Purpose of the Constitution
To unite the various settlements of Burleson Island, into a nation whose foremost priority is to serve and honor God, the newly established Federal Assembly hereby establishes this document as the constitution of the Republic of Burleson. This constitution shall form the law and government of this republic and be recognized as the basis of federal law.
Article 1: Legislature
A unicameral legislature shall be established to create the Burlesonian federal law. This legislature shall consist of the Federal Assembly. This assembly shall be made up of two representatives from each county and two from the Duval City. All representatives shall be elected each five years by popular vote within the county or city in which they are running for this position. All representatives must be at least twenty-five years old and a lawful citizen of the Republic of Burleson. Beginning in the year 1975, eligibility for being a representative will only be extended to those who have been a resident of the Republic of Burleson for at least five years.
At the beginning of each legislative term and at any time the position is vacant, the majority party of the Federal Assembly shall appoint a governor of the Federal Assembly. The duties and powers of this position include the control of all debate and the signing of all passed laws.
Article 2: Executive
The executive branch shall be headed by the president. The president shall hold the positions of head of state and head of government. The president’s powers and duties will include approval of laws proposed in the Federal Assembly, commanding the military, appointment of cabinet officials, and handling of foreign relations. The president shall be elected by a popular vote of all Burlesonian citizens every five years. A president may serve a maximum of two terms. To preside as president, a person must be at least thirty years old and a lawful citizen of the Republic of Burleson. Beginning in the year 1975, eligibility for being a president will only be extended to those who have been a resident of the Republic of Burleson for at least ten years.
In the event that it is found that a serving president has committed any unlawful activity or violated constitutional law, he may be impeached after a trial by the Federal Superior Court and a two-thirds vote for impeachment by the Federal Assembly.
In the case of the death, impeachment, or inability of the president to perform his duties, he will be replaced by the governor of the Federal Assembly.
Article 3: Judicial
The Judicial branch shall consist of the Federal Superior Court, headed by five judges. These judges shall be elected every five years by the citizens of Burleson. The duties of this court are to determine the constitutionality of federal and local laws, to interpret the constitution as it applies to cases related to the constitution, and to preside over impeachment trials. A judge may be impeached if it is determined that he/she has committed any unlawful activity or violated constitutional law. The impeachment trial will be conducted by the Federal Assembly and presided over by the governor of the Federal Assembly.
Article 4: Organization of Counties
The Republic of Burleson shall be divided into administrative districts called counties, which will hold administrative power within their respective borders. These counties are sovereign entities within the Republic of Burleson and while subject to federal law, are free to draft their own code of law and establish their own local governments. Any power not reserved to the federal government under the Constitution shall be given to counties and this power may be used as the counties please within the confines of this constitution. All counties must maintain a court system to preside over criminal trials and civil trials.
As of the drafting of this constitution, there are ten counties which are listed here:
• Belle
• Camden
• Curreford
• Delray
• Dixie
• Dunn
• Durley
• Florence
• Odessa
• Silver
• St. Lucie
Counties may be added to this list at any time upon the expansion of Burleson, division of counties, etc.
New Counties
• Atlantic: Founded 1977
• Bass: Founded 1971
• Bentley: Founded 2002
• Durley: Founded 1980
• Earnhardt: Founded 2003
• Gaines: Founded 1992
• Grace: Founded 1979
• Houston: Founded 1982
• Nelson: Founded 1986
•
• Passarik: Founded 1995
• Ranch: Founded 1970
• Reagan: Founded 2008
• Truett: Formerly Parmalee County, renamed in 2014
Article 5: Personal Rights of Burlesonian Citizens
The following rights shall be guaranteed to all citizens of Burleson.
1. The right to speak freely and the right to petition or protest the government of government action.
2. The right to purchase, own, use, and carry firearms.
3. The right to a fair trial in criminal and civil cases.
4. The right to proper legal representation in a criminal trial.
5. No police department, local, federal, or otherwise may arrest a Burlesonian citizen or search their property without a warrant, just cause, or in the event that damage to life or property is imminent.
