The Royal Charter of Portoregne - Carta Regia Portoregne

[Kingdom of Balian 519]

Carta Regia Portoregne

‘The Royal Charter of Portoregne’

In the Year of Our Lord 61 B.A.

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

Preamble

Carta Regia Portoregne

Article I - On the Rights of the People

Article II - On the Powers of the Syndic

Article III - On the Powers of the Concio

Article IV - On the Powers of the Duana

Article V - On the Powers of the Crown

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

By the Grace of GOD, and under the stewardship of His Royal Majesty, Adrian I, we have come now to a new Land, as our ancestors before us. Hence we have, as humanity has many times before, back to time immemorial, laid down for ourselves a new home, a new city, for our people. And as in the past, this new City, henceforth named Portoregne - ‘The Royal Port’ - must have protections for its citizenry, and powers defined for those to whom the Citizenry, Crown, and GOD himself entrust its governance. 

 

Thus, we, the Crown and his Royal Duana, in order to form a stable and efficient City Government, to establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility, and to preserve and promote the general welfare, liberty, and self-governance of the people of Portoregne, do ordain and establish this Royal Charter for the City of Portoregne.

 

 

CARTA REGIA PORTOREGNE

 

Article I - On the Rights of the People

 

Art. I.01 - Definition of Citizenship within Portoregne

 

I.01A - Citizens of Portoregne shall be defined as those people of any class whose primary residence or that of their family resides within the City of Porotregne.

 

I.01B - Citizens of Portoregne are also citizens of the Kingdom of Balian, and thus are granted all the rights, duties, and privileges pertaining thereto. 

 

I.01C - Thus, Citizens of the City of Portoregne are granted these rights and privileges in addition to their rights and privileges as Balianese Citizens, and are subject to and may participate in the City Government in addition to the National Government.

 

Art. I.02 - On the Rights and Privileges of Citizens of Portoregne

 

I.02A - Citizens of Portoregne maintain the sole right to run for City Office and vote in city elections, so that city leaders are selected by the citizens of the city alone, and only from among their number.

 

I.02B - Citizens of Portoregne maintain the right to speak in General Assemblies and vote in General Votes called by the Syndic or the Concio on matters and laws pertaining to the governance of the City of Portoregne.

 

I.02C - The Citizens of Portoregne maintain the right to levy taxes, tolls, or fees separate from Royal Taxes, and otherwise raise and store money for city projects.

 

I.02D - The Citizens of Portoregne maintain the right to trade and organize businesses freely within the city, and to charter and govern businesses that operate solely within the city under city oversight.

 

I.02E - The Citizens of Portoregne maintain the right to petition the Syndic and Concios at any time on matters and grievances pertaining to the governance of the City of Portoregne.

 

 

Article II - On the Powers of the Syndic

 

Art. II.01 - The Syndic shall be a single Citizen of Portoregne, over the age of 16 and of any social class or standing, excluding Peers of the realm or the Heirs of Peers, elected from amongst his or her peers to preside over the Concio of the City of Portoregne and to serve as the primary voice for and mediator between the Citizens of Portoregne and the Duana and the Crown. 

 

Art. II.02 - The Syndic shall be elected every 8 years in a general election among the citizens of Portoregne, with each citizen granted a single vote. These elections shall be overseen by the Censory. A single citizen may serve as Syndic for at most 2 terms, for a total of 16 years. These terms may be consecutive or non-consecutive.

 

Art. II.03 - The Syndic shall have a seat on the Segnoria to be a voice for the city and its residents on National Matters.

 

Art. II.04 - The Syndic shall be permitted to call the Concio into session and shall preside over their sessions - mediating arguments, assuring order, moving through the agenda, and breaking ties. In the event that the Syndic cannot be present at a Concio meeting, then the Crown or a member of the Duana may preside over the meeting in their stead.

 

Art. II.05 - The Syndic shall be permitted to call a General Assembly of the Citizens of Portoregne to discuss proposed City matters, laws, and projects.

 

Art. II.06 - The Syndic may call for a General Vote, in person or by secret paper ballot, of the citizenry on proposals of the Concio, in order to pass them into city law.

 

Art. II.07 - The Syndic reserves the right to veto proposals passed by the Concio before they reach the general vote.

 

Art. II.08 - The Syndic may, with the approval of the Concio, Crown, or Duana, instate and withdraw edicts governing the City of Portoregne.

 

Art. II.09 - The Syndic may meet freely with the Monarch and the members of the Duana to advise or petition them on city matters.

 

Art. II.010 - The Syndic may be impeached and removed from office via a vote of no confidence among the Citizens of Portoregne which must be called for by majority vote of the Concio, or may be removed from office directly by vote of the Duana and Crown.

 

Art. II.011 - The Syndic is considered sacrosanct along with members of the Duana and Royal House, and thus any harm against them shall be considered a greater category of crime, as defined in the Royal Codex.

 

Article III - On the Powers of the Concio

 

Art. III.01 - The Concio shall be a body made up of 4 Citizens of Portoregne, over the age of 14 and of any social class or standing, elected from among their peers to work with the Syndic to discuss, develop, and write legislation and projects pertaining to the City of Portoregne. 

