The
Constitution of the Star Republic:
We the people of this
Star Republic in order to provide service, common defense, liberty, fair and
equal treatment of all members of this Republic provide for the establishment
of a centralized Government to act on our behalf. It shall be a Government of
the People, by the People and for the People. We hereby do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the Star Republic.
All
legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the Star
Republic, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
The
House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year
by the People of the several Planets, and the Electors on each Planet shall have
the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the Planet
Legislature.
No
Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of
twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the Star Republic, and who
shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that Planet in which he shall be
chosen.
Representatives
and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several Planets which may be
included within this Republic, according to the whole Number of Persons. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for
every thirty Thousand, but each Planet shall have at Least one Representative.
When
vacancies happen in the Representation from any Planet, the Executive Authority
thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The
House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and
shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
The
Senate of the Star Republic shall be composed of two Senators from each Planet,
chosen by the Legislature thereof for six Years; and each Senator shall have
one Vote.
Immediately
after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall
be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators
of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of
the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class
at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every
second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the
Recess of the Legislature of any Planet, the Executive thereof may make
temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall
then fill such Vacancies.
No
Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty
Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the Star Republic, and who shall not,
when elected, be an Inhabitant of that Planet for which he shall be chosen.
The
Vice President of the Star Republic shall be President of the Senate, but shall
have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The
Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in
the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of
President of the Star Republic.
The
Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that
Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the Star
Republic is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be
convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment
in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office,
and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit
under the Star Republic: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable
and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
The
Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives,
shall be prescribed on each Planet by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress
may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places
of choosing Senators.
The
Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be
on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different
Day.
Each
House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its
own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business;
but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to
compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such
Penalties as each House may provide.
Each
House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for
disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Each
House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish
the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and
the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the
Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither
House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other,
adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the
two Houses shall be sitting.
The
Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services,
to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the Star Republic.
They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be
privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their
respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any
Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other
Place.
No
Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be
appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the Star Republic, which
shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased
during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the Star Republic,
shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
All
Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but
the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every
Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate,
shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the Star
Republic: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with
his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter
the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If
after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the
Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by
which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that
House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses
shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for
and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House
respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten
Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall
be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their
Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every
Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of
Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be
presented to the President of the Star Republic; and before the Same shall take
Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of
Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case
of a Bill.
The
Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and
Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare
of the Star Republic; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform
throughout the Star Republic;
To
borrow Money on the credit of the Star Republic;
To
regulate Commerce with foreign Governments, and among the several Planets;
To
establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of
Bankruptcies throughout the Star Republic;
To
coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the
Standard of Weights and Measures;
To
provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of
the Star Republic;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing
for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their
respective Writings and Discoveries;
To
constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed in space, and Offences against the Law of Governments;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make
Rules concerning Captures on Planet and Surface;
To provide and maintain Planetary and Space Military forces;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the Planet and Star
Military Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of
the Republic, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia,
and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the Star
Republic, reserving to the Planets respectively, the Appointment of the
Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline
prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over
such District as may, by Cession of particular Planets, and the Acceptance of
Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the Star Republic, and to
exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the
Legislature of the Planet in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Bases,
Arsenals, Star Dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying
into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this
Constitution in the Government of the Star Republic, or in any Department or
Officer thereof.
The
Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the Planets now existing
shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress.
The
Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in
Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No
Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No
Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any Planet.
No
Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports
of one Planet over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one Planet,
be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
No
Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations
made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and
Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No
Title of Nobility shall be granted by the Star Republic: And no Person holding
any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the
Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind
whatever, from any foreign Planet.
No Planet shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation;
grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make
any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill
of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts,
or grant any Title of Nobility.
No Planet shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any
Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely
necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties
and Imposts, laid by any Planet on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of
the Treasury of the Star Republic; and all such Laws shall be subject to the
Revision and Control of the Congress.
No Planet shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of
Tonnage, keep Troops, or Star Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any
Agreement or Compact with another Planet, or with a foreign Power, or engage in
War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
The
executive Power shall be vested in a President of the Star Republic. He shall
hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice
President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:
Each
Planet shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a
Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives
to which the Planet may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or
Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the Star
Republic, shall be appointed an Elector.
