Supreme Directive (unamended)

Please note that this is the original version of the Supreme Directive as of July 2013 before any amendments were applied. For a current version of the Supreme Directive with amendments applied, see Supreme Directive.

The Supreme Directive

Article I – Fundamental Law

• 1. In accordance with Article 5 of the Supreme Directive of the 16th of April 2013, this Supreme Directive shall take effect as the fundamental law of the Empire of Adammia and replace the previous Directive if more than 50% of Adammic voters choose so in a fair referendum. The aforementioned referendum took place on the 30th of June 2013 and resulted in 100% support out of a 57% voter turnout, hence proclaiming this Supreme Directive.

Article II – Replacement and Entrenchment

• 1. I, Adam Belcher, son of Kevin Belcher, son of Kenny Belcher, by my self-given right as Founder and Emperor of the Empire of Adammia, declare the Supreme Directive of the 16th of April 2013 null and void with the exception of its first sentence: “I, Adam Belcher, do hereby declare the formation of the political entity The Empire of Adammia, and appoint myself as Head of State of this entity.”
• 2. This Supreme Directive is declared to be impossible to amend or suspend, except if the will of the Founder is invoked or if the Head of State proposes a fair public referendum amongst full citizens for an amendment or suspension which then gains more than 50% of the support of the voters.

Article III – Sovereignty and the Outside World

• 1. The governing body of the Empire of Adammia is prohibited from enforcing laws that violate the laws of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The “UK”). Its citizens and governing body shall never be granted exemption from macronational (states in the United Nations) and international law, though exemption from macronational law could be achieved in the unlikely event that the macronation involved recognises the sovereignty of the Empire of Adammia over the land it claims.
• 2. The governing body of the Empire of Adammia is prohibited from interfering with the rights given by macronational legal ownership of land to landowners within the territory it claims.

Article IV - Territory

• 1.The Empire of Adammia claims sovereignty (to the extent set out in the article above) over the bedroom of the Founder, wherever it may be, so that the Empire always has a permanent territory.
• 2. It also claims the same extent of sovereignty over land given to it in Treaties of Annexation.

Article V - Citizenship

• 1. A citizen of the Empire of Adammia can be a full citizen or an honourary citizen.
• 2. Full citizens
  • a) A resident of any land claimed by the Empire of Adammia who acknowledges the sovereignty of the Empire over said land can be made a full citizen of the Empire.
  • b) A full citizen is expected to follow and is subject to the laws set out by the governing body of the Empire of Adammia.
  • c) Only full citizens are counted in the population of the Empire.
• 3. Honourary citizens
  • a) A person who lives abroad but has good relations with the Empire can be granted honourary citizenship by the Head of State.
  • b) Honourary citizenship has no specific rights or responsibilities.
• 4. No governing body can force a job or role upon a citizen.

Article VI – Founder's Rights

• 1. As the Founder of the Empire of Adammia, I, Adam Belcher, author of this Supreme Directive, retain certain rights, even if I lose the position of Head of State.
• 2. The title of Founder is irremovable and the rights that come with it shall be terminated with my death.
• 3. The Founder holds the ability to choose a new Monarch at any point, even after my own abdication (if this happens), though this can be overruled by the current Monarch.
• 4. The Founder also holds the right to determine the fundamental law of the Empire, as exercised with the creation of this Supreme Directive, but only if the Founder is still Head of State. Following my death, this right can only be exercised by the will of the People (through public referendum).

