Historical Documents: Second Constitution

[Nathan]

Articles of The Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia

I, the Grand Chancellor, hereby establish and ordain this document in order to form a more perfect society of near utopian like qualities. To provide for the defense and protection of all citizens’ rights. To create a society where the government does not burden the individual but the individual burdens the government. To create a community where all can belong. It is these principles that the Sovereign Imperial Republic of Natopia is established and strives to protect.

Article the First: The National Government

Section One – The Legislative Branch
Clause I - The Legislative Branch shall consist of the Grand Natopian Senate, composed of elected and appointed Senators, and headed by the Grand Consul.
Clause II - The Grand Consul of the Natopian Senate shall be appointed by the Grand Chancellor and have the duties of leading the debate in the Senate, casting votes in draws, and voting in regular legislation. The Grand Consul will serve for life or until they step down.
Clause III - The Senate shall discuss and pass bills of national importance into Law and strive to improve the nation and its citizens. A simple majority vote is required to pass a bill into Law. The Senate shall be able to establish public institutions that better our society.
Clause IV – Senators will be elected from the Regions. Each Region shall elect a maximum of three Senators to send to the Natopian Senate. If no Senators have been democratically selected, then the Grand Chancellor shall appoint any Citizen he sees fit to carry out the duties, based on recommendations from the Regional Chancellor of the Region being represented by the appointed Senator. The Grand Chancellor may also appoint Special Delegates to the Senate to observe proceedings. Senators will serve for unlimited terms, each term lasting 6 years.
Clause V - Citizens may inform the Grand Chancellor or Grand Consul of a Senator that may warrant removal. Regional Chancellors may also suggest the removal of their Senator. The Grand Chancellor and Grand Consul must jointly agree on the removal of a Senator. The Citizens may ask the Senator from their Region for the introduction of a bill and may lobby the Senate until two days prior to voting.
Clause VI - The Natopian Senate shall be required to make a full inquiry of the Grand Judge if they remove the Grand Chancellor from office, one week after the termination. The Grand Chancellor may overturn any Senate laws without question.

Section Two – The Executive Branch
Clause I - The Executive Branch shall consist of the Grand Chancellor and the Ministry of Natopian Affairs.
Clause II - The Grand Chancellor shall hold their office for life, unless the Grand Judge enforces their power as outlined in Article One, Section Three, Clause III. The power to enact any Law or command without question shall be bestowed upon the Grand Chancellor. Any law or verbal Decree made by the Grand Chancellor is considered primary law and any Senate law, Regional law, Judicial policy, or Ministry policy in contradiction of supreme law shall be considered void.
Clause III - The Grand Chancellor must approve any and all laws passed by the Senate and Regional Assembly or any policies recommended by any other official or Ministry. If the Grand Chancellor does nothing to a bill or policy, the bill will pass into Law and the policy will be enforced.
Clause IV - Unless an Ambassador is appointed, the Grand Chancellor represents the Republic to foreign nations or organizations. The Grand Chancellor also holds the power to recognize any nation without question.
Clause V - The Grand Chancellor may appoint a Regional Chancellor at any time.
Clause VI – It shall be the Grand Chancellor’s duty to create and approve a budget every fiscal term.
Clause VII - The Grand Chancellor shall also hold the positions of Grand Mayor of Lindstrom, Grand Overseer of the District of Shepard, and Grand Commander of the Natopian Defense Force.
Clause VIII - The Grand Chancellor must appoint several Ministers to a Ministry of Natopian Affairs. The Ministry must have officials overseeing the Lower Ministries of Education, Domestic Affairs, Financial Affairs, and Natopian Development. The most senior Minister shall be appointed as Prime Minister and have the duties of leading Ministry business and meetings and to represent the Ministry to the Grand Chancellor.
Clause IX - Powers not granted to other Branches and not reserved by the Citizens are hereby granted to the Grand Chancellor.

