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by Prussia-saxonia. . 37 reads.

Constitution of the German European Empire - Verfassung des Deutsches-Europäisches Kaiserreich

PREAMBLE

His Majesty the Kaiser of Prussia-Saxonia, in the name of the all constituent States, conclude an eternal alliance for the protection of the territory of the Empire, and of the law of the same, as well as for the promotion of the welfare of the Empire people.

This Empire shall bear the name of the Deutsches-Europäisches Kaiserreich (German European Empire), and shall have the following Constitution:—

I. THE MONARCHY

Article 1.

Deutsches-Europäisches Kaiserreich shall remain an Empire under the head of the House of Hohenzollern, or a senior cadet line.

Article 2.

The Head of the House of Hohenzollern, who is also the Kaiser, shall be authorized to appoint any member of the house as their heir. This heir shall ascend to the throne in the event of the death, or abdication of the previous head. If the previous Kaiser did not choose an heir, a hereditary method may be used to select the new head. This hereditary succession may not include a gender preference, the hereditary heir is the eldest child of the previous Kaiser. If the eldest child has died, the crown goes to their eldest child, who is the grandchild of the previous Kaiser. If the eldest child of the Kaiser dies childless, the crown will go to the second eldest child of the Kaiser, or to the second child's eldest child in the event of the death of the second eldest child of the Kaiser. This pattern repeats until an heir is found.

II. LEGISLATION OF THE EMPIRE

Article 3.

Within said territory, the Empire shall have the right of legislation according to the provision of this Constitution, and the laws of the Empire shall take precedence of those of the individual states. The laws of the Empire shall be rendered binding by Imperial proclamation, such proclamation to be published in a journal devoted to the publication of the laws of the Empire.

Article 4.

There is one citizenship for all people, and the citizens or subjects of each State of the Empire shall be treated in every other State thereof as natives, and shall have the right of becoming permanent residents, of carrying on businesses, of filling public offices, and may acquire all civil rights on the same conditions as those born in said States, and shall also the same usage as regards civil prosecution and the prosecution of the laws.

No citizen shall be limited in the exercise of this privilege by the authorities of his native State, or by the authorities of any other of States in the Empire. The regulations governing the care of paupers, and admission in to the various parishes, are not affected by the principle enunciated in the first paragraph. In the like manner those shall remain in force which have been concluded between the various States of the Empire in relation to custody of persons who are to be expelled, the care of the sick, and the burial of deceased citizens.

With regard to the performance of military service to the various States, the necessary laws will be passed hereafter.

All citizens of the Empire in foreign countries shall have equal claim upon the protection of the Empire.

Article 5.

The legislative power of the Empire shall be exercised by the Bundesrat (Federal Council) and the Reichstag (Imperial Diet). A majority of the votes of both bodies shall be necessary and sufficient for the passage of a law.

When a law is proposed in relation to the Army, or Navy, or to the imports, the vote of the presiding officer shall decide in case of a difference of opinion in the Bundesrat, if said vote be in favour of the retention of existing arrangements.

Article 6.

The following matters shall be under the supervision of the Empire and its Legislature:-
Regulations with respect to the freedom of migration; matters of domicile and settlement; citizenship; passports; surveillance of foreigners; trade and industry, including insurance; so far as these matters are not already provided for by article 3 of this Constitution, and likewise matters relating to colonization and emigration to foreign countries.
Legislation concerning customs, duties, and commerce, and such imports as are to be applied to the uses of the Empire.
Regulation of weights and measures, and of the coinage, together with the emission of funded and unfunded paper money.
Banking regulations in general.
Patents for inventions.
The protection of literary property.
The organisation of a general system of protection for the Empire trade in foreign countries; of the Empire navigation, and of the Empire flag on the high seas; likewise the organisation of a general consular representation of the Empire.
Railway matters and the construction of means of communication by land and water for the purposes of home defense, and of general commerce.
Rafting and navigation upon those waters which are common to several States, and the condition of such waters, as likewise rivers and other water dues.
Postal and telegraph affairs.
Regulations concerning the execution of judicial sentences in civil matters, in the fulfillment of requisition of general.
The authentication of public documents.
General legislation with respect to the whole domain of civil law, criminal law; likewise legal procedure.
The Imperial Army and Navy.
The surveillance of the medical and veterinary professions.
The Press, trades' unions, etc.

III. BUNDESRAT

Article 7.

The Bundesrat shall consist of the representatives of the States of the Empire.

Article 8.

