Article 19 – Money and Finance

Article 19 – Money and Finance

Section 1 The Silver Penny

The federal government shall keep its accounts, levy contributions, and borrow money in a unit of 24 grains of fine silver alloyed to .925 fine. It shall issue coins of this weight and fineness and in multiples and fractions thereof. These coins shall be legal tender for the payment of all public debts. The Federal Government shall have no central bank. It shall issue no bank notes or fiat paper money.

Section 2 Realm Currencies

The Realms have the right to continue to issue their own currency. There shall be no federal taxes to discourage their use. However the silver penny must be allowed to be used in transactions at the option of private parties. No tax shall be levied to discourage the use of the silver penny.

Section 3 Federally Charter Banks

Parliament may pass a general law for the chartering of banks taking deposits, making loans and issuing bank notes denominated in silver pennies. All such Banks shall, if their officers wish to avoid prosecution for fraud, hold coined cash reserves of at least 31 percent and at least an additional 20 percent in bullion or coin on all demand or like deposits. They shall not hold more than 10 percent of their assets in securities denominated in any other currency and they shall not ask for or receive any government bailout.

Section 4 Counterfeiting and Bankruptcy

Parliament shall have power to provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the Commonwealth Federation and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the Federation.

Article 18 – Taxes

Article 18 – Taxes

Section 1 Generally

Taxation is a joint Federal Realm power.

Section 2 Sales Tax

The Parliament may levy a tax on the sale of consumers’ goods not to exceed twenty percent ad valorem. Purchases of food costing less than 50 silver pennies and clothing costing less than 100 silver pennies shall not be subject to the tax.

Section 3 Initial Realm Contributions.

For the first twenty years of the government under this constitution, each Realm government shall contribute a sum equal to the inflation adjusted average amount that it spent in the five year prior to federation for its navy, plus twenty percent of what it spent on its army, and fifty percent of what it spent on its air force.

Section 4 Additional Realm Contributions

In addition to the forgoing, a levy on the Realm governments of up to 5 percent of their budget may be imposed during the first 20 years, but it must have the consent of the Senate as well as the commons. After the contribution in section 3 of this article have ended, a levy on the Realm governments of up to 15 percent of their budget may be imposed, but if it is more than 8 percent it must have the consent of the Senate as well as the commons.

Article 17 – Trade

Article 17 – Trade

Section 1 Trade in General

Trade is a Realm subject with Federal Principals. Each Realm is free to negotiate such trade agreements with other nations as it shall see fit.

Section 2 No Preference in Federal Regulation

No Preference shall be given by any Federal Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one Realm over those of another.

Section 3 Free Trade between Realms

All Trade between Realms shall pass free of duty. A good imported from outside the federation that meets the laws of the importing Realm and which pays a tax established by parliament but not to exceed half a percent ad valorem and is transshipped to a train, plain or vessel of any Realm shall be deemed to have been manufactured within the Realm in which it was imported and pass free of duty to any other realm, but this shall not affect Section 4.

Section 4 Realm Product Standards

Every Realm may establish reasonable product standards both for consumer safety and labour protection, these may be enforced by law as regards products produced in the Realm and imported from outside the Federation. However products from other Realms must be admitted though they do not meet the standards, but they must be labeled “This Product Dose Not Meet Realm Standards for _________  See Realm standard #___ Note #___”

Section 5 Federal Product Standards

The Federal Parliament may by law establish reasonable product standards both for consumer safety and labour protection. These standards are of advisory nature, but products that do not meet them must be labeled “This Product Dose Not Meet Federal Standards for _________  See Federal standard #___ Note #___”

Section 6 Product Standards Database

The Federal Government shall establish an easily used database so that consumers can use their electronic devises to find out in what way the goods they are considering buying do not follow Realm or Federal standards.

Article 16 – Foreign Relations

Article 16 – Foreign Relations

Section 1 Generally

Foreign relations are a joint power. The Realms shall as heretofore maintain embassies and consulates in foreign nations. The Federal government shall with consent of the Federal Parliament appoint an ambassador to each foreign nation. The Federal and Realm governments shall work together to reduce costs and insure representation of the citizens and governments of smaller Realms.

Section 2 Realm Powers

The Realm governments shall have the power to represent their citizens and to conclude treaties regarding trade, emigration, and other areas that are Realm subjects with or without Federal Principals.

Section 3 Federal Powers

Treaties involving national defense; taxation; the protection of human rights and the rule of law; and space exploration and development shall be the province of the Federal government.

Article 15 – Defense

Article 15 – Defense

Section 1 General Provisions.

Defense is a joint Federal Realm power. Each Realm shall be primarily responsible for its own defense, but the Federation shall maintain mobile forces to help defend a Realm under attack and every Realm shall send forces to aid a Realm under attack.

Section 2 Nuclear Weapons

Upon ratification of this Constitution: the nuclear weapons of all member Realms will be transferred to the federal government and the Federal government shall assume the responsibilities under the nuclear non proliferation treaty.

Section 3 Royal Navy

The Navy’s of the member Realms shall be amalgamated into one federal Royal Navy.

Section 4 Realm Coast Guards

Each Realm shall have a coast guard to patrol its national waters.

Section 5 Royal Marines, Commandos and Special Forces

All of the active duty Marine, Commando and Special Forces of the member Realms will be transferred to the federal government and amalgamated to form a federal Royal Marine Corps and a Federal Special Forces. Except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men of the Royal Marines and Special Forces shall not exceed thrice the number at the time of amalgamation or 60,000 whichever is greater.

Section 6 Federal Royal Air Force

There shall be created a Royal Air Force that shall specialize in the development of strategic air power, especially long range strategic transport. It shall also develop fighter and attack air craft for use by the air forces of the member Realms and shall help support them.

