Constitution of the Holy American Empire

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Preamble:

We, the American people, believe that government is a sacred trust of the people, the authority for which is derived from the monarch and the people, the powers of which are exercised by the monarch and representatives of the people, and the benefits of which are enjoyed by the people. This is a universal principle upon which this Constitution is founded.

Article I - On General Principles

(1) The Holy American Empire is a Roleplay region first and foremost.

(2) The Holy American Empire seeks to create a culture based on a form of collaborative fiction.

(a) That is to say, that we seek to give everyone the chance to add to the story.

(3) The Holy American Empire embraces the principles of democratic centralism and through this system takes note of:

(a) Responsibility of Federal structures to both lower and upper structures.

(b) Decisions of upper structures are mandatory for the lower structures.

(4) Cooperation of all Federal organs in a collective manner at all times, and correspondingly, personal responsibility of party members for the assignments given to them and for the assignments they themselves create.

(5) The division of functions and powers between the central and local state organs is guided by the principle of “freedom of discussion, unity of action”, giving a full voice to the initiative and enthusiasm of the local authorities under the unified leadership of the central authorities.

(6) The economy of Holy American Empire is to consist of three sectors: Nationalized, Syndicate, and Private.

(7) The economy of Holy American Empire is to be based on a systematic and well thought-out combination of long term and short term plans as produced by Congress and to be worked out in cooperation with the free market. (8) All unclaimed property is viewed as being in the possession of the Monarch but may be contracted out to anyone seeking to use it for the betterment of the Holy American Empire, however Individuals that have laboured on a certain unclaimed property may claim ownership of said property unless contractually obligated to do something else

(9) The armed forces of The Holy American Empire tasks are to strengthen national defense, resist aggression, defend the motherland, participate in national reconstruction, and work hard to serve the people.

(a) The Federal Government supports the rapid advancement of military technologies, both defensive and offensive, and the revolutionizing, modernization, and regularization of the armed forces in order to increase the national defense capability.

Article II - On The Empire

(1) The Empire is constituted of three types of federative units: Federal States, Special Administrative Realms, and Zones.

(2) A Federal State is a federative unit that has the right to:

(a) Establish their own form governance within the confines of the law.

(i) This excludes the right to make alliances with foreign entities, and/or declaration(s) of war and/or independence.

(b) To negotiate economic agreements and/or infrastructural cooperation with any Federal State and with The Federal Government through The Imperial Congress.

© Have a Senator to represent them within the Imperial Senate.

(3) A Federal State shall have the duties to:

(a) Inform The Imperial Congress on any changes within their jurisdiction.

(b) Arrest any person charged with Treason, (a) felonies/y, and/or another crime from another Federal State, and deliver them to the aforementioned Federal State.

© Develop a defensive military to cooperate with the federal military.

(i) This state military should be specialized in defending the unique environments that exist in each state

(4) Special Administrative Realm is a federative unit that is under the jurisdiction of the Holy American Empire, has some autonomy, but isn’t granted a member within The Imperial Congress.

(5) A Special Administrative Realm is a federative unit that has the right:

(a) To establish their own armed forces within the standards established by The Imperial Congress.

(b) To request The Imperial Congress one grant package per year, unless an emergency arises, wherein The Imperial Congress may grant more grant packages until the aforementioned emergency ceases.

© To request The Imperial Congress, Federal Military Aid.

(d) To be allowed to conduct their own foreign affairs with any nation and/or organization unless the aforementioned is against the interests of The Holy American Empire as a whole.

(i) Before an alliance is formed, the Special Administrative Realm must inform The Imperial Congress.

(5) A Special Administrative Realm shall have the duties to:

(a) Inform The Imperial Congress on any changes within their jurisdiction.

(b) Arrest any person charged with Treason, (a) felonies/y, and/or another crime from a Federal State, and deliver them to the aforementioned Federal State.

(6) A Zone is a federative unit that is a nation or group of nations that has been placed under the jurisdiction of The Holy American Empire whose exact rights and privileges vary in a four system category.

(a) Each Zone is designated with a number, and its people are referred to by the number their zone is labeled, until they have proven themselves worthy of being declared true Americans.

(7) Zones are to be given one of four categories: Correctional, Developing, Satellite and finally Vassal or Federal State.

(a) Following conquest or liberation, Zones shall gradually progresses through these categories and gain greater degrees of autonomy and trust with it; however, in the case of a serious setback such as a popular uprising, a Zone may be demoted to a previous category.

