Factbook of the Commonwealth of America

[Louis Sheldon]

[center][img]http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/6396/flagofthecommonwealth.png[/img][/center]The [b]Flag of the Commonwealth of America[/b] was adopted by the Convention as a common flag used to define the new nation. The red and white stripes represent the American heritage, as well as the red-white-blue color scheme. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen colonies of the British in North America. The three stars represent the three pillars of American virtues: freedom, liberty, and property. The cross, above, represents the supremacy of Christ.

[center][img]http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7733/coatofarmsofthecommonwe.png[/img][/center]The [b]Crest of the Commonwealth of America[/b] was adopted for general government purposes to differentiate between public offices. The angelic wings, crown, cross represent religion and the total influence of God. "Dei gloriam", translates to the glory of God in Latin. The eagle represents American heritage. The three stars represent the three pillars of American virtues ([i]see flag[/i])

[b]President of the Commonwealth[/b]: Louis Philip Sheldon, [i]Independent[/i]
Louis Sheldon previously served in many positions of the influential Common Church of Christ and as Chairman of the Executive Council of the Constitutional Convention. Elected as an independent, though supports and is endorsed by the Common Party.

[b]Vice-President[/b]: Johnathan Carson, [i]Independent[/i]
Served as an Executive Councilor for the Convention, and sat as the COO of PetrAlaska, the nation's largest oil company. Member of the Common Church of Christ and endorsed by the Common Party.

[b]Department of Culture[/b]: Jacob Ballard, [i]Common Party[/i]
The Culture Department was established as one of the first cabinet agencies by the Convention as the primary coordinators on informing, enforcing, promoting, and studying American culture and values. This department oversees education, the arts, media, sports, and research.
[i]Bureaus: Communications, Cultural Education, Visual and Printed Arts, Sports, Community Organization[/i]

[b]Department of State[/b]: Wilson McCord, [i]Common Party[/i]
The State Department is charged with managing the foreign affairs for the American Commonwealth. Administration of embassies and execution of foreign policy are its two main objectives. It seeks to promote American values abroad and to make friends and gain partnerships for America.
[i]Bureaus: Human Rights, Religious Freedoms, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia and the Former Soviet Union, China and Southeast Asia, Islamic States, Oceania, South America, Africa, General Global Affairs[/i]

[b]Department of Defense[/b]: Christopher Stephens, [i]Independent[/i]
The Defense Department administrates the armed forces raised by Congress. Responsible for ensuring that the orders of Congress, the Delegate-General, and department civilian leaders are met within the military.
[i]Bureaus: the Armies, Sea and Air Forces, Missile and Space Defense, Cyber Defense[/i]

[b]Department of Commerce[/b]: Brian Karr, [i]Common Party[/i]
The Commerce Department handles the monetary policy of America, and somewhat oversees the few business regulations and policies that govern commercial interests in the American Commonwealth. International trade and commercial negotiations fall to this department.
[i]Bureaus: Printing, the Budget, International Trade and Commerce, Industrial Moderation[/i]

[b][u]GENERAL INFORMATION AS MADE PUBLIC[/u][/b]
[b]Official name[/b]: Commonwealth of America
[b]Informal names[/b]: American Commonwealth, the Commonwealth (in the context of America), America (in the context of this nation)
[b]Head of state[/b]: Louis P. Sheldon, President
[b]Official language[/b]: American English
[b]Official religion[/b]: Christianity

[b]Currency[/b]: American New Dollar (₴)
[b]Gross domestic product[/b]: ₴5,792,000 (7.24 million international dollars)

[b]Population[/b]: 5,198 (in-game population x 10.5)
[b]Military[/b]: 1,050 (in-game military x 7)

Edited June 28, 2011 by Louis Sheldon

[Louis Sheldon]

[center][img]http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9096/departmentofstatesealpn.png[/img]
[font="Palatino Linotype"][size=1][color=black][b]REVIEWED, APPROVED, AND PUBLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AMERICA
TWENTY-FIFTH OF JUNE, THE YEAR OF OUR LORD TWO THOUSAND AND ELEVEN[/b][/color][/size][/font][/center]

