All nobles - both historical and Traveller fictional - are already political appointees. Each successive generation of fief holder must swear fealty (loyalty and service) to a specific overlord (often several layers of them) upon assuming the title, which overlord in turn confirms said noble as the *holder* (NOT the owner) of the lands from which they draw their revenue. In practice - of course - noble familes grew to regard themselves as owning these lands outright, praticularly those who had held their titles for long periods. But the fact remains that *legally* nobles only hold their lands and responsiblities in trust for their overlord.

The exact powers of historical nobles varied in uncountable ways. My college ancient history professor used to say, "Medieval history is so complex that anything I tell you about one part of it will be a lie about another part." Keeping in mind this qualification, historical powerful nobles were the government . . . to the extent that there was a government in the sense we moderns mean it. Feudal society and the governmental structures characteristic of it was concerned first and foremost with military defense of the realm. In the beginning, nobles were local strongmen/warlords. But in most localities (with the bulk of France eventually being an exception), a noble's actual authority in the day to day machinery of society was hedged about with myriad local customs and traditions which he violated only at the peril of instigating disturbances and rebellions.

In the case of my Traveller universe, High Nobles rule their specfic portion of the Imperial bureacracy and related forces including local Imperial reserve units (only). Depending upon the locale, the powers of a particular High Noble may include direct rule of one or more actual worlds, but this is quite rare, especially at any distance from the frontier. As the saying goes, "The Empire does not rule member worlds. It rules the space between the member worlds."

This does not mean that the Empire has no influence over the member worlds. But this influence is rarely used and never overtly, except as a last resort. The Empire really doesn't care what each member world does, so long as each pays its taxes on time in full, pays lip service to the Imperial Constitution (which IMTU is a blatant rip-off of the U.S. Constitution, slightly rewritten to conform with the Imperial Charter from T4) and does not rise in open rebellion. 

 

I've got that Imperial Constitutiion around somewhere . . .

Ah!

Here we go:

Preface Note 1: Please be aware that I have divided the total length of the Imperial timeline from the time of initial contact with Terra to the current day by a factor of approximately five (5). This makes the current year IMTU 225 IR (Imperial Reckoning).

Preface Note 2: While this Constitution is largely a re-write of the U.S. Constitution the reader will quickly note major differences.  While the putative framers took the actual historical U.S. Constitution as a conscious model, the society they inhabited featured an entrenched non-Terran aristocracy which had held power for several thousand years (the Vilani), the descendants of a conquering military force which had overrun said society about a century back (the Emperor/Imperial Navy) and a dozen or so extremely powerful commercial conglomerates (the megacorporations).  A careful reading of the document below reveals a government which was in actual fact an uneasy alliance of overlapping power groups which happened to share certain common interests.  Some commentators on this document say that things haven't changed all the much in the 225 years since it's initial inking . . .

Preface Note 3: The sections of the Constitution which address the financing of the Imperial Navy were extensively rewritten into their current form as part of the Arbellatra Reforms. For various political reasons, these chances were incorporated directly into the Articles and Sections in question, rather than being appended to the original document as Amendments. While this technically means that the current Imperial Constitution is actually a *different* document, this fact is politely ignored by most commentators.

Preface Note 4: On its face, this Constitution gives the Imperial Moot far more power than the canon Moot holds. But - unlike the U.S. Constitution upon which it was modeled - it must be remembered that the Emperor promotes Moot members to their positions, rather than a sovereign citizenry.

Preface Note 5: PCs should be especially interested in Article VIII, Section 4 (the enabling legislation of bounty hunting), both as prospective hunters and prospective fugitives!

CONSTITUTION OF THE IMPERIUM

Preamble – Warrant for Restoration of the Imperium

 

                The myriad worlds of the Universe lie separated by the vastness of space, connected solely by ships which jump the void.  These connections are perilous, as rival Systems may block transit for their own narrow purposes, thereby endangering the greater good.  Yet unsecured passage poses a danger as well, since it leaves the myriad worlds open to foreign aggression.  In the past, a unified community of worlds imposed peaceful relations between the myriad systems.  The time has now come to reestablish that unified community.