(8) Just as each Zone is given a number, the natives of the region are referred to by the same number regardless of their ethnic group.

(a) Persons of said Zones shall also go through categories they shall be declared a Number until they have offer to work to better America than they shall be declared Honorary American and then finally when they have fully proven themselves be declared a "true" American and granted full citizenship.

Article III - On Citizens and Persons

(1) Anyone wishing to become a citizen of The Holy American Empire that has requested membership will be admitted, so long as the Emperor (or Empress) and/or The President Approves.

(2) Citizens may have multiple characters so long as they inform The Monarch and have approval from The Monarch.

(a) Characters may lose citizenship status after being inactive for more than three weeks.

(3) Citizens of the Holy American Empire may choose any state to reside in.

(4) Citizens have the right to form and maintain their own Corporations within The Holy American Empire so long as they are approved the Congress.

(5) Using government services, implies consent with the monarchy and structure of the government as a whole.

(6) All Citizens of The Holy American Empire are by technicality the property of the Emperor (or Empress) as such crimes against citizens is a crime against the Emperor (or Empress).

(7) Citizens may not falsely claim that they speak for The Holy American Empire especially if their message is slanderous or insulting as this will be considered an act of high treason.

(8) Slaves can be freed by their masters at any time, be freed in a will, or even buy their own freedom.

(a) Free slaves still legally owe allegiance to their former master and are expected have to vote according to their former master's wishes.

(b) If a freed slave has no descendants their former master inherits the former slaves land and property.

Article IV - On The Executive Branch

(1) The Executive Council is the Executive Branch of The Holy American Empire

(2) The Executive Council consists of The Monarch, The Prince(ss) of Manhattan, The Cabinet, and The Privy Council

(3) The Monarch is the presiding member of The Executive Council, and is the Head of State.

(4) The Monarch has the sole power over the affairs of the state within The Holy American Empire; although such powers can be delegated to others.

(5) Every Monarch is appointed by their predecessor and ascends to the office upon the termination of the latter's reign.

(a) The Monarch serves until retirement or death.

(6) The Monarch shall have the power to approve or cancel treaties with foreign entities and approve Cabinet Programs.

(7) The Monarch shall have the power to make declarations of war with consent of congress.

(8) The Prince(ss) of Manhattan will serve for life or until dismissal by the Monarch.

(9) The Prince(ss) of Manhattan will have most of the powers of the Monarch when the Monarch has posted a leave of absence lasting more than 3 days.

(a) This does not include the signing or cancellation of treaties.

(b) If The Prince(ss) of Manhattan is unavailable along with the Monarch, the Monarch's Archcounsel shall be declared regent until either the Monarch or The Prince(ss) of Manhattan returns.

(10) The Cabinet consists of The President, Vice President, and Imperial Secretaries.

(11) The Cabinet is responsible of running the day-to-day affairs of The Holy American Empire.

(12) The Cabinet has their executive authority delegated out from The Empress.

(13) The President is the first among equals within The Cabinet, and shall make sure that The Cabinet is doing its job.

(14) The President shall appoint the Imperial Secretaries, with exception of the Vice President, with consent of The Empress.

(15) The President shall seat all federal assemblies.

(16) The President may veto bills that have passed through congress if the bill has not been vetoed once before.

(17) The president may also declare bills that have passed through congress “on hold” for up to one week.

(a) The same bill cannot be put on hold twice.

(18) The President shall be overseer of the Imperial Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless it is a tie or a stalemated vote at which time they may cast one vote.

(19) The President shall serve a two month term, unless they are impeached or retire, through a popular election by the First Past the Post Method.

(a) The President cannot hold the office of senator or representative at the same time as the office of President.

(20) The Vice-President shall be overseer of the Federal Assembly, but shall have no Vote, unless it is a tie or a stalemated vote at which time they may cast one vote.

(21) The Vice-President shall be the second place winner of the presidential election, in case of a tie the crown prince(ess) will decide.

(a) If there the position of Crown prince(ess) is not occupied at the time of the tie the Monarch's Archcounsel will decide.

(22) An Imperial Secretaries primary job is keeping their specific area of government functioning and to work with the president to accomplish goals decided by the congress.

(23) Imperial Secretaries may go in the place of the President to political or diplomatic meetings if ordered to do so.

(a) Their authority to speak for the President is limited as they may not make any agreements to treaties or diplomatic accords without the express permission of the Monarch.

