Constitutional Drafting Committee

[Nathan]

whats more exciting than the ever present threat of foreign invasion?

of course this is why the Emperor has emergency powers. even tho the Frenzy can supersede the Emperor (this is just to provide motivation to attain control of demesnes). perhaps a clause where in the event of a noncitizen gaining control of the Frenzy, the Emperor (acting with or without the Supreme Council?) can nullify any laws during their Chancellorship if deemed dangerous to the Empire.

Or we can ignore all i just said and simply allow for an independent judiciary that can prevent a foreign (or even native) Chancellor from going crazy

[mziff]

I LOVE IT! haha that is the best idea that has come out of natopia in quite some time... *sorry*

[Nathan]

instead of having all the demesnes having Barons, would anyone object to each demesne being a kingdom, duchy, barony, or county based on its age and cultural significance and size? they would still all be worth one vote (or not? i dont know) i suggest:


Kingdoms:
Athlon

Duchies:
Hazelwood
Tasneemia

Baronies:
Ziegeland
Lochhatonia
East Tapfer
Klaasiya

Counties:
Muckypuckyland
Opaeghia
Ferien & Ptia
Natollonia
South Mehlville
New Dracoheim

The Emperor could ultimately be in charge of these designations and can elevate or demote demesnes?

[mziff]

i think that makes more sense than what we have currently. also maybe add a size factor in because I know some of those demesnes are very large compared to others.

[Nathan]

Constitution of the Bovic Empire of Natopia

Preamble - blah blah

Article 1 - The Emperor

1. The Bovic Emperor of Natopia shall be the head of state and executive of the Bovic Empire of Natopia. The Emperor must be a Citizen of Natopia.
2. The Emperor will have the power to create any number of Ministries for administration of the Empire and appoint or remove Ministers at their pleasure.
3. The power of the Imperial Decree shall remain with the Emperor. It will be legally binding throughout the Empire.
4. Imperial succession shall be passed by inheritance from the current Emperor to their appointed Heir. The Emperor may appoint any person as their Heir.
5. The Emperor may gather no more than seven personal advisers into a Supreme Council to advise and suggest on matters of national importance.

Article 2 - The Demesnes

1. The demesnes are the constituent parts of the Empire. All demesnes are equal in status.
2. The recognized demesnes of Natopia are: Ziegeland, Hazelwood, Tasneemia, Muckypuckyland, Ferien & Ptia, East Tapfer, Klaasiya, New Dracoheim, Lochhatonia, Natollonia, Opaeghia, Athlon, and South Mehlville.
3. Any person may become lord of any demesne by displaying their clear and unchallenged control of that demesne. There is no limit to the number of demesnes a person is lord of. Control will be determined by a citizen's ability to maintain high activity and cultural vibrancy within that demesne. The Emperor will determine satisfaction of these criteria as objectively as possible with the full confidence of the Nation.
4. At the first of each month, if a lord is found to have lost control of their demesne, then they officially vacate the land and the Emperor will determine the next controlling baron based on criteria in section 3 of this article. If the lord has not made significant cultural development or activity in the preceding month, they will be determined to have lost control of the demesne.
5. A demesne may remain without a lord if none present a strong claim to control.
6. The Emperor may promote or demote a lord of a demesne based on activity, cultural development, or at the Emperor's own pleasure. The ranks will be king, duke, baron, and count. A higher rank may never have more lords associated with it than a lower rank.
7. Lords may enter into alliances with other Lords by way of Demesnial Contracts. These Contracts may not be altered by Imperial Decree or Frenzy Law.
8. The Imperial Capital, Lindstrom City, will be an Independent Municipality, held in fief by the office of the Bovic Emperor. It will never enter into a Demesnial Contract. No person besides the Emperor will be Lord Mayor of Lindstrom City, who will ensure an independent and neutral environment for the various organs of the Imperial Government.

Article 3 - The Frenzy

1. Each demesne has the right to send one Elector to the Frenzy. The lord will have the sole right to appoint the Elector from their demesne.
2. The Electors will elect from among themselves a Chancellor to preside over debate. The Chancellor shall preside for as long as they have the confidence of the Electors of the Frenzy. The Chancellor will be considered the head of government.
3. The Frenzy possesses supreme legislative authority in the Empire. Laws passed by the Frenzy supersede Imperial Decree and any demesnial law.
4. The members of the Frenzy will establish their own rules of order, which will be enforced by the Chancellor.

Article 4 - The Judiciary

1. A High Judge will be nominated by the Emperor and approved by the Frenzy to serve unlimited one year terms. The Emperor may not nominate themselves.
2. The High Judge cannot be Lord of more than one Demesne, and may serve as an Elector. The High Judge cannot be elected as Chancellor.
3. The High Judge will be responsible for interpreting Demesnial Contracts should disputes among the demesnes arise. A lord must bring the dispute to the Judge and ask for a ruling. The ruling of the High Judge is definite and may not be altered by Imperial Decree, Frenzy Law or Demesnial Law.
4. The High Judge is forbidden from entering their own demesne into Demesnial Contracts.
5. The High Judge may convene with the Supreme Council to discuss any laws passed by the Frenzy that are considered to be against the general welfare of the people and against the spirit of the Nation. This combined Supreme Judicial Council may, in those circumstances, overturn a Frenzy Law, with a majority vote.

Article 5 - The Citizens

1. All citizens of the Empire enjoy full and equal protection under the laws of the Nation and all Demesnes.
2. No person will be denied citizenship, unless they currently or within the past 2 months have held citizenship in a state hostile to the Empire.
3. All persons within the Empire enjoy the freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, press, and expression.
4. All persons have the right to become lord of a demesne and hold office within the Empire, excluding the office of Emperor.
5. A non-citizen may only hold the rank of Count, regardless of the number of demesnes they are lord over, or the previous status of the demesne they took control of. Non-citizens do not have the right to be styled or addressed with noble honorifics.

[Nathan]

Article 6 - Ratification and Amendments

1. This constitution will come into force upon Imperial Decree and majority approval of the Supreme Council.
2. Additions, modifications, and all other amendments must be proposed by the Frenzy and approved by majority of the Supreme Council.



ok i think this is done.

[Nathan]

If there are no concerns regarding this draft of the constitution, I humbly submit to the Emperor for promulgation as an Imperial Decree so that the Supreme Council may ratify the document.

[Emperor Konrad]

The Office of The Emperor is still working on a response. The response shall be released shortly.

[Nathan]

Is there any progress on the response?

[Nathan]

the more this sits here, the more i look at it, and the more i find it unwieldy and unreasonable. i propose we have nothing but an Emperor and a Frenzy.

Give the Frenzy all legislative powers, and make the Emperor a combined executive/judicial entity. All citizens will be allowed to vote. The Frenzy will be where all the decisions have to be made. The emperor will have a veto power over the frenzy as well as lead debate.

[Nathan]

what this will do, essentially, is make the govt as minimal as possible. how natopia is run is a non-issue, esp at our diminished citizenship base.

culture building should be our number one priority. to quote the preamble from our very first document establishing the Supreme Sovereign Republic:

"to form a more perfect society of utopian like qualities. To provide for the defense and protection of all citizens’ rights. To create a society where the government does not burden the individual but the individual burdens the government. To create a community where all can belong. It is these principles that the Republic of Natopia is established and strives to protect."