Article VII — High Kingdoms, Territories, and Constituent Governments

Imperial Code §§ 102.701–102.799

Section 1. Imperial Territory and the Authority of the Crown

Imperial Code § 102.701

1. All territories, jurisdictions, realms, constituent governments, territorial dignities, rights, and lawful claims of the Aksum Imperium form one indivisible Imperial inheritance vested in the Imperial Crown.

2. Territorial divisions exist to provide orderly administration, representation, development, security, and participation within the united Imperium.

3. No territorial division, constituent government, Great House, Regent, council, community, or population possesses sovereignty separate from or superior to the sovereignty of the United Dominion of the Aksum Imperium.

4. No territory or constituent government possesses a right of secession, unilateral withdrawal, partition, or independent statehood.

5. The interruption or absence of effective Imperial administration does not:

a. remove a territory from the Imperium;

b. surrender the rights of the Imperial Crown;

c. convert the territory into a foreign state;

d. extinguish a lawful territorial grant or claim; or

e. authorize an officer, House, government, or population to claim independent sovereignty.

6. Territorial authority shall arise only from this Constitution, Imperial law, Imperial Decree, a territorial charter, a grant of regency, or another lawful instrument of the Imperial Crown.

7. No person, House, Order, officer, government, council, or command may independently claim, occupy, annex, distribute, surrender, or govern Imperial territory without lawful authority derived from the Imperial Crown.

Section 2. Territorial Hierarchy

Imperial Code § 102.702

1. The constitutional territorial hierarchy of the Imperium shall be:

a. the Imperium, governed beneath the Imperial Crown by the Emperor and Grand Sovereign;

b. a High Kingdom, which may also be styled a Domain, governed by a Grand Regent;

c. a Realm, governed by a Chief High Regent;

d. a State, governed by a High Regent;

e. a System, governed by a Regent;

f. a Planet, governed by a Governor; and

g. a Province, governed by a Commissioner.

2. The term Dominion, when used as the constitutional name of the united sovereign whole, means the single Dominion formed by all Domains beneath the Imperial Crown.

3. No territorial tier styled a Dominion or Grand Dominion shall exist within the hierarchy established by this Article.

4. References in prior Imperial instruments to territorial Dominions, Dominion Regents, or Dominion Councils shall be construed as references to States, High Regents, or State Councils when consistent with current Imperial law.

5. Imperial law may establish cities, districts, municipalities, townships, local communities, special jurisdictions, or other administrative divisions subordinate to Provinces.

6. Establishment of a local administrative division does not create a new constitutional territorial tier unless this Constitution is lawfully amended.

7. A territory need not contain every subordinate territorial level where geography, population, development, or administrative necessity does not require it.

Section 3. High Kingdoms

Imperial Code § 102.703

1. High Kingdoms are the principal territorial and administrative divisions of the Imperium.

2. A High Kingdom may also be referred to in Imperial law and administration as a Domain.

3. Each High Kingdom shall contain such Realms, States, Systems, Planets, Provinces, and subordinate territories as are lawfully assigned to it.

4. Each High Kingdom shall be governed in the name of the Imperial Crown by a Grand Regent appointed or confirmed by the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

5. A Grand Regent shall:

a. preserve the unity and supremacy of the Imperial Crown;

b. administer the High Kingdom according to this Constitution and Imperial law;

c. coordinate the governments and institutions within the High Kingdom;

d. protect its people, territory, institutions, property, and records;

e. implement lawful Imperial directives;

f. promote development, stability, justice, and participation; and

g. render account according to the terms of the regency.

6. The High Kingdom of Aksum is the original heartland, principal territorial foundation, and present seat of effective administration of the restored Imperium.

7. The status of the High Kingdom of Aksum does not diminish the constitutional standing, territorial inheritance, or right of restoration of any other High Kingdom or Imperial territory.

8. The names, number, boundaries, capitals, internal divisions, and particular jurisdictions of the High Kingdoms shall be established and maintained by Imperial law, decree, and the Official Territorial Registry.

9. No Grand Regent possesses ownership or personal sovereignty over the High Kingdom entrusted to that officer.

Section 4. Realms and the Sovereign Great Houses

Imperial Code § 102.704

1. Realms are the fundamental territorial units through which the historic, dynastic, cultural, governmental, and institutional life of the Sovereign Great Houses is connected to the territorial order of the Imperium.

2. A Realm may be associated with a recognized Sovereign Great House under a grant, charter, decree, inheritance, restoration instrument, or other lawful act of the Imperial Crown.

3. Stewardship or government of a Realm shall be exercised by a Chief High Regent appointed, confirmed, or recognized according to Imperial law and the governing territorial instrument.

4. The sovereign head of a Great House and the Chief High Regent of the associated Realm may be the same person but are constitutionally distinct capacities.

5. Not every Sovereign of a Great House is required to serve as a Chief High Regent.

6. Not every Chief High Regent is required to possess sovereign dignity or to be the head of a Great House.

7. Where the Sovereign and Chief High Regent are different persons, they shall cooperate according to the territorial charter, House law, Imperial law, and lawful direction of the Crown.

