The Constitution of the Kingdom of Ceresia 3/3

Of The Legislative Power.

Article 41.

Parliament shall be the highest organ of state power, and shall be the sole law-making organ of the Kingdom. 

Article 42.

Parliament shall consist of two Houses, namely the House of Representatives and the House of Nobles. 

Article 43.

The House of Representatives shall consist of elected members, representative of all the people. The number of members of the House of representatives shall be fixed by law.

Article 44.

The House of Nobles shall consist of members of appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister. Members of the House of Nobles shall be of Noble bloodine, Title holder of one of the higher orders of the Kingdom, or a member of the Clergy of the Church of Amatera. Clergy of other major religions of the Kingdom may be appointed if approved by the Prime Minister. The number of members shall be fixed by law and members shall serve a term of life unless a member should resign for whichever reason. 

Article 45.

The qualifications of members of the House of Representatives and their electors shall be fixed by law. However, there shall be no discrimination because of race, creed, !@#$, social status, family origin, education, property or income.

Article 46. 

The term of office of members of the House of Representatives shall be four years. However, the term shall be terminated before the full term is up in case the House of Representatives is dissolved.

Article 47.

Electoral districts, method of voting and other matters pertaining to the method of election of members of the House of Representatives shall be fixed by law. 

Article 48.

Members of both Houses shall receive appropriate annual payment from the national treasury in accordance with law. 

Article 49.

Except in cases provided by law, members of both Houses shall be exempt from apprehension while Parliament is in session, and any members apprehended before the opening of the session shall be freed during the term of the session upon demand of the House. 

Article 50.

Members of both Houses shall not be held liable outside the House for speeches, debates or votes cast inside the House. 

Article 51.

An ordinary session of Parliament shall be convoked once per year. 

Article 52.

The Cabinet may determine to convoke extraordinary sessions of Parliament. When a quarter or more of the total members of either House makes the demand, the Cabinet must determine on such convocation. 

Article 53.

When the House of Representatives is dissolved, there must be a general election of members of the House of Representatives within forty (40) days from the date of dissolution, and Parliament must be convoked within thirty(30) days from the date of the election. When the House of Representatives is dissolved, the House of Nobles is closed at the same time. However, the Cabinet may in time of national emergency convoke the House of Nobles in Emergency Session. 

Article 54.

Business cannot be transacted in either House unless one-third or more of total membership is present.
All matters shall be decided, in each House, by a majority of those present, except as elsewhere provided in the Constitution, and in case of a tie, the presiding officer shall decide the issue. 

Article 55.

Deliberation in each House shall be public. However a secret meeting may be held where a majority of two-thirds or more of those members present passes a resolution therefor. Each House shall keep a record of proceedings. This record shall be published and given General circulation, excepting such parts of proceedings of secret session as may be deemed to require secrecy. Upon demand of one-fifth or more of the members present, votes of the members on any matter shall be recorded in the minutes.
 

Article 56.

Each House shall select its own president and other officials. Each House shall establish its rules pertaining to meetings, proceedings, and internal discipline, and may punish members for disorderly conduct. However, in order to expel a member of the House of representatives, a majority of two-thirds or more of those members present must pass a resolution thereon. In order to expel a member of the House of Nobles, a majority of two-thirds or more of those members must pass a resolution of petition to the King and conveyed thereon for His Majesty to decide.
 

Article 57.

A bill becomes a law on passage by both Houses, except as otherwise provided by the Constitution.
A bill which is passed by the House of Representatives, and upon which the House of Nobles makes a decision different from that of the House of Representatives, becomes a law when passed a second time by the House of Representatives by a majority of two-thirds or more of the members present.
The provision of the preceding paragraph does not preclude the House of Representatives from calling for the meeting of a joint committee of both Houses, provided for by law.
Failure by the House of Nobles to take final action within sixty (60) days after receipt of a bill passed by the House of Representatives, time in recess excepted, may be determined by the House of Representatives to constitute a rejection of the said bill by the House of Nobles. 

Article 58.

The budget must first be sumitted to the House of Representatives. Upon consideration of the budget, when the House of Nobles makes a decision different from that of the House of Representatives, and when no agreement can be reached even through a joint committee of both houses, provided for by lawa, or in the case of failure by the House of Nobles to take final action within thirty(30) days, the period of recess excluded, after the receipt of the budget passed by the House of Representatives, the decision of the House of Representatives shall be the decision of Parliament.

Article 59.

Each House may conduct investigations in relation to government, and may demand the presence and testimony of witnesses and the production of records.

Article 60.

The Prime Minister and other Ministers of State may, at any time, appear in either House for the purpose of speaking on bills, regardless of whether they are members of the House or not. They must appear when their presence is required in order to give answers or explanations.

