The Document of Governance for the Realm of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates

THE DOCUMENT OF GOVERNANCE

FOR THE REALM OF

THE SOVEREIGN CONFEDERATION OF GOVERNORATES

First Promulgated by Congressional Edict in the Second Session of the Congress of Chryse

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Chapter One – Establishment of the Governing Order

Article 1 – Establishment

1. The Realm of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates, having risen from the devastation of the Republican War, shall exist as a member Realm within the Benacian Union inheriting all the rights, prerequisite entitlements, and obligations incumbent upon a member Realm.
2. All title to lands and properties, all material goods, all resources of the land, the waters, and the air, all living creatures, and all sapient beings, of the territory of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates, are subject to the provisions of this Document.

Article 2 – Territory

1. The Sovereign Confederation of Governorates incorporate:
   1. The Circuit of Suthergold
      1. The Governorate of Capital – comprising the Bailiwicks of  East Wall, West Wall, and Underwall;
      2. The Governorate of Cortallia-Rathwood – comprising the Bailiwicks of Cortallia, Rathwood, and Suthfort;
      3. The Governorate of Everstone – comprising the Bailiwicks of Bansfel, New Vesset, and Kingsweep;
      4. The Governorate of Sutherland – comprising the Bailiwicks of Sutherland and Lostfort;
      5. The Governorate of South Temple – comprising the Bailiwicks of High Harvest, Ashfeld, and Lowchurch;
      6. The Governorate of Asantelian – comprising the Bailiwicks of Asantelian, Greater Avakair, and the Draksfeld Logistical Condominium.
   2. The Circuit of Wintergleam
      1. The Governorate of Ketshire – comprising the Bailiwicks of Ketsire, Wintergleam, and Kaljandare;
      2. The Governorate of Durow – comprising the Bailiwicks of Doir and Selardi;
      3. The Governorate of Norburg – comprising the Bailiwicks of Ådrabekk and Maskerer;
      4. The Governorate of the Winterglade  – comprising the Bailiwicks of Vintrastadr, Dravotih Iker, and Jonsvik.
   3. The Szodansdron and Tephal Exclusion Diocese – comprising the Bailiwicks of Szodansdron and Tephal.
2. The territory of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates shall include the territories of its constituent parts, inland waters and territorial sea, and the airspace over them.
3. The Sovereign Confederation of Governorates shall possess sovereign rights and exercise jurisdiction over the continental shelf and in its exclusive economic zone according to the norms of Union law and Congressional Edicts.
4. The borders between the constituent parts of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates may be changed upon the mutual consent of the Governors of those territories. Such changes may be reversed by a majority vote within the Board of the Realm’s General Staff.

Article 3 – Sovereignty

1. The exercise of sovereignty over the territory and community of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates is invested in the Civil Executive.
2. The territorial integrity of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates shall be inviolable; no portion of its territory may be alienated without the unanimous consent of the Governors.
3. Should any portion of the territory of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates be alienated, ceded, or occupied by any power, foreign or domestic, contrary to its will or the rule of law, it shall be the duty of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates to sustain active resistance, without let, cessation, or compromise, until the aforementioned territory is regained or determined to be lawfully occupied.
4. Any member of the Community of the Realm, whether in the capacity of acting as a public servant or private civilian, found to be complicit in the unlawful alienation of any portion of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates or the Benacian Union, shall forfeit their right to life and property immediately upon the revelation of their treason.

Article 4 – Community of the Realm

1. The Community of the Realm, the political, social, and economic life of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates shall be open to all who share in the singular heritage, culture, and values of Benacia; who acknowledge the sublime influence of the Highest Divinity in shaping the fortunes of mankind; who rejoice in the Human Supremacy, and who are committed to the establishment of a full and perpetual political unity on the Benacian continent.
2. Participation in the Community of the Realm shall be restricted to subjects who have been registered as Sovereigns by the Benacian Censorate.
3. Foreigners may participate in the social and economic life of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates only to the extent to which they are permitted by the lawful authority responsible for their supervision.
4. Persons enlisted in any allied formation serving with Benacia Command, shall enjoy respect and deference commensurate with their rank.