[center][b]W[/b]e the people of this convention, gathered here in the city of Fairbanks aim to create a nation that seeks to employ the virtues and values of liberty; to promote freedom and the free will of all peoples to achieve happiness; to secure and protect the basic human rights that extend to every man; to establish a fair, democratic government as the continuators of the greatest societies on God's Earth. In the light and following the guide of our Lord, this convention, by means of free and fair vote, establish this [b]CONSTITUTION[/b] for a commonwealth extending across [B]AMERICA[/b].[/center]

[b]SECTION 1[/B]
[b]Art. I[/b], the Constitutional Convention herein drafts and ratifies this document for the session year of our Lord, Two Thousand Eleven, as the supreme constitution and law of the nation. This constitutional shall establish this nation as the Commonwealth of America, herein also known as the American Commonwealth, America, and the Commonwealth.
[b]Art. II[/b], the Constitution for this Commonwealth shall seek to protect and establish five unalienable rights guaranteed to each citizen: liberty, expression, security, property, and justice.
[b]Art. III[/b], each citizen of the Commonwealth has the right to pursue liberty to his own regard. The Commonwealth state must protect, secure, promote, and expand the liberties of all peoples.
[b]Art. IV[/b], methods of expression, but by their means and their content, must be guaranteed secure and free by the state.
[b]Art. V[/b], the Commonwealth has a responsibility to the citizens of the nation to maintain a standing army in order to preserve security both abroad and domestically. Each citizen has a right to feel secure in their own homes and settings.
[b]Art. VI[/b], citizens of the Commonwealth have a right to own, distribute, trade, and produce property. The state may not regulate in such a way that violates their right to fair property.
[b]Art. VII[/b], citizens have a right to sue for justice in the fair courts of the Commonwealth, abiding by the laws and protocol of the state.
[b]Art. VIII[/b], citizens of the American Commonwealth are recognized as those born in national territory, with the exception of the children of foreign persons at the service of their government or international organizations. In the case of the children of temporary foreign residents in the country, the law stipulates the requisites and formalities; those of foreign citizenship residing in the Commonwealth on request of political asylum may apply for citizenship thirty-days from the date of immigration to the American Commonwealth; likewise, children born to those in political asylum shall be given thirty-days from the issuance of the birth certificate to apply for citizenship; those born abroad, one of whose parents at least is American and on an official mission; those born abroad, one of whose parents at least is American, who have complied with the formalities stipulated by law; those born outside national territory, one of whose parents at least is American and who lost their American citizenship provide they apply for said citizenship according to the procedures stated by law; foreigners who, by virtue of their exceptional merits won in the struggles for the Commonwealth’s independence, were considered American citizens by birth; those foreigners who acquire American citizenship in accordance with the regulations established by law; American may not be deprived of their citizenship save for established legal causes. Neither may they be deprived of the right to change citizenship. Dual citizenship is not recognized. Therefore, when a foreign citizenship is acquired, the American one will be lost. American citizenship may be regained in those cases and ways specified by law; immigrants whom reside within the Commonwealth illegally, upon arrest, are given sixty-days from the date of their detainment to acquire the necessary registration for citizenship.
[b]Art. IX[/b], while recognizing the freedom of religion, the American Commonwealth is a Christian nation. This constitution recognizes that the Commonwealth's predecessor, the United States of America, was founded as a Christian nation.

