Compact of the Eastern Bovic Lands

The Compact of the Eastern Bovic Lands is the current constitutional framework that describes the government of Eastern Natopia. It was enacted in 1707 by agreement between the governments of Flaventia and Klaasiya under the terms of the Demesne Compact Clause of the Natopian Constitution. The compact creates a supra-subnational government that occupies the jurisdictional level between the demesnes and the central Natopian government. It duplicates many of the national government institutions but reduces their scope to just Flaventia and Klaasiya and gives the Emperor, and his Vicereine, considerable authority in the two demesnes. It was amended in 1709 upon the completion of the Natopian division.

Text of the Compact

Preamble

The Natopian Nation is defined by its perseverance, resourcefulness, creativity, and diversity. These are the strengths of Our Nation, and the qualities that we all hold high above others, defining us as Natopians. This common pride, and not the circumstances of our birth, is what binds us together as Natopians. As Natopians we seek to create ever more perfect ways to organize and govern ourselves, so that we all may prosper. That is why the people of the eastern Natopian Nation has chosen to codify its governing laws into this compact, so that the government at the service of the eastern Natopian Nation shall always serve the People without ambiguity, and that the various arms of that government have clearly defined and separated powers, and that the government can act to protect the People, the Nation, the State, and the Land we depend on.

Article I - The Natopian Nation

1. The government of Eastern Natopia is known as the Sovereign Natopian Empire; it consists of many peoples and nations, seeking prosperity and justice, united together under the Emperor of the Natopians.

2. Eastern Natopia empowers the Natopian people above all and is a representative democracy, with certain critical and emergency powers reserved for the Imperial Court at Vista de Nada, representing the Emperor of the Natopians in the East.

3. The Natopian Nation refers to all peoples, nations, ethnicities, races, tribes, bands, and other groups that proclaim and possess citizenship and allegiance to the two Natopian states that are party to the Declration of Lindstrom.

4. A person is born into the Natopian Nation if one of their parents is a Natopian at the time of birth; or if the person is born within Natopian jurisdiction. Any other person may pursue Natopian citizenship through a formal immigration process.

5. The Cross of Sovereignty is the oldest and most important symbol of Natopia and represents the Natopian people at the core, surrounding themselves with a protective government, and using the government to hold their four most cherished and essential rights: freedom, justice, peace, and equality.

6. The motto of Eastern Natopia is "Peace Through Silent Oppression," a sober reminder of the early totalitarian governments that the Natopian Nation actively reformed over generations, and a call to the Natopian Nation to remain vigilant against oppression.

7. The capital of Eastern Natopia is Lindström, which shall not be part of, or governed by, any demesne. The Imperial Government and all agencies and bureaus will meet in Lindström when practical.

8. To assist in communication among the various peoples of the Natopian Nation, the official administration language of Eastern Natopia is Nats. No local, cultural, ancient, or minority language shall ever be suppressed by Eastern Natopian laws.

9. The government of Eastern Natopia will protect the Natopian people and defend their inherent rights to freedom, justice, peace, and equality.

10. The Dozan Bovic Church and the Bovinist religion has a special and formal relationship with the Natopian Nation; however adherence to any religion shall never be used to discriminate against a person for any reason.

Article II - The Emperor

1. The Emperor of the Natopians in the East will defend this Compact, protect Eastern Natopia from all threats foreign and domestic, display exemplary moral and civic character, and serve as a living symbol of Natopian unity. All references to the Emperor shall be meant to refer to the Emperor of the Eastern Natopians, holding court in Lindstrom, at Vista de Nada; namely Nathan III and his legal heirs.

2. Executive power over foreign affairs and responsibility for defense of Eastern Natopia is vested in the Emperor of the Natopians in the East and exercised by Court of Vista de Nada.

3. The Emperor holds power to regulate and define the structure, officers, and symbols of the Court of Vista de Nada.

4. The Emperor in the East is the Head of State, a symbol of the Empire and guardian of the persistence of the Natopian Nation.

