CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VITIONE

AND ITS DOMINIONS AND TERRITORIES

FIRST EDITION, APRIL 21, 2022

Written by the Right Honorable President Joshua Schnurman and Vice President Nicolas Wiedemann

GOVERNMENT OF VITIONE

Preamble of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of VITIONE

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We the people of the Democratic Republic of Vitione do ordain and establish this constitution as the governing charter of our nation, to ensure peace for our nation, and freedom for our people. This constitution will be followed by every citizen and lawmaker of Vitione. We solemnly swear to carry out the rules of this constitution and to preserve it. We shall  protect this constitution to ensure the success of our nation. Regione Vitae.

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Article I

Freedoms

Section One:

Every citizen of the Democratic Republic of Vitione shall have the following freedoms guaranteed to them:

• The right to free speech.
• The right to free expression.
• The right to free thought.
• The right to free organization and protest.
• The right of freedom of religion and worship.
• The right to free press and media.
• The right to suffrage.
• The right to be protected from unjust search and seizure.
• The right to change their legal gender.
• The right to change their legal name.
• The freedom to practice politics and ideology.
• The right to silence.
• The right to marry whomever they want as long as the other party is in agreement.

Article II

Responsibilities

Section One:

Every citizen of the Democratic Republic of Vitione shall have the following responsibilities assigned to them:

• All citizens of Vitione shall be required to respect and follow the rules and laws laid out in this constitution.
• All citizens of Vitione shall be expected to respect the sovereignty and independence of Vitione.

Article III

Government

Section One:

• The powers of legislation shall be vested in a Congress of Vitione. The Congress shall make up the legislative branch of the federal government of Vitione.
• The Congress shall be chaired, directed, and led in sessions by the Vice President as Chair of the Congress.
• The Congress shall consist of 6 seats. Seats shall be elected using a party list method, where political parties or other political organizations shall submit lists, in order of election precedence, to the government to be put on the ballot. The number of seats awarded to each list shall be proportional and based on total vote share.
• Elections for Congress shall take place once every two months.
• Congress shall vote on motions. Congress shall hold the power of lawmaking and may pass motions into bills for consideration to become law.
• Executive power shall be vested in the President of Vitione. The President shall be elected every year by a popular vote on December 22nd.
• The President shall serve as head of state and government, commander of the military, and shall lead and direct government.
• The President shall appoint secretaries to a cabinet. They shall appoint a Secretary of Foreign affairs, Home Affairs, Defense, Treasury, Environment, Culture, and Health, and a Vice President.
• The Vice President shall assume the office of President if the President is removed from office, dies, resigns, makes the Vice President acting President, or is incapacitated.
• The President may veto any bill that Congress passes. The President may also approve Congress bills, which shall enshrine them in law. A veto may be overturned by ⅚ of Congress.
• The President may issue executive orders, which can only be used to issue decrees that do not amend laws, change national symbols or government policy not specified in law, to vote on motions in the Congress, or to dispose of members of their cabinet, or justices of the supreme court.  The President shall have unlimited executive orders.
• The President shall lead, organize, and coordinate the National Military of Vitione.
• The Cabinet, President, and Military shall form the executive branch of the Federal Government of Vitione.
• The powers of judiciary shall be vested in a Supreme Court of Vitione.
• The Supreme court shall consist of 7 justices, appointed by the President.
• The Supreme court shall be led in sessions by the Chief Justice. The chief Justice shall be elected by Congress.
• Criminal and Civil cases may be brought to the court by any citizen. The court shall hear the case, rule on it, and determine reparations in a civil case or punishment in a criminal case.
• The territory of Vitione shall be divided into 5 cities. Each city shall have a Mayor who shall lead the city. The Mayor shall be elected by the city every year. Cities may establish laws so long as they do not interfere with federal laws. The power of local legislation shall be vested in a City Council, composed of all citizens of a city, for each city. Proposals for new laws shall be motioned and voted on in these councils. If the motion passes it becomes a bill. The mayor must then pass or veto the bill. A veto may be overturned by ⅘ of the City Council.

Article IV

Impeachment

Section One:

• Members of Congress may submit motions for the impeachments of government officials. A vote shall then be held on whether to hold an impeachment inquiry. If the vote passes, Congress shall debate on whether to impeach the individual the motion is submitted for. Once the debate has concluded, a vote on the motion shall be held, requiring ⅚ of the Congress to support it to pass. Once it passes, that official shall be removed from office and a new officer shall be appointed by the President. If the President has been impeached, the Vice President will assume office.

