CONSTITUTION OF THE GRALAN EMPIRE

The Constitution, and any interpretations thereof

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Gerk
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CONSTITUTION OF THE GRALAN EMPIRE

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CONSTITUTION OF THE GRALAN EMPIRE

Article I - Citizenship

Section 1. Anyone wishing to become a citizen of the Gralan Empire may do so by simply expressing their desire to do so in an obvious and appropriate fashion. Citizens of Gralus are expected to follow the laws of the Empire and this Constitution, any amendments thereof, as well as the Bill of Rights.

Section 2. Each citizen of the Gralan Empire is entitled to, regardless of race, gender, beliefs, or status, protection from violence, domestic and foreign, as well as freedom to live as he so chooses, as long as he does not cause harm to other citizens of the Empire.

Article II - The Triumvirate

Section 1. The execution of Gralan Law is the responsibility of the Triumvirate of the Empire, which will consist of three people: the Emperor, the Lord General, and the Chief Justice. No person may hold more than one position in the Triumvirate at any given time.

Section 2. In the event of a Triumvir's resignation, death, or other removal from office, his heir will immediately take his place in the Triumvirate. The heir of the Emperor will be appointed by the Chief Justice and must be approved by the current Emperor. The heir of the Lord General will also be appointed by the Chief Justice and must be approved by the current Lord General. The heir of the Chief Justice will be appointed by the Emperor and must be approved by the current Chief Justice. Members of the Triumvirate will serve as long as they continue to live, or until they resign or are removed by a Vote of No Confidence (see Section 3). All members of the Triumvirate must be Gralan citizens; renouncing citizenship will also entail resignation.

Section 3. If a Triumvir fails to adequately and honestly perform his duties, any citizen can call for a Vote of No Confidence. This Vote will last for two weeks, and all Gralan citizens may vote Aye or Nay. If, at the end of the two weeks, a majority of voters have voted Aye, the Triumvir will be removed from office.

Section 4. If a Triumvir has not chosen an heir within a month of his taking of office, any citizen may announce an Election. Upon this announcement, the process of electing an heir will begin. This process shall be run in the manner currently dictated by Gralan law. In the case of a tie, the Chief Justice will choose between the tied candidates. If the Triumvir whose heir is being chosen in the election disagrees with the results of the election, he can call for a second vote with the approval of the Chief Justice. In the case that the Chief Justice's heir is to be chosen, the Chief Justice requires the approval of the Emperor to call a second vote. Until the second vote is completed and tallied, the winner of the first election will remain heir.

Section 5. In the case of an unexpected vacancy in the office of a Triumvir due to death or a Vote of No Confidence, if no heir has been chosen, an emergency election will take place. The election shall be run in the manner currently dictated by Gralan law. In the case of a tie, the Chief Justice will choose between the tied candidates. In the case that there is no current Chief Justice, the Emperor will choose between the tied candidates. In the case that there is no Emperor, the voting process will repeat until a candidate is chosen.

Section 6. His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, will be the Custodian of the Happiness of the People. He is responsible for enforcing the Law of Gralus when dealing with domestic affairs.

Section 7. His Excellency, the Lord General, will be the Custodian of the Safety of the People. He is responsible for enforcing the Law of Gralus when dealing with foreign affairs and for organizing the defense of the Empire against external threats.

Section 8. His Honor, the Chief Justice, will be the Custodian of the Liberty of the People. He is responsible for enforcing his word as he sees fit to ensure that no other part of the government violates it.

Article III - Legislation

Section 1. Any citizen may propose a Bill and request a vote for it to become a Law.

Section 2. For forty-eight hours after a Bill is proposed, any citizen of Gralus may vote Aye or Nay. Once the forty-eight hour period has elapsed, if a majority of the voters have voted Aye, then the Bill becomes a Law.

Section 3. In the two weeks following the approval of a new Law, any citizens who have not yet voted may still cast their vote Aye or Nay. If, once the two weeks have elapsed, less than a majority of the total votes are Aye, then the Law is repealed.

