Constitution of Grønbjerg – The Empire of Septempontia

Alan by the Grace of God, by tradition, by installation, by acclamation, and by conquest, Prince of Grønbjerg, Grand Master of the Order of the Silver Cross, Bearer of the Ring of Edward, Lord of the North.

In these days of rebirth and renewal, in which the nations of the Empire rise once again to the challenge of a troubled time, the people of Grønbjerg stand, as they have ever stood, ready to do their part in the great endeavour. It falls now to us, their prince and protector, to lay a new cornerstone of law for this mighty effort: to make provision for the common welfare and the common destiny, to enshrine in law the rights and obligations of our people, and to institute a firm and lasting foundation upon which their happiness and security may be built.

Therefore, for the good of all, for the liberty of the people, for the honour of the nation, for the preservation of our freedom, and for the sake of the generations yet to come, we join as one with our people to adopt, enact, and establish this Constitution for the Principality of Grønbjerg.

PREFACE: POINTS OF STATE

The name of the State is The Principality of Grønbjerg. The name in the short form is Grønbjerg, or The Principality for purposes of law, as hereinafter. Where the name is translated into languages other than English, the name Grønbjerg shall remain in its original form, except where for ceremonial purposes translation is desirable, as into Latin.
The territory of the Principality consists of the Counties of Bradford, Broome, Centre, Chemung, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Schuyler, Steuben, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tompkins, Union, Wyoming, and the two counties called Tioga; the northern of which shall be known henceforth as Owego.
The capital city of the Principality is and shall continue to be the City of Athens in the County of Bradford, which City shall comprise the boroughs of Athens, Sayre, South Waverly, and Waverly, together with that portion of the Township of Athens lying on the eastern bank of the Chemung River.
The ordinary language of the Principality shall be English, but this provision shall be neither exclusive nor restrictive of the use of other languages for any purpose soever in the Principality.
The national symbols of the Principality, as, flag, coat of arms, motto, anthem, and so forth, are derived from those of the House of Grønbjerg; their particulars shall be established by law.

ARTICLE I: THE STATE

GENERAL PROVISIONS

The people of Grønbjerg are a nation, with an identity uniquely their own, marked by all the attributes of nationhood. The State hereby constituted, embracing that nation and exercising the authority thereof, is the Principality of Grønbjerg.
The Principality of Grønbjerg is a State of the Empire of Septempontia, with all rights and responsibilities thereof.
The form of government of the Principality is and shall continue to be a monarchy as provided hereinafter.

NATURE OF THE STATE

The statehood of the Principality derives from the Prince, who is its source and guarantor.
The power of government of the Principality is inherent in and issues from the Prince and the People, and shall be exercised by both in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
The territory of the Principality as heretofore delimited, being the historical domain of the House of Grønbjerg, is part of the cultural patrimony of the people of Grønbjerg.

CITIZENSHIP

Citizens of the Principality being under the protection of the Prince, they are known in law as subjects. The terms ‘citizen’ and ‘subject’ are equivalent, as are the terms ‘subject of the Principality’ and ‘subject of the Prince’.
Subjects of the Prince being also citizens of the Empire of Septempontia, citizenship in the Principality is granted in a manner consistent with the laws of the Empire.

ARTICLE II: THE MONARCHY

GENERAL PROVISIONS

The Head of State of the Principality is and shall continue to be a Monarch styled His Royal Highness the Prince of Grønbjerg, or if female Her Royal Highness the Princess of Grønbjerg.
The Head of the House of Grønbjerg according to that House’s law is and shall continue to be the Prince of Grønbjerg.

POWERS AND RIGHTS OF THE PRINCELY DIGNITY

The Prince is the fount of statehood and of honour; but the power of government, proceeding as it does from both Prince and People, is vested in him only, as hereinafter prescribed, and having promulgated laws he is bound by them equally with the people.
As fount of honour, the Prince has power to grant and to revoke titles of nobility, subject to the laws of the Empire, and to bestow and degrade knighthoods, and all other honours as may be established by law. All titles and honours formerly held from the Prince shall continue under this Constitution as under previous law.

