[DRAFT] New Constitution

[Eðo Grischun]

DRAFT

THE
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
UNITED PROVINCES OF
VUODE AND DANDENBURG

Preamble

We, The citizens of The United Provinces of Vuode and Dandenburg hereby abandon and repeal the provincial constitution as ratified in 2010. We adopt and ratify the following document as the constitution of the province to assure our inalienable rights of self-governance and to all powers not vested in the Kingdom by the Organic Law. We recognize the secession of the province from the Kingdom of Talossa of November of 1992, commonly called the “Glorious 21 Days,” as retroactively illegal under the Organic Law. We seek to develop a provincial government that will withstand human foibles and corruption. We seek to develop a system in which any adult citizen of the province has the right to represent themselves in the legislative process. We wish for our province to flourish and become active and desire a government that can and will work towards these goals.




Article I: Points of State

SECTION 1: The official name of the Province, in the national language, is Las Provinçuns Ünits da Vuode es Dandenburg. In English, the name of the Province is The United Provinces of Vuode and Dandenburg. Both the name of the Province in English and in the national language may be shortened to Vuode, Dandenburg, the United Provinces, or Las Provincuns Ünits.

SECTION 2: The territory of Vuode consists of all land south of Kenwood, east of Maryland, and North of North and Park Road.

SECTION 3: Any lands or islands that are formed or that may appear in Vuode’s territorial water, in whole or in part, shall form a part of the provincial territory.

SECTION 4: Vuode consists of two cantons: Vuode and Dun Cestour.

SECTION 5: The capital of Vuode is the Pontiac. However, for sentimental purposes, the Pavilion shall be enshrined as a historical capital.



Article II: The Cunstaval

SECTION 1: All powers given to the King on the national level shall be given the Cunstaval on the provincial level.

SECTION 2: The Cunstaval shall responsible for convening and dissolving each session of the Estats Xhenerais.

SECTION 3: The Cunstaval shall be responsible for the swearing in and dismissal of the Premier.

SECTION 4: The Cunstaval shall be responsible for the swearing in and dismissal of Justices of the Peace.

SECTION 5: The Cunstaval shall be responsible for registering and certifying political parties in Vuode.




Article III: Elections to the Estats Xhenerais

SECTION 1: The Estats Xhenerais, or in English, the States General, is the provincial legislative council of Vuode.

SECTION 2: All adult citizens of Vuode are eligible for election to the Estats Xhenerais.

SECTION 3: All adult citizens of Vuode are entitled to vote in elections to the Estats Xhenerais.

SECTION 4: Grand Sessions of the Estats Xhenerais are instantly convened and dissolved with those of the national Ziu. That is to say provincial elections are held concurrently with national general elections.

SECTION 5: Elections shall be carried out in accordance with any applicable United Provinces Byelaw.

SECTION 6: During each election, a person may vote for a registered political party, as to be defined by law within the province of Vuode. Seats will be assigned to a political party based on proportional representation. Each political party will then assign seats as it deems necessary


Article IV: Composition of the Estats Xhenerais

SECTION 1: The Estats Xhenerais is a unicameral, multi-seat assembly which consist of as many seats as there were votes in the previous election.

SECTION 2: Members holding seats are known as Councillors.

SECTION 3: Councillors may hold multiple seats.

SECTION 4: The provincial head of government is known as the Premier.

SECTION 5: The Premier is the provincial leader of the largest political party elected to the Estats Xhenerais.

SECTION 6: The Estats Xhererais will nominate and elect a Presiding Officer from within it's own body at the start of each Grand Session. The Presiding Officer shall convene and conduct legislative sessions of the Estats Xhenerais in a manner similar to the Secretary of State on the national level and in accordance with any applicable United Provinces Byelaw.



Article V: Passing Legislation

SECTION 1: Any provincial legislation in effect is known as a United Provinces Byelaw.

SECTION 2: United Provinces Byelaws are passed by a simple majority of the Estats Xhenerais.

