Lutezzik Articles of Federation

Articles of Federation

Federation Charter

We the signatories, united in purpose and vision, do solemnly enact and undertake these Articles of Federation, binding ourselves and our descendants to this noble endeavor. With hearts brimming with hope and hands joined in unity, we set forth on a path of progress, guided by the cherished principles of diversity, liberty, and harmonious coexistence. May this Federation stand as a testament to the resilience of unity and the boundless possibilities that emerge when different voices come together to build a better and brighter future for all who call the Lutezzik Federation their home.

Universal Declaration of Recognized Rights

I. The State shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

II. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

III. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

IV. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and Sector wherein the crime shall have been committed, which sector shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense. In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed ten dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of Lutezzik, other than according to the rules of Federation Standard Law.

V. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

VII. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

VIII. The powers not delegated to Lutezzik by these Articles, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

IX. The Judicial power of Lutezzik shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of Lutezzik by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

X. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within Esserix, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

XI. The right of citizens of the Federation of Lutezzik to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the Federation or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

XI. The Congress shall have the power to levy and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

XII. The right of citizens of the Federation of Lutezzik to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the Federtion or by any State on account of sex or gender.

XIII. The instution of marriage shall be respected across the Federation. No state subject to the jurisdiction of the Federation shall deny to recognize the legitmacy of a marriage conducted outside of its jurisdiction.

XIV. No state subject to the jurisdiction of the Federation shall refuse to perform and civil duty based upon spoken language, sexual orientation, gender identity, skin color, disability, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, genetics, gender, or prior status of servitude. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

XV. Any persons born within the jurisdiction of the Federation is a citizen of the Federation and is guaranteed all the rights and privileges therein. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Article I. Executive Affairs

1. The Chancellor-regent may enact any constitutional measure that he or she may deem necessary and proper for the general well-being or prosperity of the public.

2. The Chancellor-regent may have one vote in any Chamber of Federal Ambassadors Associate vote given the initial vote has resulted in a tie.

3. The Chancellor-regent retains the power to veto any legislation or resolution from the congress as a whole which may be overridden with a ½ plus 25 majority in the Lutezzik Federal Congress and a ½ plus 10 majority in the Chamber of Federal Ambassadors Associate.

4. The Chancellor-regent may be removed from office by a ⅔ vote in the Congress Assembled and with an indictment from the Lutezzik Federal Congress.

5. The Chancellor-regent may establish any rules or guidelines or procedures pursuant to the daily functions of the Federation Government; They may be overturned by an Act of Congress or by Judicial Review.

6. The Chancellor-regent serves until (a) a vote of no confidence passes the public by simple majority and is certified by the courts of Lutezzik, or (b) the Chancellor-regent resigns his or her position or a decennial election occurs wherein the presiding Chancellor-regent is not the victor. a. The Chancellorial Election shall occur once every ten (10) years. In order to be declared the victor one must attain four hundred nineteen (419) assembly votes of the total eight hundred thirty-five (835) Federal Assembly votes.

7. The Chancellor-regent shall have the authority to take appropriate actions to enforce the supremacy of Federation Standard Law and to ensure its uniform application throughout the Lutezzik Federation.

Article II. State and Federation Affairs

1. There shall be a Federation Council where each state, territory, and district shall send one delegate to represent their interests.

2. Each council delegate shall have one (1) vote in the council. The Federation Council shall be the sole body responsible for issuing a formal declaration of war. No other body may exercise this power. A war declaration must pass this council by a unanimous vote. The Chancellor and Chancellor-regent must sign any declaration of war in order for the declaration to be vaild. Any unsigned declaration of war is to be considered invaild and out of order.

3. Coinciding with the Chancellorial election, every ten (10) years the Federation Council, officially the Lutezzik Federal Council, shall vote for a Chancellor who shall serve as the chairperson of the Federation Council, and as head of state of the Lutezzik Federation.

4. The Chancellor elected by the council has no vote in the Federation Council. The Chancellor shall serve as the head of state in all matter for the Lutezzik Federation. 5. The Federation Council shall debate, and vote on all matters of Federation policy. All amendments to the Universal Declaration of Recognized Rights shall originate in this body.

6. Any amendment to this document, unless otherwise noted, must receive a ½ plus two majority in order to move to a full public vote. Only with ⅔ public support may the amendment be added to the Declaration. By the same mechanism, any amendment may be edited, or removed.

7. The Chancellor may be removed from office by a ⅔ vote in the Congress Assembled and with an indictment from the Lutezzik Federal Congress or Federation Council.

8. The Federation Council shall have the authority to take appropriate actions to enforce the supremacy of Federation Standard Law and to ensure its uniform application throughout the Lutezzik Federation.

Article III. The Legislature

1. There shall be 835 persons elected to the Congress; 200 to the Chamber of Federal Ambassadors Associate and 635 to the Lutezzik Federal Congress. The seats shall be delegated proportionally by population to each state, and more Federal Congress seats may be added or removed as required every ten (10) years. a. Ambassadors Associate shall be apportioned, 25 to each member state and the Capitol District. b. Senators shall be apportioned by population, with each state receiving at least one (1) Senator.

