Constitution of the Commonwealth of Solemn
Ratified in the year 1871
Preamble
We, the people of the Commonwealth of Solemn, do establish this Constitution to provide order, protect liberty, preserve the rights of the people, and define the powers of the Commonwealth government.
The Commonwealth of Solemn is formed within the United States and remains subject to the Constitution and laws of the United States.
This Constitution shall govern the internal affairs of the Commonwealth and its member states.
Ratified in the year 1871.
Article I — The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth of Solemn shall be made up of the states and territories of Lemoyne, New Hanover, Ambarino, West Elizabeth, and New Austin.
The seat of the Commonwealth government shall be established by law.
Each state shall keep its own local government, courts, sheriffs, officers, and laws, so long as those laws do not conflict with this Constitution or the Constitution of the United States.
The Commonwealth may pass laws for public order, courts, trade, taxation, roads, warrants, elections, public offices, and matters affecting more than one state.
Article II — Rights of the People
The people shall have the right to speak freely, worship freely, publish lawful writings, gather peacefully, and petition the government.
These rights shall not protect threats, fraud, criminal conspiracy, incitement to violence, or acts that endanger public peace.
No law shall be made to establish one religion above another, or to prevent the free exercise of religion.
Article III — Right to Keep and Bear Arms
The people shall have the right to keep and bear arms for lawful defense, hunting, travel, and protection of home and property.
This right may be regulated by lawful ordinance.
Towns, counties, states, and the Commonwealth may restrict the carrying of weapons in courthouses, jails, government offices, banks, schools, churches, and other sensitive places.
No lawful citizen shall be fully disarmed without due process.
Article IV — Search, Seizure, and Warrants
The people shall be secure in their persons, homes, papers, property, wagons, businesses, and effects.
No search or seizure shall be made without lawful cause.
Warrants must be supported by oath, sworn statement, witness testimony, or clear evidence.
A warrant must describe the person, place, or property to be searched or seized.
Law officers may act without a warrant when a crime is committed in their presence, when life is in immediate danger, when a suspect is fleeing, or when delay would allow evidence to be destroyed.
Article V — Due Process
No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, property, or lawful rights without due process of law.
Any person accused of a crime shall have the right to know the charge against them.
No person shall be forced to confess guilt.
No person shall be tried twice for the same offense after lawful judgment.
Private property shall not be taken for public use without fair compensation, unless seized as lawful evidence, contraband, or payment ordered by a court.
Article VI — Rights of the Accused
Any person accused of a crime shall have the right to a fair and public trial.
The accused shall have the right to hear the charges, answer the charges, present evidence, call witnesses, question witnesses, and seek legal counsel when available.
Trials may be closed only when a judge finds it necessary for safety, witness protection, or public order.
The accused shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty by lawful evidence.
Article VII — Bail, Fines, and Punishment
Excessive bail shall not be required.
Excessive fines shall not be imposed.
Cruel or unusual punishment shall not be allowed.
Punishment shall be set by law and judged by the seriousness of the offense.
The death penalty may only be used for the most serious crimes and only after lawful trial and judgment.
Article VIII — The Governors
Each state shall have a Governor.
A Governor shall serve as the chief officer of their state and as that state's representative in Commonwealth matters.
Governors may propose laws, speak for their state, manage state affairs, appoint lawful officers where allowed, and work with local courts, sheriffs, and officials.
A Governor may not overrule this Constitution.
A Governor may not use their office to avoid arrest, trial, investigation, or lawful judgment.
A Governor may be removed from office by lawful process for corruption, treason, abuse of office, serious crime, or failure to perform the duties of office.
Article IX — The Commonwealth Council
The Governors of the states shall form the Commonwealth Council.
The Council shall meet to decide matters affecting the Commonwealth as a whole.
Each Governor shall have one vote.
The Council may pass Commonwealth laws, settle disputes between states, approve taxes, authorize public works, establish courts, regulate elections, and provide for public safety.
A majority vote shall be required for ordinary Commonwealth business.