                Upon the foundations of the past, in order to promote:

                                Unfettered travel between worlds,

                                Exploration of unknown worlds,

                                Pursuit of greater knowledge,

                                Mutually profitable commerce,

                                Active exchange of information,

                                Individual pursuit of personal betterment,

                                And collective pursuit of the common good,

                We, the High Nobility in Moot Assembled, hereby reestablish the Grand Imperium Of Stars

 

Article I – Imperial Sovereignty

 

Section 1. This Constitution, and the laws of the Imperium which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of it, shall be the supreme law of the Empire; and the legislative, executive and judicial powers in every Member System shall be bound thereby.

 

Section 2. The Imperium shall not exercise direct governance over any Member System, save in cases of insurrection.  Instead, the Imperium shall provide for the defense of the several Member Systems as a group, bringing the rule of law to the spaces between worlds.  No interference with local laws or customs shall be made, except where such local laws or customs conflict with this Constitution.

 

Section 3. Chattel slavery shall not be permitted to exist within the Imperium, neither within any territory under its direct control nor within any of the several Member Systems.

 

Section 4. All debts contracted with and engagements entered into by the Sylean Federation prior to the adoption of this Constitution shall be considered as valid against the Imperium.

 

Article II – Imperial Citizenship

 

Section 1. The Imperium shall be a government of governments, not of individuals.  Individuals shall be born and shall remain citizens of the several Member Systems, subject to the sovereignty of those Systems, absent the following conditions: citizens of Member Systems visiting other Member Systems shall be deemed Temporary Imperial Citizens while so visiting and while en route to and from, but shall resume their status as citizens of their particular Member Systems upon returning there; citizens of Member Systems who join any of the various Imperial Services shall be deemed Probationary Imperial Citizens during the term of said service; citizens of Member Systems who satisfactorily complete a full term of twenty years in any of the various Imperial Services shall be deemed Permanent Imperial Citizens forever after, thereupon losing their lesser citizenship in said Member System.

 

Section 2. Chartered Imperial Corporations and their current employees shall be regarded as Probationary Imperial Citizens under this Constitution.  However, in situations involving Member Systems, Chartered Imperial Corporations and their current employees shall be treated as Probationary Imperial Citizens only for those actions and operations conducted solely within Imperial jurisdiction.  Any action or operation conducted within the jurisdiction of a Member System shall abide by all laws and customs – including the payment of all applicable taxes and fees – and the Chartered Imperial Corporation and its current employees shall not enjoy the status of Probationary Imperial Citizens while conducting such actions and operations (unless said current employees otherwise qualify as Imperial Citizens as provided under Section 1).

 

Article III – Imperial Defense Tax

 

Section 1. In order to provide for the common defense, each Member System and Chartered Imperial Corporation shall pay three percent of its Gross Annual Product as an Imperial Defense Tax.

 

Section 2. The Imperial Defense Tax shall be collected by the Imperial High Noble given charge of each Member System or Chartered Imperial Corporation, or by such officer or officers as he may appoint.  The revenue gained thereby shall be disbursed by said Noble as follows: one percent shall be kept by him as compensation for his efforts; thirty-three percent shall be spent by him so as to best ensure local prosperity and welfare; thirty-three percent shall be paid by him to the applicable Regional Fleet of the Imperial Navy; and thirty-three percent shall be paid by him to the Imperial Treasury.

 

Section 3. Each Imperial High Noble charged with the responsibility to collect an Imperial Defense Tax shall provide an annual report of all tax receipts and expenditures to the Imperial Moot, which report shall be entered on their journal.

 

Article IV – The Imperial Navy

 

Section 1. The Imperial Navy is hereby established as a body owing allegiance directly to the Emperor.

 

Section 2. In order to promote the best defense of the realm, the several Regional Fleets of the Imperial Navy shall be funded by direct receipt of thirty-three percent of the lmperial Defense Tax revenues from the several Member Systems and Chartered Imperial Corporations located within their Region.

 

Section 3. The Imperial Defense Taxes received by each Regional Fleet of the Imperial Navy shall be disbursed by the commander thereof as follows: one percent shall be retained by him in trust for payment of future pensions and benefits; thirty-three percent shall be spent by him so as to best ensure defense of the local region; thirty-three percent shall be paid by him to the next higher Regional Fleet; and thirty-three percent shall be paid by him to the Imperial Admiralty.

