Legislative Government

The Legislative Department of the Xi Anu Nation is composed of the Maku Chief, the Nobles, and the Representatives, each of whom has a negative on the other, and in whom is vested full power to make all manner of wholesome laws. They judge for the welfare of the nation, and for the necessary support and defense of good government, provided it is not repugnant or contrary to the Constitution.

The Nobles sit together with the elected Representatives of the people in what is referred to as the House of the Legislative Assembly. Nobles cannot exceed thirty (30) in number, and the Representatives cannot be less than twenty-four (24), nor exceed forty (40) in number. In the House, each Noble and Representative is entitled to one vote.

The people elect Representatives from twenty-five (25) districts in the Xi Anu Nation. Elections occur biennially and each elected Representative has a two (2) year term. Unlike the Nobles, Representatives are compensated for their term in office.

Representation of the People is based upon the principle of equality, and is regulated and apportioned by the Legislature according to the population, which is ascertained from time to time by the official census.

At the opening of the Legislative Assembly, the members elect a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms. The President then appoints members to the following standing committees:

1. Committee on Foreign Relations 2. Committee on Finance 3. Committee on Military 4. Committee on Public Lands and Internal Improvements 5. Sanitary Committee 6. Committee on Education 7. Committee on Commerce, Agriculture and Manufactures 8. Committee on Accounts 9. Committee on Judiciary 10. Committee on Enrollment

In the Xi Anu Nation, the Monarch does not sit in the Legislative Assembly, but the Cabinet Ministers do as ex officio Nobles. All the Ministers of the Cabinet are responsible for a specific portfolio related to an area of public concern.

In the Legislative Assembly, the Ministers of the Cabinet are held accountable by the members of the House for misconduct or maladministration in their offices. The Representatives have the sole power of impeachment, and the Nobles have the sole power to try all impeachments.

Making Laws

Any member of the Legislative Assembly can introduce a petition, memorial, resolution or bill. The Minister of Finance is responsible for submitting the Financial Budget to the House on the first day of the meeting of the Legislative Assembly.

Petitions, Memorials, etc.

All petitions, memorials and other papers, addressed to the House, is presented by the President, or by a member in his place, and is endorsed with the name of the person presenting it, and the subject matter of the same.

A brief statement of the contents of such petitions, memorials, or other papers are made verbally by the introducer, before it is received and read at the table.

Every petition, memorial, or other paper, is referred, of course, by the President, without putting a question for that purpose, unless the reference is objected to by a member at the time such petition, memorial, or other paper is presented.

No such petition, memorial, or other paper shall be debated on the day it is presented, unless by the unanimous consent of the House.

The House entertains no Resolution until it has been reduced to writing with the date of presentation and name of the mover affixed.

Of Bills

Every Bill is introduced on the report of a Committee, or by motion for leave to introduce a bill; but no bill is entertained by the House until the same has been presented in both the English language by default of language or the Native tongue of the Nation at that time.

One days notice, at least, is given of an intended motion for leave to bring in a bill by its title; and the motion is made, and the bill introduced, if leave is given, when the resolutions are called for.

Every bill receives three several reading previous to its being passed; and the President gives notice at each, whether it be the first, second or third, which reading shall be on three different days, unless the House unanimously direct otherwise.

The first reading of the bill is for information; and, if opposition be made to it, the question would be Shall this bill be rejected? If no opposition is made, or if the question to reject is negated, the bill goes to its second reading without a question.

Upon the second reading of a bill, the President states it as ready for commitment or engrossment; and, if committed, then the question will be, whether to a Select or Standing Committee, or to a committee of the whole House, the House will determine on what day; if no motion be made to commit, the question will be stated on its engrossment, and if it is not ordered to be engrossed on the day of its being reported, it will be placed in the general file, on the Presidents table, to be take up in its order. But if the bill is ordered to be engrossed, the House will appoint a day when it will be read a third time.

When a bill passes, the Clerk, noting the day of its passage at the foot thereof, certifies it.

Of Committees of the Whole House

When a bill or other matter has been referred to a Committee of the whole House, the President, on motion made and seconded, will put the question that the House do now resolve into a Committee of the Whole to take into consideration such a matter, naming it. If this question is decided in the affirmative, the President will leave his chair, first naming some member to act as Chairman of the Committee.

