Constitution of The Republic

ARTICLE II: Form of government

B) Elections and Eligibility for Office

NOTE: This section has been considerably re-organized from the original version, no significant change of content; but I find splitting it into two chapters is a better organization.

  1. All natural persons born in the republic, or of one or more citizens, or naturalized to the republic, or who were residents of the republic upon the adoption of this constitution and did not renounce their citizenship are citizens. All citizens who are legal adults may vote. The voting age shall be as described in section 3.
  2. The government shall provide rules for attaining citizenship via naturalization which are fair and do not unduly exclude any group.
  3. The Council and Parlaiment shall provide that all restrictions in legislation justified on the basis of excluding those who are too young shall permit access to all persons over the age of 21, and to all persons over the age of 15 who can demonstrate understanding af the subject under restriction sufficient to make an informed and reasoned choice or otherwise commensurate with that of adverage adults. This may be proven by any means permitted by law; but shall be deemed proven:
    1. For liscenced activities, meeting of usual lisence requirements
    2. For sex, in the case of marriage with parental consent.
    3. For voting, this shall constitute passage of an approved civics course.

    Modified from pervious form

  4. Members of all branches of national government shall be elected at regular intervals with elections conducted each year on the first Monday in September. The government shall provide for a national holiday on that day such that all citizens may vote. No person may run for any national elective office (judges excepted) if they have already served for a period of 10 years in that office(9 years for members of the Republic Council), or do not have the signatures of 100 citizens pledging support.

  5. The government shall print a voter information guide which shall list for each candidate seeking each position the voter is electing at this election:

    1. a detailed statement on the issues
    2. a summary voting history (if available)
    3. party affiliation
    4. and background information.

    Similarly, the text of all items up for referendum shall be listed together with an unbiased economic analysis, statements in favour and opposed and rebuttals to those statements on both sites.

    This guide shall be mailed free of charge to all citizens registered to vote.

  6. The government shall provide for a census of all citizens at least every 10 years and in the year of a special election of constitutional convention delegates.
  7. For purposes of Parlaimentary election, the republic shall be divided into 20 districts (when their number is 100), as nearly equal in population as recorded in the census as is practical and divided such that each district contains a group as similar in lifestyle and background as possible; each district must represent a contiguous geographical area, with a special preference for division along natural or historical boundaries, and shall have 5 seats in Parlaiment.
  8. The Board of Selectors shall draft the location of Parlaimentary and judicial districts, to be approved by the Council.
  9. The Board of Selectors shall be composed of 3 persons of different parties on rotating six-year terms, one to be appointed every other year.
  10. Candidates shall be selected by means of a series of partisan caucuses to be conducted at each citizen's advisory board in a manner prescribed by law and party regulations, the first to determine support for any incumbents and to determine the number of candidates, the second to nominate appropriate candidates; and, after any ineligible, declining, or failing to receive the pledge of 100 citizens have been removed; at a third and subsequent meetings to winnow the list and select candidates conforming to Section 22 below. All caucuses shall be conducted within the period of 1 month, to be completed not more than 4 months nor less than 1 month before the election.

  11. No election for the Republic Council or in any district for Parlaiment may be valid in which:

    1. fewer than 6 persons in a 4 seat election
    2. or 7 persons in a 5 seat election
    3. or more than two candidates of each party
    4. or where the second candidate of a party running two is not of the opposite sex of the first

    Elections for all seats on the Council shall be republic wide.

  12. For purposes of this constitution, two persons or parties shall be considered to be members of the same party if:
    1. they claim affiliation to the same political party OR
    2. they vote in concert at least 60% of the time on matters wherein the vote tended to breakdown along party or coalition lines.
  13. The trial court in the district contested, or the trial court of the capitol in the case of a Council seat, shall have the power to determine, in case of complaint, the qualification and validity of all elections and appointments under this constitution or as otherwise provided by law.
  14. No person who is constitutionally eligible may be deprived of their right to run for office, and if duly elected or appointed of their right to hold the office so earned except by impeachment.
  15. No person holding any governmental office in the republic may accept any title, office or emolument from any foreign state during their term, nor may any person except the Prime Minister hold more than one office under the government of the republic at one time, nor may any person who is currently bankrupt and cannot repay their debts, or who is currently imprisoned, hold any public office except as members of consensus committees and the prison's citizen's advisory board.
  16. No person may me made to hold any elective or appointed office against their will. All persons elected to any post in this constitution must swear or affirm to the following:
    "I (swear/affirm)that I will faithfully execute the office to which I have been elected, and will be loyal to and protect this republic and its constitution."
  17. No citizen or member of Parlaiment may cast the vote of another except in the capacity of members of Parlaiment as shareholders where the bylaws of the corporation otherwise permit such.
  18. No military officer may hold any position under the ministry of justice, in any civilian trial court, nor on the Council, Cabinet (with the exception of the minister of defence), or Board of Selectors until such officer has been retired from military service for at least 5 years.
Copyright 2000-2002 Jack Durst, Last modified 5/26/2002 11:00PM PDT