Generic empire
13-09-2004, 23:26
This shall cover the various reforms of the Empire, as instituted by the Emperor Antonius I.
The First Revision of the Imperial Generian Constitution
The Constitution of the Generic Empire
Recognizing the need for a more perfectly defined government of our venerable, unified Empire, we, the people of Generia, do hereby establish this constitution to be abided by her citizenry, government, and church.
Article I,
Section 1
The government of the Empire shall consist of two divisions: Parliament and Executive Imperial. Each shall be in some way subject to the next.
Article II,
Section 1
Power of legislature is to be given to the Emperor.
Section 2
All acts concerning civil or foreign affairs, as drafted by the Emperor, will be subject to a vote of parliament. Any act receiving less than one-third approval of the houses of parliament shall not become law.
Clause 1
The parliamentary vote on Imperial acts is expected to be first priority. The vote is expected to occur quickly, within two days.
Section 3
The Emperor has the power to make void any laws as drafted and passed by parliament.
Clause 1
Upon the voiding or vetoing of any parliamentary law, the law shall return to the houses of parliament to be subject to a second vote. If two-thirds of parliamentary votes show that the majority is still in favor of the law, then the law shall stand, and not be contested again for two years.
Section 4
The Emperor is given power to select his cabinet, including, but not limited to: Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign affairs, and Minister of Commerce.
Section 5
The Emperor has the power to authorize military action.
Clause 1
All belligerent or military action as authorized by the Emperor, shall be subject to parliamentary approval. If less than one-third of the votes are in the Emperor’s favor, than the Imperially mandated military action shall not be undertaken.
Section 6
In event of national crisis, such as invasion, the Emperor shall be given right to ask Parliament for absolute dictatorial power. Parliament shall determine by majority vote if such power shall be granted, and for what period of time the Emperor shall hold this power.
Section 7
The Emperor will be directly subject to none save for the Lord God Almighty. None shall hold sway over Imperial decisions except for the Emperor himself. No member of parliament, church, or populace shall be higher in political status than the Emperor.
Clause 1
The Emperor shall be indirectly subject to parliamentary vote. Should any action of any sort be taken by the Emperor that the parliament sees fit to contest, then a vote shall be taken. Should the results of the vote show that one-half of the members of parliament disagree with Imperial action, than a second tally shall be taken. If the results of the second tally show that less than one-third of the members of parliament do not approve of Imperial action, than said action shall be made void.
Clause 2
Attempting to hold sway over Imperial decisions, or attempting to usurp power from the rightfully appointed Emperor shall be considered high treason, and the punishment shall be death.
Section 8
Should the Emperor die, the throne will go to his eldest son. Should the Emperor specify that another succeed him, then the crown shall be given to the specified person.
Clause 1
Should the Emperor die without heir, and without specifying a successor, than the crown shall go to his next male relative. At this point, the houses of parliament shall take a vote on the legitimacy of the succession. If it is found by a majority vote, that the successor is not in favor with the then sitting parliament, the reigning Imperial congress shall decide on the successor.
Article III
The parliamentary body shall hold executive sway on Imperial action, and shall also hold legislative sway. The Parliamentary house shall be divided into two houses, the senate and the Imperial congress.
Section 1
The senate shall consist of five elected senators for each Imperial province, one member for each of the five sub-provincial divisions in that particular province.
Clause 1
A general election will be held to determine who shall hold chair in the senate. One member shall be selected for each Imperial sub-province.
Section 2
All senators shall be at least thirty years of age, and will have held Generian citizenship for at least seven years.
Section 3
A limit of term shall be imposed on each senator for four years.
Section 4
The senior elected senator of the reigning party in the senate house shall be declared president of the senate. The president will be expected to represent the views of the majority party. Should the president fail in this task, the majority party may remove him with a vote of no confidence, after which a new president will be selected by the senate.
Clause 1
The president of the Senate shall have the power to declare general elections before the term limit of four years is over.
Clause 2
If in event of national emergency, such as war, the president sees it necessary for the good of the empire to suspend a general election after the end of a four year term, he is given the power to do so.
