Constitution of Latium
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The Constitution of Latium (Latin: Constitutio Latii), or Basic Law, is a series of unwritten guidelines and principles passed down through a combination of precedent, edict, or act of the senate that form the basis of Latium's uncodified constitution. While Latium operates under a civil law system with strict codification of laws and little in the way of common law, the country utilities an unwritten constitution, and does not rely upon a single document. These laws and legal precedents deal with the functioning of government bodies, such as the Emperor and his Imperial court, the extensive bureaucracy that flows from it, the Senate as well as the relationship between the state and individual citizens. Laws regarding individuals protect a number of civil and political rights of citizens or legal residents. The most widely cited and most recent constitutional document is the Acts of Constitutional Reform, which were enacted in 1954 and modernized aspects the Latin government.
Along with the collection of constitutional documents, a number of constitutional conventions play a major role in the functioning of the Latin state.
History
List of Basic laws
| Year passed |
Basic Law | Description |
|---|---|---|
| c. 821 BC | Senate creation | The reasons for the creation of the Senate have been lost to time, but it is believed that the Senate is as old as the city of Castellum and first consisted of 100 men from the city. The early Senate primarily saw representation from the various tribes or gens. The earliest written records of the Senate demonstrate that the dual consulship was brought about in the 6th century BC after a need for an executive. By the time of the early Latin and Alban monarchy, the Senate grew to nearly 500 men or more. |
| c. 1st century | Consilium Imperatoris | Creation of a consultative body of advisors, gradually replacing the Senate in legislative primacy. The council was originally comprised of the consuls, and prominent senators. It later grew to include newly created court and administrative offices separate from the Senate. Today these high offices are collectively referred to as the vir illustre (sing. vir illustris). Today the council also includes numerous magisterial offices. |
| 378 AD (continually updated) | Codes of Law | Replaced the previous Martii Code (3rd century AD) and contained most existing Imperial laws or edicts issued by the Emperor. Over time, the Code of Law first issued by Emperor Constantine I in 378 grew to include new laws with annual updates of Acts of Orders passed and assented by the Monarch. In its modern form, the Code of Law holds little resemblance to the original code issued in 378, though is the primary source for codified law as introduced. Today the Code of Law is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent statutes of Latium. |
| 1012; amdn. 1843 & 1951 | Succession laws | Governs procedures for Succession to the Latin throne. The original 1012 edict was a formalization of the Claudii succession guidelines whereby the eldest son traditionally succeeded his father as Emperor. Succession has undergone numerous amendments over the years, placing restrictions on the ability to qualify in the line of succession, such as being an adherent of the Fabrian Catholic Church, marrying a member of the "Latin Church", and sovereign's consent to royal marriage. As of the 1012, succession is governed by male-preference primogeniture. The Catholicism requirement in succession laws is often cited by jurists and lawyers as affirmation of it's status as the state faith. |
| 1864 | Theophylactian Reforms | Reforms of Theophylactus I Augustus to extend suffrage the ability to stand for a seat in the Senate to all literate, landowning male citizens of Latium. Reforms to the government resulted in the Senate regaining some legislative powers, and a seniority distinction in the dual consulship, the senior serving as the nominal head of government, the junior as deputy. |
| 1954 | Acts of Constitutional Reform | The ACR consists of ten articles that focused on the national framework of the Imperial government and rights of Latin citizens. The first four articles broadly pertain to institutions of the Latin government, including the Crown and Senate. These articles focus on the continued usage of constitutional convention and a continuation of the existing constitutional framework. The remainder of the ACR sets out various rights granted to and duties of Latin citizens, such as equal protection under the law, right to assembly, freedom of the press, freedom to work, right to property and education and the ability to freely exercise religion. Voting rights were not discussed in the ACR. The ACR also restricted the ability to prosecute under lex maiestatis laws, only providing protection to the Emperor, Empress, and all princes and princesses of Latium. Various citizenship or nationality laws were enacted under the ACR, found in Article Seven. No amendments have been directly made to the ACR, however, more recent Acts of the Senate, and Imperial Orders have been passed which in turn nullify certain provisions of the original document. While the ACR is often cited as one of the most important constitutional documents, the continued reliance on convention prevents the document from being considered Latium's constitution. |
| 1961 | Voting Rights | Following negotiations between government and the Crown, universal voting rights were established via Imperial Edict. Prior to it's enactment, eligibility to vote was limited to male citizens. Upon passage of the edict, woman finally achieved the right to vote and stand for public office. |