When a bill is referred to a Committee of the Whole, the bill will first be read throughout by the Clerk, and then again read and debated by clauses, leaving the preamble to be last considered. The body of the bill will not be defaced or interlined, but all amendments, noting the page and line, will be duly entered by the Clerk on a separate paper, as the same will be agreed to by the Committee, and so reported.

Signing into Law

When a resolution or bill has passed the Legislative Assembly it is ready for signature by the Maku Chief. When a resolution or bill is signed it will have the force of law unless it contains a provision that it, or some of its provisions, should come into force on a specific day or on a day to be fixed by order of the Maku Chief

Key Institutions of the Xi Anu Nation Government

The institutions that make up the Xi Anu Nation Government include:

The Legislative Assembly The Monarch The Nobles The Representatives Cabinet Privy Council of State President of the Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Department of the Nation is composed of the Monarch, the Nobles, and the Representatives, each of whom has a negative on the other, and in whom is vested full power to make all manner of wholesome laws. They judge for the welfare of the nation, and for the necessary support and defense of good government, provided it is not repugnant or contrary to the Constitution.

The Monarch

The Maku Chief is the Xi Anu Nations Head of State and is represented in the Chakchiuma Region of Xi Amrru Ka Washitaw de dugdahmoundyah (south-eastern region of the united states of America) by the Office of the Maku Chief.

The Maku Chief opens each new session of the Legislature by reading a Speech from the Office of the Maku Chief. The speech sets out the vision of the government for the Nation and the policies and actions it plans to undertake.

No law can be enacted without the signature of the Maku Chief and countersigned by one of the Ministers of the Cabinet.

The Nobles

The Nobles sit together with the elected Representatives of the people and cannot exceed thirty (30) in number. Nobles also have the sole power to try impeachments made by the Representatives.

Nobles are appointed by the Maku Chief for a life term and serve without pay. A person eligible to be a Noble must be a Xi Anu Nation subject or denizen, resided in the Nation for at least five years, and attained the age of twenty-one (21) years. Nobles can introduce bills and serve on standing or special Committees established by the Legislative Assembly. Each Noble is entitled to one vote in the Legislative Assembly.

The Representatives

The Representatives sit together with the appointed Nobles and cannot exceed forty (40) in number. Each Representative is entitled to one vote in the Legislative Assembly. Representatives have the sole power to impeach any Cabinet Minister, officer in government or Judge, but the Nobles reserve the power to try and convict an impeached officer.

A person eligible to be a Representative of the people must be a Xi Anu Nation subject or denizen, at least twenty-five years, must know how to read and write, understand accounts, and have resided in the Xi Anu Nation for at least one year immediately preceding his election. No person who is insane, or an idiot, or who shall at any time have been convicted of theft, bribery, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, polygamy, or other high crime or misdemeanor, can ever hold a seat as Representative of the people.

The people elect representatives from twenty-five (25) districts in the Xi Anu Nation. Elections occur biennially on even numbered years, and each elected Representative has a two (2) year term. Unlike the Nobles, Representatives are compensated for their term in office.

The Cabinet

The Cabinet consists of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Finance, and the Attorney General of the Xi Anu Nation. The Cabinet is the Monarchs Special Advisers in the Executive affairs of the Nation.

The Ministers are ex officio members of the Privy Council of State. The Ministers are appointed and commissioned by the Maku Chief, and hold office during the Maku Chiefs pleasure, subject to impeachment. No act of the Maku Chief other than in a time of emergency has any effect unless countersigned by a Minister, who by that signature makes himself responsible.

Each member of the Cabinet keeps an office at the seat of Government, and is accountable for the conduct of his/her deputies and clerks. The Ministers also hold seats ex officio, as Nobles, in the Legislative Assembly.

On the first day of the opening of the Legislative Assembly, the Minister of Finance presents the Financial Budget in the English language by default of language or the Native tongue of the Nation at that time.

Privy Council of State

The Maku Chief, by Quantum Letters Patent, can appoint any of his subjects, who have attained the age of majority, a member of the Privy Council of State.

