The Declaration of Great Phermesia and The Constitution is the guiding document of law for Great Phermesia. Written and revised by Ryan Shiflett, this document details the different roles of each branch of government, dividing the Great Phermesian government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and judicial, giving complete power to the President and any possible heirs.
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The
Declaration
Of Great Phermesia
And The Constitution
Great Phermesia
I, the sole dictator of Great Phermesia, hereby instate the nation of Great Phermesia and her colonies. A nation without the evil of pineapples, without any strife, without any stress.
Article 1.
Section 1.
All legislative powers shall be vested in me, and in a Congress of the Senate.
Section 2.
This Congress of the Senate will be composed of members chosen every year by the people, and the electors in each city shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous Branch of Legislature.
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five Years, and been seven weeks a citizen of Great Phermesia, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of Great Phermesia in which he shall be chosen.
The actual enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the Great Phermesia, and within every subsequent term of one year, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of Senators shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each city shall have at least one Senator; and until such enumeration shall be made, the cities will each have one.
When vacancies happen in the Congress of the Senate in any city, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such vacancies.
The Congress of the Senate shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and I shall have the sole power of impeachment at any time.
Section 3.
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators, shall be prescribed in each city 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.
Section 4.
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 the Congress of the Senate may provide. The Congress of the Senate may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.
Section 5.
All bills for raising revenue shall originate with the Treasurer; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills. Every bill which shall have passed the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of Great Phermesia; if he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to where 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 where it had originated shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the Congress of the Senate, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of the Senate, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes 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, 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 may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President of Great Phermesia; 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, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.
Section 6.
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 Great Phermesia; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout Great Phermesia; to borrow money on the credit of Great Phermesia; to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several cities; to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout Great Phermesia; 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 Great Phermeisa; To establish post offices and post roads; 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 on the high seas, and offenses against the Law of Nations; To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that use shall be for a longer term than one year; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Nation, 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 Great Phermesia, reserving to the cities 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 (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular cities, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the city in which the same shall be, for the erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, 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 Great Phermesia, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 7.
The migration or importation of such persons as any of the cities now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year 1808, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless 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 Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any city. No preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the ports of one city over those of another: nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one city, 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 cityment 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 Great Phermesia: 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 King, Prince, or foreign city.
Section 8.
No city 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 city 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 city on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the Great Phermesia; and all such laws shall be subject to the Revision and Control of the Congress. No city shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep troops, or Ships of War in time of peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another city, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. Section 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of Great Phermesia, and of the militia of the several cities, when called into the actual service of Great Phermesia; 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 Offenses against Great Phermesia, 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 Great Phermesia, 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.
Section 3.
He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the city of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the Congress, 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 Great Phermesia.
Section 4.
The President, Mayors and all civil officers of Great Phermesia, shall be removed from office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Article 3.
Section 1.
The judicial Power of Great Phermesia, 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 city times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.
Section 2.
The Judicial Power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this constitution, the laws of Great Phermesia, 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 Great Phermesia shall be a party; - {poopfart if you read to this point congrats} to controversies between two or more cities; - between a city and citizens of another city;- between citizens of different cities, - between citizens of the same city claiming lands under grants of different cities, and between a city, or the citizens thereof;- and foreign cities, citizens or subjects. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a city 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 in the city where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any city, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed. Treason against Great Phermesia, 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.
Article 4.
Section 1.
New cities/citys may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but no new city shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other city; nor any city be formed by the junction of two or more city, or parts of cities, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the cities concerned as well as of the Congress. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to Great Phermesia; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of Great Phermesia, or of any particular city.
Article 5.
The Congress, whenever two thirds shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several cities, 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 cities, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the Year 1808 shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the Seventh Section of the first Article; and that no city, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
Article 6
All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the Great Phermesia under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. This Constitution, and the Laws of the Great Phermesia which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the Great Phermesia, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every city shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any city to the Contrary notwithstanding. The Senators before mentioned, and the Members of the several city Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of Great Phermesia and of the several cities, 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 Great Phermesia.
Section 1.
All tax cuts will go through the Treasurer before being moved into the Senate. The treasurer’s job henceforth is to monitor the changing of currency, the balance of the treasury, and the potential for fraud.
Article 7
The Ratification of the Conventions of Shiflett City, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the cities so ratifying the same. Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the cities present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our lord 1787 and of the Independence of Great Phermesia the Twelfth In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,
Ryan M. Shiflett Presdt:
and Senator-Mayor of Shiflett City, the Capital.
Shiflett City
Ryan M. Shiflett
THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF GREAT PHERMESIA AS MADE BY PRESIDENT RYAN
Amendment I. (As ratified on Sept. 20th 1791)
President Ryan of Great Phermesia cannot be impeached, for fear of a lesser candidate.
Amendment II. (As ratified in Nov. 19, 1792)
President Ryan can pass amendments as proposed by the Legislature and staff in his Cabinet without voting on it in each city.
Amendment III. (As ratified in Nov. 14, 2021)
All those who enter the Parliamentary System, as elected by the people, will be indicated as “The Honorable” before their legal name. Any who serve under the Parliamentary System will be indicated as “The Esteemed Honorable” before their title. This also applies to higher ranking officials, such as Ser President Ryan M. Shiflett, and those who serve a title higher than the Parliament.