lkfht Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 The National Parliament of the Republic of Ireland has authorized a special commission to be established to draft a new constitution of the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lkfht Posted December 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 (edited) PREAMBLE In the Name of the Almighty Creator of the heavens and the earth, from whom is all authority and to whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred, we, the people of Ireland, humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial, gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our nation, and seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations, Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution. NATURAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS ARTICLE 1 1. All citizens shall, as human persons, be held equal before the law. This shall not be held to mean that the State shall not in its enactments have due regard to differences of capacity, physical and moral, and of social function. 2. Titles of nobility shall not be conferred by the State. No title of nobility or of honour may be accepted by any citizen except with the prior approval of the Government. 3. The State guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate the personal rights of the citizen. 4. The State shall, in particular, by its laws protect as best it may from unjust attack and, in the case of injustice done, vindicate the life, person, good name, and property rights of every citizen. 5. The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother. 6. The Government shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 7. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. 8. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 9. The right of the citizens to form associations and unions. Laws regulating the manner in which the right of forming associations and unions and the right of free assembly may be exercised shall contain no political, religious or class discrimination. 10. The State recognizes the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imperceptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law. 11. The State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of Traditional Marriage, on which the Family is founded, and to protect it against attack 12. The State shall provide for free primary education and shall endeavor to supplement and give reasonable aid to private and corporate educational initiative, and, when the public good requires it, provide other educational facilities or institutions with due regard, however, for the rights of parents, especially in the matter of religious and moral formation. 13. There shall be no law discriminating persons nor institutions based upon race, sex, beliefs, nationality, or any other previous condition. 14. The right of citizens of Ireland to vote shall not be denied or abridged by Ireland or by any Province on account of race, color, sex, or previous condition of servitude. 15. The State accordingly guarantees to pass no law attempting to abolish the right of private ownership or the general right to transfer, bequeath, and inherit property. THE NATION ARTICLE 2 The Republic of Ireland hereby affirms its inalienable, indefeasible, and sovereign right to choose its own form of Government, to determine its relations with other nations, and to develop its life, political, economic and cultural, in accordance with its own genius and traditions. ARTICLE 3 It is the entitlement and birthright of every person born in the island of Ireland, which includes its islands and seas, to be part of the Irish Nation. That is also the entitlement of all persons otherwise qualified in accordance with law to be citizens of Ireland. Furthermore, the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage. ARTICLE 4 1. It is the firm will of the Irish Nation, in harmony and friendship, to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland, in all the diversity of their identities and traditions, recognizing that a united Ireland shall be brought about only by peaceful means with the consent of a majority of the people, democratically expressed, in both jurisdictions in the island. Until then, the laws enacted by the Parliament established by this Constitution shall have the like area and extent of application as the laws enacted by the Parliament that existed immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution. 2 Institutions with executive powers and functions that are shared between those jurisdictions may be established by their respective responsible authorities for stated purposes and may exercise powers and functions in respect of all or any part of the island. ARTICLE 5 1. All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people, whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State and, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy, according to the requirements of the common good. 2. These powers of government are exercisable only by or on the authority of the organs of State established by this Constitution. ARTICLE 6 1. The future acquisition and loss of Irish nationality and citizenship shall be determined in accordance with law. 2. No person may be excluded from Irish nationality and citizenship by reason of the sex of such person. 3. Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State are fundamental political duties of all citizens. ARTICLE 7 1 All natural resources, including the air and all forms of potential energy, within the jurisdiction of the Parliament and Government established by this Constitution and all royalties and franchises within that jurisdiction belong to the State subject to all estates and interests therein for the time being lawfully vested in any person or body. 3 Provision may be made by law for the management of the property which belongs to the State by virtue of this Article and for the control of the alienation, whether temporary or permanent, of that property. 4 Provision may also be made by law for the management of land, mines, minerals and waters acquired by the State after the coming into operation of this Constitution and for the control of the alienation, whether temporary or permanent, of the land, mines, minerals and waters so acquired. ARTICLE 8 All revenues of the State from whatever source arising shall, subject to such exception as may be provided by law, form one fund, and shall be appropriated for the purposes and in the manner and subject to the charges and liabilities determined and imposed by law. THE PRESIDENT ARTICLE 9 1. The President of Ireland is to have a 4 year, nonrenewable term elected by Parliament. 2. The President shall serve his term unless before the expiration of that period he dies, or resigns, or is removed from office, or becomes permanently incapacitated, such incapacity being established to the satisfaction of the Supreme Court. 3. The President may not occupy more than one government office at any one time. 4. The President shall enter upon his office by taking and subscribing publicly, in the presence of members of both Houses of Parliament, of Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Court, and other public personages, the following declaration: "In the presence of Almighty God I do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will maintain the Constitution of Ireland and uphold its laws, that I will fulfill my duties faithfully and conscientiously in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and that I will dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland. May God direct and sustain me." 5. The President shall have an official residence in or near the City of Dublin. ARTICLE 10 The President is to have the following powers: Send messages to Parliament, authorize the introduction of bills by the Government, and promulgate laws, decrees and regulations, Dissolve Parliament, in consultation with their speakers, except during the last six months of his terms, unless that period coincides at least in part with the final six months of the Parliament, Call a general referendum under certain circumstances established by the Constitution, Appoint State and City officials in the cases established by law, Accredit and receive diplomats, and ratify international treaties, after the Parliament's authorization when required, Make declarations of war agreed upon by the Parliament, as commander-in-chief of the defense forces, Grant pardons, commute sentences, and confer honorary distinctions of the Republic, Appoint the Prime Minister, Appoint all National Supreme Court Justices, Justices of all other larger courts, and those of the many districts. ARTICLE 11 1. In the event of the absence of the President, or his temporary incapacity, or his permanent incapacity, or in the event of his death, resignation, removal from office, or failure to exercise and perform the powers and functions of his office or any of them, or at any time at which the office of President may be vacant, the powers and functions conferred on the President by or under this Constitution shall be exercised and performed by a Commission constituted of the Chief Justice of the National Supreme Court, Prime Minister, and President of the Senate. 