arms was ‘sacred’ in the Grand Duchy and could not be repealed. The NPCA also suggested that the standard police forces had no right to intervene against deputies and senators during debates. As a compromise, the Conservative Party came up with the project of a Parliament Guard that would not only guard the premises of the Parliament, but also have the authority to remove those deputies or senators that would endanger the lives of their colleagues.

The special statue of the Parliament Guard was voted in as a Grand Ducal Law, giving the unit extensive powers to act, using force if necessary, against the representatives of the People or those of the Fiefdoms. The unit also has more powers when ensuring the security of the Northwind Palace than standard police forces. The Grand Duke has accepted not to reject the project of the Parliament Guard on condition that special articles be included in the statue of the unit, such as granting the Grand Duke the right to call on the unit to Grand Duke’s service, disband the unit and others without required approval from the Parliament.

In the end, the Deputies and Senators now have a special unit not ensure that they do not slaughter each other. A truly marvelous beginning for the First Parliament that will most surely convince the population that the legislative assembly does not waste time in vain and works hard to ensure that the interests of the People and of the Fiefdoms are respected and applied.

From the Vigvar Daily

Grand Ducal Parliament ratifies the Vigvar Convention on Cooperation (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=447290) despite strong NPCA opposition.

Yesterday both chambers of the Grand Ducal Parliament ratified the Vigvar Convention on Cooperation. The National Patriotic Christian Alliance put up a fight and threatened to initiate a popular referendum on the issue.

As expected, the majority Loyalist Coalition overwhelmingly backed the text of the Convention in Parliament. They were joined by some deputies from the Liberal Socialist Party, even if the majority of the Left-Wing opposition preferred to abstain from voting. The two Communist deputies voted against the treaty, siding with the Nationalists for the first time in the history of the Taraskovyan Parliament.

The NPCA, however, has promised that it would initiate a referendum on the issue in accordance with the Article 115 of the Grand Ducal Constitution and campaign for a rejection of the treaty by the population of the Grand Duchy. “This treaty does not answer the interests of the Taraskovyan people and we shall do everything we need for the voice of our people to be heard,” Count Bogoslavov, leader of the NPCA, has stated. It is expected that his party will have no trouble gathering the required amount of signatures and hold a referendum within the 100 days foreseen by law, even if, judging by information gathered from several opinion polls, the popular referendum would support the Convention.

Whilst the Parliament was debating the motion, half a thousand young nationalists attempted to approach the Northwind Palace and disrupt the session. Since the demonstrators were forbidden to approach the Palace, riot police moved in to break up the crowd. Several dozen people were arrested. Groups of masked young men appeared sporadically over the Capital City, but their activities were limited to spraying graffiti or throwing paint buckets at buildings housing Knootian interests. Police officers arrested two nationalist teenagers that attempted to throw a bucket of yellow paint at the Knootian Embassy; an officer got painted in the process.

In the Outer Ring, an important crowd of approximately ten thousand people was blocked by riot police from entering the bridges leading to the Capital City. No violence was reported and the crowd dispersed by itself towards the evening, traffic through the blocked transport lanes was restored by nightfall.

From the Vigvar Daily

A coup for the Nationalists: the Taraskovyan People ratifies the Vigvar Convention

Despite a strong NPCA campaign, the Taraskovyan People has supported the Vigvar Convention on Cooperation, defended not only by the Loyalists, but also by a large number of Left-wing parties.

The major fear that haunted the referendum was that the People would not bother to vote and let the supporters of the National Patriotic Christian Alliance reject it. The Loyalist and the Left-wing Coalitions have been constantly promoting the text and calling their voters to ratify it. It would seem that their arguments worked as Taraskovyans voted en masse through the electronic bulletins, the final voter turnout nearing 72%.

All in all, 62,17% of voters backed the Vigvar Convention on Cooperation, which expands the bilateral relations between the Grand Duchy and the Dutch Democratic Republic. The rest voted against, with a small number of bulletins invalidated due to a non-respect of the filling in rules. All in all, the results come as a slap to the face of the Nationalist opposition that is hostile to an opening of the Grand Duchy to the outside world.

“We are all entitled to making errors, even the Taraskovyan people. But I am sure that once they realise the error they have committed Taraskovyans shall demand a voiding of the Convention,” Count Alexander Bogoslavov, leader of the NPCA, has stated when commenting the results during a press conference. “Improving relations with an atheist, godless republic is the surest way to an abyss.”

“The results reflect the present situation of the Grand Duchy that can no longer be content with sitting in its corner and accumulating riches from its natural resources,” Duke Anatoly Orlov, one of the leaders of the Conservative Party, has declared while commenting the results. “Expansion of trade and cooperation between the Grand Duchy and its partners is important to ensure the continued prosperity of our country.”

Yet, the most ardent supporters of the agreement were the Liberal Socialists. “Knootoss is a proof that the republican form of government, as long as it is not a military dictatorship in the style of the Ruling Council, is very successful. I am sure that eventually the Taraskovyan People shall realise it,” Dragica Liubenova, leader of the LSP, said with a smile as she gave a press conference. “It may not be a treaty of international importance, such as some other organizations and alliances out there, yet it is already an other in a series of steps taken in the right direction.”

From the Vigvar Daily

First Christmas celebrations since restoration of the Grand Duchy

Millions of Taraskovyans gathered at churches for the Christmas service as security throughout the country was tightened to prevent against possible provocations.

Patriarch Nikon II led the Christmas service at the Cathedral of Pokrov in front of thousands, among which was Archduchess Vethara, Duke Anatoly Orlov and others, with Grand Duke Mikhail II also attending the ceremony despite his belonging to a different faith. Members of the Alexander Guard dressed in combat outfit kept vigil outside of the Cathedral and other places of worship throughout the Capital City, as police kept watch throughout the entire country.

“Christmas celebrations naturally draw a great number of people to compact places,” the Minister of Interior, High Duke Karth Tal-Nash has stated on eve of the events. “And even if the situation today is calm, especially compared to what it was under the Ruling Council, we still prefer to take no risks.”

Despite concern expressed by authorities, the night went without any incidents and millions of Taraskovyans attended services at temples both in the country and abroad. “Orthodoxy is an integral part of our culture, something without which our country could simply not be,” the Grand Duke said as he congratulated his Orthodox subjects. “And Christmas is one of the brightest and warmest holidays in our nation, a day that brings peace and hope.”

The White Legion has also issued a statement wishing the Orthodox faithful a Merry Christmas, reiterating that whilst it refrained from any violent acts, it was still ready to “defend the True Faith against enemies and heathens”, thus dismissing rumours of the organisation’s possible disbanding.

With the religious ceremonies over, festivities began throughout the country and are due to continue for quite awhile.

Vigvar Daily

The Space Fleet gets new toys, Thylacine set for retirement

Last weekend the first two dreadnoughts of the new Archangel Class, the Iazes and the Kania, have deployed for duty in orbit over Sisgardia. The new class is set to fully replace the famous Thylacine within the coming years.

“The Archangel is harder, better, faster, stronger than the Thylacine. The recent breakthroughs in nanotechnology, robotic and metallurgic technology have allowed us to create a ship that would be even more powerful and efficient than was the Thylacine, yet be of slightly smaller dimensions and requiring far less crew to operate,” Duke Orlov, the Minister of Defence, has stated during a recent press conference.

The new ships, requiring several hundred crew instead of several thousand as was the case for the Thylacines, shall allow the Space Fleet to fit the same number of servicemen and women into a greater number of ships. “All in all, it shall be comparatively cheaper to operate the Archangels than the Thylacines,” Maxim Kerin, the Defence Expert for Vigvar Daily, has stated. “The modularly design of the Thylacine proved quite efficient and, judging by the little information available on the Archangels, it is also used in them. So, in the short term, we can expect the Army to also replace the non-modularly Emerald Spires and other ship classes with new generation of vessels.”

It would, thus, seem that the Space Fleet is set on expansion in quality and numbers. The newest developments are expected to finally fill the gap in technology and efficiency between the Space Fleet and the rest of the National Defence Forces, and shall allow the Grand duchy to defend its off-world interests and assets better.

Vigvar Daily

Dreamreach declared Kingdom under Grand Duchy, Lagoon to be Principality

In a rather intriguing decision, the Grand Duke has promoted his personal dominion of Dreamreach into a Kingdom, thus breaking with the traditional Russian style in favour of the Western one. The move has left many analysts pondering whether the move has any symbolism attached to it.

The Taraskovyan Grand Duke shall now also be styled King, with the latter title inferior in importance to the former. Legal mess and travesty for some, intriguing decision for others, the sudden promotion of the Dominion to a Kingdom has left nobody indifferent. Indeed, the new title can be interpreted in several ways.

