Constitution of Talenore

The current Constitution of Talenore was proclaimed by the Sardar of Talenore, Salome, on 23.V.1674.

Text of the Constitution

Article I - The State

1. The State of Talenore is a sovereign, independent and unitary state. Its form of government is a constitutional monarchy.

2. The capital of the state is Talenore City.

3. The official languages of the state are Babkhi and Istvanistani. Elw and Sani enjoy coofficial status in areas where they are spoken as a first language by a significant number of people, as defined by law.

4. The state shall have no official religion. The Vanic faith and the Stripping Path shall be banned.

Article II - Bill of Rights

1. All government authority emanates from the people. The right of every citizen to influence public authorities shall not be abridged.

2. The state shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The special status of Zurvanism shall be protected.

3. The state shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.

4. The state shall make no law abridging the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

5. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. No warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

6. No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. Private property shall not be taken for public use, without just compensation.

7. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the governorate wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.

8. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

9. No person shall be deprived of access to work, health care, education or housing.

10. The state shall make no law abridging the rights in this article, except when failing to do so would cause a clear and serious threat to national security or national unity.

Article III - The Monarchy

1. The office of head of state is vested in Salome Ylva Octavia Ayreon-Kalirion ibn al-Majeed al-Osman bin Sathrati of Waffel-Paine, and her legitimate heirs in accordance with law.

2. The title of the head of state shall be Sardar of the State of Talenore.

3. The head of state shall attain majority and be competent to exercise their functions when attaining the age of 18.

4. During a period of minority, all functions of the head of state shall be exercised by a Regent.

5. A person shall be nominated by the Governor General to serve as Regent, and be appointed by the head of state.
a. The Regent shall be removed upon death, resignation or the appointment of a new Regent.

6. The head of state shall hold only those powers conferred by this constitution and other Talenore laws, and shall only exercise them in accordance with those laws.

7. The head of state must not delegate any authority vested in them without proper authorization in Talenorian law.

8. The head of state is immune from prosecution when acting in their official capacity as head of state.

9. The head of state accredits representatives to and from Talenore. The head of state is the highest representative of the state, and shall undertake such representative acts as requested by the Governor General.

Article IV - The Executive Power

1. The executive power of the government is vested in the Sirdar-Bahadur, who serves as Governor General on the behalf of the head of state. They appoint a Council of State to assist them in their duties. The members of the Council of State are appointed and dismissed by the Governor General and serve at their pleasure.

2. The Governor General shall ensure that the laws, decrees and constitution of Talenore be faithfully executed. They are the head of the civil service and chairperson of the Council of State.

3. All decisions by the Council of State must be signed by the Governor General to take effect.

4. The Governor General issues decrees with the force of law. A decree concerns the application of a law. All decrees must be discussed in the Council of State before being issued.

5. The Council of State consists of the Governor General, chancellors and ministers. One member shall be designated by the Governor General as their deputy.

6. There shall be a government chancellery to assist the Council of State. The chancellery consists of various departments for different policy areas. The Governor General distributes policy areas between the various departments. The Governor General appoints the heads of the departments, titled chancellors. In each department, the Governor General may also appoint assistant Council of State members with their own areas of responsibility, titled ministers.

7. Issues of policy and application of law shall be discussed and decided at sessions of the Council of State. Issues within a department may be decided by the chancellor of the department. The extent of this power shall be decreed by the Governor General.

8. The Governor General shall once each year propose to the National Assembly a budget bill for the revenue and expenses of the national government the coming year. The National Assembly shall process the budget bill with priority. A budget bill for the coming year shall be passed by the National Assembly no later than 12.XIII.

9. When there is a vacancy in the office of Governor General, due to resignation, death or otherwise, the head of state shall, acting on the advice of the outgoing Governor General or, if that is not possible, on the advice of the Council of State, appoint a Talenore citizen to serve as Governor General.

Article V - The Legislative Power

1. The legislative power of the government is vested in the Legislative Assembly and the Governor General.

2. The Legislative Assembly consists of 380 members, elected in free, fair and secret elections with universal suffrage for all Talenore citizens that will achieve at least eighteen years of age the same year of the election. Elections to the Assembly take place on 12.XI every third year. A newly elected Assembly takes its seats on 1.XII after the election.

3. 380 members of the Assembly are elected with the entire state as a single electoral district. Seats are allocated using d'Hondt's method. No party shall win a seat in the Assembly that has not received at least five percent of the national vote.

