Chapter 2

The Imperial Constitution:

Article 1 – Subjects of the Empire

Any sentient creature choosing to reside within the borders of the Empire or visiting or passing through its domain will be subject to its rule and laws, regardless of station, species, gender, or personal belief.

Sentient beings who have reached the age of majority for their species will be deemed independent subjects required to meet their obligations to the Empire and be secure in their own liberties and independence.

For the species of homo sapiens the age of majority is set at eighteen years of age.

All subjects of the Empire are obligated to support and defend this imperial constitution.

All subjects of the Empire are obligated to participate in elections called for under this constitution.

All subjects of the Empire are entitled to equal treatment under the law.

All subjects of the Empire are entitled to equal opportunity within the Empire except as enumerated with this constitution.

All subjects of the Empire are entitled to participate in education and commerce within the empire.

The plebiscite of the Empire shall be formed of all subjects who have reached their majority and reside within the borders of the Empire.

The forum of the Empire shall be comprised of representatives elected by the plebiscite and serve a term of five years with duties outlined in Article 4.

Members of the plebiscite are presumed to be competent and responsible for their own actions and debts. Proof that such presumption is not warranted may result in penalties and loss of rights as outlined in Article 5.

Article 2 - The Imperial Senate

The founding families of the Empire shall form the Aristocracy within the Empire from which the Imperial Senate shall be comprised.

The Imperial Senate shall be comprised of a single representative of thirty of the founding families, with each family casting a single vote in any matter.

The senate shall elect one of its members to be Emperor for life of the individual or until a unanimous vote of no-confidence rescinds the title. Elections must be by twenty of the thirty senate seats, and members may not cast a vote for themselves. The member moving for a vote of no-confidence, cannot be elected to the post of Emperor.

No family of the Aristocracy may hold the role of Emperor for consecutive periods, regardless of circumstance or voting.

The required duties and obligations of the emperor are defined in Article 3.

The Senate shall recommend no law which abrogates or diminishes the rights and obligations of the emperor.

The Senate shall be in-session for regular business no less than one-third of the year. The Senate may not adjourn if there is no seated Emperor. In the event Imperial succession is required while the Senate is not in session, they shall be required to convene with the first order of business being election of an Emperor from amongst their members.

The senate shall vote to endorsed or refuse any edict issued by the emperor. Imperial Edicts, once endorsed by at least twenty-five members of the Senate, shall be deemed a part of this constitution, and not subject to change through other means.

The Senate shall not approve any edict, or pass any law, tax, levy or fine which is applied differently to any subject of the Empire.

Any law recommended by the Senate and passed by a majority vote of members shall become law unless it is vetoed by the emperor within one hundred days of its passing.

Any law passed by the Senate and not vetoed by the emperor is presumed to remain in effect for that Emperor’s reign and will be deemed no longer in effect when the succeeding emperor is elected and ascends to the throne.

Members of the Senate shall be afforded no recompense or benefit by the Empire for their service. It is their obligation to serve all the people of the Empire.

The Senate shall be responsible for the public auditing of the imperial departments and ministries established by the emperor. The Senate is responsible for rectifying any discrepancy in revenues or disbursements reported by the Forum, up-to and including bringing criminal charges against the Exchequer, Ministers, or their staffs.

Article 3 - The Emperor

The emperor is charged with the protection of all laws established within this constitution.

The emperor is raised from the Senate but shall no longer participates in Senate duties once they ascend to office. The position of Emperor is for life of the office holder. They can only be removed by a unanimous vote of no confidence by the Senate, or death.

The emperor is obligated with calling the Senate to session for the good of the Empire, if legislation is required.

The emperor is obligated to prevent rise of the tyranny of the masses through action or veto of proposed laws. Popular opinion of the plebiscite does not replace facts and realities of the world.

The emperor is entitled to pardon any crime not prohibited by this constitution, and to commute any sentence for prohibited acts. Pardoning or commuting sentences for members of the direct imperial family or household are prohibited.

The emperor is entitled to propose edicts for the empire, which once ratified by twenty-five members of the senate shall become enduring additions to the imperial constitution. Any such edict, once ratified may only be repealed or modified by proposal of the Emperor and unanimous vote by the Senate.

The emperor is entitled to distribute up to two percent of the imperial income surplus from a given year for the creation, maintenance and upkeep of Imperial residences and retreats. Such properties shall be passed on to succeeding emperors.

