Compact of Ouinville

The Compact of Ouinville is the constitution or supreme law of the Altusian Republic. Its final draft was completed by the Constitutional Commission composed of representatives of the different city-states and of the Armée Altusienne Unie in 1669 and was ratified by a nationwide plebiscite later that year.

President Eugène Fouché was the main driving force in introducing the new constitution and inaugurating the Altusian Republic, while the text was drafted by Nicolás Berrocal.

Compact of Ouinville

Article I (On the Basic Principles of the Republic.)

1. The city-states of Alduria, Belloc, Hatkrou, Norvind, and Ouinville unite into a holy, federal, indivisible, and democratic Altusian Republic.

2. The organs of the State will promote the strengthening of the regionalization of the country and the equitable development and solidarity between cities and localities within the country.

3. The national flag, the seal of the Republic, and the national anthem are the national emblems of the Altusian Repiblic.

4. The people of Altus are born free and equal, in dignity and rights. The family is the basic core of society.

5. The State recognizes and defends the intermediate groups through which society organizes and structures itself and guarantees them the necessary autonomy to fulfill their own specific objectives.

6. The State is at the service of the individual and its goal is to promote common welfare. To this effect, it must contribute to the creation of the social conditions which permit each and every one of the members of the national community to achieve the greatest possible spiritual and material fulfillment, with full respect for the rights and guarantees established by this Compact.

7. It is the duty of the State to safeguard the national security, to provide protection for the people and the family, to secure the general welfare of the Nation, to promote the strengthening of the family, to further the harmonious integration of all the sectors of the Nation and to ensure everyone the right to participate in the national life with equal opportunities.

8. Sovereignty rests essentially with the Nation. It is exercised by the people through the plebiscites and periodic elections, as well as by the authorities established by this Compact. No sector of the people nor any individual may assume its exercise. The exercise of sovereignty recognizes as a limitation the respect for the essential rights originating from human nature.

9. The action of the bodies of the State must be subject to the Compact and to the norms enacted in conformity therewith.

10. Both the incumbent officers of said bodies or members thereof, as well as all persons, institutions or groups, are bound by the precepts of this Compact. The breach of this principle shall generate responsibilities and penalties to be determined by the law.

11. The bodies of the State operate validly within their field of competence, and in the manner prescribed by law, after their members have been properly invested. No judicature, person or group of persons may assume, even on the pretext of extraordinary circumstances, any other authority or rights than those expressly conferred upon them by the Compact or by law. Any act contravening this article is null and void and shall give rise to the responsibilities and penalties indicated by law.

12. Any action by an individual or group intended to propagate doctrines attempting against the family, or which advocate violence or a concept of society, the State or the juridical order, of a totalitarian character or based on class warfare, is illegal and contrary to the Republic and the Nation. The organizations and political movements or parties which, due to their purposes or the nature of the activities of their members, tend toward such objectives, are unconstitutional. The cognizance of violations of the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraphs shall rest with the Supreme Court of Justice. Without prejudice to the other penalties established by law, persons who incur or who should have incurred the aforementioned violations shall not, for a period of ten years (Ab Nortone) from the date of the Court's decision, be eligible for public duties or positions, regardless as to whether they should or should not be obtained through popular vote. Likewise, they will not become rectors or directors of educational establishments or teach thereat or exploit any medium of mass communication, or become directors or administrators thereof, or hold positions therein, related to the broadcast or dissemination of opinions or information. During the aforementioned period, they will not be able either to act as leaders of political organizations or students associations, and in general, organizations related to education, or occupy positions in community professional, entrepreneurial, labor or trade unions. If at the time of the Court's decision, those persons referred to above should be holding a public office or position, whether or not as the result of a popular vote, they shall lose it as a matter of law. Persons penalized in accordance with this precept, shall not be eligible for reinstatement during the indicated ten year (Ab Nortone) period. The duration of ineligibility as prescribed in this section shall be doubled in case of recurrence of the offense.

13. Terrorism in any of its forms is essentially contrary to human rights. A law passed by a qualified quorum shall define terrorist conducts and the penalty to be imposed. Those responsible for such crimes shall, for a period of fifteen (Ab Nortone) years, be precluded from holding positions or exercising functions or activities as referred to in the preceding section, without prejudice to other ineligibilities or of those for a longer period established by law. Neither amnesty or pardon, nor provisional freedom for those tried for such crimes shall be warranted. For all legal effects, such crimes will always be regarded as common offenses and not as political ones.

Article II (On the President.)

1. The government and the administration of the State are vested in the President of the Republic, who is the Chief of the State.

2. His authority extends to all that aims at the preservation of the internal public order and the external security of the Republic, in accordance with the Compact and the law.

3. The President of the Republic shall report to the country, at least once a year, on the administration and political condition of the Nation.

4. In order to be eligible to the office of President of the Republic, the individual must have been born in the territory of Altus or have held Alexandrian citizenship, have attained to the age of forty years, and possess the other necessary requirements to qualify as a citizen of the Republic with the right to vote.

5. The President of the Republic shall hold office for a term of five (Ab Nortone) years and may be reelected up to two consecutive times.