2. This Commission is to carry out all Presidential Powers and Directives with a 2/3 majority vote. 3. The Commission and its members are to exercise this power up until new elections can be held. This period of the Commission may not exceed 1 year, unless National Emergency or War prevents elections from taking place. 4. In the event the members of the Commission are unable to serve out their duties, their immediate deputies or subordinates next in line shall hold that power. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ARTICLE 12 The Executive Branch of government shall be administered by the Council of Ministers. ARTICLE 13 1. The leader of the Council of Ministers will be the President of the Council also called the Prime Minister. 2. He shall be appointed by the President. 3. He shall appoint all members of the council along with his deputy with confirmation of the Senate. ARTICLE 14 The exact composition of positions in the Council of Ministers may change at the discretion of the Prime Minister with the approval of the President of the Republic of Ireland. ARTICLE 15 The Ministers and all civil officers of Ireland, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. ARTICLE 16 Any officer of the council who is unable to perform his duty shall be removed with 2/3 in favor from other council members and be immediately succeeded by his deputy. THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ARTICLE 17 The Legislative Branch of government shall consist of the National Parliament. ARTICLE 18 The National Parliament shall consist of two houses; the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. ARTICLE 19 1. The President of the Senate and Speaker of the Chamber have a 1 year term, renewable for 1 more term. 2. They are elected by the Representatives of their respective bodies. ARTICLE 20 1. A Senator will have a 6 year term and a Deputy of 3 years; both terms are non-renewable. 2. The Senate shall be elected at large through popular vote and consist of 50 Senators. 3. The Chamber of Deputies shall be elected per province with equal representation of 25 Deputies per province. 4. 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 Ireland, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen. ARTICLE 21 The Houses may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member. ARTICLE 22 1. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of the Parliament, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in the Parliament, they shall not be questioned in any other Place. 2. No representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the Authority of Ireland, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no person holding any office under Ireland, shall be a Member of the Parliament during his continuance in office. ARTICLE 23 1. Every Bill which shall have passed the Parliament, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of Ireland: If he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to the Parliament, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two thirds of the Parliament shall agree to pass the bill, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of the Parliament 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. 2. 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 Parliament by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a Law. THE JUDICIAL BRANCH ARTICLE 24 The judicial power of the Republic of Ireland shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the Parliament may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. ARTICLE 25 The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the Province where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any Province, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Parliament may by law have directed. ARTICLE 26 1. Treason against the Republic of Ireland, 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. 2. The Parliament 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 attained. PROVINCE AND MUNICIPAL RIGHTS ARTICLE 27 1. The National Government recognizes the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities. 2. There shall be such directly elected local authorities as may be determined by law and their powers and functions shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be so determined and shall be exercised and performed in accordance with law. 3. No entity shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make anything 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. 4. No entity shall, without the Consent of the Parliament, 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 state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of Ireland; and all such laws shall be subject to the Revision and Control of the Parliament. 5. No entity shall, without the Consent of the Parliament, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. ARTICLE 28 1. All Provinces and Municipalities must comply with all laws and provisions set forth in this constitution. 2. All public officers must take public vow or affirmation supporting this National Constitution. ARTICLE 29 A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another State, shall on demand of the executive authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the crime. ARTICLE 30 New Provinces may be admitted by the Parliament into this nation; but no new Province shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other Province; nor any Province be formed by the junction of two or more Provinces, or parts of Provinces, without the consent of the legislatures of the Provinces concerned as well as of the Parliament. ARTICLE 31 The Parliament shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the Republic of Ireland; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of Ireland, or of any particular Province. ARTICLE 32 Ireland shall guarantee to every Province in this nation a Republican 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. AMENDMENTS The Parliament, 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 Provinces, 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 Provinces, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Parliament; Provided that no Amendment which may be made affect the natural rights of citizens, and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. Edited December 24, 2013 by lkfht Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lkfht Posted December 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 (edited) Ratified this 23rd day of December 20XX, President Leonardo Kennedy, Republic of Ireland National Parliament President of the Senate: Mr. Charlie Aubrey Speaker of the Chamber: Mr. Harold Bushnell Council of Ministers President of the Council (Prime Minister): Mr. Thomas Whitman Vice-President of the Council (Deputy Prime Minister): Mr. Liam Strothers Minister of Foreign Affairs: Madam Mary Baron Minister of Defense: Mr. Brendon Calbert Minister of Justice: Madam Noelle Creswell Minister of Finance: Madam Isabel Campton Minister of Trade and Economic Development: Mr. Markus Halton Minister of the Interior: Mr. Alvin Patterson Minister of Energy: Madam Monica Kanney Minister of Infrastructures and Transports: Mr. George Emerson Minister of Health: Mr. Rodrigo Siddell Minister of Education: Madam Madeline Weedon Minister of Labor: Mr. Damian Jenison Minister of Environmental Affairs: Mr. Riley Adrian Minister for Youth, Tourism and Sports: Mr. Alexzander Raffield Minister of Cultural Heritage: Madam Kendal Hewitt Provinces' Executives Ulster- Mr. Davon Ammon Connacht- Madam Aspen Covin Munster- Madam Karina Hadsell Leinster- Mr. Raymond Headley Edited December 24, 2013 by lkfht Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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