Imperial Constitution and Covenant of the Aksum Imperium/Article IV

Article IV — The Grand Imperial Magnus

Imperial Code §§ 102.401–102.499

Section 1. The Grand Imperial Magnus

Imperial Code § 102.401

1. The Grand Imperial Magnus is the supreme constitutional meeting of the United Dominion of the Aksum Imperium.

2. The Grand Imperial Magnus is constituted when the Estates General is formally convened under the authority of the Emperor and Grand Sovereign together with:

a. the Imperial Crown;

b. His Imperial Majesty’s Grand Imperial Court;

c. the Grand Imperial Council and Imperial Councils;

d. the Grand Officers of State;

e. the Imperial Service and Supreme Imperial Command;

f. constituent governments and authorities; and

g. such other Imperial institutions, officers, delegations, or persons as possess a constitutional right to attend or are lawfully summoned.

3. The Estates General is the collective body of the Four Estates. The Grand Imperial Magnus is the formal meeting in which the Estates General and the government of the Imperium are assembled beneath the Imperial Crown.

4. The Grand Imperial Magnus is not a permanent council separate from the Estates General, the Grand Imperial Court, or the institutions assembled within it.

5. While the Grand Imperial Magnus is in session, it constitutes the Government of the Aksum Imperium and the supreme sitting authority of the Imperium beneath the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

6. During its session, the Grand Imperial Magnus supersedes the ordinary authority of:

a. the Grand Imperial Council;

b. the Imperial Councils;

c. the separate Estates;

d. committees and delegations of the Estates General; and

e. other subordinate Imperial governmental bodies.

7. An Imperial Council or other subordinate Imperial body may meet or act during a session of the Grand Imperial Magnus only:

a. as a component, chamber, committee, or supporting body of the Magnus;

b. at the direction of the Emperor and Grand Sovereign;

c. with the authority of the Grand Imperial Magnus;

d. to carry out a duty assigned by the Magnus; or

e. when immediate action is necessary to protect life, preserve security, maintain constitutional continuity, or respond to an emergency that cannot reasonably await direction.

8. No Imperial Council, Estate, officer, or subordinate body may issue a directive, adopt a decision, or exercise jurisdiction contrary to an act or instruction of the Grand Imperial Magnus while the Magnus remains in session.

9. The Grand Imperial Magnus may take up, suspend, determine, refer, return, modify, or otherwise dispose of any matter pending before an Imperial Council, Estate, committee, or other subordinate Imperial body.

10. The supremacy of the Grand Imperial Magnus during its session does not permanently abolish or dissolve the Grand Imperial Court, the Grand Imperial Council, the Imperial Councils, the Estates, or any other constitutional institution.

11. Upon adjournment or prorogation of the Grand Imperial Magnus:

a. the Grand Imperial Court resumes its ordinary function as the Imperial Government;

b. the Grand Imperial Council resumes its coordinating authority within the Grand Imperial Court;

c. the Imperial Councils resume their ordinary constitutional jurisdictions;

d. the Four Estates resume their continuing existence as the Estates General; and

e. the acts, instructions, and referrals of the Grand Imperial Magnus remain binding according to their terms.

12. No adjournment, prorogation, dissolution of a sitting membership, vacancy, or interruption of a session extinguishes the permanent constitutional existence of the Estates General or the authority to convene a future Grand Imperial Magnus.

Section 2. The Estates General

Imperial Code § 102.402

1. The Estates General is the continuing collective constitutional body formed by the Four Estates of the United Dominion of the Aksum Imperium.

2. The Four Estates are:

a. the First Estate — Imperial Sovereignty;

b. the Second Estate — Nobility and Orders;

c. the Third Estate — Imperial Government and Service; and

d. the Fourth Estate — Citizens and Gentry.

3. The members of the Four Estates collectively constitute the Estates General.

4. The Estates General continues to exist between formal sessions of the Grand Imperial Magnus, whether its Estates are meeting separately, acting through authorized committees, preparing reports and proposals, or awaiting the next formal convocation.

5. The Estates General is not itself the ordinary Imperial Government and shall not independently exercise the authority of the Grand Imperial Magnus when the Magnus is not in session.

6. Between sessions of the Grand Imperial Magnus, the Estates General and its individual Estates may:

a. prepare proposals, petitions, reports, and recommendations;

b. conduct authorized internal deliberations;

c. organize committees and delegations;

d. communicate with the Imperial Crown, the Grand Imperial Court, and the Imperial Councils; and

e. perform other duties established by this Constitution or Imperial law.

7. No individual Estate acting alone constitutes the whole Estates General.

8. No Estate, officer, committee, faction, delegation, or member may claim to speak or act for the entire Estates General without lawful authority.

Section 3. Constitutional Authority and Responsibilities

Imperial Code § 102.403

1. The authority of the Estates General, the Grand Imperial Magnus, the Four Estates, and every officer and constituent body thereof derives from the Imperial Crown through this Constitution and Imperial law.