 

Section 4. Each commander charged with disbursing any portion of the Imperial Defense Tax shall provide an annual report of all tax receipts and expenditures to the Imperial Moot, which report shall be entered on their journal.

 

Section 5. The Imperial Navy shall be divided into several Regional Fleets, as may seem prudent to the Imperial Admiralty and the Emperor.   Each Regional Fleet shall erect and maintain such orbital shipyards, forts, magazines and other structures within their Region as seems needful to the common defense.  The Imperial Navy shall have exclusive authority over all such erected structures.  The several Regional Fleets and the Imperial Admiralty shall neither construct nor control structures located on the surfaces of the several Member Worlds.

 

Section 6. The Imperial Marines are hereby created as a subordinate arm of the Imperial Navy.  In aid of the common defense, Imperial Marines may be detailed to provide security at any and all Imperial structures and territories, regardless of the physical locations of same.  Should Imperial Marines be detailed to provide security in locations where Section 5 above applies, the responsible Imperial High Noble shall exercise command authority over them, or else delegate this authority to such officer or officers as he may appoint.

 

Section 7. The Imperial Navy may, from time to time and at the express direction of the Emperor, hold in fief rebellious Member Systems or certain other Worlds or Systems.  In all such cases, the Imperial Navy shall act in a timely manner so as to resign such fiefdom as quickly as is prudent.  During the period of fiefdom, the Imperial Navy shall gain no additional revenue from said World or System in excess of revenues due to the Imperium under Article III, Section 1.  For any World held as an Imperial Navy fiefdom, the responsible commanding officer shall act in all ways as the Imperial High Noble for said World or System, as provided in Articles III and V.   

 

Article V – The Legislature

 

Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in an Imperial Moot.

 

Section 2. The Membership of the Imperial Moot shall be composed of the Imperial High Nobles having charge of the several Member Systems and Chartered Imperial Corporations.  Each Imperial High Noble, regardless of the population or economic standing of the Member System(s) or Chatered Imperial Corporation(s) of which he has charge, shall hold one (1) vote in the Imperial Moot for each such entity.

 

Section 3. No person shall be a Member of the Imperial Moot who shall not: have reached the age of thirty-eight Imperial Years; have been confirmed by the reigning Emperor as the current holder of the High Noble title charged with the aforesaid Member Systems or Chartered Imperial Corporations; at the time confirmation is first sought, have been a continuous resident of the applicable Member System or employee of the applicable Chartered Imperial Corporation for less than three (3) Imperial Years.

 

Section 4. The Heir Apparent to the Imperium shall be the President of the Imperial Moot, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.  The Imperial Moot shall choose its other officers and also a President pro tempore (to serve in the absence of the Heir Apparent or when he shall ascend to the Imperial Power).

 

Section 5. The Imperial Moot shall have the sole power to try all impeachments, of lesser officers, of Nobles both High and Low, of the Heir Apparent and of the Emperor.  When sitting for this purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation.  When the Emperor or the Heir Apparent is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside.  Conviction of any individual shall require the concurrence of two thirds of the Members.

 

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any title, office, honor, trust or profit under the Imperium.  However, the convicted party shall nevertheless remain liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to such lesser jurisdictions as may apply, unless the Imperial Moot shall choose to grant the convicted party immunity from such continuing liability.

 

Section 3. The places, times and manner of confirming Members of the Imperial Moot shall be prescribed by the Imperial Moot.

 

Section 4. The Imperial Moot shall assemble upon Sylea at least once every Imperial Year and such meeting shall commence at 12:00 hours on the first Oneday in Month Thirteen, unless they shall by law appoint a different time or day.

 

Section 5. In recognition of the great distances with which many Members must contend in reaching Sylea, each Member may choose to commend his vote to a fellow Member to exercise on his behalf by proxy.   A simple majority of all Members or their proxies shall constitute a quorum to do business.  Should a quorum not be possible on any given day, the smaller number may adjourn from day to day until it is achieved.  Should a quorum not be achieved within a reasonable time, the smaller number shall have the power to compel the attendance of absent Members (or the commending of their proxies), in such manner, and under such penalties as two thirds of the smaller number may provide.  There shall at no time be more the one Imperial Moot: should more than one group of smaller number assemble, the group physically composed of the largest number of Members able to cast votes (proxies not counting) shall be considered the rightful Moot for the purposes of this Section.

