The Articles Of Urguan

[Grand Kingdom of Urguan 22]

 

THE ARTICLES OF URGUAN

 

PREAMBLE

The Articles of Urguan

 

THIS DOCUMENT, be it enacted in the Court of the Grand King of Urguan with the assent of his Council and his people, does supersede and render void and previous documents of state, acting as sole and supreme governing constitution of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan.

 

• PREAMBLE

  • The Revised Articles of Urguan

• ARTICLE I

  • Supreme instruments of government

• ARTICLE II

  • Competencies and succession of the Crown of Urguan

• ARTICLE III

  • Competencies and composition of the Lord's Council

• ARTICLE IV

  • Competencies and composition of the Court of Mountains

• ARTICLE V

  • The Code of Laws of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan

• ARTICLE VI

  • The Rights and Clans and Dwarves

• ARTICLE VII

  • The Establishment and Maintenance of Corporate Bodies

• ARTICLE VIII

  • Administrative divisions of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan

• ARTICLE IX

  • Alterations to the Articles of Urguan

 

ARTICLE I

Supreme instruments of government

 

THE GOVERNMENT OF URGUAN, alias “the Government,” “the Royal Government,” etc., comprises three supreme bodies of government with divided areas of responsibility and competency: the Crown, the Lord's Council, and the Court of Mountains.

 

THE CROWN, held by the Grand King of Urguan, shall act as the focal point of national unity and leadership, with paramount and unchecked executive power.

 

THE LORD’S COUNCIL, comprising of Lords appointed by the King, shall act as supreme legislator and corporate authority of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, whose laws shall be enforced in full by the executive power of the Crown of Urguan.

 

THE COURT OF MOUNTAINS, comprising of the Lord’s Council, shall act as supreme judicial authority in the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, dispensing justice to those brought to charge by the Crown of Urguan.

 

ARTICLE II

Competencies and succession of the Crown of Urguan

 

THE CROWN OF URGUAN, whose holder is titled the Grand King of Urguan, shall be held by a trueborn son of Urguan duly elected by the entire dwarven population of the nation upon the death or abdication of the previous Grand King.

 

THE GRAND KING OF URGUAN, as inheritor of the executive authorities of the defunct Clan Council, is vested with the following authorities, to be used in pursuit of the good of the dwarven people:

 

• The authority to direct the foreign policy of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, to declare war and peace, and to initiate or terminate defensive alliances.

• The authority to direct the military of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, appointing its officers and establishing its strategic goals.

• The authority, with the assent of a majority of the Lord's Council, to declare a solely defensive or retributive state of war, or to negotiate peace.

• The authority to administer the mines and colonies of the nations, and establish regulations managing the same.

• The authority to administer the Homeland and its territories.

• The authority to purchase and sell land for the Grand Kingdom

• The authority to unilaterally pardon any person convicted or sentenced by the Courts.

• The authority to veto a law passed by the Lord's Council of less than ⅘ majority.

• The authority to enforce the laws of the Lord Council by detaining residents where necessary to refer them to the Courts for conviction.

• The authority to grant or revoke the status of Hold or Homeland territory.

• The authority to enact and maintain a system of criteria used to judge and record the prestige of the official Clans of the Grand Kingdom.

• The authority to depose a member of the Lord's Council provided such a Lord has served a consecutive term of not less than two stone weeks, and appoint a new Lord.

 

THESE AUTHORITIES, in order to ensure an opportunity for the Lord's Council to prevent their usage, shall when exercised not enter into official enforcement until after a period not less than one stone day from their proclamation.

 

 

UNAUTHORIZED USE of these powers by another dwarf is considered Treason which is a crime of the first-degree.

 

 

ARTICLE III

Competencies and composition of the Lord’s Council

 

THE LORD’S COUNCIL, whose members shall be titled Lord, shall comprise of Lords appointed by the Grand King.

 

Each Lord on the council shall have specific duties to fulfill throughout the Kingdom. It is expected that each Lord has experience in the area of which he supervises. The Grand King chooses which Lord fulfils which position. The positions shall be as follows:

 

• Lord Chancellor: The Lord Chancellor shall oversee diplomatic affairs within the Grand Kingdom. This includes, but is not limited to: Arranging regular Lord’s Council meetings and arranging diplomatic meetings to discuss trade, alliances, peace and growth.

 

• Lord Chamberlain: The Lord Chamberlain shall oversee all labour and production within the Grand Kingdom. This includes, but is not limited to: Organizing the mining and smithing areas, overseeing the work of the Forge Master and Yemekar’s Pick, and making sure the Kingdom has sufficient gems, metals, weapons and armour.

 

• Lord Specter: The Lord Specter shall oversee all religious practice and written works throughout the Grand Kingdom. This includes, but is not limited to: Overseeing the work of the High Remembrancer to assure that history is accurately recorded and literature is preserved, overseeing the work of the High Prophet, assuring he stays true to the Gods and preaches the true word of the Brathmordakin. The Lord Specter shall also be responsible for the safe organization and the protection of the sacred arts. The Lord Specter shall oversee all forms of research and magic within the Grand Kingdom. This includes, but is not limited to: Assuring any magic in the Kingdom is properly regulated and overseeing the work of Ogradhad's Alchemist and assuring the Alchemy guild is continually researching or producing concoctions for the Kingdom.