[b]SECTION 2[/B]
[B]Art. X[/b], the Convention establishes of the Office of the President as the head of state and government of the Commonwealth of America. As the primary executor of American policy and decrees from Congress, the President shall be seen as the nominal controllers of affairs for the Commonwealth government.
[b]Art. XI[/b], serving within his capacity as the head of affairs, the President is given a cabinet by which he may control to how he sees fit. Various departments, agencies, and their executives are appointed and dismissed at the authority of the President.
[b]Art. XII[/b], the President must be a Christian man of thirty-five years of age who is a naturally born citizen of America. The President shall be elected by fair, direct democratic vote every four years for a maximum of three terms or fourteen years in office. The President-elect shall take office ninety days after his election. The Congress of the Commonwealth may dismiss any candidate for President.
[b]Art. XIII[/b], the Vice-President of the Commonwealth shall be elected from a pool of candidates selected and/or approved by Congress. The Vice-President must follow the same qualifications as established for the President in Article XI. The Vice-President shall serve an unlimited amount of terms as the deputy to the President and a secretary-without-portfolio.
[b]Art. XIV[/b], the President when given the responsibility from Congress, shall command the combined armed forces of the Commonwealth as Delegate-General. Otherwise, the command of the armed forces falls upon the delegated civilian commander in the cabinet and the enlisted military personnel.
[b]Art. XV[/b], acting as primary executor of the state, the President is the chief statesman of the Commonwealth. Consuls to other nations are appointed and dismissed per the authority of the President of the Commonwealth.
[b]Art. XVI[/b], the President may submit pieces of legislation to Congress.
[b]Art. XVII[/b], the President may not hold multiple political offices during his term as President, nor may he retain any military position outside of Delegate-General.
[b]Art. XVIII[/b], with approval from the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth, the President may issue pardons.
[b]Art. XIX[/b], the exclusive use of the Presidential transportation is given to the President and any official that he/she may invite or allow to use. The use of a state ground vehicle, airplane, sea-worthy vehicle, and place of residence is given to that of the President and his/her family. Such vehicles and properties are of the responsibility of the government of the Pacifican Republic in whole, and not to that personally of the President of the Commonwealth.
[b]Art. XX[/b], as President, no income shall be given. Instead, the Congress of the Commonwealth shall pay on behalf of the people of country the expenses of the President.
[b]Art. XXI[/b], when the President is unable to serve the responsibilities of the office to his fullest degree, the Vice-President shall succeed him as head of state.

[b]SECTION 3[/B]
[b]Art. XXII[/b], the Congress of the Commonwealth of America is the sovereign legislative power where the will of the people is expressed. Congress is the only organ in the state government that may exercise legislative duties and perform executive decrees as vested in this constitution.
[b]Art. XXIII[/b], Congress shall be comprised of two houses: the State Council of the Commonwealth, and the Assembly of the Commonwealth.
[b]Art. XXIV[/b], each parish of the Commonwealth will elect a delegation of four representatives, every three years, to serve in the State Council. State Councilors must be at least thirty-years old and have had an American citizenship for at least seven years.
[b]Art. XXV[/b], in a ratio of one to every thousand, each parish shall elect a delegation in proportion to their population. These delegates to the Assembly shall be elected every two years, shall be of twenty-one years of age and have been an American citizen for five years.
[b]Art. XXVI[/b], Congress has the ability to create new, and modify past legislation that have been issued. This includes amending the constitution, modifying measurement, statistical records of the Commonwealth, and regulate the organs of government and the use of credit to pay debts in the State.
[b]Art. XXVII[/b], the State Council of the Commonwealth shall ratify foreign treaties.
[b]Art. XXVIII[/b], the passage of legislation requires the approval from both houses, in their required majorities, and the approval of the President. The President may veto legislation, at which point, the legislation then requires a two-thirds majority from both houses. If the legislation already required such a majority from both houses, or retained such a majority, the President may not veto such a decree.
[b]Art. XXIX[/b], the Congress of the Commonwealth must approve all nominees to executive offices as nominated by the President or the Vice-President.
[b]Art. XXX[/b], the State Council of the Commonwealth shall conduct the trials of public officials being held in no-confidence. The Assembly of the Commonwealth shall act as jury, and vote on the outcome of such trial.
[b]Art. XXXI[/b], the responsibility of raising and maintaining a combined armed forces for the defense of the nation falls upon Congress.
[b]Art. XXXII[/b], the Assembly and Senate shall select separate secretaries to serve as their nominal administrators.
[b]Art. XXXIII[/b], each house shall elect a Moderating Committee during Congressional sessions. The secretaries of each house will assist the committee in keeping order and proper protocol in Congress.
[b]Art. XXXIV[/b], the Moderating Committee shall be comprised of one representative from each represented party. In the event of ties, the secretary shall cast the tie-breaking vote.
[b]Art. XXXV[/b], Congress cannot, even by decree from itself, dissolve for any reason without an immediate replacement within seven days of Congress's initial dissolve. The replacement must be an organ that would fairly assume the legislative responsibility of the nation.
[b]Art. XXXVI[/b], Congress is to convene thirty days after an election of a new Congress. The legislature is to meet for one-hundred days with ten days given afterwards for recess. Exceptions include a twenty-one day break in July, four days before and after Christmas, Easter, Good Friday. Congress shall not convene on Sundays.
[b]Art. XXXVII[/b], Congress shall assume all the legislative responsibilities of the Constitutional Convention of the American Peoples in Alaska, and the Alaskan National Legislative Council, as well as all of its agencies.