First is that the Grand Duke has decided to turn to the Western style to create a new title that would put him on a more “equal” standing with the rest of the world’s sovereign monarchs. Indeed, with King being higher in honour than Grand Duke, the Taraskovyan leader can now claim to be on a more equal footing with Kings and Emperors of the world. However, due to the fact that Taraskovyan rulers have never been known for envying foreign rulers because of their titles, this interpretation of the move seems highly unlikely.

The one that appears the most probable is the fact that Dreamreach, being an entire star system, can hardly be considered a Duchy simply because of its sheer size. If the Grand Duke had abided by the Russian style, he would have become Tsar, a title historically associated with Orthodox rulers. The title of King, however, is associated with a myriad of religions and, thus, is less heavy in symbolism.

Then why promote it to a Kingdom and not a Grand Duchy? It was surely done to avoid any confusion in the future between Taraskovya and Dreamreach. And in the available choice between Duchy, Kingdom and Empire, the Kingdom was, thus, the compromise and the best choice.

The Grand Duke has not yet commented personally on the creation of this new title, leaving his motives left to speculation. But already many agree – being a Grand Duke above King is better than Grand Duke above a Republic. The status of the Autonomous Republic of the Island of Atlantic as a “republic” has been questioned by many, for even if the Island has a republican form of rule and calls itself as this, its Head of State is still the Grand Duke of all Taraskovya.

The Kingdom shall be largely autonomous from the Grand Duchy, with Grand Ducal law taking precedence and the Grand Duchy responsible for defence and foreign relations. The Grand Ducal Parliament has already passed the law defining the Grand Duchy’s relationship with the newly created Kingdom. No referendum was requested by the Grand Ducal population. With the final status of the territory set in stone, it is expected that the colonization effort shall start once the latest war in the Raumreich is over.

Winter Palace, Capital City of Vigvar

It was the Easter Sunday in Tarasovka and its various dominions, protectorates, dependencies and other associated territories which would be too long to list. Billions of Orthodox faithful celebrated the resurrection of Christ. And once the Church service was over, the crowds spilled into the streets and the real party began, which would follow throughout the day and even into the night. After all, Taraskovyans love parties, especially when there was a good reason.

Yet, at least one person was not celebrating. And it was not because he did not belong to the Orthodox faith, but more because his mind was, once more, full of doubts. A doubting Grand Duke is never a good thing, yet he could not simply shake off the sudden feeling of emptiness and a desire for something else, something which he could not yet understand. He was a follower of the Seven Deities, even if he never was particularly devout. In fact, the last time he was to Church was at the Sacred Citadel, and even then he was not really there out of free will, but more because the Church of the Seven Deities and the Order of Zynthris decided that keeping a Grand Duke in coma out of public’s eye was a good idea.

Today, Mikhail thought it was a very, very bad idea and he was quite angry with the Church and the Order because of this. Had his subjects known he was not dead, but merely in coma, possessed by the ranting Seven, maybe the whole Times of Troubles could have been averted. Or maybe not, for what was done was done. But he could not help but blame the Seven Templars, the Seven Deities and the Order for what happened to his country. But when great powers are at play, the mortals just obey. Or do they?

“Still day dreaming, brother?”

Vethara’s voice brought the Grand Duke out of his thoughts as he looked away from the Great Gardens and on his sister.

“Still day dreaming,” he said with a smile, walking into the shades of trees and sitting down on a bench. His sister followed lead, sitting next to him and looking at him curiously.

“Mind telling me?”

“Oh, nothing of real importance. Just asking myself questions of universal existence and not finding any answers.”

Vethara chuckled and shook her head. “You know you can confide in me, Misha.”

The Grand Duke arched an eye brow and looked deep into his sister’s emerald eyes, pondering for a minute before finally breaking the silence.

“To put it bluntly, Vetha, I doubt my place is really with the Seven Deities. There are a number of factors that feed my doubts, but I shall not indulge in blasphemy for now.”

“I see,” the Archduchess said pensively. “Tell me… you were at the Easter service… How did you feel?”

“How did I feel? A good question…” The Grand Duke paused, remembering the service. “I felt… at peace. Quite strange, really, since I am subject to constant stress due to my position. Yet there, I felt warm and peaceful, forgetting all the political bickering for a moment.”

The Archduchess only smiled back. “Well, brother, take the time to think about what you have just told me. I am sure that deep inside you already know the path to follow, yet you doubt it still. Well, all this is great,” she said, standing up, “but I have a shuttle to catch. Need to run some errands in Zoria, but you know how it is, being a ruler.”

Mikhail nodded, standing up and walking next to his sister as she directed herself to her transportation.

“Just promise me one thing, brother. Do what I have asked of you.”

“I will,” the Grand Duke nodded. “And maybe I will drop by Lorelei to talk things with you.”

“Of course, my liege! The suzerain is always welcome in his vassal’s abode!” Vethara said with a joyful laughter, prompting her brother to laugh.

"Empire's Diaries" is a general audience magasine, covering the life in the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka and its various dominions, protectorates and associated territories. Giving everything from analysis of really important events to interviews of celebrities.

Hereby is an interview of the magazine with Her Highness the Archduchess Vethara of Taraskovya (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Vethara_Shakhovskaya).

Vethara, a name all Taraskovyans know. A woman, whose smile and charm have seduced the entire country, a woman beloved by all. A woman who went through a lot of pain and suffering, yet always gives an image of happiness and joy. The Archduchess is known for her involvement in Taraskovyan life, always striving to aid those in difficulty.

Today, “Empire’s Diaries” is honoured to present to our faithful readers an interview with Her Highness the Archduchess concerning her latest project to raise funds for the victims of the Plague and the Time of Troubles.

First of all, Your Highness, we wish to express our gratitude for allowing this interview to happen.

The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.

Let us pass on to the important things now. Could you please briefly explain what your latest aid project is about? The news and tabloids have been buzzing with gossip for quite some time, yet no precise information is available.

Most certainly. As you know, the Plague* and the heavy fighting that it is famous for left all of Aphyr a smoldering wasteland. In the years following the war, a great reconstruction effort was undertaken to rebuild Aphyr. Cities have been restored, maglev lines built, electricity and drinking water supplied. However, in the rush for the industrial and material reconstruction, the Ruling Council forgot about the people, the millions of victims of the Plague, millions of those who lost their families. The fathers of many children fell in combat. All this was forgotten in front of the daunting task of rebuilding Aphyr.

And this, I deem, is a great injustice, for we cannot heal the scars left by the Plague and by the Times of Troubles that followed it by simply putting buildings back. We must care about the people.

So your aid project is aimed at aiding those who lost family in the Plague and Time of Troubles?

Indeed. In Taraskovya, we have very few below the vital minimum**, yet many who live right on or slightly above it. This effectively excludes their children from universities, since government subsidies cannot keep up with the huge population.

What I have strived to do for the past months was to raise attention to the problem. I have conducted seminars, press conferences, contributed my personal funds, my dear brother also contributed a great deal… but it seems that we need something bright and striking to raise awareness of the problem.

And what exactly do you have in mind for bright and striking?

I and other famous women shall strip for money.

Really? Could you please explicit what you mean by that?

I mean what I have said. Me and other famous women shall pose in lingerie for a photo album, which shall then be auctioned off. The money shall go to the Shakhovskoy Aid Fund, which I am managing and overseeing, and from there shall be used to aid the aforementioned victims of the Plague and of the Time of Troubles. Education grants, long term and zero percent loans to families… Well, everything that makes up the particular Taraskovyan charity system, since our countrymen refuse to take anything free. After all, the only thing which is free is the cheese in a mousetrap.

Now this is a bold project. Does it not conflict with your duties as Benefactress of the Church?

To some extent, yes, but I have talked with the Patriarch himself and have received his authorisation. His Holiness did advise me to seek other ways to attain my goal, but I do not see any other way. The photograph of me is already ready, it is done very artistically and I assure you I do not show anything that should be hidden.

And what a pity it is, I am sure our male readings are howling already. But what are these other famous women you have mentioned?

I shall not reveal them for the sake of surprise. But let us say that the project involves both Taraskovyan and foreign celebrities. It should be finished quite soon and an edition of a hundred exemplars shall be auctioned off. It shall include autographs by us all, as well as various information on the Plague, the Times of Troubles, non-governmental organizations catering for the victims. Really, if you thought it was just going to be a calendar, you are mistaken, for it shall be much, much more.

And we shall be looking forward to it then. We once again thank Your Highness for the interview and for everything you are doing to aid those Taraskovyans who are in need.

It was a pleasure for me and no gratitude needed. I am just doing what the Shakhovskoy have always been doing – caring for our people for they are our strength and life.

[OOC: * The Plague is the name given in Tarasovka to the civil war of 1141A.S. (Aphyr Conflict) in which half a billion people perished. In game time terms, the war happened 8 years ago, as far as GDT is concerned. The Time of Troubles is the period of the military junta, renowned for the White Legion (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/White_Legion) insurgency.