 

• Lord Protector: The Lord Protector shall oversee all areas of national defense. This includes, but is not limited to: Assuring the Commanders fulfill their duties and keep a well trained legion, navy, siege division and auxiliary, organizing a guard force to protect the cities of Urguan, making sure all defenses and fortifications are built to standard and providing strategic battle plans and defensive strategies for the Kingdom.

 

• Lord Steward: The Lord Steward is charged with the running of all economic affairs of the Grand Kingdom. His responsibilities shall include the organization of taxation within the borders of the Grand Kingdom as well as the collection of taxes from vassals and holds. The Lord Steward would also be responsible for organizing trade agreements between the Grand Kingdom and other parties for the overall benefit of the Dwedmar. 

 

THE LORD’S COUNCIL, as inheritor of the legislative authorities of the defunct Clan’s Council, is vested with the following authorities to be utilized with a ⅗ majority for the good of the dwarven people:

 

• The authority to approve or deny applications for citizenship.

• The authority to declare a Courtier as appointed by the Grand King to be unfit for office, and summarily depose and ban him from further positions as Courtier.

• The authority, in the absence or incapacitation of the Grand King, to declare a Lord Regent who shall assume all royal authorities.

• The authority to declare a family of dwarves as an official Clan of the Kingdom of Urguan, with all pursuant rights and authorities.

• The authority to establish or disestablish a Chartered Company.

• The authority to establish or disestablish a Guild, or to expand or reduce the competencies of a Guild.

 

FURTHERMORE, the Lord’s Council is vested with the following authorities to be utilized with a ⅘ majority for the good of the dwarven people:

 

• The authority to depose the Grand King of Urguan.

• The authority to depose of a member of the Lord's Council without waiting the two stone weeks stated within the royal authorities.

• The authority to prevent the use of any of the royal authorities as enumerated in Article II in the intervening period of one stone day between their proclamation and actual enforcement.

 

ALL MOTIONS BY THE LORD’S COUNCIL, and the votes of its individual Lords, are a matter of public record and must be registered in the Royal Archive in full in order to be considered official and binding.

 

UNAUTHORIZED USE of these powers by another dwarf is considered Treason which is a crime of the first-degree.

 

ARTICLE IV

Competencies and composition of the Court of Mountains

 

THE COURT OF MOUNTAINS, whose members shall be titled Justices, shall comprise of the members of the Lord’s Council.

 

THE COURTS OF MOUNTAINS, as supreme judicial authority of the Kingdom of Urguan, is vested with the following authorities to be used with the assent of at least ⅗ of its members, for the good of the dwarven people.

 

• The authority to try and convict those guilty of breaking the Grand King’s Peace, the laws of the Lord's Council, or the Code of Laws of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan as established by Article V.

• The authority to sentence those convicted to punishments within the regulations as established by Article V.

• The authority to establish subsidiary courts with particular and enumerated jurisdiction over certain regions or crimes.

 

UNAUTHORIZED USE of these powers by another dwarf is considered Treason which is a crime of the first-degree.

 

ARTICLE V

The Code of Laws of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan

 

THE CODE OF LAWS OF THE GRAND KINGDOM OF URGUAN, as established in full by these articles, shall be the chiefmost legal system of the Grand Kingdom excepting this very document, and shall not be superseded by any law of the Lord's Council.

 

THE CODE OF LAWS OF THE GRAND KINGDOM OF URGUAN are a matter of public record and available for inspection by any citizen of the Grand Kingdom.

 

ARTICLE VI

The Rights and Clans and Dwarves

 

THE CLANS OF URGUAN, as chief representatives of the dwarven people and the interests of the Grand Kingdom, are vested with the following rights to be used in defense of their ancient traditions.

 

• The right to meet publicly or privately at any time, provided the substance of such meetings is not inherently treasonous.

• The right to claim and operate a clan hall of reasonable size and value proportionate to the prestige and history of the clan.

• The right to keep and hold an armory and treasury of a size appropriate to the armament of the clan in times of war.

• The right to rule their members as a subsidiary entity of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan with minimal and only justifiable interference from the Government of the Grand Kingdom.

 

THE DWARVES OF URGUAN, as the chosen children of Urguan and most ancient and beloved race upon the face of creation, are vested with the following rights to be used in defense of their ancient traditions.

 

• The right to purchase ale at a public establishment for a reasonable price.

• The right to work in a role productive to the Crown and greater dwarven society.

• The right to speak or publish publicly and unhindered, provided the content of such speech does not encourage open revolution or treason.

• The right to market their wares and services at a price that is reasonable to the expectations of the King’s Peace and the rights of dwarves.

• The right to a maintenance of dignity and honor that is appropriate to their station as a child of Urguan and chiefmost race upon creation.

 

NO RIGHT HEREIN ENUMERATED, regardless of cause or purpose, shall be infringed upon by any person or governmental body of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan.

