Austrian Constitution

Day 697, 18:14 Published in Austria Austria by Rangeley


Here is a reposting of the Constitution which was posted last by Lynari when he was serving as the Minister of Justice. After getting consensus support in his article, it went to a vote in congress where it was approved. It then received approval from me as President.

This document's purpose is to provide a tool with which the government can be held accountable. For this reason, it is being presented again in its final form (unchanged from last time,) to make sure that there is a consensus behind it from the Austrian people. If there is, we can consider this in effect. Below is the document.

CONSTITUTION OF AUSTRIA

FOREWORD

Here is the sovereign nation of Austria. The people, of whom elected officials are a part, jointly rule this nation with the nation’s best interests at heart. Austria is a democracy.

A. THE BASICS

1. Austria is an independent nation with a democratic government.
2. Austria’s flag contains three horizontal stripes: the first red, the next white, and the last red.
3. The capital of Austria is Styria.
4. The currency of Austria is the ATS.
5. The languages of Austria are English and German.
6. Osterreichs Bundesheer, Austrian Central Bank, Ministry of Immigration, National Holding, Oesterreichischer Rundfunk and Austrian Armed Forces (Red Cross) are official organizations of the government.
6.2 Osterreichs Bundesheer: http://www.erepublik.com/en/organization/1316333
6.3 Austrian Central Bank: http://www.erepublik.com/en/organization/1401218
6.4 Ministry of Immigration: http://www.erepublik.com/en/organization/1790993
6.5 National Holding: http://www.erepublik.com/en/organization/327382
6.6 Austrian Armed Forces: http://www.erepublik.com/en/organization/1639710
6.7 Oesterreichischer Rundfunk: http://www.erepublik.com/en/organization/1895145
7. The regions belonging to Austria are Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria and Vorarlberg.
8. No act of Congress or the President can formally unionize this nation with another.
9. The active population is defined by the number of people to vote in the previous Presidential election.

B. THE PEOPLE

1. The people will pay taxes approved by Congress.
2. The rules of eRepublik are laws of Austria.
3. Freedom of speech is assured, but discrimination is discouraged.
4. It is the right of every citizen to vote in each election.
5. Citizens have the right to live wherever they please.
6. Citizens are encouraged to make an effort to relinquish their citizenship if they feel they are more loyal to a different nation.
7. Citizens of Austria have the right to unionize.
8. Citizens of Austria have the right to form companies and to export wherever they choose.
9. Citizens of Austria have the right to sign contracts amongst themselves and with people outside the nation.
10. If a petition acquires more than fifty percent of the active population’s consent, the official whom the petition pertains to is expected to respond. The word “signed” constitutes as consent.
11. Citizens have the right to form and join political parties.

C. THE CONGRESS

1. Congressmen are elected by the people to serve the people.
2. Upon becoming a Congressman, Congressmen are bound by the power of this Constitution to give three (3) of the five gold they receive with their Congress medal as Congress tax to any organization of government, see Article A6.
3. A Congressman must post a debate area for every law he or she proposes with the exception of donations to the Austrian Central Bank.
4. Congressmen can serve an infinite number of terms.
5. Congressmen possess all the powers granted to them by the game mechanics.

D. THE PRESIDENT

1. The President is elected by the people to serve the people.
2. Presidents must post a debate area for every proposal.
3. Presidents must establish certain Ministries (See E. MINISTRIES).
4. Presidents can serve an infinite number of terms, but not more than four consecutively.
5. Presidents possess all the powers granted to them by the game mechanics.
6. A President must give 24 hours notice prior to resigning.
7. The President is not allowed to willingly forfeit any region (Article A-7) permanently, or for more than ten days.
8. If Austria and another country do an “attack-retreat region swap” and the President obtains 5 gold and a Battle Hero medal, the 5 gold belongs to Austria and should be donated to the Austrian Central Bank or to the other nation’s bank, whichever is appropriate.

E. THE MINISTRIES

1. There are five (5) required Ministries that must be appointed by the President within three days of his election. Besides these, he or she may appoint five more of his own choosing.
2. The Ministry of Health is a required Ministry. The responsibility of this Ministry is to improve the wellness of the Austrian people. This Ministry requires funding.
3. The Ministry of Immigration is a required Ministry. The responsibility of this Ministry is to draw immigrants to Austria. This Ministry requires funding.
4. The Ministry of Defense is a required Ministry. The responsibility of this Ministry is to advise the President on military affairs and keep Austria prepared. This Ministry requires funding.
5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a required Ministry. The responsibility of this Ministry is to maintain good relations with foreign powers. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has the right to appoint Ambassadors. Ambassadors can be citizens or Congressmen but must not hold any other position.
6. The Ministry of Finance is a required Ministry. The responsibility of this Ministry is to advise the President on economic affairs.

F. THE POLITICAL PARTIES

1. All citizens have the right to form political parties as per Article B-11.
2. Political parties may embody any political ideology including ones that are contrary to this Constitution.

G. ALLIANCES

1. Austria is a member of PEACE GC.
2. Austria will not join alliances that are inherently opposed to PEACE GC while still a member.
3. Austria can leave PEACE GC only with approval of the President and Congress.
4. Austria can only form or join an alliance with approval of the President and Congress.

H. FUTURE AMENDMENTS
(The following articles are true only once the Constitution has been ratified)

1. No individual can revise the Constitution and pose it to Congress except for a Minister of Justice appointed by the President.
2. In order for a Minister of Justice to be official, he or she must not have been any other kind of Minister during that Presidential term. A Minister of Justice must have served at least one complete term in Congress. A President cannot appoint more than one Minister of Justice during one term.
3. An amended Constitution is passed in the same manner as the Constitution is first ratified (See I. RATIFICATION).

I. RATIFICATION

1. In order for this Constitution to take effect, it must have first been approved by the Minister of Justice, the President and Congress:
1.2. The Minister of Justice approves a particular version Constitution when he makes it public by posting it either in his newspaper or on the Austrian forum.
1.3. The President approves the Constitution either by comment on the forum or on the Minister of Justice’s newspaper.
1.4. A poll will be held for Congress to either vote in or deny the Constitution when it has been approved by the Minister of Justice and the President.
2. When the Constitution is approved, it becomes law and the current Minister of Justice is relieved from duty. That Minister of Justice can’t serve as Minister of Justice again during that Presidential term.

AFTERWORD

The purpose of this Constitution is not to impose laws on Austria’s people. This Constitution is to be used as a tool by the people to ensure justice prevails in Austria.

Approved by Lynari, 16th President of Austria and 1st Minister of Justice.
Approved by Rangeley, 18th President of Austria.
Approved by a vote by Congress.
Presented for approval by public.