The Constitution of the Union

Text of The Constitution, held to be in abeyance following the 1701 Armistice of Alduria City.

CHAPTER 1 THE REPUBLICS COMPRISING THE UNION

Article 1 - The Union of the Republics of Zeed is a union of largely autonomous Republics, wishing to unify themselves under the common government of the Union.

Article 2 - Each such republic is granted autonomy in matters of local law and its enforcement within their borders, to adopt an appropriate local constitution or form of government, regulation of local commerce and any other such authority which is not expressly mentioned in these Articles as belonging expressly to the national government of the Union.

Article 3 - Each such republic will take an official name, banner or flag and emblem to officially represent themselves in symbolic manners within the Union.

Article 4 - All constituent republics are to ensure that these Articles and all national laws of the Union itself are upheld within their respective territory.

CHAPTER 2 AUTHORITIES SPECIFICALLY GRANTED TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Article 1 - The jurisdiction of the national government, as represented by its highest organs of state authority and organs of government established by this Constitution, will cover the issues and questions of national, all-Union importance. This is with special regard to the preservation of peace, unit and the continuance of the Union. This includes,

(1.1) Representation of the Union in international relations, conclusion and ratification of treaties with other states;

(1.2) Questions of war and peace;

(1.3) Admission of new republics into the Union;

(1.4) Control over the observance of the Constitution. and ensuring conformity of the constitutions of the republics with the Constitution of the Union.;

(1.5) Confirmation of alterations of boundaries between republics;

(1.6) Confirmation of the formation of new territories and regions and also of new Autonomous Republics;

(1.7) Organization of the defense of the Union and direction of all the armed forces of the Union.;

(1.8) Foreign trade and commerce on the basis of state monopoly of said types of trade and commerce;

(1.9) Safeguarding the security of the state;

(1.10) Establishment of the national economic plans of the Union.;

(1.11) Approval of the national budgets of the Union as well as of the taxes and revenues which go to the all-Union and local budgets;

(1.12) Administration of the banks, industrial and agricultural establishments and enterprises and trading enterprises of all-Union importance;

(1.13) Administration of national transport and communications;

(1.14) Direction of the national monetary and credit system;

(1.15) Raising and granting of national loans;

(1.16) Establishment of the basic principles for the use of land as well as for the use of natural deposits, forests and waters – which may be, as necessary, specifically delegated to the individual Republics on an as-needed basis;

(1.17) Establishment of the basic principles in the spheres of education and public health;

(1.18) Legislation on the national judicial system and judicial procedure, national criminal and civil codes and,

(1.19) Laws on citizenship of the Union and laws on the rights of foreigners.

Article 2 - The sovereignty of the republics is limited only within the provisions set forth in this Constitution. Outside of these provisions, each republic exercises state authority independently.

CHAPTER 3 THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE UNION

Article 1 - The Supreme Council of the Union will serve as the primary executive body of the Union, whereby all authority of the state, as granted by this Constitution, will be executed, or delegated, as the Council sees fit.

Article 2 - The Council will be led by the First Secretary of the Union, acting as its primary trustee and executor of its authority.

Article 3 - The election of the First Secretary will be conducted by a direct majority vote of all citizens of the Union, once every five(5) years.

Article 4 - The Council will be further divided into permanent Central Committees, each with a singular purpose in regards to the governance of the Union,

(4.1) The Central Committee for Foreign Relations (CCFR), which is granted the authority to initiate, regulate, cease and conduct all of the Union's relations with foreign governments.

(4.2) The Central Committee for the Interior (CCI), which is granted the authority of the management of the lands, natural resources, real property, internal commerce and the regulation of all such mentioned.

(4.3) The Central Committee for Security and Defense (CCSD), which is granted the authority over the defense of the Union from threats both foreign and domestic, the military, security forces and all such entities of the Union pertaining to maintaining the sovereignty and peace of the Union.

Article 5 - Each Central Committee may be further divided into various agencies as the Supreme Council or the Central Committee itself sees fit, to ensure preservation of the order of the Union.

