Constitution of the Valdreach Imperial Republic

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# Constitution of the Valdreach Imperial Republic

## Article 1: The Circle of Speakers

### 1.1.

Each Province and Territory will have one (1) Speaker, chosen as laid out in Articles 4.1 and 5.1.

### 1.2.

All Speakers from The Provinces will get a minimum of two (2) votes. Provinces up to ten (10) population will receive votes equal to their population. Provinces up to twenty (20) population will receive additional votes for every two (2) population they have over ten (10). Provinces get no additional votes for having a population over twenty (20).

### 1.3.

All Speakers from the Territories will get one (1) vote, regardless of population.

### 1.4.

Votes taken by the Circle of Speakers will take place as follows:

####    a.

      Unless otherwise specified, all motions need a majority of votes to pass.

####    b.

      Voting will take place in the Voting Hall. Speakers will provide a thumbs up or thumbs down on motions. The President will keep track of who has voted in which way and provide a running tally of the number of votes for and against the motion.

####    c.

      The President or Monarch may veto any motion that passed with less than 2/3 of the votes.

### 1.5.

The following powers fall under the jurisdiction of the Circle of Speakers:

####    a.

      The Circle of Speakers will convene a hearing to determine consequences for any breach of Constitutional law.

####    c.

       The Circle of Speakers may vote to declare war on another nation.

####    d.

       The Circle of Speakers may make a vote of no confidence in the President and remove the President from office on the following terms:

#####       i.

        The Circle of Speakers must determine a replacement President, or ask the Monarch to do so on their behalf, before initiating the vote.

#####       ii.

        There must be reasonable cause for the vote to be initiated. Reasonable cause is defined as the President breaking the law or being negligent in their duties.

####   e.

    The Circle of Speakers may vote to give the President and Monarch emergency powers during times of war or during a national emergency and vote to take away these emergency powers. These powers are as follows:

#####       ii.

        The ability to mandate Territories to assist in wartime.

#####       iii.

        The ability to pass temporary laws that are repealed with the withdrawal of emergency powers. These laws may not modify or contradict this Constitution.

## Article 2: The President

### 2.1.

Any citizen of a Province is eligible to run for President, unless they have ever been the Monarch, the Monarch’s spouse, or in the line of Imperial Succession.

### 2.2.

Elections for the President will take place as follows:

####   a.

    Elections will be held on the first day of every other month, until either all candidates have voted, one candidate has reached a majority, or a full week has passed.

####   b.

    In the event the President is unable to continue to perform their duties, or there is no President, an Interim President will be appointed by the Monarch, who will serve until an elected President is inaugurated.

####   c.

    The Circle of Speakers will elect the President by ranking their preferred candidates. Each Speaker will have the same number of votes as in 1.2 and 1.3. If no candidate has a majority of number 1 votes, the candidate with the fewest will be eliminated and their next ranked choice will be treated as their number 1 choice. This will repeat until one candidate has a majority of votes.

####   d.

    In the event two candidates tie at exactly half of the votes, the Monarch will cast a single vote to decide the victor.

### 2.3.

The President will have the following responsibilities:

####   a.

    The President and Monarch will act as joint heads of state.

####   b.

    The President and Monarch will act as the default diplomatic contact for other world powers.

####   c.

    The President will preside over meetings and votes in the Circle of Speakers as chair. They will be expected to make sure any information related to votes or law is organized and clear.

### 2.4.

The President will have the following powers:

####   a.

    The President, with the approval of the Monarch, may negotiate treaties with foreign powers. The Circle of Speakers will then vote to accept or deny the treaty.

####   b.

    The President may appoint diplomats to other nations. Any appointee must be approved by the Monarch. Diplomats may negotiate treaties as per the rules in 2.4.a and 3.3.b.

####   c.

    The President may independently call for a ceasefire with an enemy power, and may negotiate peace treaties as per the rules in 2.4.a

## Article 3: The Monarch

### 3.1.

The Monarch derives their right to rule from a continuous line of succession beginning with Falkmar. In the event that the Monarch dies or resigns, the highest person of the following order will succeed to the throne:

1. The Monarch’s appointed successor.
2. The Monarch’s eldest child.
3. The eldest child’s most senior descendant.
4. Repeat 2-3 for the remaining children of the Monarch.
5. The eldest sibling of the Monarch.
6. The eldest sibling’s most senior descendant.
7. Repeat steps 5-6 for the Monarch’s other siblings.
8. Repeat all steps for the eldest sibling of the Monarch’s Imperial parent, then Imperial grandparent, etc.

### 3.2.

The Monarch will have the following responsibilities:

####   a.

    The Monarch and President will act as joint heads of state.

####   b.

    The Monarch will appoint a regent to oversee their regular duties if they are unable to do so for any reason. This position defaults to their spouse, followed by the heir apparent.

####   c.

    The Monarch and President will act as the default diplomatic contact for other world powers.