Every member of the Privy Council of State, before entering upon the discharge of his/her duties as such, takes an oath to support the Constitution, to advise the Maku Chief honestly, and to observe strict secrecy in regard to matters coming to his/her knowledge as a Privy Counselor.

The duty of every Privy Counselor:

1. To advise the Maku Chief according to the best of his knowledge and discretion. 2. To advise for the Maku Chiefs honor and the good of the public, without partiality through friendship, love,

reward, fear or favor. 3. Finally, to avoid corruption and to observe, keep, and do all that a good and true counselor ought to

observe, keep, and do to his/her Maku chief.

The President of the Legislative Assembly

The President is the Chair for conducting business in the House of the Legislative Assembly. He is elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly at the opening of the Session and appoints members to each of the select or standing committees.

The President preserves order and decorum, speaks to points of order in preference to other members, and decides all questions of order subject to an appeal to the House by any two members.

The Xi Anu Nation Supreme Court

The judicial power of the Nation is vested in one Supreme Court and in such inferior courts as the Legislature may, from time to time, establish. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. It is the final court of appeal at the top of the Xi Anu Nations judicial system.

The Supreme Court considers civil, criminal and constitutional cases, but normally only after the cases have been heard in appropriate lower circuit, district or police courts.

The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and four (4) Associate Justices. All judges are appointed by the Maku Chief upon advise of the Privy Council of State.

Any Xi Anu Nation subject can have their case heard by the Supreme Court, but first, permission or leave must be obtained from the court. Leave is granted for cases that involve a matter of public importance, or a law or fact concerning the Xi Anu Nation Constitution.

The Supreme Court sits for four terms a year on the first Mondays in the months of January, April, July and October. The Court may however hold special terms at other times, whenever it shall deem it essential to the promotion of justice. Decisions by the Court are decided by majority

The Rule of Law and the Courts

Xi Anu Nation government is based on a respect for the rule of law. Xi Anu Nation subjects can rely on a society based on law and order, and can be assured that the law will be applied equally and impartially.

Independent Judiciary

Impartial courts depend on an independent judiciary. The independence of the judiciary means that Judges are free from outside influence, and notably from influence from the Head of State. Only the Legislative Assembly, although appointed by the Maku Chief, can remove Judges by impeachment.

Xi Anu Nation Courts also enforce the rights guaranteed under the Constitution. The constitution guarantees:

All men and women are free to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences; but this sacred privilege hereby secured, shall not be so construed as to justify acts of licentiousness, or practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the Nation.

All men and women may freely speak, write, and publish their sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right, and no law shall be enacted to restrain the liberty of speech, or of the press, except such laws as may be necessary for the protection the Maku Chief and the Principle Family.

All men and women shall have the right, in an orderly and peaceable manner, to assemble, without arms, to consult upon the common good, and to petition the Maku Chief or Legislative Assembly for redress of grievances.

The privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus belongs to all men and women, and shall not be suspended, unless by the Maku Chief, when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety shall require its suspension.

No person shall be subject to punishment for any offense, except on due and legal conviction thereof, in a Court having jurisdiction of the case.

No person shall be held to answer for any crime in which the right of trial by Jury has been heretofore used, it shall be held inviolable forever, except in actions of debt or assumpsit in which the amount claimed is less than Fifty Dollars.

No person shall be required to answer again for an offense, of which he has been duly convicted, or of which he has been duly acquitted upon a good and sufficient indictment.

No person shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

No person shall sit as a judge or juror, in any case in which his relative is interested, either as plaintiff or defendant, or in the issue of which the said judge or juror, may have, either directly or through a relative, any pecuniary interest.

Involuntary servitude, except for crime, is forever prohibited in this Nation; whenever a slave shall enter Xi Anu Nation Territory, he shall be free.

Every person has the right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his house, his papers, and effects; and no warrants shall issue, but on probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized

Xi Anu Nation System of GovernmentLegislative Government

Key Institutions of the Xi Anu Nation GovernmentKey Institutions of the Xi Anu Nation Government

The Xi Anu Nation Supreme CourtThe Xi Anu Nation Supreme Court

the Xi Anu Nation rule of law and the courtThe Rule of Law and the Courts