Section Three – The Judicial Branch
Clause I - The Judicial Branch shall consist of the Grand Court of All Laws and Rights, headed by the Grand Judge and any Lower Courts they chose to create.
Clause II - The Grand Court of All Laws and Rights and Lower Courts shall hear cases involving questions of Law and civil conflicts. The Grand Judge shall have the power to establish any lower court they deem necessary and appoint any qualified judge to oversee those courts. Court establishments and judge appointments do not need any Chancellorial approval. The Grand Judge alone holds the power to immediately terminate the Grand Chancellor from their office if they are found to be acting in tyranny. The Grand Judge also shall be able to overrule any verbal Decree of the Grand Chancellor with any reasonable doubt.
Clause III - Should the Grand Judge remove the Grand Chancellor, they will assume the role of Grand Chancellor, and all appointed officials should retain their position. To enforce the removal of the Grand Chancellor and to prevent their return, the Grand Judge may command the Natopian Defense Force

Section Four – The Religious Branch
Clause I - The Religious Branch shall consist of the Natopian National Church and the Supreme Spiritual Leader. The Natopian National Church will be established under the Christian faith.
Clause II - The Natopian National Church and the Supreme Spiritual Leader shall have absolutely no legislative, judicial, executive, or military power granted to them. No Amendment or Redraft of this document shall ever grant this Branch any aforementioned powers.
Clause III - The Supreme Spiritual Leader shall be able to establish lower churches and a hierarchy of lower Spiritual Leaders. This Branch shall serve its nation by reminding officials to act in a Christ-like manner. The Natopian National Church shall have no specific creeds and support all views of Christianity. The Church or Leader shall never enforce Christianity upon any citizen or official.

Section Five – The Military Branch
Clause I - The Military Branch shall consist of the Natopian Defense Force, the Supreme Commander, and the Grand Commander.
Clause II - The Natopian Defense Force shall defend the nation from any and all threats.
Clause III - The Supreme Commander shall command the Force, however, the Grand Chancellor holds the title of Grand Commander and will hold the last decision in all military actions.
Clause IV - The Supreme Commander or the Natopian Defense Force shall have absolutely no legislative, judicial, executive, or religious power granted to him or her. No Amendment or Redraft of this document shall ever grant this Branch any aforementioned powers.
Clause V - Should the Republic acquire new lands as the result of treaty or conflict, the Natopian Defense Force will establish an occupational government in the territory. The Natopian Defense Force will set up a Commanding Council for legislation, a Military Tribunal for judicial actions, and the Supreme Commander shall act as executive, using specific powers granted to them by the Grand Commander for each occupation. The Supreme Commander may appoint a leader of a Defense Force division to act as executive in their absence.

[Nathan]

Clause VI - The length of the occupation shall be a minimum of six months. At the end of the six months an investigation lead by the Supreme Commander, Grand Commander and two native residents will determine if the occupied territory can be admitted to the Republic as a full Region. If conditions are not adequate, a follow up investigation must be performed every three months until the occupied territory is admitted as a Region.
Clause VII - The Supreme Commander or Grand Commander may appoint and/or promote officers to any positions they see fit. However, the command of Aerial, Ground, and Aquatic defenses must be filled.

Article the Second: The Regional Government

Section One – Legislative Branch

Clause I - The Regional Legislative Branch shall consist of the Regional Assembly and the Regional Praetor.
Clause II - A Regional Assembly shall only govern a Region of Natopia if a Regional Chancellor has been either appointed by the Grand Chancellor or requested by the residents of that Region.
Clause III - The Regional Praetor shall preside over the Regional Assembly and cast votes only in ties. The Regional Chancellor shall appoint the Regional Praetor for life.
Clause IV - Those serving in the Regional Assembly shall hold the title of Regent. Regents will be selected by a joint decision of the Regional Praetor and Regional Chancellor. The size of the Regional Assembly shall be no less then five and shall increase based on a formula agreed upon by a Regional Joint Quorum, consisting of all existing Regents, the Regional Chancellor, Judge, and Praetor.
Clause V – The Regional Assembly will investigate the Regional Judge if they terminate the Regional Chancellor’s tenure.
Clause V – In all other matters the Regional Assemblies shall mirror the Grand Natopian Senate in voting and duty specifics.

Section Two – Executive Branch

Clause I - The Regional Chancellor holds autonomy in Regional affairs and may make any Decrees necessary for the betterment of that Region.
Clause II – The residents of a Region may ask for a Regional Chancellor if one has not been appointed to them.
Clause III - If a Region has no desire to ask for a Regional Chancellor, the Region must follow all national laws without question.
Clause IV - The Regional Chancellor may also establish a Ministry of Regional Affairs, if they so desire.

