The Constitution of the Galactic Dominion, As Proposed to the Senate:ARTICLE I
Section 1. All legislative Powers herein ganted shall be vested in a Congress of the Galactic Dominion, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Represenatives.
Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several Systems, and the Electors in each System shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numberous Branch of the System Legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty-five Years of their world, and been seven Years of their world a Citizen of the Galactic Dominion, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that System in which he shall be chosen.
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several Systems which may be included within this Dominion, according to their respective Numbers. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years ater the first Meeting of the Congress of the Galactic Dominion, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed on for every thirty Million but each State shall have at Least one Representative.
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any System, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers.
Section 3. The Senate of the Galactic Dominion shall be composed of two Senators from each Syste for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they 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 Espiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year.
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years of their world, and been nine Years of their world a Citizen of the Galactic Dominion, and who shall not, when eelcted, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The First Citizens of the Galactic Dominion shall be Chancellors of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a First Citizen pro tempore, in the Absence of the First Citizens, or when he shall exercise the Office of First Citizens of the Galactic Dominion.
Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each System by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators.
Section 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; hbut a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgement require Secrecy; and teh eas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of another or the First Citizens, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the Galactic Dominion. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appoibnted to any civil Office under the Authority of the Galactic Dominion, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the Galactic Dominion, shall be a Member of either House during the Continuance in Office.
Section 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the First Citizens of the Galactic Dominion; If they approve they shall sign it, but if not they shall return it, with their Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and Houses of Representatives may be neccessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the First Citizens of the Galactic Dominion; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by them, or being disapproved by them, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the Galactic Dominion;
To borrow Money on the credit of the Galactic Dominion;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several Systems;
To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on teh subject of Bankruptcies throughout the Galactic Dominion;
To regulate the Value of Money, and of foreign Coin, and fix the The Standard of Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Credit of the Galactic Dominion;
To establish hyperspace lanes;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies commited in the void of Space, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in Planets as may, by Cession of particular Planets, and the Acceptance of Congres, become the Seat of the Government of the Galctic Dominion, and to exercise like Authority over all Places prchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the System in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Magazines, Arsenals, Battlestations, Shipyards, and other useful buildings;--And
To make all Lawws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the Galactic Dominion, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 9. The Privileges of Citizenship shall not be suspended unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety need require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any System.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one System over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one System, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.
Section 10. No System shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confderation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post factio Law, or law impairing the Obligation of Contracts.
No System shall, without the Consent of the Congress or First Citizens, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any System on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the Galactic Dominion; and all such Laws shall be subject to revision and Control of the Congres, at the consent of the First Citizens.ARTICLE II
Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in the First Citizens of the Galactic Dominion. They shall hold their Office during the Term of Life, be elected as follows.
Each System shall appoint, in such a Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the System may be entitled in the Senate: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the Galactic Dominion, shall be appointed an Elector.
The Congress may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the Galactic Dominion.
No Person except a natural born Citizen, shall be eligible to the Office of First Citizen; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years by their world, and been fourteen Years by their world a Resident with the Galactic Dominion.
In Case of the Removal of the First Citizen from Office, or of his/her Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Congress to elect a new First Citizen.
The First Citizens shall, at stated Times, for their Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period fo which they shall preside over their Office, and they shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the Galactic Dominion, or any of them.
Before they enter on the Execution of their Office, they shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"We do solemnly swear (or affirm) that we shall faithfully execute the Office of First Citizen of the Galactic Dominion, and will to the best of our Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Galactic Dominion.
Section 2. The powers of the First Citizens are as follow.
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a logner Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Goernment and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the Laws of the Dominion, 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 Galactic Dominion, reserving to the Systems respectively, the Appointment of the Officveers, and teh AUthority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress.
The First Citizens shall be Commanders in Chief of the Army and Navy of the Galactic Dominion, and of the Militia of the several Systems, when called into the actual Service of the Galactic Dominion; they 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 Officers, and they shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the Galactic Dominion, except in Case of Conviction of Treason Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
They shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators, shall appoint Ambassadors, ther public Ministers and Consus, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the Galactic Dominion, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the First Citizens alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The First Citizens shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Section 3. They shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Dominion, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as they shall judge necessary and expedient; they may, on extraordinary Occaions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time Adjournment, they may adjourn the to such Time as they shall think proper; they shall recieve Ambassadors and other public Ministers; they shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the Galactic Dominion.
Section 4. The First Citizens and all civil Officers of the Galactic Dominion, shall be removed from Office on Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.ARTICLE III
Section 1. The judicial Power fo the Galactic Dominion, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time totime ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
Section 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the Galactic Dominion, and Treaties made, or which shall not be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and naval Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the Galactic Dominion shall be a Party;-- to Controversies between two or more Systems;--between Citizens under Grants of different Systems.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those inwhich a System shall be Party, the Supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress or First Citzizens shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in cases of Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in teh System where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any System, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress or First Citizens may by Law have directed.