SECTION 3: Each Grand Session of the Estats Xhenerais shall be made of six legislative sessions and shall mirror the schedule of the national Ziu.

SECTION 4: Legislative sessions are convened and conducted by the Presiding Officer.

SECTION 5: Bills that have passed must be signed by the Cunstaval. Bills are silently assented to after 30 days.

SECTION 6: The Premier may make a 'United Provinces Decree' (UPD). A UPD takes full force of United Provinces Byelaw. The Estats Xhenerais may repeal a UPD by 2/3 majority.

SECTION 7: The Cunstaval may Veto any Bill or UPD.



Article VI: Votes of Confidence

SECTION 1: Any Councillor of the Estats Xhenerais may, at any time during a Grand Session, propose a Bill of No Confidence in that body. When such a Bill is proposed it shall be voted upon in the next available legislative session. If the Bill passes then the Cunstaval shall dissolve the Grand Session and govern the province under Crown rule until the next scheduled provincial election.



Article VII: The Court

SECTION 1: The judicial power of the province shall be vested in one Justice of the Peace Court and in such inferior judicial panels as the Estats Xhenerais may from time to time establish.

SECTION 2: The Justice of the Peace Court has ultimate jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters arriving from and pertaining to the province of Vuode.

SECTION 3: A judge of the provincial court is known as Justice of the Peace (JP) and is a layman of the law. A Justice of the Peace must be a citizen of Vuode in good standing. There are no occupational restrictions on the office. There are no minimum or maximum limits to the number of JPs permitted.

SECTION 4: Each Justice of the Peace is at first nominated by the Premier to the Estats Xhenerais. The Estats Xhenerais will elect each JP nominee by majority vote. The Cunstaval must then swear the nominee into office.

SECTION 5: A Justice of the Peace holds office for life. A JP can be removed from office by a majority vote of the Estats Xhenerais. A JP can also be removed from office at the pleasure of the Cunstaval. A JP can also offer his resignation to the Cunstaval at any time.

SECTION 6: Each case shall be brought to and heard in the Justice of the Peace Court in accordance with any procedure or protocol defined by United Provinces Byelaw so long as these procedures or protocols do not infringe upon a citizen's Organic rights and freedoms.

SECTION 7: Any decision made by the Justice of the Peace Court may be challenged by filing an appeal with the Clerk of Courts on the national level.



Article VIII: Amendments to the Constitution

SECTION 1: Amendments may only be proposed by the Estats Xhenerais which must unanimously approve them. The amendment is then delivered to the people of Vuode during the next general election who must approve it by a two thirds majority.



So say the Citizens of Vuode.

[Deleted]

Great work!

I would take "SECTION 6: The historical flag, coat of arms, motto and anthem of Vuode (those used before the ratification of this document) shall continue to be used as official instruments." out. That is something we pass into law, not something that should be enshrined in our founding document. Also, I'm not sure how the estates general appoints seats. How do we assign members? Do we vote on person or party? I would actually say that we vote for parties and follow the system we have in the Ziu.

Proposed: Article III Section 6: During each election, a person may vote for a registered party, as to be defined by law within the province of Vuode, who will then divide up the seats based on proportional representation.

I would then propose that we pass a law immediately after ratification defining what a registered party is. I would say a party needs to be registered at least 30 days prior an the beginning of an election cycle, or even 60 days.

[Eðo Grischun]

Oct 4, 2012 8:55:24 GMT -6 Viteu Marcianüs said:

Great work!

I would take "SECTION 6: The historical flag, coat of arms, motto and anthem of Vuode (those used before the ratification of this document) shall continue to be used as official instruments." out. That is something we pass into law, not something that should be enshrined in our founding document. Also, I'm not sure how the estates general appoints seats. How do we assign members? Do we vote on person or party? I would actually say that we vote for parties and follow the system we have in the Ziu.

Proposed: Article III Section 6: During each election, a person may vote for a registered party, as to be defined by law within the province of Vuode, who will then divide up the seats based on proportional representation.

