Compact of the Eastern Bovic Lands
The Compact of the Eastern Bovic Lands is the current constitutional framework that describes the government of Eastern Natopia. It was enacted in 1707 by agreement between the governments of Flaventia and Klaasiya under the terms of the Demesne Compact Clause of the Natopian Constitution. The compact creates a supra-subnational government that occupies the jurisdictional level between the demesnes and the central Natopian government. It duplicates many of the national government institutions but reduces their scope to just Flaventia and Klaasiya and gives the Emperor, and his Vicereine, considerable authority in the two demesnes.
Text of the Compact
Preamble
The Natopian Nation is defined by its perseverance, resourcefulness, creativity, and diversity. These are the strengths of Our Nation, and the qualities that we all hold high above others, defining us as Natopians. This common pride, and not the circumstances of our birth, is what binds us together as Natopians. As Natopians we seek to create ever more perfect ways to organize and govern ourselves, so that we all may prosper. That is why the people of the eastern Natopian Nation has chosen to codify its governing laws into this compact, so that the government at the service of the eastern Natopian Nation shall always serve the People without ambiguity, and that the various arms of that government have clearly defined and separated powers, and that the government can act to protect the People, the Nation, the State, and the Land we depend on.
Article I - The Natopian Nation
1. The government of Eastern Natopia is known as the Viceroyalty of the Bovic Lands East of the River Egale; it consists of many peoples and nations, seeking prosperity and justice, united together under the Emperor of the Natopians.
2. Eastern Natopia empowers the Natopian people above all and is a representative democracy, with certain critical and emergency powers reserved for the Emperor.
3. The Natopian Nation refers to all peoples, nations, ethnicities, races, tribes, bands, and other groups that proclaim and possess citizenship and allegiance to the Natopian state.
4. A person is born into the Natopian Nation if one of their parents is a Natopian at the time of birth; or if the person is born within Natopian jurisdiction. Any other person may pursue Natopian citizenship through a formal immigration process.
5. The Cross of Sovereignty is the oldest and most important symbol of Natopia and represents the Natopian people at the core, surrounding themselves with a protective government, and using the government to hold their four most cherished and essential rights: freedom, justice, peace, and equality.
6. The motto of Eastern Natopia is "Peace Through Silent Oppression," a sober reminder of the early totalitarian governments that the Natopian Nation actively reformed over generations, and a call to the Natopian Nation to remain vigilant against oppression.
7. The capital of Eastern Natopia is Lindström, which shall not be part of, or governed by, any demesne. The Vice-regal Government and all agencies and bureaus will meet in Lindström if practical.
8. To assist in communication among the various peoples of the Natopian Nation, the official administration language of Eastern Natopia is Nats. No local, cultural, ancient, or minority language shall ever be suppressed by Eastern Natopian laws.
9. The government of Eastern Natopia will protect the Natopian people and defend their inherent rights to freedom, justice, peace, and equality.
10. The Dozan Bovic Church and the Bovinist religion has a special and formal relationship with the Natopian Nation; however adherence to any religion shall never be used to discriminate against a person.
Article II - The Emperor
1. The Emperor will defend this Compact, protect Eastern Natopia from all threats foreign and domestic, display exemplary moral and civic character, and serve as a living symbol of Natopian unity.
2. Executive power over foreign affairs and responsibility for defense of the Nation--insofar as they relate to the jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty--is vested in the Emperor of the Natopians and exercised by his appointed Vicereine through His Most Bovic Majesty's Viceregal Court.
3. The Emperor holds power to regulate and define the structure, officers, and symbols of the Viceregal Court.
4. The Emperor is the Head of State, a symbol of the Viceroyalty and guardian of the persistence of the Natopian Nation.
5. The Emperor appoints ambassadors, liaisons, and delegates to foreign states, entities, and organizations and receives foreign heads of state, ambassadors, ministers and other envoys.
6. The Emperor grants amnesty, commutes punishments, and issues pardons.
7. The Emperor is commander-in-chief of the Natopian Defense Force, with the traditional and customary military rank of Grand Commander.
8. The Emperor issues Viceregal Decrees that have the authority of law to conduct matters as head of state; to administer foreign and military affairs; regulate and administer his Viceregal Court; to protect and enforce their Instrument of Succession; to create and bestow titles, honors, and awards; and to temporarily govern the entire Viceregal Government in such dire national emergencies as declared by the Frenzy.
9. The Emperor remains in his authority until the Emperor's uncontested death or abdication.
10. An uncontested death is irrefutable public evidence of the Emperor's death.
11. An abdication is written by the Emperor's own hand and is submitted to the Frenzy.
12. The Emperor maintains an Instrument of Succession. In the event of the Emperor's uncontested death or abdication, the first person in the order of succession becomes Emperor.
13. The Pentheros of the Dozan Bovic Church confers Bous' divine approval of the new Emperor by officiating the new Emperor's ceremonial coronation. During the coronation, the Emperor must swear or affirm an oath to maintain, expand, and protect the Natopian Nation and Dozan Bovic Church.
14. The Emperor must appoint a capable Viceroy/Vicereine/Viceroyal who is able fulfill all critical responsibilities of the Emperor during any absence of the Emperor that exceeds three continuous Norton months (6 Gregorian days).
15. There will be no other self-styled emperors or kings in the Viceroyalty; except ancient royal titles and kings of sovereign nations that have since entered into the Viceroyalty.
