Constitution of Grand Besaid

The Constitution of Grand Besaid is the highest legal document in the entire nation. It provides for the structure of the governing body, protects the rights of the people, and establishes the basic laws and structures of the nation.

Section I: Political Power
All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their equal benefit, security and protection.

Section II: Equal Protection
No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws; nor shall any person be denied the enjoyment of his civil or political rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of religion, race, color or national origin. The National Assembly shall have the power to enforce this.

Section III: Assembly; Consultation; Instruction; Protest; and Petition
The people have the right peaceably to assemble, to consult for the common good, to instruct their representatives, to peacefully protest, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.

Section IV: Freedom of Religion; State Religion
The nation of Grand Besaid shall officially be a Christian nation; however, all people shall have the right to worship according to their own beliefs. Every person shall be at liberty to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. No one shall be forced to neither attend nor pay for any religious services. The National Assembly shall make no law abridging or restricting one’s freedom of religion, nor shall the National Assembly disrespect an establishment of religion. The National Assembly may appropriate funds to Catholic Parishes and other Christian Churches for purposes of reimbursement for educational and other services provided to the citizens of Grand Besaid. The National Assembly may allow for the incorporation of Christian symbols and phrases into public objects and places.

Section V: Freedom of Expression; Speech; Press and of the Internet
Every person may freely speak, write, publish, and otherwise express their views, being responsible for the abuse of such right. The National Assembly shall at no time enact a law to restrict or abridge the aforementioned rights. The freedom to express views on the Internet and through other forms of media is to be under the same protection as the other forms of expression mentioned in this section.

Section VI: Right to Bear Arms
Every person has the right to keep and bear arms for many purposes, some of those reasons include personal defense, recreation, hunting, national defense, and the defense of one’s state and property, amongst other reasons. The right to bear arms, being one of the best tools to preserve other liberties, shall not be infringed.

Section VII: Military Subordination
The Military shall at all times be in strict subordination to the civil power.

Section VIII: Quartering of Soldiers
No Soldier shall be quartered in any house, on, or in any private property in times of peace without the explicit consent of the owner or occupant; nor shall any soldier be quartered during times of war either, except during invasions as prescribed by law.

Section IX: Attainder, ex post facto, unfair, and impairment of contract laws; Unfair and violating laws
No bill of attainder, ex post facto law or law impairing the obligation of contract shall be enacted. The National Assembly shall pass no law which unfairly treats the citizens of this nation, or which violates this constitution or the people’s rights.

Section X: Slavery and Involuntary servitude
Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude unless for the punishment of crime, shall ever be tolerated in Grand Besaid.

Sections XI: Habeas Corpus; Known Charges; Appeals
No one shall be denied the writ of habeas corpus, nor shall anyone not know the charges brought against them in a court of law, nor shall anyone be denied a justifiable appeal.

Section XII: Searches and Seizures; Imprisonment for debt; Privacy
The person, houses, papers, effects, writings, and possessions of every person shall be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures. No warrant to search any place or to seize any person or things shall be issued without describing them, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation. No person shall be imprisoned for debt arising out of or founded on contract, express or implied, except in cases of fraud or breach of trust. All citizens of Grand Besaid are to have the right to privacy.

Section XIII: Conduct of suits in person or by counsel
A suitor in any court of this nation has the right to prosecute or defend his suit, either in his own proper person or by an attorney.

Section XIV: Trial by jury; double jeopardy; bail; fines; punishment; detention of witnesses
The right of trial by jury shall remain, but shall be waived in all civil cases unless demanded by one of the parties. No person shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy. All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except that bail may be denied to persons whom are likely to be extremely dangerous, or where it is likely that they will try to flee. Excessive bail shall not be required; excessive fines shall not be imposed; cruel or unusual punishment shall not be inflicted; nor shall witnesses be unreasonably detained.

Section XV: Self-incrimination; due process of law; fair treatment at investigations
No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law. The right of all individuals, firms, corporations and voluntary associations to fair and just treatment in the course of legislative and executive investigations and hearings shall not be infringed.