Article V

Crimes and Consequences

Section One:

• Crimes will be organized in 4 sections. Class AC (most severe crimes such as murder, torture, and kidnapping). If a person is found guilty of a Class AC, that person will face severe punishment, which the judge who assigned that case will decide.

Section Two:

• A Class BC, is a crime committed that isn't as severe as a Class AC. Yet if committed in a Class BC, the person committed will face somewhat severe consequences, which will be decided by the judge assigned to that case.

Section Three:

• A Class CC is the least severe crime you could commit in Vitione (such as petty theft). If committed of a class CC, the punishment won’t be supper severe, usually, the punishment would be a fine of some sort, but it still must be decided by the judge assigned to the case.

Section Four:

• A Class SC is when one citizen is suing another citizen. If the judge rules in favor of the person who is suing, the person being sued would never face harsh punishment, only a fine to pay a settlement to the other person. The judge will decide the amount being paid.

Article VI

Education

Section One:

• Every citizen has the right to education. In Vitione there will be one public school. The Public School will be named, TIFL, Townsville Institution for Learning. This school will be entirely funded by the government. This school will contain middle school, high school, and college. Attending this school will be online and classes will be premade courses.
• Every citizen depending on age will be allowed to attend TIFL for better education.
• Teachers will be appointed by the Head of Education for Vitione. If appointed a teacher, you may have the choice to accept or decline. Being a teacher is not mandatory.

Section Two:

• Any citizen may create a private school as long as they have permission from the Head of Education. These private schools may be held online or in-person, this depends on what the school director prefers.
• Private schools won't be funded by the government at all. If someone wishes to attend a private school, that citizen must pay a yearly fee to that school. The director of the school will decide the price of education.

Article VII

Currency

Section One:

• Every citizen has the right to make money, whether it is from a government job or a privately funded job. The minimum wage in Vition is 18.50 Vitiones an hour. Any amount of money under that could lead to a criminal charge.
• Any business owner can decide how much they want to pay their employees as long as it is, or is above 18.50 an hour.
• One VDS is equal to one USD.

Section Two:

• The Secretary of Treasury will be appointed by the president. The ST will decide what money goes where, and how much money goes where.
• The ST also has the power to change wages at any business. If an ST asks you to either heighten your wage or lower your age, you must agree, if not you may be taken to court. On criminal charges.
• All government businesses, departments, and agencies will be funded by the government. The ST will decide along with congress how much each government business, department, or agency gets.
• The only thing that can override a government decision is a congress motion. If the motion passes then the president can either pass the bill, and make it a law, or the president can veto the law.

Section Three:

• When joining Vitione every citizen will get 5,000 Vitions to get them on their feet. Also, a gofundme will be set up where people can transfer your USD in VDS. Transferring your USD will also help the economy. This will also allow the government to have a higher budget to better help the citizens.
• To help circulate the economy each citizen must pay 50 Vitions a month to be a citizen, this way money will actually have a meaning, and having a job will have a meaning. Once you join Vitione there will be a grace period until the 1st day of a new month where you won't have to pay. This will make it easier for government officials to keep track of money.
• Once you fail to pay the monthly fee, you will get a strike. Once you get 5 strikes, government officials will negotiate your consequences.

Section Four:

• If you happen to run out of money, you can declare poverty. To declare poverty you must write a document explaining why you are crying poverty, and how you got into poverty. If the government accepts it, then they will help negotiate and set up a program for you.
• If the government declines your request, then the next step is for you to decide. Either you can try to get a job or suffer the consequences of getting strikes against you.

Section Five:

• If your company or business runs out of money you can declare bankruptcy. To declare bankruptcy you must write a document explaining why you are declaring, and how you got into bankruptcy. If the government accepts it, then they will help negotiate and set up a program for you.
• Normally the government will invest in your company to get you back on your feet, but you must repay the government once you remake the funds.

Section Six:

• There will be no bank in Vitione as there is no paper money. Therefore if you need a loan for a company, house, or other things, you have to get in contact with the office of the secretary of the treasury.
• The ST can either decline or accept your offer. If your offer is declined you will have a one-week period where you can edit your request and try to get the loan. You can apply to get a loan as many times as u want.

Article VIII

Military

Section One:

• The military shall have one branch, the army. The president is the commander and chief of the military.
• The president will appoint someone of their choice to be the general of the army. The president and general will work closely together when it comes to military-related affairs.

Section Two:

• In case of an attack from a foreign country, Article 7 will be put into action. Article 7 states that if a foreign country declares war against Vitione, the senate will be closed and the President and Vice President will have full power over the country and congress temporarily. Once the war ends the government will rescind Article 7.

