Imperial Constitution and Covenant of the Aksum Imperium/Article V

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Article V — The Grand Imperial Court

Imperial Code §§ 102.501–102.599

Section 1. The Grand Imperial Court and Imperial Government

Imperial Code § 102.501

1. His Imperial Majesty’s Grand Imperial Court is the ordinary Imperial Government of the United Dominion of the Aksum Imperium.

2. The Grand Imperial Court may also be referred to in this Constitution as the Imperial Court or the Imperial Government.

3. The Grand Imperial Court exercises governmental authority in the name and under the authority of the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

4. The Grand Imperial Court shall administer the laws, institutions, policies, programs, property, finances, records, external relations, public services, and other lawful affairs of the Imperium.

5. The Grand Imperial Court shall continue to function between sessions of the Grand Imperial Magnus.

6. While the Grand Imperial Magnus is in session:

a. the Grand Imperial Court shall form part of the Grand Imperial Magnus;

b. the Court and its constituent councils shall operate under the supreme authority of the Magnus;

c. the Magnus shall constitute the Government of the Aksum Imperium; and

d. the Court shall resume its ordinary governmental jurisdiction upon adjournment or prorogation of the Magnus.

7. The Grand Imperial Court is not a separate source of sovereignty and possesses only the inherent, reserved, expressly granted, and lawfully delegated authority of the Imperial Crown.

8. The Grand Imperial Court shall not exercise any authority contrary to this Constitution, a lawful act of the Grand Imperial Magnus, or a lawful directive of the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

Section 2. Composition of the Grand Imperial Court

Imperial Code § 102.502

1. The Grand Imperial Court shall include:

a. the Emperor and Grand Sovereign;

b. members of the Imperial Family who hold constitutional or Court office or are otherwise lawfully admitted to the Court;

c. the Grand King;

d. the Grand Regent General;

e. the Grand Officers of State;

f. members of the Grand Imperial Council;

g. members of the Imperial Councils;

h. officers of the Imperial Government and Imperial Service;

i. representatives of constituent governments and authorities when lawfully participating;

j. designated members of the nobility, Orders, institutions, and learned professions; and

k. other persons admitted, appointed, summoned, or recognized by the Emperor and Grand Sovereign or under Imperial law.

2. Membership in the Grand Imperial Court may arise by:

a. constitutional office;

b. Imperial appointment or commission;

c. election or selection under Imperial law;

d. membership in an Imperial Council;

e. service in an office carrying Court membership;

f. hereditary or ceremonial dignity recognized by the Crown; or

g. special admission or summons by the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

3. Membership in the Imperial Family or marriage to a member of the Imperial Family does not, by itself, confer governmental office, voting authority, or command.

4. Admission to the Grand Imperial Court does not confer authority beyond that attached to the person’s lawful office, commission, council membership, dignity, or delegation.

5. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign may establish categories of:

a. voting members;

b. ex officio members;

c. advisory members;

d. ceremonial members;

e. temporary members;

f. observers; and

g. invited participants.

6. Imperial law or decree shall govern Court membership, credentials, precedence, privileges, suspension, removal, and restoration.

Section 3. The Imperial Crown within the Grand Imperial Court

Imperial Code § 102.503

1. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign is the supreme head of the Grand Imperial Court and the source of its governmental authority.

2. The Emperor may personally:

a. preside over the Grand Imperial Court;

b. preside over the Grand Imperial Council or any Imperial Council;

c. summon, address, adjourn, or dismiss a Court meeting;

d. refer a matter to any council, office, ministry, commission, tribunal, or agency;

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

f. assume direct responsibility for any matter within Imperial jurisdiction;

g. reverse, suspend, modify, or return a subordinate governmental decision, subject to this Constitution; and

h. exercise all other lawful powers of the Imperial Crown.

3. The Emperor is not required personally to manage ordinary political, administrative, institutional, House, family, or personnel disputes.