2. A single person shall serve in the Lutezzik Federal Congress for two (2) years at a time and in the Chamber for four (4) years at a time. Elections for the Congress will be held on the fourteenth consecutive day of every other November, starting at 06:00AM and closing at 22:30PM. The Ambassadors Associate shall be grouped into two (2) classes. Class I Ambassadors shall be up for election in the first Federation elections, then every other Congressional election year; Or every four (4) years. Class II Ambassadors shall be appointed by their respective governments, then shall be up for election in the following congressional election. Then Class II Ambassadors shall be up for election every four (4) years.

3. The Congress shall be in session until declared in recess by the President of the Congress or the Legate of the Ambassadors Associate, respectively.

4. Any person may run for Congress given he or she has been present in the Federation for 10 years and is a documented citizen or born-citizen.

5. Congress may propose any new laws or guidelines for the general welfare or functionality of the public. Which may pass with a simple majority vote.

6. Any Congress member may be removed by a ⅔ recall vote and/or a felony indictment by a Federation High Court.

7. Federation Standard Law, as established by the Articles of Federation, shall be the supreme law of the land within the Lutezzik Federation. a. All member states, territories, and sectors within the Lutezzik Federation, and all officials and citizens thereof, are bound by Federation Standard Law and shall comply with its provisions in all matters. b. No member state, territory, or sector shall enact, enforce, or maintain any law or regulation that is in contravention of Federation Standard Law, and any such attempt shall be rendered unenforceable. c. The courts of the Lutezzik Federation are vested with the authority to interpret Federation Standard Law and adjudicate any disputes arising from the application or interpretation of this law.

Article IV. Judicial Affairs

1. There shall be fifteen (15) Judges, appointed by the Chancellor-regent and confirmed by the Chamber of Federal Ambassadors Associate, that sit on each court of the Federation: the Superior Courts, High Courts, Sector Courts, Court of Appeals, and Happy Courts. Nine (9) Judges appointed by the Chancellor-regent and approved by the Chamber of Federal Ambassadors Associate shall sit on the Federation Supreme Court for a term of no longer than 18 consecutive years.

2. The Federation Supreme Court shall have supreme authority to review any laws or guidelines that may be presented in judicial proceedings.

3. The Courts of the Federation have supreme authority to serve any sentence to any crime that is within reasonable parameters of the Universal Declaration of Recognized Rights and Federation Standard Law.

4. Any sentence may be appealed and any fine that is more than 10 dollars may be appealed.

5. Any Judge may be removed by a ⅔ vote in the Lutezzik Federal Congress and by a simple majority confirmation vote of their constituency.

6. Any initial hearing regarding a crime, namely misdemeanors, will be heard in a Federation Happy Court. Any initial hearing regarding a crime, namely felonies, will be heard in a Federation Sector Court. Following any hearing the sentence may be appealed given the appeal meets the given parameters for a hearing in a Federation Court of Appeals. While appealing a sentence the appellate will not be serving his sentence until a further decision regarding the case is made by the Court of Appeals or any higher court that the case may be presented to, given the Court of Appeals has ruled against the appellate.

7. Any law or decision made by any member state, territory, or sector that is inconsistent with Federation Standard Law may be subject to legal challenge, and the Federation's courts have the authority to strike down such laws or decisions.

Article V. Petition of Admittance

1. Any petition to join the Federation shall be heard in the Federation Council. Shall the petitioner meet the expectations of ⅔ of the Federation Council, the Chancellor shall review the petition.

2. Chancellorial review shall last no longer than twenty one (21) days. Upon approval the petition shall be sent for review by the Congress Assembled. In the Congress Assembled, a vote of ⅔ plus twenty five (25) or three hundred three (303) votes shall result in the progression of the petition process. a. Rejected petitioners must wait one (1) year before petitioning for admission again.

3. Upon approval by the Congress Assembled the petition shall proceed for final review by the Chancellor-regent and their secretaries and ministers. Upon final approval by the Chancellor-regent, the petitioner is granted provisional membership in the Federation.

Article VI. Membership and Guaranteed State Rights

1. Internal Governance Autonomy. Member states have the right to determine their own internal political affairs, local laws, regulations, and administrative structures, without interference from the Federation Council. This includes the freedom to shape their education systems, cultural policies, and economic regulations according to needs and preferences. a. Member states, territories, and sectors shall take all necessary measures to ensure that their laws, regulations, and practices are in conformity with Federation Standard Law and shall cooperate with the central government in matters of legal interpretation and enforcement. b. The equitable application of laws to all member entities and citizens within the Federation is an essential component of the Federation's commitment to unity and justice. The Judiciary of the Lutezzik Federation is vested with the authority to interpret Federation Standard Law and adjudicate any disputes arising from the application or interpretation of this law.