 

Section 6. The Imperial Moot shall determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel any Member.  Any expelled Member shall retain all titles and other privileges – unless also successfully impeached – but shall not cast his vote in the Imperial Moot.  The proxy of his vote – as well as the proxies of any other Members held by him - shall instead be commended to a fellow Member chosen by the concurrence of two thirds, until such time as the Emperor decides the disposition of the Imperial title or titles attached to said proxy.

 

Section 7. The Imperial Moot shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the Members on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

 

Section 8. While in session, the Imperial Moot shall not adjourn for more than three Imperial Days, nor move to any other place than it is currently sitting, without the concurrence of two thirds.

 

Section 9. The Members of the Imperial Moot shall rely for all compensation upon the Member System(s) or Chartered Imperial Corporation(s) in their charge and upon such other income as any additional estates, titles, honors or offices personally held shall provide.  No Member of the Imperial Moot shall receive an emolument from the Emperor, from the Imperial Treasury, from the Imperial Navy, from any other Member of the Imperial Moot, from any other of the several Chartered Imperial Corporations, from any other of the several Member Systems, from any foreign power or from any other source whatsoever.

 

Section 10.  Members of the Imperial Moot shall – excepting in cases of treason, felony and breach of the peace – be privileged from arrest during their attendance at sessions of the Imperial Moot, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate occurring in session, they shall not be questioned in any other place.

 

Section 11. Every bill, order, resolution or other act which shall have passed the Imperial Moot by two thirds, shall, before it become effective, be presented to the Emperor; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it with his written objections to the Imperial Moot, which shall enter the objections on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it.  If after such reconsideration two thirds of the Imperial Moot shall agree to pass the item again, it shall become effective.  But in all such cases the votes of Members shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the Members voting for and against it shall be entered on their journal.  If any item shall not be returned by the Emperor within ten Imperial Days (Imperial Holidays excepted) after it shall be presented to him, the same shall become effective, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Imperial Moot by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall be considered as having not been passed.

 

Section 12. With the concurrence of two thirds, the Imperial Moot shall have power to:

 

Declare dissolution of the Empire, should the common good in their judgment be better served by such act, in which case all matters and entities referenced by this Constitution shall revert to their representation as provided under the Sylean Constitution and other such applicable documents;

 

Confirm the Heir Apparent to the Imperium, who shall not be able to assume the Imperial Power absent such confirmation;

 

Disqualify the current Heir Apparent to the Imperium for good and proper cause;

 

Designate the next recipient of the Imperial Power (who shall be a Permanent Imperial Citizen of not less than thirty-eight Imperial Years of age), should the reigning Emperor die or abdicate without a confirmed Heir Apparent or if the currently-confirmed Heir Apparent shall have be disqualified for good and proper cause;

 

Lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises in addition to the aforementioned Imperial Defense Tax, in order to pay the debts and provide for the general welfare of the Imperium;  but all such taxes, duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the Imperium;

 

Borrow money on the credit of the Imperium;

 

Regulate commerce among the several Member Systems, and with Foreign Systems and Autonomous Regions;

 

Establish uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the Imperium;

 

Issue Imperial securities and currency and regulate the value thereof;

 

Provide for punishment for the counterfeiting of Imperial securities and currency;

 

Establish and maintain an Imperial Post;

 

Promote the progress of science and the useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective creations and discoveries;

 

Constitute internal tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;

 

Define and punish piracies and felonies committed in interplanetary space, and offences against the Imperial Rules of War;

 

Declare war, grant letters of marquee and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures and captives taken in interplanetary space;

 

Raise and support Imperial Armies, but no appropriation of money to such use shall be for a longer term than three (3) Imperial Years;

 

Make rules for the government and regulation of Imperial Armies;

 

Provide for calling forth select units of the armed forces of the several Member Systems as the Imperial Reserve, in order to execute Imperial laws, suppress insurrection and repel invasion;

 