4. The ordinary administration of government shall be conducted through the Grand Imperial Council, Imperial Councils, Grand Officers of State, and other duly authorized institutions.

5. A regular presiding officer, chair, minister, commander, magistrate, or other official acts in the name and under the authority of the Emperor whenever the Emperor does not personally preside or act.

6. No Court officer may compel the Emperor to participate personally in an ordinary governmental matter.

7. Delegation of authority does not divest the Emperor of the right to exercise the delegated authority personally.

Section 4. The Grand Imperial Council

Imperial Code § 102.504

1. The Grand Imperial Council is the governing and coordinating body of His Imperial Majesty’s Grand Imperial Court.

2. The Grand Imperial Council shall govern and coordinate the Grand Imperial Court in the name and under the authority of the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

3. The Grand Imperial Council shall:

a. coordinate the operations of the Imperial Government;

b. deconflict the jurisdictions, responsibilities, policies, and activities of the Imperial Councils;

c. establish or recommend policies governing the Grand Imperial Court;

d. coordinate implementation of this Constitution, Imperial laws, decrees, and lawful directives;

e. resolve or recommend resolution of matters crossing the jurisdiction of more than one Imperial Council;

f. coordinate reports and recommendations submitted to the Emperor or Grand Imperial Magnus;

g. oversee the referral and implementation of decisions made by the Grand Imperial Magnus;

h. preserve continuity, communication, and orderly administration throughout the Imperial Government; and

i. perform other responsibilities established by Imperial law or directive of the Crown.

4. The Grand Imperial Council shall not exercise the ordinary legislative authority constitutionally assigned to the Imperial Council of Deliberation.

5. The Grand Imperial Council shall not decide an individual judicial or magistratial case assigned to the Council of Magistrates or a court or tribunal operating through it.

6. The membership, officers, procedures, quorum, and voting rules of the Grand Imperial Council shall be established by Imperial Decree or law consistent with this Constitution.

7. The Emperor may personally preside over the Grand Imperial Council.

8. When the Emperor does not personally preside, the Grand Imperial Council shall be chaired by the Grand King or another Grand Officer of State designated by Imperial Decree.

9. Grand Regents are not permanent members of the Grand Imperial Council solely by reason of their regency.

10. A Grand Regent may be convened to participate when:

a. a matter directly concerns the Regent’s jurisdiction;

b. the matter concerns territorial administration, boundaries, restoration, succession, regency, or intergovernmental relations; or

c. the Emperor specifically authorizes participation.

11. Limited participation under clause 10 does not make a Grand Regent a permanent member of the Grand Imperial Council.

Section 5. Grand Officers of State

Imperial Code § 102.505

1. The Grand Officers of State are the principal officers through whom the Imperial Crown directs, supervises, and administers the Grand Imperial Court, Imperial Government, and related institutions.

2. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign shall appoint, commission, recognize, suspend, and remove Grand Officers of State according to this Constitution and Imperial law.

3. The titles, styles, precedence, duties, jurisdictions, subsidiary offices, and Court responsibilities of Grand Officers of State shall be established by Imperial Decree or law.

4. Where this Constitution names a particular Grand Officer title, the Emperor may designate another title to perform the same constitutional responsibility unless the Constitution expressly prohibits substitution.

5. A change in title does not abolish, diminish, or materially alter the constitutional responsibility assigned to the office.

6. The Emperor may delegate to a Grand Officer of State authority to:

a. administer a governmental department or institution;

b. chair or preside over a council;

c. appoint or nominate subordinate officers;

d. exercise supervisory or coordinating authority;

e. issue implementing directives or regulations;

f. manage a commission, delegation, command, ministry, office, or agency; and

g. perform other lawful responsibilities.

7. Delegated authority shall be exercised in the name of the Emperor and may be modified, suspended, withdrawn, or superseded by the Emperor.