Article 6 - Each such Central Committee must be under the leadership of a Secretary, as appointed by the First Secretary.

Article 7 - The Council is the sole body of government which can promulgate laws which are binding across the Union, through the signature of the First Secretary – to be known as Administrative Orders of the Union.

(7.1) These Administrative Orders may not suspend, amend, reinstate or otherwise alter - either in part or in whole – any articles of this Constitution; except where as defined by exceptions explicitly listed herein.

Article 8 - The Council can, as it sees fit, create and confer orders, awards and honorific titles.

CHAPTER 4 THE ALL-UNION PRESIDIUM OF THE REPUBLICS

Article 1 - All recognized Republics of the Union will be granted a single vote of representation within the Presidium, acting as the primary legislative body of the Union.

Article 2 - The business of the Presidium will be oversaw by the President of the Union as appointed by the First Secretary of the Union and confirmed by the Presidium.

Article 3 - Should confirmation not occur, the Secretary of Security and Defense can serve in an interim role.

Article 4 - All business of the Presidium must be passed by a simple majority, unless at such a time where a tie of votes occurs, whereby the President may cast their vote to break said tie. The President may not otherwise cast a vote.

Article 5 - The Presidium can promulgate Official Referendums, by which the Supreme Council will be implored to take a direct action upon, leading to the promulgation of law by the Supreme Council.

Article 6 - The Presidium can, as it sees fit, create and confer orders and awards. However, none of the aforementioned may take precedence to any such awards or orders as created by the Supreme Council of the Union. Furthermore, no individual Republic may create or confer any award, order or honorific title without the express consent of the Supreme Council of the Union.

CHAPTER 5 THE UNION HIGH JUDICIARY

Article 1 - The Union High Judiciary will serve as the highest court of law, acting as the primary judicial body of the Union. Charged with the interpretation and upholding of all established national laws and, when required, as a court of final appeals in instances where all final courts of the constituent Republics have been appealed.

Article 2 - All such judgments of the judiciary are to be considered final and absolute, with no further chances of appeal or reinterpretation.

Article 3 - The judiciary will comprise of not less than three (3) magistrates, nor more than six (6), all of which are to be appointed by the First Secretary, with approval by the Presidium. All such Magistrates are to serve a term in line with the First Secretary of whom appointed them.

Article 4 - Magistrates may be dismissed with cause by an Official Referendum of the Presidium. Such cause must be moral turpitude and/or the dereliction of their duties.

CHAPTER 6 HIGH CRIMES AGAINST THE UNION

Article 1 - High Crimes Against the Union is to be defined as crimes of an intentional action or actions which result in direct and extremely grievous harm to the peace, security, unity of the Republics, the people as a whole and the government of the Union.

Article 2 - All such crimes and their offender(s) can only be tried in a court held by the Union High Judiciary. No appeal may be made to any judgment of guilt by the Judiciary, with only the First Secretary being given the ability to grant pardon for any such high crimes.

Article 3 - An person or group of persons, owing allegiance to Union, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the lands of the Union or elsewhere, is guilty of of the high crime of treason and will suffer death or a period of imprisonment for the remainder of their life.

CHAPTER 7 AMMENDING AND SUSPENSION OF ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION

Article 1 - This Constitution may only be amended or suspended during times of peace by a unanimous vote in favor of any amendments from the Presidium. After which the Supreme Council can sign all such proposals into law and officially amend the Constitution.

Article 2 - During times of war, unrest or insurrection, the Supreme Council can promulgate an Administrative Order of the Union – an Order of State Emergency - to suspend, in part or in whole, these articles of the Constitution for the benefit of the people of the Union. The Supreme Council is granted the sole responsibility of recognizing such emergencies and appropriately utilizing the power granted to it to ensure the preservation of the Union.

(2.1) Furthermore, this exception will allow the Supreme Council to issue Administrative Orders with impunity. All such Administrative Orders will cease having effect in the law upon the ceasing of such state of emergencies.