Historical Documents: Third Constitution

[Nathan]

The Constitution of the Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia

We, the learned and common peoples of Natopia, hereby establish and ordain this Constitution so that we may prosper and live in peace, so that we may protect our ideals and dreams, so that we may provide stability for posterity. It is by public opinion that our personal sovereignty is to be entrusted to the government of this Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia.

Article One: The Imperial Government

Section One: The Imperial Executive Branch

Clause One: The Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia heads the executive and legislative branches. Any verbal command may be made into law, a Chancellorial Decree. Chancellorial Decrees will be considered supreme and any law or policy in conflict with a Chancellorial Decree will be voided. The Grand Chancellor will appoint the Grand Judge. The Grand Chancellor may veto any Senate Bill. It is the Grand Chancellor’s responsibility to maintain positive relations with foreign nations or states.

Clause Two: Also, the Grand Chancellor must ensure the development of internal Natopian affairs. The Ministry of Natopian Affairs shall be created under the executive branch for this purpose. The Grand Chancellor may overturn any Ministry Policy.

Clause Three: The Grand Chancellor holds any power or right not granted to the other branches of government.

Clause Four: The Grand Chancellor will serve for life or until resignation. If the Grand Chancellor should decide to resign from office, he must name a Vice Chancellor one month prior to his resignation. At the time of the resignation the Grand Chancellor may either appoint the Vice Chancellor as the new Grand Chancellor or he may continue to serve as Grand Chancellor himself. The Grand Chancellor may then excuse the Vice Chancellor or delegate duties to them. The Grand Chancellor may appoint a Vice Chancellor at any time, whether or not they wish to resign. In the event of sudden evacuation of office the Vice Chancellor will assume the role and title of Grand Chancellor. If the Grand Chancellor has not appointed a Vice Chancellor, the Grand Judge will assume the responsibilities of the office until the Senate votes to elect a Natopian citizen to the office.

Clause Five: The Ministry of Natopian Affairs will be within the executive branch. Led by the minister with most seniority, the Prime Minister. The Ministry will be made of several Lower Ministries, led by their respective Minister. Either the Grand Chancellor or Prime Minister will create the Lower Ministries. Each Lower Ministry may make Ministry Policies that allow them to carry out their duties. These Policies will be treated as law and will be enforced as needed. Ministers will serve for life or until resignation.

Section Two: The Imperial Legislative Branch

Clause One: The legislative branch shall be made of the Grand Natopian Senate. The Grand Chancellor acts as Speaker of the Senate and may appoint any official he sees fit to fulfill that duty in his absence. The Senate has the responsibility of making laws and establishing public institutions and agencies by way of law that will benefit the Citizens of Natopia. The Senate may pass bills into Law by majority vote.

Clause Two: A ¾ majority vote of the Senate is required to overturn a Judicial Review, Chancellorial Decree, or Chancellorial Veto.

Clause Three: The Senate will be composed of one representative from each Region of Natopia. The Grand Chancellor will appoint the Senators. Senators will serve for life or until resignation.

Clause Four: The Grand Chancellor presides over the Senate, has one vote and may also vote in events of ties. The Grand Chancellor may not participate in the vote to overturn a Chancellorial Decree or Veto. In case of a tie in this instance the Grand Judge will be asked to vote.

Clause Five: If the Grand Judge removes the Grand Chancellor, the Senate will act as judge in determining if the removal will be permanent.

Clause Six: The Grand Chancellor may call for a general election of the senators once a year if he sees it necessary to maintain democracy in the Republic. If a Region has not established a democratic system to select its Senator, the Regional Chancellor may suggest a Citizen from their Region to be appointed as a Senator by the Grand Chancellor.

Section Three: The Imperial Judicial Branch

Clause One: The Grand Judge of All Laws and Rights heads the judicial branch. They will determine if Senate Laws, Regional Laws, Regional Decrees, Chancellorial Decrees, Public Laws, and Natopian and Regional Ministry Policies are valid in regard to this constitution by means of a Judicial Review. If a law, decree, or policy is determined unconstitutional the item in question is to be removed from enforcement and voided.

Clause Two: The Grand Judge must ensure that the Grand Chancellor is ruling justly and charitably. If the Grand Judge finds grounds to support the contrary, they may remove the Grand Chancellor from office for one week. During that time, the Grand Chancellor will be prohibited by this constitution from making any executive or legislative decisions. A Senate trial will determine if the removal will take permanent effect.

Clause Three: It is the Grand Judge’s responsibility to establish a national system of lower courts to ensure that justice is served in the Republic of Natopia.

Clause Four: The Grand Judge serves for life, or until resignation.

Section Four: The Natopian Defense Force

Clause One: The Supreme Commander will directly lead the Natopian Defense Force. The Grand Chancellor holds the position of Grand Commander and remains commander-in-chief of the military at all times. The Grand Commander must approve all military actions in peacetime first. During wartime, the Supreme Commander may take whatever actions necessary to defend Natopia.

Clause Two: The Natopian Defense Force will be divided into an army and a navy. Further Divisions will be established with the mutual consent of the Grand and Supreme Commanders.