### 3.3.

The Monarch will have the following powers:

####   a.

    The Monarch may appoint Imperial Advisors to the Imperial Advisory, whose responsibilities are decided upon appointment. Any appointee must be approved by the President. An Advisor may submit motions to the Circle of Speakers, and may be given administrative responsibilities, but may not pass laws. The President is ineligible to be an Advisor.

####   b.

    The Monarch, with the approval of the President, may negotiate treaties with foreign powers. The Circle of Speakers will then vote to accept or deny the treaty.

####   c.

    The Monarch may independently call for a ceasefire with an enemy power, and may negotiate peace treaties as per the rules in 3.3.b.

## Article 4: Provinces

### 4.1.

Provinces will appoint their Speaker in accordance with the following rules:

####   a.

    Provinces will elect their Speaker by popular vote. They will be voted on by citizens ranking their preferred candidates. If no candidate has a majority of number 1 votes, the candidate with the fewest will be eliminated and their next ranked choice will be treated as their number 1 choice. This will repeat until one candidate has a majority of votes.

####   b.

    All citizens of each Province have the right to vote.

####   c.

    In the event two candidates tie at exactly half of the votes, the Provincial leader will cast a single additional vote to decide the victor.

####   d.

    In the event a Speaker is unable to continue to perform their duties, or there is no Speaker, an Interim Speaker will be appointed by the Provincial leader, who will serve until an elected Speaker is inaugurated.

####   e.

    Elections will be held every other month, offset from Presidential elections.

### 4.2.

Once a Territory is able to meet the requirements of a Province, their respective Speaker may put forth an application to the Circle of Speakers to become a Province. The Circle of Speakers will then hold a vote to accept or deny the application.

### 4.3.

Provinces are expected to abide by the following:

####   a.

    Provinces are expected to pay taxes and contribute to the Imperial Storehouse as laid out in financial policy.

####   b.

    Provinces are expected to contribute to public works.

####   c.

    Provinces are expected to follow flag law.

####   d.

    Provinces are expected to contribute to any war effort the nation is involved in.

####   e.

    Provinces must go through the national government to engage in foreign diplomacy.

####   f.

    Provinces may not engage in hostile actions against another Territory or Province.

####   g.

    Provinces are expected to adopt the Imperial Pantheon as their official religion.

####   a.

    Provinces may petition the proper authority as laid out in future appointments for resources from the Imperial Storehouse.

####   b.

    Provinces are guaranteed connection to the national transportation system.

####   c.

    Provinces are guaranteed benefits from public works.

####   d.

    Provinces may freely enter diplomatic ties with other Provinces or Territories unless such agreements would undermine the function of the national government or negatively affect other Provinces or Territories.

####   e.

    Provinces may institute local laws and legislation so long as it does not contradict national law.

####   f.

    Provinces are entitled to have their local deities incorporated into the Imperial Pantheon.

####   g.

    Provinces are entitled to military protection from the national government.

## Article 5: Territories

### 5.1.

Territories may appoint their Speaker however they wish.

### 5.2.

The President and Monarch may jointly admit new Territories to the nation at their discretion given that the Territory in question has no active border disputes or armed conflicts. In these cases, they must get approval from the Circle of Speakers. However, the Circle of Speakers may veto a territory by majority vote.

### 5.3.

Territories are expected to abide by the following:

####   a.

    Territories are not required to send troops in times of war, but may send volunteers, and may not disallow their citizens from volunteering.

#####       i.

        If the President or Monarch has been granted emergency powers, they may require Territories to mobilize.

####   b.

    Territories are expected to pay taxes as laid out in financial policy.

####   c.

    Territories may not autonomously declare war or engage in hostile actions against another nation, Territory, or Province.

### 5.4.

Territories are entitled to the following:

####   a.

    Territories may freely enter diplomatic ties with other nations, Provinces or Territories unless such agreements would undermine the function of the national government or negatively affect other Provinces or Territories.

####   b.

    Territories are entitled to military protection from the national government.

####   c.

    Territories will not have their religious independence infringed upon. Religious practices that violate this Constitution are still considered unlawful.

## Article 6: The Rights of Citizens

### 6.2.

Citizens will not be discriminated against based on race, gender, religion, or LGBTQ+ status.

### 6.3.

Any unprovoked hostile action taken against a citizen of the Valdreach Imperial Republic by a foreign entity will be treated as a hostile action against the whole nation, and fair justice will be sought accordingly.

### 6.4.

 Any citizen accused of a crime is guaranteed the right to a fair trial.

### 6.5.

Citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech, unless such speech is directly harmful to someone.

### 6.6.

Citizens are guaranteed the right to a living space to call their own, if they want one.

## Article 7: Amendments

### 7.1.

The current Monarch, President, or any Speaker, may propose an amendment to this Constitution.

### 7.2.

Any amendment to this Constitution needs a 2/3 majority vote from the Circle of Speakers, as well as approval from the Monarch and President, to pass.