The emperor is entitled to distribute up to three percent of the imperial income surplus from a given year for the establishment and maintenance of public parks, memorials, and reservations.

The emperor is entitled to distribute up to five percent of the imperial income for the maintenance of government institutions. Funding for such institutions must be re-approved bi-annually by the emperor. No imperial institution funded through this mechanism is guaranteed to remain in existence beyond their funding.

In the event of an aristocratic family being dissolved through lack of an heir, the emperor may nominate the elevation of a family head to the aristocracy. Such nominations must be endorsed by a majority of the remaining senators.

All subjects of the imperial government serve at the pleasure of the emperor and may be dismissed or replaced without prior notice or cause. Only the ministers defined within this constitution are required to be appointed and maintained.

The Exchequer:

The emperor is charged with the establishment of the Imperial Exchequer, to be responsible for the collection of duties, fees, and taxes as recommended by the Senate, and the disbursement of Imperial funds for goods and services received by the Empire.

The emperor is obligated to appoint a member of the aristocracy, not of their own family, to oversee the exchequer and imperial economy as the Minister of the Exchequer. The appointed family may not hold ministerial postings consecutively for multiple Emperors.

The Exchequer is responsible for establishing imperial revenue collection processes and disbursement and payment processes for the settling of all imperial accounts.

The Emperor and Senate shall allow no deficit spending spanning a fiscal year.

Exchequer is responsible for reporting on the finances to the Emperor, Senate, and Forum annually.

The Magistrate:

The emperor is charged with the establishment of the Imperial Magistrate, to be responsible for the interpretation, adjudication, and enforcement of imperial law on all subjects of the empire, equally.

The emperor is obligated to appoint a member of the aristocracy, not of their own family, to oversee the magistrates and imperial legal system as the Chief Magistrate of the Empire. The appointed family may not hold ministerial postings consecutively for multiple Emperors.

The magistrate shall establish judiciary processes for criminal proceedings and civil disputes requiring arbitration.

The magistrate shall appoint judges for regions within the empire, with the consent of the emperor.

No subject shall be deemed guilty without proof beyond a reasonable doubt such that at least three members of the judiciary agree the burden of proof has been met.

No subject shall be sentenced to death until the emperor has reviewed the merits of the case.

Any unequal application of criminal law found by the Forum shall require action by the Chief Magistrate and the Emperor to deliver justice to the injured party.

The Minister of War:

The emperor is charged with the safety of the Empire and Imperial subjects from all threats, foreign and domestic.

The emperor is obligated to appoint a member of the aristocracy, not of their own family, to oversee the military forces regarding staffing and readiness as the Minister of War. The appointed family may not hold ministerial postings consecutively for multiple Emperors.

The emperor is to allocate resources from Imperial funds to meet the staffing and readiness needs as recommended by the Minister of War and consent of the Senate.

The Ministers of Commerce -

The emperor is charged with the establishment of safe and fair commerce between subjects of the Empire and foreign entities.

The emperor is obligated to appoint at least one and no more than four members of the aristocracy, not of their own family, to oversee internal and external trade and commerce, and the regulation of technology and transportation.

Appointed Ministers of Commerce may not have financial interest in the commerce they are appointed to supervise. The appointed family may not hold ministerial postings consecutively for multiple Emperors.

The Ministers of Commerce shall be responsible for the collection of any tariffs, duties or taxes recommended by the Exchequer or Senate and approved by the emperor.

No member of the Aristocracy may fulfill multiple ministerial posts or Senate seats simultaneously. No family may directly control multiple ministries for an emperor except on an interim basis of no more than one hundred days.

Article 4 - The Imperial Forum

The Imperial Forum is comprised of no more and no less than 100 individuals elected from the plebiscite and not of the Aristocracy.

Twenty members of the forum shall be elected ‘at-large’ without regard to the location of their residence, or station within the Empire.

The remaining members of the forum shall be elected based on specific geographical boundaries as recommended by the Exchequer and ratified by the Senate. These regions must be established a minimum of two hundred days prior to the election.

Forum elections shall be held every five years, and within one year of the ascension of a new Emperor, or as called for by the emperor.

The emperor may call for a new election of the forum at any time, so long as the members have been in office for at least 400 days and has been in session for at least 50 days.

No subject may be elected to the forum for consecutive terms.

Elected forum members shall have transport to and from the capital, lodging and a fair living stipend provided while the forum is in session.