The Hesperican Republic

Article 1. The Hesperican Republic is an indivisible, democratic and sovereign state. Its legitimacy shall be based on the central tenets established in the Preamble, as well as national sovereignty.
Article 2. The official language of the Republic shall be English.
The national anthem shall be the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
The principle of the Republic shall be the Government of the People, for the People and by the People.
Article 3. The sovereignty of the Republic shall be entrusted in the People, who shall express said powers via enumerated acts and methods.

Article 4. The President of the Republic is the Chief of State. He shall ensure obedience to the Constitution, the proper functioning of Laws&State Affairs.
Article 5. The President of the Republic shall be elected for six month terms, with elections held on the first Sunday of January and July. The President shall be inaugurated into office on the 10th day of the aforementioned months.
Article 6. The President shall be elected via direct universal suffrage of all citizens registered to vote.
Article 7. The President shall be elected with a majority of all valid votes cast. If no candidate reaches a majority, a joint session of the National Assembly shall elect the President.
Article 8. If the Office of the President is vacated for any reason, the Vice President shall be Acting President until the next scheduled Presidential election. If the Vice Presidency is vacant, the National Assembly shall immediately elect an Acting President among its members until the next scheduled Presidential election.
Article 8a. The Vice President shall be appointed by the President.
Article 8b. The President may be removed from office in case of gross negligence and/or sheer criminality against the state, by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly.
Article 9. The President shall appoint the Prime Minister from among the membership of the House. He shall appoint the other Ministers of the Government upon the suggestions of the Prime Minister.
Article 10. The President shall enact the Laws passed by the National Assembly into effect. The President may, however, return any Bill back to the National Assembly upon listing his objections. The National Assembly shall require a two-thirds majority to pass a returned Bill to the President’s Office.
Article 11. The President shall have the power to enact Decrees that shall carry the force of Law, upon consultation with the Cabinet. These Decrees may not contravene existing Laws and/or the Principles of the Republic and are subject to judicial review.
Article 12. The President shall have the power to enact a State of Emergency if implored by the National Assembly and/or the Cabinet.
Article 12a. Presidential Decrees enacted during a State of Emergency shall be exempt from judicial review throughout the course of the Emergency. However, this immunity shall be lost upon the end of the Emergency.
Article 12b. A State of Emergency shall expire automatically after a month upon its enactment, unless renewed. It may be prematurely ended by the decision of the President, the Cabinet and/or the National Assembly.
Article 13. The President shall have the power to submit to public Referendum any Bill passed by the National Assembly.
Article 14. The President shall have the power to dissolve the National Assembly upon the consultation or request of the Prime Minister.
Article 15. The President shall sign any Ordinances enacted by the Cabinet.
Article 16. The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. He shall preside over meetings related to national defence.
Article 16a. The President shall appoint the General of the Army, upon consultation with the Cabinet.
Article 17. The President shall have the power to pardon individuals convicted of offenses. The President shall not be able to pardon his own person.

Article 18. The Cabinet shall be entrusted with conducting policy. It shall be accountable to the National Assembly.
Article 19. The Prime Minister is the Head of Government. He shall ensure the implementation of Laws and make the necessary appointments thereof.
Article 20. He may delegate his powers to the Cabinet or any single Minister.
Article 21. The Prime Minister shall offer consultation and advice to the President. He shall recommend the appointment of Ministers and other government officials appointed by the President.
Article 22. The Prime Minister may request the President to dissolve the National Assembly.

Article 23. The National Assembly shall consist of two chambers: The Senate and the People’s House.
Article 23a. Each chamber of the National Assembly shall determine its own procedural rules other than those specified in this document.
Article 24. The size of the House shall be 20% of the population of the Republic. It shall be elected for three month terms but may be dissolved upon its own decision or that of the Prime Minister or the President.
Article 24a. The House shall be elected according to national proportional vote.
Article 24b. A Party or List shall require at least 5% of the votes cast in order to enter the House.
Article 25. The House may expel any given member in the case of gross negligence or criminality against the State by a two-thirds vote.
Article 26. The Senate shall consist of Senators.
Article 26a. Senators shall hold office for life, excepting personal resignation or removal from office.
Article 26b. All Presidents of the Republic shall be appointed as Senators upon retirement. They may, however, forgo this privilege.
Article 27. No Senator may hold another elected position concurrently.
Article 28. Senators shall be appointed by the President. All Senators must have held a prior government position for at least a month.
Article 28a. The National Assembly shall approve Senatorial appointments.
Article 29. Any Bill must pass both chambers of the National Assembly to be submitted to the President’s signature.
Article 29a. The Senate may amend Bills passed by the House. It may not, however, return any such Bill to the House.
Article 30. Senators may, in the case of gross negligence or criminality against the State, be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the House. A Senator who is removed from office in such a manner shall be forever barred from the Senate, unless pardoned.
Article 31. The size of the Senate may not exceed that of the House.

