Foreword: Why this document?
In the period immediately preceding the publication of this document, a certain controversy has prevailed. Certain religiously pro-democratic individuals have attacked Corvinia for being, quote, absolutist and despotic, unquote, and for not guaranteeing basic liberties to her citizens.
As will be evident from the following text, this is a false interpretation, based on ignorance.
This document, then, is an attempt to educate the readers in general of the true nature of Corvinia's system of government. It is not a legal text, and certainly not a constitution, but rather an aid to understanding the (essentially simple) system.
1. The philosophy of government
The Corvinian system of government is enlightened absolutism (Danish: oplyst enevælde), a system inspired by the monarchic tradition of Denmark in the period from the mid-1700s to the 1840s.
The system draws its principal inspiration from this historical monarchy, and from the political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Charles-Louis de Secondat de Montesquieu. To a lesser extent, it is also inspired by other historical monarchies, notably the British monarchy of the 16th-19th centuries.
Fundamental to the system is the concept of a "social contract" (or, as we call it, a "pact") between the monarch and the subjects, whereby the subjects willingly hand over all legislative, executive, and judicial authority to the monarch, who is then obligated to function as a "good monarch", or forfeit his privilege.
In effect, the monarch and the people are contractually obligated to each other by a common agreement, based in mutual honour and respect.
The Corvinian system has little to do with the forms of absolutism which have prevailed elsewhere - for instance, at the court of King Louis XIV of France, whose famous utterance "L'etat - c'est moi!" ("The State is me!") defines the strictest form of absolutism, near-indistinguishable from outright despotism.
In fact, the system of government in Corvinia has also been described as "constitutional monarchy without a written constitution" or "representative democracy with infrequent elections (at successions or at ceremonies of acclamation) and a representation limited to one person".
2. The privileges and duties of the monarch
The monarch is invested with the legislative, executive, and judicial authority of the nation.
Portions of this authority may be delegated, as the prince sees fit.
In the case of suits brought against the Prince, or resolution of petitions alleging malfeasance by the Prince, the authority to judge the case must be delegated.
The monarch's ultimate obligation is to act in the best interests of the people primarily, and of himself secondarily.
If a subject presents a supplication to the monarch, he is obliged to respond to the petition as soon as possible, or to give a formal and public statement that a response is postponed. Such a statement must include a statement of when a response may be expected, and a reason for the postponement.
The monarch (or his duly designated representatives) administers all public affairs in the Principality, including but not limited to the apportioning of titles and honours, approval or denial of petitions for naturalisation, foreign relations, legislative initiatives, and judicial process.
At times of succession, the prospective monarch is obliged to seek the acclamation of the people. If such acclamation is not forthcoming, the pact has ceased to exist, and the monarchy is dissolved, to be replaced with a new government of the people's choice. To ensure untroubled succession, this acclamation may be obtained prior to succession.
The monarch has the right of clemency - he may choose to grant leniency to anyone convicted of a crime under Corvinian law. This right is not subject to petitions for judicial review - but the monarch cannot grant clemency to himself.
If the monarch is convicted of a crime, he must petition the people for clemency (a referendum deciding the issue), and failing to achieve clemency, he must abdicate.
3. The privileges and duties of the citizens
Every citizen is primarily a free individual, and only secondarily a subject of the monarch.
The rights and privileges of the citizen are as follows:
Freedom of thought and expression: In Corvinia, everyone may say what they please. The only limitations to this freedom are the limitations imposed by official rescripts issued by the Prince (which must be publicly promulgated, and hence, subject to review by the general populace). At present, the only legislative limitation to free speech is rescript no. 3. If offensive statements are uttered by one subject about another, the offended party has the right to press suit before the Prince (or his designated judiciary) on charges of slander or libel.
Freedom of belief and association: A Corvinian subject may freely espouse any political or religious belief. No legislative restrictions may be placed upon such groups. However, the government of Corvinia is entirely secular, and the Crown reserves the right to restrict the efforts of religious groups to interfere in the workings of government.
Freedom of departure: At any time, a subject of Corvinia may resign his citizenship without fear of reprisal. If a subject has been convicted of a crime, he may resign his citizenship prior to execution of the penalty incurred - but if, at a later date, he petitions for renewed citizenship, and this is granted, he must pay the penalty previously incurred.
Right of sedition: The Crown may not restrict the right of individual Corvinians to work for a non-violent, popularly approved change in the system of government.
Right of supplication: All subjects of the Crown have the inalienable right to present a petition to the monarch, who must respond publicly, if the supplicant so requests. To prevent frivolous exercise of this right, frequent supplicants may be declared public nuisances, and restricted to one annual petition.
A citizen is not entitled to initiate legislation, but may petition the monarch to do so.
So long as the monarch acts in accordance with his obligations, the subjects of the Crown are bound by the pact, and may not act contrary to the interests of the Principality. All edicts and rescripts issued by the Prince, and not subject to suspension for judicial review, must be obeyed, or the subject may be deemed in violation of the pact, and penalized accordingly.
Treason: If a subject of the Principality knowingly acts in a fashion damaging to the interests of the Principality, this is treason - and is punishable by penalties at the discretion of the Prince. The suggested penalty is revocation of citizenship.
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