I offer the following as a proposal to revise Article III of the Charter with the intention of updating the process of succession.
Article III: The Kaiser
Section A: Definition and Succession
- There is established by this Charter the Kaiser of Shireroth, which is held by Our Lord the Radiant Sun Vidar Salim Livarson Ayreon-Kalirion ibn al-Majeed al-Osman bin Sathrati of Waffel-Paine, reigning as Kaiser Ayreon IV, and his heirs and successors. The Kaiser is titled Kaiseress if she is a woman.
- The Kaiser commands the respect, devotion and loyalty of all Shirerithians. The Kaiser is above politics.
[*]Upon the death, abdication or removal of the Kaiser, the throne passes to the legitimate issue, if already citizens of the Imperial Republic, of Our Lady the Radiant Sun Noor as-Salaam bint Daniyal Umra Suleiman Ayreon-Kalirion ibn al-Majeed al-Osman bin Sathrati Umm Zahir al-Din of Waffel-Paine (blessings and peace upon her memory), Kaiseress of Shireroth, with preference to elder siblings and their descendants over younger siblings and their descendants.
[*]In the event that the line of succession is extinguished, the Landsraad shall elect a Kaiser from among the Nobility of the Imperial Republic and provide for new rules of succession in accordance with Imperial law.
[*]In the event that the Kaiser is unable, for reasons of absence, illness or being below the age of fifteen (15) years, his functions shall be performed by the Imperial Advisory Council, either collectively or by a Regent selected by the Imperial Advisory Council from among its members.
Section B: Functions
- The Kaiser conducts, either personally or through a proxy that he appoints, the election of the Prætor of the Landsraad whenever there is a vacancy to the office or whenever the Landsraad resolves that an election for Prætor be held.
- The Kaiser appoints, on the report of the Prætor of the Landsraad, as Steward of the Imperial Republic the person elected to that office by the Landsraad.
- The Kaiser accepts the resignation of the Steward when tendered by the Steward.
- The Kaiser dismisses the Steward when it is his pleasure to do so.
- The Kaiser appoints and dismisses, upon the recommendation of the Steward, members of the Imperial Advisory Council.
- The Kaiser appoints and dismisses, upon the recommendation of the Steward, the Imperial Ministers.
- The Kaiser appoints and dismisses, upon the recommendation of the Steward, the viceroys of the imperial dominions.
- The Kaiser appoints and receives diplomatic envoys.
- The Kaiser nominates the Arbiter and other offices of the Imperial Judex.
- The Kaiser appoints the members of the Imperial Inquisition.
- The Kaiser confers honours, dignity of nobility, awards, decorations or distinctions on such persons as he deems worthy of it, after receiving the advice of the Imperial Advisory Council on the matter.
- The Kaiser may, upon the recommendation of the Imperial Advisory Council, grant a pardon, either free or subject to conditions, and either full or in part, to a person convicted of an offence.
- The Kaiser governs in his discretion such fiefs that he may hold personally within the Imperial Dominions, the Imperial Court, the Imperial Household and all Imperial Residencies. He may not be removed from any of these or have their finances disturbed without his consent.
- The Kaiser issues imperial decrees on all matters of his competence.
Section C: Imperial Advisory Council
- The Imperial Advisory Council exists to advise the Kaiser on all matters pertaining to his office.
- Prior to taking office, members of the Imperial Advisory Council shall swear the oath of membership, as determined by imperial law.
Section D: Regency
- The Landsraad may remove the Kaiser from the throne if it has adopted a resolution to remove the Kaiser with three fourths’ majority and either no more than one imperial state has informed the Prætor of its objections to the resolution within one year of the Landsraad’s adoption of the resolution or all imperial states have informed the Prætor of their consent to the resolution.
- The Landsraad may, by resolution, order a regency for the Kaiser whenever if the Landsraad believes that the Kaiser is so ill or absent that it endangers the government of the Imperial Republic. The resolution is valid for one year or until the Landsraad has ordered to cease the regency by a resolution, whichever is sooner.
- The Kaiser may, by issuing an imperial decree to the effect, order a period of regency, which shall be valid until such time that the Kaiser issues another imperial decree announcing that the period of regency has ended. Such decree may also appoint, from among the members of the Imperial Advisory Council, a Regent.
- In the event that the Kaiser is below the age of fifteen (15) years, his functions shall be performed by the Imperial Advisory Council, either collectively or by a Regent selected by the Imperial Advisory Council from among its members.
Section E: Rules governing the Line of Succession
- Upon the death, abdication or removal of the Kaiser, the throne passes to the next member of the Imperial Family in the Order of Succession.
- In the event that the Order of Succession is extinguished, the Landsraad shall elect a Kaiser from among the citizenry of the Imperial Republic who are demonstrably descendant from Kaiser Raynor I and provide for new rules of succession in accordance with Imperial law.