Section XVI: Self-incrimination; due process of law; fair treatment at investigations
In every criminal prosecution, the accused shall have the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of their peers; to be informed of the nature of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him or her; and to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his or her favor. In every criminal prosecution, the accused shall also have the right to have the assistance of counsel for his or her defense; to have an appeal as a matter of right, except as provided by law an appeal by an accused who pleads guilty or nolo contendere shall be by leave of the court.

Section XVII: Marriage
To secure and preserve the benefits of marriage for our society and for future generations of children, the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose.

Section XVIII: Discrimination
Grand Besaid shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.

Section XIX: Ban on Abortion and Embryonic stem cell research; Ban on the Death Penalty
In order to protect the lives of all citizens of Grand Besaid, and in order to give safety to the unborn, all abortions are forbidden. Recognizing those same reasons, plus the uses of adult stem cells, embryonic stem cell research is also banned within the nation of Grand Besaid. The Death Penalty, being a cruel and barbaric practice, is never to be administered by the nation of Grand Besaid or any of its states.

Section XX: Freedom of Information
The people are to have the right to know of any and all laws passed by or recognized by the government. The people are to have access to all information known by the government so long as such information would not jeopardize national security, interfere with another’s rights or privacy, or disrupt justice.

Section XXI: Enumeration of rights not to deny others
The enumeration in this constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. The powers not delegated to the federal government of Grand Besaid by this constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Article II: Legislative
The Legislative Powers of the Federal Government shall be vested in a National Assembly, consisting of a Senate and Council of Elders, and within a House of Censors.

Section I: Senate
A. The Senate shall be comprised of members who are elected every other year by the people of their electoral districts. The members shall be elected by the several states, with each state’s representation being dependant on the size of their population; though each state shall receive at least one senator. There shall be five senators elected by the entire nation.

B. Any citizen of Grand Besaid whom has attained at least the age of seventeen may vote in all elections concerning senators of their districts. Reasonable additional requirements maybe created by the state legislatures for electors living within their state.

C. The Number of Senators shall not be greater than one for every one hundred thousand, unless the population of Grand Besaid is to fall drastically, in which case the Royal Triumvirate may submit a referendum to the voters of the nation to attempt to lower it. All districts’ boundaries, besides the ones which include the entire nation, shall be determined every five years by a national census.

D. In order to be a Senator, a person must be- at least twenty years old, a citizen of Grand Besaid for at least ten years, a resident of Grand Besaid for at twelve years, and a resident of the district they are representing for at least one year. One may only be a senator for ten consecutive years, before needing to take a break from the senate for at least four years.

E. The Senate shall elect from its self a speaker, and any other officers it deems necessary to the functioning of the senate.

F. Should a vacancy occur in the Senate, then the legislature of the state which the vacant seat represents shall appoint a replacement until emergency elections can be conducted to fill the vacancy. Should it be a senator who is elected by the entire nation, then the executive triumvirate shall appoint a replacement until emergency elections can be conducted to fill the vacancy.

Section II: Council of Elders
A. The Council of Elders shall be comprised of members who are elected every nine years by the people of their electoral districts, with one third being elected every three years. Each state shall elect one elder to represent them in the Elder Council. The nation shall also be divided into the same number of districts as there are states; each district shall have a near equal population, being at the very most, one-one hundredth of a percent off from one other, and each of these districts shall also elect one elder to represent them in the Elder Council. Lastly, three Elders shall be elected by the nation as a whole.

B. Any citizen of Grand Besaid whom has attained at least the age of seventeen may vote in all elections concerning elders of their districts. Reasonable additional requirements maybe created by the state legislatures for electors living within their state.

C. In order to be an Elder, a person must be- at least sixty-five years old, a citizen of Grand Besaid for at least thirty years, a resident of Grand Besaid for at thirty-four years, and a resident of the district they are representing for at least two years. One may only be an Elder for eighteen consecutive years, before needing to take a break from the council for at least seven years.

D. The eldest member of the Elder Council shall be the Speaker of the Elder Council; all other officers are to be elected by the council.

G. Should a vacancy occur in the Elder Council, then the Royal Triumvirate shall appoint a replacement until emergency elections can be conducted to fill the vacancy.

