The Regional Constitution of the Enlightened Region of Smithsonia
Preamble
We the People of the Enlightened Region of Smithsonia, in order to establish unity, uphold regional defense, and form a united Enlightened Region of Smithsonia, do hereby establish this constitution to serve as the guide and overall leadership of regional governance and protection.
Article 1- Name and Purpose
Section 1- Name
This organization of the unified regional government shall be formally named the United Government of the Enlightened Region of Smithsonia, which shall include all the nation states of the region, which shall be herein referred to as the UGERS (United Government Enlightened Region Smithsonia).
Section 2- Purpose
A) The UGERS shall serve as the central and all-encompassing government entity of the region
B) The UGERS shall create, promote, and support programs of benefit for all nations
C) The UGERS shall provide a legislative body of a unicameral nature, where the Regional Assembly, herein referred to as the RA, is representative of the region.
D) The UGERS shall establish and provide communication within the Enlightened Region of Smithsonia and with all regional and national leaders.
E) Above all, the UGERS shall serve as the legitimate forum for all nations with equal representation, and equal authority.
Article 2- Membership
A) Every duly registered nation of the Enlightened Region of Smithsonia shall have equal membership and voting rights in the Enlightened Region of Smithsonia.
B) Membership may not be denied, discriminated upon the basis of gender, ethnic origin, physical challenges, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or any other qualities that have no bearing on a nation’s ability to function as a member of the UGERS.
Article 3- Composition of the Government
A) The UGERS will consist of the voting nation states, the Regional Assembly, executive branch, judicial branch, and a branch for regional government corporations and agnecies.
B) No elected officials or employees of the UGERS may serve simultaneously in more than one position.
Article 4- The Legislative Branch
Section 1- Authority
The legislative and fiscal powers of UGERS shall be vested in the Enlightened Region of Smithsona Regional Senate (EROSRS)
Section 2- Composition of the Regional Senate
A) The senate shall consist of two senators from each nation
B) There shall be no set number of senatorial seats for the purpose of adding into account the rise and fall of nations, as well as nations that join the region and secede from the region.
Section 3- Vacancies and Appointments
A) In the event that a vacancy arises in the Regional Senate, a replacement shall be appointed by the appropriate nation’s leader until a special or regular election takes place within that nation to fill the void.
B) All appointments by any nation’s leader must show credentials that the appointed person was ratified by the government of that nation.
Section 4- Election and Terms of Regional Senators
A) All member nations in their own manner shall elect two regional senators.
B) The results of legislative elections shall take effect immediately upon the results being announced, and the Regional Senator shall serve for 3 months.
Section 5- Meetings
A) The legislature shall meet when it is called upon by the speaker, or by petition of a quorum of the nation states.
B) A quorum shall consist of 50% +1
C) Proceedings shall be governed by Prince Michael’s Rules of Order
Section 6- Committees
A) There shall be standing committees of oversight initiated by the speaker of the regional senate as he sees fit.
B) The standing committees will have the power to create sub and auxiliary committees If found to be needed.
Section 7- Officers of the Regional Senate
The officers of the Regional Senate are: Senate Speaker, Senate Speaker Pro-Tem, Sergeant-at-Arms, Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Committee Chairperson.
Section 8- Duties and Powers
A) The Regional Senate shall have the power to consider resolutions presented to it from all member nations.
B) The Regional Senate shall have the power to veto any executive order issued by the Executive Branch of the government by a discharge petition of at least 50%+1.
C) The Regional Senate shall have the power to override an executive veto by a 2/3 majority vote
D) The Regional Senate shall have the power and duty to perform any other actions as may be deemed necessary and proper but not explicitly set forth in this document.
Section 9- Removal of Regional Senators
Regional Senators may be removed from office for any of the following reasons, and after the proposed charges have been investigated and found to be true, the accused is impeachable
1. Dereliction of Duty
2. Neglect of Public Office
3. Repeated Absence from Sessions
4. Turpitude of Integrity, and
5. Gross Maleficence of Office
Article 5- The Executive Branch
Section 1- Executive Powers
The Executive Powers of UGERS shall be vested in a Regional President, Regional Vice President, and a Regional Council of Advisors.
Section 2- Composition of the Regional Executive Branch
A) The Regional Executive Branch shall consist of the Regional President, Regional Vice President, the Regional Council of Advisors, and staff.