2. Neither the Estates General nor the Grand Imperial Magnus constitutes a source of sovereignty independent of or superior to the Imperial Crown.

3. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign is the Supreme Grand Magnus and supreme presiding authority of every session of the Grand Imperial Magnus.

4. The Emperor may:

a. summon the Grand Imperial Magnus;

b. open and address a session;

c. preside personally over the whole Magnus or any Estate, council, chamber, committee, or proceeding assembled within it;

d. refer matters to the Magnus or any component thereof;

e. require reports, testimony, advice, or recommendations;

f. direct the order and general purposes of a session;

g. return a matter for further deliberation;

h. adjourn or prorogue a session; and

i. exercise all other powers established by this Constitution.

5. When the Emperor does not personally preside over a component of the Magnus, the lawful presiding officer of that component shall exercise the chair.

6. The Grand Imperial Magnus may:

a. deliberate upon matters affecting the whole Imperium;

b. advise the Emperor and Grand Sovereign;

c. exercise the supreme governmental authority of the Imperium while in session;

d. receive, review, adopt, reject, amend, or return reports and recommendations;

e. consider legislation, decrees, constitutional questions, policies, and governmental programs;

f. exercise appointment, confirmation, review, disapproval, removal, or disciplinary authority expressly assigned by this Constitution;

g. hear petitions and grievances lawfully brought before it;

h. conduct inquiries and hearings;

i. direct or reorganize the work of Imperial Councils and other subordinate institutions during the session;

j. consider constitutional amendments according to Article XII;

k. exercise the jurisdiction assigned to it concerning allegations against the Emperor and Grand Sovereign; and

l. exercise other authority established by this Constitution or Imperial law.

7. The Grand Imperial Magnus shall not extinguish, diminish, or transfer any power reserved personally to the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

Section 4. Composition of the Four Estates

Imperial Code § 102.404

1. Each Estate shall consist of thirteen voting members, including its lawful presiding officer.

2. When all seats are filled, the Estates General shall consist of fifty-two voting members.

3. No person may simultaneously occupy a voting seat in more than one Estate.

4. A person who holds more than one qualifying dignity, office, rank, title, or status shall serve through only one Estate seat.

5. Holding an office within the Grand Imperial Magnus does not confer an additional vote upon a person who already occupies an Estate seat.

6. Imperial law shall establish the allocation, selection, appointment, election, confirmation, term, vacancy, succession, and replacement procedures governing the seats of each Estate.

7. A person who is summoned to appear but does not occupy an Estate seat may speak, submit reports, answer questions, or otherwise participate as permitted, but may not vote as a member of the Estates General.

Section 5. The First Estate — Imperial Sovereignty

Imperial Code § 102.405

1. The First Estate shall be styled the First Estate — Imperial Sovereignty.

2. The First Estate represents the constitutional, dynastic, sovereign, regnal, and territorial leadership of the Imperium.

3. Its membership shall be drawn from:

a. the Imperial Crown;

b. the Imperial Family;

c. the Sovereign Great Houses and their lawful sovereign heads or representatives;

d. the Grand Regent General;

e. the Grand Regents; and

f. other regnal authorities recognized by this Constitution or Imperial law.

4. Use of the term Imperial Sovereignty does not establish or recognize sovereignty separate from the sovereignty of the united Aksum Imperium.

5. Every member of the First Estate remains subject to the supremacy of the Imperial Crown and the permanent unity of the Imperium.

6. The First Estate shall deliberate upon matters concerning:

a. the Imperial Crown and Imperial Family;

b. the Sovereign Great Houses;

c. regency, succession, and dynastic continuity when lawfully referred;

d. the relations of the Crown, Sovereign Great Houses, and Grand Regents;

e. the unity and territorial integrity of the Imperium; and

f. other matters assigned by this Constitution, Imperial law, or the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

Section 6. The Second Estate — Nobility and Orders

Imperial Code § 102.406

1. The Second Estate shall be styled the Second Estate — Nobility and Orders.

2. The Second Estate represents the noble, chivalric, honorary, heraldic, traditional, and meritorious institutions of the Imperium.

3. Its membership shall be drawn from:

a. the recognized ranks of the nobility;

b. noble and ennobled Houses, clans, and families;

c. the Imperial Orders of chivalry, merit, honor, service, religion, and civic distinction;

d. the Imperial Council of Nobility;

e. the Imperial Council of the Orders; and

f. other noble, chivalric, honorific, or heraldic institutions recognized by Imperial law.

