United States of Terra

[New Erussia]

The Constitution of the United States of Terra

Preamble

Together, we the people of the United States of Terra, UST, in order to form a more perfect union, maintain freedom, peace, and order, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the rights of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, hereby establish this Constitution for the United States Terra. 

Article I: Government 

Section 1: President, Vice President

The executive and legislative power of the United States of Terra shall be vested in a President. He or she shall hold the office for an elected term of 120 days, or four months, and together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term. 

The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. He or she shall have the power to all create laws, treaties, and policies necessary and proper, grant pardons and reprieves, except in cases of impeachment, enforce all laws, treaties, policies, and this Constitution, appoint Secretaries of Executive Departments, set the alliance tax rate, create the alliance budget, and serve as the leader of the alliance. 

No citizen shall be eligible for the office of President or Vice President unless he or she has been a citizen the United States of Terra for a period of at least 120 consecutive days. 

The office of President and Vice President shall have elections every 120 days, or four months, after the first election has taken place. Each citizen shall have a maximum of one vote per candidate in Presidential elections. Presidents and Vice President shall be limited to three consecutive terms in office. 

The President and Vice President may only be impeached by and convicted by two-thirds majority approval of the citizenship for the violation of the rules, ordinances, or the provisions of this Constitution, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. 

Section 2: Executive Departments

There shall be five Executive Departments each managed by a Secretary. Secretaries are appointed by the President. The five Executive Departments shall be permanent. New Executive Departments may be established and the duties of the departments may be altered. 

The Internal Affairs Department will manage all affairs regarding the internal structure of the alliance. These affairs may include, but are not limited to, enforcing this Constitution and all other acts and laws, managing the process for naturalization, establishing activity and membership policy, assimilating new citizens, managing the University of Terra and all academics, and managing off-site alliance forums and websites.

The Justice Department will manage all affairs regarding the judicial affairs of the alliance. These affairs may include, but are not limited to, reviewing the constitutionality of laws, acts, and policies, and serving as the court system of the alliance.

The Foreign Affairs Department will manage all affairs regarding the foreign affairs of the alliance. These affairs may include, but are not limited to, establishing and maintaining relations with foreign alliances, establishing foreign policy, appointing diplomats and ambassadors to foreign alliances, and proposing treaties with foreign alliances to the President. 

The Defense Department will manage all affairs regarding war and defense. These affairs may include, but are not limited to, maintaining and managing a military for defense of the alliance and establishing alliance military policies.

The Treasury Department will manage all affairs regarding the financial aspects of the alliance. These affairs may include, but are not limited to, managing the alliance bank, financial programs, and establishing economic policies.

Section 3: Succession, Vacancy, and Absence Clauses

When a government officer is unable to perform the duties of their office in times of authorized absence, the next highest government officer shall serve in the vacant office. The subsequent Order of Succession shall be followed: President, Vice President, Secretaries of Internal Affairs, Defense, Foreign Affairs, Treasury, and Justice. The Secretary of Justice shall oversee the proper order of succession. 

In the case of the removal or resignation of the President, the Vice President shall become President immediately upon the vacancy of the Presidential office. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by the Secretary of Justice. 

Government officers are not to be absent from their duties for more than one week without proper leave or authorized absence. Government officers who are absent longer than one week are subject to be removed from office by the Department of Justice. Once removed, the officer may not retain their office unless a legitimate reason be provided for the absence. Extended absences must be authorized by the Secretary of Justice. 

Article 2: Citizenship

Section 1: Citizenship Requirements 

Any person who seeks to become a naturalized citizen of the alliance must meet the following requirements. Once he or she meets the following citizenship criteria, they may become a citizen. Prospect citizens cannot be at war, must be on the white color sphere, must have the alliance affiliation ‘United States of Terra’, must register on the alliance forum, and must follow the citizenship application guidelines set by the Department of Internal Affairs to apply for citizenship.

Section 2: Citizenship Suspension and Expulsion

Any member found to be in violation of the rules, ordinances, or laws set forth by the President or the provisions of this Constitution, or other high crimes may be subject to review by the Department of Internal Affairs, and may be suspended or expelled from the alliance or otherwise punished by the Department of Justice. 

