The Constitution of Taijitu

The Preamble

We the Undersigned, in the spirit of cooperation and fraternity, with the expressed and deliberate intent to combat tyranny and prejudice, and to promote democracy and fair justice, do hereby accept the tenets enumerated herein as the Supreme Law of Taijitu:

Article I: Citizenship

1. Any resident shall be capable of obtaining citizenship in Taijitu, and shall maintain this citizenship unless they violate any of the conditions enumerated herein or are found guilty of having violated the laws of Taijitu by the Supreme Court.

1. Citizens shall maintain a resident nation residing within Taijitu. Citizens shall disclose their resident nation and UN nation.
2. Citizens shall swear by the oath of citizenship provided by the Senate.

2. The undersigned shall be granted formal citizenship at the time of the ratification of this document, excepting those who choose to forgo it or who do not meet the requirements enumerated above.

Article II: The Legislative

1. All legislative powers shall hereby be vested in the Senate.

1. Any nation, having held citizenship for fifteen or more days and having accumulated twenty-five or more posts on the regional forum, may apply for Senate membership.
2. Applicants shall be subject to review and confirmation by the Senate.
3. The Senate shall determine its own internal procedures, except where noted otherwise herein.
4. Senators shall swear by the oath provided by the Senate.
5. The Senate shall have the power to remove from office any of its members if in the opinion of the the Senate they have violated the Constition and laws of Taijitu or broken their oath by a majority vote.

2. The Senate shall elect one of its own to the office of Speaker of the Senate every fourth month by a plurality of votes.

1. The Speaker shall be charged with calling, ending and declaring the results of votes, maintaining the Senate Roster, and ensuring that the Senate functions properly as enumerated herein and that the laws and Constitution of Taijitu are up to date.
2. Should the Speaker be unable to perform their duties for any reason or their office be left vacant then the Delegate shall begin procedures to elect a new Speaker. The term of Speakers elected in special elections shall endure only until the next normal Speaker election.
3. The Speaker shall swear by the oath provided by the Senate.
4. The Senate shall have the power to remove from office the Speaker if they in the opinion of the Senate have violated the Constitution and laws of Taijitu, broken their oath or failed to fulfill their duties by a vote of no confidence.
5. The interim Delegate shall initiate election procedures for Speaker at the time of the ratification of this document.

3. Each Senator shall have no more than one vote and each vote shall be equal.

4. Those among the undersigned who have met the conditions to be determined by the Ratification Officer at the time of the ratification of this document shall be granted the office of Senator at the time of the ratification of this document, excepting those who choose to forgo the office.

Article III: The Executive

1. The Delegate shall be the supreme executive authority of Taijitu.

1. The Delegate shall be elected by a plurality of votes every third month by the Senate.
2. The Delegate shall not be allowed to serve in excess of two consecutive terms.
3. Any nation, having held citizenship for nintey or more days, having accumulated three hundred or more posts on the regional forum, in possession of a nation whose population equals or exceeds one billion with which to campaign, and having received the nomination of a member of the Senate shall be free to run for the office of Delegate, provided that they have not already served two consecutive terms previously or hold the office of Speaker of the Senate or Justice of the Supreme Court.
4. The Delegate may hold membership in the Senate, but shall not be permitted to hold the office of Speaker of the Senate or Justice of the Supreme Court and shall not be permitted to vote except in the event of a tie, wherein they shall cast the deciding vote.
5. The Delegate shall swear by the oath provided by the Senate.
6. Procedures for the election of the Delegate shall be initiated immediately following the ratification of this document.

2. Candidates for the office of the Delegate shall when they accept their nomination select a candidate to run as their Vice Delegate.

1. Candidates for the office of Vice Delegate shall have met all the requirements and of the office of the Delegate.
2. Should the Delegate be unable to perform their duties or their office be left vacant the Vice Delegate shall assume the duties of the Delegate until a new one has been elected. The term of Delegates elected in special elections shall endure only until the next normal Delegate election.
3. Should the Vice Delegate be unable to perform their duties or their office be left vacant the Delegate shall appoint at their discretion a new Vice Delegate.
4. Should both the Delegate and the Vice Delegate be unable to perform their duties or both their offices be left vacant then the Speaker shall assume the duties of the Delegate until a new one has been elected. The term of Delegates elected in special elections shall endure only until the next normal Delegate election.
5. The Vice Delegate shall swear by the oath provided by the Senate.

