Imperial Constitution

The Imperial Constitution of 2016, also know as the Imperial Constitution or the Imperial and Royal Constitution of 2016 refers to the second Constitution of Karnia-Ruthenia. It was enacted on 2016.

The inspiration for this Constitution was the German Constitution of 1871, which was essentially an amended version of the North German Constitution. Other inspiration was the February Patent, a constitution of the Austrian Empire promulgated in the form of letters patent on 26 February 1861. After the signing of the Karno-Ruthenian Compromise of 2016, the Constitution of Persenburg was maintained provisionally, until the promulgation of the Imperial and Royal Constitution of 2016.

Signatories and members
The constitution was signed by Oscar I, the Emperor of Karnia and King of Ruthenia, acting in his capacity as Head of the State. The micronations that now became members of the Empire were.

Legislation
Imperial laws were enacted, with the simple majority, by the Imperial Council and the Diet of Ruthenia (Article ). These laws took precedence over the laws of the individual states (Article 2), but are under the provisions of the Imperial and Royal Decrees. Article 13 required the annual convocation of both parliaments.

Imperial and Royal Council
The Imperial and Royal Council (Articles 6 and 7) is made up of representatives of the various states that compose the Empire. Each state is allocated a specified number of votes. In the case of legislation affecting only certain states, only those states were allowed to vote. The Emperor-King could break ties. A representative could not be a member of both chambers at the same time (Article 9), and was given Imperial protection (Article 10). The apportionment of the Council in 2016 is:

Provisions
The Imperial Constitution contained an introduction and twelve chapters: comprising a total of 108 articles:


 * The Introduction (Articles 1-3) declared that Ruthenia is "one and indivisible".
 * Chapter One (Articles 4-24) concern "the essence of the supreme sovereign power", declaring that the King possess "administrative power" and other prerrogatives.
 * Chapter Two (Articles 25-31) regulate the order of succession to the throne.
 * Chapter Three (Articles 32-44) concern issues of regency and guardianship, if the King is a minor. The age of majority was established at eightteen.
 * Chapter Four (Articles 45-48) concern about the accession to the throne and the Oath of Allegiance to be sworn by all citizens of the kingdom.
 * Chapter Five (Articles 49-50) concern the coronation and anointing of a new sovereign.
 * Chapter Six (Articles 51-53) concern the many formal titles held by the Ruthenian King.
 * Chapter Seven (Articles 54-57) concern the relationship of the State to the religion. The Catholic faith was declared the state religion and both the King and his or her consort were required to profess that religion.
 * Chapter Eight (Articles 58-72) concern the "rights and obligations" of Ruthenian citizens.
 * Chapter Nine (Articles 73-86) concern the promulgation of laws.
 * Chapter Ten (Articles 87-106) regulate the modus operandi of the Council of State and the General Assembly.
 * Chapter Eleven (Article 107) regulate the appointment of the Chancellor of Ruthenia.
 * Chapter Twelve (Article 108) concern about the condution of the Foreign Affairs.

Imperial legislative powers
Article 4 detailed the areas for which the Empire was responsible for, or was entitled to legislate on:


 * Business activity;
 * Matters concerning natives of one state who were resident in another;
 * Citizenship;
 * Surveillance of foreign individuals and businesses;
 * The issuing of passports;
 * Insurance business;
 * Emigration;
 * Administration of imperial revenue;
 * Regulation of weights and measures;
 * Coinage and the issuing of paper money;
 * Banking;
 * Intellectual property;
 * Protection of trade and shipping outside of the country;
 * Consular representation abroad;
 * Post and telegraphic services;
 * Authentication of public documents;
 * Civil and Criminal law, including its administration;
 * The Imperial and Royal Armed Forces;
 * Press and others.

Citizenship
A single citizenship was created with equal treatment of citizens within each state guaranteed (Article 3). However, a person can hold the citizenship of the Empire as a result of holding the citizenship of one of the States. Therefore, initially, the criteria for becoming a citizen (the rules of acquisition of citizenship by descent, birth or naturalization), were laid down by the separate laws of the individual States.

State Officials
Formally, officials of the Government were appointed and dismissed by the Emperor-King. They were required to take an oath of allegiance. Imperial officials appointed from one of the states were guaranteed the same rights as given them by their native state. (Article 18)