Overview
The draft constitution takes loose inspiration for its structure from the Westminster System, Celtic social structure, and Aristotelian theories of Mixed Government. The ideal is that the state will be protected from the excesses democracy, oligarchy, and monarchy are all capable of.
Structure
The Parliament is roughly structured along Westminster lines with an upper and lower house presided over by a monarch. The lower house of Parliament is the democratic house but unlike representative democracies makes use of sortition to fill its seats. The upper, oligarchic house, makes greater use of election, as well as appointment, to fill its seats. This acknowledges that sortition is a fundamentally democratic institution while election is fundamentally oligarchic.
Government Institutions
Monarch
Threading the needle between absolutist fiat and ceremonial decoration, the monarch under this constitution remains an active part of governance. This is referred to as semi-constitutional, or executive, monarchy.
Royal Council
The upper chamber of parliament is comprised of a mix of elected, hereditary, and appointed members. Its members are some of the most powerful individuals in the country and represent permanent institutions in the country (be they social, economic, or religious).
Legislative Assembly
The lower house of parliament is made up of members who have been selected by lot (sortition). While deprived of the legitimacy election brings they are unencumbered by party or faction. Indeed, by using sortition it is impossible for a party or faction to gain control of the lower house and allows it to be an undiluted voice of the people.
Court of Justice
Courts of Justice are formed when one of the prosecutors (appointed by the Legislative Assembly) brings forward charges. Judges (appointed by the monarch) then hear the case and render a verdict.
Patriarch
The Patriarch is an ecumenical position that both coordinates with various Christian sects to make sure everyone has access to church resources and represents the Christian church on the Royal Council. As Christianity is often at its best when speaking truth to power the Patriarch has the right to advise the monarch, whether the monarch wants them to or not. More info.
Christian Sects
Christianity is diverse in its expression. This diversity has often been cause for conflict as various sects sought to impose their interpretation of the scripture on the rest. Since forcing doctrinal agreement is impossible, and perhaps undesirable, the constitution recognizes this diversity of Christian belief. The various sects elect the Patriarch to be a mediator between the sects and between the church and the government.
Clans
As people immigrate to the settlement there is likely to be a fear of losing something of the traditions of their homelands. The institution of the clans is meant to be a means of preserving something of these people's traditions. The chief of each clan has a seat on the Royal Council to represent communities of people.
The People
Every subject of the monarch. The people's will is expressed directly through the Legislative Assembly and indirectly through the Christian sects and clans.
Threading the needle between absolutist fiat and ceremonial decoration, the monarch under this constitution remains an active part of governance. This is referred to as semi-constitutional, or executive, monarchy.
Royal Council
The upper chamber of parliament is comprised of a mix of elected, hereditary, and appointed members. Its members are some of the most powerful individuals in the country and represent permanent institutions in the country (be they social, economic, or religious).
Legislative Assembly
The lower house of parliament is made up of members who have been selected by lot (sortition). While deprived of the legitimacy election brings they are unencumbered by party or faction. Indeed, by using sortition it is impossible for a party or faction to gain control of the lower house and allows it to be an undiluted voice of the people.
Court of Justice
Courts of Justice are formed when one of the prosecutors (appointed by the Legislative Assembly) brings forward charges. Judges (appointed by the monarch) then hear the case and render a verdict.
Patriarch
The Patriarch is an ecumenical position that both coordinates with various Christian sects to make sure everyone has access to church resources and represents the Christian church on the Royal Council. As Christianity is often at its best when speaking truth to power the Patriarch has the right to advise the monarch, whether the monarch wants them to or not. More info.
Christian Sects
Christianity is diverse in its expression. This diversity has often been cause for conflict as various sects sought to impose their interpretation of the scripture on the rest. Since forcing doctrinal agreement is impossible, and perhaps undesirable, the constitution recognizes this diversity of Christian belief. The various sects elect the Patriarch to be a mediator between the sects and between the church and the government.
Clans
As people immigrate to the settlement there is likely to be a fear of losing something of the traditions of their homelands. The institution of the clans is meant to be a means of preserving something of these people's traditions. The chief of each clan has a seat on the Royal Council to represent communities of people.
The People
Every subject of the monarch. The people's will is expressed directly through the Legislative Assembly and indirectly through the Christian sects and clans.
Draft Constitution
The following is a draft constitution written mostly as a means of mentally organizing ideas of governance and social structure. It may, or may not,
bear a resemblance to the settlement's actual constitution.
bear a resemblance to the settlement's actual constitution.