8. Sovereign dignity does not by itself grant territorial government.

9. Territorial regency does not by itself create sovereign dignity, noble rank, hereditary right, or membership in a Sovereign Great House.

10. The status, rights, duties, recognition, and internal governance of the Sovereign Great Houses shall be further governed by Article VIII.

Section 5. States, Systems, Planets, and Provinces

Imperial Code § 102.705

1. States are constituent territorial governments within Realms and shall be governed by High Regents.

2. Systems are territorial and administrative jurisdictions consisting of one or more planets, settlements, stations, installations, or related territories and shall be governed by Regents.

3. Planets are major territorial jurisdictions within Systems and shall be governed by Governors.

4. Provinces are administrative divisions within Planets or other appropriate territorial jurisdictions and shall be governed by Commissioners.

5. The authority, qualifications, appointment, election, term, succession, removal, and accountability of territorial officers shall be established by Imperial law, territorial charter, or lawful Crown instrument.

6. A lower territorial government shall remain subject to:

a. this Constitution;

b. Imperial law;

c. lawful Crown authority;

d. the territorial charter governing it; and

e. the lawful authority of superior territorial governments within the hierarchy.

7. No superior territorial authority may abolish the lawful rights or jurisdiction of a subordinate territorial government except under authority granted by this Constitution, Imperial law, or the governing charter.

8. Local governmental and administrative bodies subordinate to Provinces may be established according to Imperial and constituent law.

Section 6. Territorial Regencies

Imperial Code § 102.706

1. A territorial regency is a delegated trust of government exercised in the name and under the authority of the Imperial Crown.

2. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign may grant:

a. a grand regency;

b. a chief high regency;

c. a high regency;

d. a regency;

e. a governorship;

f. a commissionership; or

g. another territorial commission or authority consistent with this Constitution.

3. The instrument creating a territorial regency shall identify:

a. the territory governed;

b. the office and title granted;

c. the powers delegated;

d. the limitations and conditions of the grant;

e. the term or conditions of continuation;

f. reporting and accountability requirements; and

g. the procedure for succession, suspension, amendment, or termination.

4. Every territorial Regent or officer shall:

a. maintain fidelity to the Imperial Crown and this Constitution;

b. preserve the unity of the Imperium;

c. exercise only lawfully delegated powers;

d. protect the territory, people, institutions, and records entrusted to the office;

e. administer government fairly and competently;

f. preserve constitutional rights and lawful processes; and

g. render account to the Emperor or the superior Imperial authority designated by the grant.

5. A territorial regency does not divide the Imperial Crown, transfer ultimate sovereignty, or create an independent or coequal Crown.

6. A territorial regency may be confirmed, renewed, amended, suspended, transferred, or revoked by the Emperor according to this Constitution and the terms of its grant.

7. Territorial office shall not become hereditary unless hereditary succession is expressly recognized by the Imperial Crown and remains subject to constitutional confirmation.

8. The title of Grand Regent, Chief High Regent, High Regent, or Regent does not make the officeholder the Imperial Regent governed by Article III.

9. The Grand Regent General may coordinate territorial regencies when authorized by the Emperor but shall not assume direct government of a particular territory without an express Crown delegation.

Section 7. Constituent Governments

Imperial Code § 102.707

1. Each High Kingdom, Realm, State, System, Planet, Province, and other lawfully chartered territory may possess a constituent government appropriate to its level, population, development, and responsibilities.

2. A constituent government may include:

a. a territorial executive or Regent;

b. a governing or coordinating council;

c. a council of deliberation or other representative body;

d. magistrates, courts, and tribunals operating through the Imperial Council of Magistrates;

e. territorial officers and public-service institutions;

f. councils representing Sovereigns, nobility, Orders, citizens, professions, or communities; and

g. other lawful bodies established by charter or law.

3. The constitution, charter, or basic law of a constituent government shall conform to this Constitution and Imperial law.

4. A constituent government may legislate, administer, regulate, adjudicate, tax, budget, plan, and provide public services within its lawful jurisdiction.

5. A constituent government shall not:

a. exercise a power reserved to the Imperial Crown;

b. conduct independent foreign relations except under delegated authority;

c. maintain military or security forces outside Imperial law;

d. obstruct lawful Imperial authority;

e. declare independence or separation;

f. surrender or alienate Imperial territory; or

g. enact a law contrary to this Constitution or controlling Imperial law.

6. Territorial laws and acts remain valid within their jurisdiction unless superseded, suspended, or invalidated by lawful superior authority.

7. Constituent governments shall preserve meaningful opportunities for lawful participation, petition, representation, and redress.

8. The detailed organization of constituent governments shall be established by Imperial law, territorial charters, and lawful local enactments rather than by this Constitution.

Section 8. Relationship with the Imperial Government

Imperial Code § 102.708

1. Constituent governments form part of the governmental order of the Imperium but are not departments of the central Imperial Government unless expressly established as such.

2. Constituent governments shall cooperate with the Imperial Crown, the Grand Imperial Court, the Imperial Councils, the Imperial Service, and other territorial governments.

