The Serene Laws of Sutica (SLS)

[OsmanEmpire 90]

 

THE SERENE LAWS OF SUTICA
Die Heitere Gesetze von Sutica
Las Serenas Leyes de Sutica

 

Authored by Vezimir von Kantzow @OsmanEmpire

With aid from Obrecht Barclay @Burnsider

 

INDEX

 

Introductory Statutes & Definitions

 

Book I. Criminal law
Title I. General Provisions
Title II. Further Provisions
Section I. Complicitness & Attempted Activity
Section II. Convolution of Criminal Provisions
Section III. Dueling
Title III. Crimes Against the Nation
Section IV. Crimes Against the State
Section V. Crimes Against Royal Integrity
Section VI. Crimes Against Public Order
Title IV. Crimes Against Civilians
Section VII. Crimes That Endanger General Security
Section VIII. Crimes Against Morality
Section IX. Physical Harm
Section X. Property

 

Book II. Citizenry
Title I. Nobility
Section I. Peerage
Section II. Noble House
Section III. Succession
Title II. Knightly Orders
Section IV. Knighthood
Section V. Knightly Orders
Title III. Common Citizenry
Section VI. Legal Status
Section VII. Minors

 

INTRODUCTORY STATUTES & DEFINITIONS

 

INTRODUCTORY STATUTES

 

Article I. 
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Sutica is the supreme legal document that supersedes all.

 

Article II. 
The rights of Sutican citizens must not be disproportionately trampled in pursuit of justice.

 

Article III. 
The belief in the good of Humanity and its ability to reform must be considered before the issuing of punishments of a permanent nature. 

 

Article IV. 
If agreements or acts have taken place that find no origin in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Sutica or these laws, it shall not exist in the realm of the law. 

 

DEFINITIONS

 

The Commonwealth of Sutica (Sutica): the nation state consisting of the Kingdom of Sutica under His Serene Majesty, the capital city and subject territories.

 

The Serene Laws of Sutica (SLS): the central codex of the Commonwealth of Sutica that houses all additional laws, stipulations and procedures to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Sutica.

 

The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Sutica: the instrument of government that outlines the basic procedures and authorities invested in the nation state of the Commonwealth of Sutica.

 

BOOK I. 
CRIMINAL LAW
STRAFRECHT
DERECHO PENAL

 

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS: 

 

Remedial Forfeiture: The seizure of an amount of assets needed to compensate for the damages caused by a crime. 

 

Forfeiture: The seizure of all assets in possession of a person or organization.

 

Sutican Citizenship: The legal status of citizen, which grants a person the rights provided by the Constitution, the ability to partake in elections or the ability to wield peerage. 

 

Public address/apology/rectification:  A public statement of any nature, unless specified as an apology or rectification, that is published as instructed by a verdict. 

 

TITLE I. 
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Article I. 
No offense is punishable other than what is classified as a crime.

 

Article II. 
If the Lex Criminalis changes after an offense has been committed, suspects or accused shall have the most favourable version of the law applied.

 

Article III. 
The Codex Lex Suticana and subsidiary law books apply to those who commit an offense within the Commonwealth of Sutica. 

 

Article IV.
The punishments are;

Confinement 
Custody
Forced labour
Fine
Capital punishment
Seizure of assets
Mutilation of physical body
Exile
Forfeiture of Sutican citizenship
Public address/apology/rectification
Extradition to foreign government(s)

 

Article V.
The Judiciary is not bound by the provided punishments within, and may use their own judgement in the sentencing of crimes.

 

Article VI. 
Multiple punishments may be selected in a singular verdict.

 

TITLE II.
FURTHER PROVISIONS 

 

SECTION I. COMPLICITNESS & ATTEMPTED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

 

Article I. 
A crime is committed upon the commencement of a criminal action. Commencement includes any preparation needed for the criminal action. 

 

Article II. 
If criminal action is attempted, but does not succeed, the Judiciary should consider lesser punishments than those prescribed for the attempted crime. 

 

Article III. 
Someone who participates, or is a necessary component, in the act of committing a crime, has committed a crime, even if they were not the main perpetrator. 

 

Article IV. 
Someone who is complicit in a crime, by unknowingly partaking in a crime or knowingly facilitating a crime by action or inaction, has committed a crime. 

