Atlantic:Constitution of the Regency

Preamble

In the name of the Virtues, from which comes our inspiration and our conviction, as the guide for our humanity and the path of the Lightbringer, concepts that direct all actions both of woman, of man and of States, We, the people of Britania, Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Liege Lord, Lord British, seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Courage, Truth and Love, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our lands restored, and concord established with other nations, Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution.

Article 1.

The Government of Britannia hereby affirms its inalienable, indefeasible, and sovereign right to choose its own form of Government, to determine its relations with other nations, and to develop its life, political, economic and cultural, in accordance with its own genius and traditions.

Article 2.

It is the entitlement and birthright of every person born in this realm, which includes its islands and seas, to be part of the Britannian nation. That is also the entitlement of all persons otherwise qualified in accordance with law to be citizens of Britain. Furthermore, the Britain nation cherishes its special affinity with people of all walks of life, and celebrates the diversity of our realm as a resource for those loyal to the King and his Regent.

Article 3.

It is the firm will of the Britannian Government, in harmony and friendship, to unite all the people who share the territories of Sosaria, in all the diversity of their identities and traditions, recognizing that a united Britain shall be brought about only by peaceful means with the consent of the majority of the people, in all jurisdictions. Laws enacted by the Parliament established by this Constitution and ratified by the Regent shall have the like area and extent of application as the laws enacted by governmental institutions that existed immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution.

Institutions with executive powers and functions that are shared between those jurisdictions may be established by their respective responsible authorities for stated purposes and may exercise powers and functions in respect of all or any part of the realm.

Article 4.

The name of the realm shall be referred known and referred to as Britannia on the world of Sosaria.

Article 5.

Britannian citizens pledge their fealty to the King of Britannia, Lord British, and his Regent and representatives.

Article 6.

All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, from the King of Britannia, Lord British, and his Regents and representatives whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State and, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy, according to the requirements of the common good.

These powers of government are exercisable only by or on the authority of the organs of State established by this Constitution.

Article 7.

On the coming into operation of this Constitution any person who was a citizen of Britannia, immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution, shall be recognized as a citizen of Britania.

The future acquisition and loss of Britannian nationality and citizenship shall be determined in accordance with law. No person may be excluded from Britannian nationality and citizenship by reason of the sex of such person.

Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the King are fundamental political duties of all citizens.

Article 8.

Provision will be made for the management and naming of the property which belongs to the nation by virtue of this Article and for the control of the alienation, whether temporary or permanent, of that property.

Provision may also be made by law for the management of land, mines, minerals and waters acquired by the State after the coming into operation of this Constitution and for the control of the alienation, whether temporary or permanent, of the land, mines, minerals and waters so acquired.

Article 9.

All revenues of the State from whatever source arising shall, subject to such exception as may be provided by law, form one fund, and shall be appropriated for the purposes and in the manner and subject to the charges and liabilities determined and imposed by law.

Article 10.

There shall be a Regent of Britania, hereinafter called the Regent, who shall take precedence over all other persons in the State and who shall exercise and perform the powers and functions conferred on by our King, Lord British.

The regent shall be appointed by our King Lord British, and recognized by members of the House Grand Parliament.

The Regent shall hold office until death, unless before that period they resign, or are removed from office, or becomes permanently incapacitated, such incapacity being established to the satisfaction of the Grand Parliament.

The Regent shall enter upon his office by taking and subscribing publicly, in the presence of members of the Parliament, and other public personages, the following declaration:

"In the presence of these individuals, I do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will maintain the Constitution of Britannia and uphold its laws, that I will fulfill my duties faithfully and conscientiously in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and that I will dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Britania. May Virtue direct and sustain me."

Article 11.

The Regent shall appoint the Chancellor and the Chamberlain, and in concert, shall appoint and recognize all vassals who hold directly from the Crown.

The Regent is granted the power to accept or refuse, in their absolute discretion, the appointments any member of the Government of Britannia.

The Regent shall promulgate every law made by the House of the Grand Council.

The supreme command of the Defense Forces is hereby vested in the Regent.

The exercise of the supreme command of the Defense Forces shall be vested in the Lord Chancellor and his appointed Military Commanders.

All commissioned officers of the Defense Forces shall hold their commissions from the Regent.

The right of pardon and the power to commute or remit punishment imposed by any court exercising criminal jurisdiction are hereby vested in the Regent, but such power of commutation or remission may, except in capital cases, also be conferred by law on other authorities.

