Elwynnese Instrument of Government 1688-001

The Defence of Democracy & the Reformation of Political Parties

Castle of Eliria
Subject	Political Parties of Elluenuueq
Authority	Article 6
Decreed by	Princess Kamilla
Extent	Elluenuueq
Set before Council	16.IV.1688 AN

1. The formation of parties, societies, political or professional associations, must never violate the principles of independence, freedom, national unity, proper morality, or the constitutional order.
2. It is a duty incumbent upon all citizens to preserve our political parties from the corruption inherent in external influence and control. External control and influence may be exerted through financial means. Accordingly political parties must be prevented from falling under the influence of the state, a foreign power, or any other third party, including social movements, labour organisations, corporations, or media groups.
3. Political parties must rely solely upon the means afforded to them by their registered membership.
4. Parties, societies, political or professional associations may, under no circumstances whatsoever, seek or obtain sources of funding, material support, or support in kind in any form, save for that provided through the direct and regular contributions of the registered members of the aforementioned entities.
5. No governmental or public body, of any kind, may provide financial assistance, of any kind, to political parties or any association or society engaged in political activities, including, but not limited to, campaigning or the lobbying of government.
6. No labour organisation or guild may provide financial assistance, of any kind, to political parties or any association or society engaged in political activities, including, but not limited to, campaigning or the lobbying of government.
7. No corporation, or registered trading entity engaged in commercial activity, or their subsidiaries, may provide financial assistance, of any kind, to political parties or any association or society engaged in political activities, including, but not limited to, campaigning or the lobbying of government.
8. No party, society, political association or professional association, may employ permanent paid officials or pay persons for work undertaken on their behalf. All offices and works undertaken within any organisation covered by this Instrument of Government must be fulfilled by unpaid volunteers drawn from the membership of the organisation in question.
9. All campaigning, advertising, and media activities undertaken by any organisation covered by this Instrument of Government, can only be funded by direct contributions from the registered membership of the organisations in question.
10. No registered member of any organisation covered by this Instrument of Government may donate more than ten percent of their annual income or directly possessed capital to the organisation to which they are a member.
    1. All donations must be registered.
    2. Attempts to circumvent this rule by transferring monies or other financial assets to family members, or other registered members of the organisations in question before donation to the organisation shall be considered an offence of Subverting Democracy and shall be liable to judgement before the Court of Star Chamber, the issuance of a Writ of Cudgelling against the individuals concerned, and the issuance of unlimited fines by the Court of Star Chamber.
11. Those found in violation of this Instrument of Government shall be found guilty of the offence of Subverting Democracy and shall be liable to judgement before the Court of Star Chamber, the issuance of a Writ of Cudgelling against the named individuals liable for the organisations found to be in contravention of this Instrument of Government, and the issuance of unlimited fines by the Court of Star Chamber.
12. Parties, societies, political or professional associations found to have been in receipt of funding, material support, or support in kind or in any form, contrary to the provisions of this Instrument of Government may be suppressed by order of the Court of Star Chamber.
13. Interpretation of this Instrument of Government shall be vested solely in the Court of Star Chamber. Disputation of the interpretation of the Instrument of Government by the Court of Star Chamber is an act of contempt of court and must be answered by a Writ of Cudgelling against those individuals guilty of the offence.
14. Extant organisations covered under this Instrument of Government shall have one year from its promulgation in which to attain a status of full compliance with its provisions, which is to be reported to the Court of the Prince and verified by the same.