5. The Emperor in the East appoints ambassadors, liaisons, and delegates to foreign states, entities, and organizations and receives foreign heads of state, ambassadors, ministers and other envoys.

6. The Emperor in the East grants amnesty, commutes punishments, and issues pardons.

7. The Emperor is commander-in-chief of the Natopian Defense Force, with the traditional and customary military rank of Grand Commander.

8. The Emperor issues Imperial Decrees that have the authority of law to conduct matters as head of state; to administer foreign and military affairs; regulate and administer the Court of Vista de Nada; to protect and enforce their Instrument of Succession; to create and bestow titles, honors, and awards; and to temporarily govern the entire Imperial Government in such dire national emergencies as declared by the Frenzy of Eastern Natopia.

9. The Emperor remains in his authority until the Emperor's uncontested death or abdication.

10. An uncontested death is irrefutable public evidence of the Emperor's death.

11. An abdication is written by the Emperor's own hand and is submitted to the Frenzy.

12. The Emperor maintains an Instrument of Succession. In the event of the Emperor's uncontested death or abdication, the first person in the order of succession becomes Emperor.

13. The Pentheros of the Dozan Bovic Church confers Bous' divine approval of the new Emperor by officiating the new Emperor's ceremonial coronation. During the coronation, the Emperor must swear or affirm an oath to maintain, expand, and protect the Natopian Nation and Dozan Bovic Church.

14. The Emperor must appoint a capable Regent who is able fulfill all critical responsibilities of the Emperor during any absence of the Emperor that exceeds three continuous Norton months (6 Gregorian days).

15. There will be no other self-styled emperors or kings in the Empire; except ancient royal titles and kings of sovereign nations that have since entered into the Empire.

Article III - The Frenzy

1. All legislative powers shall be vested in the Frenzy of the Sovereign Natopian Empire.

2. The Frenzy shall be composed of representatives elected by the peoples of the Demesnes of Eastern Natopia. The total number of representatives shall be the cubed root of the total population, counted every 12 years. Each demesne is represented by a number of representatives proportional to its population; calculated after each 12-year census.

3. No citizen shall be a representatives who shall not be a resident of that Demesne for which they shall be elected.

4. The Frenzy creates a code of laws that govern Eastern Natopia, collectively known as the Aigoeidis Kodikas.

5. The Aigoeidis Kodikas' authority extends to all territories, demesnes, and other jurisdictions where the Empire or any entity of the Empirey has the authority to govern.

6. Acts of Frenzy become law when passed by a majority of representatives present in the Frenzy and given assent by the Emperor. The law is then added to the Aigoeidis Kodikas by the Chancellor of Eastern Natopia.

7. The Frenzy, by passing Resolutions, may direct Imperial officials to act in accordance with the Compact and Aigoeidis Kodikas, enact the ratification process of an agreement, overturn Imperial Decrees, claim additional land for the Empire, cede imperial land not protected by the Declration of Lindstrom, redraw internal boundaries, rename cities, issue city charters, or any other similar action to ensure effective governing.

8. Any representatives may propose a Bill for consideration.

9. The Frenzy may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its own members for disorderly behavior, and, by a two-thirds majority, expel its own member.

10. The Emperor, through the process of granting Assent, approves an Act of Frenzy. Only bills that receive approval through Assent shall be made into Law and added to the Aigoeidis Kodikas. Bills that do not receive the approval of the Emperor within seven (7) days after being dispatched to the Emperor for his Assent shall be passed into Law with Assent being automatically assumed.

11. The Emperor, by issuing a veto, returns a Bill back to the Frenzy, attached with an explanation from the Emperor of the veto, and can only be overturned by a three-fifth's (3/5's) vote of the Frenzy.

