Preamble
This Constitution describes the structure of the Ecumenical Empire.
The Ecumenical Empire is the final stage of human political evolution.
This Constitution is unchangeable.
The Empire's operations and functions must be further defined by legislation.
The Empire
The Ecumenical Empire possesses every power which a human government
may possess.
The jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Empire is universal in space.
The Ecumenical Empire may permit Subsidiary States to exist.
The Emperor
The
Emperor may hear all final appeals in judicial matters from whatever
source.
The Emperor is the Commander in Chief of the Ecumenical Army.
The Emperor is the Director of the Ecumenical Civil Service.
The Emperor serves for life, subject to deposition or abdication.
The Emperor may veto acts of the Senate.
The Emperor may nominate his successor from among the Senators, subject
to the approval of the Senate.
The Emperor is an Imperial Citizen for life.
The Senate
The Senate may have up to one thousand Senators.
The Senate may enact laws of universal or local application.
The Senate may tax Imperial Citizens directly.
The Senate may tax trade between Subsidiary States.
The Senate may issue and revoke charters for the existence of Subsidiary
States.
The Senate elects the Emperor.
The Senate may depose the Emperor by a vote of three-quarters of the
Senators.
The Senate may expel a Senator by a vote of three-quarters of the
Senators.
Every Subsidiary State provides one Senator, selected by any means
and for whatever term the Subsidiary State chooses.
All Senators not provided by a Subsidiary State are appointed by the
Emperor for life, subject to expulsion or retirement.
Senators are Imperial Citizens at least for their term in office.
The Ecumenical
Army
The Ecumenical Army includes all the armed forces of the Ecumenical
Empire.
Only the Ecumenical Army may possess weapons of mass destruction.
Weapons of mass destruction may not be used against civilian populations
without thirty days' warning.
Subsidiary States have no authority to tax members of the Ecumenical
Army directly.
All members of the Ecumenical Army enjoy extraterritoriality from
Subsidiary States.
All members of the Ecumenical Army serving for at least ten years
are Imperial Citizens for life.
The Ecumenical
Civil Service
The Ecumenical Civil Service collects the taxes of the Ecumenical
Empire and administers imperial law.
The courts of the Ecumenical Empire are a branch of the Ecumenical
Civil Service.
Regions not under the jurisdiction of a Subsidiary State are ruled
directly by the Ecumenical Civil Service.
Subsidiary States have no authority to tax members of the Ecumenical
Civil Service directly.
All members of the Ecumenical Civil Service enjoy extraterritoriality
from Subsidiary States.
All members of the Ecumenical Civil Service serving for at least ten
years are Imperial Citizens for life.
Subsidiary
States
No Subsidiary State may exist without the charter of the Senate.
Charters for Subsidiary States are issued for perpetuity and are subject
to revocation.
Subsidiary States may choose their own form of government.
Subsidiary States may exercise primary jurisdiction over their citizens
and residents.
Subsidiary States may not maintain armed forces beyond those necessary
for internal police.
Laws of Subsidiary States that are incompatible with imperial law
are voidable by the Ecumenical Civil Service.
Particular acts by Subsidiary States may be prohibited by the Emperor.
The governments of Subsidiary States are subject to suspension by
the Emperor.
Imperial Subjects
All human beings are Imperial Subjects.
Imperial Subjects may not be enslaved. Imperial Subjects may not coerced
by law to perform acts of worship.
Imperial Subjects may be imprisoned or executed only after a trial.
Acquittals in criminal trials are not appealable.
Imperial Subjects not citizens of a Subsidiary State are subject to
the immediate jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Civil Service.
Imperial Citizens
Any Imperial Subject may be created by the Emperor to be an Imperial
Citizen for life or for a term of years.
The spouse and children of all Imperial Citizens for life are also
Imperial Citizens for life.
Imperial Citizens have the option to be citizens of Subsidiary States.
Imperial Citizens have the option to make themselves liable to the
taxes and judicial process of a Subsidiary State.
Imperial Citizens are subject to the immediate jurisdiction of the
Ecumenical Civil Service.
Imperial Citizens are subject to direct taxes of the Ecumenical Empire.
Imperial Citizens may not be deprived of goods, money or land without
a trial.
Imperial Citizens may say or publish anything that does not appear
likely to cause immediate public disorder.
Prior Law
Any provision of international or domestic law contrary to this Constitution
is nullified.
Fully sovereign states existing at the time of the proclamation of
this Constitution may apply within one year for a charter from the
Senate to become Subsidiary States.
Fully sovereign states that fail to apply within that time are abolished.
Proclamation
We the leaders of the Cabinet of the Final Alliance proclaim this
Constitution on our own authority. We designate our chairman to be
the first Emperor. The Emperor designates us to be the first Senators.
[Date (circa
2080)]
Copyright ©
1996 by John J. Reilly
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