Section Three:

• An application is required to enlist in the military. Your application form must be accepted by a military official.
• Once you join the military you must agree to the terms and conditions. Once the terms and conditions have been agreed to you must be an active member of the military for at least one year. While serving actively in the military you will have benefits such as but not limited to discounts on government purchases.
• After one year’s service, you may retire from the military, or choose to remain on active duty. Once retired you will have full military benefits, which military officials will talk to you about. You will also receive a military pension determined by military officials for life.

Article IX

Election

Section One:

• Every citizen has the right to vote in both national and local elections. Any citizen can run in any local or national election, whether running for president, senator, mayor etc.

Section Two:

• The election for president and vice president will be every year on December 21st, and each president will be inaugurated on December 22nd.
• When running for president only one candidate from each party may run.
• Each citizen can only vote once.
• Each presidential candidate will nominate someone to be their vice president. If the president wins, that vice president will also win.
• Each vote will be individually cast and the majority votes win.

Section Three:

• The election for any local official will be held at separate times from the national elections. It is up to the mayor to decide when the elections will be.
• Each citizen can only vote once.
• Each vote will be individually cast and the majority votes win.

Section Four:

• The Congress shall be elected once every two months using a proportional list method as explained in Article three.
• When a member of congress is elected they must serve out holding the political affiliation they were elected as, whether it be independent, or a party member or coalition member. Crossing the floor shall not be allowed.
• If a Member of Congress were to resign, they would be replaced with a representative designated by their party or coalition. If they were elected as an independent or there are no available replacements from their party or coalition the President shall appoint a replacement.

Article X

Line of Succession

Section One:

• If the president were to die, reisgn, or be impeached the line of succession to office shall be:

1. Vice-President
2. Secretary of state
3. Secretary of the treasury
4. Chief justice of the supreme court
5. Congress majority leader
6. Congress minority leader
7. Secretary of the economy
8. Secretary of homeland security and defense
9. Secretary of communications
10. Secretary of transportation
11. Secretary of citizenship and the census

• If the vice president were to die, resign, or be impeached the line of succession to office shall be:

1. Secretary of state
2. Secretary of the treasury
3. Chief justice of the supreme court
4. Congress majority leader
5. Congress minority leader
6. Secretary of the economy
7. Secretary of homeland security and defense
8. Secretary of communications
9. Secretary of transportation
10. Secretary of citizenship and the census

Article XII

Political Parties

Section One:

• Any citizen has the right to apply to create a political party.
• Once a citizen has made an application virtually, The president may accept or veto the application.
• If a political party is vetoed, that party may not enter in any national or local elections.
• Political parties may act as political organizations and entities and fund political candidates as well as nominate candidates for election and form coalitions with other parties or organizations.
• Each party must have an official leader.

Article XII

Emergency Power and Martial Law

Section One:

• Under the rules of an emergency constitution, the president and vice president must only abide by the rules already written in a constitution that has not yet been ratified. All other powers they must together decide on.
• An emergency constitution may not be declared unless there is no ratified constitution in place. If this is the case, the president and chancellor must then together declare the rules of an emergency constitution.

Section Two:

• Martial law may be declared by the president and the supreme court.
• Under martial law, the rules of this constitution are void, and the president has absolute authority over everything.

Section Three:

• Emergency power may be declared by congress by a majority vote. They may give this power to the president. This power lasts for 3 days until renewed by a majority congress vote. Under this power, they are the absolute authority on everything and may change any law they please. This power is to be used only when a state of emergency is declared by the president either via vote or order, due to an emergency.

Article XIII

Cities

Section One:

• Any citizen can apply to create a city of their own.
• A citizen must create a document explaining why they want to create it. If their document is accepted by the Secretary of Dominions, then it will go to congress.
• Congress will make a motion to make your city. If the motion passes then it will go to the president. If the president accepts the bill, then it will become a city.
• Once the city is made citizens can start applying for residency.

Article XIV

Joining Vitione

Section One:

• Any person can apply to be a citizen. All they must do is email the president at the email address joshuaschnurman@gmail.com and explain why they would like to apply. Then the president can either accept or decline their application.

Article XV

Leaving Vitione

Section One:

• At any time a citizen may cancel their citizenship. All they must do is email the president at the email address joshuaschnurman@gmail.com with the words that are now stated:

“I would like to resign my citizenship, effective immediately.”

Article XVI

End of Constitution

Section One:

• This is the official ending of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vitione. Any law that negates this created by the state shall be void. Only the founding fathers, Joshua Schnurman and Nicolas Wiedemann, have the power to independently change the constitution.

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Joshua Schnurman, President

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Nicolas Wiedemann, Vice President