Provide for the organizing, arming and disciplining of such units of the armed forces of the several Member Systems as shall constitute the Imperial Reserve, and for governing such part of them as may from time to time be called into the service of the Imperium, reserving to the several Member Systems respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the Imperial Reserve units according to the manner of discipline prescribed by the Imperial Moot;

 

Exercise exclusive authority over the world of Sylea, the seat of Imperial government, excepting the territory of the Imperial Palace itself, which shall be under the exclusive authority of the Emperor;

 

Exercise exclusive authority over all territories purchased from the several Member Systems with the consent of same for the erection of starports, dockyards and other needful structures.  The Imperial Moot shall control the movement of persons and material between such territories.  The movement of persons and material between such territories and the territory of the Member System shall be controlled by said Member System, but shall remain subject to Imperial laws governing such movement.  All such territory shall be excluded from the jurisdiction of the applicable Member System, and no persons or material shall enter such territories from any Member System without the express consent of the Imperial Moot or such Imperial official or officials as shall be made responsible for such territory by it;

 

Dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting all territory or other property belonging to the Imperium, with the exception of that held by the Emperor in his own right; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims on the territory or property held by the government of the Imperium, or by any Ministry, Office, Department, Noble, Official or Officer thereof.

 

Whenever two thirds deem it necessary, propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, upon the application of the executive power of two thirds of the several Member Systems, call a Convention for proposing of such amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the executive power of three fourths of the several Member Systems, or by popular conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be required of each Member System by the Imperial Moot; provided that no Member System, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Imperial Moot.

 

Designate additional Imperial Holidays, in addition to those mandated by this Constitution; And

 

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 Imperium, or in any Ministry, Office, Department, Noble, Official or Officer thereof.

 

Section 13. The Imperial Moot shall NOT have the power to:

 

Establish any particular culture or religion as the Imperial Culture or Religion;

 

Prohibit the free exercise of any particular culture or religion;

 

Abridge the right of Imperial Citizens to freedom of speech;

 

Abridge the right of Imperial Citizens to freedom of the press;

 

Abridge the right of Imperial Citizens peaceably to assemble and petition the Imperium generally or the Emperor personally for a redress of grievances;

 

Abridge the right of Imperial Citizens to keep and bear arms;

 

Prohibit the migration of such individual persons as any of the several Member Systems may think proper to admit, but a duty may be imposed upon such migration, not to exceed one hundred (100) Imperial Credits per person;

 

Suspend the writ of habeas corpus, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it;

 

Pass any bill of attainder or ex post facto law;

 

Lay any capitation, or other direct, tax upon individual persons;

 

Lay any tax or duty upon specific articles traded among the several Member Systems;

 

Give preference by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of any particular Member System over those of any other; nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one Member System, be obliged to enter, clear or pay duties in any other;

 

Draw money from the Imperial Treasury, except in consequence of appropriations made by this Constitution or by lesser Imperial law;

 

Neglect to publish a regular statement and account of receipts and expenditures of all public revenues; And

 

Allow persons holding any office of profit or trust under the Imperium to accept – without the prior consent of the Imperial Moot – any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince or foreign state.  Any such present, emolument, office or title accepted under this section must be reported to the Imperial Moot, which will record all such in their journal.

 

Article VI – The Executive

 

Section 1. The Imperial Power shall be vested in an Emperor of the Imperium, who shall maintain that title and that Power until his death or voluntary abdication.  Upon such death or abdication, the title and the Imperial Power shall pass to the oldest child of the Emperor, whether by birth or by adoption, provided that the child shall have been previously confirmed as the Heir Apparent of the Imperium by the Imperial Moot, and providing that the Imperial Moot shall not disqualify said Heir Apparent for good and proper cause.

  

No person except a Permanent Imperial Citizen shall be eligible to hold the Imperial Power; neither shall any person be eligible who shall not have attained the age of thirty eight Imperial Years and been resident within the Imperium for fourteen Imperial Years.

 

In case of the removal of the Emperor from office, or of his death, abdication, or inability to exercise the Imperial Power, the same Imperial Power shall devolve upon the Heir Apparent, who shall immediately propose a new Heir Apparent.  Confirmation of said new Heir Apparent by the Imperial Moot shall not be unreasonably delayed.