Section 5
In the event of a senate chair becoming vacant, by way of death or resignation of a senator, the majority party shall select a replacement.
Section 6
The Imperial congress shall have the power to, by a majority vote, deny an act of parliament, as drafted by the senate. If the act is denied it shall return to the senate, where a second vote shall take place. If two-thirds of the members of the senate are found to still be in favor of the act, it shall be submitted to the Emperor for the final decision on the fate of the act.
Section 7
The Imperial congress will consist of fifty members, as appointed by the Emperor from the prominent leaders of the Empire. This house shall comprise the nine bishops of the Church of Generia, as laid out by the spiritual charter of 1918.
Section 8
The Imperial congress shall be overseen by the Imperial Chancellor, as appointed by the Emperor.
Section 8
The Imperial congress shall be the highest appeals court in Generia for cases both civil and criminal.
Section 9
In the case of Imperially drafted bills, the bill shall be submitted to the senate for approval.
Clause 1
If a majority vote finds the bill to be out of favor with the senate, it will be returned to the Emperor for a second consideration. If the Emperor is still in favor of the act being passed, it will be submitted to the senate and Imperial congress for final vote.
Section 10
The Imperial congress will have sole responsibility for all Imperial financial and commercial matters. All bills concerning trade, commerce, free enterprise, or business of any sort, as drafted by the Imperial congress, shall be submitted to the Emperor for final approval.
Section 11
The Imperial congress has the power to, at the behest of the Emperor, call for a general election in the senate. If at least two-thirds of the Imperial congress is found to be in favor of this action, then a general election will be held. All sitting members of the senate will be on the ballot, unless they specify otherwise, and, so doing, give up their seats in the senate.
Section 12
The Emperor has the power to remove or change any standing acts. The change or removal of the act will be submitted to both houses in a joint session for approval.
Article IV
All judicial activities will be mandated by the Imperial congress.
Section 1
It is the duty of the Imperial Congress, as the highest judiciary body, to establish local courts and appoint judges.
Section 2
The Imperial Congress is required to hear the case of any who appeal to them, so long as they have already appealed to the local courts, the high courts, and the high Imperial courts, and the high Imperial Court has granted them an appeal. The decision of the Imperial Congress is final in these matters.
Clause 1
Cases of high treason shall be heard directly by an Imperially appointed committee consisting of the Imperial Chancellor, and two others as specified by the Emperor.
Section 3
At the Emperor’s request, any criminal may be sent directly to be tried before a three man committee of Imperial Chancellor, and two other Imperially selected member of the Imperial Congress.
Section 4
Every Generian Imperial citizen is given right to a fair and public trial by judge or jury, except in cases of high treason, whereupon the trial will occur in closed session before an Imperial Judicial triumvirate of Lord Chancellor and two other Imperially appointed official who are members in the Imperial Congress.
Section 5
Every Generian Imperial citizen is given right to an attorney in any case.
Section 6
All courts are expected to proceed as mandated by the Imperial congress, and Rights given to the citizenry of the Empire.
Section 7
If a man is found guilty of high treason, his sentence shall be death, unless otherwise ordered by the Emperor.
Article V
Bill of Rights
Section 1
Every Generian citizen shall be given freedom of religion. Every citizen has the right to follow the doctrines, belief, and philosophy of whichever religion they so choose to follow, unless the practice of this religion will result in the harm or impairment of any other human being, or break any laws as established by the Emperor or the houses of Parliament.
Clause 1
Neither Parliament, nor the Emperor shall be allowed to erase or limit religious freedom, so long as the religion in question abides by the laws of our land and respects the rights of fellow human beings.
Section 2
Every human being residing under the crown and star of the Generic Empire, be they born in Generia proper or the dominated provinces, shall be granted Generian citizenship, and so being, shall be entitled to all rights and obligated to all responsibilities of citizens of this noble Empire, as set out in the Imperial Generian Constitution.
Here is the Constitution of the august Generic Empire, as drafted by representatives of the Generian people and the Emperor Alexei I, during the period of the first meeting of the Generian Constitutional congregation on the day of the seventeenth of May, and revised by Emperor Antonius I.
