Constitution of Talenore

The current Constitution of Talenore was promulgated by the state authorities in V.1674 following the 1674 Talenore coup d'état.

Text of the Constitution

Article II - 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 III - 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 IV - 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.

Article V - The Executive Power

1. The executive power of the state is vested in the Sirdar-Bahadur, who serves as Governor General in the name of the head of state. The Governor General exercises their authority by decree.
2. 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.
3. The Governor General shall appoint a Council of State to assist them in their duties. The Council of State consists of heads of government departments, named chancellors, and junior members, named ministers. The organisation and procedures of the Council of State shall be set by decree.
4. The Governor General shall ensure that the laws of Talenore are faithfully executed. Any action of the Governor General, or anyone acting in their stead, that is contrary to law or this constitution shall be null and void.
5. The Governor General shall cause a budget to be introduced in the Legislative Assembly no later than 15.XI each year.

Article VI - 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 in the name 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.