6. The right to not incriminate oneself in a criminal trial.
7. Excessively cruel punishment and excessive bail may not be permitted within any legal authority including prisons, police/sheriff departments, etc.
8. The right to life must be protected for all non-criminal Burlesonians, including unborn children. The practices of abortion and euthanasia shall not under any circumstance be permitted.
9. All workers must be given a just pay as set by federal law.
10. No federal or local law may discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, or national origin.
Article 6: Economic Rights of Burlesonian Citizens
The Republic of Burleson shall forever be a capitalist nation with all the benefits thereof. All of the following rights shall be guaranteed to all Burlesonian citizens and businesses.
1. All businesses shall retain the right to operate within Burlesonian territory, free from government intervention or control, so long as they operate within the confines of federal and local law.
2. Businesses shall retain the right to operate as they see fit.
3. All businesses may seek to gain profit however they please within law.
4. The federal government may not institute communism or socialism in any form.
5. Union membership or payment of union dues shall not under any circumstance be a requirement for employment
Article 7: Religion
The Republic of Burleson is a Christian nation. The government shall be run according to the principals, values, and moral standards of Christianity. Burlesonian law shall reflect the standards of Christianity. All Burlesonian citizens must be Christian of any denomination; offenders of this law shall be deported to their country of origin or the country of their choice if they were born in Burleson.
Article 8: Flag and Motto
The Burlesonian flag will be rectangular with a 2:3 ratio. It will consist of a white vertical Nordic cross in a blue field on the left one-third of the flag, and a square Confederate battle flag on the right two-thirds of the flag. Flag etiquette shall be set by federal law.
The Burlesonian motto shall be “Dei Gratia”, meaning “By the Grace of God”
Article 9: Amendment Process
In the event that an amendment to this constitution is necessary, the president, a member of the Federal Assembly, or a judge of the Federal Superior court may propose an amendment for consideration. For an amendment to pass, two-thirds of the Federal Assembly must vote in favor of it, two-thirds of the county legislatures must vote in favor of it, the president must approve of it, and a majority of Federal Superior Court judges must vote in favor of it. After an amendment has passed through the process set in this article, it shall be written as an addition to this constitution.
Article 10: Establishment of the Constitution
Upon the ratification of this constitution by the legislature of each county, it shall be applied as the supreme law of Burleson and the framework of its government. The federal government by plan shall start functioning on January 1, 1965, at which time; Burleson shall be governed by the Federal Assembly and the Federal Superior Court. On March 1, 1965, the first federal election shall be held in which the president shall be elected. On June 1, 1965, the president shall be inaugurated and take office, which will complete the establishment of this constitution. Until then, executive duties shall be taken by the governor of the Federal Assembly.
This document has been approved on August 24, 1964 by all delegates present at this session of the Federal Assembly and shall hereby be the Constitution of the Republic of Burleson.
Signed,
Robert Moore
Governor of the Federal Assembly
Representative of Grace County
Amendment 1: Fair Trial Protection
All convicted persons standing trial for criminal activity shall be entitled to the following rights:
1. Right to seek legal council from an attorney.
2. Right to a court appointed attorney in the event a convicted person can afford one.
3. A guilty sentence may not be issued if there is any sensible doubt of the offender’s guilt.
4. Right to notification of arrest charge at the earliest possible opportunity.
5. Right to notification of all applicable rights at the earliest possible opportunity.
6. Right to stand trial in as expedited a manner as possible.
This amendment has been added to the Constitution of the Republic of Burleson on May 16, 1971 with approval by President Roger McAndrew; the Federal Assembly, presided over by Assembly Governor Allan Brooks; the Federal Superior Court; and twenty-one of twenty-three county legislatures.
Signed,
Roger McAndrew
President of the Republic of Burleson.
