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[Adin Blackwind]

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Let it be known that the Commonwealth of Yew shall once again host a Town Council to begin this Sunday February 8, 2004. Location: Yew Town Hall under the Trammel Moon at 5 PM EST. The Honorable Mayor Lord Kotare shall lead. All those having business before the Township are encouraged to attend.

As newly elected Mayor of the Commonwealth of Yew, I hear by present
to you the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Yew.

The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Yew states:

1. That a two-house legislature be established, consisting of an Assembly
(whomever attends the meeting votes and proposes various issues) and a Senate
(composed of Representatives from all interested Guilds of Yew).
1a. They will meet at separate times, except during Elections of Offices,
although a log or transcript should be kept for public record of the vote counts
and debates conducted.
1b. Senators shall approve or reject Treaties and Executive Appointments
(District Attorneys, Court Justices except for the Supreme Justice - who is
elected by all, and high-level Officers of the Militia below that of Commander -
who is elected directly by all). Senators can attend, but cannot vote, in the
Assembly.
1c. All punishments or impeachment must arise in the Senate, which then are
voted on by the Assembly. If a 2/3 majority in both houses votes for
impeachment, that Senator or Executive must resign immediately. No Assemblyman
can be removed for any reason.
1d. Assemblies have sole domain in allocating money and spending it as they
see fit. Assemblies may pass laws and statues except those interfering with
certain rights that will be discussed later.

2. That a Judicial Branch should be established, ruling over Criminal and Civil
Cases.
2a. Judicial Review may declare certain acts that interfere with the Rights
of Citizens "unconstitutional" and void. Executives enforcing these laws would
be subject to impeachment and/or criminal charges.
2b. The Supreme Court Justice shall give guidance on the Virtue of Justice,
and may consider appeals from lower courts and other districts, as the Yew Court
is the Supreme Court of all Britannia. > 2c. The Supreme Court Justice shall
appoint lesser Court Judges as necessary to rule in Criminal and Civil Cases.
2d. Lawyers shall be certified by the requirements stated by The Chief
Justice, subject to their approval by the Senate.
2e. Civil and Criminal Cases arising within the boundaries of Yew only may be
brought to Trial here, although if both parties consent, any case in the land
may be heard here.
2f. The Supreme Court Judge is to be called, "The/Your Supreme Justice".
Lesser judges are simply, "Your Justice" or "The Justice". He is elected to a
10-month term (to make administration easy). He should be a person of Respect,
embodying Virtue and above all a sense of Justice. He is elected directly.

3. An executive branch shall exist to enforce the laws, defend the
Constitution, and to protect against outside and internal aggression.
3a. The Officers of the Executive shall consist of a Mayor, a Secretary, and
a Militia Commander. All executives shall be elected for 5 "Earth" Months.
3aa. The Mayor shall represent Yew in all official functions in Britannia,
or appoint ambassadors for this purpose. The Mayor shall preside over all
official functions (events, town fairs, etc.) in Yew, and shall open and close
them all. The Mayor is also the head of the executive, and may direct other
officers. In the case of insubordination, the Mayor may request the Senate to
impeach, but may not himself remove any officer. The Mayor is to be address as
either "His/Her/Your Honor" or "Governor" 3bb. The Secretary shall edit the
Webpage of Yew, and is in charge of official counts and tallies and censuses.
He may appoint officers to assist him as well. He should be addressed as "Mr.
Secretary" or "Minister". His underlings may be addressed as "Assistant
Minister" or "Assistant Secretary".
3cc. The Militia Commander shall provide organization and leadership of the
Militia, and may appoint under officers of the Militia. He is responsible for
the defense of the town and the Greater Yew area, and may offer bounties and
other rewards for service, as well as give medals or other citations. The
Commander may be addressed as "Marshall/General/Commander".
3b. Any successful criminal charge against a standing officer results in
immediate removal of that person.
3c. Order of Succession for the Mayor and Secretary, in case of death or
removal until a new election: Mayor - Secretary - Speaker of the Assembly -
Senate or Speaker - Assembly Majority Leader Assembly Minority Leader
3d: In the case of the death of the Militia Commander, the next highest
officer shall take his place, and so down the list of militia officers until all
appointed officers are exhausted, in which case the Militia shall "go guerilla"
until a new commander is appointed. The new commander should be "confirmed" in
a Senate Vote as soon as possible.

4. The Rights of Man as held by all Reasonable and Honorable Peoples:
4a: The Right of the People to freely assemble shall not be infringed.
4b: The Right of the People to speak freely shall not be infringed.
4c: The Right of the People to bear arms and armor shall not be infringed.
4d: The Right of the People to choose their creed, religion, and philosophy
shall not be infringed.
4e: The Right of the People to be secure in their Property and Livelihood
shall not be infringed by the Government - no banning of specific lifestyles or
goods.
4f: Bills of Attainder shall not issue (any retroactive laws).
4g: Income taxes prohibited as a method of raising taxes.
4h: All Citizens may attend the Assembly and vote, except Executives, the
Supreme Justice, and Senators, who may attend and debate but not vote.
4i: All Citizens may vote for the Executive and Justice, regardless of Office,
Sex, Class, or Title. IMPORTANT: Procedures in the House: The first meeting of
the Assembly and Senate should do the following- Elect a Speaker, who sets the
agenda and adheres to it. Set rules for speaking and debating (for example,
someone must be seconded by another, and then recognized by the Speaker). Set
up some common-sense Committees, like the Senate Militia Committee, which
reviews the performance of Militiamen; or the Assembly Appropriations Committee,
which makes a preliminary recommendation of how to spend money.

A citizen must be registered with the Township to vote

Points and Counter-points about this Constitution should be submitted under this post

Signed and dated on this 2nd day of Febuary, 2004
Kotare II Mayor of Yew
Anna, General Of Yew
Tinalia , Vice-Mayor of Yew

[Scarab]

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