B) The Regional President shall have the power to create new departments within the Executive Branch as needed.
Section 3- Election and Terms of Regional Executives
A) All member nations will submit their candidates via the Regional Message Board when prompted, and voting among the people will proceed. The candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote shall become the Regional President, and the candidate receiving the second highest percentage of votes will become the Regional Vice President.
B) The Regional President and Regional Vice President shall serve at the whim of the people. When a “Vote of No Confidence” has been called for by at least 5 member nations, the Regional President and Vice President’s tenures will be called into question. If the opposition succeeds in the Vote of No Confidence, the Elections’ Judge will call for an immediate regional election to elect a new Regional President and Regional Vice President.
C) The Regional President Elect and Regional Vice President Elect shall assume office immediately after the election results are announced.
Section 4- Duties and Powers of the President
A) The RP shall serve as Chief Executive of the UGERS
B) The RP shall be empowered to represent the UGERS to other regions, regional delegations, and to other nations.
C) The RP shall be empowered to call special sessions of the legislature.
D) The RP shall be empowered to appoint members of the UGERS Executive Cabinet.
E) The RP may submit legislation for consideration to the legislature.
F) The RP shall be empowered to author and enforce executive orders that pertain to the execution of this constitution.
G) The RP shall be empowered to appoint Supreme Court Justices with approval of ¾ majority of the legislature.
H) The RP shall be empowered to veto any legislation of the legislature within 14 days of passage, if no action is taken by the chief executive, the legislation dies.
I) The RP shall be empowered to perform other duties as directed by the legislature or as required to achieve the purposes of this constitution.
J) The RP has the duty to call for regular meetings, at his discretion, of his cabinet and with other executive officials
Section 5- Duties and Powers of the Regional Vice President
A) The Regional Vice President of the UGERS will have the duty to serve as Regional President in the event that the Regional President is unable to serve and to perform other duties as assigned by the Regional President.
B) The Vice President shall assist the Regional President in the execution of duties and shall be authorized by the President to represent the UGERS at the Regional President’s request.
Section 6- Removal of Executive Officers
A) The Regional President and Regional Vice President may be removed from office by the calling of a “Vote of Confidence,” if the vote results in no confidence, the executive leadership must abdicate their office, and a new election must take place immediately.
B) Once the election has ended and all votes have been tallied, the nominees receiving the greatest votes will be Regional President and Regional Vice President.
Section 7- Executive Succession
A. The only succession of office that will exist is in the event the Regional President is no longer able to serve, the Regional Vice President shall take office of Regional President and a new election will be held.
Article 6- The Judicial Branch
Section 1- Composition of the Regional Judiciary
The judiciary shall be composed of a Supreme Court, Regional Military Tribunal, and a civil court in every country. All matters pertaining to the translation of law in the event that a challenge to the law arises will be handled by the judiciary.
Section 2- Composition of the Supreme Court
A) The Supreme Court will be composed of 10 Justices that shall be appointed by the Regional President and approved by a ¾ majority of the Regional Senate.
B) The Justices of the Supreme Court may serve for life, until they so choose to retire, or until their member nation leaves the region.
Section 3- Composition of the Regional Military Tribunal
A) The Regional Military Tribunal will be composed of the Regional President, the Regional General of the Armed Forces, and the Chief Regional Diplomat.
B) The Tribunal will convene in instances when a region has been conquered and it is found that war crimes have been committed, by either the Military of Smithsonia or by the conquered territory.
C) Because of the unique composition of the Regional Military Tribunal’s composition, the members shall serve as long as the electorate does not change administrations, or the RP does not change the Regional Chief Diplomat or the Regional General of the Armed Forces.
Article 8- Constitutional Amendments
Section 1- Proposal of Amendments
A) Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by a 2/3 absolute majority of the legislature, or by a verifiable portion of ¼ of the member nations.
B) Constitutional amendments must be in the form of “Striking Out,” ”Inserting,” or “Striking Out, and Inserting.” This constitution shall not be stricken in its entirety without the concurrent proposal of a legitimate insertion.
Section 2- Amendments Ratification
Amendments must be passed by a majority of the member nations within 72 hours of a vote being called, or the proposed amendments will be declared failed.
Article 9- Validity of Authority of this Constitution
The constitution shall become the official and binding constitution of The United Government of The Enlightened Region of Smithsonia upon majority ratification by the member nations.
