The Imperial Charter of Shireroth (pre-2015)

See also The Imperial Charter of Shireroth (pre-2012)

Article I: The Imperial Republic

Section A: Definition

The Imperial Republic of Shireroth is a federal commonwealth united under the leadership of the Kaiser.

Section B: The Charter

The Imperial Republic is governed in accordance with the Charter. Any law or measure that contradicts the Charter shall be held to be void.

Section C: Territory

1. The territory of the Imperial Republic is comprised of:

a) Imperial States;

b) Imperial Lands.

2. Imperial States are defined and governed in accordance with Article V of the Charter.

3. Imperial Lands are territories under the direct administration of the Kaiser.

Section D: Common Citizenship

The Imperial Republic is united by a common Shirerithian citizenship. The citizens of those states comprising the Imperial Republic shall automatically receive Shirerithian citizenship unless otherwise noted.

Article II: The Kaiser and Steward

Section A: The Kaiser

1. The Kaiser, or Kaiseress if a woman, is the supreme head of the Imperial Republic.

2. The Kaiser issues Imperial Decrees for:

a) The direction of the foreign policy of the Imperial Republic;

b) The administration of the Imperial Lands;

c) The appointment and dismissal of the Ministers of the Imperial Government;

d) The command of the armed forces of the Imperial Republic in zir capacity as supreme commander-in-chief.

3. The Kaiser shall appoint zir successor from among the citizens of the Imperial Republic.

4. Should the Kaiser die, abdicate or be removed from the Throne without having declared a successor, the Landsraad shall immediately elect a successor for the position from among the citizens of the Imperial Republic.

Section B: The Steward

1. The Steward of Shireroth is appointed by the Kaiser from among the citizens of the Imperial Republic.

2. In the absence of the Kaiser, the Steward performs the Kaiser’s duties.

3. Should there be no Steward when the Kaiser is absent or otherwise unable to perform zir duties, then the Landsraad shall immediately elect a Steward.

Article III: The Landsraad

Section A: Establishment

1. The Landsraad is an assembly comprising all citizens of the Imperial Republic.

2. The Landsraad is governed by the Charter and by its own rules of procedure, which it determines. Should the rules of procedure contradict the Charter, then the Charter shall automatically supersede the rules of procedure.

Section B: Powers

1. The Landsraad:

a) Legislates on matters of common concern to the Imperial States;

b) Levies those taxes deemed necessary for the functioning of the Imperial Republic;

c) Ratifies treaties with foreign powers.

2. The Landsraad may repeal an Imperial Decree of the reigning Kaiser by a three fourths’ majority vote.

Section C: The Prætor

1. The Landsraad elects a Prætor from among its members. The Prætor of the Landsraad shall lead and preside over the sessions of the Landsraad.

2. The Prætor shall not vote in the Landsraad unless there is a tie, in which case zie shall cast the tie-breaking vote.

3. The Prætor is assisted by officers appointed by zir. These officers may lead and preside over the Landsraad in the absence of the Prætor but may not, under any circumstances, perform any of the Prætor's duties outside the Landsraad.

Article IV: The Imperial Judex

Section A: Judicature

The Imperial Judex is the supreme court of law of the Imperial Republic. It is charged with:

a) Upholding and interpreting the Charter and the common law of Shireroth;

b) Arbitrating disputes between Imperial States.

Section B: Compatibility

The Imperial Judex shall, upon application from an interested party, void any law or measure that violates the Charter.

Section C: Organisation

1. The Imperial Judex is headed by the Arbiter of the Imperial Judex. The Arbiter is nominated by the Kaiser and approved by the Landsraad.

2. The Arbiter may nominate Provosts of the Imperial Judex to act in zir stead in trials and regulations of the Imperial Judex.

3. The Arbiter may delegate any of zir judicial competencies to a Provost, but only the Arbiter may preside over or determine a case involving the Charter.

4. In all other respects, the Imperial Judex determines its own rules of procedure.

Article V: Imperial States

Section A: Definition

Imperial States are sovereign states in federal union with the Imperial Republic.

Section B: Local Sovereignty

1. Imperial States are sovereign in all matters not expressly reserved to other individuals or bodies by the Charter.

2. Imperial States make their own laws and select their own rulers from among their citizens, subject to the constraints of the Charter.

3. Imperial States determine their own borders. Territorial disputes between Imperial States shall be settled by the Imperial Judex.

