Constitution Act, 1967An act for the creation of the Realm of Serpens Land; one sovereign nation under the protection of His Majesty King Edward I and His Heirs and Successors.
Preambulatory Clauses
Whereas: In adopting the Constitution Act, 1967, the parliament and people of the Realm of Serpens Land have expressed their desire to reside in a free and prosperous nation, free from tyranny:
Whereas: Such a nation would be governed by a democratically elected government under a constitutional monarch:
Whereas: The people of Serpens Land hereby affirm their allegiance to His Majesty King Edward I and His Heirs and Successors:
Part I. Preliminary
Short Title
1. This act may be cited as the Constitution Act, 1967.
2. Provisions of this act extending to His Majesty the King also extend to the Heirs and Successors of His Majesty Edward I, King of Serpens Land.
Part II. Executive
Declaration of Executive Power in the King
3. The executive government and authority over the Realm of Serpens Land will be vested in His Majesty the King.
The Privy Council
4. There shall exist a council with the purposes of aiding the Government of Serpens Land in right of His Majesty the King. This council shall be styled the King’s Privy Council. Members of the King’s Privy Council shall be chosen by His Majesty the King, and members may be removed by His Majesty the King.
Command of the Armed Forces
5. The Command-in-Chief of the Royal Serpens Land Navy, Serpens Land Army, Royal Serpens Land Air Force, and all other armed forces of and in Serpens Land will be vested in His Majesty the King.
Succession to the Throne of Serpens Land
6. Succession to the Throne of Serpens Land will be restricted to the direct descendants of His Majesty Albert I, King of Westmoor Isles. Upon the death or abdication of His Majesty the King, the Crown shall be passed to His Majesty’s closest living relative according to the laws and principles of absolute primogeniture. If there exists no living direct descendant of His Majesty Albert I, King of Westmoor Isles, the Parliament of Serpens Land may elect a new monarch.
The Seat of Government of Serpens Land
7. Until His Majesty the King otherwise directs, the Seat of Government of Serpens Land shall be the City of Fort Charlotte.
Part III. Legislative Power
The Parliament of Serpens Land
8. There shall exist one Parliament of Serpens Land, consisting of His Majesty the King, an upper house styled the House of Councillors, and a lower house styled the House of Commons.
Number of Councillors
Qualifications of Councillors
10. The qualifications of a Councillor shall be as follows:
(a.) He shall be of twenty-one years of age
(b.) He shall be a natural born subject of His Majesty the King, or a subject naturalised by an act of the Parliament of Serpens Land.
(c.) He shall not have been convicted of a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Serpens Land.
(d.) He shall not sit or stand for election in the House of Commons
Election of Councillors
11. Councillors shall be elected in free and fair elections and represent the entirety of the Realm of Serpens Land.
12. Elections for the House of Councillors may be called at any time by His Majesty the King but shall not be held more than five years following the previous election.
Removal of Councillors
13. Councillors shall be removed from their office when they lose the popular support of the people, or at the request of His Majesty the King.
14. A Councillor may, by writing of his own hand, request for His Majesty to remove him from office. Upon a vacancy in the House of Councillors, no new member shall be appointed until the subsequent election.
Appointment of Speaker of the House of Councillors
15. A presiding officer over the House of Councillors to be known as the Speaker shall be appointed by His Majesty the King. The Speaker shall be chosen from Councillors already sitting in the House of Councillors and may be removed or replaced by His Majesty.
Voting in the House of Councillors
16. Questions arising in the House of Councillors shall be decided upon a simple majority vote of all Councillors present. Upon the occurrence of a tied vote, the Speaker shall cast the deciding vote.
The House of Commons
17. The House of Commons shall, subject to the provisions of this act, consist of two hundred thirty members to be styled Members of Parliament
Summoning of the House of Commons
18. His Majesty the King shall, on occasion, call together the House of Commons.
Electoral Districts
19. Each Member of Parliament shall represent an Electoral District of which he is elected to in a free and fair manner by its populace.
20. Electoral districts may, on occasion, be redrawn or created to adjust for population changes.
Election of Speaker of the House of Commons
21. A presiding officer over the House of Commons to be known as the Speaker shall be elected by all sitting Members of Parliament. The Speaker shall hold a seat in the House of Commons prior to his election as Speaker.
Voting in the House of Commons
22. Questions arising in the House of Commons shall be decided upon a simple majority vote of all Members of Parliament present. Upon the occurrence of a tied vote, the Speaker shall cast the deciding vote.
Adjustment of the House of Commons
23. The number of members sitting in the House of Commons shall, on occasion, be adjusted for changes in population.
Part IV. Judicature
Appointment of Judges
24. His Majesty the King shall appoint the judges of the Supreme, Appeals, High, and Magistrates’ courts
Impartiality of Judges
25. Judges shall remain impartial and loyal only to the Laws and Constitution of the Realm of Serpens Land.
Tenure of Judges
26. Judges may be appointed or removed at any time by His Majesty the King on address of the House of Councillors and House of Commons. Judges of the Supreme and Appeals Courts may hold office until the age of 75.
Salaries of Judges
27. Salaries, pensions and allowances of Judges shall be set by the Parliament of Serpens Land.
Part V. Provinces of Serpens Land
Establishment of the Provinces of Serpens Land
28. The Realm of Serpens Land shall be divided into five provinces: Atonia, Camridia, Chatham, Fort Charlotte, and Northland.
Appointment of Lieutenant Governors
29. For each province there shall be an officer, styled the Lieutenant Governor, to act on the authority of His Majesty the King in each Provincial Government.
Provincial Legislatures
Composition of Executive Assemblies
31. Each Executive Assembly shall be composed of members styled as Members of the Executive Assembly. The number of members is to be decided by each individual Executive Assembly.
Part VI. Rights and Freedoms of Serpens Landers
Rights and Freedoms Guaranteed by the Constitution Act, 1967
32. The Constitution Act, 1967 guarantees the rights and freedoms of all Serpens Landers. These rights and freedoms are deemed necessary for the functioning of a fair and just society.
Fundamental Rights
33. Every person has these fundamental rights:
(a.) the right to freedom of expression and holding an opinion. This includes freedom of the press and other media;
(b.) the right to freedom of belief, conscience, and religion;
(c.) the right to peacefully assemble and communicate thought; and
(d.) the right to freely associate with any group or person.
Democratic Rights
34. Every subject of His Majesty the King who has reached the age of majority has the right to vote in an election for the members of the House of Councillors, House of Commons, an Executive Assembly, and of a City or other Municipal Council or Legislative Body.
Mobility Rights
35. Every subject of His Majesty the King has the right to enter, reside and leave Serpens Land.
36. Every subject of His Majesty the King and every Serpens Land Permanent Resident has the right to move within Serpens Land and to gain a livelihood within Serpens Land.
Legal Rights
37. Every person has the right to life, liberty, and the security of the person. These rights may not be deprived unless in accordance with the principles of justice outlined by the rule of law.
38. Every person has the right to not be subject to arbitrary or unreasonable detainment or imprisonment.
39. Every person has the right not to be subject to cruel or unusual punishment.
Equality Rights
40. Every person has the right to be equal under the law. Every person has the right to not be discriminated against based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, sex, religion, beliefs, age, or mental or physical ability.