Sarzonian Constitution

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Preamble

We the people of Sarzonia, in order to protect the rights, freedoms, and liberties we hold dear, hereby ordain and establish this Constitution for the Incorporated States of Sarzonia.

Article I

Section 1

Executive power shall be vested in a President, who shall, upon the death, resignation or removal from office of the founder of Sarzonia, be elected every six years and shall serve no more than two terms of office, consecutively or otherwise.

Section 2

One Lieutenant President and a Senior Vice President shall assist the President in the governing of the country. The Lieutenant President shall serve as acting President in the event of the death, removal from office, resignation, or temporary inability of the President to perform his duties. A Senior Vice President and External Affairs Officer shall represent Sarzonia’s interests as the senior representative of Sarzonia. He shall serve as acting President in the event of the inability of the Lieutenant President to serve in the same capacity.

Section 3

The daily functions of the country shall be supervised by a Cabinet, which reports directly to the President. Each position on the Cabinet shall be led by a Vice President.

Section 4

The President shall be commander-in-chief of all Sarzonian armed forces.

Article II

Section 1

Legislative powers shall be vested in a Parliament, which shall be comprised of the House of Delegates and the Senate.

Section 2

The House of Delegates shall serve as the upper House and is the direct voice of the People of Sarzonia. Each State may elect one Delegate to serve in the House of Delegates for every one million persons in its population. Any state with fewer than one million people shall be entitled to one Delegate. Each Delegate is elected to serve a two year term and may serve no more than two terms in office consecutively or three terms not in succession.

Clause 1

The Lieutenant President shall serve as President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided.

Clause 2

The House of Delegates shall have sole power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Affirmation. When the President of the Incorporated States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside. And no person shall be convicted without the Concurrance of two thirds of the Members present.

Clause 3

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the Incorporated States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Section 3

The Senate shall serve as the lower House and each Senator is appointed by the Governor of each State with the Legislature of each State’s vote of approval. Each Senator may serve no more than two six-year terms, either consecutively or otherwise.

Section 4

For any declarations of War, either the President must either officially ask Parliament for a declaration of war and Parliament must approve by simple majority in both chambers, or Parliament must vote by simple majority pending the President's ascent.

Section 5

Clause 1

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Clause 2

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Clause 3

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

Clause 4

Neither House, during the Session of Parliament, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section 6

Clause 1

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the Senate; but the House of Delegates may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Clause 2

Every Bill which shall have passed the Senate and the House of Delegates, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the Incorporated States; If he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Parliament by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Clause 3

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the House of Delegates and Senate may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the Incorporated States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section 7

Clause 1

The Parliament shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the Incorporated States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the Incorporated States;

Clause 2

To borrow Money on the credit of the Incorporated States;

Clause 3

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States;

Clause 4

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the Incorporated States;

Clause 5

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

Clause 6

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the Incorporated States;

Clause 7

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

Clause 8

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

Clause 9

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Judicial Court;

Clause 10

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

Clause 11

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

Clause 12

To provide and maintain an Army;

Clause 13

To provide and maintain a Navy, including a Space-borne Navy;

Clause 14

To provide and maintain an Air Force;

Clause 15

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

Clause 16

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

Clause 17

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the Incorporated States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Parliament;

Clause 18

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, Dockyards, and other needful Buildings;--And

Clause 19

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the Incorporated States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section 8

Clause 1

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

Clause 2

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

Clause 3

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

Clause 4

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

Clause 5

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

Section 9

Clause 1

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

Clause 2

No State shall, without the Consent of Parliament, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the Incorporated States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress

Clause 3

No State shall, without the Consent of Parliament, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Article III

Section 1

Judicial power shall be vested in a Supreme Judicial Court, with six Associate Justices and one Chief Justice, all appointed for life by the President and confirmed by the House of Delegates. The Chief Justice may not vote in any decision unless the Associate Justices have reached a tie vote.

Section 2

Up to four Alternate Justices shall be appointed via the same process used to appoint Associate Justices and the Chief Justice to serve in the event that up to two Justices must recuse themselves from a case.

Article IV

Section 1

In the event of the death, removal from office, resignation, or temporary inability of the President to perform the duties incumbent upon him, the Lieutenant President shall assume the title of Acting President for the length of the temporary inability or for the remainder of the term. In the event of the inability of the Lieutenant President to assume the title of President, the Senior Vice President and External Affairs Officer shall assume the title of Acting President.

Section 2

The remaining line of succession for the title of President is as follows: The Speaker of the House of Delegates; the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate; each Vice President in descending order of their Cabinet position’s establishment. In the event of the entire line of succession being unable to discharge the duties of President, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court shall serve as acting President and shall organize and conduct a special Election to re-establish the Government.

Section 3

In the event of the complete destruction of the capital of Sarzonia, the capital city of the least populous state shall serve as the capital and the government of that state shall serve as the interim executive government of Sarzonia until a new capital city can be constructed or voted upon by the People. In the event that city is destroyed, the capital of the next smallest state shall serve in the same capacity.

