Monday, July 18, 2005

Proposal Constitution for the Crown Commonwealth

PREAMBLE

In order to unite the Crown Commonwealth for the protection of life, liberty, and property, be it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty and with the consent and by the authority of the peoples of: the Province of Alberta, the Australian Capital Territory, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Kingdom of Barbados, the Province of British Columbia, the Kingdom of England, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Kingdom of Jamaica, the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Isle of Mann, the Province of Manitoba, the province of New Brunswick, the State of New South Wales, the Nunavut, the Kingdom of New Zealand, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Territory of North Australia, the Kingdom of Northern Ireland, the Northwest Territory, the Province of Nova Scotia, the Province of Ontario, the Province of Prince Edward Island, the Province of Quebec, the State of Queensland, the Province of Saskatchewan, the Kingdom of Scotland, the State of South Australia, the State of Tasmania, the State of Victoria, the Principality of Wales, the State of Western Australia, and the Yukon Territory, that the aforementioned states hereby form the United Commonwealth Federation and that this Constitution shall be the supreme law thereof.

PART A – DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES

ARTICLE 1 – INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
Sec 1
The protection of individual rights is the first duty and sole justification of all state authority.

Sec 2 The Right to Life
No person shall be deprived of their life without due process of law upon a charge of treason, premeditated murder, murder in the commission of a crime, slave ownership, or slave trading.

Sec 3 The Right to Liberty
No person shall be deprived of their liberty without due process of law upon a charge of committing a crime which violates the right of life liberty or property of another or of attempting to commit such crime or endangering others rights by breach of the peace or attempt to commit the same.

Sec 4 The Right to Property
No person shall be deprived of their property without due process of law upon a charge of committing a crime which damages the person or property of another.

Sec 5 The Right to Freedom of Opinion, Expression and Assembly
The legislature shall make no law regarding the establishment of a religion. The legislature shall make no law to restrict or prevent an individual from using his property to proselytize his views. The legislature shall make no law to restrict or prevent a peaceful assembly of people on private property.

Sec 6 The Right to Bear Arms
An armed citizenry being the bulwark of a free state, the right of the individual to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Sec 7 Freedom of Association and Non Association
No person shall be deprived of their right to form associations for: the corporate or communal use of their property; forming by contract families to raise their natural and adopted children; for non treasonous and non violent political purposes; to negotiate with their employer; or for any lawful purpose. No person shall be deprived of their right to contract freely with others for any lawful purpose. No person shall be deprived of their right not to associate or contract with others.

Sec 8 Rights Not Enumerated
The Enumeration of certain rights in this document shall not be held to disparage others, not enumerated, which are retained by the people.

ARTICLE 2 -ANCIENT LIBERTIES

Sec 1 Ancient Liberties Protected
Since the purpose of the confederation, is to protect and secure our ancient liberties and in no way to surrender them, Her Majesty and her government shall abide by them. In addition to the universal individual rights enumerated in Article 1, these ancient liberties of our people are protected.

Sec. 2 No Taxation by Royal Fiat
No scutage, aid or other tax shall be imposed on the nation, unless by common counsel of the nation.

Sec. 3 Parliament
And for obtaining the common counsel of the kingdom for the assessing of an aid, a scutage or other tax, the monarch will cause to be summoned representatives of the people, orders, and states of the nation in a parliament as here in after detailed.

Sec. 4 Right to Local Self Government
The city of London shall have all it ancient liberties and free customs, as well by land as by water; furthermore, it is decreed and granted that all other cities, boroughs, towns, and ports shall have all their liberties and free customs.

Sec. 5 Right to Property
No officer of the crown shall, take the property of any freeman, against the will of the said freeman, except in time of war or insurrection and then only after just compensation is paid.

Sec 6 Warrants Necessary for Searches and Seizures and Limited
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated. Warrants shall be issued only on probable cause upon oath or affirmation and particularly naming the place to be searched and persons or things to be seized.

Sec. 7 Indictment Only After Third Party Complaint
No officer of the crown shall, upon his own unsupported complaint, charge any freeman with a crime, without credible witnesses brought for this purposes.

Sec. 8 Right to Trial by Jury
No freemen shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised or exiled or in any way destroyed, except by the lawful judgment of his peers in accordance with the law of the land.

Sec. 9 Right to Fair and Speedy Trial
To no one will the crown sell, refuse or delay, right or justice.