A unanimous vote shall be required to amend this Constitution, admit a new state, remove a state from the Commonwealth, or declare a full Commonwealth emergency.
Article X — State Authority
Each state may pass and enforce laws for its own people, towns, counties, courts, businesses, land, officers, and public order.
No state law may remove the rights protected by this Constitution or by the Constitution of the United States.
When state law conflicts with this Constitution, this Constitution shall control.
When this Constitution conflicts with the Constitution or laws of the United States, the Constitution and laws of the United States shall control.
Article XI — Law Enforcement
Law enforcement within towns and counties shall be handled by sheriffs, deputies, constables, marshals, and other lawful officers.
State law officers may act within their own state as allowed by law.
Commonwealth officers may act across state lines in matters involving fugitives, interstate crime, corruption, major warrants, threats to public order, or crimes affecting more than one state.
All law officers are bound by this Constitution.
No badge shall place a person above the law.
Article XII — Courts and Judges
The courts of Solemn shall hear criminal charges, civil disputes, warrants, appeals, property claims, election disputes, and matters of law.
Judges shall rule according to the Constitution, the laws of the Commonwealth, the laws of the state, and the evidence presented.
No judge shall accept bribes, favors, threats, or private influence in exchange for a ruling.
Courts may issue warrants, hold trials, set bail, impose fines, order imprisonment, settle disputes, and rule on the lawfulness of government action.
Article XIII — Citizenship and Equal Protection
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction shall be citizens of the United States and of the Commonwealth wherein they reside.
Citizens shall receive equal protection under the law.
No state shall deny any person life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
No state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Citizenship may not be removed except by lawful process.
Article XIV — Elections and Public Office
Governors and other public officers shall be chosen by lawful election or appointment as set by Commonwealth law.
All citizens of lawful age and good standing may vote in Commonwealth elections, unless barred by lawful judgment.
No citizen shall be denied the right to own property, enter contracts, give testimony, seek lawful employment, petition the government, hold public office, serve in government, or vote in Commonwealth elections on account of sex.
No citizen shall be denied the right to vote on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
No person may hold public office while actively wanted for serious crimes, convicted of treason, or barred by lawful judgment.
Public office is a duty to the people, not a shield from consequence.
Article XV — Treason and Insurrection
Treason against the Commonwealth shall consist of making war against it, aiding an armed enemy, or taking part in an armed effort to overthrow its lawful government.
No person shall be convicted of treason without clear evidence, witness testimony, confession in open court, or other lawful proof.
Political disagreement, criticism of officials, public speech, peaceful protest, or petitioning the government shall not be considered treason.
Article XVI — Emergency Powers
In times of war, rebellion, plague, natural disaster, riot, or widespread danger, the Commonwealth Council may declare a state of emergency.
Emergency powers must be limited to the danger at hand.
A state of emergency shall not be used to silence lawful criticism, seize power permanently, punish political enemies, or remove rights without lawful cause.
Emergency powers shall end when the danger has passed or when the Council votes to end them.
Article XVII — Rights Kept by the People
The rights listed in this Constitution shall not be used to deny other rights kept by the people.
The government may not claim unlimited power because a right is not written here by name.
Article XVIII — Powers Reserved to the States and People
Any power not given to the Commonwealth by this Constitution shall remain with the states or the people.
The Commonwealth exists to keep order, settle disputes, protect rights, and govern matters shared between the states.
It does not exist to rule every part of a citizen's life.
Article XIX — Amendments
This Constitution may be amended only by unanimous vote of the Commonwealth Council.
Any amendment must be written, recorded, and made available to the public.
No amendment may remove rights protected by the Constitution of the United States.
Article XX — Supremacy of the Constitution
This Constitution shall be the highest law of the Commonwealth of Solemn, subject to the Constitution and laws of the United States.
All Governors, judges, sheriffs, deputies, marshals, officers, officials, and citizens are bound by it.
Any law, order, warrant, judgment, or act that stands against this Constitution may be challenged before the courts.
So sworn and ratified in the year 1871.