Section 4

In the event the Governor of the state wherin the reserve capital resides becomes acting President, he shall be responsible to call a special election to re-establish the executive and legislative branches of government as soon as practicable, but not later than six months from the time the national crisis has begun. The newly elected President and Parliament shall be responsible for appointing the new Supreme Judicial Court.

Article V

Section 1

Sarzonia shall be divided into 25 States, with a National Capital that is a separate jurisdiction from any State.

Section 2

The Capital shall receive representation in Parliament as if it were a State, with two Senators and one Delegate per five million people population. The two Senators shall be appointed by the Mayor of the National Capital with approval by the City Council.

Article VI

Parliament shall make no law respecting an establishment of or furthering of any particular national religion nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Parliament also is expressly prohibited from denying or abridging the freedoms of speech and of the press or the ability of the people to assemble peacefully for a redress of grievances against the government.

Article VII

Section 1

The right of the People to be secure in their persons, their papers, and their effects from unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be infringed.

Section 2

This article grants the people a right to privacy that may not be infringed without a properly-served Warrant for arrest or without a preponderance of Evidence to Suggest that the person has committed a capital or otherwise infamous Crime.

Article VIII

No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury unless in cases arising in the military forces when in service during a time of war. No person shall be subject for the same offense to be put in jeopardy of life or limb nor be compelled in a criminal case to be a witness against himself. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. No private land shall be taken for public use without due compensation.

Article IX

All persons born or naturalized in Sarzonia and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of Sarzonia and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law to abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of Sarzonia. In addition, no State shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Article X

Section 1

Full faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State. And the Parliament may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proven, and the effect thereof.

Section 2

A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall be extradited to the original State upon request of the executive authority of the original State.

Article XI

Section 1

The right of citizens 18 years of age or older to vote in national and local elections in Sarzonia shall not be infringed.

Section 2

Any person or persons convicted of a capital or other infamous crime shall be ineligible to vote for the remainder of their lives as citizens of Sarzonia.

Article XII

No law varying the compensation of any member of an elected government body shall take effect until an election of the members of the elected government body shall have intervened.

Article XIII

Section 1

Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender of birth or of reassignment, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, physical disability, or other protected class is expressly prohibited.

Section 2

Parliament shall have the authority to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Article XIV

Section 1

The laws of the Incorporated States of Sarzonia shall be considered the supreme laws of the land. Any state or local laws that contradict those of the national government shall be considered null and void.

Section 2

Parliament shall have the authority to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Article XV

Section 1

No person shall be eligible to hold elected local, state or national office in Sarzonia who has supported insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. [No such person shall be eligible to hold voting rights in such elections.] But Parliament may by a vote of two-thirds of each House restore the eligibility to do so.

Section 2

The validity of the public debt of Sarzonia, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither Sarzonia nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against Sarzonia, but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 3

The first Section of this Article is not applicable to any citizens of any State who shall have supported Sarzonia in insurrection or rebellion against the same. It is also not applicable to any citizens who have not reached eighteen years of age by the conclusion of insurrection or rebellion.

Article XVI

Parliament may not grant any title of nobility and no citizen may accept such title from a foreign government or jurisdiction therein without the consent of Parliament and the President.

Article XVII

Section 1

During a period of declared national emergency including war, impending economic collapse, or other urgent situation, the President shall have the authority to suspend this Constitution until such time as the state of emergency shall have passed.

Section 2

Upon the signing and ratification of any treaty ending war, period of documented economic recovery, or conclusion of urgent situation, the Constitution shall be fully restored to its peacetime status as the supreme law of the land.

Article XVIII

Section 1

English shall be the official language of government and conduct of business functions throughout Sarzonia.

Section 2

This article shall not be construed as to limit the language of choice for the people in their daily lives or in their family interactions.

Article XIX

Section 1

Effective at the beginning of the fiscal year following the Ratification of this Article, the office of Senior Vice President for Internal Affairs shall henceforth be known as the office of Lieutenant President.

Section 2

The Lieutenant President shall serve as Presiding Officer of the Cabinet during official Absences by the President and during non-urgent Situations, as defined by Parliament in acts approved as a result of the Ratification of this Article. Unless otherwise specified by the President, the Lieutenant President shall have the full Authority to sign Legislation, represent the office of the President, or perform other actions except for declarations of War. The Lieutenant President shall serve as acting Head of State during such times following the Death, Removal From Office, or Resignation of the President.

Section 3

This Article shall become Inoperative within seven Years should it not be Ratified by the People by Majority Vote.

Article XX

The inhabitants of Sarzonia are entitled to the Common Law of the United States of America and of England, and the trial by Jury, according to the course of that Law, and to the benefit of such of the English statutes as were extant on the Fourth day of July, seventeen hundred and seventy-six; to the benefit of such of the American statutes as were extant on the twenty second day of March, two thousand and four; and which, by experience, have been found applicable to their state, local, and other circumstances, and have been introduced, used and practiced by the Courts of Law or Equity; and also of all Acts of Assembly in force on the twenty second day of March, two thousand and four; except such as may have since expired, or may be inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution; subject, nevertheless, to the revision of, and amendment or repeal by, Parliament.