Sec. 10 Crown will Obey the Law
The Crown will appoint as executive and judicial officers only such as know the law of the realm and mean to observe it well.

Sec. 11 Standing Army Limitations
As soon as peace is restored, the crown will disband all armed forces other than those authorized by this constitution.

Sec. 12 Treason Limitations
Treason against the United Commonwealth Federation, shall consist only in levying war against it, or in adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort.

Sec. 13 Right of Resistance and Revolt
The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind. If the rights and liberties enumerated by this constitution are not respected or the restrictions on the power of the crown, parliament, and the courts instituted by this constitution are not followed, then the authority given to officers under it are like wise invalid and the community of the realm have the right to over throw it or to distrain and distress the officials there of until such time as they content themselves with their lawfully given authority.

Constitution Part 2

PART B – FRAME OF GOVERNMENT

ARTICLE 3 – THE FEDERATIONSec. 1 The ratification of this Constitution shall not dissolve the governments of the states ratifying it which shall remain sovereign surrendering only such powers as are here in reserved to the federal government.

Sec. 2 The ratification of this constitution shall not dissolve the governments of the Commonwealth of Austrialia, the Confederation of Canada and the United Kingdom of Great Briton and Northern Ireland.

Sec. 3 New States may be admitted by Parliament into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Parliament.

Sec. 4 Parliament shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United Commonwealth Federation; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United Commonwealth Federation, or of any particular State.

Sec. 5 This Constitution, and the Laws of the United Commonwealth Federation which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United Commonwealth Federation, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

Sec. 6 The Senators and Representatives, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United Commonwealth Federation and of the several States, 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 United Commonwealth Federation.

Constitution Crown

ARTICLE 4 – THE MONARCH
Sec. 1 The Sovereign and Head of State shall be Elizabeth Windsor and Her Heirs and Successors in accordance with the Act of Settlement of 1701. The Monarch’s title shall be N. of Great Briton and Northern Ireland, the Commonwealth of Austrialia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Kingdom of Barbados, the Confederation of Canada, the Kingdom of Jamaica, the Kingdom of New Zealand, Queen (King), Duke of Normandy, Lord of Mann, Empress (Emperor) of the United Commonwealth Federation. All acts of state shall be done in the monarch’s name.

Sec. 2 The monarch shall be president of the Senate. S/he shall have the power to prorogue parliament. S/he shall have power to desolve parliament and issue writs of election. The monarch shall be chairman of the Committee for judicial nominations.

Sec. 3 Every bill which shall have passed the House of Commons and the Senate shall before it becomes law be presented to the monarch; if s/he approve s/he shall sign it and it shall become law. If s/he does not approve it, s/he shall return it to the house of origin with objections. That house shall proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration six-tenths of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent with the objections to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered and if approved by six-tenths of that house it shall be again presented to the monarch for signing, but if not it shall not become law. If the monarch a second time refuses to sign the bill then it shall be put to a referendum of the citizens who if they approve it, it shall become law in like manner as if the monarch had signed it, but if they do not approve it, it shall not become law.


ARTICLE 5 – FIRST MINISTER

Sec. 1 the Executive authority of the United Commonwealth Federation shall be excercised on behalf of the monarch by a First Minister who shall serve for a term of four years unless sed term is terminated by a vote of no confidence sustained by the electorate. S/he shall be elected as follows, the heads of government of the several states, the First Minister, the ministers of the previous government, the Second Minister, and five other persons chosen by the monarch shall be candidates. The electorate shall chose between them using a single transferable ballot.

If the First Minister should lose the confidence of Parliament s/he will face a plebiscite with in one week. If the majority of votes cast in the plebiscite are to retain the First Minister, then Parliament will be desolved and writs of election issued. Having once been sustained by the electorate, the First Minister shall not have to face a plebiscite for the next nine months even if he should lose the confidence of the new parliament in that time. However if within that nine month period the First Minister loses the confidence of parliament, the monarch may at his/er discretion call for a new election for First Minister. If the First Minister loses the plebiscite, the Monarch shall call for a new election for First Minister.

Sec. 2 The First Minister shall act as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the Commonwealth Federation, and of the Armed Forces and Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the Commonwealth Federation; 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 Offences against the Commonwealth Federation, 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, and all other Officers of the Commonwealth Federation, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Parliment may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the First Minister alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments. He shall be a member of the Committee for Judicial Nominations
The First Minister 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.