8. Unless expressly provided otherwise, delegation does not prevent the Emperor from exercising the same authority personally.

9. No Grand Officer of State may exercise authority outside the jurisdiction of the office or contrary to this Constitution, Imperial law, or lawful Crown direction.

Section 6. The Mandatory Imperial Councils

Imperial Code § 102.506

1. The following five Imperial Councils are permanent and mandatory constitutional institutions of the Grand Imperial Court:

a. the Imperial Council of State;

b. the Imperial Council of Magistrates;

c. the Imperial Council of Deliberation;

d. the Imperial Council of Sovereigns; and

e. the Imperial Privy Council.

2. The five mandatory Imperial Councils shall not be abolished by ordinary decree or legislation.

3. Each mandatory Imperial Council shall possess:

a. a regular presiding officer;

b. membership established under this Constitution, Imperial Decree, or Imperial law;

c. defined constitutional jurisdiction;

d. procedures governing meetings, quorum, voting, records, and referrals; and

e. authority to establish subordinate committees, panels, commissions, or offices when lawfully authorized.

4. The Imperial Crown is an ex officio and fully voting member of every Imperial Council.

5. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign may personally preside over any Imperial Council.

6. The regular chair of an Imperial Council presides in the name and under the authority of the Emperor whenever the Emperor does not personally preside.

7. The authority exercised by every Imperial Council derives from the Imperial Crown and shall be exercised only within:

a. this Constitution;

b. Imperial law;

c. the lawful jurisdiction of the council; and

d. the terms of any delegation or referral.

8. Each mandatory Imperial Council shall report to the Emperor and Grand Sovereign and shall coordinate through the Grand Imperial Council.

9. While the Grand Imperial Magnus is in session, each Imperial Council shall operate as a subordinate component or supporting body of the Magnus.

10. Additional councils may be established, but no additional council shall displace the constitutional jurisdiction of a mandatory Imperial Council.

Section 7. The Imperial Council of State

Imperial Code § 102.507

1. The Imperial Council of State exercises the administrative and executive authority of the Emperor and Grand Sovereign delegated to it by this Constitution and Imperial law.

2. The Imperial Council of State shall:

a. coordinate the administration of the Imperial Government;

b. oversee execution of Imperial laws, decrees, policies, programs, and directives;

c. coordinate the work of ministries, departments, commissions, offices, agencies, and executive institutions;

d. review governmental performance and administrative readiness;

e. coordinate domestic, economic, diplomatic, territorial, and public-policy matters;

f. prepare executive reports and recommendations;

g. oversee implementation of decisions of the Emperor, Grand Imperial Magnus, and Grand Imperial Council; and

h. perform other executive responsibilities established by Imperial law.

3. The Imperial Council of State shall be led by the Grand King unless another title is designated by Imperial Decree.

4. The Emperor may designate one or more chair pro tempore, vice chairs, ministers, or executive officers to assist in the leadership of the Council.

5. The membership of the Council shall include the principal executive and administrative officers designated by Imperial Decree or law.

6. The Council of State shall not exercise the ordinary legislative authority assigned to the Council of Deliberation or the judicial and magistratial authority assigned to the Council of Magistrates.

Section 8. The Imperial Council of Magistrates

Imperial Code § 102.508

1. The Imperial Council of Magistrates exercises the judicial and magistratial authority of the Emperor and Grand Sovereign delegated to it by this Constitution and Imperial law.

2. The Council of Magistrates shall oversee the administration, consistency, independence, accessibility, and integrity of justice within the Grand Imperial Court.

3. The Council shall:

a. supervise the constitutional system of Imperial courts, tribunals, magistrates, and lawful adjudicative bodies;

b. establish or recommend rules of procedure and judicial administration;

c. hear matters assigned directly to the Council;

d. review appeals where authorized;

e. resolve jurisdictional disputes among Imperial courts and tribunals;

f. supervise the qualification, discipline, training, and professional standards of magistrates;

g. oversee the Imperial Bar and other legal institutions established beneath or in support of the Council;

h. provide constitutional and legal interpretation when jurisdiction is properly invoked; and

i. perform other magistratial responsibilities established by Imperial law.