Section Three – Judicial Branch

Clause I - A Regional Judge shall be appointed for life by the Regional Chancellor.
Clause II - The Regional Judge also has the power to establish Region Courts to hear cases taking place in the Region.
Clause III – The Regional Judge holds the power to terminate the Regional Chancellor’s tenure if they deem it tyrannical. Should this occur the Regional Judge would act as the new Regional Chancellor until the Grand Chancellor restructures the Region.

Section Four – Military Branch

Clause I - A Region may establish a military organization only for the purpose of immediate Regional defense and to provide a supplement to the Natopian Defense Force. The Regional Chancellor must remain in complete control of the Regional Militia and may appoint officers to aid him.

Section Five – Other Regional Affairs

Clause I - All laws enacted by the Regional Chancellor or the Regional Assembly may be overturned by the Grand Chancellor, Grand Judge, or Grand Senate.
Clause II - The District of Shepard shall contain the capital, Lindstrom. The District of Shepard shall have a Grand Overseer to ensure the day to day governing of the district. The District shall never be under the control of a Region. Residents of the District of Shepard may not ask for a Regional Chancellor. All petitions will be directed to the Grand Overseer.
Clause III - Any Region may create and ratify a constitution, as long as the contents of said document do not conflict with the contents of these Articles.
Clause IV – The Grand Chancellor may only admit new Regions to the Republic. As a Region is admitted, its borders are finalized. The Regional and Grand Chancellors must agree upon any redrawing of the Regional borders.

Article the Third: The Citizens

Clause I - The Citizens’ hold all rights granted to them by God. The freedom of speech shall never be infringed upon, nor will freedom of true press, to peaceably assemble, life, religion, property, privacy, residence, and petition. No citizen shall be withheld any or all rights on account of race, creed, or sex. The Citizens, hereby hold all rights and freedoms not listed in these Articles and not granted to other Branches.
Clause II - No person shall be denied citizenship on account of race, creed, or sex. All Citizens hold the right to vote. Residents may apply for citizenship only after 5 years of residence within officially recognized borders. The Grand Chancellor must approve all special requests and holds the power to immediately grant citizenship to individuals or groups.
Clause III - All Citizens are entitled to legal counsel, jury of their peers, a speedy and public trial, and no cruel or unusual punishment. Citizens shall not be forced to pay excessive bail nor shall they be tried twice for the same crime.
Clause IV - The Citizens of this Republic shall hereby have the power to organize themselves in a Citizens’ Assembly with the purpose of initiating a referendum. Should any Citizen feel a certain Law, Decree, or Policy is unjust and contradictory to the principles of freedom and expression they may organize a Citizens’ Assembly, who support the repealing of any Law, Decree, or Policy. 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. Also, the Citizens’ Assembly holds the power to initiate and vote upon any number of issues the Senate, Grand Chancellor, or Grand Court has failed 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. 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. Should the Citizens call for any sort of referendum, the government, national or regional, must provide a location for the Citizens’ Assembly to meet and organize themselves.


Article the Fourth: Concerning this Document and Other Affairs

Clause I - 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 II – In all matters of Regional and national Law, these Articles 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 Court and therefore void.
Clause III - All citizens, Regions, and officials shall be forever bound by this document once enacted.
Clause IV - To Amend this document, the Grand Chancellor, Grand Consul, and Grand Judge’s consent is required. A Grand Quorum of the Grand Judge,

[Nathan]

Grand Consul, and Grand Chancellor may only redraft this document after ratification.
Clause V - This document will go into effect once the Grand Chancellor verbally and legally Decrees this. Also the Grand Consul, and Grand Judge must freely give their consent. As a further protection from tyranny, three officials, and three citizens must freely ratify this document. For this document, consent must be in the form of a signature.
Clause VI - Let it be known that all the below listed persons, being of sound mind, freely endorse and ratify the Articles of this Republic.

The Grand Chancellor of Natopia,
Nathan L. Shepard - signed

The Grand Judge of All Laws and Rights,
Sherry Lochhaas - signed

The Grand Consul of the Grand Natopian Senate,
Andrew Shin - signed

Three Natopian Officials,
Aaron Paveletich - signed
Steve Shin - signed
Drew Skyles - signed

Three Natopian Citizens,
Julie C.K. Holmes - signed
Jana Shepard - signed
Gregory J. Molina Jr. - signed