Article IV - The Chancellor

1. Executive power over domestic affairs is vested in the Chancellor of the Sovereign Natopian Empire.

2. The Chancellor presides over the Frenzy, maintains the Library of Law, serves as Head of Government, executes the will of the Frenzy, upholds and enforces the Compact and the Aigoeidis Kodikas, oversees immigration, grows and maintains the economy, presents Bills passed by the Frenzy to the Emperor for Assent, advises the Emperor on domestic concerns, and administers the normal affairs of government.

3. The Chancellor issues Chancellorial Decrees that have the authority of law when the Frenzy is unable to convene or in matters of national emergency.

4. The Chancellor appoints a cabinet of ministers to the Chancellery, to advise and assist them. Ministries are established in the Aigoeidis Kodikas.

5. For a vacancy in the office resulting from the resignation or death of a chancellor, the Emperor nominates a citizen that will have the confidence of the Frenzy, and following a vote of confidence for the chancellorial nominee, swears the nominee in as Chancellor.

6. The Chancellor designates one of the appointed cabinet-level officials as the vice chancellor to assume the duties of the Chancellor during a temporary vacancy of the office

7. The Chancellor issues Executive Orders to fulfill their office's obligations. Executive Orders are instruments of government to instruct government officials where the Chancellery has jurisdiction to govern.

8. The Chancellor may be removed from office only by a constructive vote of no confidence passed by the Frenzy that also names a replacement chancellorial nominee that would have confidence of the Frenzy. If the constructive vote of no-confidence passes, then the Emperor shall swear in the new chancellor immediately.

Article V - The Judicial Courts

1. The judicial competencies of the Empire are vested in the Supreme Court of Eastern Natopia and in such inferior courts that are established by Frenzy or demesnial law.

2. The Court is composed of the Grand Judge and twelve (12) Justices; the Grand Judge shall preside over all proceedings.

3. The Grand Judge is appointed for life, and the Justices are appointed for twelve (12) year terms; the terms of the Justices shall be staggered such that six Justices are appointed or reconfirmed every six years.

4. Candidates for Grand Judge and the Justices are nominated by the Emperor and confirmed by the Frenzy.

5. The Grand Judge may recommend the Justice's term to be reconfirmed or allowed to expire for another 12 years by the Frenzy.

6. An appointee takes office after swearing an Oath; the wording of the Oath shall be determined by the Emperor.

7. Membership of the Court shall only cease on occasion of one of the following: a written resignation delivered to the Emperor; the death of a Member; a vote of the Frenzy to remove the Grand Judge and/or Justices that receives a majority of two thirds and a confirmation by the Emperor.

8. The jurisdiction of the Court is limitless within the Viceroyalty provided that at least one Party to a case is associated with the Viceroyalty.

9. A decision made by the Court: is taken with a simple majority of the Grand Judge, and Justices; is final and cannot be challenged or overruled unless so decided by the Court itself; takes immediate effect and requires immediate implementation, unless otherwise specified.

10. The Court defines its own procedures and practices.

11. If the Grand Judge, Justices, and/or the immediate family of a member of the court, are named as respondent in a case before the Court, then they will recuse themselves from deliberations.

Article VI - Imperial Council of Natopia

1. The Declaration of Lindstrom, which forms the foundation of cooperation between the two Natopian states, is considered integral to this Compact.

2. Eastern Natopia sees itself and Western Natopia as independent halves of the whole Natopian Nation and affirms that unity will always be prioritized as each half pursues its own prosperity.

3. The Emperor and Chancellor each sit on the Imperial Council of Natopia and, in agreement with the western Emperor and western Chancellor, appoint the same Natopian citizen to serve as the civilian leader of the Natopian Defense Force.

Article VII - Enactment, Amendments, and Other Provisions

1. This Compact is the supreme law of Eastern Natopia and no law, decree, order, or command may go against it within the Empire.

2. An Act of Frenzy, passed by a 3/4 majority and granted Assent by the Emperor, may amend this Compact.