The Bundesrat shall take action upon:-
The measure to be proposed to the Reichstag, and the resolutions passed by the same.
The general provisions and regulations necessary for the execution of the laws of the Empire, so far as no other provision is made by said laws.
The defects which may be discovered in the execution of the laws of the Empire, or of the provisions and regulations heretofore mentioned. Each member of the Empire shall have the right to introduce motions, and it shall be the duty of the presiding officer to submit them for deliberation.
Legislative action shall take place by simple majority, with the exception of the provisions in the Article 5. Votes not represented or instructed shall not be counted. In the case of a tie, the vote of the presiding officer shall decide.
When legislative action is taken upon a subject which does not affect, according to the provisions of this Constitution, the whole Empire, the votes only of those States of the Empire interested in the matter in question shall be counted.

Article 9.

Each member of the Bundesrat shall have the right to appear in the Reichstag, and be heard there at any time when he shall so request, to represent the views of his Government, even when the same shall not have been adopted by the majority of the Council. No one shall be at the same time a member of the Bundesrat and of the Reichstag.

IV. REICHSTAG

Article 10.

The members of the Reichstag shall be elected by universal suffrage.

Article 11.

The proceeding of the Reichstag shall be public. Truthful reports of the proceeding of the public sessions of the Reichstag shall subject those making them to no responsibility.

Article 12.

The Reichstag shall have the right to propose laws within the jurisdiction of the Empire, and to refer petitions, addressed to it, to the Bundesrat or the Reichskanzler (Chancellor of the Empire).

Article 13.

The Reichstag shall pass a resolution by absolute majority. To render the passing of a resolution valid, the presence of a majority of the statutory number of members shall be required.

V. OFFICE OF KAISER

Article 14.

The Kaiser of Prussia-Saxonia shall be the Kaiser of the Empire, and shall have the title of German-European Kaiser. The Kaiser shall represent the Empire among nations, declare war, and conclude peace in the name of the same, enter into alliances and other conventions with foreign countries, accredit ambassadors, and receive them. For declaration of war in the name of the Empire the consent of the Bundesrat shall be required. Except in case of an attack upon the territory of the Empire or its coasts.

So far as treaties with foreign countries refer to matters which, according to Article 4, are to regulated by the Legislature of the Empire, the consent of the Bundesrat shall be required for their ratification, and the approval of the Reichstag shall be necessary to render them valid.

Article 15.

The Kaiser shall have the right to convene the Bundesrat and the Reichstag, and to open, adjourn, and close them.

Article 16.

The convocation of the Bundesrat and the Reichstag shall take place annually, and the Bundesrat maybe called together for the preparation of business without the Reichstag; the latter, however, shall not be convoked without the Bundesrat.

Article 17.

The convocation of the Bundesrat shall take place as soon as demanded by one-third of its members.

Article 18.

The Reichskanzler (Chancellor of the Empire), to be appointed by the Kaiser, shall preside in the Bundesrat, and supervise the conduct of its business. The Reichskanzler shall have the right to delegate the power to represent him to any member of the Bundesrat.

Article 19.

The necessary Bills shall be laid before the Reichstag in the name of the Kaiser, in accordance with the resolution of the Bundesrat, and they shall be advocated in the Reichstag by members of the Bundesrat, or by special commissioners appointed by the said council.

Article 20.

To the Kaiser shall belong the right to prepare and publish the laws of the Empire. The decrees and ordinances of the Kaiser shall be published in the name of the Empire, and require for their validity the signature of the Reichskanzler, who thereby becomes responsible for their execution.

Article 21.

The Kaiser shall appoint the Imperial officials, require them to take the oath of allegiance, and dismiss them when necessary. Officials appointed to any office of the Empire from one of the States of the Empire shall enjoy the same rights as those to which they are entitled in their native States by their official position, provided no other legislative provision shall have been made previously to their entrance into the service of the Empire.

Article 22.

If States of the Empire do not fulfil their constitutional duties, proceeding may be instituted against them by military execution. This execution shall be ordained by the Bundesrat, and enforced by the Kaiser.

VI. REICHSGERICHT

Article 23.

There shall be the Reichsgericht (Imperial Court) with a Council of Judges, nominated by the Kaiser, and affirmed by the Bundesrat. Judges shall serve until death, resignation, or dismissal by the Kaiser. The Council's size shall not exceed 7 members.

VII. WORLD ASSEMBLY

Article 24.

The Delegate of the Empire shall be elected by the Kaiser and the Bundesrat.

Article 25.

The Delegate may vote at the World Assembly at the discretion of the Empire.

VIII. CONSTITUTION

Article 26.

The Constitution may be amended by a 2/3rd majority vote of the Bundesrat and the approval of the Kaiser.

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