SUCCESSION AND REGENCY

The princely dignity shall be hereditary in the direct natural and legitimate line of the Head of the House of Grønbjerg, by absolute primogeniture, or in default of such heirs, by adoption.
Any person eligible to succeed to the princely dignity may decline so to do, by communicating the same in writing to the Council of State. Place in the succession, once renounced, may not be regained.
In default of a natural and legitimate heir, or adopted heir, of the Head of the House of Grønbjerg, the people of the Principality at large shall elect a new Prince by general referendum.
No person may be so elected to the princely dignity who is not of voting age and a subject in good standing of the Principality.
The Prince may be declared incapacitated by the certification of a competent medical official, or may so declare himself in writing to the Council of State.
The Prince may at any time appoint one of his subjects to act as Regent in expectation of his incapacity due to ill-health or the accession of a minor to the princely dignity.
The Regent shall act as Head of State during the incapacity or minority of the Prince, exercising all the powers and attributes thereof except as this Constitution may otherwise provide.
No amendment shall be made to this Constitution during a Regency.
All acts of the Regency shall be in the name of the Prince, and all oaths of office made to him.
The Regent shall not exercise any of the private powers of the Prince, nor those inherent to the princely dignity. He may not ennoble, nor disennoble, any peers, nor bestow or degrade knighthoods, except in penalty for conviction of high crimes.
The Regent has no power over the person of a minor or incapacitated Prince.
In default of a Regent appointed as heretofore prescribed during the minority or incapacity of the Prince, the Council of State shall appoint a Regent.
The Heir Apparent shall accede to the princely dignity immediately upon a demise of the Crown, and exercise all the authority and powers thereof from the moment of succession.
A Prince having newly succeeded to the princely dignity, or a minor Prince having reached the age of majority, shall at the earliest convenient time make before the Council of State an oath or affirmation to uphold this Constitution, the laws of the Principality, and the rights and integrity of the State and the nation, and shall publish the same to the People.

THE PRINCELY HOUSE

All children and grandchildren of the Prince shall bear the title of Prince or Princess of the House of Grønbjerg, styledHighness. Those descendants following are commoners at birth, if they inherit no other title.
Princes and Princesses of the House shall be entitled to claim seats in the Council of State upon reaching the age of majority, except where the Prince shall provide otherwise.
The spouse of the Prince, and his eldest child, shall be styled Royal Highness.

PROSECUTION

The Prince shall be subject to prosecution for high crimes, treason only excepted; but he may not in his own person be named as respondent in civil actions, save by his own consent.
If the Prince be convicted of a high crime, he may petition the People for pardon and clemency, and they shall by general referendum decide whether it shall be granted.
In default of such clemency, being convicted, the Prince shall abdicate the Throne, the succession being settled as heretofore prescribed.

ARTICLE III: THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT

GENERAL PROVISIONS

The power of government of the Principality proceeds from the Prince and the People, who are jointly Sovereign, and is vested in the Prince, who assumes responsibility for the government and safety of the State and the Nation.

POWERS OF THE PRINCE

The Prince shall have power, subject to the laws of the Empire and the provisions of this Constitution, to enact and promulgate all such laws as he finds necessary and expedient for the welfare, security, and better government of the Principality; and he may by law or by amendment of this Constitution delegate this power, wholly or in part, to a deliberative or legislative body representative of the People.
The Prince, having enacted laws, shall make provision for their just and efficient implementation and enforcement, and in aid thereof may delegate this power to Ministers and other officials.
The Prince, as guarantor of the statehood of the Principality and the safety of the People, has power to raise and order the regiments and formations of the armed forces, subject to the laws of the Empire.
The Prince shall exercise, subject to the laws of the Empire and the provisions of this Constitution, the judicial authority of the Principality. He shall have power to hear, try, and sentence all actions and cases, to commute, mitigate, or remit sentences, and to pardon offences; and he may delegate this power to lesser courts and judges.
The Prince, as Head of State and of Government, shall represent the Principality in the Federal Council of the Empire of Septempontia and exercise the voting rights thereof.

JURISDICTION

The Prince’s laws run only to the Prince’s subjects: no person dwelling within the territory of the Principality who does not hold its citizenship, or citizenship in the Empire of Septempontia, is bound by its laws; nor are Imperial citizens not the Prince’s subjects who dwell within the territory of the Principality bound by those laws and requirements which pertain only to the subjects of the Principality.
Subjects of the Prince dwelling without the territory of the Principality, whether in the Empire of Septempontia or in foreign and barbarous lands, are bound wheresoever they may go by the Prince’s law, saving only such provisions as may apply particularly to those dwelling within the Principality.