Sec. 3 S/he shall from time to time give to the Parliment Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; s/he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, s/he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; s/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 the Commonwealth Federation.
ARTICLE 6 – THE SECOND MINISTER
Sec. 1 The Second Minister shall be the candidate for First Minister who has the second largest number of votes when the First Minister has a majority.

Sec. 2 In the event that the First Minister loses the Confidence of Parliament and has to face a plebiscite, in the event that the First Minister loses the confidence of Parliament and the Monarch calls for new Elections for First Minister, or in the event that the First Minister loses a plebiscite and the Monarch calls for new Elections for First Minister, the Second Minister shall be acting First Minister. The Second Minister shall by virtue of his office be a member of the Senate. S/he shall be a member of the Committee for Judicial Nominations.

ARTICLE 7 – CABINET

Sec. 1 The Cabinet shall be composed of the First Minister, the Minister of War, the First Lord of Admiralty, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the attorney general.

Sec. 2 The members of the cabinet shall be appointed by the First Minister with the advice and consent of the House of Commons.

Sec. 3 The Cabinet shall advise the First Minister. They shall take with the First Minister responsibility for all decisions made by him or any one of them.

Constitution Parliament

ARTICLE 8 – PARLIAMENT

The Parliament shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United Commonwealth Federation; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United Commonwealth Federation;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United Commonwealth Federation;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War;

To raise and support Armies as here in after detailed, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To provide and maintain an Air Force;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land air and naval forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, 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 United Commonwealth Federation, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Parliament;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Parliament, become the Seat of the Government of the United Commonwealth Federation, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State 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 United Commonwealth Federation, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

ARTICLE 9 – HOUSE OF COMMONS

The House of Commons shall be composed of Members chosen from multiple member districts. The citizens in each district shall elect two members on a first and second past the post basis for a term not to exceed seven years. One member shall be chosen by lot from among the citizens in the district for a term of five years. The Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

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 the United Commonwealth Federation, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Districts and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective number of citizens, which shall be determined by an actual Enumeration which shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Parliment of the United Commonwealth Federation, and within every subsequent Term of twenty Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Districts shall not exceed one for every 750,000 citizens nor shall there be less than one district for every six million citizens, but each State shall have at Least one District, except that states with less than 100,000 residents shall elect one member and shall be joined with one or two other such states for the purpose of chosing a member by lot; and until such enumeration shall be made: the Province of Alberta shall have 4 districts, the Australian Capital Territory 1, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas 1, the Kingdom of Barbados 1, the Province of British Columbia 5, the Kingdom of England 73, the Bailiwick of Guernsey shall elect one member and, with the Bailiwick of Jersey which shall elect one member, shall have one member chosen by lot from among both, the Kingdom of Jamaica shall have 3 districts, the Isle of Mann shall elect one member and, with the Nunavut which shall elect one member, shall have one member chosen by lot from among both, the Province of Manitoba shall have 1 district, the province of New Brunswick 1, the State of New South Wales 8, the Kingdom of New Zealand 5, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador 1, the Territory of North Australia 1, the Kingdom of Northern Ireland 2, the Northwest Territory shall elect one member and, with the Yukon Territory which shall elect one member, shall have one member chosen by lot from among both, the Province of Nova Scotia shall have 1 district, the Province of Ontario 16, the Province of Prince Edward Island 1, the Province of Quebec 10, the State of Queensland 5, the Province of Saskatchewan 1, the Kingdom of Scotland 6, the State of South Australia 2, the State of Tasmania 1, the State of Victoria 6, the Principality of Wales 3, and the State of Western Australia 2.
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

ARTICLE 10 – SENTATE

The Senate of the United Commonwealth Federation shall be composed of: two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; a number of senators equal to 15 percent of the ones elected by the states elected by the people of the Confederation at large using a single transferable ballot, for a term of six years; a number of senators equal to 15 percent of the ones elected by the states chosen from among the citizens of the Commonwealth by lot, for a life term; a number of senators equal to 15 percent of the ones elected by the states appointed by the Monarch, for a life term; and a number of senators, not to exceed 5 percent of the whole number of senators, who shall be chosen by the House of Peers for a life term; each Senator shall have one Vote.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, the members of the senate chosen by the first two methods shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.

The Senate shall try all impeachments. The vote of two thirds of the members shall be necessary for conviction. If the Monarch is tried the Chief Justice shall preside.