 

In addition to the revenues due him from any estates, honors or titles held in his own right, the Emperor shall receive a direct compensation at the end of each Imperial Year from the Imperial Treasury equivalent to thirty-three percent of the Imperial Taxes collected by that Executive Ministry from all Chartered Imperial Corporations during the preceding Imperial Year.  The Emperor shall use these funds to maintain the Imperial Household, the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Guard, plus such other organizations he may deem appropriate.  The Emperor shall not receive any other emolument from the Imperial Treasury, from the Imperial Navy, from any Member of the Imperial Moot, from any Chartered Imperial Corporation, from any of the several Member Systems, from any foreign power or from any other source whatsoever.

 

Before he shall enter upon the execution of his office, each Emperor shall take the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully exercise the Imperial Power, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Imperium."

 

Section 2. The Imperial Power shall include the power to:

 

Command the Imperial Navy, the Imperial Marines and the Imperial Army, as well as those Imperial Reserve units maintained by the several Member Systems whenever these are called into the active service of the Imperium;

 

Require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the Executive Ministries, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices;

 

Grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the Imperium, except in cases of impeachment.

 

With the two thirds concurrence of the Imperial Moot, make treaties with foreign powers;

 

With the two thirds concurrence of the Imperial Moot, appoint the judges of all courts subordinate to the Supreme Court;

 

With the two thirds concurrence of the Imperial Moot, appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and all other officers of the Imperium, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: but the Imperial Moot may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers as they think proper in the Emperor alone and the Emperor may likewise vest in such inferior officers the ability to appoint officers subordinate to them, as he shall deem appropriate.

 

Fill all vacancies that may happen during any recess of the Imperial Moot, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session.

 

Upon extraordinary occasions, convene the Imperial Moot;

 

Provide the Imperial Moot with information on the State of the Imperium from time to time, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; 

 

Receive ambassadors and other public ministers;

 

Take care that all Imperial laws be faithfully executed;

 

Commission all officers of the Imperial Armed Forces;

 

Create new Imperial noble titles, appointing whomsoever he wishes to hold these titles, provided that such creation does not vacate existing titles (except in cases of expelled Moot Members) and that all persons created Imperial High Nobles be Permanent Imperial Citizens.  Such titles which include the grant of responsibility of Specific Regions, Member Systems or Imperially Chartered Corporations shall be inheritable (subject to approval of the reigning Emperor) under the principle of primogeniture and shall carry the designation "High."  All other Imperial noble titles shall not be inheritable and shall carry the designation "Low."

 

Delegate the creation of specific Imperial noble titles, and the appointment of Nobles to hold these titles, to lesser Nobles, provided the above restrictions are observed.

 

Recognize noble titles granted by the several Member Systems in whatever manner and to whatever extent may seem prudent.

 

Section 3. The Imperial Power shall NOT include the power to perform any action which Article V, Section 13 prohibits to the Imperial Moot.

 

Article VII – The Judiciary

 

Section 1. The judicial power of the Imperium shall be vested in a Supreme Court, composed of nine Justices.  The initial nine Justices shall be nominated by the Emperor and confirmed by two thirds concurrence of the Imperial Moot.  Each Justice shall be an Imperial High Noble.  Each Justice shall hold office during good behavior.

 

Section 2.  When a Justice dies, retires or is removed for cause, his replacement shall be an Imperial High Noble appointed by the Board of Directors of whichever Chartered Imperial Corporation paid the greatest amount in Imperial Taxes since the immediately preceding Supreme Court vacancy was filled.  This appointment shall be made without need of confirmation by either the Imperial Moot or the Emperor.

 

Section 3.  In addition to income from any estates, titles or honors held in his own right, each Justice shall receive upon the anniversary of the occasion of his appointment to the Court compensation from the Imperial Treasury equivalent to one percent of the Imperial Taxes paid during the preceding Imperial Year by the Chartered Imperial Corporation whose Board appointed him.  No Justice shall receive any other emolument from the Imperial Treasury, from the Imperial Navy, from any Member of the Imperial Moot, from any Chartered Imperial Corporation, from any of the several Member Systems, from any foreign power or from any other source whatsoever.