Emperor Antonius I
The First Revision of the Imperial Generian Constitution
The Constitution of the Generic Empire
Recognizing the need for a more perfectly defined government of our venerable, unified Empire, we, the people of Generia, do hereby establish this constitution to be abided by her citizenry, government, and church.
Article I,
Section 1
The government of the Empire shall consist of two divisions: Parliament and Executive Imperial. Each shall be in some way subject to the next.
Article II,
Section 1
Power of legislature is to be given to the Emperor.
Section 2
All acts concerning civil or foreign affairs, as drafted by the Emperor, will be subject to a vote of parliament. Any act receiving less than one-third approval of the houses of parliament shall not become law.
Clause 1
The parliamentary vote on Imperial acts is expected to be first priority. The vote is expected to occur quickly, within two days.
Section 3
The Emperor has the power to make void any laws as drafted and passed by parliament.
Clause 1
Upon the voiding or vetoing of any parliamentary law, the law shall return to the houses of parliament to be subject to a second vote. If two-thirds of parliamentary votes show that the majority is still in favor of the law, then the law shall stand, and not be contested again for two years.
Section 4
The Emperor is given power to select his cabinet, including, but not limited to: Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign affairs, and Minister of Commerce.
Section 5
The Emperor has the power to authorize military action.
Clause 1
All belligerent or military action as authorized by the Emperor, shall be subject to parliamentary approval. If less than one-third of the votes are in the Emperor’s favor, than the Imperially mandated military action shall not be undertaken.
Section 6
In event of national crisis, such as invasion, the Emperor shall be given right to ask Parliament for absolute dictatorial power. Parliament shall determine by majority vote if such power shall be granted, and for what period of time the Emperor shall hold this power.
Section 7
The Emperor will be directly subject to none save for the Lord God Almighty. None shall hold sway over Imperial decisions except for the Emperor himself. No member of parliament, church, or populace shall be higher in political status than the Emperor.
Clause 1
The Emperor shall be indirectly subject to parliamentary vote. Should any action of any sort be taken by the Emperor that the parliament sees fit to contest, then a vote shall be taken. Should the results of the vote show that one-half of the members of parliament disagree with Imperial action, than a second tally shall be taken. If the results of the second tally show that less than one-third of the members of parliament do not approve of Imperial action, than said action shall be made void.
Clause 2
Attempting to hold sway over Imperial decisions, or attempting to usurp power from the rightfully appointed Emperor shall be considered high treason, and the punishment shall be death.
Section 8
Should the Emperor die, the throne will go to his eldest son. Should the Emperor specify that another succeed him, then the crown shall be given to the specified person.
Clause 1
Should the Emperor die without heir, and without specifying a successor, than the crown shall go to his next male relative. At this point, the houses of parliament shall take a vote on the legitimacy of the succession. If it is found by a majority vote, that the successor is not in favor with the then sitting parliament, the reigning Imperial congress shall decide on the successor.
Article III
The parliamentary body shall hold executive sway on Imperial action, and shall also hold legislative sway. The Parliamentary house shall be divided into two houses, the senate and the Imperial congress.
Section 1
The senate shall consist of five elected senators for each Imperial province, one member for each of the five sub-provincial divisions in that particular province.
Clause 1
A general election will be held to determine who shall hold chair in the senate. One member shall be selected for each Imperial sub-province.
Section 2
All senators shall be at least thirty years of age, and will have held Generian citizenship for at least seven years.
Section 3
A limit of term shall be imposed on each senator for four years.
Section 4
The senior elected senator of the reigning party in the senate house shall be declared president of the senate. The president will be expected to represent the views of the majority party. Should the president fail in this task, the majority party may remove him with a vote of no confidence, after which a new president will be selected by the senate.
Clause 1
The president of the Senate shall have the power to declare general elections before the term limit of four years is over.
Clause 2
If in event of national emergency, such as war, the president sees it necessary for the good of the empire to suspend a general election after the end of a four year term, he is given the power to do so.
Section 5
In the event of a senate chair becoming vacant, by way of death or resignation of a senator, the majority party shall select a replacement.
