CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM OF AMICITIA

By jjonthan

Ratified on this day, the twenty-eighth of the month of July in the year of our Lord, Jesus Christ, two-thousand and twenty-three, by the mighty pen of Amicitian King, BlueBox97.

PREAMBLE: In the name of Almighty God and for the prospering of not just this nation but all nations of the world, BlueBox97, Ruler of the Kingdom of Amicitia, in conjunction with the Amicitian Peoples’ Parliament, do hereby declare this Consitution of the Kingdom of Amicitia as the binding and foundational document to our national identity, creed, and people.

ARTICLE I: THE LAW,  THE PEOPLE, AND THE MONARCHY

SECTION I - Law

1. This Constitution serves as the highest law in the Kingdom of Amicitia.
   
2. All Amicitian-owned lands are accountable to the will laid out in this Consitution.
   
3. All legislative powers within Amicitia are vested in the King and carried out by the Amicitian Peoples’ Parliament (APP).
   
4. The APP will meet a minimum of once a month on a day set either by the King or Prime Minister (PM).
           A. Successive meetings are then decided between the Prime Minister and the APP or at the insistence of the King.
           B. Accounts of each meeting are to be kept by the Lord Chancellor.

SECTION II - People

1. All Amicitian citizens are entitled to the following inalienable, God-given rights, described herewith as the freedom to…
   
           A. Belief
           B. Expression
           C. Speech
           D. Assembly
           E. Property

2. Legal action may be taken should these freedoms infringe upon the individual freedom, safety, and well-being of other citizens.
   
3. These things and the laws behind them are subject to and act as the protection of all Amicitian citizens regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, country of origin, religion, class, and so on and so forth.
   
4. Citizenship grants the individual the opportunity to own land, work, vote, run for public office, and live in the Kingdom of Amicitia.
   
           A. Citizenship is verified by the King and presented to the citizen on a Citizen Identification Card (CIC).
           B. A CIC must be presented in order to validate a citizen’s vote and run for public office.

5. Citizenship is forcibly revoked only in the direst of situations and only when agreed upon by consensus between the King and Lord Chancellor.
   
6. Any individual who desires to renounce their Amicitian Citizenship must authorize this with the Lord Chancellor through the Amicitian Citizenship Removal Form (ACRF).
   
7. Amicitia welcomes any immigrants seeking citizenship in the Kingdom. The legal process for immigration is as follows:
           A. The immigrant in question must seek approval from the Amicitia Travel Services (ATS) to settle in the Kingdom.
           B. Once settled, the immigrant in question must fill out the Amicitia Integration and Naturalization Application (AINA) which includes a test and guidelines for dual citizenship (depending on the nation the immigrant in question hails from).

SECTION III - The Monarchy

1. The Kingdom of Amicitia is a Constitutional Monarchy- meaning the head of state is the people’s King.
           A. The King, hereby, having been established as the founder of the land.

2. The King serves the Kingdom of Amicitia by acting as the Defender of the Law and the highest authority in the land.
           A. For this reason it is expected of the King to live in accordance with and model well all laws of the Kingdom of Amicitia.

3. Should the King fail to uphold the integrity of Amicitian law he can be persecuted the same as any other Amicitian citizen.
           A. Meaning that the King, should he be found guilty, is subject to whatever punishment the Judicial system finds appropriate for the committed crime.

4. It is within the King’s power to dissolve Parliament should he deem it necessary.
           A. In this case, the King serves as Amicitia’s sole decision-maker.
           B. It is the King’s decision as to when Parliament reforms and who comprises such a Parliament.

ARTICLE II: VOTING

SECTION I - General Voter Information

1. Votes may only be cast on the server at the appointed capitol building. There will be a week-long period in which votes may be cast. After this period ends no more votes will be counted.
           A. Only Amicitian citizens may vote in these elections.
           B. Citizens may only cast one vote.
           C. Furthermore, a vote cannot be changed once it is cast.

