First Draft of the Constitution, part 5

Chapter IV Legislative Power

Article 21 The Assembly; the Senate

(1) The legislative power is vested in the Assembly. The Assembly is divided into two houses, the Senate and the Council. For purposes of precedence alone, the Council shall be considered the senior body.

(2) The Senate is elected in general elections by all citizens of the nation and is a proportional representation body. The number of Senators is determined as follows;

(a) If the Kingdom’s total population is less than 500 persons, there shall be one senator for every 10 persons.

(b) If the Kingdom’s total population is less than 1,000 persons, there shall be one senator for every 20 persons.

(c) If the Kingdom’s total population is less than 5,000 persons, there shall be one senator for every 100 persons.

(d) If the Kingdom’s total population is less than 10,000 persons, there shall be one senator for every 200 persons.

(e) If the Kingdom’s population is above 10,000 then the level of representation within the Senate shall be determined by legislation with the following provisions;

(1)The ratio of senators to population shall be no lower than 1:200.

(2)There shall never be more than 200 senators.

(f) In exception to the above, there shall never be fewer than 12 senators within the Assembly. If fewer than 12 senators are available due to insufficient candidates the Sovereign will fill any vacancies.

(g) The level of representation within the Senate may only be changed within the month following a general election and may only be changed based upon official census figures. Such changes will be in effect for the next election.

(3) Senators serve terms of 2 years.

(4) Any senator may resign his position by public and written declaration delivered to the First Senator or the Sovereign, if the First Senator is unavailable. The position of that senator shall at that time become vacant.

(5) If a senator fails to vote in 3 consecutive Conclaves, their position is at that time made vacant.

(6) Vacancies within the Senate are to be filled by appointment by the Sovereign, pending the next scheduled general election of the Senate.

(7) Within one week of general elections of the Senate, or the special election of the entire Senate, the Senate shall nominate, by simple majority, one of their number as First Senator. The Sovereign then ratifies this nomination; the Sovereign is required to ratify this nomination within 2 days. If the position of First Senator is vacated for any reason, the Senate shall elect a new First Senator and the Sovereign and the Law will also ratify him or her. If the Senate fails to nominate a First Senator within the first week, the Sovereign shall call a special Conclave lasting one week during which the only business of the Senate is to elect a First Senator. If the Senate still fails to nominate a First Senator, the Sovereign may dissolve the Senate and call for special elections of the entire Senate.

(8) Decisions of the Senate require a simple majority of the votes cast unless this Constitution provides otherwise.