Article 61.

Parliament shall set up an impeachment court from among the members of both Houses for the purpose of trying those judges against whom removal proceedings have been instituted. Matters relation to impeachment shall be provided by Law.

Of The Judiciary

Article 62.

The Judicial Power of the Kingdom shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Legislature may from time to time to time establish.

Article 63.

The Kingdom shall be divided, by law, into a convenient number of circuits, subject to alteration by the legislature, from time to time, as the public good may require; for each of which one or more circuit judges, not exceeding 6, however shall be appointed to hold their offices during good behavior, subject to removal upon impeachment.

Article 64.

The Judicial power shall extend to all cases in Law and Equity, arising under the constitution, any law of this Kingdom, and treaties made, or which shall be made under their authority; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction.

Article 65.

The Judicial power shall be divided among the Supreme Court and the several inferior courts of the Kingdom in such manner as the Legislature may, from time to time, indicate.

Article 66.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall be the Chancellor of the Kingdom; he shall be ex-officio President of the House of Nobles in all cases of impeachment, unless when impeached himself; and exercise such jurisdiction in equity or other cases as the law may confer upon him, his decisions being subject, however, to the revision of the Supreme Court, on appeal.

Article 67.

The Decisions of the Supreme Court, when made by a majority of the Justices thereof, shall be final and conclusive upon all parties.
 

Article 68.

The King, His Ministers, the Governors, and each branch of the Legislature shall have authority to require the opinions of the Justices of the Supreme Court, upon important questions of law, and upon solemn occasions.

Article 69.

The King, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, appoints the Justices of the Supreme Court, and all other Judges of Courts of Record;

their salaries are fixed by law.
 

Article 70.

In order that the people may not suffer from long continuance in place of any District Justice, who shall fail of discharging the important duties of his office with ability and fidelity, all commissions of District Justices shall expire and become void in the term of two years from their respective dates; and upon the expiration of any commission the same shall be renewed, or another appointed, as shall most conduce to the well being of the Kingdom. Provided always, that District justices shal be subject to removal at any time by the Circuit Court of their Respective Province, for causes particularly assigned by the Judges of said Court in rendering their judgement. But no District Justice shall be removed until he shall have notice of the charges made against him and an opportunity of being heard in his defense. 

Article 71.

No Judge or Magistrate can sit alone on an appeal or new trial, in any case on which he may have given a previous judgement.

Article 72.

It shall be the Duty of the Chief Justice to make an annual report, through the Minister of Justice, to the Legislature, of the State of the Judiciary of the Kingdom in all it's branches. 
 

Article 73.

The King, after approving this Constitution, shall take the following oath:

"I solemnly Swear, in the presence of the Eternal Mother and Heavenly Father, and all deities there follow, to uphold, maintain, and defend the Constitution of the Kingdom whole and inviolate, and to govern in conformity with that and the laws."
 

Article 74.

The Prime Minister and State Ministers shall take the same oath; and when exercising the Executive Power, during a minority, he shall take the following oath:

"I solemnly swear, in the presence of the Eternal Mother and Heavenly Father, and all deities there follow, (Or whichever faith he/she may hold), to uphold, maintain, and defend the constitution of the Kingdom, and to govern in conformity with that and the law."

Article 75.

Every member of the House of Nobles shall take the following oath:

"I solemnly swear in the presence of the Eternal Mother and Heavenly Father, and all deities there follow, (Or whichever Faith he/she may hold), to loyally support, uphold, and defend the Constitution and Laws of the Kingdom, and Conscientiously and impartially discharge my duty as a member of this House."

Article 76.

Every member of the House of Representatives shall take the following oath:

"I solemnly swear in the presence of the Eternal Mother and Heavenly Father, and all deities there follow, (Or whichever Faith he/she may hold), that I will faithfully support the Constitution and Laws of the Kingdom and conscientiously and impartially discharge my duties, as a Representative of the People."

MODE OF AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION. 

Article 77. 

Any amendment or amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in either branch of the Legislature, and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority of the members of each House, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the next Legislature; which proposed amendment or amendments shall be published for three months previous to the election of the next House of Representatives; and if, in the next Legislature, such proposed amendment or amendments, shall be agreed to by two-thirds of all the members of each house, and be approved by the King, such amendment or amendments shall become part of the Constitution of this Kingdom. 

By the King:

AKONI II REX

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 14th day of April, 2024

George Kiyoshi Kanagusuku,

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Chancellor of the Kingdom

By the Prime Minister:

Kristina Naufahu

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 14^th day of April, 2024

George Kiyoshi Kanagusuku,

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Chancellor of the Kingdom