The Regent may communicate with the Grand Parliament by message or address on any matter of national or public importance. The Regent may address a message to the Nation at any time on any such matter.

The Regent shall not be answerable to the Grand Parliament or to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and functions of his office or for any act done or purporting to be done by him in the exercise and performance of these powers and functions.

The behaviour of the Regent may, however, be brought under review for the purposes of this Constitution, or by any court, tribunal or body appointed or designated by the Grand Parliament for the investigation of a charge.

The powers and functions conferred on the Regent by this Constitution shall be exercisable and performable by him only on the advice of the Government, save where it is provided by this Constitution that he shall act in his absolute discretion or after consultation with or in relation to the Council of State, or on the advice or nomination of, or on receipt of any other communication from, any other person or body.

Subject to this Constitution, additional powers and functions may be conferred on the Regent by law.

Article 12.

In the event of the absence of the Regent, or his temporary incapacity, or his permanent incapacity established as provided or in the event of his death, resignation, removal from office, or failure to exercise and perform the powers and functions of his office or any of them, or at any time at which the office of Regent may be vacant, the powers and functions conferred on the Regent by or under this Constitution shall be exercised and performed by a Commission.

The Commission shall consist of the following persons, namely, the Lord/Lady Chancellor, the Lord/Lady Chamberlain and the Chairperson of the Grand Parliament. The Commission may act by any two of their number and may act notwithstanding a vacancy in their membership.

In the event of the failure of the Regent to exercise or perform any power or function which the Regent is by or under this Constitution required to exercise or perform within a specified time, the said power or function shall be exercised or performed under this Article, as soon as may be after the expiration of the time so specified.

Article 13

Grand Parliament and Powers

The National Parliament shall be called and known, and is in this Constitution generally referred to, as the Grand Parliament.

The Grand Parliament shall consist of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, and Representatives from Entities that have sworn fealty to Britannia and our Liege.

The House of the Grand Parliament shall sit in or near the City of Britain or in such other place as they may from time to time determine.

The sole and exclusive power of making laws for the Realm is hereby vested in the Grand Parliament:

Provision may however be made by law for the creation or recognition of subordinate legislatures and for the powers and functions of these legislatures.

The Grand Parliament may provide for the establishment or recognition of functional or vocational councils representing branches of the social and economic life of the people.

A law establishing or recognizing any such council shall determine its rights, powers and duties, and its relation to the Grand Parliament and to the Government.

The Grand Parliament shall not enact any law which is in any respect repugnant to this Constitution or any provision thereof.

Every law enacted by the Grand Parliament which is in any respect repugnant to this Constitution or to any provision thereof, shall, but to the extent only of such repugnancy, be invalid by direct order of the Regent.

The Grand Parliament shall not declare acts to be infringements of the law which were not so at the date of their commission.

The Grand Parliament shall hold at least one session every year.

Sittings of the House of the Grand Parliament shall be public.

In cases of special emergency, however, the House may hold a private sitting.

The House of the Grand Parliament shall elect from its members its own Chairman and Deputy Chairman, and shall prescribe their powers and duties.

The House of the Grand Parliament shall make its own rules and standing orders, with power to attach penalties for their infringement, and shall have power to ensure freedom of debate, to protect its official documents and the private papers of its members, and to protect itself and its members against any person or persons interfering with, molesting or attempting to corrupt its members in the exercise of their duties.

All questions in each House shall, save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present.

The number of members necessary to constitute a meeting of the House of the Grand Parliament for the exercise of its powers shall be no less than half of the total active membership.

All official reports and publications of the House of the Grand Parliament shall be shared in a public document, for all citizens to read and understand.

The members of the Grand Parliament shall, except in case of treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest in going to and returning from, and while within the precincts of, the House of the Grand Parliament, and shall not, in respect of any utterance in the House of the Grand Parliament , be amenable to any court or any authority other than the House itself.

No member of the Small Council may hold a position on the Grand Parliament, though they may, and are encouraged to, attend a sitting. However, in cases where the Grand Parliament has an even number of members and a deadlocked vote has occurred, the Lord/Lady Chamberlain will be expected to sit in on the meetings and, if necessary, cast a deciding vote.

If any person who is already a member the House of the grand Parliament becomes a member of the Small Council, he shall forthwith be deemed to have vacated his first seat.

Every Bill initiated in and passed by the Grand Parliament shall be a matter of public record, and implemented after ratification by the Regent.