**Calculated using the following formula:
Base minimum (food, apartment rent, etc) - A
+ Expanded minimum (mandatory medical insurance, base education, etc) - B
+ Social minimum (basic telecommunications, kitchen equipment, etc) - C
+ 20% of A+B+C
_______________
Vital minimum (also known as the poverty line) ]

"So, you're going ahead with this, dearest?" Cassander Drakharn asked his wife from the door, holding a Galactic Postal Union envelope. He was watching her change with no little interest. "I suppose it'd be nice to show off my beautiful wife." He walked across and placed a hand on her waist to stop her putting her 'vest' on, then kissed her firmly.

She returned the kiss with heat, then shook her head at him, sending her sun-bleached white hair into his face. "Stop grouching, it's for a good cause. Let me just choose my outfit and my pose, all right?" Her lips went back up to his and they stole another kiss from him, preventing him from frowning at her. "I just wish my hair wasn't white."

"I like your hair!" Cassander protested, sidetracked. "It's beautiful."

She laughed and leaned against him. "Yes, dearest future father of my children." Alysanndra leaned up to kiss the Emperor on the forehead. "But you aren't a human, which I'm grateful for, and humans might find it off-putting. Which could defeat the purpose of a charity auction shot." She drew back so she could finish getting dressed. "Same problem with the ears, really." She laughed again and snuggled against his chest.

"You're not doing this for the charity, you're doing it because you want to model again and this is the closest you'll be able to get to it." Cassander accused.

She looked up at him and smiled a little. "My career in public service was a diversion between the two happiest periods of my life." Alysanndra kissed him softly on the lips. "Being a model, and being your wife. I accept that I'll never model again, Cass. But I know how to, I still have my figure, and I want to help other people."

The Lord-Emperor settled down on the bed, bringing her down with him to hold her close. "You know I can't refuse you anything. If it will make you happier, you can go ahead and do it..." Then he locked lips with her again, and suddenly talking became unimportant...

Excerpt from the Martian Observer

Inhabitants leave Stribog for Lagoon, Fiefdom’s population thinning

Following the Volarian Nuclear Incident, millions of Taraskovyan citizens dwelling in the Martian Fiefdoms have chosen to sell their homes and migrate to Dreamreach, namely it’s capital planet of Lagoon. The migration wave has not touched only Stribog as hundreds of thousands leave the Sisgardian metropoly for the Kingdom of Dreamreach.

“We used to have more than 260 million people in here. Now we are already down to 230. At this rate, the Fiefdom shall be nothing else that a desert with troops on its borders,” the Governor of Stribog, Omni Anubis, stated with a touch of worry in his voice. And indeed, there are some causes for concern since the Fiefdom of Stribog, the homestead of the Toran people where they form an overwhelming majority, is emptying itself of its population.

The reason behind this? The recent Volarian Nuclear Incident, which caused a nuclear winter all over Mars and covered the ground with radioactive dust, is seen as the main cause for the exodus. However, radioactive fallout is being cleansed at a sustained pace by the ECTOS entities deployed all over the Fiefdoms and the subterranean cities are quite capable of hosting and providing work for hundreds of millions of people.

But all this is not enough to keep the inhabitants of Stribog in the Fiefdom. “All this clean up and everything is very nice, but it’ll be some time before the situation really improves. And in the meantime, land values keep going down. So we sold what we had and bought a government permit to settle on Lagoon,” a migrant told me as he boarded a shuttle which would take him to Lagoon.

And they are not alone to think that way. Many people in Dajdbog and even in the Sisgardian metropoly are packing suit cases, getting permits and moving out to Lagoon. It seems the recently created Kingdom of Dreamreach is seen as a “promised land” by many willing to escape radioactive clouds of Mars or simply the noise and hassle of the highly urbanized metropoly.

Dreamreach, with a current population of a hundred million already, is experiencing a tremendous economic growth and looks set to become an other jewel in the Taraskovyan crown.

Diantha Palamas, Olympic gold medalist for women's figure skating and one of the Resurgent Dream's most popular icons, at least for the moment, was standing in front of her mirror in a seat of underwear, looking at herself critically. She liked how it showed off her legs but her bust didn't look nearly as impressive as some of the other women who would be in this calendar. The price of a lifetime of athletics. Shrugging slightly, she went back to packing her bags. She couldn't wait for the shoot.

[OOC: Yes, yes, I remember the thread. But I was in a period of exams (hence, no time to draw) and had the last written exam the past Thursday. Now finishing the last couple of drawings for the thread and will post it sometime next week or the week after, depending on how the drawings turn out and whether I feel like doing any other drawings ;) ]

OOC: That wasn't a bump. RP is better than drawings.

Palamas settled into the plain on its way to Taraskovya. She had packed a heavy coat in her carry-on luggage. Although it was only slightly cool in Tarana, she knew it would be far colder where she was going.

Excerpt of an article from the Vigvar Daily

Research Group set up to study Imperial Reform

Vigvar, Taraskovya – A panel involving independent political analysts and experts affiliated with the Conservative Party and its allies has began working on what has long been in the air: the Imperial Reform. The goal is to reform the current feudalist system in relations between the Grand Duchy and its Dominions (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Taraskovyan_Empire) into a streamlined and uniform administration.

“Today we have as many formats of constitutional ties as we have dependencies,” enter Andreas Auer, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Uthar and a major supporter of the projected reform. “It is a nightmare for jurists to navigate around these jungles. So what to say about the average citizen?”

“And what about an average businessman?” enter Boris Gdoborev, Professor of International Economic Politics with the University of Vigvar. “The separation of powers in between the Grand Duchy and its dependencies in the economic field is undefined. As a result, foreigners tend to invest only into the Grand Duchy, not willing to risk the Dominion jungles, despite some very lucrative opportunities within them. Today, this means that approximately two billion Taraskovyans are outside the primary interest of investors. We must have a clear, uniform constitutional system linking Vigvar to its various territories.”

But the legal aspects of the current systems are not the only ones under scrutiny. The military administration also fails to convince the supporters of the Imperial Reform. It is judged that the feudalism that reigns in the collective armed forces of the Grand Duchy and its Dominions prevents Taraskovya from exploiting its full military might.

“We have the National Defence Forces, operated and staffed by the Grand Duchy. A tremendously powerful military force,” retired General Nabokov stated. “Next to it we have Dominion armed forces, which are intended to be used as defensive formations. But they depend on Dominion budgets, which simply cannot provide the same amounts of money as the Grand Ducal budget. In result, we have a formidable TNDF that has to always back the surplus-equipped local militias that can’t handle a massive illegal immigration wave!”

The solution to the problem would be to simply… create a single military administration for the entirety of territories under Taraskovyan administration. This does not find sympathizers with the defenders of Fiefdom and Dominion autonomy, who see the right to field own armed forces as an essential one. The new military organisation would see the creation of Theatres in areas of importance. The standard Branch division would be erased in favour of a more flexible and organic structure that allows a modern military force to adapt immediately to any situation.

[…]

The Grand Ducal Government and the Grand Duke himself have not yet issued any opinion on the matter. Many analysts, however, believe that His Royal Highness is directing the process from aside, probing the ground with the Taraskovyan People before acting openly. The Winter Palace has denied to issue any comment on the matter.

[…]

Article from the Empire's Diaries:

Parliament To Debate “Human” Status For Julaniem

The Taraskovyan legal system is a rather particular one. And the terminology of “human” is one of them. While a bit every other nation considers humans to be members of the homo sapiens species, the Taraskovyal legal order considers human “any species capable of interbreeding with Taraskath, creating viable progeniture that is capable of further procreation […] sharing a physical appearance similar to that of the Taraskath […] having the same general interior composition and structure as Taraskath […] [and] products of natural evolution.” The quoted definition is not contained within the law, but within a 41 years old verdict of the Grand Ducal Tribunal, dated November 1109 A.S. The same verdict which saw the then rather consequent population of Skaven in Taraskovya deprived of citizenship and most rights, but accorded them a special status under the law, extending certain provisions of fundamental rights on the non-humans.

Since then, the Skaven have been entirely wiped out in the heavy merciless combats that characterised the Plague, along with five hundred million “human” Taraskovyans. Many lawyers joked that “the legal problem has been solved”. But they could not foresee that the Ruling Council would send the army to conquer Tavaroth…

The Julaniem: challenging the legal establishment since 1145 AS.

Following the conquest of Tavaroth (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Tavaroth) and the establishment there of a Taraskovyan Dominion authority, a number of legal questions arose over time. As the lands were pacified and stabilized, a more or less efficient democracy came to be established, on Taraskovyan principles of popular participation through referenda. The Taraskovyan Grand Ducal constitution extends itself largely over the United Provinces of Tavaroth, at least as far as Fundamental and Political rights are concerned.

This said, the Taraskovyan constitution uses the term “human rights” and, as such, only grants them to “humans” (read above for jurisprudential definition). Non-humans, such as the Julaniem (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Julaniem), are excluded from voting, for example. And whilst the inhabitants of Tavaroth have no say over the Grand Ducal Constitution as citizens of a dominion, they are none the less subjected to its overall authority.