3. The Grand Imperial Court may:

a. coordinate Imperial policy among constituent governments;

b. provide administrative, technical, financial, legal, educational, security, and developmental assistance;

c. require reports necessary to enforce this Constitution and Imperial law;

d. mediate territorial and intergovernmental disputes;

e. inspect compliance with constitutional and Imperial requirements; and

f. perform other lawful coordinating duties.

4. Imperial support does not extinguish the lawful jurisdiction of a constituent government.

5. A constituent government may request assistance from the Grand Imperial Court or Imperial Service according to Imperial law.

6. The Imperial Service shall remain solely beneath the supreme command authority of the Imperial Crown while providing territorial or governmental support.

7. A territorial government may direct Imperial Service personnel only where the Imperial Crown has expressly delegated command or tasking authority.

8. Disputes concerning jurisdiction between the Imperial Government and a constituent government shall be resolved through political consultation, Imperial law, or the Imperial Council of Magistrates according to the nature of the dispute.

Section 9. Territorial Restoration and Interim Administration

Imperial Code § 102.709

1. Restoration of Imperial administration within territories affected by the Fracture is the renewed exercise of existing Imperial authority and not the diplomatic acquisition of a foreign state.

2. Restoration may include:

a. reestablishment of civil and territorial government;

b. appointment of Regents and territorial officers;

c. restoration of courts, councils, institutions, settlements, and public services;

d. confirmation or grant of territorial authority to qualified Great Houses;

e. recovery and reconstruction of infrastructure, archives, and cultural sites;

f. resolution of competing territorial claims;

g. establishment of interim administration; and

h. other lawful measures necessary to restore the territory to effective Imperial governance.

3. Diplomacy, negotiation, compacts, mediation, and peaceful integration may be used to facilitate restoration and avoid unnecessary conflict.

4. No diplomatic agreement, foreign recognition, or purported accession is required for the Crown to preserve or administer its inherited territories.

5. The Emperor may place an unrestored, uninhabited, disputed, frontier, or developing territory beneath:

a. an interim Regent or Governor;

b. a superior territorial government;

c. the Grand Imperial Court;

d. an Imperial commission;

e. the Imperial Service; or

f. another temporary authority established by Crown instrument.

6. Interim administration conveys no permanent personal, House, military, or institutional ownership of the territory.

7. A temporary administration shall yield to the permanent government established by lawful Crown authority.

8. Restoration shall respect the rules, procedures, and lawful narrative framework of the Great Game.

Section 10. Creation, Boundaries, and Territorial Changes

Imperial Code § 102.710

1. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign possesses final authority to create, recognize, restore, combine, divide, rename, transfer, reorganize, or abolish territorial divisions.

2. A territorial change may be made by Imperial Decree, Imperial law approved by the Crown, or another authenticated Crown instrument.

3. Before making a substantial territorial change, the Crown may consult:

a. affected Regents and governments;

b. affected Sovereign Great Houses;

c. the Grand Regent General;

d. the Grand Viceroy;

e. the Grand Imperial Court;

f. affected populations and institutions; and

g. such councils, experts, or officers as the Crown considers appropriate.

4. Consultation does not create a territorial veto against the lawful authority of the Imperial Crown.

5. No territorial change may:

a. dissolve the Imperium;

b. authorize secession;

c. transfer sovereignty away from the Imperial Crown;

d. create a Crown equal or superior to the Imperial Crown; or

e. revive the abolished territorial Dominion tier without constitutional amendment.

6. Existing rights, offices, laws, records, obligations, and proceedings shall be preserved or lawfully transferred when a territory is reorganized.

7. Imperial law shall govern boundary surveys, maps, descriptions, disputes, transfers, transitional administration, and implementation.

Section 11. Territorial Registry, Records, and Continuity

Imperial Code § 102.711

1. The Imperial Government shall maintain an authenticated Official Territorial Registry.

2. The Official Territorial Registry shall identify:

a. recognized High Kingdoms and Domains;

b. Realms;

c. States;

d. Systems;

e. Planets;

f. Provinces;

g. capitals and principal seats of government;

h. boundaries and territorial descriptions;

i. governing authorities and territorial officers;

j. associated Great Houses and regencies; and

k. the legal instruments establishing or modifying each entry.

3. The Official Territorial Registry is the controlling administrative record of the territorial organization of the Imperium.

4. Maps, directories, websites, forums, game materials, and public descriptions shall conform to the authenticated Registry.

5. An error, omission, loss of record, vacancy, inactive government, absence of an officer, or interruption of communications does not by itself abolish a territory or extinguish the rights of the Imperial Crown.

6. Uncertain, reconstructed, disputed, historical, inactive, and proposed territorial entries shall be identified accurately and shall not be represented as fully authenticated current jurisdictions.

7. Territorial governments shall preserve their laws, charters, proceedings, financial records, property records, maps, appointments, and institutional histories.

8. Territorial records of permanent value shall be transmitted to the Imperial Archives according to Imperial law.

9. No territorial government, officer, House, or institution may destroy, conceal, falsify, or remove official territorial records for the purpose of defeating Imperial authority, altering lawful succession, or fabricating a territorial claim.

Text forthcoming following constitutional review and approval.