Clause Three: The Supreme Commander and all military personnel serve for life, or until retirement, according to specific protocols to be determined by the Supreme Commander.

Clause Four: The Imperial Army Division will be led by a General to be appointed by the Supreme Commander and approved by the Grand Commander. The Imperial Army will conduct land-based missions to protect Natopia. The General may appoint officers to aid his duties. The General will be responsible for the exclusive recruitment of the Imperial Army.

Clause Five: The Imperial Navy Division will be led by an Admiral to be appointed by the Supreme Commander and approved by the Grand Commander. The Imperial Navy will conduct missions based in the air and sea to defend Natopia. The Admiral may appoint officers to aid his duties. The Admiral will be responsible for the exclusive recruitment of the Imperial Navy.

Article Two: The Protectoral Governments

Section One: The Establishment of Protectorates

Clause One: A Protectorate of Natopia shall be defined as the land that a Natopian Citizen possesses. The Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia shall only claim sovereignty over its Protectorates.

Clause Two: The Grand Chancellor will appoint a Protector to administer the Protectorate on a local level. Protectors will be able to enact any Protectoral Law that does not contradict a higher law or this constitution.

Clause Three: In instances where two or more Protectorates border each other the Grand Chancellor may combine them into a Grand Protectorate and appoint a Lord Protector to administer over it.

Clause Four: Cities may reside within the borders of Protectorates and Grand Protectorates. City governments must abide by their native Protectorate’s laws.

Section Two: The Establishment of Regions

Clause One: The Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia, when it comes to be made of more then 6 Protectorates, shall divide those Protectorates evenly into Regions. Only the Grand Chancellor may divide Protectorates into Regions of the Republic.

Clause Two: Once established as a Region, the Grand Chancellor will appoint an inhabitant of the Protectorates that make up the Region to act as Regional Protector.

Section Two: The Regional Executive Branch

Clause One: The Regional Protector shall head the executive branch. Any verbal command may be made into law, a Regional Decree. The Regional Protector will appoint the Regional Judge.

Clause Three: The Regional Chancellor will serve for life. If the Regional Chancellor were to resign or evacuate their office suddenly, the Grand Chancellor will appoint a permanent replacement.

Clause Four: A Protectorate may send a representative to serve on the Protectoral Council. The Protectoral Council is the voice of the Protectorates and may advise the Regional Protector on matters that would benefit Protectorates in that Region.

Section Four: The Regional Judicial Branch

Clause One: The Regional Judge will head the judicial branch. They will determine if Regional Decrees, Protectoral Laws, and Public Laws are valid in regard to the constitution of the Region by means of a Regional Judicial Review. If a decree or law is determined unconstitutional the article is to be removed from enforcement.

Clause Two: The Regional Judge must ensure that the Regional Protector is ruling justly and charitably. If the Regional Judge finds grounds to support the contrary, they may remove the Regional Protector from office.

Clause Three: It is the Regional Judge’s responsibility to establish a Regional system of lower courts to ensure that justice is served in the Region and the Protectorates within.

Clause Four: Serves for life, or until resignation.

[Nathan]

Article Three: The Citizens’ Bill of Rights

Section One: Liberties, Freedoms, and Rights

Clause One: No Senate Laws, Protectoral Laws, Regional Decrees, Chancellorial Decrees, Public Laws, or Natopian Ministry Policies may be enacted to restrict or limit the personal freedoms of religion, speech, assembly, press, life, property, residence and petition.

Clause Two: The freedom of religion shall be defined as allowing any Citizen or group of Citizens to peaceably practice their own desired system of beliefs. The government may not place any one religion above another in legal matters. Religious organizations may have total access to public institutions; they may not interfere with the normal operation of that institution or impose their religion on any person in the area.

Clause Three: The freedom of speech shall be defined as allowing any Citizen or group of Citizens to publicly express their opinions on any subject they desire to comment on. The freedom of speech is expanded to include the freedom of action. These public expressions shall not cause physical harm to anyone.

Clause Four: The freedom of assembly shall be defined as allowing groups of Citizens to meet to exercise any of their freedoms.

Clause Five: The freedom of press shall be defined as allowing any Citizen to print their opinions with the intent of public distribution. However, opinions must be presented as opinions, clearly stated as such within the publication.

Clause Six: The freedom of life shall be defined as the government taking no actions to actively deprive any Citizen of life. The freedom of life shall be limited when the Citizen is incarcerated and a jury of six peers in the Region of their incarceration deems them unable to be rehabilitated.

Clause Seven: The freedom of property shall be defined as allowing Citizens to own any item they wish to possess. Items that are designed solely to cause harm to a human being must be registered with the Region of the Citizen’s residence.

Clause Eight: The freedom of residence shall be defined as allowing Citizens to chose their place of residence. The government shall never enforce the eviction of any Citizens for any reason excluding for reasons of explicit national security and natural disasters.

Clause Nine: The freedom of petition shall be defined as allowing the Citizens to organize themselves to effectively suggest legislation on the Regional, Protectoral, and imperial levels.