 

ARTICLE VII

The Establishment and Maintenance of Corporate Bodies

 

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GRAND KINGDOM OF URGUAN, as director of the financial health of the dwarven nation, reserves the right to establish and maintain corporate bodies.

 

CHARTERED COMPANIES, whose leaders shall be authorized by the Lord's Council upon the acceptance of their Charter and may be granted titles in recognition of their service, are established with the assent of the Grand King and a ⅗ majority of the Lord's Council. In return for a percentage of profits set by the Lord's Council, the Chartered company is granted limited or exclusive sale and extraction rights over a certain market area at the discretion of the Lords.

 

GUILDS, whose leaders shall be appointed by the Lord's Council upon the registration of a Charter and may be granted titles in recognition of their services, are established with the assent of the Grand King and a ⅗ majority of the Lord's Council. In return for training residents of the Grand Kingdom in their particular vocation, a Guild is granted a limited or exclusive right to practice their trade in the Grand Kingdom, as defined by their Charter.

 

MAJOR ALTERATIONS, including alterations of organization, policy, or purpose, to a corporate body of the Grand Kingdom must first be approved by a ⅗ majority of the Lord's Council and amended into the charter of the corporate body.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Administrative divisions of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan

 

THE GRAND KINGDOM OF URGUAN, as a large and diverse nation, is divided into several types of administrative divisions in order to more fully express the unique traditions of each region.

 

HOLDS, which are territories of chiefly dwarven composition with a recognizable uniqueness of culture that separates them from the homeland, are governed by Jarls appointed by the Grand King of Urguan with the ⅗ approval of the Lord's Council. In return for meeting a quota of fighting men, they receive the ability to establish their own legislative bodies and taxes, which may not supersede or replace those established by the Lord's Council or the Crown. Holds under the Grand Kingdom may not create their own military, but may raise a militia. Holds are not allowed to direct foreign diplomacy, one who attempts such will be tried for treason, being a crime of the first-degree. Holds are also granted the right to free trade.

 

THE HOMELAND, which extends over all territories of the Grand Kingdom which are not Holds, is governed and policed directly by the Grand King, the Lord's Council, and the Court of Mountains.

 

ARTICLE IX

Alterations to the Articles of Urguan

 

THE ARTICLES OF URGUAN, representing the foremost concerns and structure of the dwarven government, shall not be altered by any method except the unanimous agreement of the Lord's Council and the assent of the reigning Grand King.

 

 

 

[Grand Kingdom of Urguan 22]

AMENDMENT I

Concerning the Succession to the Crown of Urguan

 

THE GRAND KING OF URGUAN, in order to ensure a speedy and orderly transition, shall be elected by the dwarven population of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan from a list of at least two candidates chosen by majority vote of the Lord's Council upon the death, abdication, or deposal.

 

The compilation of the candidates by the Lord's Council shall take place over a time period not exceeding three stone days from the vacancy of the office of Grand King. This period may be ender early if Lords agree in a majority vote. If, at the end of such a period, a list of at least two candidates has not been compiled, then the candidates for the office of Grand King shall be the five Lords of the Lord's Council.

 

Any potential candidate possessing less than full dwarven heritage, or is judged stark raving mad is debarred from participating in the election as a candidate, with no exception.

 

The election of the Grand King shall take place over a period of one stone week immediately preceding the end of the candidate compilation process. Each dwarven citizen of the Grand Kingdom shall be permitted to vote for one candidate from the compiled list. At the end of the election week, the candidate with the most dwarven votes automatically assumes the office of Grand King of Urguan, notwithstanding any coronation or other ceremony.

 

In the case of a tie, a tie breaking conclave shall be held at a location designated by the High Prophet on the stone day immediately preceding the election stone week. In this conclave, only the votes of Prophets who attend in person shall be counted, and votes may only be cast for the tied candidates with the highest number of votes. In the case of a tie at the conclave, the High Prophet shall choose the candidate who he considers most personally honorable. The candidate chosen by the conclave automatically assumes the office of Grand King of Urguan, notwithstanding any coronation or other ceremony.

[Grand Kingdom of Urguan 22]

AMENDMENT II

Concerning the Emulation of Royal Authorities

THE LORD'S COUNCIL, in order to ensure an equal and efficient balance of powers among the Grand King and his Lords, may, with a ⅘ majority, emulate the use of a royal authority as if it were enacted by the Grand King himself, yet not including the following:

• 
  

  The authority to unilaterally pardon any person convicted or sentenced by the Courts.

• 
  

  The authority to grant the status of Hold or Homeland territory.

• 
  

  The authority to grant or revoke any royal authorities to or from Courtiers.

Such an emulation of royal authority, shall, as all normal uses of royal authority, take place only after a period of one stone day from its proclamation, except in such a case where the emulation was unanimous, where it shall take effect immediately.

In the intervening period between the proclamation and enactment of an emulation of royal authority by ⅘ majority, the Grand King may choose to veto its use, nullifying the emulation.

When a royal authority is emulated by the Lord's Council, its use must be clearly outlined and publicized, and furthermore shall take effect only for the particular bill for which it was approved. Such a bill must be signed by all Lords who approved the use of the authority.

[Tirenas 677]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.