Chapter Two – The Executive and Legislative Power

Article 1 - The Szodan of the Realm and the President of the Realm’s General Staff

1. The Szodan of the Realm of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates shall represent the Civil Executive in sub-Union relations, declare states of emergency within the Realm, and conclude peace in the name of the same, enter into contracts and other conventions with other parties, accredit legates, and receive emissaries.
2. The Szodan of the Realm shall receive the consent of the Board of the Realm’s General Staff for the declaration of a state of emergency except in case of an attack upon the territory of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates or its coasts or in the event of a natural disaster or calamity affecting the same.
3. The Szodan shall seek the ascent of the President of the Realm’s General Staff to appoint Governors to those governorships which vacate after completion of one full term.
4. The Szodan of the Realm, on the advice of the President of the Realm’s General Staff, may veto the release of full records to the public if they are satisfied that the safety and comfort of the Community of the Realm and the greater Union would be endangered by doing so.
5. The President of the Realm’s General Staff shall have the right to convene the Board of the Realm’s General Staff and to open, adjourn, and close sessions.
6. The President of the Realm’s General Staff, to be appointed from among incumbent Speakers by the Szodan of the Realm and confirmed by the Miþuï, shall preside over the Board of the Realm’s General Staff, and supervise the conduct of its business.
7. The President of the Realm’s General Staff shall have the right to delegate the power to represent themself to any member of the Board of the Realm’s General Staff.
8. To the President of the Realm’s General Staff shall belong the right to prepare and publish Directives. The Directives shall be published in the name of the Civil Executive, and require for their validity the assent of the Szodan of the Realm, who thereby becomes responsible for their execution.
9. The President of the Realm’s General Staff may issue Directives on behalf of the Szodan upon all matters not yet covered in the provisions of Union law or codified within this Document.
10. The President of the Realm’s General Staff may appoint, on the advice of the Szodan of the Realm, the Steward to use the Sovereign Bureau to perform such tasks and advise on such matters that touch upon the personal interests and assets of the Szodan of the Realm.

Article 2 - The Civil Executive

1. The Civil Executive shall comprise all Commissions and their Deputy Offices as listed in Article 45 of the Union Charter. In the event that a Commission is deemed unable to fulfill their duties, on the advice of the President of the Realm’s General Staff, the relevant Deputy Commission will act instead until either their superior office is deemed to be recovered or has been replaced.
2. Positional hierarchy on the Civil Executive shall be established and amended by the President of the Realm’s General Staff, on the advice of the Szodan of the Realm.
3. The President of the Realm’s General Staff shall preside over the Civil Executive and select their membership from among the incumbent Governors in the realm to hold Commissions and their Deputy Offices.
4. The President shall not cast a vote unless to break a tie.
5. The Civil Executive shall conduct legislative sessions in public.
6. The Civil Executive may resolve to mandate that an individual session be held in private, provided that all measures passed by it are immediately released to the Community of the Realm, and that within six calendar months the full records must be released to the Commission for the Panopticon of the Benacian Union.
7. The Civil Executive may conduct investigations within the Realm and may demand the presence and testimony of witnesses and the production of records for the purposes of such investigations.
8. The Civil Executive shall propose policies and legislation to the Miþuï with intent to:
   1. Safeguard the liberties, rights and freedoms of the Community of the Realm;
   2. Sign treaties;
   3. Establish the budget of the Government and authorize taxation;
   4. Secure the borders of the Governorates’ and the Sovereign Confederation’s territories and integrate new lands to the Confederation.
9. The activities of the Civil Executive shall be coordinated with the Board of the Realm’s General Staff.