 

SECTION II. CONVOLUTION OF CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

 

Article I. 
If a crime overlaps with multiple criminal provisions, the Judiciary will select the provision to charge the suspect with that is the most backed by evidence and/or has the highest punishment.

 

Article II. 
If a crime bears multiple consequences established in different criminal provisions, the charges can be added on top of each other.

 

Article III. 
If a suspect has committed different crimes to different victims, the victims can collectively sue the suspect and add the charges on top of each other. 

 

Article IV. 
It is the prerogative of the Judiciary, when bringing charges against multiple individuals for the same crime(s), to choose whether the trials should be judged collectively, separately or consecutively. 

 

SECTION III. DUELING

 

Article I.
As a matter of honour, participants of consensual duels are exempt from any assault or murder charges deriving from the duel.

 

Article II.
Duels in principle must last until first blood or first serious wound, in the case of sword or sabre; or limited to one draw each, in the case of crossbow. 

 

Article III. 
Duels with the purpose of rendering a participant dead are deemed illegal duels, exempt from the protections duels normally enjoy.

 

Article IV.
If a participant dies unintentionally during a duel, it is not deemed an illegal duel. 

 

Article V.
Crimes against persons can be resolved by a duel between the offender and the offended, at the choice of the one so wronged.

 

TITLE III. 
CRIMES AGAINST THE NATION

 

SECTION IV. CRIMES AGAINST THE STATE

 

Article I. 
An attack with the intention of robbing His Serene Majesty of his life, or rendering him incapable, is classified as Terrorism and shall be punished by severe torture and subsequent capital punishment.

 

Article II. 
An attack with the intention of bringing the Commonwealth of Sutica under foreign governance, or to separate it, is classified as Treason and shall be punished by severe torture and subsequent capital punishment. 

 

Article III. 
He who through an attack forces the dispersion of court or any government-related convention, who forces a government decision or the retraction of one, who hinders the presence of a government or elected official from attendance or decision making, commits a crime classified as Violence Against the State and shall be punished by severe torture and permanent confinement. 

 

Article IV. 
The act of conspiring or preparing to attempt the crimes mentioned in any of the articles above shall be punished by severe torture and exile.

 

Article V. 
He who enters in a cooperative relationship with a foreign power to facilitate or initiate harm, destruction or sabotage to the condition or processes of the Commonwealth of Sutica shall commit a crime classified as Sabotage and be punished by severe torture and exile. 

 

Article VI. 
He who withholds information regarding foreign espionage or publicizes espionage done by the Commonwealth of Sutica shall commit a crime classified as Undermining the State and be punished by severe torture, temporary exile and/or large fines.

 

Article VII. 
He who organizes military officials to refrain from following orders or adhere to state hierarchy, shall commit a crime classified as Mutiny and be punished by severe torture, exile or capital punishment.

 

SECTION V. CRIMES AGAINST ROYAL INTEGRITY 

 

Article I. 
An attack upon the issue of His Serene Majesty, the Consort of His Serene Majesty, the Heir or on the future Consort of the Heir, shall be a crime classified as Treason Against the Crown and be punished by severe torture and subsequent capital punishment. 

 

Article II. 
Every factual harm done to the physical condition of His Serene Majesty, the Consort of His Serene Majesty, the Heir or on the future Consort of the Heir, that does not befit the severity of an attack or attempt on one’s life, shall be a crime classified as Lesser Treason Against the Crown and be punished by torture and subsequent capital punishment. 

 

Article III. 
The attack upon a befriended Head of State of His Serene Majesty, or delegations representing the Commonwealth of Sutica or other sovereign nations, is classified as a Crime Against the International Order and shall be punished by capital punishment. 

 

Article IV. 
If a crime of any kind is committed against a person of royal descent that is not mentioned above, the punishment shall be more severe than what is attributed to said crime normally.

 

SECTION VI. CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER

 

Article I. 
He who instigates a public uprising, or inspires collective disobedience to the rightful authorities within the Commonwealth of Sutica and subjects, shall be punished by torture, exile or capital punishment.

 

Article II. 
He who facilitates the access to resources, manpower or intelligence for persons or organizations that have the intention to commit any Title III. crimes, shall be punished by forfeiture of assets, forfeiture of Sutican citizenship, torture, exile or capital punishment. 

