BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Hapes Consortium exists and has existed from aeons past and shall exist for ever-more as a unified nation under the rule of Law and the supremacy of the Crown. Ours is to govern, defend and ensure the well being of the Hapan realm and its people in the name of Honour, Pride and Glory. This Constitution is the foundation upon which We place Our trust and belief in the Consortium.

Chapter I: Foundation
Chapter II: Governance
Chapter III: The Courts
Chapter IV: Succession
Chapter V: Enactment

CHAPTER I: FOUNDATION [top]

1. The executive and legislative powers of the Hapes Consortium are vested in the Sovereign.

2. The Sovereign is the Head of the State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Depending on their sex, they hold the title of “Ta`a Chume” (female) or “Rai`ix Chume” (male).

3. The Sovereign is the fount of honours from which the Peerage is instated.

4. Said powers are exercised while respecting the fundamental equality
between Hapans, regardless of their race, species, faith, sex, sexual orientation or marital status.

5. In their capacity as Commander-in-Chief, the Sovereign holds absolute authority on all matters relating to Their Armed Forces.

6. The power to deploy Hapan Armed Forces outside the Cluster rests solely with the Sovereign.

7. All formal actions executed by the Hapan Government are done so in the name and on behalf of the Sovereign.

8. The Sovereign is inviolable. Therefore, responsibility over the actions of the Crown rests with the Royal Council and its individual Ministers for their respective departments.

CHAPTER II: GOVERNANCE [top]

1. Henceforth there shall be a cabinet to assist and advise the Sovereign titled the ‘Royal Council’, which shall be composed of the various Ministers of the Crown and any others that the Sovereign deems necessary.

2. The Sovereign may, if they choose, create one or more of the following positions: Prime Minister, Lord Regent, and Crown Prince. The mandates of such positions shall be determined according to the stipulations of the Structure Appendix. Those that the Sovereign appoints to such positions shall serve at the pleasure and discretion of the Sovereign.

3. The Sovereign has the exclusive authority to appoint Ministers of the Crown and mandate them with responsibilities according to the stipulations of the Structure Appendix. Said Ministers serve at the pleasure and discretion of the Sovereign.

4. The Ministers of the Crown shall head their mandated departments in accordance to the rules of the Structure Appendix and any other orders issued by the Sovereign. The Ministers are responsible for all matters and issues pertaining to their portfolio.

5. The Royal Council, under the Sovereign, is the highest executive body over the Hapes Consortium and shall advise and assist the Sovereign on all matters.

CHAPTER III: THE COURTS [top]

1. The High Court shall be the trial court of the realm and shall conduct trials, hearings, and other such proceedings as may be necessary. The High Court shall have general jurisdiction over all matters.

2. The High Court shall be composed of one (1) Chancellor, who shall have the authority to try and test the guilt of an accused person and render verdict and sentence for purposes there-in.

3. The Royal Court shall be the appellate Court of the realm and its highest judicial authority, and may choose whether or not to accept appeals from the any judgment of the High Court.

a) The Royal Court shall review questions of fact with great deference to the factual findings of the High Court.
b) The Royal Court shall review questions of law with no requirement of deference to the legal findings of the High Court.

4. The Royal Court shall be composed of three (3) justices: the Sovereign, who shall preside over the Court, and two (2) individuals that the Sovereign chooses from among the Council of Lords, the Royal Council, or such ministerial positions that the Sovereign may create under Article II, Section 2 of this Constitution.

5. The Minister of the Interior is the attorney general to the Crown and chief public prosecutor for the realm.

a) Any judicial actions taken against the Crown shall be responded to by the Minister or a designated agent acting on his behalf.
b) Criminal and public prosecutions against liable persons shall be pursued, on behalf of the Crown, by the Minister or a designated agent.

6. The Sovereign shall have the royal prerogative to grant mercy and bail to any and every person condemned for a crime within Hapan jurisdiction.

CHAPTER IV: SUCCESSION [top]

1. The successor to the Throne shall be chosen at the behest of the reigning Sovereign. Upon the latter's abdication or death, the named successor shall accede to the Throne immediately as the next Sovereign.

2. If the reigning Sovereign does not see fit to name a successor, or if their death occurs before they are capable of choosing one; then a Convention, composed of the following, shall elect a successor:

a) Members of the Royal Council who have served there-in for at least one year. "Members," for purposes of this subsection, shall mean anyone that has access to the Council forum.
b) Members of the Peerage who have a voting seat in the Chamber of Lords and have not been relegated to the Order of Teloii.

3. Members may nominate candidates for the vacant throne. For a candidate to be eligible for voting, the nomination must be seconded by another Member. Nominated candidates are not required to accept the nomination. Nominated candidates may not vote in the election. A reasonable time shall be allowed for candidates to make statements to the Members, and for discussion amongst the Members.

4. A member of Hapes, selected by simple majority vote of the Members, shall officiate the vote to elect the new Sovereign. The officiator may call the vote when the Members, by simple majority vote, indicate their readiness. When the officiator calls the vote, all votes shall be submitted to the officiator. The officiator shall keep all votes anonymous, and after three (3) days, shall tally the votes and post the anonymous results to the Members. A simple majority of votes shall determine the successor. Only those votes submitted by eligible members within the three (3) day time limit shall be counted.

5. In the case of a tie, the election process shall begin again as described in Section 3 of this Article. This shall continue until a successor to the throne is elected.

6. The Convention is sworn to secrecy and is to be allowed an unobstructed election of a new Sovereign, free of outside influence.

CHAPTER V: ENACTMENT [top]

1. Any further amendments or changes to the Constitution should first receive the approval of the majority of the Royal Council before given Royal Assent.

2. The Constitution is the supreme law of the Hapes Consortium, and any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution is, to the extent of the inconsistency, of no force or effect.

3. Notwithstanding the above Section 2, a Royal Proclamation may temporarily suspend the Constitution upon or during a declaration of war or a state of national emergency. Such suspension may only last till the end of the war or national emergency status.

CË Ë NÏTA N Ë CHUMË LIQ Ë VYRT HAPËSAH LLATYLTOLIN NA KË ISIXËT CË VIXITH