So far, the only exception to the rules has been Hermes Island, but then again non-humans there are foreigners that come to do business, not technical Taraskovyan citizens who are entitled to vote and decide of Taraskovyan politics. The Tavaroth issue, it appears, has dealt a huge blow at the well-established notions of Taraskovyan law.

The Liberal Socialist Party, the Democratic Conservative Party and a good half of Conservatives have cried foul of the situation, argumenting that “members of the Kerrat kin are native to Tavaroth in the same manner as Taraskath are native to Taraskovya. Can one imagine Taraskath deprived of voting rights because they are not homo sapiens?” If the Julaniem (or Kerrat, as they are also called) are not “human”, then they may not vote, they may not own property, they may not seize the courts and they are not covered and protected by law. A completely surreal and idiotic situation in the eyes of many Taraskovyans, especially considering that foreign non-humans that visit Hermes Island may buy property, may exchange goods and services, are protected by law. The mere fact that foreign citizens are treated better than Taraskovyans by right is preposterous to many.

“We can understand that the Skaven were refused citizenship fourty years ago,” an LSP spokesperson commented. “They were not native to Taraskovya and were taken in as refugees. Even if we find that the verdict in question is completely absurd, we respect the reasoning of the judges in the Tribunal. The problem here is that the Julaniem are native to Tavaroth, a Taraskovyan Dominion. They are Taraskovyans, period!”

Back in the times, it were the Taraskovyan National Defence Forces that found the way out of the Skaven legal puzzle: they simply proclaimed each and every rat-person as “auxiliary personnel”. And when the military decides to protect someone, no troublemaker shall dare go against.

TNDF: leading the way by example?

Just as with the Skaven back in the old days, the National Defence Forces have not waited until lawyers and politicians end their talking and just proclaimed all Julaniem as “auxiliary personnel”, which extends the military's protection over the kin without any obligations of service for the Julaniem to the military. The decision was taken upon personal insistence of General-Poruchik Jochem van Wallenstein, commander of the TNDF elements in Tavaroth.

The Taraskovyan military, in many aspects, has always been more socially and culturally progressive than the civilian and political State authorities, contrary to what many could expect. The TNDF has no issues with enrolling foreigns in general and non-humans in particular into its ranks as long as they are willing to serve Taraskovya and give their lives for a country that doesn’t even recognize them as worthy of legal protection. Non-humans can actually advance as high as the rank of Colonel, since the ranks above must approved by the civilian and political authorities who would reject any "non-human".

The examples of TNDF’s openness are many: from Skaven troops in the old days to the current Julaniem Scouts. General-Poruchik van Wallenstein has created a whole regiment of Julaniem scouts, which provides prime quality reconnaissance platoons and companies to other units of the National Defence Forces. The commander of the Julaniem Scouts Unit “Sherkhan” is Colonel Rasht Kerush, nicknamed “Shaitan”, who is currently the highest ranked non-human in the TNDF. Kerrat scouts have received top praise from a high number of Taraskovyan military commanders.

Despite strong opposition from many in the political establishment, the military retorts to criticism bluntly and aggressively, stipulating that “as long as they fight for the Motherland we don’t give a damn whether they have tails or not”. In face of the military’s strong popularity with the Taraskovyan population, no politician has ever dared suggest a law that would limit TNDF recruitment to “humans only” out of fear for his electoral future.

Granting human status to non-humans? And how far?

The Parliament is to debate in the coming weeks the issue of whether to amend Taraskovyan laws in such a way as to include the Julaniem, and in such case what laws to amend and how. Some Parliamentarians suggest a new Grand Ducal Statute which would list “particular species” that benefit from the same status as “human” under the Constitution.

Others suggest amending the Constitution and replacing the term “human” with “sentient” or “sapient”. The National Patriotic Christian Alliance rejects any amendment and suggests deporting all Julaniem to third states.

Whatever the solution, the Taraskovyan grand ducal population shall surely be the last to decide. And according to latest polls, 65% of Taraskovyans do consider the Kerrat as equal citizens of the gigantic and multi-cultural Taraskovyan Empire in Denial.

Excerpt from the Empire’s Diaries:

Second Parliament Sworn In

Today, the second Grand Ducal Parliament began its work, following last week’s elections which saw the Conservative Party maintain its absolute majority in both Houses of Parliament. His Grace, the Duke Khaor Nakhart has been reelected as Duma Speaker for a second mandate.

The major tendency seen in the elections was the strengthening of the Loyalist bloc in the Duma, while the NPCA saw its support dwindling. The Left-Wing Coalition is down from four parties to two, as the IAAP decided to join up with the Liberal-Socialists and the NPUH did not manage to gain a single seat.

A newcomer in the field, the Republican Party, has stated it would join the Loyalists. Despite their campaigning for the abolition of monarchy, the Republicans share the same views as the Conservatives and the Democratic Conservatives on such issues as economy, welfare, social politics.

The Duma composition is as follows, out of 400 seats:
– Conservative Party (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Conservative_Party_(Tarasovka)) – 218 seats (+2) - Loyalist
– National Patriotic Christian Alliance – 68 seats (-11) - Nationalist
– Liberal-Socialist Party (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Liberal_Socialist_Party_(Tarasovka)) – 62 seat (+11) – Left-Wing
– Democratic-Conservative Party (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Democratic_Conservative_Party) – 35 seats (+1) - Loyalist
– Republican Party – 15 seats (+15) – Loyalist
– Communist Party – 1 seat (-1) – Left-Wing
– Apathy Party – 1 seat (-1) – “Who cares?”

In the Senate, the Liberal-Socialists did not manage to score a single seat as their main trump card, Senator Vologdov, decided not to stand up again. The Conservatives, the Christian Patriots and independents divided the Senate amongst themselves.

The Senate composition is as follows, out of 58 seats:
– Conservative Party – 31 seat (-1)
– National Patriotic Christian Alliance – 8 seats (-1)
– Independent Senators – 19 seats

The Second Parliament, which will actually be the first to server the reglementary four years mandate, shall have to tackle a number of different issues, from the ever growing calls for the Imperial Reform to the status of “non-humans” with the Grand Ducal legislation.

Nakhart: Julaniem status to be decided within months, not years

During his opening speech, Duma Speaker Khaor Kakhart has clearly stated that the debate on “non-humans” in the Grand Duchy shall not take the path of years, but shall be decided in the coming months. The Speaker has invited deputies from all parties to come forward with pragmatic propositions.

“The Grand Duchy has to move forward. We must understand that we are no longer a small country somewhere in the confines of Sisgardia. We are a power to be reckoned with, a power that flies its banner proudly over many lands, a power whose regiments inspire fear in enemy hearts, a power which calls respect from foreign states. We live in a big, I shall allow myself the word huge, even! We live in a huge country, we live in a great country.

“We cannot revel in the old times when cultures were relatively few and the legal situation was clear. Today, we must pay the price of our success and move beyond the aged principles that govern our laws. My dear colleagues, honourable deputies, the Taraskovyan society has already moved forward and has not waited for us in that respect. Foreign non-humans can trade freely on Hermes Island, for our citizens value interaction and commerce with foreign states, be it on Hermes Island or in foreign countries. The military! The military has moved well beyond ancient stereotypes in all matters social and cultural. Even as we speak, the Julaniem scouts are serving our great country, they are spilling their blood for a country that refuses to recognize them as its subjects.

“Some might deem that I am asking for everything immediately, that I want to turn Taraskovya into a country of the likes of Allanea, where everything is permitted and the society is in complete cultural chaos. Let me assure you: I am the first to acknowledge that Taraskovya must never become a haven of libertarian decadence. But I fail to see how recognizing our valiant sons and daughters as our own shall disrupt the fabric of Taraskovyan livelihood.

“Dear Sirs, dear Ladies, members of Parliament… I shall make it a personal question to ensure a favourable resolution to the Julaniem citizenship question within the upcoming months. We cannot… we may not put the decision off indefinitely as some in this chamber would love to. I invite all serious deputies to come forward with a debate on the question that shall lead to the creation of a comfortable legal environment for what we today consider as non-humans in the Grand Duchy, most notably the Julaniem.”

The intervention on the question of non-humans, while having been only a portion of the speech, was the most awaited moment of the day. Loyalist deputies applauded three times during the intervention, which can very well mean that the Parliamentary majority has already an idea on how to deal with the situation in the best way possible.

Military reorganization on the agenda

Different sources indicate that the Parliament shall ponder on the question of reorganizing the Taraskovyan military system. This will most surely involve revoking the right of Fiefdoms and Dominions to maintain own standing armed forces, as well as reorganizing the Taraskovyan National Defence Forces into Theatres instead of the conventional branches.

