The kingdom of mattonia
In awareness of his responsibility before man, inspired by the will to serve the cause of Peace for his People and for all peoples in the world, the sovereign ruler of the Kingdom of Mattonia, His Majesty Joshua Mattingly I of Mattonia, for himself and for his successors to the throne, by virtue of his constitutional authority resolves, swears and proclaims:
§ 1.
§ 1.1.
The dignity of man is unimpeachable. To respect and preserve this dignity is the duty of all national authority.
§ 1.2.
The Sovereign and his people acknowledge the inviolable and inalienable rights of man as the basis of every human community, of freedom and justice in the world, and recognize that these rights are in complete accord with the General Declaration of Human Rights as already defined by other States on December l0th, 1948.
§ 1.3.
The following rights are binding on the Sovereign, his successors, the legislature, the executive authority and the administration of justice, immediately as effective law.
§ 2.
§ 2.1.
Everyone has the right to the free development of their own personality, as far as this does not infringe upon the rights of others.
§ 2.2.
Everyone has the right to life and physical safety. The freedom of the person is unassailable and may be restricted only by law.
§ 3.
All men are equal before the law. No one may suffer prejudice because of their sex, descent, race, language, native land and extraction, their faith or religious convictions.
§ 4.
§ 4.1.
A subject of the State is a person who possesses citizenship or acquires it.
§ 4.2.
The first citizen is the Sovereign. All executive power originates from him. This supreme power is passed on to the Sovereign’s heir, who is designated by him. The Sovereign designates this heir on the proclamation of this law, later upon taking over supreme power, and also designates at least the next two in line of succession. Should certain heirs or next in line of succession not be able to accept the supreme power because they have died, and should further heirs not have been appointed, the Royal Council decides upon a person as Sovereign. In the case of equal voting, the President of the Royal Council has the casting vote.
§ 4.3.
Members of the Royal Council, those entrusted with political assignments, members of the government, chargè d’affaires and members of the diplomatic service are always citizens of the State by reason of their appointment. The withdrawal of their appointer does not end their citizenship.
§ 4.4.
Other persons acquire nationality by conferring of this by the Sovereign. An appointed consul will be given preference when laying claim to citizenship.
§ 4.5.
Legal persons and corporations who prove their domicile by registration in a register especially furnished by law for the purpose are citizens.
§ 4.6.
No citizen may be extradited at the demand of another state unless authorized by the Sovereign.
§ 4.7.
A dispossession of nationality is only permissible when as a result the person concerned does not become stateless, except where the Sovereign considers that it is necessary for such dispossession in the best interest of The Kingdom of Mattonia or any of its citizens.
§ 5.
Should for any cause or by reason of any law whatsoever, the State be transferred to another, be united with another state, or be changed into a federation, or be changed for any other reasons of whatever kind, the nationality of Mattonia continues to be valid until the possessor of its citizenship accepts the citizenship of another nation.
§ 6.
§ 6.1.
The ministers of the country, the President of the High Court, the President of the State Bank, and two further persons called upon by the Sovereign constitute the Royal Council, which is bound under obligation to advise the Sovereign. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is the President of the Royal Council.
§ 6.2.
A member of the Royal Council may not be called to account for a punishable offence, unless the Sovereign expressly authorizes the commencement of proceedings.
§ 7.
§ 7.1.
All citizens have the right to choose their profession freely. No one may be forced to do a certain work.
§ 7.2.
The practice of a profession may be regulated by law.
§ 8.
§ 8.1.
All citizens enjoy freedom of movement within all territories of the State.
§ 8.2.
This right may be limited by law only when sufficient means for supporting life are not available, or when special burdens would ensue for the State, or in cases where it is necessary to prevent access for reasons of national security, for control of epidemics, natural catastrophes and disasters, if it is necessary to prevent punishable actions, or actions which the Sovereign and Royal Council consider are likely to lead to such actions.
§ 8.3.
The Kingdom of Mattonia will not provide a haven for any person who is fleeing from justice.
§ 9.
§ 9.1.
The safety of the houses, property and the right of inheritance of all citizens will be respected by the Kingdom of Mattonia.
§ 9.2.
The same limitations as in § 8.2 are here valid.
§ 10.
§ 10.1.
Whoever as a citizen misuses the fundamental regulations of the State forfeits their fundamental rights.
§ 10.2.
Insofar only a restriction of the basic regulations of the State is foreseen in this law, the appropriate law must be valid in general and not for the individual case.
§ 11.
§ 11.1.
The legislature is bound to constitutional order, the executive authority and legal decisions in law and justice.
§ 11.2.
All state nationals have the right to resist anyone who attempts to set aside this regulation, if other redress is not possible.
§ 12.
§ 12.1.
All legislation rests with the Sovereign.
§ 12.2.
For the preservation of peace and for security of the country, the Sovereign may by law consent to the restriction of the Sovereign’s power.
§ 12.3.
For the settlement of international disputes the Sovereign assents to entering into agreements concerning a general comprehensive, obligatory, international jurisdiction of arbitration.
