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Constitution of Normark (1664–1731)

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The Constitution of Normark was issued in 1664 by King Vidar of Normark. At that time, Normark was an autonomous kingdom in Natopia. In 1678, Normark amended the constitution in a way that made it an autonomous republic of Elwynn. In 1703, the constitution was amended once again, creating an independent Einhornist kingdom. The constitution was further amended in 1722 to remove the democratic component and to establish the basis for the personal rule of His Majesty over the Kingdom.

Preamble

We, Vidar Ayreon, King of Normark, make it publicly known: that the decision of the Congress and the House of Lords of 6 Regnmåne 1664 has been laid before Us:

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM OF NORMARK

Article 1: Executive Power

  1. The Kingdom of Normark is a free, independent, indivisible and inalienable State. Its form of government is an Einhornist, under one king, leading the Einhorn movement. [Amended 1665, 1678, 1703, 1722]
  2. The Executive Power is vested in the King, or in the Queen if she has succeeded to the Crown. When the Executive Power is thus vested in the Queen, she has all the rights and obligations which pursuant to this Constitution and the Law of the Land are possessed by the King. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  3. The King's person is sacred; he cannot be censured or accused. The responsibility rests with his Council. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  4. The throne of Normark is vested in the most senior legitimate heir, under the rules of cognatic primogeniture, of the body of Johann Einhorn, the Grand King of Normark. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  5. [Repealed 1678]
  6. [Repealed 1678]
  7. The King himself chooses a Council from among Norse citizens who are entitled to vote. This Council shall consist of a Prime Minister and at least five other Members. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  8. The King apportions the business among the Members of the Council of State, as he deems appropriate. Under extraordinary circumstances, besides the ordinary Members of the Council of State, the King may summon other Norse citizens. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  9. [Repealed 1703]
  10. During his travels within the Realm, the King may delegate the administration of the Realm to the Council of State. The Council of State shall conduct the government in the King's name and on his behalf. It shall scrupulously observe the provisions of this Constitution, as well as such particular directives in conformity therewith as the King may instruct. [Amended 1703]
  11. The matters of business shall be decided by voting, where in the event of the votes being equal, the Prime Minister, or in his absence the highest-ranking Member of the Council of State who is present, shall have two votes.
  12. The Council of State shall make a report to the King on matters of business which it thus decides. [Amended 1678, 1703, 1722]
  13. The Prime Minister may appoint State Secretaries to assist Members of the Council of State with their duties outside the Council of State. Each State Secretary shall act on behalf of the Member of the Council of State to whom he is attached to the extent determined by that Member. [Amended 1678]
  14. Any person who holds a seat in the Council of State has the duty to submit his application to resign once he has lost the confidence of His Majesty.[Amended 1722]
  15. [Repealed 1722]
  16. [Repealed 1722]
  17. [Repealed, 1678]
  18. The Council of State may issue and repeal ordinances relating to commerce, customs, all livelihoods and the police, although these must not conflict with the Constitution or with the laws passed by the Nordisketing [Amended 1678]
  19. As a general rule the Council of State shall provide for the collection of the taxes and duties imposed by His Majesty. [Amended 1678, 1722]
  20. The Council of State shall ensure that the properties and prerogatives of the State are utilised and administered in the manner determined by His Majesty as being in the best interests of the Kingdom. [Amended 1678, 1722]
  21. The Council of State has the right to pardon criminals after sentence has been passed. The criminal shall have the choice of accepting the pardon or submitting to the penalty imposed. [Amended 1678]
  22. [Repealed 1722]
  23. The Members of the Council of State, together with the State Secretaries, may be dismissed by the Prime Minister without any prior court judgment, after he has heard the opinion of the Council of State on the subject. The same applies to senior officials employed in government offices or in the diplomatic or consular service, to the highest-ranking civil and ecclesiastical officials, commanders of regiments and other military formations, commandants of forts and officers commanding warships. Whether pensions should be granted to senior officials thus dismissed shall be determined His Majesty . In the interval they shall receive two thirds of their previous pay. [Amended 1678, 1722]
  24. Other senior officials may only be suspended by the King, and must then without delay be charged before the Courts, but they may not, except by court judgment, be dismissed nor, against their will, transferred. All senior officials may, without a prior court judgment, be discharged from office upon attaining the statutory age limit. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  25. The King may bestow orders upon whomever it pleases, as a reward for distinguished services, and such orders must be publicly announced, but no rank or title other than that attached to any office. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  26. The order exempts no one from the common duties and burdens of subjects, excepting peers, nor does it carry with it any preferential admission to senior official posts in the State. Senior officials honourably discharged from office retain the title and rank of their office. This does not apply, however, to Members of the Council of State or the State Secretaries.
  27. [Repealed 1722]
  28. The King chooses and dismisses, at his own discretion, his Royal Household and Court Officials [Amended 1678, 1703]
  29. All Members of the Council of State shall, unless lawfully absent, attend the Council of State and no decision may be adopted there unless more than half the number of members are present.
  30. Proposals regarding appointments to senior official posts and other matters of importance shall be presented in the Council of State by the Member under whose department they come, and such matters shall be dealt with by him in accordance with the decision adopted in the Council of State.[Amended 1678, 1703]
  31. All decisions drawn up by the King shall, in order to become valid, be countersigned. The decisions relating to military command are countersigned by the person who has presented the matter, while other decisions are countersigned by the Prime Minister or, if he has not been present, by the highest-ranking Member of the Council of State present. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  32. The decisions adopted by the Government during the King's absence shall be drawn up in the King's name and be signed by the Council of State. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  33. The King shall make provisions concerning titles for those who are entitled to succeed to the Crown. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  34. As soon as the heir to the Throne has completed her or his eighteenth year, she or he is entitled to take a seat in the Council of State, although without a vote or responsibility.[Amended 1678, 1703]
  35. A Princess or Prince entitled to succeed to the Crown of Normark may not marry without the consent of the King. Nor may she or he accept any other crown or government without the consent of the King. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  36. If she or he acts contrary to this rule, they and their descendants forfeit their right to the Throne of Normark. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  37. The Royal Princes and Princesses shall not personally be answerable to anyone other than the King, or whomever he decrees to sit in judgment on them. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  38. If the King dies and the heir to the Throne is still under age, the Council of State shall immediately convene. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  39. The Council of State shall be responsible for the administration of the Real,m in accordance with the Constitution, during the minority of His Majesty. [Amended 1678, 1703, 1722]
  40. If the King is absent from the Realm unless commanding in the field, or if he is so ill that he cannot attend to the government, the person next entitled to succeed to the Throne shall, provided that he has attained the age stipulated for the King's majority, conduct the government as the temporary executor of the Royal Powers. If this is not the case, the Council of State will conduct the administration of the Realm. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  41. The choice of trustees to conduct the government on behalf of the King during his minority shall be undertaken by the peers of the realm. [Amended 1678, 1703, 1722]