Section 4. Laws may not infringe upon the Rights of the People as set forth in this Constitution, or any amendments thereof, or the Bill of Rights, or contradict this Constitution, or any amendments therof, or the Bill of Rights in any way; however, Laws may contradict prior laws. In the case of a conflict between two laws, the newer law takes precedence.

Section 5. The Emperor has limited power of legislation. He may make Executive Orders, which are treated as Laws for two weeks. During those two weeks, any citizen of Gralus (including the Emperor himself) may vote Aye or Nay to make the Order into a Law officially. If, once the two weeks have elapsed, less than a majority of the total votes are Aye, then the Order is repealed; however, if there is a majority of Aye votes, the Order becomes a Law in the full meaning of the word.

Section 6. Any Imperial Laws created under a previous constitution will remain under effect, unless any newer Laws change them (as explained in Section 4).

Article IV - Adjudication

Section 1. When a citizen believes that a crime or violation of Gralan Law has occured, he can initiate a Trial. He must organize his case and present it to the public. The accused will then have a chance to organize and present his own case publicly. Both will be given opportunities for cross-examination and rebuttal. The Trial will last until both sides are content that they have fully presented their respective cases. If a Trial lasts for more than two weeks, the Chief Justice may choose to end it if he announces it twenty-four hours in advance.

Section 2. The Chief Justice shall preside over all trials of national importance or trials that have been appealed to and accepted by the national courts. He shall have the responsibility of deciding the outcome of such a trial, as well as the sentencing of the convict, should sentencing apply.

Section 3. If a citizen believes that a Gralan Law is in violation of this Constitution, or any amendments thereof, or the Bill of Rights, he may initiate a Trial against the Law. In this case, any other citizen may step up to defend the Law if he so wishes, but if no one does, then only the accuser will present his case. In all other ways, this Trial will be conducted as a normal criminal Trial. If the Law is found "Guilty" of violating this Constitution, or any amendments thereof, or the Bill of Rights, then it is repealed.

Article V - The Provinces

Section 1. Any region of the Empire with three or more citizens, with the support of a majority of its citizens who vote in a week-long plebiscite, may petition to become a Province, which may be granted by the Emperor. During the plebiscite, the people must also elect a governing body (each member of which must be a citizen of that region and the Empire). The governing body may be of any form, including a single person.

Section 2. Regions already within a Province may still petition to become their own, separate Province, so long as they meet the requirements listed in Section 1 of Article V.

Section 3. The elected governing body will have authority over its Province, so long as it does not violate the laws of the Empire or this Constitution, any amendments thereof, or the Bill of Rights. This authority includes that over the governing body's own succession. The Chief Justice is responsible for watching the actions of Province governments and ensuring that they follow their own laws, the Triumvirate's, and this Constitution, or any amendments thereof, or the Bill of Rights.

Section 4. The Emperor will have the power to dissolve Provinces, with the approval of the Chief Justice.

Section 5. Any foreign nation may, with the approval of the Lord General and its own government, become a part of the Gralan Empire. In doing so, they surrender their own sovereignty and autonomy, but each of their citizens automatically becomes a citizen of the Gralan Empire, and their lands automatically become a Province, with their government remaining the ruling body, but now subject to the laws of the Triumvirate and this Constitution, any amendments thereof, and the Bill of Rights. All laws of that nation in violation of the laws of the Triumvirate and this Constitution, or any amendments thereof, or the Bill of Rights will be repealed upon joining the Empire.

Section 6. Any region of a foreign nation may, with the approval of the the Lord General and a majority of its citizens who vote in a week-long plebiscite overseen by officials appointed by the Lord General, become a part of the Gralan Empire. In doing so, they secede from their former nation, but every one of their citizens automatically becomes a citizen of the Gralan Empire, and their land automatically becomes a Province, with a governing body elected during the same plebiscite.