 

Article III. 
He who severely neglects his duties given to him through employeeship as a government official shall commit a crime classified as Neglect of Official Duties and shall be punished by the remedial forfeiture of assets, forfeiture of Sutican citizenship, payment of large fines, blacklisting from service or temporary exile. 

 

Article IV.
He who uses the authority, status or resources gained through employeeship as a government official solely for self-enrichment or to benefit a specific group or organization, shall commit a crime classified as corruption and be punished by the remedial forfeiture of assets, forfeiture of Sutican citizenship, payment of large fines, blacklisting from service or temporary exile. 

 

Article V.
He who lies under oath or breaks an oath shall commit a crime classified as Perjury or Oathbreaking and shall be punished by forfeiture of Sutican citizenship, payment of large fines, blacklisting from service or temporary exile. 

 

TITLE IV. 
CRIMES AGAINST CIVILIANS

 

SECTION VII. CRIMES THAT ENDANGER GENERAL SECURITY

 

Article I. 
He who causes large scale destruction to infrastructure or buildings, or casts certain magic or detonates explosives that could harm living persons in a radius, shall be punished by torture, remedial forfeiture of assets or exile.

 

Article II. 
He who enables the entry of hostile forces into the city, who renders barricades as ineffective or who alters structures in a way that benefits hostile elements, shall be punished by torture, remedial forfeiture of assets or exile. 

 

Article III. 
He who sells items known to cause harm to the physical or mental condition of a person knowingly, shall be punished by forfeiture of assets or exile. 

 

Article IV. 
He who seduces any government official with offers of resources, minas, status or aid in other ways in return for government services or influence shall be punished by forfeiture of assets, temporary confinement or exile. 

 

SECTION VIII. CRIMES AGAINST MORALITY 

 

Article I. 
He who proclaims something false as a fact about a person or organization, and intentionally causes damage to the reputation or integrity of that person or organization in the process, commits a crime classified as Slander and shall be punished by remedial forfeiture of assets, a large fine or a public rectification.

 

Article II.
He who proclaims something false as a fact about a person or organization, and unintentionally causes damage to the reputation or integrity of that person or organization in the process, commits a crime classified as Defamation and shall be punished by remedial forfeiture of assets, a large fine or a public rectification.

 

Article III. 
He who justifies persecution, practices exclusion in a hiring or rental process or regularly publishes insults against a religion, ethnic group or gender commits the crime of Discrimination and shall be punished by remedial forfeiture of assets, a fine or a public rectification. 

 

Article IV. 
He who deceives authorities or persons, through scripture or verbally, which results into false information being registered, or a false premise being established for an interaction or transaction, commits a crime classified as Fraud and shall be punished by remedial forfeiture of assets, forfeiture of assets, a large fine, a fine, public address. 

SECTION IX. PHYSICAL HARM

 

Article I. 
He who engages in conduct which places another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery, commits a crime classified as Assault and shall be punished by remedial forfeiture of assets, a large fine, temporary confinement or exile. 

 

Article II. 
He who engages in an act that causes bodily harm commits a crime classified as Battery and shall be punished by remedial forfeiture of assets, forfeiture of assets, a large fine, torture, confinement, forfeiture of Sutican citizenship or exile.

 

Article III. 
He who engages in an act that causes grave bodily harm, commits a crime classified as Aggravated Battery and shall be punished by forfeiture of assets, a large fine, severe torture, permanent confinement, forfeiture of Sutican citizenship or exile. 

 

Article IV.
He who purposefully ends one’s life commits a crime classified as Manslaughter and shall be punished by forfeiture of assets, severe torture, permanent confinement, forfeiture of Sutican citizenship, exile or capital punishment.

 

Article V. 
He who purposefully ends one’s life, and had the prior intention or had organized prior to doing so, commits a crime classified as Murder and shall be punished by forfeiture of assets, severe torture, permanent confinement, forfeiture of Sutican citizenship, exile or capital punishment.

 

Article VI. 
He who restricts a person’s freedom of movement or confines him against his will, shall commit a crime classified as Kidnapping and shall be punished by severe torture, permanent confinement, forfeiture of Sutican citizenship, exile or capital punishment.

 

Article VII.
He who purposefully ends the life of a minor shall be punished more severely than the general punishments given in Article IV & V. 

 

SECTION X. PROPERTY

 

Article I. 
He who without legal basis seizes an item or currency that is not in his ownership, commits a crime classified as Theft and shall be punished by remedial forfeiture of assets, a large fine, public apology, temporary confinement or temporary exile. 