Article 2: Legislative Power

  1. The Legislative Power of the Kingdom shall be exercised by His Majesty, the King. [Amended 1722]
    1. His Majesty may consult the peers, burgesses, and the commoners of his realm, but shall not be bound by those consultations.
  2. [Amended 1678, 1703] [Repealed 1722]
  3. [Amended 1678, 1703] [Repealed 1722]
  4. [Repealed 1722]
  5. [Repealed 1722]
  6. The polls shall be held every fourth year.
  7. [Repealed 1722]
  8. [Amended 1703].[Repealed 1722]
  9. The Realm is divided into a fifty-four constituencies. [Amended 1678, 1703]
  10. Each constituency elects one burgess and one commoner. [Amended 1703, 1722]
  11. Specific provisions on the division of the Realm into constituencies and on the allotment of seats to the constituencies shall be determined by the decree of the Council of State. [Amended, 1678, 1722]
  12. [Repealed 1722]
  13. [Amended 1678, 1703][Repealed 1722]
  14. [Repealed 1722]
  15. [Repealed 1722]
  16. [Repealed 1722]
  17. [Repealed 1722]
  18. [Amended, 1678][Repealed 1722]
  19. [Amended 1678, 1703][Repealed 1722]
  20. [Amended 1678, 1703][Repealed 1722]
  21. [Repealed 1722]
  22. [Amended 1678, 1703][Repealed 1722]
  23. All Acts are drawn up in the name of the King, under the seal of the Realm of Normark, and in the following terms; «We, X, make it publicly known: that the decision of the Council if State of the date stated has been laid before Us: (here follows the decision). In consequence whereof We have assented to and confirmed, as We hereby do assent to and confirm the same as Law under Our Hand and the Seal of the Realm.» [Amended 1722]
  24. [Repealed 1722]
  25. [Repealed 1722]
  26. [Repealed 1722]
  27. [Repealed 1722]
  28. [Repealed 1722]
  29. [Repealed 1722]
  30. [Repealed 1722]