The
Electors shall meet on their respective Planets, and vote by Ballot for two
Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same Planet
with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and
of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and
transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the Star Republic, directed to
the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence
of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the
Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes
shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of
Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and
have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall
immediately choose by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a
Majority, then from the five highest on the List the House shall in like Manner
choose the President. But in choosing the President, the Votes shall be taken
by Planets, the Representation from each Planet having one Vote; A quorum for
this purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the Planets,
and a Majority of all the Planets shall be necessary to a Choice. In every
Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number
of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should
remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall choose from them by
Ballot the Vice President.
The
Congress may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which
they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the Star
Republic.
No
Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the Star Republic, at the
time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of
President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not
have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a
Resident within the Star Republic.
In Case of
the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or
Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall
devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case
of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice
President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer
shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be
elected.
The
President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation,
which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he
shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other
Emolument from the Star Republic, or any of them.
Before
he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or
Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully
execute the Office of President of the Star Republic, and will to the best of
my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Star Republic."
The
President shall be Commander in Chief of the Military Forces of the Star Republic,
and of the Militia of the several Planets, when called into the actual Service
of the Star Republic; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal
Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to
the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves
and Pardons for Offences against the Star Republic, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He
shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make
Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall
nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint
Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court,
and all other Officers of the Star Republic, whose Appointments are not herein
otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress
may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think
proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of
Departments.
The
President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the
Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of
their next Session.
He
shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the state of the Republic,
and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary
and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or
either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the
Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper;
he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care
that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of
the Star Republic.
The
President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the Star Republic, shall be
removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or
other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
The
judicial Power of the Star Republic shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in
such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and
establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold
their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at
stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be
diminished during their Continuance in Office.
The
judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this
Constitution, the Laws of the Star Republic, and Treaties made, or which shall
be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other
public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to
Controversies to which the Star Republic shall be a Party;--to Controversies
between two or more Planets;-- between a Planet and Citizens of another Planet,--between
Citizens of different Planets,--between Citizens of the same Planet claiming Lands
under Grants of different Planets, and between a Planet, or the Citizens
thereof, and foreign Planets, Citizens or Subjects.
In
all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those on
which a Planet shall be Party, the Supreme Court shall have original
Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall
have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and
under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
The
Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such
Trial shall be held on the Planet where the said Crimes shall have been
committed; but when not committed on any Planet, the Trial shall be at such
Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.
Treason
against the Star Republic shall consist only in levying War against them, or in
adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be
convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt
Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The
Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no
Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except
during the Life of the Person attainted.
Full
Faith and Credit shall be given on each Planet to the public Acts, Records, and
judicial Proceedings of every other Planet. And the Congress may by general
Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be
proved, and the Effect thereof.
The
Citizens of each Planet shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of
Citizens on the several Planets.
A
Person charged on any Planet with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall
flee from Justice, and be found on another Planet, shall on Demand of the
executive Authority of the Planet from which he fled, be delivered up, to be
removed to the Planet having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
New
Planets may be admitted by the Congress into this Republic.
The
Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and
Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the Star
Republic; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to
Prejudice any Claims of the Star Republic, or of any particular Planet.
The
Star Republic shall guarantee to every Planet in this Republic a Representative
Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on
Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature
cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.
The
Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall
propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the
Legislatures of two thirds of the several Planets, shall call a Convention for
proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and
Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of
three fourths of the several Planets, or by Conventions in three fourths
thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the
Congress; and that no Planet,
without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the
Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the Star Republic
under this Constitution.
This
Constitution, and the Laws of the Star Republic which shall be made in
Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the
Authority of the Star Republic, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the
Judges on every Planet shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or
Laws of any Planet to the Contrary notwithstanding.
The
Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several Planet
Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the Star
Republic and of the several Planets, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to
support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a
Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the Star Republic.
The Ratification of the Conventions of the Planets shall be
sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the Planets so ratifying
the Same.
Ratified by the
representatives of each planet present on July 4th 2076 and signed by each
establishing the Star Republic.
Earth - Sol System (July 4th 2076)
Mars - Sol System (July 4th 2076)
Alpha Prime - Alpha Centauri System (July 4th
2076)
Article. VIII.
In accordance with
Article IV Section 3 of this Constitution representatives of new planets
joining the Star Republic shall sign and date in evidence of swearing or
affirming the commitment of that planet to the Star Republic and this
Constitution.
Barnard Prime - Barnard’s Star System (April
12th 2083)
Wolf Prime - Wolf 359 System (February 24th
2085)
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