(24) The Privy council's central duty is informing the monarch of the needs of the states and debating the policies of the Holy American Empire in order to give their opinions to the Monarch

(25) The Privy council’s duties shall include reviewing and debating:

(a) All offers of international organization membership. (b) All cases for governorship. © The establishment of new government departments. (d) The status of federal states within The Empire. (e) The status of zones within the empire. (f) The status of the military of each state.

(26) The Privy council is granted the duty of the impeaching inactive members of congress by declaring a no confidence vote against said inactive individuals.

(27) Each state governor is applicable for one seat in the Privy Council.

Article V - On The Legislative Branch

(1) The Imperial Congress is the legislative branch of the Holy American Empire.

(2) The Imperial Congress is comprised of The Imperial Senate, The Federal Assembly, and The Imperial Viceroy..

(3) The Duties of The Imperial Congress shall include, but not limited to:

(a) Mediate any disputes between various factions.

(b) Regulate trade between other nations and the Holy American Empire

© Protect and care for citizens in need

(d) Provide mutual defense in the face of threats to the Holy American Empire

(4) The laws passed in the Congress, once signed by the Monarch and President, are considered binding to all Citizens.

(5) Congress shall also create yearly budgets and votes on general wages, with the exception of their own.

(6) The Imperial Senate is comprised of Senators.

(7) Each Senator is elected by a Federal State by the general population thereof  through a first past the post method unless the Governor of the aforementioned state has established an alternative voting method.

(8) A Senator cannot hold the office of President or Representative at the same time as the office of Senator.

(9) The Federal Assembly is comprised of Representatives.

(10) Representatives serve for two months unless impeached, retire or are dismissed by the Monarch and seats are elected via proportional representation based on voting for parties based on the Jeffersonian method

(a) NPC Roleplay Seats are established by party to population of 1 representative per 280,000 population.

(11) A representative cannot hold the office of president or senator at the same time as the office of representative.

(12) The Imperial Viceroy is the Speaker of The Imperial Congress of the Holy American Empire.

(13) The Imperial Viceroy’s duties include making sure that the procedural laws are followed and maintained within The Imperial Congress of the Holy American Empire.

(14) The Imperial Viceroy is appointed by The Monarch to serve at their pleasure.

(15) A bill may begin in either the Federal Assembly or Senate by their respective electorate or the general citizenry.

(16) Upon passing a bill, the bill shall be sent to the opposing house and must pass or it will return to the house it started from.

(a) Bills may be altered by the opposing house upon receiving it. (17) Bill discussion will take place for a period of no less than 6 hours, but no more than 36 hours.

(a) If a majority (defined herein as 50% + 1) of the membership of the applicable body active during the time allotted voice support for the bill before the 36 hour time limit is reached then the motion will be considered passed and carried.

(b) If it does not reach the majority before the 36 hour limit, the motion will fail.

(18) The same bill may only be brought to Congress twice.

(19) If the bill passes in both houses, then it shall be sent to The President.

(20) The President signs bills into law to make them enacted, after which the monarch may review them for final approval.

(b) If the President does not sign the bill into law within 52 hours it automatically goes to the Monarch.

(21) If in any situation the exact definition bears significance and arises doubt and/or controversy the Supreme Court may be consulted for a decision.

(22) Any member of Congress can submit a motion to expel a citizen from The Holy American Empire citizens from the state to the Congressional floor.

(a) In order for the motion to carry, a supermajority (defined herein as 75% + 1) of the voting Congress must vote in favor of the expulsion. There will be a time limit of 36 hours on expulsion votes.

(b)The Monarch can pardon any member from expulsion.

© The Monarch can also expel citizens on their own initiative, without a vote.

(23) Any member of Congress can submit a motion to the Congressional Floor.

(a) Discussion will take place for a period of no less than 8 hours but no more than 36 hours.

(b) If a supermajority (defined herein as 75% + 1) of the voting Congressional membership voice support for the amendment before the 36 hour time limit is reached then the motion will be considered passed and carried.

(24) Each change to the constitution requires a separate vote for each change to be considered passed and carried.

Article VI - On The Judicial Branch

(1) The Supreme Court is the Judicial Branch of The Holy American Empire.

(2) The Supreme Court is the highest court in HAE and is headed by the Monarch's Archcounsel.

(3) It has the duty of interpreting the constitutionality of laws passed by the congress and advising the monarch on their opinion of said bills.

(4) The Supreme Court may also call for investigations into perceived abuses of executive and congressional power at the behest of the Monarch, Homeland Security or a majority vote of congress.

---Signed into law March 05, 2035