4. At the beginning of each session, and whenever the office falls vacant, the Assembly shall elect a member to serve as Speaker. The Speaker is elected by secret ballot. An absolute majority of the membership of the Assembly is required to be elected on the first ballot. If no candidate passes that threshold, a second ballot shall be held between the two candidates that received the most votes. The candidate that receives a plurality of votes on the second ballot is elected Speaker. The Assembly shall after electing the Speaker also elect a first, second, third and fourth deputy Speaker in the same manner.

5. Each member, committee, party group and the Governor General has the power of legislative initiative in the Assembly. A law proposal is called a bill. Each proposed bill shall be assigned to a committee by the Speaker.

6. The members of the National Assembly are divided into committees. Each committee has responsibility for one or several policy areas. The committees are responsible for reviewing each proposed bill. The committee shall submit bills to concerned parties for their input. After receiving this input, the committee shall vote on whether or not to advance the bill to the full Assembly. If it votes to advance the bill, the committee shall also attach its suggested amendments and a suggested course of action for the Assembly, as well as any reservations made by committee members.

7. A bill advanced from a committee to the Assembly shall be read once. If the Assembly votes to advance the bill, it shall be scheduled for debate. If it does not vote to advance it, the bill dies. During debate, any amendments related to the issues in the bill may be proposed. After debate has closed, the Assembly shall vote on each amendment and then on the final version of the bill. A bill requires a simple majority in favor to pass.

8. Each bill passed by the Assembly shall be signed and promulgated by the Governor General on behalf of the head of state. The Governor General may withhold their signature and return the bill to the Assembly with a list of their objections. If the Governor General maintains the withholding of consent, the bill fails and may not be introduced again during the same session.

9. The Assembly issues standing orders that regulates its proceedings.

10. Each Assembly member's mandate shall be considered to be individual and personal. There shall be no imperative mandate. A member may only be deprived of their mandate by a two-thirds vote of the Assembly or by order from the Supreme Court.

Article VI - The Judicial Power

1. The judicial power of the government is vested in the Supreme Court, and in its inferior courts. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior for a term of six years.

2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases arising under this constitution and the laws of Talenore, or which shall be made under their authority. In all cases, the Supreme Court shall have final appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and regulations as the National Assembly shall make.

3. Trial of all crimes shall be by jury. Such trials shall be held in the governorate where the said crimes shall have been committed, or if not committed within a governorate, at such place as the National Assembly may by law have directed.

4. The judges of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the Governor General.

5. Further regulation of the judiciary shall be made by law.

Article VII - Regional Government

1. Talenore is divided into governorates. Governorates are governed by a governor and an assembly. The Governor General shall after each election to the regional assemblies, and whenever the office is vacant, appoint an individual to serve as Governor of each governorate.

2. The executive power of the governorate is vested in the Governor. They appoint an executive council to assist them in their duties. The members of the executive council are appointed and dismissed by the Governor and serve at their pleasure.

3. The Governor shall ensure that the laws, decrees and constitution of Talenore, as well as the regulations and decisions of the governorate, be faithfully executed. They are the head of the civil service of the governorate and chairperson of the executive council. All decisions by the executive council must be signed by the Governor to take effect.

4. The regulatory power of the governorate is vested in the assembly. Elections for the assemblies shall be held every third year.

5. The Governor General may veto any regulation or action by the government of a governorate. Any such veto is absolute.

6. Further regulation of the regional governments, as well as their authority and responsibilities, shall be made by law.

Article VIII - Local Government

1. The governorates are divided into districts. They are governed by a president and a district council. The governor of the governorate shall after each election to the district councils, and whenever the office is vacant, appoint an individual to serve as president of each district.

2. The executive power of the district is vested in the president. They appoint a district board to assist them in their duties. The members of the district board are appointed and dismissed by the president and serve at their pleasure.

3. The regulatory power of the district is vested in the district council. Elections for the district councils shall be held every third year.

4. Additional subordinate governments may be established by law. Further regulation of the local governments, as well as their authority and responsibilities, shall be made by law.

Article IX - Amendments and Other Provisions

1. This constitution shall be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the entire membership of the National Assembly.

2. The head of state shall sign and proclaim any amendment to this constitution.

3. All officers of the government shall continue in office until the first election after the establishment of independent Talenore. The first election shall be held in 1677.

4. This constitution is the supreme law of the State and any law, decree, regulation or other such instrument with the force of law that is found to be inconsistent with the constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be declared to be null and void.

5. The crown of Talenore is separate from that of Shireroth, Ransenar and Sathrati. The head of state shall only act in Talenore affairs on the advice of the Governor General.