Section 3: Bill of Rights

Citizens of the United States of Terra will be guaranteed the following rights under this Constitution:

1. The right of the people to not be excessively taxed shall not be infringed. 
2. The right of the people to vote for government officers shall not be infringed unless that right has been otherwise revoked by the Department of Justice.
3. No law or act shall be created that prohibits the right to free speech. 
4. In all judicial trials, the accused shall have the right to a speedy and public trial, be informed of the accusation before the trial is held, and have the assistance of counsel for their defense.

Article 3: Constitutional Amendments and Conventions

The citizenship may amend this Constitution when deemed necessary with two-thirds majority of voters approval. Constitutional amendments shall take effect immediately upon approval. 

The citizenship may call a Constitutional Convention to abolish and create a new Constitution or make amendments to the entire Constitution. Constitutional Conventions require three-fourths majority of voters approval to take place. Constitutional amendments shall take effect immediately upon three-fourths of voters approval. 

Article 4: Ratification

The ratification of this Constitution will require a three-fourths majority of the active alliance citizenship. Once the three-fourths majority approval is achieved, the Constitution shall immediately take effect. 


Amendments to the Constitution


Amendment I
Proposed Jan. 16, 2015, Ratified Jan. 21, 2015

The Legislative Branch of government is hereby dissolved. The previous powers of the Legislative Branch shall be placed with the President of the United States of Terra, including the power to declare war, raise and support an army for the defense of the alliance, create and approve all laws necessary and proper, nominate and confirm Secretaries of Executive Departments, set the alliance tax rate, create the alliance budget, establish and amend rules for citizen naturalization, and create and approve treaties.

Amendment II
Proposed Jan. 16, 2015, Ratified Jan. 21, 2015

The Judicial Branch of government is hereby dissolved. The previous powers of the Judicial Branch shall be placed with the Secretary of a new Executive Department of Justice, including the power to review the constitutionality of laws, acts, oversee the proper order of succession, and policies and serve as the court system of the alliance.

Amendment III
Proposed Jan. 16, 2015, Ratified Jan. 21, 2015

Government officers are not to be absent from their duties for more than one week without proper leave or authorized absence. Government officers who are absent longer than one week are subject to be removed from office by the Department of Justice. Once removed, the officer may not retain their office unless a legitimate reason be provided for the absence. Extended absences must be authorized by the Secretary of Justice. 

Amendment IV
Proposed Jan. 16, 2015, Ratified Jan. 21, 2015

Citizens of the United States of Terra will be guaranteed the following rights under this Constitution:

1. The right of the people to not be excessively taxed shall not be infringed. 
2. The right of the people to vote for government officers shall not be infringed unless that right has been otherwise revoked by the Department of Justice.
3. No law or act shall be created that prohibits the right to free speech. 
4. In all judicial trials, the accused shall have the right to a speedy and public trial, be informed of the accusation before the trial is held, and have the assistance of counsel for their defense.

Amendment V
Proposed Jan. 16, 2015, Ratified Jan. 21, 2015

The citizenship may call a Constitutional Convention to abolish and create a new Constitution or make amendments to the entire Constitution. Constitutional Conventions require three-fourths majority of voters approval to take place. Constitutional amendments shall take effect immediately upon three-fourths of voters approval. 


Signed, the twenty original citizens of the United States of Terra on the date of November 30, 2014

Morgan, November 8, 2014
Destroyer, November 8, 2014
Sam II, November 8, 2014
Robert the 1st, November, 8, 2014
Rafu D amo, November 8, 2014
Pappa bear, November 9, 2014
SeeRed, November 12, 2014
sycho14k, November 12, 2014
Ryan R Curle, November 12, 2014
Jordan Evans, November 16, 2014
Fallen, November 20, 2014
Christian, November 20, 2014
Francis Olsson, November 23, 2014
Venne, November 23, 2014
James Faulkner, November 24, 2014
Gust Kontos, November 24, 2014
Wood, November 27, 2017
New Eretrea Empire, November 27, 2014
Muslao Ichilian Naiz, November 28, 2014
Matthew Steel, November 30, 2014

 

 

 

Note: This has been brought over from our alliance located on Politics and War. 

UST Forums: http://unitedstatesofterra.boards.net/