4. The Council shall not improperly interfere with the lawful disposition of an individual case assigned to a magistrate, panel, court, or tribunal.

5. All Imperial courts, tribunals, and magistrates shall operate through, beneath, or under the constitutional supervision of the Council of Magistrates.

6. No separate institution styled an Imperial Judiciary shall exist outside the Grand Imperial Court or independently of the Council of Magistrates.

7. The Council shall be led by the Grand Magistrate unless another title is designated by Imperial Decree.

8. The organization, levels, jurisdiction, procedure, appeals, remedies, and enforcement powers of Imperial courts and tribunals shall be established by Imperial law.

Section 9. The Imperial Council of Deliberation

Imperial Code § 102.509

1. The Imperial Council of Deliberation exercises the ordinary and continuing legislative authority of the Emperor and Grand Sovereign delegated to it by this Constitution and Imperial law.

2. The Council of Deliberation may:

a. consider, debate, adopt, amend, and repeal Imperial legislation;

b. receive legislative proposals and petitions;

c. conduct legislative inquiry and oversight;

d. require reports and testimony from Imperial officers and institutions;

e. review the implementation and effect of Imperial laws;

f. approve resolutions, recommendations, and legislative findings; and

g. perform other legislative responsibilities established by Imperial law.

3. The Council of Deliberation shall be presided over by the Grand Praetor unless another title is designated by Imperial Decree.

4. Members shall be elected, selected, appointed, or seated by office according to procedures established by Imperial law.

5. The members shall elect a Vice Grand Praetor, or another designated deputy presiding officer, from among those eligible to serve.

6. No act of the Grand Imperial Council shall replace, bypass, or usurp the ordinary legislative jurisdiction of the Council of Deliberation.

7. The Grand Imperial Magnus may exercise legislative authority while in session and may take up, amend, refer, approve, reject, suspend, or return a legislative matter.

8. Upon adjournment of the Magnus, ordinary continuing legislative jurisdiction shall resume in the Council of Deliberation.

Section 10. The Imperial Council of Sovereigns

Imperial Code § 102.510

1. The Imperial Council of Sovereigns shall consist of the lawful heads of the recognized Sovereign Great Houses.

2. Each recognized Sovereign Great House shall possess one vote, exercised by its lawful head or duly authorized representative.

3. The Council shall:

a. lead and coordinate the Sovereign Great Houses;

b. represent their constitutional interests, duties, and counsel within the Imperial Government;

c. preserve fidelity between the Houses and the Imperial Crown;

d. consult upon House relations, constitutional duties, precedence, inheritance, and succession;

e. elect the Emperor and Grand Sovereign from among eligible members of the House of Aeon;

f. consult upon and consent to the Imperial order of succession;

g. consent by simple majority or general consent to the naming of an Imperial Regent;

h. receive and review formal grievances concerning the Imperial Crown;

i. possess the exclusive authority to initiate and recommend removal of an Emperor as provided by Article III; and

j. perform other responsibilities assigned by this Constitution.

4. The Emperor and Grand Sovereign is the supreme presiding authority of the Council.

5. A regular chair pro tempore may be designated by Imperial Decree to preside whenever the Emperor does not personally preside.

6. The Council of Sovereigns may recommend removal of an Emperor but may not itself remove, prosecute, suspend, or judge the Emperor.

7. Final jurisdiction over allegations against the Emperor belongs exclusively to the Grand Imperial Magnus as provided by Article III.