Section 6
The Imperial congress shall have the power to, by a majority vote, deny an act of parliament, as drafted by the senate. If the act is denied it shall return to the senate, where a second vote shall take place. If two-thirds of the members of the senate are found to still be in favor of the act, it shall be submitted to the Emperor for the final decision on the fate of the act.
Section 7
The Imperial congress will consist of fifty members, as appointed by the Emperor from the prominent leaders of the Empire. This house shall comprise the nine bishops of the Church of Generia, as laid out by the spiritual charter of 1918.
Section 8
The Imperial congress shall be overseen by the Imperial Chancellor, as appointed by the Emperor.
Section 8
The Imperial congress shall be the highest appeals court in Generia for cases both civil and criminal.
Section 9
In the case of Imperially drafted bills, the bill shall be submitted to the senate for approval.
Clause 1
If a majority vote finds the bill to be out of favor with the senate, it will be returned to the Emperor for a second consideration. If the Emperor is still in favor of the act being passed, it will be submitted to the senate and Imperial congress for final vote.
Section 10
The Imperial congress will have sole responsibility for all Imperial financial and commercial matters. All bills concerning trade, commerce, free enterprise, or business of any sort, as drafted by the Imperial congress, shall be submitted to the Emperor for final approval.
Section 11
The Imperial congress has the power to, at the behest of the Emperor, call for a general election in the senate. If at least two-thirds of the Imperial congress is found to be in favor of this action, then a general election will be held. All sitting members of the senate will be on the ballot, unless they specify otherwise, and, so doing, give up their seats in the senate.
Section 12
The Emperor has the power to remove or change any standing acts. The change or removal of the act will be submitted to both houses in a joint session for approval.
Article IV
All judicial activities will be mandated by the Imperial congress.
Section 1
It is the duty of the Imperial Congress, as the highest judiciary body, to establish local courts and appoint judges.
Section 2
The Imperial Congress is required to hear the case of any who appeal to them, so long as they have already appealed to the local courts, the high courts, and the high Imperial courts, and the high Imperial Court has granted them an appeal. The decision of the Imperial Congress is final in these matters.
Clause 1
Cases of high treason shall be heard directly by an Imperially appointed committee consisting of the Imperial Chancellor, and two others as specified by the Emperor.
Section 3
At the Emperor’s request, any criminal may be sent directly to be tried before a three man committee of Imperial Chancellor, and two other Imperially selected member of the Imperial Congress.
Section 4
Every Generian Imperial citizen is given right to a fair and public trial by judge or jury, except in cases of high treason, whereupon the trial will occur in closed session before an Imperial Judicial triumvirate of Lord Chancellor and two other Imperially appointed official who are members in the Imperial Congress.
Section 5
Every Generian Imperial citizen is given right to an attorney in any case.
Section 6
All courts are expected to proceed as mandated by the Imperial congress, and Rights given to the citizenry of the Empire.
Section 7
If a man is found guilty of high treason, his sentence shall be death, unless otherwise ordered by the Emperor.
Article V
Bill of Rights
Section 1
Every Generian citizen shall be given freedom of religion. Every citizen has the right to follow the doctrines, belief, and philosophy of whichever religion they so choose to follow, unless the practice of this religion will result in the harm or impairment of any other human being, or break any laws as established by the Emperor or the houses of Parliament.
Clause 1
Neither Parliament, nor the Emperor shall be allowed to erase or limit religious freedom, so long as the religion in question abides by the laws of our land and respects the rights of fellow human beings.
Section 2
Every human being residing under the crown and star of the Generic Empire, be they born in Generia proper or the dominated provinces, shall be granted Generian citizenship, and so being, shall be entitled to all rights and obligated to all responsibilities of citizens of this noble Empire, as set out in the Imperial Generian Constitution.
Here is the Constitution of the august Generic Empire, as drafted by representatives of the Generian people and the Emperor Alexei I, during the period of the first meeting of the Generian Constitutional congregation on the day of the seventeenth of May, and revised by Emperor Antonius I.
Emperor Antonius I