Article 3 - The Board of the Realm’s General Staff

1. The Board of the Realm’s General Staff, shall be composed of:
   1. The Steward, responsible for the Sovereign Bureau;
   2. The Marshal, responsible for the maintenance of the State Guard and Register of Bailiffs;
   3. The Governor of the Treasury, responsible for the finance policy and economic policy of the Realm including the regulation of revenues, finance, corporations, and guilds;
   4. The Governor of Public Instruction and Safety, responsible for the Commission for Public Instruction and Safety, state security, territorial command, public order troops, aviation police, and coast guard;
   5. The Governor of Logistics, responsible for the Commission for Logistics, communications, information technology, and media coordination;
   6. The Governor of Internal Affairs, responsible for the Commission for Internal Affairs, education, health, liaison with local governments, rehabilitation and re-education, and civilians' affairs;
   7. The Governor of Works, responsible for technology research and development, heavy industry, agriculture, infrastructure, transport, and mines & forestries.
2. The Steward shall be selected by the Szodan of the Realm.
3. The Marshal shall be selected by and serve at the pleasure of the President of the Realm's General Staff.
4. Governors of the Board of the Realm’s General Staff shall be selected by the President of the Realm’s General Staff from those incumbent Governors serving to administer the territory of the Sovereign Confederation. Such offices within the Board of the Realm’s General Staff are relinquished with the end of the appointed Governor’s territorial administration.
5. The activities of the Board of the Realm’s General Staff shall be coordinated with the Civil Executive.
6. The Board of the Realm’s General Staff may move to end states of emergency by unanimous vote.
7. The Board of the Realm’s General Staff may pass legislation into law over the whole of the Realm by a 5:7 vote on the advise and consent of the Miþuï.

Article 4 - The Miþuï

1. The Miþuï shall comprise those civilians elected by the Community of the Realm as Speakers.
2. The manner and method of the election of Speakers is determined by an Edict passed by a plurality of the Miþuï.
3. The Miþuï shall not afford less than three seats to each Bailiwick listed in Article 2 of Chapter One of this Document.
4. The Miþuï shall scrutinize the institutions of the Realm, and act as an arbiter between them.
5. The advice and consent of the Miþuï shall be sought by the Board of the Realm’s General Staff before the adoption of legislation.
6. The Miþuï may elect a new Governor to fill the office of a governorship that was vacated prematurely by majority vote from among any worthy Sovereign residing in a Bailiwick within the vacant Governorate.
7. The powers of the Szodan may be wielded by an absolute majority vote in the Miþuï by right of legislative supremacy over executive and judicial functions and appointments within the Realm.
8. The Miþuï may put forth proposals for the succession of the office of the Szodan of the Realm to the Civil Executive for that body's assent.

Chapter Three – The Judicial Power

Article 1 – Precepts of Justice and Common Law

1. Common Law is derived from custom and judicial precedent within each Circuit.
2. Any act or failure to perform an act may be considered a crime if it is found to be harmful to the Community of the Realm or displeasing to higher authority by reason of being contrary to Common Law or else is in violation of the precepts endorsed by the United Ecclesiastical Corporation of Benacia.
3. Any parties or individuals who may cause a holder of superior office or an institution of state to be brought to trial through their accusation will be made to endure the penalty which they have sought for the accused if a court constituted under lawful authority rules against them.
4. The decisions and verdicts of the courts shall be recorded by the Sovereign Bureau and set precedent for what is or is not lawful conduct under Common Law.
5. The courts of the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates shall faithfully implement the Criminal Code of the Benacian Union, modified as and when appropriate to the present circumstances.
6. The Board of the Realm’s General Staff may establish Courts of Special Interests pertaining to the individual and collective areas of responsibility of its members.

Article 2 – The Powers of the Szodan of the Realm

1. The Szodan of the Realm, as First Sovereign within their Realm, is the font of justice for the Sovereign Confederation of Governorates. All crimes and civil pleadings may be brought to their attention or to that of the Sovereign Bureau by application or upon appeal.
2. The Szodan of the Realm may delegate to the Governors within the Realm by ordinance the authority to hear such cases as they are indisposed to hear themself concerning their respective Governorates.
3. The Szodan of the Realm may establish by ordinance inferior and subordinate courts to hear such cases as arise from the Governorates as might be trivial to their concerns yet require the ministrations of justice nonetheless.
4. The Szodan of the Realm may conduct special inquisitions against all in their Realm as they deem necessary and appropriate.
5. The Szodan may appoint any Sovereign possessing distinguished professional credentials as Advocate to represent them in judicial and legal matters.