 

Art. III.02 - The Concios shall be elected every 4 years in a general election among the citizens of Portoregne, with each citizen granted two votes, which must be given to two different candidates. These elections shall be overseen by the Censory. A single citizen may serve as a Concio for at most 6 terms, for a total of 24 years. These terms may be consecutive or non-consecutive.

 

Art. III.03 - The Concio shall be permitted to pen proposals and legislation to be presented to and discussed at their own sessions and at sessions of the General Assembly of the Citizens of Protoregne, and to collaborate in their development and amendment.

 

Art. III.04 - The Concio shall, by a majority vote, be permitted to call a General Assembly of the Citizens of Portoregne independent of the Syndic to discuss proposed City matters, laws, and projects.

 

Art. III.05 - The Concio may, by a majority vote, call for a general vote, in person or by secret paper ballot, of the citizenry on the proposals and legislation they pen, in order to pass them into city law.

 

Art. III.06 - The Concio may, by majority vote, veto edicts suggested by the Syndic.

 

Art. III.07 - The Concio may, by unanimous vote, override a veto by the Syndic and force a general vote on a proposal they have drafted. 

 

Art. III.08 - The Concio may, by majority vote, call a general vote of no confidence in the Syndic of the City of Portoregne.

 

Art. III.09 - A Concio may be removed from office by order of the Crown, a vote of the Duana, or by the majority of a general vote among the Citizens of Portoregne.

 

Art. III.010 - The members of the Concio are considered sacrosanct along with members of the Duana and Royal House, and thus any harm against them shall be considered a greater category of crime, as defined in the Royal Codex.

 

Article IV - On the Powers of the Duana

 

Art. IV.01 - The Duana of the Crown have entrusted the Concio and Syndic with the right to determine city-level legislation, taxation, and construction projects, however they reserve the right to provide oversight and input into matters pertaining to their chamber.

 

Art. IV.02 - The City Government may petition the Chambers of the Duana for help in executing or enforcing their provisions, which the heads of the Chambers may accept or deny at their discretion. 

 

Art. IV.03 - The City Government may petition the Procurator for funds from the Royal Treasury to fund their projects, which may be accepted or denied via a vote of the whole Duana.

 

Art. IV.04 - The Magister shall have the right to unilaterally overturn City Legislation if it directly contradicts National Law or curtails the rights held by Citizens of Portoregne as Citizens of Balian.

 

Art. IV.05 - The Minister of the Interior and Chief Architect maintain the right to edit or take over the construction and oversight of city building projects, to assure their quality is up to National Standards.

 

Art. IV.06 - The Duana may, by majority vote and with Crown approval, remove the Syndic or a Concio from office, and oversee a special election for their replacement immediately following this removal if needed.

 

Art. IV.07 - The Duana may, by majority vote, and with Crown approval grant or remove powers which they have placed upon the City Government.

 

Art. IV.08 - The Duana may, by unanimous vote and with the approval of the Monarch, dissolve the City Government as defined in this charter, in order to create a new charter that better serves the needs of the City and its Citizens.

 

Art. IV.09 - The Duana may, by majority vote and with Crown support, veto or approve edicts of the Syndic.

 

Art. IV.010 - The Duana may, by majority vote and with Crown approval, veto city legislation passed by the Grand Assembly.

 

Art. IV.011 - The Duana may call upon the Syndic at any time to speak to and advise them on city matters.

 

Article V - On the Powers of the Crown

 

Art. V.01 - As all law flows from GOD through the Monarch, the Crown reserves the right to veto city legislation.

 

Art. V.02 - The City Government may petition the Crown for the use of the Royal Properties to host events, which he reserves the right to approve or deny.

 

Art. V.03 - The City Government may petition the Crown for financial support for city projects from his personal coffers, which he reserves the right to approve or deny.

 

Art. V.04 - The Crown may call special meetings of the Concio as needed.

 

Art. V.05 - The Crown may call upon the Syndic at any time to advise him on city matters.

 

 

Signed:

 

HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, Adrian I, by the Grace of GOD, King of Balian, Viscount of Eflen and Anatis, Baron of Brucca,Valens, Malenos, Goza and Ciavola, Lord of Portoregne, Atrus and Monterosa, Warden of La Costa Rubinissima, Protector of the Heartlanders and the South, etcetera.

 

HER ROYAL MAJESTY, Andromeda Ester of Ba’as, Queen-consort of Balian, Countess of Monteres, Viscountess of Eflen and Anatis, Baroness of Brucca, Valens, Malenos, Goza and Ciavola, Lady of Portoregne, Atrus and Monterosa, Warden of La Costa Rubinissima, Protector of the Heartlanders and the South, etcetera.

 

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, Princess Lydia Antheia, Countess of Caluzzo, Censor of the Crown,
1st Syndic of Portoregne

 

HIS EXCELLENCY, Robert Joseph de Lyons, Magister of the Kingdom of Balian

Edited July 3, 2023 by Kingdom of Balian