I would then propose that we pass a law immediately after ratification defining what a registered party is. I would say a party needs to be registered at least 30 days prior an the beginning of an election cycle, or even 60 days.

Agreed and updated.

[Deleted]

Below are some changes to the proposed constitution:

"Article I Section 1: The official name of the Province, in the national language, is Las Provinçuns Ünits da Vuode es Dandenburg. In English, the name of the Province is The United Provinces of Vuode and Dandenburg. Both the name of the Province in English and in the national language may be shortened to Vuode, Dandenburg, the United Provinces, or Las Provincuns Ünits."

Why? Well, Vuode has a lot of history behind it, and we do often overlook Dandenburg. Besides, the United Provinces actually sounds much cooler.

I want to amend my earlier proposal to the following:

"Article III Section 6: During each election, a person may vote for a registered political party, as to be defined by law within the province of Vuode. Seats will be assigned to a political party based on proportional representation. Each political party will then assign seats as it deems necessary."

Also I think we should assign the registering of parties to the Cunstaval.

"Article II Section 5: The Cunstaval shall be responsible for registering and certifying political parties in Vuode."

[Eðo Grischun]

Updated on your suggestions.

I've added this to Article 5:

SECTION 6: The Premier may make a 'United Provinces Decree' (UPD). A UPD takes full force of United Provinces Byelaw. The Estats Xhenerais may repeal a UPD by 2/3 majority.

SECTION 7: The Cunstaval may Veto any Bill or UPD.


I've also went through and changed references to Vuodean Byelaw to United Provinces Byelaw.

Okay with that?

Looking forward to when Sir T gets a chance to read this over too.

[Deleted]

Looks good. I think it is 'bylaw' however.

[Eðo Grischun]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byelaws_in_the_United_Kingdom

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bylaw

Can be both it seems. Which shall we use for the official spelling here? I have no preference.

[Trotxâ]

I second the "Great Work" motion. Thank you for getting started with this. I hope I can add a few bence to this discussion.

First: I suggest the Vuodese spelling be "Byelaws".

Second, since there are only about four of us in Vuode, I recommend we dispense with the additional level of representation. I recommend that (for the time being) the States General IS all adult citizens of Vuode. Let's see direct democracy at work.

Notes on this suggestion:
1. Let's keep the party politics out of Vuode. We are too few to devise new ways to separate us.
2. The first item of business in any meeting is to elect a Premiere to chair that session.
3. No Premiere may serve consecutive terms.
4. The serving Cunstaval has neither voice nor vote in the States General.
5. All votes are by simple majority.

Third, why do we need a court? Let the States General serve as the jury, with any litigants and defendants speaking before the assembly to prove their case. No lawyers should be admitted or permitted.

Fourth, we need a preamble stating the goals of the government and of the constitution. Is the purpose of this agreement providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare or securing the blessings of liberty (or something else?)

One final observation: Does Article III, section 4 contradict Article II, section 2? If not, why not?

Brothers of Vuode - thank you for your hard work on this project. Now is our chance to develop a provincial government that will withstand human foibles and corruption.

Trotxâ

[Eðo Grischun]

For now, my thoughts on the preamble (borrowing from Sir Troxta):


We, The citizens of The United Provinces of Vuode and Dandenburg hereby abandon and repeal the provincial constitution as ratified in 2010. We adopt and ratify the following document as the constitution of the province to assure our inalienable rights of self-governance and to all powers not vested in the Kingdom by the Organic Law. We recognize the secession of the province from the Kingdom of Talossa of November of 1992, commonly called the “Glorious 21 Days,” as retroactively illegal under the Organic Law. We seek to develop a provincial government that will withstand human foibles and corruption. We seek to develop a system in which any adult citizen of the province has the right to represent themselves in the legislative process. We wish for our province to flourish and become active and desire a government that can and will work towards these goals.



***

Thoughts, criticisms, additions?