Article 32. Voting shall last for 24 hours in all circumstances. Members of the National Assembly must clearly voice their agreement or disagreement with the proposal for their vote to the counted.
Article 33. Legislation shall be placed in the appropriate drafting chamber at least 24 hours before it is put to the vote.
Article 34. Proposals to amend the Constitution require a three-fifths majority to pass the National Assembly.
Article 34a. The President may return a proposal for a Constitutional amendment to the National Assembly unless it has been passed with a two-thirds majority.
Article 34b. If a Constitutional amendment is passed with a majority below two-thirds, it must be put to public Referendum.
Article 34c. The President may at his discretion submit a Constitutional amendment to public Referendum even if it was passed with a two-thirds majority.

Article 35. The Supreme Court shall be the highest judicial authority of the Republic. It shall consist of three members.
Article 36. The President shall appoint one member of the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister shall appoint the rest. The National Assembly must approve these appointments with a three-fifths majority.
Article 36a. The members of the Supreme Court shall be appointed to terms of six months, renewable indefinitely.
Article 37. The Supreme Court shall have the power of judicial review over Laws and Decrees.
Article 38. The members of the Supreme Court shall have full legal immunity.
Article 39. The Supreme Court shall decide upon cases with a majority vote among itself.

Article 40. The President shall appoint the judges of the Circuit Court, of which there will be three. The judges of the Circuit Court shall hold office for life, excepting personal resignation or removal from office.
Article 40a. The President shall take into account the recommendations of the Prime Minister, and the National Assembly must approve these appointments with a simple majority.
Article 41. The Circuit Court shall be responsible for daily judicial activities, including all civil and criminal trials.
Article 41a. The Circuit Court shall be allowed to refer cases to the Supreme Court. In addition, the plaintiff or the defendant may appeal its decisions to the Supreme Court.
Article 42. Each Circuit Court case shall be decided upon by a single judge.
Article 43. A Circuit Court judge may be removed from office by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly. Circuit Court judges shall not be held personally criminally responsible even if impeached.

Article 44. The Ministries of the Government are as follows:
Article 44a. The Ministry of the Interior
Article 44b. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Article 44c. The Ministry of the Army
Article 44d. The Ministry of Public Affairs
Article 45. The Ministry of the Interior shall be responsible for overseeing the law enforcement, judicial system and bureaucratic affairs of the Republic.
Article 46. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be responsible for overseeing the foreign relations of the Republic, including but not limited to the maintenance of embassies and accreditation of diplomats.
Article 47. The Ministry of the Army shall be responsible for overseeing the Army of the Republic and directing defense policy.
Article 48. The Ministry of Public Affairs shall be responsible for providing regional activities, including but not limited to roleplay, games and tournaments.

Article 49. The Police shall be headed by the Commissioner of the Police, who shall be appointed by the Minister of the Interior.
Article 50. The Police shall ensure public order and stability. It shall respond appropriately to public disturbances on the RMB and the Discord server.
Article 51. The Police shall require a warrant from the Commissioner in order to detain an individual.
Article 51a. Detained individuals must be charged of a crime within 24 hours or released.
Article 52. The Police shall determine its internal operational structure.
Article 53. The Police shall respect the rights and freedoms of the citizens.

Article 54. The Army shall be headed by the General of the Army, who shall be appointed by the President.
Article 55. The Army shall be tasked with the defence of the Republic, as well as the maintenance of its foreign interests if force is required.
Article 56. The Army shall determine its internal operational structure as well as system of ranks and promotions.
Article 57. The Army shall be subject to civilian rule.

Article 58. All citizens of the Republic are equal before the Law irrespective of sex, race, religion, political views and/or sexual orientation&gender identity.
Article 59. All citizens of the Republic shall have the right to the freedoms of speech, press, religion, petition, assembly and expression.
Article 60. All citizens of the Republic shall have the right to own, purchase, sell, transmit and inherit property.
Article 61. All citizens of the Republic shall have the right to privacy.
Article 62. All citizens of the Republic shall be held to be innocent until their guilt is proven in a court of Law.
Article 63. All citizens of the Republic shall have the right to a speedy, public and fair trial.
Article 64. All citizens of the Republic shall be protected from undue, excessive and/or cruel punishment.
Article 65. All residents of the Republic are held to be citizens.