2. Preservation of Cultural Identity: It is incumbent on the Federation Council to protect and promote the member states' distinct cultural, linguistic, and historical heritage. Each member state maintains the right to celebrate and uphold its cultural identity, and prohibit any actions that may threaten or erode its cultural uniqueness.

3.Resource and Revenue Management: Member state may retain control over certain natural resources and revenue generated within their territories. a. A general federation tax shall be levied on each member state, and provisional member. This tax shall be instituted at 15% of a member state’s operation budget. This tax may be increased or decreased as needed. b. Member states are generally entitled to the natural resources and revenue generated within its jurisdiction. However, legal sanctions may be placed upon member states which may result in the loss of control over a natural resource or source of revenue; While member states are generally entitled to the natural resources and revenue generated within its jurisdiction the Federation Council may, in times of emergency or civil disorder or to preserve a natural feature, or to secure the well-being of the public as a whole, requisition public or private land in member states for a period of forty five (45) days without compensation. If the requisition period shall exceed forty five (45) days the Federation Council shall disburse just payment to any person(s) affected. The Federation Council may permanently requisition public or private land in exchange for just compensation, with a one hundred eighty (180) day advance notice to any person(s) affected.

4. Intra-Federation Trade and Commerce: Member states have the right to engage in trade and commerce with one another without undue restrictions or tariffs. The right of free movement of goods and services, and people across the Federation shall not be infringed.

5. Flexibility in Adherence to Federation Law: While member states must abide by Federation Standard Law, they may seek provisions allowing some flexibility in its implementation to accommodate specific local circumstances or cultural practices, as long as they do not violate fundamental rights or the cohesion of the Federation as a whole.

6. Representation in Federation Council: Member states are entitled to fair and proportionate representation in the Federation Council and Congress as a whole.

7. Defense and Security: Member states may exercise total control over their internal security and defense matters, especially if they have distinct security challenges or historical concerns. a. The Federation Council and the Chancellor-regent reserve the right to intervene in any martial matter. Any intervention may be contested in the courts of Lutezzik.

8. Consent for Amendments of Guaranteed State Rights: Significant changes to the member state rights or the charter shall require the unanimous consent of member states. a. Amendments to Article VI are subject to review by the Chancellor, who may reject the amendment. With a second unanimous vote, member states may override the Chancellor rejection and amend Article VI. All other amendments to this document are subject to Article II, Section 6.

Article VII. Provisional Membership and Association Status

Provisional Membership Provisional membership in the Lutezzik Federation is a preliminary stage for a territory, region, or nation that seeks to become a full-fledged member of the Federation. It provides an opportunity for the aspiring member to demonstrate its commitment to the principles and values of the Federation and its willingness to abide by Federation Standard Law and the Universal Declaration of Recognized Rights.

1. Any territory, region, or nation interested in joining the Lutezzik Federation must submit a formal petition to the Federation Council. The petition should outline the petitioner's intentions, commitment to Federation principles, and willingness to adhere to the Federation's laws and rights. 2. The Federation Council shall review the petition and assess whether the petitioner meets the expectations of a ⅔ majority of the Council members. The Council considers factors such as the petitioner's stability, commitment to human rights, and alignment with Federation values.

3. Upon approval by the Federation Council, the Chancellor-regent and their secretaries and ministers shall conduct a thorough review of the petition. This review must be completed within twenty-one (21) days to ensure a fair and timely process. If the Chancellor-regent approves the petition, it proceeds to the Congress Assembled for a vote. A ⅔ majority plus twenty-five (25) or three hundred three (303) votes in favor shall result in the progression of the petition process.

4. Once the petitioner gains approval from the Congress Assembled, it is granted provisional membership in the Lutezzik Federation. During this period, the provisional member is expected to come into compliance with Federation Standard Law and adhere to the Universal Declaration of Recognized Rights. a. If the petition is rejected at any stage of the process, the petitioner must wait one (1) year before submitting another petition for admission to the Federation.

Association Status Association status is a designation offered to territories, regions, or nations that express interest in maintaining a cooperative relationship with the Lutezzik Federation without fully becoming a member. Association status allows entities to engage in limited collaborations and exchanges while retaining their sovereign status and autonomy.

1. Expression of Interest: Any territory, nation, or recognized authority interested in an association with the Lutezzik Federation may express its interest to the Federation Council. The Federation Council and the interested entity engage in negotiations to determine the terms and scope of the association. The agreement must be approved by a majority vote in the Federation Council.

2. Designation as an Associate: Once the agreement is approved, the entity is designated as an Associate of the Lutezzik Federation. Associates have limited access to certain aspects of the Federation's cooperation and collaboration, as defined in the agreement. a. Status as an Associate is periodically reviewed and may be renewed or amended based on mutual consent between the Federation Council and the Associate, or based upon the terms of the Association Agreement.

3. Continued Autonomy: While enjoying a unique association with the Lutezzik Federation, Associates maintain their full autonomy and full control over internal governance, economy, and cultural affairs. As Associates fall outside the jurisdiction of the Lutezzik Federation unless otherwise denoted.