[Deleted]

I think that should be fine.

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

Minor note: this new constitution omits recognition of Maritiimi-Maxhestic's sovereignty over Vuode. I am sure Vuode will soon correct this oversight.

[Iustì Carlüs Canun]

DRAFT

LA
CONSTITUZIUN
DALS
PROVINÇUNS ÜNITS DA
VUODE ES DANDENBUERG¹

Práimhoct

Noi, els citaxhiens dals Provinçuns Ünits da Vuode es Dandenbuerg perventüra avandunent es renonçent la constituziun provincial come ratificada in 2010. Noi adoptent es ratifichent el documenteu sovind come la constituziun dal provinçù svo àð sigüriçarh noschtri drepts unaglhenaval autuxheziun es à toct i pevarhen qi non sint vestats in el Regipäts par el Legeu Orgänic. Noi reconeiçent la secedaziun dal provinçù del Regipäts Talossan da Noemvar dallas 1992, qi'st qualuncmint nominada "las 21 Ziuas Gloriösen," àð estarh retro'actíumint unorgänic. Noi quairent à developarh ün governamaintsch provincial qe prevalarha contra las febleiças þumaes es la corumpaziun. Noi quairent à developarh ün süstem in qe ingen citaxhien adült dal provinçù tent el drept à represantarh-se in la proceßa lexhislatíu. Noi cherent qe noastra provinçù vixhadra es zevenadra actíu es noi desirent ün governamaintsch qe put travalarh per acestilor bupts es travalarha pr'acestilor.



Artical I: Els Pünts d'Estat

SECZIUN 1: La nómina uficial dal Provinçù, in el glheþ naziunal, isch Las Provinçuns Ünits da Vuode es Dandenbuerg. In l'Angleasca, la nómina dal Provinçù isch The United Provinces of Vuode and Dandenburg. Embù la nómina dal Provinçù in l'Angleasca es in el glheþ naziunal povent estarh scurznificadas à Vuode, Dandenbuerg, las Provinçuns Ünits, eda the United Provinces.

SECZIUN 2: La teriorita da Vuode qomsista toct dal tzara qi'st àl sudur à Kenwood², àl est da Maryland², es àl nordur da North es Park Road².

SECZIUN 3: Ingen tzaras eda ínsulas qi sint formads eda q'apiarent in Vuode s'apa teritorial, totalmint eda pärtsmint, formarhent ün pärts dal teritoria provincial.

SECZIUN 4: Vuode qomsista doua cantons: Vuode es Dún Cestour.

SECZIUN 5: El capital da vuode isch el Pontiac³. Masmint, per pürpösen sentimintais, el Praitorieu serà vardveitat com'iens capital þistoric.



Artical II: El Cunstaval

SECZIUN 1: Toct i pevarhen qi sint zonats àl Regeu sür el nival naziunal serent zonats àl Cunstaval sür el nival provincial.

SECZIUN 2: El Cunstaval serà respunsaval à cunventarh es zißolvarh cadascu seßiun dels Estats Xhenerais.

SECZIUN 3: El Cunstaval serà respunsaval àð indetxerarh es à firarh el Premieir.

SECZIUN 4: El Cunstaval serà respunsaval àð indetxerarh es à firarh els Süfets del Päx.

SECZIUN 5: El Cunstaval serà respunsaval àð enrexhistrarh es à certifiarh els partis politicais in Vuode.



Artical III: Eleziuns àls Estats Xhenerais

SECZIUN 1: Els Estats Xhenerais, eda in l'Angleasca, the States General, isch el cußeglh lexhislatíu provincial da Vuode.

SECZIUN 2: Toct citaxhiens adülts da Vuode sint electaval per l'eleziun àls Estats Xhenerais.

SECZIUN 3: Toct citaxhiens adülts da Vuode sint ticiuleschti à votarh in las eleziuns àls Estats Xhenerais.