2.  The result of each vote will be revealed on the Discord channel under the “announcements” tab.

SECTION II - Bills

1. Bills may be proposed at Local Assemblies by any citizen of Amicitia.
           A, The request for a Local Assembly must be made to the citizen’s corresponding MP.

                B. This MP must then organize and preside over the Assembly in question.
                C. Local Assembly attendance is mandatory only for the MP and citizen, although all citizens under the MPs jurisdiction are permitted to join.
                D. Following the Local Assembly, a week-long bill voting period will ensue for citizens under the MPs jurisdiction. If the bill is approved at the local level, it moves to Parliament.

2. Approved bills are brought before Parliament by the corresponding MP of the represented citizen(s) who made the initial proposal. Deliberation sessions are called in which the MP states their case for the bill. If the bill receives approval from the majority of MPs it is then moved to the King. The King then holds the power to either ratify or nullify the bill.
           A. Should the bill fail to receive the necessary majority for passage to the King, it returns to the local level. Should the King nullify the bill the entire process must begin again.
           B. The King also holds the power to enact and overturn any bill or law at will.

3. Bills approved by the King are put into effect a week after ratification.
           A. The King reserves the power to expedite or elongate this process should he desire.

SECTION III - Amendments

1. As time is mutable and fluid so we believe our Consitution should be. In order to adapt to the times and changing needs of the people, amendments can be made to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Amicitia.

2. Amendments can only be proposed by members of the Amicitian Parliament.

3. In order for an amendment to proceed to the King it must receive a 3/5th majority vote from Parliament.

4. Amendments approved by Parliament proceed to the King who then either approves or veteos it accordingly.
           A. Additionally, the King reserves the right to make changes to the Consitution at will.

5. Approved amendments are put into effect a week after ratification.
           A. The King reserves the power to expedite or elongate this process should he desire.

SECTION IV - Alliances and Declarations of War

1. Alliance proposals are made to the House of Parliament by the Prime Minister.

2. For an alliance proposal to proceed to the King, it must receive a 2/3rd majority vote from the House of Parliament.

3. Parliament-approved alliance proposals proceed to the King who may then either ratify or reject it.
           A. Approved alliances go into effect immediately. Only the King reserves the right to extend this process.

4. Alliance termination proposals follow the same protocol as alliance proposals.
           A. The King may also approve and dissolve any alliance at will.

5. When it is believed that the safety of the Kingdom is under threat by an outside nation, the Prime Minister may call a War Council in Parliament.

6. In order for a declaration of war to proceed to the King, it must procure a 2/3rd majority vote from Parliament.

7. Once approved by parliament, the declaration of war must then be approved or denied by the King.
           A. The King holds the power to make declarations of war at will.

SECTION V - Elections

1. Amicitia conducts elections for the positions of Prime Minister (PM) and Members of Parliament (MPs).

2. For the election of the Prime Minister:
           A. A Prime Minister’s term lasts three months. An election is held at the beginning of the third month.
           B. Citizens will then vote on the appointed election week as to which candidate they would like to see as PM.
           C. The votes are counted at a joint meeting of Parliament where they are read in the presence of the King who then ratifies the position and officially appoints the new (or returning) Prime Minister.
           D. Government officials are the only eligible candidates for Prime Minister (unless stated otherwise by the King).

3. For the election of Members of Parliament:
           A. MP elections will take place every four months.
           B. Any Amicitian citizen may run for the position of MP.
           C. Citizens will vote on the appointed election week as to which candidate they would like to see as MP. Citizens can only vote for the MP position that corresponds to their role in the Kingdom.
           D. The votes are then counted in a meeting between King and Prime Minister where they are then ratified by the King

4. The King holds the power to appoint and dismiss any Prime Minister or Member of Parliament at will.

ARTICLE III: GOVERNMENT

Section I - The Office of Prime Minister
        I. The Prime Minister serves as the authoritative counsel and sole representative of the King in government affairs.
        