Article 3: Judicial Power

  1. The Supreme Court pronounces judgment in the final instance. Nevertheless, limitations on the right to bring a case before the Supreme Court may be prescribed by law.
  2. The Supreme Court shall consist of a President and at least four other Members.
  3. The judgments of the Supreme Court may in no case be appealed.
  4. No one may be appointed a member of the Supreme Court before reaching 30 years of age.
  5. His Majesty shall make provision for the publication of a new general civil and criminal code. However the currently applicable laws of the State shall remain in force, provided they do not conflict with this Constitution or with such provisional ordinances as may be issued in the meantime. [Amended, 1722]
  6. No dispensations, protection from civil arrest, moratoriums or redresses may be granted after the new general code has entered into force.
  7. No one may be convicted except according to law, or be punished except after a court judgment.
  8. Interrogation by torture must not take place, unless at the direction of His Majesty. [Amended, 1722]
  9. No law must be given retroactive effect, unless at the direction of His Majesty. [Amended, 1722]
  10. When special fees are paid to officials of the Courts of Justice, no further payment shall be made to the Treasury in respect of the same matter, unless at the direction of His Majesty. [Amended, 1722]
  11. No one may be taken into custody except in the cases determined by law and in the manner prescribed by law, unless at the direction of His Majesty. For unwarranted arrest, or illegal detention, the officer concerned is accountable to the person imprisoned, unless at the direction of His Majesty. [Amended, 1722]
  12. The Government is not entitled to employ military force against citizens of the State, except in accordance with the forms prescribed by law, unless any assembly disturbs the public peace and does not immediately disperse after the Articles of the Statute Book relating to riots have been read out clearly three times by the civil authority.
  13. There shall be freedom of expression, unless contrary to the worship of the Highest Divinity, the maintenance of the Human Supremacy, the dignity of His Majesty, or the operation of the Constitution of Normark. [Amended, 1722]
  14. No person may be held liable in law for having imparted or received information, ideas or messages unless these are contrary to the worship of the Highest Divinity, the maintenance of the Human Supremacy, the dignity of His Majesty, or the operation of the Constitution of Normark. Such legal liability shall be prescribed by law. [Amended, 1722]
  15. [Repealed, 1722]
  16. Prior censorship and other preventive measures may be applied in order to protect from the harmful influence of moving pictures. [Amended, 1722]
  17. Censorship of letters may only be imposed at the direction of His Majesty. [Amended, 1722]
  18. [Repealed, 1722].
  19. It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions that facilitate open and enlightened public discourse.
  20. New and permanent privileges implying restrictions on the freedom of trade and industry must not in future be granted to anyone, unless at the direction of His Majesty. [Amended, 1722]
  21. Search of private homes shall not be made except in criminal cases, unless at the direction of His Majesty. [Amended, 1722]
  22. Asylum for the protection of debtors shall not be granted to such persons as hereafter become bankrupt, unless at the direction of His Majesty. [Amended, 1722]
  23. Land and goods may in no case be made subject to forfeiture, unless at the direction of His Majesty. [Amended, 1722]
  24. If the welfare of the State requires that any person shall surrender his movable or immovable property for the public use, he shall receive full compensation from the Treasury.
  25. As a general rule every resident of the State is equally bound to serve in the defence of the Country for a specific period, irrespective of birth or fortune.
  26. The application of this principle, and the restrictions to which it shall be subject, shall be determined by law.
  27. It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions enabling every person capable of work to earn a living by his work.
  28. Specific provisions concerning the right of employees to co-determination at their work place shall be laid down by law.
  29. [Repealed, 1722]
  30. It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions enabling the autonomy of Elijah's Rest in accordance with law. [Amended 1665]
  31. Every person has a right to an environment that is conducive to health and to natural surroundings whose productivity and diversity are preserved. Natural resources should be made use of on the basis of comprehensive long-term considerations whereby this right will be safeguarded for future generations as well.
  32. ] Repealed, 1722]
  33. The State authorities shall issue further provisions for the implementation of these principles.
  34. [Repealed, 1722]
  35. The form and colours of the Norse Flag shall be determined by law.
  36. [Repealed, 1722].
  37. An amendment to the Constitution shall be signed by His Majesty and the Prime Minister , and shall be sent to the Council of State for public announcement in print, as an applicable provision of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Normark.[Amended 1678, 1703, 1722]
  38. [Repealed, 1722]

In consequence whereof We have assented to and confirmed, as We hereby do assent to and confirm the same as Law under Our Hand and the Seal of the Realm.

Done at Nordiskehjem, this 6 Regnmåne 1664.

Vidar Ayreon

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