SECZIUN 4: Las Seßiuns Grülts dals Estats Xhenerais sint xhuschtairs cunventadas es zißolvadas cün acestilor del Ziu naziunal. C'e à zirarh qe las eleziuns provincias sint holdadas simultanmint cün las eleziuns xhenerais naziunais.

SECZIUN 5: Las eleziuns serent holdadas eftir ingen Legeu Burgal⁴ aplicaval dals Provinçuns Ünits.

SECZIUN 6: Dürant cadascu eleziun, ün perziun put votarh pr'iens parti political enrexhistrat, àð estarh zesfinat par legeu da din la provinçù da Vuode. Els eschcaes serent aðsignats basats pa la represantaziun equilibrada. Cadascu parti à'cest temp aðsignarha sieux eschcaes come ça txuxhadra àð estarh neceßar.



Artical IV: Cunpoçaziun dels Estats Xhenerais

SECZIUN 1: Els Estats Xhenerais sint ün aßemblatx d'iensa cámera es d'eschaes mutipais qe qomsista d'iens amint d'eschcaes qi'st el mismeu qe l'amint dals votas in l'eleziun previös.

SECZIUN 2: Els membreux qi tiennent dels eschcaes sin cogneçeschti come Cunçeleirs.

SECZIUN 3: Els Cunçeleirs povent tirh dels eschcaes mutipais.

SECZIUN 4: El cäps del governamaintsch provincial isch cogneçescu com'el Premieir.

SECZIUN 5: El Premieir isch el duceu provincial del parti el phü grült q'esteva electat àls Estats Xhenerais.

SECZIUN 6: Els Estats Xhenerais coptarhent es electarhent ün uficieir Presidind da sieu propreu organ àl començaziun da cadascu Seßiun Grült. L'Uficieir Presidind cunventarha es conduçarha las seßiuns lexhislatíus dels Estats Xhenerais in ün façiun qi'st similar àl Secretar d'Estat sür el nival naziunal es eftir ingen Legeu Burgal⁴ aplicaval dals Provinçuns Ünits.



Artical V: La Validaziun dal Lexhislaziun

SECZIUN 1: Ingen lexhislaziun provincial institutada isch cogneçada com'iens Legeu Burgal⁴ dals Provinçuns Ünits.

SECZIUN 2: Els Legeux Burgais⁴ dals Provinçuns Ünits sint validats par üna maxhorità simpil dels Estats Xhenerais.

SECZIUN 3: Cadascu Seßiun Grült dels Estats Xhenerais qomistarha sex seßiuns lexhislatíus, similar àl s'chedül del Ziu naziunal.

SECZIUN 4: Las seßiuns lexhislatíus sint cunventadas es conduçadas par l'Uficieir Presidind.

SECZIUN 5: Els proxhets qi sint validats tent àð estarh signats par el Cunstaval. Els proxhets sint validats sileçadamint osprei 30 ziuas.

SECZIUN 6: El Premieir put façarh ün 'Descreschamaintsch dals Provinçuns Ünits' (DPÜ). Ün DPÜ preinda la forziun pien d'iens Legeu Burgal⁴ dals Provinçuns Ünits. Els Estats Xhenerais povent renonçarh ün DPÜ par üna maxhorità da doua-tierçéux.

SECZIUN 7: El Cunstaval put vetoïçarh ingen Proxhet eda DPÜ.



Artical VI: Las Votas da Confiençù

SECZIUN 1: Ingen Cunçeleir dels Estas Xhenerais put, àð ingen temp dürant üna Seßiun Grült, propoçarh üna Vota d'Aucün Confiençù in acest organ. Quand qe tal proxhet isch propoçat, ça serà subxhect à'iensa vota in la próxima seßiun lexhislatíu avalaval. Schi el Proxhet estadra validat, el Cunstaval zißolvarha la Seßiun Grült es governarha la provinçù sub la Corona txusca la próxima eleziun provincial.