        II. The Prime Minister presides over and leads all sessions of Parliament in place of the King.
        
        III. The Prime Minister personally upholds the will of the King and People. This means that the Prime Minister officially enacts and carries out all major decisions verified by the King and or chosen by Parliament and the Will of the People.
        
        IV. The Prime Minister is expected to attend any meeting of world leaders either by invitation to accompany the King or to represent the King should he be unavailable.

        V. The Prime Minister is required to have a regular, private meeting with the King (scheduled at the King’s convenience).
        
        VI. Every month, the Prime Minister must write a State of Amicitia Address to share with the nation.

        VII. With majority backing from Parliament, a motion for a vote of no confidence can be raised in regard to the Prime Minister.
                A. With a 2/3rd majority from Parliament, the Prime Minister can successfully be voted out of office.
                B. Should this happen, an interim Prime Minister is appointed by Parliament (approved by a 2/3rd majority) who serves the remainder of the previous Prime Minister's term.

        VIII. If the Prime Minister is found guilty of breaking Amicitian law, they will have to undergo an impeachment trial.
                A. This first requires a trial before the Lord Chancellor.
                B. If found guilty by the Lord Chancellor, the Prime Minister is then tried at a joint session of Parliament.
                C. If found guilty by Parliament, the Prime Minister is removed from office and stripped of title and rank by the King himself.

Section II - Members of Parliament
        I. Members of Parliament are representatives of the various trades and roles that comprise the peoples of Amicitia.

        II. This being so, MPs are to represent the interests and wills of the various occupations, classes, and diverse peoples of Amicitia.

        III. MPs propose laws, vote on existing propositions/amendments, and make general decisions that affect the laws and lives of the Amicitian public.
        
        IV. MPs are answerable to the Prime Minister as their primary authority but are also under the high-ranking authority of the King.

Section III - Non-Elected Officials
        I. In addition to the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament, there exist officials in His Majesty’s Government who obtain their positions not by election from the people but either by: Direct appointment from the King, nomination from the PM or Parliament, direct application and approval by the King and or Parliament, and other situations of the like.
        
        II. The terms and boundaries of these positions are defined on a case-by-case basis depending on the role and its application in the Kingdom.
                A. It is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to make sure this information is accessible to the people.

ARTICLE IV: THE COURT

Section I - The Lord Chancellor
        I. The Lord Chancellor is the judicial authority in regard to Amicitian Law. They preside as judge over Amicitian court cases and are responsible for delivering just and appropriate sentences.

        II. The Lord Chancellor is nominated by the Prime Minister and must be approved by a majority vote from Parliament.

        III. Additionally, the Lord Chancellor can be recalled with a majority vote of no confidence from Parliament.

        IV. The King reserves the power to appoint or recall a Lord Chancellor at will.

        V. Should the Lord Chancellor be unavailable, their job may also be done by either the King, Prime Minister, or other appropriate representative of His Majesty.

        VI. The Lord Chancellor is barred from presiding over any court case they might have personal stakes in. In such situations, their role is filled by any of the individuals listed above.

        VII. It is by the sentencing of the Lord Chancellor that decisions regarding pearling are put into motion.

Section II - Trial Procedures
        I. Trial procedures go as follows:
                A. Claims are presented by the plaintiff.
                B. The defendant makes a plea in response
                C. Arguments and evidence are presented by the plaintiff.
                D. The defendant counters with their own evidence and argumentation.
                E. These steps alternate until the case is rested.
                F. Closing statements are given.
                G. The Lord Chancellor declares the defendant guilty or non-guilty. If guilty, the Lord Chancellor then delivers the appropriate sentence.

II. All Amicitian citizens have the right to an attorney.

Section III - Royal Appeals
        I. If the defendant finds their sentencing unjust, they may appeal to the highest authority in the land, the King.

        II. Should the King accept the appeal, a special court session will take place at the King’s convenience where the defendant will once again state their case.
                A. Whilst waiting for the Royal Session, the defendant must continue carrying out whatever sentence the Lord Chancellor declared upon them.