Article VII – The Monarch

• 1. The Monarch's Status
  • a) The Empire of Adammia is ruled over by the Monarch, who holds the position of Head of State.
  • b) The Monarch is known as Emperor if male, and Empress if female.
  • c) The Monarch holds the title of His/Her Imperial Majesty Emperor/Empress Forename Ordinal of Adammia, where Ordinal is the number, in Roman numerals, of Monarchs that have ruled Adammia under that forename (Example: His Imperial Majesty Emperor Adam I of Adammia).
  • d) The Monarch holds the secondary title of Imperator(male)/Imperatrix(female) Adammiae Numeral, where Numeral is the number, in Roman numerals, of Monarchs that have ruled Adammia in total (Example: Imperator Adammiae I).
• 2. The Monarch and the Ruling Council
  • a) The Monarch holds the position of Chair of the Ruling Council (see below).
  • b) The Monarch must never hold the position of Prime Minister under any circumstances.
• 3. Imperial Decrees
  • a) The Monarch also holds the position of the Office of the Emperor(if male)/Empress(if female), the political entity responsible for issuing Imperial Decrees.
  • b)Imperial Decrees act as an expression of the Monarch's sovereignty over the Empire.
  • c)Imperial Decrees apply for all provinces in the Empire unless stated otherwise.
  • d)Imperial Decrees must follow this Supreme Directive.
  • e)Imperial Decrees are automatically law unless overturned by the Ruling Council.
  • f)All six Imperial Decrees issued under the Supreme Directive of the 16th of April 2013 are transferred and enacted under this Supreme Directive instead.
• 4. Miscellaneous Monarchical Powers
  • a) The Monarch has the right to issue titles to any citizen or non-citizen.
  • b) The Monarch has the right to exempt individuals from rulings of any government bodies.
  • c) The Monarch has the right to grant or remove full or honourary citizenship to any person.
  • d) The Monarch can appoint a citizen as their Advisor or Chief Advisor (but not force them, as this would be against this Supreme Directive).
• 5. Abdication
  • a) The position of Monarch is held for life unless the Monarch chooses to abdicate.
  • b) In order to abdicate, the Monarch must present a signed document declaring their wish to abdicate to both the Ruling Council and a citizen outside the Ruling Council.
• 6. Line of Succession
  • a) After abdication or death, the Monarch loses his position and it is transferred to the Heir. The Heir is the first person in the Line of Succession.
  • b) The Heir holds the style of His/Her Imperial Highness and the title of Crown Prince/Princess.
  • c) When the Heir is needed to take up the position of Monarch, they should be asked by the Prime Minister as soon as possible if they want to become Monarch. If they refuse, then the next person on the Line of Succession is asked.
  • d) The Line of Succession starts with the descendants of the Monarch in order of birth, then siblings of the Monarch and their descendants, then the spouse of the Monarch and their descendants and siblings, and so on.
  • e) A male member of the Line of Succession holds the title of Prince and the style of His Imperial Highness. A female member of the Line of Succession holds the title of Princess and the style of Her Imperial Highness.
  • f) If the Line of Succession ends, the Monarch should choose a new family to start the Line of Succession again. The House of Belcher, being the original family of the Line of Succession, should always take precedence in this decision, with the House of Hall being second in this precedence.
  • g) If the Monarch cannot choose a new Heir due to death or other circumstances, the Ruling Council must choose the new Heir through an Act of Council, not requiring Imperial consent, using the precedences outlined above.
• 7. Regency
  • a) If the Monarch is unable to rule the Empire for a period of time longer than six months, then they should appoint a member of the Ruling Council as a Lord/Lady Regent.
  • b) The Ruling Council can elect a member to be Regent if there has been no contact from the Monarch in six months.
  • c) A Regent takes the full powers of the Monarch until the Monarch is able to return to their position, however, the Line of Succession does not transfer to the Regent.