4. Representation within the Second Estate shall include both the nobility and the Imperial Orders.

5. The Second Estate shall deliberate upon matters concerning:

a. nobility, peerage, ennoblement, and noble responsibility;

b. the Imperial Orders and their recognition, regulation, precedence, and conduct;

c. heraldry, titles, styles, dignities, and ceremony;

d. noble and chivalric participation in the Great Game;

e. honors and institutional recognition; and

f. other matters assigned by this Constitution, Imperial law, or the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

Section 7. The Third Estate — Imperial Government and Service

Imperial Code § 102.407

1. The Third Estate shall be styled the Third Estate — Imperial Government and Service.

2. The Third Estate represents the governmental, administrative, legislative, magistratial, diplomatic, military, security, professional, and service institutions operating under the Imperial Crown.

3. Its membership shall be drawn from:

a. His Imperial Majesty’s Grand Imperial Court;

b. the Grand Imperial Council;

c. the Imperial Councils;

d. the Grand Officers of State;

e. the Imperial Service and Supreme Imperial Command;

f. the constituent governments of the Imperium; and

g. other governmental or public-service institutions established by this Constitution or Imperial law.

4. Representation in the Third Estate does not transfer the independent legal powers of an office, council, court, command, government, or institution to the Estate.

5. The Third Estate shall deliberate upon matters concerning:

a. the administration and performance of Imperial government;

b. coordination among Imperial and constituent institutions;

c. governmental policy, planning, finance, records, and accountability;

d. defense, security, diplomacy, justice, infrastructure, and public administration;

e. the Imperial Service and Supreme Imperial Command;

f. recommendations for governmental reform and institutional development; and

g. other matters assigned by this Constitution, Imperial law, or the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

Section 8. The Fourth Estate — Citizens and Gentry

Imperial Code § 102.408

1. The Fourth Estate shall be styled the Fourth Estate — Citizens and Gentry.

2. The Fourth Estate represents the citizens, gentry, civic associations, professions, communities, and lawful civil interests of the Imperium.

3. All thirteen members of the Fourth Estate shall be elected citizens of the Aksum Imperium.

4. Eligibility shall not depend upon noble rank, Imperial Service rank, profession, wealth, title, social class, House affiliation, or rank within the Great Game, except as expressly provided by this Constitution or Imperial law.

5. No member of the Imperial House of Aeon may be elected, appointed, or otherwise seated as a member of the Fourth Estate.

6. The exclusion of the House of Aeon preserves the independent representative character of the Fourth Estate and does not diminish the citizenship or other constitutional rights of any member of that House.

7. A person may not hold a voting seat in another Estate while serving in the Fourth Estate.

8. Members shall be elected for terms and under procedures established by Imperial law.

9. The Fourth Estate shall deliberate upon matters concerning:

a. citizen petitions, rights, duties, welfare, and participation;

b. civic, communal, professional, educational, cultural, and economic development;

c. citizen experiences with Imperial institutions;

d. public initiatives, grievances, and proposed reforms;

e. the accessibility and performance of government; and

f. other matters assigned by this Constitution, Imperial law, or the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

Section 9. Presiding Officers

Imperial Code § 102.409

1. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign shall serve as Supreme Grand Magnus of the Grand Imperial Magnus.

2. Each Estate shall possess a lawful presiding officer styled its Grand Magnus.

3. The regular Grand Magni of the First, Second, and Third Estates shall be established according to the duties of the appropriate Grand Officers of State and by Imperial law or Imperial Decree.

4. The Grand Praetor shall serve as the regular Grand Magnus of the Fourth Estate, subject to final approval of that assignment.

5. The Emperor may personally assume the chair of any Estate without permanently removing or displacing its regular Grand Magnus.

6. No Imperial Consort shall automatically become a vice presiding officer of the Grand Imperial Magnus solely by virtue of marriage or consort status.

7. No officer shall acquire an electoral, legislative, parliamentary, secretarial, or other Magnus office unless that responsibility is expressly established by this Constitution, Imperial law, or Imperial Decree.

Section 10. Sessions

Imperial Code § 102.410

1. The Grand Imperial Magnus shall meet in ordinary session at least twice during each Imperial year.

2. Ordinary sessions shall be convened near:

a. the Summer Solstice; and

b. the Winter Solstice.

3. The Emperor may convene a special, emergency, ceremonial, constitutional, or extraordinary session whenever the interests of the Imperium require it.

4. Each ordinary session may include:

a. an opening assembly;

b. an address or message from the Imperial Crown;

c. presentation of governmental, council, Estate, and institutional reports;

d. introduction of proposals and petitions;

e. separate deliberation by the Four Estates;

f. joint deliberation by the Estates General;

g. meetings of councils or committees acting under the authority of the Magnus;

h. final deliberation and voting;

i. issuance of decisions, instructions, recommendations, or referrals; and

j. adjournment or prorogation.

5. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign shall determine when the Grand Imperial Magnus has formally entered and concluded its session.

6. The journals and authenticated records shall clearly identify the period during which the Grand Imperial Magnus constituted the Government of the Imperium.