[b]SECTION 4[/b]
[b]Art. XXXVIII[/b], the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of America is the highest judicial body in the country. It is to make the final decisions of any case submitted by private citizens. Public official suits, when not concerning a claim of no-confidence, shall be handled by the court. The decision making of the Supreme Court will be held to the regard of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of America and its amendments.
[b]Art. XXXIX[/b], nine Judges of the State are to be on the Supreme Court, appointed by the President and having consent of Congress. Each Judge of the State is to serve on a council of the court on ten-year terms with unlimited renewals by Congress. New judges must be nominated by the President.
[b]Art. XL[/b], no Judge of the State may have held a political history or at the time of their nomination, belong to a political party.
[b]Art. XLI[/b], each incorporated city is granted a municipal court to serve the city and minor civil disputes. As according to law, the court may handle specific cases.
[b]Art. XLII[/b], each parish of the Commonwealth is to have one superior court serving that parish. [i]Verbatim Article XLIX[/i]
[b]Art. XLIII[/b], national circuit courts are to comprise of several parishes, and are to act superior to superior courts. These national circuit courts are to be the last step in the judicial hearing process before having to be heard by the Supreme Court.
[b]Art. XLIV[/b], the selection of the judges of these courts are to be determined by local law.
[b]Art. XLV[/b], national circuit courts serve for five years per the nomination of the President and approval of Congress.

[b]SECTION 5[/b]
[i]Signitures[/i]

Tod Hullett, [i]President-in-Session of the Convention[/i]
Louis Sheldon, [i]Chairman of the Executive Council of Convention[/i]
Wilson McCord, [i]Officer of the Executive Council[/i]
Rick Tingley, [i]Officer of the Executive Council[/i]
Johnathan Carson, [i]Officer of the Executive Council[/i]
Ted Kingsbury, [i]Officer of the Executive Council[/i]
Brian Karr, [i]Treasurer of the Convention[/i]
Lynwood Holyfield, [i]Secretary of the Convention[/i]
Tobias Sidle, [i]Promotions of the Convention[/i]
Harley Ellwood, [i]Promotions of the Convention[/i]
Freddie Banuelos, [i]Coordinator of the Convention[/i]
Carrol Frias, [i]Coordinator of the Convention[/i]

[i]Esteemed delegates of the Convention[/i]
Margarito Acevedo
Douglas Grunewald
Christopher Stevens
Casey Bellanger
Enoch Pompa
Wilson McCord
Agustin Salvia
Timmy Basch
Titus Fillion
Jamaal Sabala
Patrick Simmons
Isidro Bratton
Monte Eiland
Pablo Brockman
Erasmo Sitz
Franklyn Leclair
Neil Brungardt
Jacob Ballard
Drew Pearlman
Colin Micaelson
Stephen Bell
Eric Auer
Jim Yorke
Isaiah Morelli
Kerry Youngblood
Rory Celestine
Wilbert Willimas
Ruthann Shutter
Sheba Nau
Emelina Lewellen
Elfreda Terrones
Deann Defazio
Gwenn Orsborn
Concetta Bail
Valencia Sharp
Kellie Looney
Reginia Calbert

Edited June 28, 2011 by Louis Sheldon