6. The President of the Republic may not leave the national territory for more than thirty days or during the last ninety days of his administration without the consent of the Altusian Senate.

7. In any case, the President of the Republic shall communicate the Senate with due anticipation, his decision to leave the country and the reasons therefor.

8. The President shall be elected by direct ballot, with an absolute majority of the votes validly cast. The election shall be held before the end of the administration of the President then holding office in the manner determined by law.

9. Should there be more than two candidates in the presidential election, none of them obtaining more than half of the votes validly cast, a new election shall be held, in the manner determined by law. This election shall be limited to the two candidates with the highest relative majorities.

10. If, because of temporary incapacity, either illness, absence from the country or some other serious reason, the President of the Republic is unable to hold office, he shall be replaced by the incumbent Chairman of the Permanent Steering Committee, in accordance with the order of legal precedence. In the absence of such Chairman, the person who follows in the order of precedence shall succeed him, in accordance with the laws and the provisions they make for the absence of all of the aforementioned officials who shall substitute the President.

11. In case of a vacancy in the Presidency of the Republic, the successor shall be appointed by the Permanent Steering Committee with an absolute majority of its members in office and shall remain in office until the next general election, when a new presidential election shall be held. The President thus designated may not become a candidate in the following presidential election.

12. The President shall leave office on the same day on which his term is completed and shall be succeeded by the newly-elected President.

13. The special powers vested in the President of the Republic are the following:

• To contribute to the making of the laws in accordance with the Compact; to sanction and promulgate them;
• To convene the Senate to an extraordinary session and to close it;
• To issue decrees having force of law with reference to matters indicated by the Compact;
• To call to a national plebiscite;
• To dissolve the Senate, being precluded from exercising this power during the last year in which the Senate is in office.
• To designate the members of the Senate that are unelected, in accordance with the precepts of this Compact;
• To declare situations of constitutional exception in the instances and forms prescribed for in this Compact;
• To exercise the statutory authority in all those matters which are not of a legal nature, without prejudice to the power to issue other regulations, decrees or instructions which he may deem appropriate for the enforcement of the law;
• To appoint, and remove at will any or all officials of the State;
• To appoint Ambassadors and Diplomatic Ministers and Representatives to international organizations, who shall be of the exclusive confidence of the President of the Republic and shall remain in their positions as long as they continue being reliable to him;
• To appoint the Comptroller General of the Republic with the consent of the Senate;
• To appoint and remove officers considered by law to be of his exclusive confidence and to fill the other civilian positions in accordance with the law. The removal of other officers shall be subject to the provisions determined by law;
• To grant pensions, retirement, widows' and orphans' pensions and de gratia pensions, in accordance whith the law;
• To appoint the Justices of all Courts of Justice and Civil Judges, as prescribed for in this Compact;
• To watch over the ministerial conduct of the judges and other employees of the Judiciary and, to that effect, demand from the Supreme Court, when applicable, the declaration on misconduct of such persons; or declare that disciplinary measures be sought from the competent court or, in the light of sufficient evidence, file the pertinent accusation.
• To grant an individual pardon in the cases and in the manner prescribed for by the law;
• To conduct political relations with foreign nations and international organizations, and carry out negotiations; conclude, sign and ratify treaties deemed advantageous for the interests of the country, with discussions and deliberations on these matters maintained secret should the President of the Republic so demand;
• To appoint and remove Chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other Armed Branches and the Director-General of the Armed Police, and provide for assignments, promotions, and retirement of officers of the Armed Forces and the Armed Police;
• To command the air, sea and land forces; organize and distribute them in accordance with national security needs;
• To take over, in case of war, the supreme command of the Armed Forces;
• To declare war, subject to authorization by law; being it required to point out that the Permanent Steering Committee has been heard in this regard;
• To watch over the collection of public revenue and decree its expenditure in accordance with the law.

Article III (On the Permanent Steering Committee.)

1. The Permanent Steering Committee shall provide advice, ensure delivery of the national projects, policies, and outputs and the achievement of project outcomes; serving as the direct and immediate collaborators of the President of the Republic in governing and administering the State. The law shall determine the number and organization of the Committee, as well as the order of precedence of the incumbent Ministers.

2. The Permanent Steering Committee shall forever maintain as its highest purpose the maintenance of national unity and national strength, the promotion of the Alexandrian traditions and culture, with a respect for the laws, this Compact, and the rights and dignities of the citizens of Altus.

2. The Permanent Steering Committee shall have a Chairman, appointed by the President of the Republic, to serve as Chief of Staff to the President and Minister of Government and the Civil Service.

3. The President of the Republic may entrust one or more Ministers with the coordination of the work to be performed by the Secretaries of State and relations of the Government with the Senate.

4. In order to be eligible to the office of Minister, the person must be a citizen of Altus, should have attained to the age of twenty-one years, and should meet the general requirements for entering public office, in accordance with the laws and this Compact.

5. In cases of absence, impediment or resignation of a Minister, or should the vacancy be produced by another cause, he shall be replaced in the manner established by law.

6. When Ministers should deem it appropriate, they may attend sessions of the Senate and participate in the debates, with priority right for taking the floor, but without the right to vote.

See Also

• Altus