 

Article II. 
He who without legal basis, regularly seizes an item or currency that is not in his ownership, commits a crime classified as Kleptomania and shall be punished by forfeiture of assets, a large fine, public apology, temporary confinement, permanent confinement or exile. 

 

Article III.
He who enters a structure without permission to perform Theft, shall commit a crime classified as Burglary and shall be punished by remedial forfeiture of assets, a large fine, temporary confinement, permanent confinement, exile. 

 

Article IV. 
He who enters a structure without permission to perform Theft, and in the process forms a threat or commits other crimes against persons, shall commit a crime classified as Robbery and shall be punished by torture, forfeiture of assets, permanent confinement, permanent exile or capital punishment.

 

Article V. 
He who without legal basis damages or defaces a structure that does not belong to him, commits a crime classified as Vandalism and shall be punished by remedial forfeiture of assets, a fine, temporary confinement or a public apology.

 

Article VI.
Seizure of property that does not belong to the obtainer is considered equal to Section IV. Article I. 

 

BOOK II. 
CITIZENRY
BÜRGERSCHAFT
CIUDADANÍA

 

TITLE I. 
NOBILITY

 

SECTION I. PEERAGE

 

Article I. 
A peer is a person who has been given a landed title in the Commonwealth of Sutica by His Serene Majesty & the Committee of Peers. 

 

Article II. 
For a person to be eligible to be declared a peer, he must be a I). citizen of the Commonwealth of Sutica, II). have his primary homestead within the Commonwealth of Sutica, & III). have no criminal record. 

 

Article III. 
A peer gains the privilege to govern his own land, levy taxes & maintain a settlement within the Commonwealth of Sutica. 

 

Article IV. 
A peer gains the privilege of establishing a noble house amongst the Sutican nobility and to style himself in accordance to his granted titles and at the discretion of the Sovereigns.

 

Article V. 
A peer becomes eligible to be seated in the Committee of Peers. 

 

Article VI.
A peer becomes eligible to train squires and nominate them for knighthood before the Committee of Peers.

 

Article VII. 
A peer relinquishes his ability to stand for election in the Congress of Sutica. 

 

Article VIII. 
A peer cannot swear fealty to any other lord but to the Crown Sutica. 

 

Article IX. 
A peer has the right to have subjects of his own. 

 

Article X. 
The subjects of a peer require the permission to vassalize from His Serene Majesty & the Committee of Peers.

 

Article XI. 
Subjects of a peer, although wielders of noble titles, are not considered peers and are not eligible for membership to the Committee of Peers.

 

SECTION II. NOBLE HOUSE

 

Article I. 
A peer’s bloodline is considered a noble house of the Commonwealth of Sutica. 

 

Article II.
A noble house must have a coat of arms approved by the Committee of Peers on the following criteria:

I). that the coat of arms is not too similar to those already used for other noble houses,
II). that the coat of arms is of similar quality to those already used for the noble houses,
III). that the coat of arms does not wield depictions deemed improper by the Committee of Peers.

 

Article III. 
A noble house must have a complete registry of all relatives and offspring accessible to the Committee of Peers.

 

Article IV. 
If a noble house is Canonist, it is subject to Canon law.

 

SECTION III. SUCCESSION

 

Article I. 
The firstborn of a peer is the heir-apparent. 

 

Article II.
If the firstborn is incapacitated or unwilling to inherit, the eldest from the offspring inherits instead.

 

Article III. 
If there is no offspring, the peer’s closest relative shall inherit.

 

Article IV. 
If there is no offspring and there are no relatives, the title returns to His Serene Majesty. 

 

TITLE II.

KNIGHTLY ORDERS

 

SECTION IV. KNIGHTHOOD 

 

Article I. 
A person can become a knight if he I). was trained as a squire for at least a year by a peer, II). is nominated to be a knight by a peer, & III). if the Committee of Peers accepts his nomination. 

 

Article II. 
A knight may style himself with Sir before his name. 

 

Article III. 
A knight is entrusted with upholding the morality and safety of the Sutican realm alongside its official military.

 

Article IV. 
A knight becomes eligible to be seated in the Committee of Peers.

 

Article V.
A knight becomes registered with the Sutican military and is expected to partake in military operations if requested. 

