Foundation Act (South Sea Islands Commonwealth)

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The Foundation Act of
The Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands
Coat of arms of South Sea Islands.png
Original Title: The Foundation Act of the Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands
Jurisdiction: South Sea Islands
Ratified: May 1st 1501
Date effective: May 1st 1501
System: Parliamentary Democracy under a Constitutional Democracy.
Branches of Government: Three (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial)
Chambers: One (The Legislative Assembly)
Executive: Constitutional Monarch represented by a Lieutenant Governor
Judiciary: Crown Court of Justice
Amendments: 1508, 1556, 1586.

The Foundation Act (South Seas Island Commonwealth) is an act of the Witan of Nova England. The act is considered to be the founding document of the South Sea Islands, and forms the basis of the nation's constitution.

Text of the Act

Preamble

An act for the establishment of a Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands, the government thereof, and purposes connected therewith:

Whereas the settlements of the Grand Wulfram and Trinity Island have expressed their desire to be united into one unified Commonwealth under the Crown of Nova England, with a constitution similar in principle to that of Nova England:

And whereas the creation of such a Commonwealth would be conducive to the good of the people of Grand Wulfram and Trinity Island and to the furthering of the good of Nova England:

And whereas on the establishment of the Commonwealth it is necessary to constitute a Legislative Assembly and establish the nature of Executive authority:

And whereas it is desirable that provision be made for the admission of further territory into the Commonwealth.

1. Union

i) It shall be lawful, upon the day of the ratification of this act, for the King to establish by proclamation a Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands.

ii) The territory of the Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands shall, upon the date of the aforementioned proclamation, consist of Grand Wulfram and Trinity Island, the surrounding waters thereof, the islets and terrestrial landmarks thereof, and the continental shelf thereof up to and including a 200 mile radius of any feature aforementioned.

iii) The union shall be considered a distinct political entity and fully sovereign nation, in possession of all relevant and appropriate rights.

iii) The union shall be named and referred to for all purposes as “The Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands”, with recognized short forms including “the South Sea islands”, “South Sea Islands” and “South Sea Islands Commonwealth”.

2. Executive Power

i) Executive government and authority of and over the Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands is hereby declared to continue to be vested in the reigning monarch of Nova England.

ii) At their leisure, the reigning monarch of Nova England may appoint a Lieutenant Governor to exercise executive authority on behalf of the monarch. Authority to appoint or dismiss the Lieutenant Governor, or any deputies thereof, shall remain the sole authority of the monarch of Nova England.

iii) The Commander in Chief of all naval and military forces of and in the Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands is hereby declared to continue to be the reigning monarch of Nova England.

iiii) Unless the reigning monarch of Nova England declares otherwise, the seat of government in the Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands shall be Joseph Town.

3. Legislative Authority

i) There shall be one Legislative Assembly for and of the Commonwealth of the South Sea Islands, consisting of the reigning monarch of Nova England (or the Lieutenant Governor in the monarch’s name) and a single elected chamber.

ii) The privileges and powers enjoyed and exercised by members of the Legislative Assembly shall be as defined from time-to-time by acts of the Legislative Assembly, subject to their approval by the Executive.

iii) The chamber of the Legislative Assembly shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, consist of twenty five Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of whom five will be elected by and for Joseph Town, ten by and for Zuid-Richel, and ten by and for the remaining territory of the Commonwealth (known as the Camp).

iiii) The Lieutenant Governor shall not be eligible to be elected to, or vote in, the chamber of the Legislative Assembly.

v) The Lieutenant Governor shall, from time-to-time, summon the chamber of the Legislative Assembly in the name of the monarch.

vi) The chamber of the Legislative Assembly shall, as soon as possible after being summoned, elect from their number a Speaker.

vii) The Speaker shall preside over all meetings of the chamber of the Legislative Assembly. In case of the death, incapacitation or resignation of the Speaker, the Legislative Assembly shall elect from their number a replacement Speaker.

viii) The Lieutenant Governor shall, from time-to-time, be permitted to attend meetings of the chamber of the Legislative Assembly in the monarch’s name.

viiii) The presence of twenty Members of the Legislative Assembly shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the chamber for the exercise of its powers.

x) Where a bill has been passed by the Legislative Assembly it shall be presented to the Lieutenant Governor for the monarch and they shall, in accordance with the monarch’s wishes and instructions, either grant assent in the monarch’s name or withhold the monarch’s assent.

4. Assent

This act is hereby ratified by the Witan of Nova England, and enacted into law by the application of the King’s signature and seal.

Josephus Rex May 1st 1502

Amendments

Since being granted Royal Assent the Act has been amended on three occasions:

  • 1508 amendment- establishing Joseph Town as the capital, in place of Port Egmont.
  • 1556 amendment- altering the distribution of MLAs.
  • 1586 amendment- altering the distribution of MLAS.