Section Two: Natopian Citizenship

Clause One: No Citizen shall be withheld any or all rights, freedoms, or liberties on account of race, creed, sex, or any reason.

Clause Two: All Citizens hold the right to vote, no Citizen will be denied to the right to vote. A Citizen must be fourteen years of age to be eligible to vote. All Natopian Officials must be registered and of voting age. All voters must register in the Protectorate of their residence.

Clause Three: Citizenship will not be denied on account of race, creed, or sex. Citizenship may be attained after 2 years of residence within national borders.

Clause Four: A Citizen of the Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia is automatically a Citizen of the Region and Protectorate in which they reside.

Clause Five: The Grand Chancellor must approve all special Citizenship requests and holds the power to immediately grant citizenship to individuals or groups.

Section Three: Legal Rights of the Citizens

Clause One: All Citizens are entitled to competent legal counsel. The Imperial and Regional Judicial Branches shall be responsible for providing competent counselors to Defendants.

Clause Two: A twelve-person jury of peers must convict Citizens. Judges may never determine verdicts unless the Defendant is the State, a Region, or a Protectorate.

Clause Three: Citizens must be given a trial that is to be completed as quickly as possible. Trials must be open to the general public to ensure fairness of the courts.

Clause Four: Citizens found guilty of their accusations must not be subjected to cruel punishments or humiliated or injured by unusual sentences.

Clause Five: While waiting for trial, the Citizens must not be asked to pay bail that is considered excessive in regard to their income.

Clause Six: A Citizen may not be brought to trial twice for the same crime if found guilty on the first accusation.

Clause Seven: Officials who are tried and found guilty of a crime and are sentenced to imprisonment must resign their position within 10 days.

Section Four: The Citizens’ Assembly

Clause One: The Citizens of this Republic shall hereby have the power to organize themselves in a Citizens’ Assembly with the purpose of initiating a referendum.

Clause Two: Should any Citizen feel a certain Law, Decree, or Policy is unjust and contradictory to the principles of freedom and expression they may organize the Citizens’ Assembly, which is composed of every Natopian Citizen that is registered to vote.

Clause Three: A two-thirds majority of the total Citizens’ Assembly of Natopia must be required in order for the questionable Law, Decree, or Policy to be repealed.

Clause Four: Also, the Citizens’ Assembly holds the power to initiate and vote upon any number of issues the Senate, Regional Assembly, Grand Chancellor, Regional Chancellor, Regional Judge or Grand Judge has refused to hear. A two-thirds majority of the Citizens’ Assembly must support any Bill initiated this way for it to become Public Law. Once the Citizens vote on a Bill, a majority of the Citizens’ Assembly may vote to repeal that Public Law.

Clause Five: No member of the government may use their powers to disrupt the referendum procedures. No member of the government may overrule any Public Law, once enacted. Only the Grand Judge may overturn a Public Law if they deem it unconstitutional.

Clause Six: Should the Citizens call for any sort of referendum, the government, imperial, Protectoral, or Regional, must provide a location for the Citizens’ Assembly to meet and organize themselves.

Article Four: Other Affairs

Section One: Concerning this Constitution

Clause One: This Constitution will go into effect once the Grand Chancellor and Grand Judge sign this document. Also the Grand Natopian Senate will endorse this document by a majority vote. A Senator, to be chosen by the Senate, will sign this document to signify the endorsement of the entire Senate. Any number of Natopian Senators may sign this document in addition to the first signing Senator.

Clause Two: In all matters of Regional, Protectoral, and Imperial Law, this Constitution shall be considered supreme law and any Law, Public Law, Command, Policy, or Decree in conflict with this document will be deemed unconstitutional by the Grand Judge and therefore void.

Clause Three: All Citizens, Regions, Protectorates, and officials shall be forever bound by this document once ratified.

Clause Four: To Amend this Constitution, the Grand Natopian Senate must pass a Proposed Amendment Bill. The Grand Chancellor may not have veto power while dealing with this type of Bill. Two-thirds of the Protectorates must approve the Proposed Amendment Bill for it to be enforced. Any Citizen or official may suggest a Proposed Amendment Bill to the Natopian Senate.

Clause Five: The Citizens’ Assembly also holds the power to Amend this Constitution. The entire Assembly must approve a Proposed Amendment. If it passes, it will be treated as a government-sponsored Amendment.

Section Two: Other Affairs

Clause One: To ensure further protection of our national sovereignty, Natopia shall be able to participate in all activities that outline statehood such as, but not limited to; foreign relations, taxation, land ownership, etc. As long as this document is in effect, the Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia shall remain sovereign in both name and practice. No foreign state or nation shall be able to interfere with Natopia's right of sovereignty.

Clause Two: The symbols of the Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia shall be protected and maintained by the Grand Chancellor. The Cross of Sovereignty shall represent the power of the government to protect the individual sovereignties of the Citizens and the sovereignty of the Republic itself. The Imperial Natopian Flag shall represent the physical Republic and all its Citizens. The Grand Chancellor can add further symbols at any time.


We, the Undersigned, hereby ordain this Constitution, support our secession from the United States of America, and sign accordingly: