Preamble
We as the patriarchs and leaders of the people of the valley of the Gesem River, gathered in the City of Alexandria, do ordain and establish this constitution for the Commonwealth of New Gesem, that our children might live free, prosperous, and unmolested by influences foreign or malign.
Article I: Bill of Rights
The following rights shall extend to all people residing in the valley of the Gesem River, and any law or compact abridging them be null and void:
First, the right of entering into contract with any person capable of understanding the terms in their entirety
Second, the right to freely traverse the navigable portions of the Gesem River and its tributaries
Third, the right to keep and bear arms
Fourth, the right to dwell and remain in the family home, purchased in good faith, irrespective of liens, debts, and torts
Article II: Elections
Section 1
A general election shall be held annually on the first day of spring. At a minimum, the following issues shall be on every ballot:
No less than one-fifth of the “at-large” seats in the Assembly
No less than one-fifth of each city’s allotment of Assembly members
No less than one seat in the Executive
All taxes applied to a given jurisdiction
Section 2
No person shall participate in a general election who has not reached the age of twenty-one years; resided in the valley of the Gesem River for at least five consecutive years prior to election day; and who does not own a detached house suitable for dwelling, either solely or jointly with a spouse.
Section 3
No tax shall apply to any person residing in the valley of the Gesem River that applies not to the whole, with the exception of those taxes imposed by the governments of Alexandria, Alexandroupolis, Constantinople, Rosetta, and Thebes, upon those dwelling within those cities' boundaries.
Article III: The Executive
Section I
There shall be elected an executive, not to exceed five members, to convene in the City of Alexandria and perform the duties of government as follows:
To represent the Commonwealth and the people of the valley of the Gesem River to the outside world
To serve as joint commanders-in-chief of the military
To veto any legislation passed by the Assembly that is deemed contrary to the will of the people
To review all decisions of the Courts and, by unanimous vote only, pardon those it believes wrongly convicted
To design and construct, with the advice and consent of the Assembly, the bureaucratic apparatus necessary to ensure the efficient conduct of the Commonwealth’s business
Section II
The members of the executive shall be elected for five-year terms, staggered such that one seat is contested in every general election
Section III
No action shall be taken by the Executive or on its behalf except by a majority vote with at least three “yea” votes.
In wartime, a single member of the Executive may be appointed sole Commander-in-Chief by unanimous approval of the Executive and a two-thirds vote of the Assembly.
When a member of the Executive is unable to attend to his or her duties, he or she may appoint a proxy to serve for no more than ninety days, subject to unanimous approval of the Executive and a two-thirds vote of the Assembly.
Section IV
Members of the Executive shall serve their full five-year term, except in the following cases:
When they die or resign voluntarily for reasons of health or conscience
When they are impeached by a unanimous Executive and two-thirds majority of the Assembly
When they are unable to perform their duties for a period exceeding eighty-nine days
In each case, the Assembly shall convene and elect by plurality an interim member of the Executive to serve until a general election can be called. An interim member may perform all duties of the Executive, but may only vote in the event of a tie of the remaining members.
Article IV: The Assembly
Section 1
There shall be convened in the City of Alexandria an Assembly not to exceed one hundred members, apportioned as follows:
Five each shall be elected by the cities of Alexandria, Alexandroupolis, Constantinople, Rosetta, and Thebes. The time, place, and manner of these elections is at the discretion of the governments of those cities.
Seventy-five shall be elected “at-large”, by proportional representation, to represent the remainder of the people of the valley of the Gesem River.
Section 2
The Assembly shall solely hold the power to pass laws, declare war, and approve government officials appointed by the Executive. In each case, it shall do so by simple majority of fifty-one votes, save for those cases outlined in Articles III and V which require a two-thirds majority.
Article V: The Courts
Section 1
There shall be convened a High Court of no fewer than three, but as many justices as the Executive cares to nominate. High Court justices shall serve for life once appointed and confirmed by the Assembly. The number of justices may be expanded at the discretion of the Executive; however, the nominations of justices to fill new seats is subject to two-thirds approval of the Assembly.
Section 2
The High Court may choose to hear cases in whole, or may separate into panels of not less than three justices to hear multiple cases simultaneously. The Executive may nominate lower courts as part of the plan of government, subject to the approval of the Assembly, in which case the High Court shall retain appellate jurisdiction. Additionally, the High Court shall retain appellate jurisdiction over the civic courts of Alexandria, Alexandroupolis, Consantinople, Rosetta, and Thebes.