Artical VII: El Cort

SECZIUN 1: El pevarh xhüdesch dal provinçù serà vestat in viens Süfet del Päx sè Cort es in tais sagrüts xhüdeschen inferiors com'els Estats Xhenerais da temp à temp establischarh.

SECZIUN 2: El Süfet del Päx sè Cort tiennent el xhuristiçal final över toct facendas citanais es criminais arivind da es pertanchind àl provinçù da Vuode.

SECZIUN 3: Ün cadì del cort provincial isch cogneçescu com'el Süfet del Päx (SP) es isch ün laïc del legeu. Ün Süfet del Päx tent àð estarh ün citaxhien da Vuode d'iens nival socialt ben. Non j'ont aucüns restrinçamaintschen ocupaziunais sür l'óifisch. Non j'ont aucüns minimüms eda maximüms del númerul da SPs.

SECZIUN 4: Cadascu Süfet del Päx isch àl prüm coptescu par el Premieir àls Estas Xhenerais. Els Estats Xhenerais electarhent cadascu JP qi'st coptescu par üna vota d'iens maxhorità. El Cunstaval à'cest temp indetxerarha el coptescu ainciün l'óifisch.

SECZIUN 5: Ün Süfet del Päx tischa l'óifisch per vida. Ün SP put estarh removescu del óifisch par üna vota d'iensa maxhorità dels Estas Xhenerais. Ün SP ocsà put estarh removescu del óifisch àl plaschair del Cunstaval. Ün SP ocsà put profrarh sieu resignaziun àl Cunstaval àð ingen temp.

SECZIUN 6: Cadascu cauça serà apoartada à es auscultada in el Süfet del Päx sè Cort efter ingen procedançeu eda protocol qi'st zesfinat par els Legeux Burgais⁴ dals Provinçuns Ünits schi acestilor procedançeux non prevarica sür ün citaxhien sè drepts es livertaes sub el Legeu Orgänic.

SECZIUN 7: Ingen zeciziun qi'st facescu par el Süfet del Päx sè Cort put estarh desfisada par zonind ün apialaziun cün el Clarqeu dels Corts sür el nival naziunal.



Artical VIII: Amendments to the Constitution

SECZIUN 1: Els amendamaintschen solamint povent estarh propoçats par els Estats Xhenerais, qi tent àð aprovarh-lor àl ünanimità. À'cest temp l'amendamaintsch isch deliverat àls popuis da Vuode dürant la próxima eleziun xheneral, qi tiennet àð aprovarh-en par üna maxhorità da doua-tierçéux.



Sa zirent els Citaxhiens da Vuode.

NOTES:
¹: The proper name of Dandenburg in Talossan would be Dandenbuerg, since the Talossan -buerg is a direct analogue to English "-burg."
²: I will have to get back to you on street names; don't know what all we have and haven't translated.
³: Unsure if a Talossan version of this name exists. Further research is required.
⁴: "Bylaws" in Talossan is constituziun so "United Provinces Byelaw" presents a small problem, but I think this works.

[Deleted]

Nov 21, 2012 2:55:46 GMT -6 Sir Alexandreu Davinescu said:

Minor note: this new constitution omits recognition of Maritiimi-Maxhestic's sovereignty over Vuode. I am sure Vuode will soon correct this oversight.

It's weird how it worked out. While MM *may* have sovereignty over Vuode, Dandenburg actually has sovereignty over MM. So really, the only way this will be settled is in the corts.

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

Dec 3, 2012 14:26:15 GMT -6 Viteu Marcianüs said:

Nov 21, 2012 2:55:46 GMT -6 Sir Alexandreu Davinescu said:

Minor note: this new constitution omits recognition of Maritiimi-Maxhestic's sovereignty over Vuode. I am sure Vuode will soon correct this oversight.

It's weird how it worked out. While MM *may* have sovereignty over Vuode, Dandenburg actually has sovereignty over MM. So really, the only way this will be settled is in the corts.

Or a "War Between the Provinces".

[Deleted]

It'll be a short war. This is the M-M battle flag