“Nowadays, we drop Armoured Divisions as if they were Airborne. The Air Force has come to lose any sense, because today it is better to have an aero-space capable force than craft limited to atmospheric flight,” military analysts agree. “Moreover, we only have a Navy [wet water navy] on Earth, and it is slowly coming to lose its importance in favour of the Space Fleet. Why should we have a whole branch within the [TNDF] if it only concerns one theatre and is of minor importance?”

The plan, however, draws some resistance from Fiefdom and Dominion authorities, which see it as an attempt on their federal rights. Many analysts agree that while the local entities should be allowed to maintain reserve and militia forces, the professional armed forces should be solely within Grand Ducal jurisdiction.

[…]

Excerpt from the Empire’s Diaries:

Julaniem Status Resolution Nearing

Some sources indicate that the Parliamentary Commission on the Rights of Non-Humans, which has been created for the purpose of studying the question on whether to grant “non-humans” the status of “humans” and under what terms, has come to a preliminary draft of a constitutional and legislative revision.

The project would involve an approach in two directions: amending the Federal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka, most precisely Title 2, Chapter 1, with a new provision which would stipulate that the terms “human” are applicable to all sapient living beings. This would extend the provisions of “human rights” to “non-humans”, but would not resolve the outstanding question of citizenship.

Indeed, citizenship is considered a political right, not a human one. Taraskovyan citizenship is not fundamental to a living being and, as such, restrictions in this field shall continue to apply. The Grand Ducal Statute on Citizenship, however, shall be amended with a provision stipulating that the Grand Ducal Government can decide on what ethnicities and kins may obtain Taraskovyan citizenship, basing themselves on cultural, social and other arguments.

Major Legal Reshuffle Ahead?

The Grand Ducal Parliament has not yet made any official comment on the news, but Deputies and Senators from the National Patriotic Christian Alliance have been making personal statements condemning the upcoming project as “ani-Taraskovyan”. Regardless of the nationalist position on the matter, many Taraskovyan legal specialists have hailed what they see as a major breakthrough in the outdated Taraskovyan policies.

“If the two-part approach is indeed true, then it is simply perfect for Taraskovya,” Leonid Solonov, professor of Constitutional Law at Vigvar University, commented. “On the one hand, it shall provide for what we today consider as non-humans to come freely to all Taraskovyan realms, and not just Hermes Island. This means tourism, this means business, this means workforce. Of course, the exact extent of the term “living beings” remains to be seen, but it is undeniably a major leap forward for our legal system.

“On the other hand, it shall exclude a number of ethnicities from obtaining Taraskovyan citizenship until such and such kin has sufficient cultural ties with our country. Yet again, the exact extent of the provision has to be clarified: will individual representatives of the kin be able to gain citizenship without automatically giving the same rights to their compatriots, or will it only be possible once a kin has sufficient ties to Taraskovya, like the Julaniem?

“The overall project shall allow non-humans to interact with Taraskovya freely, but will allow Taraskovya to chose those ethnicities it wishes to have further responsibilities over, those of a State towards its Citizens.”

Taraskovyans Appear In Favour of Project

Some polls conducted by a variety of private organizations have established that the Taraskovyan People is in favour of the project. The biggest support appears to come from the Fiefdoms of Uthar, Southern Cardinia, Vyshna, Vigvar and Amalor. The Fiefdoms opposed to the idea appear to be Uiliath and Keth. The other Fiefdoms have slim majorities in favour.

But all these polls indicate that a whole 30% of Taraskovyans are still undecided on what to vote in any referendum. And referendum there shall be, at least for the constitutional amendment, involving the votes of the People and of the Fiefdoms. But the NPCA has stated clearly that will initiate a referendum on any amendment to the Statute on Citizenship.

NPCA: “Good bye Taraskovya, hello Allanea!”

The National Patriotic Christian Alliance and their supporters have been gearing up for a campaign of opposition to any upcoming project which would give “non-humans” the same rights as “humans”.

“We can tolerate these elves being “human”, but giving humanship to beastmen is out of the question. Are we a human state, or some freakland in the likes of Allanea or Scolopendra? If those non-humans don’t like their current status, they are free to pack bags and leave. The project is Anti-Taraskovyan as it goes against our culture and our values.”

The NPCA has portrayed itself as a defender of an Orthodox Taraskovya in the face of an adverse and faithless world. However, the Alliance and the Patriarchate appear to have parted ways on the Julaniem question, as Church missionaries are already working amongst the population of Tavaroth, meeting varying levels of success with various cultures there, including with the Kerrat.

The White Legion has not stated its stance on the question, but many expect it to be highly negative. Many also doubt the Legion will ever make a statement as the organisation has been dormant for the past two years and some even deem that it quietly dissolved in the meantime.

The NPCA, however, is very much around and is making its voice heard, with its calls for a deportation of all non-humans to nations that would accept them. Such a solution, however, appears to be out of the question for the Grand Ducal leadership as such moves would pretty much isolate the country from the outside world. But what the People decides remains to be seen.

Excerpt from the Empire’s Diaries:

Grand Duke Overrules Dreamreach Law On Military

His Majesty Mikhail II Shakhovskoy, Grand Duke of all Taraskovya and King of Dreamreach, has today put a veto on a law passed by the Royal Parliament of Dreamreach which sealed the Kingdom’s right to maintain its own military force in accordance with the traditions in place within the territories under Taraskovyan jurisdiction. Under the legislative procedure in place in Taraskovya and its Dominions, a law does not need the Grand Duke’s approval in order to be passed and enacted, but the Grand Duke may void the law at any moment at his own discretion and without offering any justification.

“The law is sheer non-sense,” a Winter Palace spokesperson has indicated, “and as such it has been vetoed by the Grand Duke. His Majesty has also made it clear to the MPs on Lagoon that any attempt to cling on to their military rights in the light of the upcoming military reform shall be futile. The Royal Parliament has been given a clear warning that it stands to be dissolved in case of disobedience.”

It is the first time the Grand Duke has used his absolute veto powers in the new Grand Duchy (and, by extent, its Dominions) and sends a clear message that the military affairs are being centralized for good. The Royal Parliament of Dreamreach has indicated that it would respect the decision of the King of Dreamreach and comply with his demands, even at the expense of its autonomy. The Royal Parliament of Nyi-Gardarika has indicated that it was scrapping a similar project in light of the developments.

[…]

Interview from the Empire’s Diaries:

Lost In Wonderland On Tour

Lost in Wonderland is a name that is known not only throughout the gigantic Taraskovyan Empire, but which extends its reputation abroad into many countries. The Taraskovyan metal band, having began modestly ten years ago, is today a major hit in charts world-wide. Combining stunning on-stage performance, powerful music and a duo of male and female vocals, the band is bound to keep wooing the crowds for years to come.

In the run up to a major tour which will take the band through a number of countries, the “Empire’s Diaries” managed to obtain an interview with the band’s leaders and vocalists: Skomorokh* and Queen of Spades.

First of all, we will begin with thanking the two of you for granting us this interview. We know how busy you are in preparations for the upcoming tour.

Skomorokh: The pleasure is all ours, really.

The upcoming tour shall take you to a number of countries, namely Pantocratoria, the Resurgent Dream, Abt and Knootoss. Can you maybe shed some light on what you plan to perform?

Skomorokh: Well, in Belgorod we shall perform our “Return the Sky to Them” program including our Russian and Taraskath language songs. Since they are basically Taraskovyans, but independent, we figured it would make sense to treat them to the same program. As far as the other countries are concerned, it will be a completely new program called “Bright Eyes” featuring English language songs.

Queen of Spades: As far as Pantocratoria is concerned, we can already say that we shall premiere several French language songs. And well, if the public reacts positively, we might just as well put them on a future album. [laughs]

You shall be cooperating with some local bands on the tour, unless we are mistaken. Can you maybe provide some further clarifications?

S: To an extent. In Knootoss, we shall be supported by Utharian** band Autumn, fellow Taraskovyans, who shall be touring the Dutch Democratic Republic. We will link with them on several occasions, namely in Knootcap.

But otherwise, in Abt, Pantocratoria and the Resurgent Dream we’ll be supported by local bands, yes. We’ve already had previous contacts with all of them and we are looking forward to offering our public an unforgettable show.

Due to your on-stage costumes and masks, many people wonder when you’ll finally decide to reveal your faces. Not for this time, we take it?

Q: Not for this time, no. Our costumes and masks are part of Lost in Wonderland, just as our songs and music. It allows us to live our characters closely, to offer a better performance on stage.

It’s a pity then. We do have to ask, though, about your main sources of inspiration, which are the fairy tales. Many deem that it could be time to move on to more serious topics. What do you think?

S: Well, we do have songs that can be considered as "serious"… “I am free”, for example, or “Would You Share the Stars with Me?”, respectively performed in single by myself and Her Majesty. But we have never really considered distancing ourselves much from our main theme, which are fairy tales. After all, all of ours songs are rather serious, even if they speak of fairy tales.

