I aim here to set out a non-exhaustive list of written sources of law in Shireroth in order of precedence and set out a proposed standard method of citation of legal authorities.
Sources of Law
The Charter (Ch)
Fundamental written constitutional document.
Cited as 'Ch.Article.Section.Subsection'
e.g. 'Ch.II.B.1.a' (the Kaiser may veto Legislation passed by the Landsraad).
Imperial Decrees (IDs)
Decrees made by the Kaiser. Will include some Treaties, depending on the constitutional position at the time.
Cited as 'ID.Chronological Number.[ASC Year of promulgation if available].Article.Section.Subsection'
e.g. 'ID.102' (the island of Mar Sara shall remain part of Amity and Miroth per Imperial Decree 102)
The Imperial Code of Law (ICOL)
The standing corpus of written law.
Cited as 'ICOL.Chapter.Section.Subsection.Paragraph'
e.g. 'ICOL.1.4.E.2' (for the purposes of Ministerial Ordinances, 'Imperial Decrees' include those made by reigning Stewards or a reigning Landsraad)
Acts of the Landsraad (LAs)
Individual Acts of the Landsraad effecting changes to the ICOL or otherwise.
Cited as 'LA.[Short Form Bill Name - optional].ASC Year of Passage.Chronological no passed that year.Section.Subsection.Paragraph'
e.g. 'LA.5594.1.2.4' or 'LA.Disestablishment and Reorganization Act.5594.1.2.4' (Mar Sara shall be reorganised as an Imperial Dominion - Distablishment and Reorganization Act, here)
Resolutions of the Landsraad (LRs)
Individual Resolutions of the Landsraad.
Cited as 'LR.[Short Form Resolution - optional].ASC Year of Passage.Chronological no passed that year.Paragraph'
e.g. 'LR.5462.2' or 'LR.Disestablishment and Reorganization Act.5462.2' (Imperial Decree 663 shall henceforth be unenforceable - Resolution to Cease Direct Rule over Lichbrook, here)
Treaties Ratified by the Landsraad (LTs)
Where Landsraad ratification was required before a treaty with a foreign power could be brought into effect, or where Landsraad ratification gave a treaty legal effect.
Cited as 'LT.[Short Treaty name - optional].ASC Year of Passage.Chronological no passed that year.Section.Subsection.Paragraph'
e.g. 'LT.4325.5.c' or 'LT.Treaty of General Membership to the MTO.4325.5' (Disputes within a nation about an MTO treaty or convention are dealt with by the concerning nations' internally established court)
Acts and Resoutions of the Adelsraad (ADs)
All motions that were passed by the now-defunct assembly of Dukes.
Cited as 'AD.ASC Year of Passage.Section.Subsection.Paragraph'
e.g. 'AD.4558' (Hyperborea/Raikoth may federate with any Duchy, or be granted a special status - per this resolution)
Subdivision Laws
Laws taking effect within Imperial States. Obviously through the years there have been dozens of variations, not least because subdivisions of Shireroth have varied from being mere fiefs to 'sovereign', but in the absence of any local system of citation, this basic system should be observed in Imperial courts.
Cited as 'Two- or three-letter subdivision indicator.Second-level subdivision indicator.Third-level subdivision indicator.Title.ASC year of promulgation.Section.Subsection.'
e.g. 'DYD.CMS.On Orders of Wonder.5207.8.a' (Knights of the Order of Excellence of the County of Mar Sara are entitled to wear the collar of that order and use the postnomial letters KOE - decree of Mar Sara within Duchy of Yardistan)
Under the new Ministerial Ordinance legislation.
Cited as 'MO.Ministry.Chronological number (to be provided under ICOL.IV.E.4).ASC year of promulgation.Section.Subsection.Paragraph.'
None yet made but hypothetical e.g. 'MO.MIL.1.6264.2.1.a' (All soldiers in active military service are to paint their bottoms blue every Gahgday for the glory of the Kaiser)
Ministry citations: INT, EX, MIL, CART, INF, TRD, etc.
Other Ministerial Acts (MAs)
Where Ministers have made other orders, regulations, awards etc., especially in the past.
Cited as 'MA.Ministry.ASC Year of promulgation.Chronological number promulgated that year if known.Title if known.Section.Subsection.Paragraph'
e.g. 'MA.TRD.5081.Bounty Policy and Rates.Routine Bounties' (New citizens shall be paid a one-off bounty of 200 erb if they post seven times over a seven-day period)
Judex/Arbiter Decisions and Orders (IJs)
Previous Arbiters have found previous decisions of the Judex persuasive in the interpretation of written laws.
Cited as 'IJ.ASC Date.Judex Ref.Case name/parties.Judgment paragraph if numbered'
e.g. 'IJ.3415.T1-A.Rahikkala v Landsraad' ("The current Procedures of the Landsraad states that each Duchy's vote is decided by the amount of Erb that duchy holds at any given time. This could lead to one Duchy have more voting power than all other Duchies together, and does today lead to small differences in the voting power of the duchies. This is in direct violation of the principle of duchy equality set down in the Imperial Charter. Therefore... the following sections of the Procedures of the Landsraad are... declared null and void...")
Any others?