Yew Constitution
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Yew Constitution by unknown
So far these ideas have been approved by the Assembly, and/or by consensus of the elected Officers:
1. That a two-house legislature be established, consisting of an Assembly (whomever attends the meeting votes and proposes various issues) and a Senate (composed of Representatives from all interested Guilds of Yew).
1a. They will meet at seperate times, except during Elections of Offices, although a log or transcript should be kept for public record of the vote counts and debates conducted.
1b. Senators shall approve or reject Treaties and Executive Appointments (District Attorneys, Court Justices except for the Supreme Justice - who is elected by all, and high-level Officers of the Militia below that of Commander - who is elected directly by all). Senators can attend, but cannot not vote, in the Assembly.
1c. All punishments or impeachments must arise in the Senate, which then are voted on by the Assembly. If a 2/3 majority in both houses votes for impeachment, that Senator or Executive must resign immediately. No Assemblyman can be removed for any reason.
1d. Assemblies have sole domain in allocating money and spending it as they see fit. Assemblies may pass laws and statues except those interfering with certain rights that will be discussed later.
2. That a Judicial Branch should be established, ruling over Criminal and Civil Cases.
2a. Judicial Review may declare certain acts that interfere with the Rights of Citizens "unconstitutional" and void. Executives enforcing these laws would be subject to impeachment and/or criminal charges.
2b. The Supreme Court Justice shall give guidance on the Virtue of Justice, and may consider appeals from lower courts and other districts, as the Yew Court is the Supreme Court of all Britannia.> 2c. The Supreme Court Justice shall appoint lesser Court Judges as necessary to rule in Criminal and Civil Cases.
2d. Lawyers shall be certified by the requirements stated by The Chief Justice, subject to their approval by the Senate.
2e. Civil and Criminal Cases arising within the boundaries of Yew only, may be brought to Trial here, although if both parties consent, any case in the land may be heard here.
2f. The Supreme Court Judge is to be called, "The/Your Supreme Justice". Lesser judges are simply, "Your Justice" or "The Justice". He is elected to a 10 month term (to make adminstration easy). He should be a person of Respect, embodying Virtue and above all a sense of Justice. He is elected directly.
3. An executive branch shall exist to enforce the laws, defend the Constitution, and to protect against outside and internal aggression.
3a. The Officers of the Executive shall consist of a Mayor, a Secretary, and a Militia Commander. All executives shall be elected for 5 "Earth" Months.
3aa. The Mayor shall represent Yew in all offical functions in Britannia, or appoint ambassadors for this purpose. The Mayor shall preside over all official functions (events, town fairs, etc.) in Yew, and shall open and close them all. The Mayor is also the head of the executive, and may direct other officers. In the case of insubordination, the Mayor may request the Senate to impeach, but may not himself remove any officer. The Mayor is to be address as either "His/Her/Your Honor" or "Governor" (as they say in NYC, "Hizzonah".
3bb. The Secretary shall edit the Webpage of Yew, and is in charge of offical counts and tallies and censuses (censi?). He may appoint officers to assist him as well. He should be addressed as "Mr. Secretary" or "Minister". His underlings may be addressed as "Assistant Minister" or "Assistant Secretary".
3cc. The Militia Commander shall provide organisation and leadership of the Militia, and may appoint under officers of the Militia. He is responsible for the defence of the town and the Greater Yew area, and may offer bounties and other rewards for service, as well as give medals or other citations.
The Commander may be addressed as "Marshal l / General / Commander".
3b. Any successful criminal charge against a standing officer results in immediate removal of that person.
3c. Order of Succession for the Mayor and Secretary, in case of death or removal until a new election: Mayor - Secretary - Speaker of the Assembly - Senate or Speaker - Assembly Majority Leader Assembly Minority Leader
3d: In the case of the death of the Militia Commander, the next highest officer shall take his place, and so down the list of militia officers until all appointed officers are exhausted, in which case the Militia shall "go guerilla" until a new commander is appointed. The new commander should be "confirmed" in a Senate Vote as soon as possible.
4. The Rights of Man as held by all Reasonable and Honourable Peoples:
4a: The Right of the People to freely assemble shall not be infringed.
4b: The Right of the People to speak freely shall no be infringed.
4c: The Right of the People to bear arms and armour (hehe) shall not be infringed.
4d: The Right of the People to choose their creed, religon, and philosophy shall not be infringed.
4e: The Right of the People to be secure in their Property and Livelihood shall not be infringed by the Government - no banning of specific lifestyles or goods.
4f: Bills of Attainder shall not issue (no retroactive laws).
4g: Income taxes prohibited as a method of raising taxes.
4h: Sales and Head Taxes should be reasonable and not dictated by class or title, no more than once per Earth month. (Not that I recommend mandatory taxation at all, but we could try a "voluntary tax")
4i: All Citizens may attend the Assembly and vote, except Executives, the Supreme Justice, and Senators, who may attend and debate but not vote.
4j: All Citizens may vote for the Executive and Justice, regardless of Office, Sex, Class, or Title. IMPORTANT: Proceedures in the House: The first meeting of the Assembly and Senate should do the following- Elect a Speaker, who sets the agenda and adheres to it. Set rules for speaking and debating (for example, someone must be seconded by another, and then recognized by the Speaker). Set up some common-sense Committees, like the Senate Militia Committee, which reviews the performance of Militiamen; or the Assembly Appropriations Commitee, which makes a prelimary recommendation of how to spend money.
Points and Counter-points about this Constitution should be submitted under this post at Atlantic Notepads, until a Yew BB system is up...