Constitution draft of 1915

The Constitution Draft of 1915 (新憲草, sjing-gênh-ts′u′; lit. "new constitution draft") was a proposed basic law for Themiclesia forwarded by Liberal prime minister Lord of Mik that year. The draft dealt with topics such as fundamental rights and liberties and the forms of government. It was defeated in the House of Lords later that year on the argument that everything enshrined in the document has already been achieved. Constitutionalism has long been a tenet of the Liberal Party in Themiclesia and was supported by social notables in the period, opposed by Conservatives who believed that the "constitution" of Themiclesia was the accumulated customs and expeirences that guided governments to correct outcomes in resolving political difficulties.

Draft

The Draft itself presented a set of rights and liberties enjoyed by all Themiclesians and a parliamentary form of government.

Rights and liberties

The draft provided that all Themiclesians should enjoy the following rights:

1. To be represented in the House of Commons by an elected representative, and to participate in free and fair elections to choose a representative;
2. To receive education to become literate and numerate;
3. To receive compensation for injuries to body and property;
4. To be treated equally before the law, irrespective of sex, stock, and place of residence;

It also stated that the following liberties were recognized:

1. To private conscience and secret correspondence;
2. To public speech and press;
3. Movement into, out of, and within the realm;
4. Not to be arrested without valid cause or punished without the accustomed process;
5. To participate in lawful assemblies;
6. Not to be punished or subject to special treatment due to religious belief;

Legislative

Under the Draft, legislative power was exercised by the Emperor with the assent of the House of Commons and House of Lords. Both houses were granted the powers:

1. to table, debate, and pass bills;
2. to accept petitions;
3. to make rules and regulations pertaining to itself and regulate debate, provided they do not impair the "representative faculty" of parliament;
4. to command the presence and testimony, under penalty, of anyone it deems able to provide information to itself, including government ministers and public servants;
5. to meet and adjourn at a time and place it sets;

To the House of Commons, the bill granted the following exclusive powers:

1. to table bills raising revenues;
2. to impeach public officials;

To the House of Lords, the bill recognized the powers:

1. to table bills regulating the peerage and their entitlements;
2. to table bills regulating the royal family, royal finances, and entitlements;
3. to try impeachments and make judgment;

Royalty and peerage

Notably, the Draft did not include a section about the emperor, whose functions are mentioned as they pertained to the branches of government.

Other provisions

• Capital punishment is forbidden.
• The Privy Council is retained according to established customs.
• The Gentlemen-at-Arms and its various departments are retained, but members no longer enjoy privileges to enter the civil service.

See also

• Themiclesia