Section III: House of Censors
A. The House of Censors shall be comprised of members who are elected every three years by the entire nation, with one-third of the members being elected each year. The number of Censors is to be equal to triple the number of states. Censors are to be elected by the several states, with each state electing three censors, one each year.

B. Any citizen of Grand Besaid whom has attained at least the age of seventeen may vote in all elections concerning censors of their state. Reasonable additional requirements maybe created by the state legislatures for electors living within their state.

C. In order to be a censor, a person must be- at least twenty-five years old, a citizen of Grand Besaid for at least fifteen years, a resident of Grand Besaid for at twenty years, and a resident of the state they are representing for at least three years. One may only be a censor for nine consecutive years, before needing to take a break from the House of Censors for at least two years.

D.	The House of Censors shall elect their own speaker, and any officers they deem necessary.

E. Should a vacancy occur in the House of Censors, then the legislature of the state which the vacant seat represents shall appoint a replacement until emergency elections can be conducted to fill the vacancy.

F. Unlike the Council of Elders and the Senate, the House of Censors is not part of the National Assembly; rather it is a body that is charged with constantly investigating the entire federal government. No government document, location, official or effect may be kept as a secret from the House of Censors; the House of Censors may initiate the impeachment of any official. They may also by a two-thirds vote, veto a motion of the National Assembly. By a unanimous minus one vote, the House of Censors may remove a member of the National Assembly from office.

Section IV: Legislative Procedure
A.	Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide. B.	Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of both houses shall be recorded in such a journal. C.	The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators, Elders, and Censors, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the National Assembly may at any time by law make or alter such regulations. D.	The National Assembly shall assemble at least four times at year, on the days prescribed by law, though they are encouraged to meet more often. E.	No house may adjourn for more than one week while any other house is in session, except with the permission of the houses in session. F.	No member of any house may be a member of another, nor may any member of a house hold or be appointed to another position of political power during their time as a member of the federal legislature. G.	Should a raise for a position within any house increase during a term, then the increase shall not be seen until the next term of that office. H.	Senators, Elders, and Censors shall receive a compensation for their services paid out of the treasury of Grand Besaid. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House; they shall not be questioned in any other place. I.	Each house shall make and maintain its own rules and proceedings through a majority vote of a standard quorum.

Section II: Inferior Courts
A.	Organization B.	Powers

Section III: Judicial Review and Judicial Interpretations
A.	Judicial Review Regarding federal policies B.	Judicial Review Regarding policies of states and their sub-divisions C.	Limits on Judicial Review and Interpretations

Section II: Referendum, Initiative, Recall, Petition
The people reserve to themselves the power to propose laws and to enact and reject laws, called the initiative, and the power to approve or reject laws enacted by the legislature, called the referendum. The power of initiative extends only to laws, which the legislature may enact under this constitution. The power of referendum does not extend to acts making appropriations for national institutions or to meet deficiencies in federal funds. To invoke the initiative or referendum, petitions signed by a number of registered electors, not less than one-tenth for initiative and one-fifteenth for referendum of the total vote cast for all candidates for Mosunor at the last preceding general election at which a Mosunor was elected shall be required.

Article VIII: Amendments
A. Any citizen of Grand Besaid may propose an Amendment to this constitution. Such a proposed amendment shall be turned into a petition, and it shall require the signatures of at least one-ninth of the total number of people who voted in the last Mosunorial elections. Upon obtaining the signatures, the proposed amendment shall be added to the ballot during the next election season, which shall occur at least once a year, it shall require at least three-fifths of the electors who voted to be in favor of the amendment to pass. Amendments shall be effective one week after being passed using this method.

B. Alternatively, any member of the Council of Elders or Senate may propose Amendments to this constitution; they shall require a four-fifths vote in all three houses of the legislature, and unanimous approval of the current executive triumvirate. Upon receiving such approval, an amendment shall be submitted to the state legislatures. Every state legislature must then ratify the amendment by a three-fourths vote or greater in order for the amendment to pass. Amendments passed this way shall become effective after three month; amendments passed this way may not abridge the rights of the people to amend this constitution.