Constitution of the Atlantic Commonwealth #

PREAMBLE #

THE PEOPLES OF THE ATLANTIC COMMONWEALTH, freed from occupation and assembled in the aftermath of the Atlantic War, establish this Constitution as the foundation of their common life.

They commit themselves to the equal worth of all people; to the rule of law; to the commons as the basis of ordinary life; and to the preservation of this country and its islands for those who will come after.

The Commonwealth is sovereign. Its Constitution is its supreme law. Nothing in it may be suspended.

THE COMMONWEALTH #

Article 1 #

The Atlantic Commonwealth is a sovereign, democratic and federal state. It is founded on the equal worth of all persons, the rule of law, and the supremacy of this Constitution. There is no privilege among its people.

Article 2 #

The territory of the Commonwealth comprises its 83 constituent republics and associated territories. The territory of the Commonwealth is inviolable.

Article 3 #

The standard of the Commonwealth is the Sovereign Crown. Its flag bears an arctic rosette of six gold petals on crimson. Its anthem is Advance, Veletia. Their use is governed by law.

Article 4 #

The Commonwealth has 16 official languages. English is the official written language and the language of commerce, government and education.

Article 5 #

The Commonwealth is a secular state and has no state religion. The religious and spiritual practices of Commonwealth peoples are protected by law. Recognised traditional faiths include folk Oslolan spiritualism, Kalina local faiths and the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman religions.

Article 6 #

The domestic economy of the Commonwealth is the commons: a moneyless market in which ordinary people do not use money. The industrial and financial economy uses money and trade. Both are protected by this Constitution and governed by the Basic Laws.

THE INSTITUTIONS #

Article 7 #

The federal government of the Commonwealth comprises the Consilia, the Mandatory Ecclesia, State Secretaries, the ministerial parliaments and the devolved ministries. No single body holds supreme executive authority. The structure and powers of each are governed by this Constitution and the Basic Laws.

Article 8 #

The Consilia is the office of one man and one woman, elected jointly by popular referendum across all 83 constituent republics. The two members constitute a single undivided office. The Consilia is the ceremonial head of state and public representative of the Commonwealth. It holds no executive authority, may not initiate legislation and may not direct the civil service or ministries. It presides over the Mandatory Ecclesia without a vote. Candidates stand as a pair and may not stand under any party affiliation. No person may serve as a member of the Consilia for more than two complete terms.

Article 9 #

The term of the Consilia is bounded by the Atlantic humpback whale migration. Each term begins upon the first confirmed sighting of Atlantic humpback whales in the northern coastal waters of Oslola, as declared by the designated coastal community, and concludes upon the first confirmed arrival of southbound whales at the designated southern declaration point off Sude. Sighting declarations are matters of public record, administered by designated coastal communities under procedures established by law. The seat of Commonwealth government is Comet, in the Meteor Federal Territory.

Article 10 #

The Mandatory Ecclesia is the federal deliberative chamber of the Commonwealth, comprising one delegate from each of the 83 constituent republics. It reviews and passes interministerial legislation, confirms State Secretary commissions and arbitrates constitutional disputes between federal and republic governments. The Mandatory Ecclesia may not introduce legislation on its own motion. Its composition, procedures and powers are governed by the Basic Laws.

Article 11 #

State Secretaries are federal officers commissioned for interministerial programmes of defined scope and duration. They are the sole officers empowered to introduce interministerial legislation before the Mandatory Ecclesia. A commission may be initiated by petition cascade from the municipal level, by civil service proposal or by constitutional trigger. Commissions are confirmed and closed by the Mandatory Ecclesia. Their structure and procedures are governed by the Basic Laws.

Article 12 #

The ministerial parliaments are constitutionally independent self-governing institutions, each governing a defined professional domain through industrial democracy. Each administers its domain and holds legislative authority within it. No political body may direct a ministerial parliament within the scope of its mandate. Their composition and powers are governed by the Basic Laws.

Article 13 #

The devolved ministries are the permanent administrative departments of the Commonwealth. Each is led by a First Minister elected from within by professional staff. No political body may appoint or remove a First Minister. Their structure and powers are governed by the Basic Laws.

RIGHTS #

Article 14 #

The Universal Civil Rights of the New Atlantic has constitutional force. It binds all institutions of the Commonwealth, all levels of government and all public and private persons. The rights it enshrines may be limited only as prescribed in that document. No amendment to this Constitution may reduce or remove any right contained therein.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION #

Article 15 #

Interministerial legislation passed by the Mandatory Ecclesia must be approved by citizen referendum before promulgation. A citizen referendum may override any decision of the Mandatory Ecclesia with a sixty per cent majority. Constitutional amendments require a citizen referendum with a sixty per cent majority of Commonwealth votes cast.

Article 16 #

Any citizen may petition a referendum. The petition proceeds through municipal, republic and regional assemblies before submission to the Mandatory Ecclesia for scheduling. The Mandatory Ecclesia may not decline to schedule a petition that has completed the cascade in conformity with this Constitution.

JUSTICE #

Article 17 #

Judicial power vests in the courts of the Commonwealth. The independence of all judges is guaranteed. The Supreme Constitutional Court rules on the constitutional compliance of laws and government actions, disputes between governmental levels and appeals regarding fundamental rights violations. Its composition and procedures are governed by the Basic Laws.

CONSTITUTIONAL SUPREMACY #

Article 18 #

This Constitution is the supreme law of the Commonwealth. Any law or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid. This Constitution may not be suspended.

Article 19 #

Constitutional amendment requires a citizen referendum with a sixty per cent majority of Commonwealth votes cast. No amendment may reduce or remove any right in the Universal Civil Rights of the New Atlantic, or the nonpartisan character of elections established in Article 8. Amendment may be initiated by a two-thirds majority of the Mandatory Ecclesia or by petition cascade under Article 16.