Section 11. The Imperial Privy Council

Imperial Code § 102.511

1. The Imperial Privy Council shall provide direct and confidential counsel to the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

2. The Emperor may refer to the Privy Council matters concerning:

a. affairs of the Crown;

b. appointments and dismissals;

c. succession and regency;

d. clemency;

e. diplomacy and external relations;

f. defense, intelligence, and security;

g. constitutional crises and emergencies;

h. personal or confidential petitions;

i. House and family matters affecting the Imperium; and

j. any other matter upon which the Emperor desires confidential counsel.

3. Members of the Privy Council shall be appointed and removed by the Emperor and Grand Sovereign.

4. The Privy Council shall include:

a. at least one citizen who, at the time of appointment, is non-noble or holds no noble dignity above the rank of Baron; and

b. at least one lower-ranking member of the Imperial Service who, at the time of appointment, holds a rank or grade of IS-10 or below.

5. The requirements in clause 4 may be satisfied by the same person when that person meets both qualifications.

6. An appointment made to satisfy clause 4 shall be for a term of six months.

7. Promotion, elevation, or ennoblement during the term does not terminate the appointment, but the member must meet the qualifications at the time of reappointment to the designated seat.

8. Advice of the Privy Council is confidential unless the Emperor authorizes its disclosure.

9. The Privy Council possesses no authority to bind the Emperor unless a power has been expressly delegated to it.

Section 12. Additional Councils, Ministries, Offices, and Institutions

Imperial Code § 102.512

1. The Emperor, Grand Imperial Magnus, or Imperial law may establish additional:

a. councils;

b. ministries;

c. departments;

d. offices;

e. commissions;

f. agencies;

g. courts and tribunals operating through the Council of Magistrates;

h. educational, cultural, scientific, economic, spiritual, and professional institutions; and

i. other bodies necessary for the government and advancement of the Imperium.

2. An additional institution shall be assigned to the Grand Imperial Council, a mandatory Imperial Council, a Grand Officer of State, or another constitutional authority.

3. No additional institution may:

a. abolish or displace a mandatory Imperial Council;

b. exercise authority outside its lawful jurisdiction;

c. establish itself above the Grand Imperial Council;

d. claim sovereignty independent of the Imperial Crown; or

e. interfere with the jurisdiction of another institution except under lawful authority.

4. Additional councils and institutions may be reorganized, consolidated, suspended, or abolished by the authority that lawfully created them, subject to this Constitution.

5. The five mandatory Imperial Councils may be reorganized internally but shall not be abolished.

Section 13. Meetings, Records, Accountability, and Continuity

Imperial Code § 102.513

1. The Grand Imperial Court, Grand Imperial Council, and Imperial Councils shall meet as required to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.

2. Imperial law or internal rules shall govern:

a. notice;

b. agendas;

c. quorum;

d. voting;

e. participation;

f. recusals;

g. confidentiality;

h. minutes and journals;

i. public and protected records; and

j. emergency procedures.

3. Each governmental body shall preserve an accurate record of:

a. attendance;

b. matters considered;

c. reports received;

d. votes taken;

e. decisions and recommendations;

f. referrals and assignments; and

g. actions required following the meeting.

4. Records shall be transmitted to the Imperial Archives according to Imperial law and applicable security classifications.

5. Every council, officer, ministry, commission, and agency is accountable to:

a. the Emperor and Grand Sovereign;

b. the Grand Imperial Magnus while it is in session;

c. the Grand Imperial Council within its coordinating jurisdiction;

d. the mandatory Imperial Council or Grand Officer possessing supervisory jurisdiction; and

e. this Constitution and Imperial law.

6. No vacancy, disputed appointment, absence, recusal, or temporary interruption shall suspend the existence of the Grand Imperial Court or the continuity of the Imperial Government.

7. Interim appointments, acting officers, temporary councils, and emergency procedures may be established by Imperial Decree or law to preserve governmental continuity.

8. Upon the convening of the Grand Imperial Magnus, the Grand Imperial Court shall submit such reports, accounts, recommendations, and pending matters as are required for consideration by the Magnus.

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