Signed,
Allan Brooks
Governor of the Federal Assembly
Representative of Odessa County
Amendment 2: Voting Rights and Eligibility
In order to protect the voting rights of all Burlesonians and to set the guidelines for voter eligibility, this amendment shall set the necessary guidelines for the aforementioned subjects. These rights are only applicable to those who are permitted to vote under Burlesonian law.
Rights
• No elections commission may discriminate against any voter on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, income, national origin, or political affiliation.
• Confidentiality shall be maintained for all voters and voters may not be coerced or forced to vote for or against any specific candidate.
Eligibility
Voting privileges shall be extended to those who are sixteen years of age or older, legal citizens of Burleson, registered with the Federal Voting Commission, have not been convicted with a guilty verdict of any felony, and are able to present a valid government issued photo identification at the time of voting.
This amendment has been added to the Constitution of the Republic of Burleson on November 2, 1977 with approval by President Bill Conley; the Federal Assembly, presided over by Assembly Governor Dean Corvell; the Federal Superior Court; and seventeen of twenty-three county legislatures.
Signed,
Bill Conley
President of the Republic of Burleson.
Signed,
Dean Corvell
Governor of the Federal Assembly
Representative of Dixie County
Amendment 3: Description of Gun Ownership Rights
All law-abiding Burlesonian citizens are entitled to the following rights regarding the ownership of firearms.
• Right to purchase, sell, possess, and operate a firearm and ammo.
• Right to carry, openly or inconspicuously, a firearm while in public.
• Except in the case of fully automatic weapons, mandatory registration shall not be a requirement for the ownership of firearms.
This amendment has been added to the Constitution of the Republic of Burleson on August 8, 1983 with approval by President Bill Conley; the Federal Assembly, presided over by Assembly Governor Dean Corvell; the Federal Superior Court; and twenty of twenty-three county legislatures.
Signed,
Bill Conley
President of the Republic of Burleson.
Signed,
Dean Corvell
Governor of the Federal Assembly
Representative of Dixie County
Amendment 4: Definition of Marriage
Marriage shall hereby be defined as a sacred union between one man and one woman, recognized and accepted by God and the Republic of Burleson. No other union or relationship shall be considered valid without fitting the requirements set by this definition. This amendment invalidates same-sex marriage, incestuous marriage, polygamy, and all other marriages not permitted by the Holy Bible, by God’s law, by the Burlesonian federal law, and any applicable local law.
This amendment has been added to the Constitution of the Republic of Burleson on February 19, 1997 with approval by President Earl Parson; the Federal Assembly, presided over by Assembly Governor Alex Sorento; the Federal Superior Court; and twenty-three of twenty-three county legislatures.
Signed,
Earl Parson
President of the Republic of Burleson.
Signed,
Alex Sorento
Governor of the Federal Assembly
Representative of Florence County
Amendment 5: Declaration of Non-Compliance With Certain WA Legislation
The Republic of Burleson refuses to abide by certain parts of or the entirety of the stated World Assembly Resolutions on account of the violation of the teachings and principles of Christianity by part of or the entirety of these resolutions.
• GAR #15, “Freedom of Marriage Act”
• GAR #16, “Sexual Privacy Act”
• GAR #35, “The Charter of Civil Rights”
• GAR #91, “A Convention on Gender”
• GAR #128, “On Abortion”
• GAR #286, “Reproductive Freedoms”
This amendment has been added to the Constitution of the Republic of Burleson on May 29, 2009 with approval by President Carrie Henell; the Federal Assembly, presided over by Assembly Governor Mitchell Johnson; the Federal Superior Court; and sixteen of twenty-three county legislatures.
Signed,
Carrie Henell
President of the Republic of Burleson.
Signed,
Mitchell Johnson
Governor of the Federal Assembly
Representative of Camden County
A full version of this constitution in a Microsoft Word document can be obtained by sending a TG to Burleson, addressed to the Department of State