Bendorel
28-11-2004, 16:34
Tom Jendal, INN
November 26, 1500 hours
at the Medditerranian Islands Conference, Valletta, Malta
"Today at the Medditerranian Islands Conference, Maltese Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami announced that the autonumous regions of France and Italy Corsica, Sicily, and Sardinia, along with the independent nation Malta, were to break away from there respective nations to form the Allied States of Bendorel. The decision had been spoken between Sicilian Salvatore Cuffaro, Sardinian Renato Soru, Corsician Camille de Rocca-Serra, and Maltese Eddie Fenech Adami. The breakaway was planned due to a sluggish French economy, and dips in profits in the Italian provences. There is widespread civilian support; these people have wanted independence for over a century. Malta has decided to join to add an independent nation to the deal, and to improve its economy as well. More details after this commercial break."
Bendorel
28-11-2004, 16:57
Tom Jendal, INN
November 26, 1600 hours
at the Medditerranian Islands Conference, Valletta, Malta
We have just recently received confirmation that Salvatore Cuffaro, Renato Soru, Camille de Rocca-Serra, and Eddie Fenech Adami have all signed the Bendorel Decleration of Independence, and are currently working on the Constitution. More on this soon.
Bendorel
28-11-2004, 18:25
CONSTITUTION OF BENDOREL
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION
Which Assembled at the City of Valletta on the Twenty Sixth Day of November, Two Thousand and Four, and Adjourned on The Twenty Ninth Day of November, Two Thousand and Four, and was Ratified by the People on the Second of December, Two Thousand and Four.
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DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
We, the People of the Allied States of Bendorel, grateful to Almighty God for our Political and Monetary Freedom, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this Nation for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:
That all Government of right originates from the People, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole; and they have, at all times, the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their Form of Government in such manner as they may deem expedient.
The People of Bendorel have the right to vote at the age of eighteen.
That the People of this Nation have the sole and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and police thereof, as a free, sovereign and independent Nation.
The parties to any civil proceeding in which the right to a jury trial is preserved are entitled to a trial by jury of at least 6 jurors.
That notwithstanding the Common Law of Bendorel, nothing in this Constitution prohibits trial by jury of less than 12 jurors in any civil proceeding in which the right to a jury trial is preserved
That all persons invested with the Legislative or Executive powers of Government are the Trustees of the Public, and, as such, accountable for their conduct: Wherefore, whenever the ends of Government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the People may, and of right ought, to reform the old, or establish a new Government; the doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.
That the right of the People to participate in the Legislature is the best security of liberty and the foundation of all free Government; for this purpose, elections ought to be free and frequent; and every citizen having the qualifications prescribed by the Constitution, ought to have the right of suffrage.
That the Legislative, Executive and Judicial powers of Government ought to be forever separate and distinct from each other; and no person exercising the functions of one of said Departments shall assume or discharge the duties of any other.
That no power of suspending Laws or the execution of Laws, unless by, or derived from the Legislature, ought to be exercised, or allowed.
That freedom of speech and debate, or proceedings in the Legislature, ought not to be impeached in any Court of Judicature.
That Syracuse, Sicily be the place of meeting of the Legislature; and the Legislature ought not to be convened, or held at any other place but from evident necessity.
That for redress of grievances, and for amending, strengthening and preserving the Laws, the Legislature ought to be frequently convened.
That no aid, charge, tax, burthen or fees ought to be rated or levied, under any pretense, without the consent of the Legislature.
That the levying of taxes by the poll is grievous and oppressive, and ought to be prohibited; that paupers ought not to be assessed for the support of the government; that the General Assembly shall, by uniform rules, provide for the separate assessment, classification and sub-classification of land, improvements on land and personal property, as it may deem proper; and all taxes thereafter provided to be levied by the State for the support of the general Nation Government, and by the Counties and by the City of Velletta for their respective purposes, shall be uniform within each class or sub-class of land, improvements on land and personal property which the respective taxing powers may have directed to be subjected to the tax levy; yet fines, duties or taxes may properly and justly be imposed, or laid with a political view for the good government and benefit of the community.
That sanguinary Laws ought to be avoided as far as it is consistent with the safety of the State; and no Law to inflict cruel and unusual pains and penalties ought to be made in any case, or at any time, hereafter.