Section 3. Treason against the Galactic Dominion, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attander of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.ARTICLE IV
Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each System to the public Arts, Records, and judicial Proceedings ofevery other System. And the Congress may be general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records, and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Section 2. The Citizens of each System shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several Systems.
A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another System, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the System from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the System having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
Section 3. New Systems may be admitted by the Congress into this Dominion,; but no new System shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other System; nor any System be formed by the Junction two or more Systems, or Parts of Systems, without the Consent of that Legisaltures of the Systems concerned as well as of the Congress.
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory of other Property belonging to the Galactic Dominion; and nothing in this Constitution shall be construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the Galactic Dominion, or of any particular System.
Section 4. The Galactic Dominion shall guarantee to every System in this Dominion a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each other of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.ARTICLE V
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both HOuses shall deem it necessary, shall propose the Amendments of 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 ratificedby the Legislatures of three fourths of the several Systems, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one of the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in thh Senate.ARTICLE VI
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the Galactic Dominion, as under the Empire or New Republic.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the Galactic Dominion which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the Galactic Dominion, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every System shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any System to the Contrary notwithstanding.
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Mebers of the several System Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the Galactic Dominion and of the several Systems, 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 Galactic Dominion.ARTICLE VII
The Ratification of the Conventions of three fourths of the Senate, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the Systems so ratyfing the Same.
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the Systems present. IN witness whereof We have hereunto subcribed our Names.Marre Usvil-
Yssane Isard-
First Citizens of the Galactic DominionThe Senators of:
Agamar
Bastion
Belkaden
Bimmisaari
Byss
Coruscant
Dantoonie
Dubrillion
Endor
Eriadu
Hoth
Kashyyyk
Kessel
Kuat
Mon Calamar
Naboo
Sernipidal
Yaga Minor
Yavin IV
THE AMENDMENTS
Articles in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the Galactic Dominion, propsed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several systems, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.Second Amendment
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free System, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.Third Amendment
No Soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner prescribed by law.Fourth Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effeects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.Fifth Amendment
No person 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 the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himeself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.Sixth Amendment
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the rights to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the System and distrit wherein the crime shall have been commited, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and 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, and to have the Assitance of Counsel for his defense.Seventh Amendment
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the Galactic Dominon than according to the rules of the common law.Eighth Amendment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.Ninth Amendment
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.Tenth Amendment
The powers not delegated to the Galactic Dominion by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the Systems, are reserved to the Systems respectively, or to the people.Eleventh Amendment
The Judicial power of the Galactic Dominion shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosectued against one of the Galactic Dominion by Citizens of another System, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.Twelfth Amendment
The Electors shall meet in their respective systems and vote by ballot for the First Citizens, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same system with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as First Citizen, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the Galactic Dominion, directed to the Senate;--The person having the greateest number of votes for First Citizen, shall be the First Citzen, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as First Citizen, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the First Citizen. But in choosing the First Citizen, the votes shall be taken by systems, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice.Thirteenth Amendment
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shallexist within the Galactic Dominion, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.Fourteenth Amendment
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the Galactic Dominion and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the Galactic Dominion and of the System wherein they reside. No System shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the Galactic Dominon; nor shall any System deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, withoud due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned amond the several Systems according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each System. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for First Citizen of the Galactic Dominion, Representatives in Congres, the Executive and Judicial officers of a System, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the inhabitants of such System, being eighteen years of age by their world, and citizens of the Galactic Dominion or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such citizens shall bear to the whole number of citizesn in such System.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of First Citizen, or hold any office, civil or military undre the Galactic Dominion, or under any System, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as a nofficer of the Galactic Dominion, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion ainst the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the Galactic Dominion, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions andbounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall no be questioned. But neither Galactic Dominion nor any System shall assume or pay debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the Galactic Dominion but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.Fifteenth Amendment
Section 1. The right of the Galactic Dominion to vote shall not be denied or abridged by teh Galactic Dominion or by any System on account of species or race.
Section 2. The COngress hall have power to enforce this article by appropriate private legislation.Sixteenth Amendment
The Senate of the Galactic Dominion shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each System shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the System legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any System in the Senate, the executive authority of such System shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any System may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vancince by election at the legislature may direct.---------
Galactic Dominion
Marre Usvil, First Citizen of the Galactic Dominion (this is a better picture and what I have pictured him like from the start)
Yssane Isard, First Citizen of the Galactic Dominion
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"Vivis sperandum. Where there is life there is hope."- Niven family motto
"Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made."- Otto von Bismarck