Bill of Rights (Themiclesia)
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The Bill of Rights (權利灋, kor-rjit-pjap) was a Themiclesian law passed in 1809 enumerating the rights of the Council of Protonotaries, which had become heavily politicized following the Great Settlement of 1801. The bill provided some fundamental liberties that a modern legislative body usually enjoys, such as that to set its own agenda, to hear and reject petitions, to establish standing orders, and to be free from external interference.
Background
Content
| # | Original | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 中書令、丞、郎，選，侍中侯毋得出皇帝令別除。 | The President, Secretary, and Members of the Council, having been appointed, shall not be appointed elsewhere by a royal command remanded by the Lords-in-Waiting. |
| 2 | 中書令、丞、郎，非中書許，毋得輒收。擅羈止，論不敬。其在道及休也，與直同。 | The President, Secretary, and Members of the Council, without the permission of the Council, shall not be arrested. [If they are] detained without authority, [the one so doing] will be guilty of lèse-majesté. Even if they are en route or on leave, it is only the same as if in office. |
| 3 | 中書令、丞皆準列郎相舉，侍中侯弗許問。 | The President and Secretary of the Council will be selected by the several Members, and the Lords-in-Waitng shall not interfere. |
| 4 | 中書令、承、郎有辭，聽奏及相遣書如唱議，即下與過御史相邦丞相它二千石吏，即故，率弗得以論。論者反其罪，罪至死隸臣。 | The President, Secretary, and Members of the Council, having words, shall be permitted to submit them to the throne, send them to each other, or discuss them. Even if these words are remanded or passed to the Board of Royal Counsels, the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, or any other officer of the 2,000-bushel rank, for whatever reason, no charges shall be thereon put forth. If charges are taken, the prosecutor shall be guilty of whatever charge he lays, [but] if the charge is capital, he shall be enslaved. |
| 5 | 中書令、承、郎相議直及與議，宮門及殿門諸司馬如衛令，即承中書傳開閉宮殿門如式。 | The President, Secretary, and Members of the Council having decided when to be in office and meet, the captains of the palace and palace hall gates and captains of royal guards shall obey the Council's instructions to open and close the gates, otherwise according to protocols. |
| 6 | 侍中侯、中大夫及門下諸吏，非中書許，毋得出皇帝令及它璽書。 | The Lords-in-Waiting, the Privy Council, and the clerks of the Council of Peers, without the permission of this Council, shall not remand royal edicts or any other sealed letter. |
| 7 | 向代以來，中書列郎中出寰大室，＝＝承書議登尊品乃除，侍中侯弗許議其改。 | For generations, the several Members of the Council all come from the great families of the counties, and the same having discussed amongst themselves to award them the high rank then they are appointed. The Lords-in-Waiting shall not suggest changing these rules. |