        III. The legal process repeats as normal but with the King presiding instead of the Lord Chancellor.

        IV. Whichever sentence is decided upon by the King is final and can only be overturned by the King himself.

ARTICLE V: PROPERTY

Section I - Private Property

        I. All Amicitian citizens are guaranteed a right to private property. This includes land, blocks, items, and entities.

        II. Property is obtained either through legal purchase, contract, gift, or other appropriate means.

        III. Citizens may only lay claims to the property that they themselves own. Laying claim to any property that is not legally owned by the citizen is a punishable offense.

Section II - The Crown and Property
        I. All public property (government buildings, parks, monuments, etc.) is property of the King unless stated otherwise. As a result, any crime committed against these things is a crime committed against the Crown.

        II. All land within Amicitia is, by default, property of the Crown but may be sold to citizens as private property.
                A. Regardless of whether or not the land is private or public property, it is still on Amicitian soil and, therefore, subject to all Amicitian laws.

Section III - Inactive Property

I. Should any Amicitian citizen become inactive for six months, all their possessions (unless other provisions are in place) instantly become the property of the Crown.
                A. The property is then redistributed as the Crown, in cooperation with Parliament, best sees fit.

ARTICLE VI: THE MILITARY

Section I - Knowing Your Military

I. The King serves as the Commander-In-Chief of the Amicitian Armed Forces. He is the highest authority in regard to military affairs.

        II. Representing the King as leader of the military is Amicitia’s Head of Military.

III. The Head of Military is either appointed by the King personally or nominated by the Prime Minister and affirmed by a majority vote from Parliament.
                A. It is the King who serves as the final say on the Head of Military (whom he can appoint or recall at will).

        IV. It is the purpose of the Amicitian Armed Forces to provide physical protection to the Kingdom and her best interests should her safety be threatened.

ARTICLE VII: BUILDS

Section I - General Builds

I. Any and all builds within the Kingdom of Amicitia must gain approval from the King or his representative, the Grand Architect.
                A. Build suggestions can be made via the Discord server under the “Build Suggestions” tab where they will subsequently be either approved or denied by the Grand Architect.

II. Public builds chests must not only be accessible to the builder(s) in question but also to the King and Grand Architect.
                A. This does not pertain to private builds such as homes or any build made on privately owned land.

Section II - Housing

        I. All Amicitian citizens have the right to one pre-approved build: A home.

        II. Homes are built according to the guidelines of the area in which the citizen wishes to move.
                A. Alternatively, if the area provides it, citizens may purchase a pre-built home. If they do so then they may not build a second home unless they either move from their current place of residence or purchase a second one.

        III. Reinforcement rights vary from home to home to include only the individual(s) living there as well as the King and Grand Architect.
                A. The King and Grand Architect are, by default, given accessibility to all Amicitian home reinforcements solely for the purpose of renovations and changes once the home is legally vacated by the inhabitant.
                B. It is a crime for either the King or Grand Architect to invade the privacy of an individual’s home without just cause.
                C. All chests within the home, however, may be privately claimed and reinforced by the individual with access only given to those they desire.

Section III - The Grand Architect

        I. The Grand Architect is the King’s sole representative in all architectural matters pertaining to the Kingdom of Amicitia.

        II. The Grand Architect oversees and approves/denies all build projects in Amicitia on behalf of the King.

        III. The Grand Architect is either appointed personally by the King or nominated by the Prime Minister and then voted into office by a majority vote from Parliament.

        IV. There is no term length for the Grand Architect. They remain in the post until they either resign, are fired, or are removed from their post by the King.

ARTICLE VIII: BUSINESS

Section I - Public Businesses

        I. Public businesses are set up by the various arms of His Majesty’s Government. They are regulated accordingly by either the King, Prime Minister, or corresponding MP to the business in question.

Section II - Private Businesses

        I. Should a citizen desire to start their own business, they must first fill out an Amicitian Private Business Owner’s Application (APBOA) which is then either approved or denied by the Prime Minister.

        II. For the physical building of the private business, the business owner in question must seek authorization from the Grand Architect.