THE COUNCIL OF STATE

There shall be a Council to aid and advise in the government of the Principality, styled the Council of State, whose members serve at the invitation and pleasure of the Prince.
The Council of State shall be advisory. Its resolutions and decisions shall not be binding; but the Prince shall give them hearing, and shall make his person available to their request for audience except where other business of state may pressingly intervene.
Members of the Council of State must be subjects in good standing of the Principality, and of voting age.
Membership in the Council of State shall not preclude the holding of other offices of trust from the Prince.
Members of the Council of State may be dismissed by the Prince at any time, for whatever cause; but if all Councilors of State be dismissed, the Prince shall at once appoint not less than three persons to form a new Council.
The Council of State shall meet as its members may determine, or at the summons of the Prince, and may from time to time publish a record of their deliberations and transactions.

MINISTERS AND OTHER OFFICERS

The Prince shall have power to appoint Ministers for the administration of the power of government, and to prescribe their competence and jurisdiction.
The Ministers may, under the Prince’s warrant and by his approval, appoint secretaries and lesser officials to assist in the execution of their duties.
Ministers shall be answerable directly to the Prince, or to his appointed deputy. The secretaries and lesser officials are answerable to the Minister under whom they serve.
No person shall be Minister of more than one Ministry at a time, except as caretaker during the vacancy of a Ministry.
Ministers shall serve at the pleasure of the Prince, and the secretaries and lesser officials at the pleasure of the Minister to whom they are responsible; but no Minister or other officer may be removed from office without first receiving hearing before the Prince and the Council of State together.
The secretaries and lesser officials continue in office following the resignation or removal of the Minister to whom they are responsible. No official shall be removed from office for any save his own offences.

ARTICLE IV: RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

GENERAL PROVISIONS

All people are entitled to the rights and freedoms herein enumerated, and all are equal before the law, without distinction of race, sex, sexual preference, physical ability, religious belief, or rank.
All rights and freedoms herein enumerated, excepting only those concerned particularly with the rights and responsibilities of subjects of the Principality, are rights held commonly by all human beings, and are not limited in their legal effect only to the Prince’s subjects.

ENUMERATION OF RIGHTS

The People have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief, including the right to adopt and to hold opinions without interference, and to manifest these in worship, observance, practice, and teaching.
The People have the right to freely express themselves and their opinions, in speech, writing, art, or any other medium soever.
The People have the right to assemble peaceably with others in public places as well as private, and to associate with whomever they will.
The People have the right to enjoy clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the land.
The People have the right to move and to reside freely in the Principality, and to enter and leave its territory.
Every subject having attained the age of sixteen years has the right to vote in referenda, and other elections as may be established by law, and is eligible to hold offices of public trust, and to serve in the armed forces.
The People shall be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures, whether of their property, their person, their correspondence, or any other thing, nor shall any private property be taken for public use without authority of law, and without just compensation being first made or secured.
The People shall be free in their own persons, and none shall be arrested or detained, or charged with any offence, without cause and warrant, nor shall any be presumed guilty, nor punished, until convicted by due process of law.
Every person, being accused, has the right to the assistance of legal counsel and to a lawful, public, and impartial trial, without undue delay, and to confront and examine the witnesses against them, and to obtain witnesses in their own defence; nor shall any be compelled to bear witness against themselves.
No person, having once been tried either to conviction or acquittal, or pardoned, shall be tried or punished a second time for the same offence.

ENTRENCHMENT

The rights and freedoms heretofore enumerated shall not be susceptible to amendment, except insofar as such amendment may seek to augment them. No amendment which may hereafter be made to this Constitution shall reduce, restrict, or diminish the liberties of the people.

ARTICLE V: THE CONSTITUTION

GENERAL PROVISIONS

This Constitution, under the laws of the Empire of Septempontia, shall be the chief law of the Principality of Grønbjerg.
Any law, statute, or verdict which contradicts the provisions of this Constitution is invalid to the extent of the contradiction. No law which contradicts the provisions of this Constitution shall be enacted; or, being enacted in error, no such law shall admit of enforcement, being intrinsically void and without legal or moral effect.
This Constitution may not, in whole or in part, be suspended.

INTERPRETATION

The Prince, as supreme judicial authority, shall make determination in any case where interpretation or clarification of this Constitution is called for.
The use of the male pronoun in this Constitution, being only a linguistic convenience and without specific effect, shall not be construed as delimiting or exclusive.

AMENDMENT

This Constitution may be amended by law except as heretofore prescribed.
Any prospective amendment of this Constitution must be published and made generally available for not less than one month before its enactment. Prospective amendments may be withdrawn at any time during this period.

All these provisions generally and in every point we do confirm, guarantee, and ratify in perpetuity, together with our People and as their instrument, as the Constitution of the Principality of Grønbjerg; in witness whereof we have hereunto set our Hand and Sign-Manual this eleventh day of April in the year of the common era the two thousand and tenth, and of our reign the twelfth.