 

Article VI. 
If a knight is Canonist, he is subject to Canon law. 

 

Article VII. 
A knight may wear armour and weaponry in all public spaces. 

 

Article VIII. 
A knight may perform arrests and bring suspects into custody on behalf of the Grand Magistrate.

 

Article IX. 
A knight is eligible to stand for election in the Congress of Sutica. 

 

Article X.
A knight may not be simultaneously seated in the Congress of Sutica and the Committee of Peers.

 

Article XI. 
A person may obtain the status of honorary knight, granting him the privileges of knighthood but exempting him from the necessary squireship.

 

Article XII. 
Honorary knights may not be seated in the Committee of Peers.

 

SECTION V. KNIGHTLY ORDERS

 

Article I. 
A knight may establish a Knightly Order if it is sanctioned by the Committee of Peers. 

 

Article II. 
A Knightly Order must be oriented around a singular mission or purpose that is related to a people or interest of the Commonwealth of Sutica. 

 

Article III. 
A Knightly Order shall be registered as a battalion in the Sutican military and is expected to partake in military operations if requested.

 

Article IV. 
A Knightly Order must have a coat of arms approved by the Committee of Peers on the following criteria; 

I). that the coat of arms is not too similar to those already used for other Knightly Orders.
II). that the coat of arms is of similar quality to those already used for the Knightly Orders.
III). that the coat of arms does not wield depictions deemed improper by the Committee of Peers.

 

Article V. 
A Knightly Order has the privilege of styling itself with the extraordinary honours granted to them and to be of greater relevance at ceremonies, state processions and courts.

 

Article VI. 
A Knightly Order has the privilege to enroll squires and to nominate them for knighthood within their order.

 

Article VII.
A Knightly Order may not have branches, organizations or members from foreign governments.

 

Article VIII. 
Members of a Knightly Order of international scope may not be seated in the Committee of Peers.

 

TITLE III.

COMMON CITIZENRY

 

SECTION VI. LEGAL STATUS

 

Article I. 
A person is a citizen of the Commonwealth of Sutica if he I). is registered on the census, II). if citizenship has not been forfeited by a court & III). if the Grand Magistrate has granted him proof of citizenship.

 

Article II. 
A citizen of the Commonwealth of Sutica is subject to its constitution and these laws.

 

Article III.
Only citizens of the Commonwealth of Sutica enjoy any rights granted to them in the constitution. 

 

Article IV.
The government of the Commonwealth of Sutica must provide a method to register oneself to the census.

 

Article V.
The government of the Commonwealth of Sutica may not reject citizenship if the person has I). his main homestead in the Commonwealth of Sutica, II). has no tax debt, & III). has resided in the Commonwealth of Sutica for longer than five years consecutively. 

 

Article VI. 
The Grand Magistrate may reject a person’s citizenship if he I). has been convicted by a judge with the punishment of forfeiture of citizenship, II). if the Grand Magistrate deems the person to be a likely threat to the Commonwealth of Sutica, & III). if the Grand Magistrate deems the person to be an infiltrant from a foreign power. 

 

Article VII. 
Citizenship is automatically granted to the offspring of a citizen. 

 

Article VIII.
Only citizens are eligible for peerage, knighthood, government service and a guaranteed trial.

 

SECTION VII. MINORS

 

Article I. 
A minor is classified as a person under the age of eighteen. 

 

Article II. 
A minor is prohibited from standing for elections, voting in elections, ascending to peerage or being nominated to knighthood. 

 

Article III. 
A minor is a protected entity, meaning that any crimes committed against him must be punished more severely than normal. 

 

Article IV. 
A minor cannot represent himself in court proceedings, government hearings or in financial traffic. 

 

Article V. 
A minor is a protected entity, meaning that any crimes they commit must be punished less severely than normal. 

 

Article VI.
A minor may not face capital punishment, severe torture or exile. 

 

Article VII. 
If the minor committed a crime that offers no room for lesser punishment than those in Section II. Article VI., the parents will be held accountable instead.

 

Article VIII. 
Parents are accountable for the mental, financial & physical wellbeing of a minor.

 

Article IX. 
A minor is considered legally incapable, his legal affairs instead being handled for him by his parents or guardians. Any property or title inherited by a minor must be governed in trust by a regent, chosen by the maker or executor of the will, until the minor comes of age.