ARTICLE 11 – HOUSE OF PEERS

All peers of England, Scotland, and the United Kingdom and all peers created by the monarch in the future shall be members of the House of Peers which shall debate the issues of the day, give the government its advice, and chose senators.

Constitution Next to Last

ARTICLE 12 – NATIONAL DEFENSE

Sec. 1 Upon ratification of this Constitution: the nuclear weapons of all member states and the federations and unions to which they belong will be transferred to the federal government.

Sec. 2 The Navy’s of the member states and the federations and unions to which they belong shall be amalgamated into one federal Royal Navy.

Sec.3 All of the active duty Marine forces of the member states and the federations and unions to which they belong will be transferred to the federal government and amalgamated to form a federal Royal Marine Corps. Except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men of the Royal Marines shall not exceed twice the number at the time of amalgamation or 40,000 which ever is greater.

Sec. 4 The brigade of gurkhas shall be transferred to the Federal government. Except in time of declared war, the Brigade of Gurkhas shall not have more than 20,000 officers and men

Sec. 5 The Guards regiments of the British Army shall be transferred to the Federal government. Additional guards regiments shall be formed as parliament shall direct, but, except in time of declared war, the total force of the Royal Guards Corps shall not exceed 20,000 officers and men.

Sec. 6 The airborne forces of the member states and the federations and unions to which they belong shall be amalgamated into one Royal Airborne Corps. Except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men of the Royal Airborne Corps shall not exceed the number at the time of amalgamation or 20,000 which ever is greater.

Sec. 7 The commando and special forces of the member states and the federations and unions to which they belong shall be amalgamated into one Royal Commando Corps Except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men of the Royal Commando Corps shall not exceed the number at the time of amalgamation or 10,000 which ever is greater.

Sec. 8 A Royal Tank Corps may be formed, but except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men shall not exceed 10,000.

Sec. 9 A Corps of Royal Engineers maybe formed, but except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men shall not exceed 10,000.

Sec. 10 An active duty cadre of officers and senior enlisted men for training and leading the Federal army in time of war may be maintained, but except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men shall not exceed 10,000.

Sec. 11 A General Staff may be maintained, but except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men shall not exceed 1,000.

Sec. 12 The government may by law require member states and/or the federations and unions to which they belong to maintain active and reserve infantry and armored forces proportional to their population. The member states and the federations and unions to which they belong may maintain forces in excess of those required by law. All states shall maintain a number of rifles suitable for infantry use equal to the number of their citizens between the age of 16 and 50.

Sec. 13 The active and reserve forces of the member states and the federations and unions to which they belong shall come under the control of the federal government only in time of declared war or with the permission of the chief executive of the state, except that in the event of the actual invasion of the territory of a member state, the federal government may automatically take control of the active and reserve forces of the states. However such forces shall not leave the territory of the United Commonwealth Federation with out a declaration of war or the permission of the governor. The militia shall only be called into federal service by a declaration of war, but the chief executive of each state may call them into the service of the state by the means laid out in state law.

ARTICLE 12 – TRADE AND MONEY

Sec. 1 No member state or the federations and unions to which they belong shall levy any tariff or restriction against imports from another member state.

Sec. 2 The United Commonwealth Federation shall have power to regulate commerce with foreign nations.

Sec. 3 The United Commonwealth Federation shall have power to coin silver, gold, or copper for use as money, to regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

Sec. 4 The government shall keep its accounts in a unit of 24 grains of fine silver alloyed to .925 fine. Parliament shall provide for coins of this type and multiples and fractions thereof to be minted.

Sec. 5 To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United Commonwealth Federation and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United Commonwealth Federation;

ARTICLE 13 – CITIZENSHIP

Sec. 1 All persons who where citizens or subjects of the member states or the federations and unions to which they belong are citizens of the United Commonwealth Federation.

Sec. 2 Parliament shall have authority to establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization.

Sec. 3 In applications for naturalization, preference shall be to members of the Commonwealth of Nations who are not members of this federation.

Sec. 4 Citizens of members the Commonwealth of Nations who are not members of this federation may be given special status for immigration purposes.

