Constitution of Banana Federation

The Constitution of Banana Federation is the supreme law of Banana Federation. The constitution establishes Banana Federation as a Federal Republic, guarantees the rights of individuals and the states, and delineates the responsibilities of the states and federal government. It was adopted on October 15, 1842, shortly after the Bananish War of Independence, and was inspired in part by both the Constitution of Ironcastle and the Scuroian Edicts of Prosperity.

Constitution

Preamble

In the name of Almighty God!

The Bananish People and the States,

mindful of their responsibility towards creation,

have resolved to establish an eternal alliance and federation whose purpose is to strengthen liberty, democracy, independence, peace and justice in a spirit of cooperation with their neighbours,

determined to live together with mutual consideration and respect,

conscious of their common achievements and their responsibility towards future generations,

and in the knowledge that only those who use their freedom remain free, and that the strength of a people is measured by the well-being of its weakest members;

adopt the following Constitution:

The Legislative

Section 1

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in the Parliament of the Federation, which shall consist of the House of Most Worthy Delegates of the Federation, hereby referred to as the House of Delegates, and the Assembly of the Federation.

Section 2

1: The Assembly of the Federation shall be composed of Members chosen every third Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

2: No Person shall be a Deputy who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty-five Years, and been eight Years a Citizen of the Federation, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

3: Deputies and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Federation, according to their respective population. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Parliament of the Federation, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Deputies shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative.

4: When vacancies happen among the Deputies of any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

5: The Assembly of the Federation shall choose their Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section 3

1: The House of Delegates of the Federation shall be composed of a number of Delegates from each State, proportional to its population, elected by the people thereof, for three Years; and each Delegate shall have one Vote.

2: Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into two Classes. The Seats of the Delegates of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the third Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one half may be chosen every third 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.

3: No Person shall be a Delegate who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been ten Years a Citizen of the Federation, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

4: The Chancellor shall be President of the House of Delegates, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

5: The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

6: The House of Delegates shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the Federation is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

7: Judgment in Cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honour, Trust or Profit under the Federation: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Section 4

1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Delegates and Deputies, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Parliament may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations.

2: The Parliament shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in June, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section 5

1: 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; but 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.

2: Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

3: Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

4: Neither House, during the Session of Parliament, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section 6

1: The Delegates and Deputies shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the Federation. 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.

2: No Delegate or Deputy shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the Federation, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

Section 7

1: All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the Assembly of the Federation; but the House of Delegates may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

2: Every Bill which shall have passed the Assembly of the Federation and the House of Delegates, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the Federation; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Parliament by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the House of Delegates and Assembly of the Federation may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the Federation; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the House of Delegates and Assembly of the Federation, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section 8

1: The House of Delegates 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 Federation; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the Federation;

2: To borrow Money on the credit of the Federation;

3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the native kingdoms;

4: To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the Federation;

5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the Federation;

7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

8: 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;

9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

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

11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than four Years;

13: To provide and maintain a Navy;

14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Federation, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

16: 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 Federation, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding fifteen kilometres square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Parliament, become the Seat of the Government of the 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

18: 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 Federation, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section 9

1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Parliament prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eighty, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten bananas for each Person.

2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

3: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

5: No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

6: No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

7: No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the Federation.

Section 10

1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

2: No State shall, without the Consent of the Parliament, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the Federation; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Control of the Parliament.

3: No State shall, without the Consent of Parliament, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

The Executive

The Judiciary

Rights of the States

Rights of the Individual

Method of Amendment