Section C: Anti-Secession Law

Imperial States may not secede or otherwise leave the Imperial Republic except by a three fourths’ majority vote of the Landsraad and with the approval of the Kaiser. Any declaration of secession that does not meet these criteria shall be held to be null and void and the offending state shall be placed under the direct rule of the Kaiser until such time as the Landsraad and Kaiser decide its final fate.

Section D: Inactive Imperial States

Should an Imperial State show no activity for a period of one month, then that state shall be placed under the direct rule of the Kaiser until such time as the Landsraad and Kaiser decide its final fate.

Section E: Establishment and Disestablishment

1. New Imperial States may be established only by a simple majority vote of the Landsraad and with the approval of the Kaiser.

2. An active Imperial State may be disestablished only by its own ruler in accordance with its own laws.

a) An Imperial State that chooses to disestablish itself may allocate its territory and other property to one or more existing Imperial States.

b) Should an Imperial State disestablish itself without making proper legal provision for the allocation of its territory and other property, then its territory and other property shall revert to the Kaiser.

3. An Imperial State that is deemed to be inactive under Section D may be disestablished by a three fourths’ majority vote of the Landsraad and with the approval of the Kaiser.

Section F: Deposition of the Kaiser

1. The Kaiser is lawful sovereign of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth;

a) Rebellion against the person of the Kaiser is an unwarranted and unlawful act of Treason against the Imperial Republic and must be punished in accordance with Law;

b) Usurpation of the Office and Title of Kaiser by a private individual without benefit of Authority is Treason against the Imperial Republic and must be punished in accordance with law.

2. Where three or more Imperial States, or two-fifths of the total number of states, whichever is the larger, come together to confer and deem themselves unsatisfied with the performance of the Kaiser then they may publish a Remonstrance addressed to the Kaiser advising him of the causes of their dissatisfaction and the remedial actions necessary for their concerns to be assuaged.

3. If the Kaiser makes a Rescript within forty-eight hours, that is deemed satisfactory by the Imperial States that have issued the Remonstrance then the aforesaid States must make their Submission to the Kaiser who will in return confirm them in their liberties and peace shall reign.

4. Should the Kaiser make an unsatisfactory Rescript that does not satisfactorily address the concerns of the Imperial States that have issued the Remonstrance, or makes no response at all within forty-eight hours, a Council of the Heads of Imperial States, called an Extraordinary Session of the Adelsraad, shall be convened in the Imperial Capital where representatives of the Kaiser and each State may reasonably discuss the concerns of the Complaining States.

5. If the the Extraordinary Session of the Adelsraad either (a) does not conclude with a simple majority decision in favour of either the Complaining States or the Kaiser, or (b) does not conclude within seventy-two hours, then the aforesaid States may declare themselves lawfully entitled to Take up Arms in the Defence of their Ancient Liberties with the objective to Rid the Kaiser of His Evil Advisers. If this occurs each Imperial State may declare whether it is For the Liberties or For the Crown;

6. A state of War shall then be declared by this act and it shall last until the Capitulation of either party;

a) For the Kaiser to be victorious the capital of each Imperial State that has taken up arms against him must have Capitulated;

b) For the Imperial States that have Taken up Arms to be Victorious, the Kaiser must be brought to Surrender the Mango Throne in Raynor's Keep, Shirekeep.

7. The Victorious Party in the War must present to the Landsraad an Act of Attainder for the deposition of the Defeated Party who will swear fealty to the new Kaiser so as to be eligible to receive a pardon and to retain their lands and titles;

a) Those who refuse to swear fealty may, subject to the discretion of the Kaiser and the will of the Landsraad, forfeit their titles and liberties and have their citizenships suspended for a period of thirty days, after which their citizenships and liberties but not their titles are restored;

b) No further penalties against the Defeated Party shall be permitted under Law.

8. If the Kaiser is the Defeated Party in the War then the Chain or Line of Succession is deemed to be broken and the Landsraad must declare the former Kaiser deposed and elect the new Kaiser without reference to the former Line of Succession.

Article VI: Final Provisions

Section A: Repeals

This Charter replaces the previous Imperial Charter of Shireroth in its entirety, including all laws passed under that Charter.

Section B: Amendments

1. This Charter is amended by a three fourths’ majority vote of the Landsraad and the Kaiser's promulgation of the amendment by Imperial Decree.

2. All amendments shall be recorded.

First Amendment

Article V of the Charter was amended on Hasanday 13 Mo'lluk 5291 by the insertion of Section F. Imperial Decree 654.