Constitution Last Part

ARTICLE 14 – JUDICIARY

Sec. 1 All judges whose appointment is not here in after provided for shall be chosen as follows. A committee for judicial nominations shall nominate judges for the federal court. The Committee shall chaired by the monarch. The other members shall be the Heir to the throne, the First Minister, the Second Minister, the Speaker of the House, and the Chief Justice of the United Commonwealth Federation and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court once such have been appointed. The Senate shall vote weather or not to confirm the nominees.

Sec. 2 The judicial Power of the United Commonwealth Federation shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Parliament may from time to time by law establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Sec. 3 The Supreme Court shall be composed of the Chief Justice of the United Commonwealth Federation and eight Associate Justices. The Chief Justice and four of the Associate Justices shall be nominated as any other judge. The other Four Associate Justices shall be nominated in turn by the heads of government of the several states and confirmed by the Senate.

Sec. 4 The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United Commonwealth Federation, 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 the United Commonwealth Federation shall be a Party; — to Controversies between two or more States; — between a State and Citizens of another State — between Citizens of different States; — between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

Sec. 5 In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State 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 Parliament shall make.

Sec. 6 The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Parliment may by Law have directed. In any criminal trial the jury shall be the judge of both the facts and of the law in controversy. The jury shall have the right before retiring to deliberate and at any time during their deliberations to ask the judge for his opinion on any relevant matter of law and access to the statute upon which the judges opinion is based. In any criminal case if the jury is unable to unanimously conclude that the defendant has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt they shall hand down a verdict of guilt not proven or not guilty. The correctness of a jury verdict of guilt not proven or not guilty shall not be questioned in any court. No juror shall be held liable for their verdict unless the juror is proved to have voted in accordance with a bribe.Sec. 7 Except in Cases of Impeachment no person shall be indicted for trial except by a Grand Jury. A Grand Jury shall be composed of 24 persons chosen at random from the state and district where they are impaneled. A quorum shall consist of 19 persons. The Grand Jury shall be informed of their rights and obligations. No indictment shall be handed down without the concurrence of 12 members of the Grand Jury. In addition to hearing cases brought before it by a Crown Prosecutor, the grand jury shall hear cases brought by private prosecutors against government officials and has the power to investigate any other criminal complaints brought to their attention. In any case the grand jury shall have the right to call witnesses and though their foreman put questions to all witnesses. In any case the grand jury shall have the right before retiring to deliberate and at any time during their deliberations to ask any judge from the district from which they are impaneled for his opinion on any relevant matter of law. All Grand Juries shall keep a record of their proceedings.

ARTICLE 15 – RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT

Sec. 1 The Ratification of the Conventions of twelve States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

Sec. 2 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 States, 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 States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by Parliament; Provided that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Constitution Last

ARTICLE 14 – JUDICIARY

Sec. 1 All judges whose appointment is not here in after provided for shall be chosen as follows. A committee for judicial nominations shall nominate judges for the federal court. The Committee shall chaired by the monarch. The other members shall be the Heir to the throne, the First Minister, the Second Minister, the Speaker of the House, and the Chief Justice of the United Commonwealth Federation and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court once such have been appointed. The Senate shall vote weather or not to confirm the nominees.

Sec. 2 The judicial Power of the United Commonwealth Federation shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Parliament may from time to time by law establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Sec. 3 The Supreme Court shall be composed of the Chief Justice of the United Commonwealth Federation and eight Associate Justices. The Chief Justice and four of the Associate Justices shall be nominated as any other judge. The other Four Associate Justices shall be nominated in turn by the heads of government of the several states and confirmed by the Senate.

Sec. 4 The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United Commonwealth Federation, 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 the United Commonwealth Federation shall be a Party; — to Controversies between two or more States; — between a State and Citizens of another State — between Citizens of different States; — between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

Sec. 5 In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State 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 Parliament shall make.

Sec. 6 The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Parliment may by Law have directed. In any criminal trial the jury shall be the judge of both the facts and of the law in controversy. The jury shall have the right before retiring to deliberate and at any time during their deliberations to ask the judge for his opinion on any relevant matter of law and access to the statute upon which the judges opinion is based. In any criminal case if the jury is unable to unanimously conclude that the defendant has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt they shall hand down a verdict of guilt not proven or not guilty. The correctness of a jury verdict of guilt not proven or not guilty shall not be questioned in any court. No juror shall be held liable for their verdict unless the juror is proved to have voted in accordance with a bribe.Sec. 7 Except in Cases of Impeachment no person shall be indicted for trial except by a Grand Jury. A Grand Jury shall be composed of 24 persons chosen at random from the state and district where they are impaneled. A quorum shall consist of 19 persons. The Grand Jury shall be informed of their rights and obligations. No indictment shall be handed down without the concurrence of 12 members of the Grand Jury. In addition to hearing cases brought before it by a Crown Prosecutor, the grand jury shall hear cases brought by private prosecutors against government officials and has the power to investigate any other criminal complaints brought to their attention. In any case the grand jury shall have the right to call witnesses and though their foreman put questions to all witnesses. In any case the grand jury shall have the right before retiring to deliberate and at any time during their deliberations to ask any judge from the district from which they are impaneled for his opinion on any relevant matter of law. All Grand Juries shall keep a record of their proceedings.