 

Section 4. The Supreme Court shall have the power to create such subordinate courts as it may deem necessary.  The judges of such subordinate courts shall be appointed by the Emperor, subject to the two thirds concurrence of the Imperial Moot.   Subordinate judges shall be either High or Low Imperial Nobles.  Subordinate judges shall hold office during good behavior and shall receive such yearly compensation from the Imperial Treasury as the Imperial Moot may direct.

 

Section 5. The judicial power of the Supreme Court and any subordinate courts shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising from this Constitution, as well from all Imperial laws and treaties made, or which shall be made, under its authority;--to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls;--to all cases involving jurisdiction in interplanetary space;--to controversies to which the Imperium shall be a party;-- to controversies to which a Chartered Imperial Corporation shall be a party;--to controversies between two or more Member Systems;--to controversies between a Member System and the citizens of another Member System;--to controversies between citizens of different Member Systems;--and to controversies between a Member System, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.

 

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those to which a Chartered Imperial Corporation or a Member System shall be a 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.

 

In all Imperial criminal cases, except in cases of impeachment, the accused shall be tried before a panel of not less than three judges, except in cases brought before the Supreme Court, where he shall be tried before all nine Justices.  Whenever possible, trials shall be held at the Imperial installation at or closest to the Member System wherein the said crimes shall have been committed, except in cases tried before the Supreme Court, which shall be tried on Sylea.   If a particular crime was not committed within any Member System or was committed within more than one, the trial shall be held at such place or places as the court having original jurisdiction may direct.  Excessive bail shall not be required.  The accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial; to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; to have the assistance of counsel for his defense; and should he be convicted, no excessive fines shall be imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

 

In all Imperial civil cases, the above shall also apply, save that all civil cases not tried before the Supreme Court may be tried before a single judge and no excessive awards shall be made.  Further, should the accused in any civil case be found not at fault, the case shall be placed on amercement.  Should review thereafter find that the case was brought frivolously, the accuser shall be fined the same amount in damages as he was seeking from the accused.  Half of the amount of said fine shall be paid to the accused, with the remainder paid to the Imperial Treasury.

 

Section 6. Treason against the Imperium shall consist only in levying war against it or in adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort.  Treason against the Imperium can be committed only by Imperial Citizens, by officers in the governments of the several Member Systems and by officers of the several Chartered Imperial Corporations.  While similar actions by other persons can not be tried as Treason against the Imperium, such individuals may remain liable for such actions or other actions taken in support of same within a lesser jurisdiction.  No person shall be convicted of Treason against the Imperium unless upon the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or upon confession in open court.  Upon conviction for Treason, the Imperial Moot shall impose no corruption of blood, or forfeiture of titles, honors or property by the family or associates of the person attainted.  The punishment for Treason shall be death, in such manner and at such time as the Imperial Moot shall decree.   

Section 7. Sedition against the Imperium shall consist of any lesser act taken against the interests of the Imperium which does not rise to the level of Treason.  Only those persons susceptible to conviction for Treason against the Imperium shall be susceptible to conviction for Sedition against the Imperium.  The Imperial Moot shall decree the punishment for each act of Sedition, but no such punishment shall work to corruption of the blood or forfeiture of titles, honors or property by the family or associates of the person attainted, except during the lifetime of said person.

 

Section 8. The right of Imperial Citizens 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.

 

No Imperial Citizen shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising within the Imperial Armed Forces, or within the Imperial Reserve, when in actual service in time of war or public danger.

 

No Imperial Citizen shall be twice put in jeopardy of life or liberty for the same offence.

 

No Imperial Citizen shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.

 

No person (whether Imperial Citizen or otherwise) shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property by any Power erected by this Constitution, without due process of law.

 

The private property of Imperial Citizens shall not be taken or used for public benefit, without just compensation.

 

Section 9. The Power of the Imperial Judiciary shall NOT include the power to perform any action which Article V, Section 13 prohibits to the Imperial Moot.