Q: Indeed. There is a child in each and every one of us and instead of locking him or her up like many people do, we allow them to influence our creativity. And in the end, we all feel better in the end, be the songs sad or cheerful. Simply because we have been allowed to escape reality for several minutes and plunge into a world where everything is possible, where good always wins.

Let us turn to your songs now. You are known as a multilingual band, performing in Russian, Taraskath and English. It would appear French will also be added to your list. Many accuse you of simply trying to flood as many markets as possible with your songs. How would you refute such accusations, if you would refute at all?

Q: We are not really trying to flood any market. Of course, we are not against people buying our records and songs, but we do not do this out of commercial motives. If you listen to our songs, you shall see that they are each unique, unlike many other bands, especially in the pop and hip hop genres, which take a base tune and then stamp song after song on it.

S: The choice of language depends on the song in question, on the mood we want to convey. Each language is unique, which is why it gives a unique touch to a song. Even if we translate a Taraskath song into Russian, it will not have the same feeling and the original sense will surely be lost. This is why we are multilingual: we are exploring every possibility a language can offer us, the opportunities new languages have to offer, and we use them accordingly.

Any plans for songs in some other languages?

S: Not yet. We are limited by the languages I and Her Majesty speak, after all. Our bassist, the Four of Spades, comes from Middelhoorn in Southern Cardinia. So we have a Dutch speaker who also knows German. But I don’t speak the languages, Her Majesty doesn’t speak them, I can’t see how we’d be able to sing in them.

Q: And personally I am not in a rush to learn new languages right now. Of course, we could as well stuff some implants into our brains, but I love my head as it is: natural and pretty. [laughs]

Indeed. Well, allow us to thank you for your time and to wish you the best of everything in your upcoming performances abroad. Show them what Taraskovyans are like there!

S: You can count on us.

Q: Oh, they will remember us all right…

[OOC:
* Skomorokh (rus.) – best translated as minstrel jester.
** Uthar is one of the three Dutch-speaking Fiefdoms of the Grand Duchy.]

Excerpts from the Empire’s Diaries:

Grand Ducal Parliament Approves Citizenship Reform

In an expected, but nevertheless still stunning motion, the Grand Ducal Parliament has approved the constitutional and legislative amendments which will pave the way to extending the Taraskovyan notion of “human” rights to “living sapient beings”, as well as shall open Taraskovyan citizenship to some “non-human” kinds.

In the Duma, the majority Loyalists have unanimously backed the reform, the Left-Wing Opposition adding its votes to the majority. The Nationalist Opposition remained alone in voting against the measure.

In the Senate, the reform was also overwhelmingly approved, with only the Nationalist and some independent Senators voting against the motion.

Since a Constitutional Reform requires a mandatory referendum, while a legislative amendment is subject to facultative referendum, the Grand Ducal Parliament has also decided that the two texts shall be put to the referendum as a single legal reform. This is opposed by the Nationalists, who demand that the two amendments be subject to two questions.

Referendum On Schedule

The exact date of the referendum has not been revealed yet, although according to the Constitution it must happen within 100 days following the passing of the act in Parliament. The amendments will concern the Federal Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka, namely the addition of Article 8bis On rights of living sapient beings. The tenure is the following:

“All living sapient beings benefit from fundamental rights to the same extent as humans, as defined by Statute.”

The Grand Ducal Statute on Citizenship shall be amended with Article 14a Eligibility of non-humans to Taraskovyan Citizenship, with the following tenure:

“1. The Grand Ducal Government defines non-human ethnicities eligible for Taraskovyan citizenship by Ordinance. In the definition, the Grand Ducal Government bases itself on scientific, cultural, linguistic and social aspects.
2. Stateless non-human ethnicities dwelling on a territory under Taraskovyan jurisdiction are to be given particular preference.
3. In the case that representatives of a non-human ethnicity in Taraskovya form a minority of their entire kind, preference shall be given if the minority inhabiting Taraskovyan territory can be considered a separate kind due to cultural, linguistic and social differences.”

The two texts, albeit not particularly large, are a major reform for the entire Taraskovyan legal order. The first to appear on the list of eligible ethnicities are, with no doubt, the Julaniem. Colonel Rasht Kerush, commander of the “Sherkhan” Scouts training centre, has expressed his satisfaction with the news.

“It is not that my people shall participate actively in voting and electing, but it is good to see that those we have served recognize us as theirs.”

[…]

Dominion Forces Formally Disbanded

With the incorporation of the Dreamreach Defence Force units into the Taraskovyan National Defence Forces, the last remaining autonomous Dominion force has ceased to exist. Earlier, the Nyi-Gardarikan Defence Force has been absorbed by the central military, commanded from its Head Quarters in Amal, metropolitan Taraskovya.

Defence Minister Anatoly Orlov, Duke of Bor, has confirmed that the regional and local defence forces were a thing of the past, despite the Grand Ducal Constitution technically granting its Fiefdoms (and, by extent, to its Dominions) the right to maintain own armed forces.

“Security of outlying Grand Ducal possessions is now fully and entirely the monopole of the Taraskovyan National Defence Forces. Separate Theatres shall be created for the territories, which shall be complemented by local personnel, as well as personnel from other parts of Taraskovya. The regional complementation of regional forces is a thing of the past.”

The move has angered defenders of regional sovereignty, but these are a minority. The majority of Taraskovyans deem that if they are part of the same country, then a single military force is to be put in place.

Atlantic Islander Citizenship Voided

The Grand Ducal Parliament has today proclaimed as non-existent the separate citizenship held by the population of the Autonomous Republic of the Island of Atlantic. Atlantic Islanders are, as of now, entirely Taraskovyan citizens in a move that is rumoured to have been “requested” by the Grand Duke from the Loyalist parliamentary majority.

Whilst this erases a means of national identification, it also lifts the barriers imposed on Atlantic Islanders as “non-Taraskovyan citizens”. The news was welcomed calmly on Atlantic Island, as police patrols backed by Security troops have been stepped up. The Allanea Island Party and the Independence Party have condemned the move.

Headlines from the Empire

Referendum backs Citizenship reform

Referendum: rights of living sapients enshrined into the Constitution

Nothing can stop progress: Sapient rights recognised

Nationalist Defeat. People and Fiefdoms approve Constitutional Amendment

Dark Day: People and Fiefdoms mislead by Government

OOC: Simply because I’m too lazy to type up spiffy articles depicting a referendum.

Article from the Empire's Diaries:

Proposition of Imperial Reform Made Public

The Imperial Reform Research Group has communicated its proposition during a press conference, exposing the main points of the reform as well as distributing more detailed analysis and procedure to the public. The panel of experts, which began its work months ago, has not deceived the expectations coming up with a rather logical and streamlined administrative structure compared to the current ad hoc neo-feudalism that Taraskovya is renowned for.

Imperial Realms

The main innovation is the proposed administrative structure of the Empire. The main division shall be made between the Imperial Realms, which would compose the core of the Empire and form the Imperial Parliament, and the Imperial Dominions, which are all the territories that are tied to the Empire through a particular relationship, such as planetary colonies, protectorates, dominions, et cetera.

The important point is that none of these would be listed in the Imperial Constitution, which will avoid having to modify it each time a new Realm joins. Some observers have already cried foul of this fact, saying that this only heralds a new era of Taraskovyan expansionism.

The proposed Imperial Realms would be Taraskovya proper, Dreamreach, Nyi-Gardarika, Zoria and Tavaroth. The status of Atlantic Island and the Havenite sovereign base areas remains to be seen. The Research Group proposes entering negotiations with whatever government controls Allanea and with Menelmacar to expand and augment respectively Sukhum (next to Allanea) and Gagra (next to Menelmacari Hestonia). The sovereign base areas of Tskhinval and Alkhagor should be closed, according to the Research Group, and sovereignty over their territories given back to Allanea.

“Their [the two sovereign base areas] opening in the first place remains a mystery. Nowadays, the TNDF has the capacity to parachute Armoured Divisions into enemy territory, after charring the landing zone from orbit to eliminate any resistance. Taking into account that the doctrine for any potential war with Allanea would involve charring everything in our wake, having tanks in Hash and Midlands is rather… useless. The Sovereign Base Areas are only required in case of a War of Conquest against Allanea, which will surely never happen.”

As far as the Havenite SBAs are concerned, they have long since lost their prioritary military status and now contain an impressive civilian population outside the base staff and families of military personnel. As such Sukhum, Gagra, Gudauta and Ochamchira are to be federalized into a new political entity, with a potential appellation of Taraskovyan Federated Haven States. Pitzunda should be closed and its territory handed back to the Autonomous Republic of the Island of Atlantic.

“Atlantic Island is firmly Taraskovyan now and this will not change, as the majority of the population supports being under the Taraskovyan banner. As such, we can dislocate troops around there anyway, so what for have a separate sovereign base area right next Taraskovyan territory anyway?”

Whether Atlantic Island should become part of the Taraskovyan Federated Haven States or remain a separate Imperial Realm or Dominion remains to be seen in an Island referendum.