Article VI - The Armed Forces

Section 1. The Armed Forces of the Gralan Empire will be divided into four groups. The Imperial Army will be commanded by the Lord General. The Imperial Police will be commanded by the Emperor, as will be the Imperial Militia. The Imperial Guard will be commanded by the Chief Justice. Each Triumvir will use his portion of the Armed Forces to enforce his own laws and judgments.

Section 2. Provinces of the Empire are entitled to command their own armed forces to enforce their laws and protect their people.

Section 3. Citizens of the Empire who wish to hold their own, personal armed forces must gain the approval of the Lord General in order to do so.

Article VII – Supremacy

Section 1. This Constitution, any amendments thereof, and the Bill of Rights shall be considered the supreme law of the land, and shall be the primary reference consulted in the establishment of national or provincial law, any interpretations of national or provincial law, or any court cases challenging national or provincial law. This Constitution, any amendments thereof, and the Bill or Rights are not subject to amendment through national or provincial law, or any court cases whatsoever.

Article VIII - Amendment

Section 1. This Constitution, any amendments thereof, and the Bill of Rights may be amended only with the approval of two Triumvirs, and by a majority of the citizens of Gralus who vote in a week-long plebiscite.


AMENDMENTS

Amendment 1.

All Executive Orders issued by the acting Emperor have immediate and full weight of law, and may be enforced without hesitation within the restrictions of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. After an Executive Order is issued, there will exist an optional voting period with a duration of two weeks starting at the time the Executive Order is issued during which citizens may choose to repeal the law. Any citizen of Gralus, including the acting Emperor, may vote Aye or Nay, with an 'Aye' vote being in agreement with the Executive Order, and a 'Nay' vote being in favor of repeal. If no vote occurs, the Executive Order shall become a Law and enforcement may continue. If a vote does occur, then by the end of the two week voting period,the votes shall be tallied by the Chief Justice. If a majority of the votes cast are 'Nay,' then the Executive Order shall be repealed, enforcement must stop, and the Emperor of Gralus may be responsible for any reparations to the Gralan people with respect to the repealed Executive Order, as determined in a legal proceeding. Otherwise, the Executive Order shall become a Law and enforcement may continue.


Amendment 2.

Section 1. Anyone wishing to become a citizen of the Gralan Empire should express their desire to do so in an obvious and appropriate fashion. The Emperor of Gralus must approve all citizenship applications.

Section 2. A citizen of Gralus can have his citizenship status revoked, but only through due process in an Imperial court of law.


Amendment 3.

Section 1. Members of the Gralan Triumvirate shall each have the authority to pardon criminals of Imperial and Provincial crimes.

Section 2. A Pardon is defined as a lifetime immunity from legal proceedings and punishment for a specifically stated offense. Actions that include more than one legal transgression require separate Pardons for each transgression. Should not all of a criminal's transgressions be pardoned, he is still subject to those transgressions that remain unpardoned.

Section 3. A Pardon may be declined by a recipient while he is in a fully aware state of mind. A Pardon may be revoked at any time, but only by the Triumvir who issued it, and only while said Triumvir still holds a Triumvirate office.

Section 4. Members of the Gralan Triumvirate shall each have the authority to issue commutations to criminals convicted of Imperial and Provincial crimes.

Section 5. A Commutation is defined as a change in the legal penalty chosen by the sentencing Court, in favor of one that is less harsh. Commuted sentences do not have to follow the guidelines set forth in Imperial or Provincial Law for punishments with regards to the applicable crime. Should a criminal face multiple sentences from separate crimes, each sentence requires its own Commutation. A criminal is required to serve, in full, any sentences which have not been commuted, regardless of other commutations he has received.

Section 6. A Commutation may be declined by a recipient while he is in a fully aware state of mind. A Commutation may be revoked at any time before the recipient's completed service of the commuted sentence, but only by the Triumvir who issued it, and only while said Triumvir still holds a Triumvirate office.
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
~Sherlock Holmes

The character of Gerk ronAnaglea is dead.
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