That retrospective Laws, punishing acts committed before the existence of such Laws, and by them only declared criminal are oppressive, unjust and incompatible with liberty; wherefore, no ex post facto Law ought to be made; nor any retrospective oath or restriction be imposed, or required.
That no Law to attaint particular persons of treason or felony, ought to be made in any case, or at any time, hereafter.
That every man, for any injury done to him in his person or property, ought to have remedy by the course of the Law of the Land, and ought to have justice and right, freely without sale, fully without any denial, and speedily without delay, according to the Law of the Land.
That the trial of facts, where they arise, is one of the greatest securities of the lives, liberties and estate of the People.
That in all criminal prosecutions, every man hath a right to be informed of the accusation against him; to have a copy of the Indictment, or charge, in due time (if required) to prepare for his defence; to be allowed counsel; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have process for his witnesses; to examine the witnesses for and against him on oath; and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury, without whose unanimous consent he ought not to be found guilty.
That no man ought to be compelled to give evidence against himself in a criminal case.
In the trial of all criminal cases, the Jury shall be the Judges of Law, as well as of fact, except that the Court may pass upon the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction.
That no man ought to be taken or imprisoned or disseized of his freehold, liberties or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled, or, in any manner, destroyed, or deprived of his life, liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or by the Law of the land.
That a well regulated Militia is the proper and natural defence of a free Government.
That in most cases, and at most times, the military ought to be under strict subordination to, and control of, the civil power.
That no soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, except in the manner prescribed by Law.
That no person except regular soldiers, marines, and mariners in the service of this State, or militia, when in actual service, ought, in most cases, to be subject to, or punishable by Martial Law.
That the independency and uprightness of Judges are essential to the impartial administration of Justice, and a great security to the rights and liberties of the People: Wherefore, the Judges shall not be removed, except in the manner, and for the causes provided in this Constitution. No Judge shall hold any other office, civil, or military or political trust, or employment of any kind, whatsoever, under the Constitution or Laws of this State, or of the United States, or any of them; except that a judge may be a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or a member of the militia of the United States or this State; or receive fees, or perquisites of any kind, for the discharge of his official duties
That no person shall hold, at the same time, more than one office of profit, created by the Constitution or Laws of this State; nor shall any person in public trust receive any present from any foreign Prince or State, or from the United States, or any of them, without the approbation of this State. The position of Notary Public shall not be considered an office of profit within the meaning of this Article. Nonelected membership in the militia of this State, a law enforcement agency, a fire department or agency, or a rescue squad shall not be considered an office of profit within the meaning of this Article; nor shall any remuneration received as a consequence of membership in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or of membership in the militia of the United States or of this State be considered a present within the meaning of this Article
That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore, no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persuasion, or profession, or for his religious practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent, or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain, any place of worship, or any ministry; nor shall any person, otherwise competent, be deemed incompetent as a witness, or juror, on account of his religious belief; provided, he believes in the existence of God, and that under His dispensation such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor either in this world or in the world to come.
Nothing shall prohibit or require the making reference to belief in, reliance upon, or invoking the aid of God or a Supreme Being in any governmental or public document, proceeding, activity, ceremony, school, institution.
That the liberty of the press ought to be inviolably preserved; that every citizen of the State ought to be allowed to speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that privilege.
That all businesses have the right to free trade.
That the following flag shall represent the Sovreign Nation of Bendorel
http://onfinite.com/libraries/192791/5c1.jpg
Signed:
Salvatore Cuffaro
Renato Soru
Camille de Rocca-Serra
Eddie Fenech Adami
The British Federation
29-11-2004, 01:10
In London some wondered whether they should perhaps have extended the Anglo-Maltese Defence Agreement as if it may have prevented the little nation from seeking security in this new breakaway union. Some old fashioned members of Bull's cabinate (and the rest) may have seen it as a further erosion of their traditional sphere of influence despite the long standing fact of the Maltese Republic, but PM Bull himself spoke for the majority when he extended the UK's good will to the newly formed confederation. With a significant presence still in the Mediterranean, it is hoped that the frigate Chatham, currently at Gibraltar, might turn-out in Bendoreli waters as a sign of congratulations and good faith.
(OOC: For those not immediatelly in the know, the Modern World tag donates this is part of a specific RPing community slightly apart from the main frame of Nation States. It really only matters to those of us inside said community, which is just getting on its feet.)