ARTICLE 15 – RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT

Sec. 1 The Ratification of the Conventions of twelve States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

Sec. 2 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 States, 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 States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by Parliament; Provided that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

The Heart of a Lion

I know I join many others in expressing my unshakeable solidarity with the people of London who have just suffered from a major blow in the war against Islamic Fascism.

All of the reports that have come out of London to day speak of the stoicism and refusal to panic of the people of the great capital of the United Kingdom and the english speaking people. Just as their grandparents stood firm in the face of six years of terror bombing by the Luftwaffe, I am confident that the people of London and all of the subjects of Her Majesty will rally to defy those who would impose their religion and backward political views on the rest of the world by force.

Sir Winston L. S. Churchill KG, defined the stakes and the attitude necessary to meet the threat in his speeches to the nation of May 19 and June 18 1940.

“I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister
in a solemn hour for the life of our country,
of our empire, of our allies,
and, above all, of the cause of Freedom…

..Having received His Majesty's commission,
I have formed an Administration of men and women
of every Party and of almost every point of view.
We have differed and quarreled in the past;
but now one bond unites us all
to wage war until victory is won,
and never to surrender ourselves to servitude and shame,
whatever the cost and the agony may be.

This is one of the most awe-striking periods
in the long history of France and Britain.
It is also beyond doubt the most sublime.
Side by side,
unaided except by their kith and kin in the great Dominions
and by the wide empires which rest beneath their shield
side by side, the British and French peoples
have advanced to rescue not only Europe but mankind
from the foulest and most soul-destroying tyranny
which has ever darkened and stained the pages of history.

Behind them - behind us-
behind the Armies and Fleets of Britain and France –
gather a group of shattered States and bludgeoned races:
the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians,
the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians –
upon all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend,
unbroken even by a star of hope,
unless we conquer, as conquer we must;
as conquer we shall.”

On June 18th with the French on verge of defeat Churchill told the nation

“What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over.
I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin.
Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization.
Upon it depends our own British life,
and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire.

The whole fury and might of the enemy
must very soon be turned on us.
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island
or lose the war.

If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free
and the life of the world may move forward
into broad, sunlit uplands.

But if we fail, then the whole world,
including the United States,
including all that we have known and cared for,
will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age
made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted,
by the lights of perverted science.

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties,
and so bear ourselves that,
if the British Empire and its Commonwealth
last for a thousand years,
men will still say,
‘This was their finest hour.’”

Churchill’s words should both inspire and instruct us on this tragic day. However the greatest lesson we should draw comes from a later remark by Churchill on his role in the war effort. He said, “It was the nation dwelling all around the globe that had the lion’s heart, I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar.”

I believe profoundly that the English speaking people, dwelling around the globe in London, Delhi, New York, Melbourne, Kingstown, Capetown, Singapore, Toronto, Christchurch, and a million places in between where our tongue is spoken and the spirit of Magna Carta lives, still have the lion’s heart in them.

They showed it on September 11 in New York, they are showing it in London today. Our soldiers show it every day in Afganistan and Iraq.

It is pointless, it is counter productive, to deny that we have suffered a defeat today, nor do I want to pretend that this is the last of the attacks that we will suffer, but I know as surely as I know the history of our glorious past that if we face the adversity of this war with the stoutness of heart, the inflexible determination, and the confidence in our institutions and in the future, that have long marked the character of our people then we have nothing to fear from an ideology that is nothing more than death worshiping nihilism, the dieing remnant of 20th century totalitarianism.

All we wait now is a war leader to give the roar and the enemy will tremble before the people of London, the United Kingdom, and the English Speaking Nation. A people who have shown once again that they have, the Heart of a Lion.