Article VIII – The Ruling Council

• 1. The Ruling Council is a political entity responsible for ensuring democracy in the Empire.
• 2. Membership of the Council
  • a) The Chair of the Ruling Council is the Monarch.
  • b) All nobles under Imperial Decree IV are eligible to join the Council.
  • c) Elected Ministers from the provinces have a place on the Council (see below).
  • d) The Chief Advisor to the Emperor has a place on the Council.
• 3. Ministers of Council and Local Elections
  • a)Residents of any Province may nominate themselves as a candidate for the position of Minister of Council for that province.
  • b) Candidates run in a Local Election.
  • c) Any citizen older than twelve years old can run in a Local Election, including the Monarch.
  • d) Local Elections take place every six months unless specified otherwise by the Monarch (though they cannot take place more than a year apart and cannot take place less than two months apart).
  • e) Local Elections must be announced at least two weeks in advance so that candidates have time to campaign.
  • f) All citizens who are residents of the province can vote for a candidate in the Local Election.
  • g) Ballots in the Local Elections are counted by an official appointed by the Monarch.
  • h) The winner of the election becomes the Minister for that province.
  • i) If no candidate nominates themselves for Minister, then the noble for their province assumes that role in addition to their own.
• 4. Prime Minister and National Elections
  • a) Any Minister of Council can nominate themselves as a candidate for Prime Minister.
  • b) Candidates for Prime Minister run in a National Election.
  • c) If the Monarch is a Minister, they may not run in the National Election, for the Monarch cannot become Prime Minister under any circumstances.
  • d) The Monarch or Regent should evaluate the candidates for Prime Minister and reject them if they see necessary.
  • e) National Elections take place once a year unless specified otherwise by the Monarch (though they cannot take place more than two years apart and cannot take place less than six months apart).
  • f) National Elections must be announced at least three weeks in advance so that candidates have time to campaign.
  • g) All full citizens of the Empire can vote in the National Election.
  • h) Ballots in the National Election are counted by an official appointed by the Monarch.
  • i) The winner of the National Election becomes the Prime Minister.
  • j) The Prime Minister may appoint a Deputy Prime Minister out of the remaining Ministers.
  • k) The Deputy Prime Minister fulfils the role of the Prime Minister if the Prime Minister is not available.
  • l) If the Prime Minister resigns, dies or is removed from office by the Monarch with an Act of Council, the Deputy Prime Minister will become Prime Minister until the next National Election, which should be held as soon as possible.
• 5. Meeting Procedures
  • a) The Ruling Council should meet once a week, with a maximum of two weeks between meetings.
  • b) In order for a meeting of the Council to take place, three members must be present, including the Emperor, Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister.
  • c) Meetings of the Ruling Council are started and ended by the Monarch, or the Prime Minister if the Monarch is not present, or the Deputy Prime Minister if neither are present.
  • d) Records of every meeting of the Ruling Council must be kept, even if they are just rudimentary notes of the discussion.
• 6. Acts of Council
  • a) Members of the Ruling Council have the right to propose Acts of Council to the Council.
  • b) An Act of Council has legislative power second only to an Imperial Decree.
  • c) An Act of Council must follow the Supreme Directive.
  • d) Once an Act of Council has been debated, a vote shall take place amongst members of the Council to decide if the Act shall pass.
  • e) At least half of all members of the Council must participate in this vote, including the Monarch or Prime Minister. If this vote is tied, the Prime Minister holds a deciding vote. Alternatively, the Council can vote to put the Act up for a public referendum to decide if it shall pass instead.
  • f) If the vote decides to accept the Act, the Monarch must then give Imperial Consent. The Act becomes law as soon as it is signed by the Monarch.
• 6. Imperial Decrees at the Council
  • a) Imperial Decrees must be presented to the Council at the nearest opportunity and explained by the Monarch.
  • b) The Council can then debate any objections and propose to hold a vote to overturn the Decree. If this vote gains more than 75% support, the Decree is overturned.

Article IX – National Government

• 1. The Prime Minister is the Head of Government.
• 2. It is the role of the Government to enforce Imperial Decrees and Acts of Council, and manage the day-to-day affairs of the Empire.
• 3. The Prime Minister may appoint Ministers of Council to various governmental departments. The status of these departments within the government is determined by Acts of Council.
• 4. Any decisions made by the Government should conform with Imperial Decrees and Acts of Council.
• 5. The Monarch should correspond with the Government regularly.

Article X – Local Government

• 1. The local government of each province is made up of its Noble and its Minister.
• 2. Local governments have the option of creating Local councils, to which people can be elected to in similar manner to the Ruling Council.
• 3. Local governments and/or Local councils can create and pass local laws specific to that province, but they must adhere to the Supreme Directive and all Imperial Decrees and Acts of Council.

Article XI – Judiciary Process

• 1. If a crime is committed against a law set out in the Supreme Directive, an Imperial Decree or an Act of Council, the offender, once being apprehended by the authorities, shall be brought before the Grand Court.
• 2. The judge of the Grand Court is the Monarch. If the Monarch is not available, the judge is the Prime Minister.
• 3. The Grand Court handles cases in the same manner as UK courts.

Article XII – Rights of Citizens

• 1. All citizens are born equal and shall be treated as such by the law and governing bodies.
• 2. All citizens have the right to life and capital punishment is prohibited.
• 3. All citizens have the right to freedom of expression and speech.
• 4. No citizen shall be imprisoned or physically restricted against their will unless they have forfeited this right by committing a crime.

Signed,
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Adam I of Adammia, on behalf of the People
Imperator Adammiae I
30th June 2013, LXXVIII day of his reign, at 20:47