The Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Mylantium

Preamble

We the People who are running this Show, in order to secure our own Ends and Thwart those of our Rivals, do Ordain and Establish this Constitution for the Federal Republic of Mylantium.

Article One

Each Faction shall always possess one Candidate, which it may nominate for the office of President of the Republic.

The number of votes a Faction has in each Territory in the Republic is his "Faction Vote" for that Territory. The sum of his territorial Faction Votes is his "National Faction Vote."

The sum of all Faction Votes in a Territory belonging to Factions aligned with a Party is that Party’s "Faction Vote" in that Territory. The sum of the National Faction Votes of all Factions aligned with a Party is that Party’s "National Faction Vote."

Once every Faction has realigned or recommitted to a Party, those Factions which are members of a Party hold a Primary Election, voting to choose a Party Candidate for President from the Candidates of those Factions that are aligned with that Party. In a Primary Election, each Faction has a vote equal to their National Faction Vote. If during a vote no Candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the Candidate(s) with the least number of votes is disqualified from further votes in the primary, and another vote taken, the disqualified Faction(s) voting for one of the remaining Candidates. Voting and disqualification continues until a Candidate secures a majority of votes cast.

After each Party has chosen a Candidate a General Election is held, with each Faction voting for a Party. The GM acts as vote-tallier. The Faction whose Candidate receives a majority of votes cast is given control of the Presidency. In case of a tie, the President is chosen by the Chamber of Deputies as it was constituted before the election, with each Faction possessing a vote equal to the number of seats it holds in the Chamber of Deputies. The Candidate that gains a majority of the votes cast becomes President.

After the President is chosen, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies is determined. Each of the two Parties receives a share of the chamber’s 100 seats in proportion to their division of the sum of their National Faction Votes and their share of the Independent Vote; fractions are rounded to the nearest whole number, such that the sum of the rounded numbers is equal to 100. The seats accorded each Party are then divided among the Factions which are members of it (even if a Faction did not vote for the Party of which it is a member) in proportion to their share of the Party’s National Faction Vote; all fractional values are rounded down. The Speakership of the Chamber goes to the Party with the greatest number of seats in the Chamber and is assigned to that member Faction that has the greater number of seats in the Chamber. In case of any tie, the new President designates the winner of the tie. All seats which were unassigned to a Faction due to rounding are assigned to the new Speaker of the Chamber.

Lastly, the composition of the Senate is determined. Each Territory shall have three seats in the Senate (designated as Seat #1, Seat #2 and Seat #3). In each Territory all the contested seats go to the Party with the greatest Faction Vote in that Territory. These seats are then awarded to that member Faction that has the highest Faction Vote in that Territory. Seat #1 is contested in every Game Turn; Seat #2 is contested in even-numbered Game turns; Seat #3 is contested in Game Turns divisible by 3. The Chancellorship of the Senate goes to the Party with the greatest number of seats in the Chamber and is assigned to that member Faction with the greatest number of seats in the Senate. In case of any tie, the new President designates the winner of the tie.

When a new Territory joins the Republic, all Senate seats in that Region are contested in the next Election.

Article Two

At the start of the Legislative Phase, each Faction that has at least one seat in the Chamber of Deputies shall propose one new piece of Legislation from the list of Possible Legislation. Details about each act of Legislation are specified by the Faction when they are introduced.

In the event of no Crisis!, the President designates one of the proposed pieces of Legislation as Bill #1; the Chancellor then designates one of the remainder as Bill #2; the Speaker then designates one of the remainder as Bill #3. Only three pieces of Legislation may be designated for action.

In the event of a Crisis! the President designates any corresponding Crisis-Legislation as Bill #1 and designates one of the proposed pieces of Legislation as either Bill #2 or Bill #3. If the former, then the Speaker designates Bill #3; if the latter, then the Chancellor designates Bill #2.

The Congress shall then debate each Bill. The Speaker presides over Bill #1 and Bill #3: He determines when and under what circumstances the Bills may be amended and ends debate when he sees fit. The Chancellor presides over Bill #2: He determines when and under what circumstances the Bill may be amended, but he cannot end debate without the consent of all Factions that hold seats in the Senate. In the event that some Faction does not consent to end debate (a filibuster) the Bill is withdrawn without action.

When voting on a Bill, Factions shall vote yea or nay in both houses simultaneously, and a Bill must gain a majority of the votes cast in each chamber to pass. In case of a tie in either House, the President may cast one vote either in favor or against the bill in question.

If a Bill passes both Houses, the Faction controlling the President immediately either assents to or vetoes it. If he vetoes it an immediate override vote is taken; if 2/3 of the votes cast in each House are cast to override, it passes. If it fails in either House, it is withdrawn. An override vote cannot be filibustered.

Legislation that fails during a Congress may be resubmitted to a future Congress, in either its original form or a modified form.

Article Three

At the end of the Legislative Phase, the Government collects Revenue. From this revenue it pays for all Expenses.

The President is charged with overseeing the Budget and has the power to make whatever financial decisions are required by circumstance. He also has the authority to move military units from one Region to another and to conduct military operations in the event of a war.

Article Four

Congress has the sole power to Declare War by a majority vote in both chambers, not subject to presidential veto. Congress has the sole power to make peace by a majority vote in both chambers, not subject to presidential veto.

Article Five

The Supreme Court is composed of five members. Each member is controlled by a Faction, and in the event of a disagreement about the interpretation of the rules outlined in this Constitution, or on the meaning or application of a piece of Legislation, a Faction may appeal to the Supreme Court to settle the matter. For each membership on the Court a Faction holds, that Faction receives one vote. Majority vote on the issue prevails. All procedures on making votes and writing opinions shall be decided by the members of the Court.

In the event that a vacancy occurs on the Court, it is immediately filled in the following manner: The President nominates a Faction to take the vacant membership, and that Faction takes it with the consent of a majority vote in the Chamber of Deputies. This action does not function as a crisis and is undertaken in addition to any other votes. The vote for Supreme Court nominess shall be scheduled by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.

Article Six

In lieu of offering up Legislation, a Faction may propose an amendment to this Constitution. Amendments are adopted if approved by 2/3 of each chamber of the Congress and approved by the President. The Amendment comes into effect at the beginning of the next Election Phase.

Article Seven

A new Territory may be admitted to the Republic if a majority of the Chamber and a majority of the Senate approve. A Bill admitting a Territory is not subject to veto by the President.