Section 7 The Brigade of Gurkhas

The brigade of Gurkhas shall be transferred to the Federal government. Except in time of declared war, the Brigade of Gurkhas shall not have more than 20,000 officers and men

Section 8 The Federal Airborne Corps

The airborne forces of the member Realms shall be amalgamated into one Federal Airborne Corps. Except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men of the Royal Airborne Corps shall not exceed the number at the time of amalgamation or 20,000 whichever is greater.

Section 9 Guards Regiments

The Guards regiments of the Realms shall be formed into the Household Division which in addition to serving as the guards of the Monarch and the Governors General shall form the core of the Federal Ground Forces. Additional guards regiments shall be formed as parliament shall direct, but, except in time of declared war, the total force of the Household Division shall not exceed 20,000 officers and men.

Section 10 The Federal Cadre

An active duty cadre of officers and senior enlisted men for training and leading the Federal army in time of war may be maintained, but except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men shall not exceed 10,000.

Sec. 11 The General Staff

A General Staff may be maintained, but except in time of declared war, the total number of officers and men shall not exceed 1,000.

Section 12 The Realm Active and Reserve Forces

The Federal Government shall by law require member Realms to maintain active and reserve ground and air forces proportional to their population and wealth. The member Realms may maintain forces in excess of those required by law. All Realms shall maintain a number of rifles suitable for infantry use equal to the number of their citizens between the age of 16 and 65.

Section 13 The Citizen Military Readiness Program

Every citizen of a member Realm ages 18 to 55, may earn a sum established by law, but not to exceed 8 percent of the median income of people in the Realm in which s/he resides, for annually meeting the fitness training and marksmanship requirements for those graduating from army basic training and being registered for conscription into the militia. Citizens age 14 and 15 may earn ¼ of the sum aforesaid for fulling the requirements aforesaid. Citizens age 16 and 17 may earn ½ of the sum aforesaid for fulling the requirements aforesaid. But Citizens ages 14-17 do not have to be registered for conscription.

Section 14 Control of the Armed Forces

The active and reserve forces of the member Realms shall come under the control of the federal government only in time of declared war or with the permission of the chief executive of the Realm, except that in the event of the actual invasion of the territory of a member Realm, the federal government may automatically take control of the active and reserve forces of the Realms. However such forces shall not leave the territory of the Commonwealth Federation, except to travel from one to another, without a declaration of war or the permission of the Prime Minister of the Realm. The militia shall only be called into federal service by a declaration of war, but the chief executive of each Realm may call them into the service of the Realm by the means laid out in Realm law.

Section 15 Declarations of War

A declaration of war can only be made by the Federal House and Senate upon the request of the Cabinet.

Article 14 – Citizenship and Free Movement

Article 14 – Citizenship and Free Movement

Section 1 Citizenship in General

Citizenship and Immigration is a Realm power with Federal Principals. The Governments of the several Realms have the right to admit and naturalize such persons as they want to become their citizens.

Section 2 Native Born Citizens

Any person born within the territory of a Realm one of the parents of which is a citizen of the Realm or of another Realm is a native born citizen of the Realm. Native born citizens of each Realm have a right to travel to and reside in the other Realms subject to the limitation in Section 6 of this Article.

Section 3 Persons Born Abroad to Citizens

A person born outside of the territory of the Federation to parents one or more of whom are citizens of one or more of the Realms shall have the same rights of free movement as a native born citizen. If both parents are citizens of the same Realm s/he shall be a citizen of that Realm. If they are citizens of different Realms, the parents shall register him as a citizen of the one of the two Realms and on attaining the age of 18 the person may chose which Realm s/he wishes to be a citizen of.

Section 4 Persons who are Naturalized by a Realm

A person who is naturalized by one of the member Realms if s/he has not committed a felony during the first fifteen years of his/er Realm citizenship shall have the same rights of free movement as a native born citizen. During the first 15 years, such person shall have the right to visit other Realms for pleasure or business, but the Realm may require that they deposit money to pay for their repatriation to their Realm of origin. Further those wishing to settle in another Realm must follow the immigration law thereof, but Realms shall give priority in immigration to citizens of other member Realms. 

Section 5 Priority in Naturalization

The Realms shall, all else being equal, give priority in naturalization to: citizens of other Realms, persons who are citizens of commonwealth countries not part of this Federation and other former British colonies, those who can show decent from citizens of a member Realm, and to those who: speak the English tongue, have useful job skills, are in stable marriages, and who are rich.

Section 6 Restrictions on Free Movement

During the first fifteen years of this Federation Realms may require that citizens of other Realms entering their territory deposit money to pay for their repatriation to their Realm of origin and if they plan to settle in the Realm to show that they have employment.

Section 7 Passport Control

In passing through passport control and immigration, citizens of member Realms of the Federation shall be given first priority.

Section 8 Regarding Realms Admitted in the Future

As during the first fifteen years of the Federation Realms may require that Citizens of newly admitted Realms to deposit money to pay for their repatriation to their Realm of origin and if they plan to settle in the Realm to show that they have employment.

Article 13 – Basic Principals

Federal Powers and Subjects

Article 13 – Basic Principals

Section 1 General Rule

The General Rule in interpreting federal powers shall be that power not granted to the Federal Government by this constitution is reserved to the Realms or to the People.

Section 2 Joint Powers

The Federal Government shall jointly exercise power over the following subjects: national defense; foreign relations; taxation; the protection of natural rights, ancient liberties, and the rule of law; and space exploration and development.

Section 3 Realm Powers with Federal Principals

The Realms shall have control of: citizenship; monetary policy; and trade subject to federal principals.