3. The Delegates shall have the power to form a Cabinet to aid them in executing their duties.

1. The Delegate shall have the power to create and abolish Cabinet ministries at their discretion.
2. The Delegate shall have the power to appoint and dismiss ministers of the Cabinet at their discretion.
3. Members of the Cabinet shall swear by the oath provided by the Senate.

4. The Senate shall have the power to remove from office any member of the executive who in their opinion has violated the Constitution and laws of Taijitu, broken their oath or failed to fulfill their duties by a two thirds majority vote.

Article IV: The Judiciary

1. The Supreme Court shall consist of a no more than nine Justices.

1. Justices shall be appointed by the Delegate, but the Delegate shall have no power to remove them.
2. Any nation, having held citizenship for ninety or more days and having accumulated 300 or more posts on the forum shall be eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court.
3. Appointments to the office of Justice shall be subject to review and confirmation by the Senate.
4. Should a Justice be unable to perform their duties or their office be left vacant the Delegate shall appoint a new Justice to the office.
5. Justices shall swear by the oath provided by the Senate.

2. The Supreme Court shall have the power to review the actions of both the government and the citizens of Taijitu, and to hear cases brought before it.

1. The Supreme Court shall have the power to override the actions of the government of Taijitu by a majority vote of Justices if in their opinion such actions have violated the Constitution or laws of Taijitu.
2. The Supreme Court shall have the power to sentence citizens found guilty of violating the laws of Taijitu if they have been found guilty by a majority of Justices.
3. The verdicts of the Supreme Court shall be final and binding, and the Delegate shall dutifully execute them.

3. The Senate shall have the power to remove Justices of the Supreme Court from office if in the opinion of the Senate they have violated the laws and Constitution of Taijitu, violated their oath or failed to fulfill their duties by a two thirds majority.

Article V: The Founders

1. The Founders shall have only the power to eject from the region known and hostile invaders, and to suspend the controls of the Delegate should the Senate motion to remove them from office until such a motion has succeeded or failed.

2. The Founders shall receive no special privileges or immunities under the laws and Constitution of Taijitu.

Article VI: The Rights of the Citizens

1. The right of any citizen to speak freely shall not be abridged except where it violates the laws and rules of the external world and the forum.

2. Citizens shall have the right to seek redress from the Supreme Court if in their opinion executive authority has been unduly exercised against them.

1. Citizens shall be informed of their right to seek redress in the event that executive authority is exercised against them.
2. Citizenship may not be revoked without the due process of law.
3. The access of citizens to the region and the forum shall not be curtailed without cause from the Delegate nor shall the access of citizens be curtailed indefinitely without due process of law. The access of citizens to the Supreme Court shall under no circumstances be curtailed.

3. The Senate shall pass no bills of attainder.

4. Citizens shall not be prosecuted for crimes ex post facto.

5. The undersigned shall receive no special privileges or immunities under the laws and Constitution of Taijitu.

Article VII: Amendments

1. The Senate shall have the power to amend this document by a three-quarters majority.

Article VIII: Signing and Ratification

1. All interim citizens of Taijitu shall be allowed to freely sign this document.

2. This document shall require the signature of three quarters of those interim citizens of Taijitu present at the time of signing.

Signatures

1. Ryazania 11:10, 7 January 2007 (PST)
2. Pragmia 11:30, 7 January 2007 (PST)
3. Eluvatar 11:33, 7 January 2007 (PST)
4. The G Rebellion 11:41, 7 January 2007 (PST)
5. Stellaris 11:42, 7 January 2007 (PST)
6. St Oz 11:45, 7 January 2007 (PST)
7. Daimiaen 19:54, 7 january 2007 (GMT)
8. Durnia 12:00, 7 January 2007 (PST)
9. Morthia 20:03, 7 January 2007 (GMT)
10. The Empire21:07 7 January 2007 (CET)
11. Sovereign Dixie 12:09, 7 January 2007 (PST)