Article 3 – The Trial Procedure

1. The Szodan of the Realm, or an appropriate subordinate representative, shall conduct an investigation and prepare charges against an individual who is subject to accusation.
   1. The Szodan of the Realm, or an appropriate subordinate representative, shall then preside over the court arraigned for the purpose of conducting a trial.
   2. A court shall comprise:
      1. The presiding officer;
      2. A herald selected by the presiding officer;
      3. A Bailiff selected by the Bailiwick's Governor from the Register of Bailiffs;
      4. An Esquire of the Corps of the Gentlemen-at-Cudgels;
      5. And twelve sages appointed by and serving at the pleasure of those Speakers currently representing the Bailiwick containing the court to compliment the presiding officer in their deliberations.
2. The accused shall then be detained by the Corps of the Gentlemen-at-Cudgels.
3. The accused, having been brought to trial by the bailiff, shall be read the charges against them by the herald.
4. The accused, having been afforded the opportunity to consider the charges, may make a vindication of their actions or else elect to submit to the mercy of the court.
   1. The accused may call upon the testimony of witnesses and material evidence to support their vindication, if it is pleasing to the court.
5. If the accused appeals for mercy, the court may only record the verdict of guilt and assign the aforementioned to community service.
6. The presiding officer, having heard the vindications of the accused may decide if they are satisfied or dissatisfied with what they have heard.
7. If the presiding officer is satisfied, the accused may be found acquitted of the charges against them and discharged.
   1. If the discharged party was accused by an inferior in merit, they will be entitled to demand that the accuser compensate all legal expenses accrued over the course of the investigation and trial.
   2. If the discharged party was accused by a subject equal or superior in merit, they may be entitled to demand that the accuser compensate up to half of all legal expenses accrued over the course of the investigation and trial, if it pleases the court.
8. If the presiding officer is dissatisfied, the accused shall be found guilty. The court may then impose a fine upon the condemned that is commensurate with the crime.
9. Subjects unable to pay amounts mandated by the court will be made subject to a punitive sentence which will allow the debt to be paid over no more than five years.

Article 4 – The Appeals Process

1. Subjects may, on their Bailiff's recommendation, appeal the decisions and verdicts of inferior and subordinate courts at the Governorate level to the Courts of Special Interests.
2. Subjects may, on the Steward's recommendation, appeal the decisions and verdicts of Courts of Special Interests to the Szodan of the Realm.
3. Appeals may be halted by the Szodan of the Realm if they are satisfied with the verdict already attained.

Chapter Four – Governorates & Circuits

Article 1 – Governorates

1. Governorates, as defined in Article 2 of Chapter One of this Document, comprise the basic territorial subdivisions of the Sovereign Confederation of Goverenorates.
2. Governorates are the subject to the Common Law of Circuits to which they have been assigned by the Szodan of the Realm.
3. Within the scope of delegated authority, the Governorates shall exercise their own legal regulation including the adoption of laws and other normative acts of government.
4. Governors may establish subordinate administrative positions and summon consultative assemblies as they deem necessary for proper governance.
5. A Governorship shall be held for a term of 25 years.

Article 2 – Circuits

1. The Miþuï shall conduct assizes throughout the Circuits under the direction of the Benacian Censorate so as to assure the Community of the Realm of their continual supervision, vigilance, and presence.
2. The Guild of Magisters-Carnifex may, within those Governorates not assigned to a Circuit, create administrative divisions subordinate to a Governorate, known as Bailiwicks, and appoint corresponding officials upon exercising this right.
3. The Guild of Magisters-Carnifex is entrusted to ensure the implementation of the powers of the Sovereign Confederation and the Benacian Union across the whole of the Circuit in which they are posted.

Chapter Five – Final Provisions

Article 1 - Enactment

1. This Document shall come into effect from the date of its promulgation as an Edict by the Second Congress of Chryse.

Article 2 – Amendments

1. This Document may only be revised and amended with consent of the duly elected Speakers of the Miþuï by a three quarters majority, the consent of the Board of the Realm’s General Staff by a two-thirds majority, and the assent of the Szodan of the Realm.