Imperial Dominions

As expressed earlier, an Imperial Dominion would be all Taraskovyan territory that would not be Imperial Realms. The most obvious Dominions would be the colony worlds of Venom and New Crimea, which are currently under respective FMG and VerTech commercial exploitation concessions. Both worlds, however, present potential for large-scale colonization, even if the largely desert Venom loses to the green New Crimea, even if the latter’s surface territory covers only 10% of the globe.

The Omeldor-1 domes under Taraskovyan administration would be impossible to integrate directly into the Empire, due to dual Taraskovyan/SFN sovereignty over them.

The Protectorates of Os Sanglants and of North-Western Antarctica cannot be part of the Empire, as both are held jointly with other nations, with the local entities being entitled full self-rule.

The status of Vrijstaat Station in the Jupiter System, formerly owned by the Vortex Corporation, remains to be seen. It is home to hundreds of thousands of people, living largely autonomously from Taraskovya.

Imperial Parliament

The Parliament’s potential composition is no major surprise, as two chambers would be present: the Duma and the Senate. The Duma would be elected on a proportional basis, with every Imperial Realm entitled to at least one Deputy and the number of Deputies partitioned proportionally to the population.

The interesting part is the Senate. Indeed, the Realms would be entitled to between three and twenty four Senators, depending on the population. Categories would be defined, with what population forks give what number of Senators to the Imperial Realm. Each Senator would be elected directly by the population, with the entire Realm voting. As such, if a Realm has three Senators, the three candidates with the most votes get the seat.

So do wonder, however, whether twenty four senators would not be a bit too much. Indeed, the only Realm that would get the maximum number is the Grand Duchy of Taraskovya, as it currently contains the majority of the Taraskovyan population all by itself.

Good bye Grand Duchy, hello Kingdom?

Another part of the proposed reform concerns certain titles. As such, the Grand Duchy of Taraskovya would formally become the Kingdom of Taraskovya. The titles of Grand Dukes and Duchesses of Taraskovya would devolve to members of the Imperial Family. The title of Archdukes and Archduchess, as such, would be abandoned. Not surprisingly, the proposed title for the Heir Apparent is Caesarevich.

Finally, the name! Taraskovyan Empire appears to be the most logical choice. Of course, this could lead to confusion in between what is now the Grand Duchy of Taraskovya and the Empire as a whole, but as Professor Andreas Auer stated, “such confusion is already present anyway.”

It now remains to be seen whether the Grand Ducal Parliament and the Taraskovyan People will find the proposed reforms interesting. The Grand Duke, in the meantime, has commented that he found the proposals “constructive and worthy of consideration.”

From the Empire's Diaries:

White Legion Splits?

A series of rumours and unconfirmed reports over the past week appear to indicate a new reality for Taraskovyan Slavic nationalists: the White Legion (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/White_Legion) has split as a result of insurmountable differences in between its moderate and extremist wings. The extremists have led the White Legion for the past decade, attempting campaigns of ethnic cleansing against non-Slavs and non-Orthodox and taking on government forces in numerous operations.

However, ever since the spectacular uprising of 1147 AS, which saw hundreds of thousands of non-Slav Taraskovyans as well as thousands of government soldiers killed in a matter of hours, the White Legion’s strength has been steadily reducing. The Taraskovyan Church has not only condemned the attacks, but also promised to issue anathemas against those responsible for the atrocities once their identities were revealed.

This has not at all pleased the moderate wing of the Legion, who formed a sort of a secret society that has existed for generations and whose aim was to establish an Orthodox Ros empire in Taraskovya. The moderates, many of whom are reportedly high placed members of the National Patriotic Christian Alliance, have now apparently moved to separate from the extremists, whom they view as having failed the Legion, misused its resources and ultimately led to the weakening of the organization.

Countdown To Total Collapse?

With the crumbling of the military junta under which the Legion led its most daring and horrifying campaigns and the restoration of the Monarchy, the activities of the organization appear to have dwindled. Many commentators then pointed to an alleged truce in between the Grand Duke and the Legion, which allowed the Grand Duke to return to power in a peaceful atmosphere and spared the Legion the full blow of revived security services. The National Security Ministry, however, has never confirmed the existence of a truce with the Legion. Aware observers even note that secret services activity is "higher and deadlier than it ever was".

Some analysts deem that the National Security Ministry has been pushing hard of the "moderate" wing of the White Legion to "convince" the latter to cooperate in return for amnesty and pardon. Faced with a clear risk of death penalty, it is said that many agreed to give away all information available on the radical wing of the organisation.

Many even deem that the latest news comes as a direct result of some very serious undercover work from the part of the secret services to undermine the unity of the movement and force it to fight its own self.

“Host of Christ” To Carry On?

Two days ago, the media have received a video address from a new organization styling itself as “Host of Christ” (“Voinstvo Hristovo”). The new terrorist organization claims to be formed by “soldiers loyal to Christ” that have left the “corrupt and heretic White Legion”. The “Host” vows to carry on the armed struggle “until the banners of the Holy Theotokos fly proudly all over the sacred Taraskovyan soil”, thus clearly stating that it would not respect any alleged truce between the government and the White Legion.

The Legion itself has so far not issued any comment on the formation of the Host of Christ or on the raids. The Grand Ducal Government has issued a strong statement indicating that “there shall be a policy of zero tolerance towards anyone attempting to bring Taraskovya ten years back”.

Patriarch Calls To Peace

His Holiness Nikon II, Patriarch of Vigvar and all Taraskovya, has issued a statement calling on all self-styled “soldiers of Christ” to abandon any ideas of waging a violent holy war in the name of the Orthodox faith.

“To commit murder and destruction in the name of the all merciful, forgiving and gracious Theotokos is not simply intolerable. It is an act of outmost heresy. It is an offence not only to the Taraskovyan Church, not only to the Orthodox Communion, it is an insult against Christianity as a whole.

“If you consider yourselves as true Taraskovyan Orthodox, then do not let your minds be poisoned by the vile words of those who wish to abuse your faith and fervour for their egoistic purposes. Do not let yourselves be used as pawns to fight for the interests of those that care not for Orthodoxy or for the teachings of Christ.”

The coming days shall show how the situation evolves. But considering the Government’s resolve to not allow extremist nationalists to conduct attacks, the population’s tiredness of conflict and the Church’s condemnation, many agree that the “Host” shall not endure long as an organization.

From the Empire's Diaries:

We Got ‘Em!

The Interior Security Department, the branch of the National Security Ministry charged with ensuring safety and security within Taraskovya, has officially confirmed yesterday that they were holding the masterminds of the 1147 Uprising. This is a significant breakthrough, for those criminals are also responsible for the horrendous Vigvar Attacks on the 17th of November 1147 A.S., which cost their lives to several hundred thousand people and signed the beginning of the end for the military junta.

“We can now affirm in all certitude that we have them in custody,” a spokesperson commented during the press conference. “Despite their undergoing a series of all imaginable therapies and surgeries, we have identified them. After a long investigation, evidence gathering and relentless man hunt, we now have all the elements to send these criminals off to the execution chamber.”

The Counter-Terrorism Bureau has made public the real identities of the masterminds of the most horrible terrorist attack in the history of the nation: Viktor Tadakin, Ruslan Durlaev, Elena Sapkina and Kiril Nevinniy. The four were detained during a CTB raid against the “Host of Christ” and were initially filed off as regular activists of the movement, before some details attracted the attention of the investigators. The exact nature of the “details” has not been revealed.

It has further been stated that the identities of the four have been discovered “months ago”, but were not released as the CTB investigated possible involvement of their family members and friends.

“It has to be made clear that while the families of the four knew that the latter had “nationalist” tendencies, they have never had any signs what so ever that would have betrayed the violent and criminal nature of their loved ones,” the spokesperson stated. “But it should not be surprising that a terrorist hides his identity from his closest circle to preserve his or her secrecy and continue on with their wretched deeds.”

Secret Unit Within A Secret Organisation

The four have been described as leading a secretive unit within the White Legion that was responsible for clandestine operations of large scale. The unit had connections with sympathizers in the National Defence Forces, various Fiefdom Gendarmeries and even in the Kaskad. The “traitors” have been routed out and detained or killed during raids by the National Security Ministry.

The Interior Security Department found during its investigation and interrogation of collaborators from the White Legion that the “God’s Will” unit acted largely outside of the general White Legion oversight. The Uprising of 1147 was plotted by “God’s Will” in secrecy and, when it erupted, the various combat units that were outside the cell’s jurisdiction fell under its command due to circumstances and the violent government onslaught against the Legion.

“Host Of Christ” Is History

“The “Host of Christ” is history,” the Counter-Terrorism Bureau spokesman stated. “Some minor elements of the organization are still on the run, but we shall get them sooner than later. Today we send a clear message to all wannabe extremists: do not ever even as much as think of taking up arms. You shall be found, no matter what you do, no matter where you hide. You shall be punished with the full might and severity of Taraskovyan law. This is the true God’s Will. Never ever forget it.”

