Constitution of the United Federation

The Constitution of the United Federation is the supreme law of the United Federation of Iteria.

History

Prior to the Shaddanic Era, fundamental laws of the Tawilisi Empire were not codified. Under Astragonese rule, the empire's territory was divided between the Viceroyalties of Makopa and Dyanatsia. Shaddan II used the Viceroyalties as experimental grounds for reforms violently opposed in mainland Astragon. In those territories, Great Chief Mpande Kazinga (Makopa) and Prefect Thambo Na Bashadh (Dyanatsia) granted freedom of speech and religion, private property rights and protections, among other expansive rights. All compiled with retained Tawilisi caste rights in the 1703 Pacts of Bloodright or the Shaddanic Code. It reduced the power of the Tawilisi aristocracy and started the process of defeudalization in Makodya.

Mpande also took interest in the Uulyn bureaucracy and Northern meritocracies. Thambo was also sympathetic with his views. Mpande was quoted to say: "Heredity does preserve the blood but not the intellect. Grant them the liberties the radicals so desire and see if they finally shut up." Although some credit him too progressive for his time, most historians agree it was a means to control reformist movements in the. Except for the indigenous Tawilisi, the Shaddanic Code emancipated migrants to the new territories from all forms of caste. This attracted lower caste Astragonese mainlanders to Makopa and Dyanatsia.

As the Astragonese colonized the newly-conquered lands, unwanted political elements fled to the new territories. Known dissidents were usually re-settled there. Reports of conspiracy in the Viceroyalties got the worse of Shaddan II's paranoia. He arbitrarily executed both Mpande and Thambo. Since then, the Viceroyalties were ruled by members of the Astragonese Imperial Family. Prince Mamuwalde, Archviceroy of Central Iteria (Makopa and Dyanatsia), was part of a growing educated class influenced by progressive, liberal ideas. He was a prominent sympathizer of reformists and openly campaigned for the abolition of the Astragonese caste system.

In 1802, Mamuwalde refused to ban political parties and was asked to step down. Instead, he declared the Viceroyalties' independence as the new nation of the Iterian Empire. After winning the War for Makodyan Independence, Mamuwalde personally participated in the Constitutional Convention of 1803, as one of the authors, of the 1804 Constitution. It was inspired by the Goyanean constitution. The Bill of Rights in the Constitution was primarily based on the 1792 Santonian Declaration of Rights.

Mamuwalde's position as head of state was a hybrid modelled after the Goyanean grand emperor and the Callisean president in the 1800 Callisean Constitution. Although Mamuwalde remained a powerful figure, he described his position as "more presidential than imperial" (reference to Callisean presidency). He, like most Makodyan leaders up until now, served in the roles of chief diplomat and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. In times of crisis, he was expected to use extraordinary powers. Mamuwalde also recognized national agenda was only determined by the Supreme Batasan (Makodyan parliament) and respected the parliamentary right to nominate the elected government. His precedents created most of the conventions that would later dictate the traditional, constitutional relationship of the Makodyan executive and the legislature.

Constitution

Preamble

We, the Makodyan people, fought for the cause of freedom, won our blood-soaked right to be righteously convened through our duly-elected representatives in the Supreme Batasan, renounce human bondage to earthly worship and feudal fealty, and hereby proclaim, ourselves, now and forever, free. Lest we forget what it cost, this Constitution is founded on the highest principles of democracy that guarantee the full blessings of freedom: The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; to create a government of the people, by the people, and for the people; built on the spirit of common good; and hereby declare and ordain the promulgation of this CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED FEDERATION OF ITERIA.