 

Article VIII – Member Systems

 

Section 1. No Member System shall:

 

Enter into any treaties, alliances or confederations, either with other Member Systems or with foreign powers;

 

Pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts;

 

Without the two thirds concurrence of the Imperial Moot, neither lay any duty of tonnage nor any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws.  No such imposts or duties shall be enforced so as to favor one Member System above another; net revenue from all such duties and imposts shall be forfeit to the Imperial Treasury; all laws concerning such imposts or duties shall be subject to the revision and control of the Imperial Moot;

 

Without the two thirds concurrence of the Imperial Moot, grant letters of marquee and reprisal; keep armed spaceships in time of peace except as necessary to enforce allowed imposts and duties; engage in war with other Member Systems or with foreign powers, unless actively invaded or in such imminent danger of invasion as will not admit of delay.

 

Section 2. Each Member System shall give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other Member System.  The Imperial Moot may prescribe the manner in which such public acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, either in general or in particular, and the effects thereof.

 

Section 3. New Member Systems may be admitted by the Imperial Moot into the Imperium; but no new Member Systems shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any existing Member System; nor any Member System be formed by the junction of two or more Member Systems, or parts of Systems, without the consent of the Member Systems concerned and the two thirds concurrence of the Imperial Moot.

 

Section 4. Any person charged in any Member System with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from prosecution in said Member System, may have a bounty placed upon him or her by the executive authority of said Member System.  Said bounty amount shall be paid to the Imperial Treasury, whereupon it shall be held in escrow.  Should the subject person be apprehended and turned over to the official in charge of any Imperial installation, this bounty amount (less the projected costs of returning said person to the Member System from which he fled) shall be paid to whomsoever accomplished said apprehension.

 

Section 5. The Imperium shall protect each Member System against invasion; and may, upon application of the executive power of any Member System, use all necessary force to subdue domestic violence.

 

Section 6. All officers – legislative, executive and judicial - of the several Member Systems shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution.

 

Article IX – Imperial Standards

 

Section 1. The Imperium shall conduct all of its activities according to the Calendar of the Imperial Era, hereafter to be abbreviated “IE” in correspondence.  An Imperial Year shall consist of three hundred and sixty five consecutive Days of twenty four consecutive Hours each, each Hour having sixty consecutive Minutes and each Minute having sixty consecutive Seconds, the length of each Second equaling the cesium resonance of 9192631770 Hz.  Imperial Days shall be numbered one (001) to three hundred and sixty five (365) in consecutive order.   These shall be divided into Weeks of seven Days.  These days shall be individually designated Oneday, Twoday,  Threeday, Fourday, Fiveday, Sixday and Sevenday.  Four Weeks shall comprise one Month, designated Month One through Month Thirteen.  The instant at which this Constitution shall become effective shall be 00:00:01 of Day 001 of Year 0.

 

Section 2. Day 001 of each Imperial Year shall be designated an Imperial Holiday, named New Year.  New Year Day shall lie outside any Week or Month, thereby creating an even calendar year.  The Day of the reigning Emperor’s birth shall be a second Imperial Holiday, named Birthday.  The Day of the reigning Emperor’s ascension to the Iridium Throne shall be a third Imperial Holiday, named Jubilee.   From time to time the Emperor or the Imperial Moot may declare additional Imperial Holidays. Only vital business of the Imperium shall be conducted upon Imperial Holidays. 

 

Section 3. The currency of interplanetary commerce within the Imperium, and between the Imperium and the several Member Systems, shall be the Imperial Credit.  The Imperial Credit shall be valued independently of the currency of any Member System.

 

Section 4. The standard measurements and nomenclature for same of the Imperium shall be the standard measurements and nomenclature for same in use by the Sylean Federation at the time of the ratification of this Constitution.  These shall hereafter be designated the Standard Imperial (SI) Measurement System.

 

Article X – Conclusion

 

Section 1. No cultural or religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under this Constitution.

 

Section 2. The Emperor, the Heir Apparent, Imperial Nobles both High and Low, the Justices of the Supreme Court and all lesser officers of the Imperium shall be liable to removal from office upon impeachment for, and conviction of, treason or attempted treason, bribery or attempted bribery, acceptance of disallowed emoluments or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

 

Section 3. The enumeration in this Constitution of certain rights of particular persons shall not be construed to deny or disparage any others which are retained by them.

 

Section 4. All powers not delegated to the Imperium by this Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the several Member Systems, are reserved to the Member Systems respectively, or to the Imperial Citizens.