Article III - The Frenzy
1. All legislative powers shall be vested in a Frenzy of the Eastern Bovic Lands.
2. The Frenzy shall be composed of Senators chosen by the governments of the Demesnes of Eastern Natopia.
3. No citizen shall be a Senator who shall not be a resident of that Demesne for which they shall be chosen.
4. The Frenzy creates laws that govern Eastern Natopia, collectively known as the Aigoeidis Kodikas.
5. The Aigoeidis Kodikas' authority extends to all territories, demesnes, and other jurisdictions where the Viceroyalty or any entity of the Viceroyalty has the authority to govern.
6. Acts of Frenzy become law when passed by a majority of senators present in the Frenzy and given assent by the Viceroy. The law is then added to the Aigoeidis Kodikas by the Vice Chancellor.
7. The Frenzy, by passing Resolutions, may direct Viceregal officials to act in accordance with the Compact and Aigoeidis Kodikas, enact the ratification process of an agreement, overturn Viceregal Decrees, claim additional land for the Viceroyalty, cede viceregal land, redraw internal boundaries, rename cities, issue city charters, or any other similar action to ensure effective governing.
8. Any Senator may propose a Bill for consideration.
9. The Frenzy may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its own members for disorderly behavior, and, by a two-thirds majority, expel its own member.
10. The Emperor, through the process of granting Assent, approves an Act of Frenzy. Only bills that receive approval through Assent shall be made into Law and added to the Aigoeidis Kodikas. Bills that do not receive the approval of the Emperor within seven (7) days after being dispatched to the Emperor for his Assent shall be passed into Law with Assent being automatically assumed.
11. The Emperor, by issuing a veto, returns a Bill back to the Frenzy, attached with an explanation from the Emperor of the veto, and can only be overturned by a three-fifth's (3/5's) vote of the Frenzy.
Article IV - The Vice Chancellor
1. Executive power over domestic affairs is vested in the Vice Chancellor of the Eastern Bovic Lands.
2. The Vice Chancellor presides over the Frenzy, maintains the Library of Law, serves as Head of Government, executes the will of the Frenzy, upholds and enforces the Compact and the Aigoeidis Kodikas, oversees immigration, grows and maintains the economy, presents Bills passed by the Frenzy to the Emperor for Assent, advises the Emperor on domestic concerns, and administers the normal affairs of government.
3. The Vice Chancellor issues Chancellorial Decrees that have the authority of law when the Frenzy is unable to convene or in matters of national emergency.
4. The Vice Chancellor appoints a cabinet of ministers to the Viceregal Chancellery, to advise and assist them. Ministries are established in the Aigoeidis Kodikas.
5. For a vacancy in the office resulting from the resignation or death of a vice chancellor, the Emperor nominates a citizen that will have the confidence of the Frenzy, and following a vote of confidence for the vice-chancellorial nominee, swears the nominee in as Vice Chancellor.
6. The Vice Chancellor designates one of the appointed cabinet-level officials as the deputy vice chancellor to assume the duties of the Vice Chancellor during a temporary vacancy of the office
7. The Vice Chancellor issues Executive Orders to fulfill their office's obligations. Executive Orders are instruments of government to instruct government officials where the Viceregal Chancellery has jurisdiction to govern.
8. The Vice Chancellor may be removed from office only by a constructive vote of no confidence passed by the Frenzy that also names a replacement vice-chancellorial nominee that would have confidence of the Frenzy.
Article V - The Judicial Courts
1. The judicial competencies of the Viceroyalty are vested in the Viceregal Court of Eastern Natopia and in such inferior courts that are established by Frenzy or demesnial law.
2. The Court is composed of the Grand Judge and twelve (12) Justices; the Grand Judge shall preside over all proceedings.
3. The Grand Judge is appointed for life, and the Justices are appointed for twelve (12) year terms; the terms of the Justices shall be staggered such that six Justices are appointed or reconfirmed every six years.
4. Candidates for Grand Judge and the Justices are nominated by the Emperor and confirmed by the Frenzy.
5. The Grand Judge may recommend the Justice's term to be reconfirmed or allowed to expire for another 12 years by the Frenzy.
6. An appointee takes office after swearing an Oath; the wording of the Oath shall be determined by the Emperor.
7. Membership of the Court shall only cease on occasion of one of the following: a written resignation delivered to the Emperor; the death of a Member; a vote of the Frenzy to remove the Grand Judge and/or Justices that receives a majority of two thirds and a confirmation by the Emperor.
8. The jurisdiction of the Court is limitless within the Viceroyalty provided that at least one Party to a case is associated with the Viceroyalty.
9. A decision made by the Court: is taken with a simple majority of the Grand Judge, and Justices; is final and cannot be challenged or overruled unless so decided by the Court itself; takes immediate effect and requires immediate implementation, unless otherwise specified.
10. The Court defines its own procedures and practices.
11. If the Grand Judge, Justices, and/or the immediate family of a member of the court, are named as respondent in a case before the Court, then they will recuse themselves from deliberations.
Article VI - Enactment, Amendments, and Other Provisions
1. This Compact shall supersede the constitutional frameworks of Flaventia and Klaasiya.
2. This Compact will be ratified and enacted once approved by the governments of Flaventia and Klaasiya and Promulgated by the Vicereine.
3. This Compact is the supreme law of Eastern Natopia and no law, decree, order, or command may go against it within the Viceroyalty.
4. An Act of Frenzy, passed by a 3/4 majority and granted Assent by the Emperor, may amend this Compact.
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