Thus, at least apparently, Taraskovya turns a painful and violent page of its history. Today, the Taraskovyan people look forward to a bright future as their country heals the final wounds inflicted by extremists. The news of the demise of the last violent elements of the White Legion have been met with much enthusiasm, even if many questions remain as to the responsibility of the Legion as a whole.

The National Security Ministry has assured that all violent elements have been apprehended, all those who had anything to do with terrorism and rebellion detained, all criminals were awaiting justice. For most it would be long prison sentences. Some shall face the death penalty. The surviving victims shall finally receive the moral comfort of knowing their butchers punished. And those fallen can finally rest in peace.

From the Empire’s Diaries:

Exit Civil Defence, Enter Territorial Force

The Civil Defence Force are Taraskovya’s militia soldiers whose task is to assist the regular TNDF forces in repelling an enemy aggression. In practical terms, the Civil Defence Force are formations of all possible sizes and types under the command of the Interior Ministry. But all shall change. The Civil Defence Force have been transferred to the command of the Ministry of Defence and fully integrated into the National Defence Forces structure as Territorial Force. The latter appelation shall be used to make a difference between regular and militia soldiers, as well as shall designate the overall logistics command in charge of making things work.

Following the incorporation of the various colonial “defence forces” (which were professional regular formations), the incorporation of the Civil Defence Force creates a centralized military apparatus and gifts the TNDF with unseen flexibility in deciding its operations. In practical terms it means that the millions of men and women who chose to do yearly service with the Civil Defence shall now be reorganized into Divisions and Brigades in line with the National Defence Forces structure.

Since the new Territorial Force shall be locally recruited, just as were the Civil Defence Force, they can be expected to complement the various Theatre formations. The modalities of service, however, shall not change greatly. Just as the civil defence troops, the “Territorials” shall sign up for an average 300 days spread over ten years. Just as before, training shall take twenty to twenty five weeks, depending on the specialization. As an additional incentive, the Territorials shall get another percent of tax discount, bringing it to a total of 4%.

On the equipment level, one can foresee a “heavier” role for the Territorial Forces. The Civil Defence units up to now were comparatively lightly armed and armoured compared to their military colleagues. The heaviest CDF formations were comparable to TNDF’s “light cavalry”, namely outfitted with grav-vehicles including personnel carriers and fighting vehicles. Territorial Divisions shall expand to include heavy tracked vehicles, walker vehicles (as example, the TNDF did not exclude the creation of Territorial Strategic Artillery formations), frontline aviation and other means of destruction which shall bring the firepower of the Territorial Force up considerably.

The subordination of the militia to the “Labarum” shall expand the horizons of the National Defence Forces and, thus, further improve the already more than fearsome Taraskovyan force projection capacity.

TNW News of the hour

“… The Quadripartite Vigvar Accord has been signed today by the foreign ministers of Taraskova, Menelmacar, the C’tan and Kajal. The agreement brings the four nations closer together on a range of issues, reinforcing ties and cooperation.

However, the agreement has stirred a critical debate on the nationalist side of the Taraskovyan political spectrum. To discuss it we have with us Professor Nikolai Zarnin, live from Amal. Professor, thank you for joining us.”

“The pleasure is all mine, really.”

“Can you explain to us why the agreement has provoked such a negative reaction from the nationalists?”

“Well,” the Professor smirked, “the nationalists take any more or less binding agreement in… hm… a hostile manner. It is not surprising and, in fact, rather expected of them.”

“Is the Accord really that binding?”

“Yes and no. You see, the three other nations aside Taraskovya are already quite closely tied together. There is Veritas, Yut, their own agreements. They alone already have all these kinds of agreements that we witness now and even far more. The point is to create a framework for Taraskovya to cooperate with these three nations, especially with Menelmacar and the C’tan, the two themselves quite closely knitted together.”

“Yes, but what about the argument that it is overly binding?”

“Oh, it is not. On a range of issues it remains a sort of a gentlemen’s agreement, providing the legal basis for improved cooperation, but leaving this to the discretion of the parties. The words about a unified “diplomatic or other” front in foreign policy, for example, are quite interesting. With a stretch, this formula can be used to justify full scale military aid. But it all depends on the parties. And, as I have already said, Kajal, Melemacar and the C’tan are tied tightly in many ways, this unified front concerning mainly Taraskovya.”

“So, if one continues on the thought, this agreement is the first step to something closer and more binding?”

“Maybe yes, maybe not. The Government has stated that it would not, for example, seek membership in any collective security organization anytime soon. As such, the path of bilateral or multilateral agreements is preferred. But I do not think that Vigvar is preparing the ground for a future adhering to VERITAS or Yut, due to a large array of reasons. But it does not hurt having a sort of a lobby in these bodies.”

“You make it sound almost as if we profited solely from this accord…”

“Oh, no! Not at all! Taraskovya is not a banana republic that can only leech on others. It is an interstellar Empire In Denial, with a powerful military, an extremely diversified and developed economy, a very technologically advanced nation that has quite a few interesting assets to share. Taraskovyans are also innate warriors and can provide interesting partners in cases when other nations would be unwilling to adhere to a military solution.”

“And do you think the people shall approve it in referendum, as the NPCA appears to be heading just for that.”

“If the NPCA does indeed demand a referendum, then I am confident the Taraskovyan population shall approve it overwhelmingly. And as far as Parliament goes, with the Loyalist Coalition holding a firm majority, the only thing that could stop the Deputies and Senators from approving it would be an Act of God.”

“Well, thank you for your time Professor. It was a pleasure speaking to you.

“And in other news, the Elder Guard is heading for an important reorganization. The three battalions of the Alexander Leib-Guard Honourary Regiment shall be each made into a separate regiment. The first battalion shall retain the Alexander Regiment name, while the second battalion shall become the Cavalier Guards regiment. The third battalion shall be reorganized as a fully combat capable SODAT regiment, under the name of Heavy Infantry Regiment of the Leib-Guard. The "Swan Guards", as they are unofficially called, shall also be reinforced from company to regiment strength. Our Palace correspondent Michael Holstinin has this report.”

OOC: It only takes a paragraph on NS. It takes lots of edits on the wiki. Which I'll do sometime in the future. Yeah.

From the Empire’s Diaries:

Vyshna and Atlantic Island states lower voting age to 16

In separate developments, the state legislatures of the States of New Virginia, the Northlands and Liberty, as well as the people of Vyshna through referendum, minors of the age of 16 and up have been given the right to vote in regional elections and referenda. And while the right for eligibility is not concerned, this brings a very interesting turn to rather conservative Taraskovyan politics.

The Grand Ducal voting age, and that of its vast Empire by extension, remains fixed at 18 years of age. Minors in the aforementioned three Atlantic Island states and the one Grand Ducal Fiefdom shall have the right to vote in referenda and elections, but not present themselves as candidates. The lowering of voting age does not concern any other branch of the law, including maturity, criminal responsibility and others.

According to experts of Constitutional law, such a move is entirely legitimate in so far as it concerns strictly local matters.

“The Grand Ducal constitution guarantees the autonomy of the Fiefdoms in so far as it has not been limited by the Grand Duchy. In other words, in absence of Grand Ducal legislation or any legal disposition forbidding the lowering of voting age, its Fiefdoms have the right to do so,” stated Andreas Auer, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Uthar.

What is a bit ambiguous is the right of Dominions to do so. Under the current system, the Dominions are subjects to the Grand Ducal Constitution, even if Dominion citizens do not have certain political rights, such as the right to vote in Grand Ducal referenda. However, according to the current interpretation, a Dominion is situated on the same general level as a Fiefdom in legal hierarchy. From there on, a Dominion has the same right and a federally organized Dominion (such as the Autonomous Republic of the Island of Atlantic in the present case) is free to allow its own constituent parts to lower their own voting ages.

“With the coming referendum in Uthar on the same question,” professor Anreas added, “it shall be quite interesting to see the results, especially as the “fever”, if you will, has already caught up with Southern Cardinia. The Southern Fiefdoms have always been more liberally oriented, after all we were a corporate state not long ago. As far as Atlantic Islanders go, these were Allaneans, so no further comment is required.”

Authorities in Vigvar have excluded any lowering of age on the Imperial level in the coming centuries, but they see no issue in separate Fiefdoms doing so. As far as the Sisgardian metropoly is concerned, however, it seems that the movement shall stop at the Southern Fiefdoms. Atlantic Island, on its side, might just as well lower the Republan voting age to 16 in the coming years.

Continued in Imperial Chronicles (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=545705).

If I may comment: This is very interesting stuff. I like it

If I may comment: This is very interesting stuff. I like it

Thankies. But the "Continued In" post got all forgotten on the previous page now :(

So, here goes again!

Continued in Imperial Chronicles (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=545705).