§ 12.4.
The Legal system, otherwise, is based on U.S. Common Law and the U.S. Law of Contract. This does not exclude certain special laws which then take precedence over this law.
§ 12.5.
a)
The Sovereign especially exercises the exclusive jurisdiction over taxes, customs duties, privileges and monopolies.
b)
Revenues from these laws belong to the Sovereign as well as to the ministries or the representatives of monopolies, in accordance with contractually regulated ratio of distribution. Changes in legally stipulated taxes or privileges can be made only with the agreement of the person concerned or at reasonable interval of time.
c)
The levying of customs duties and taxes is made by the Ministry of Economics and Finances, on the advice of the Royal Council, and the approval of the Soverign.
d)
The Sovereign takes the necessary steps to ensure that an audit of accounts and an examination of the ratio of distribution takes place.
§ 13.
The general provisions of international law are a constituent part of the constitutional law of the Kingdom of Mattonia and have precedence over other laws; they create rights and duties directly for the nationals of the State.
§ 14.
The National flag of the Kingdom of Mattonia consists of an amazon green plain, a white band across the bottom, with a shield of white in the top hoist side corner adorned with two amazon green stars stacked upon one another.
§ 15.
The national language is English.
§ 16.
§16.1
All natural state resources within the Kingdom of Mattonia’s territory are to be classified as the Sovereigns property.
§16.2
No natural resources may be harvested or destroyed without written consent of the Sovereign.
§ 17.
For maintenance of order and security; the State may legally raise a body of police, or defense forces with the approval of the Sovereign, and employ them for this purpose.
§ 18.
§ 18.1.
For the maintenance of law and order there is the national Tribunal, divided into two senates, the first senate is responsible for matters of international law, public law and constitutional law; the second senate is responsible for all other legal matters.
§18.2
Each senate has a President. The President of the first senate is the President of the Supreme Court of Justice and member of the Royal Council.
§ 18.3.
The second senate is the Court of Appeal for the Boards of Justice subordinate to it.
§ 18.4.
At least two persons are appointed to each senate, and at least one person to each Board of Justice, and they must establish their qualification for juridical function.
§ 18.5.
The courts work out their regulations of procedure themselves, within the framework of this law.
§ 19.
§ 19.1.
Everyone may claim to be legally heard before the Court.
§ 19.2.
A person can only be sentenced when the offence was legally defined before the deed was committed. No criminal act will be retrospectively made such an offence.
§ 19.3.
No one may be convicted more than once for the same offence.
§ 19.4.
There is no death sentence.
§ 19.5.
Imprisonment is permitted only with the approval of the President of the Supreme Court, or their authorized deputy.
§ 19.6.
The right of granting a pardon is a prerogative of the Sovereign.
§ 20.
§ 20.1.
The Sovereign appoints the President of the National Bank, who is entrusted with carrying out of everything connected with putting into circulation of money, the provision of loans, the security of the currency and the handling of the clearing system at home and abroad.
§ 20.2.
The right to the minting of money is not a matter for the National Bank which, however, must be informed of the monetary circulation.
§ 20.3.
The legal currency is the Mattonian Dollar. All the services of the State and organs of the State should be settled preferably in this currency, Gold and other precious minerals, or in the United States Dollar. * (See Amendment 1) *
§ 20.4.
Penal provisions for the money and coinage can be legally regulated only with the agreement of the Sovereign.
§ 21.
§ 21.1.
The Sovereign fills all necessary Ministries with ministers by appointment.
§ 21.2.
Necessary Ministries are:
a) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Development,
b) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
c) The Ministry of Economics and Finances,
d) The Ministry of Ecosystems and Wildlife,
e) The Ministry of Justice,
f) The Ministry of Defense,
g) And such other Ministries as the Sovereign may from time to time decide.
§ 21.3.
Each Ministry equips itself with its own organization.
§ 21.4.
It is permissible for a Minister to serve in various Ministries.
§ 21.5.
Drafts of laws for a Ministry are to be justified in detail to the Sovereign.
§ 21.6.
Laws promulgated by the Sovereign are to be published in a National Memorandum.
§ 22.
§ 22.1.
For special services for the State, the Sovereign awards orders, titles and privileges.
§ 22.2.
The Honors listed in § 22.1 will be created by the Sovereign by special law, and the rights conferred by these honors documented.
§ 22.3.
Orders, titles and privileges can also be awarded as hereditary orders, titles and privileges.
§ 22.4.
The Royal Council can put forward to the Sovereign the names of suitable persons on whom honors may be bestowed.
§ 23.
§ 23.1.
Additional amendments may be adopted into the Constitution to meet the needs and will of the nation, and its peoples as they change over time.
§ 23.2.
Amendments may be proposed by any sitting member of government, such proposals must be approved by the Sovereign.
§24.
§24.1
This law comes into force on the day on which the Sovereign signs it
§24.2
All institutions and organs of the State are to be sworn in at the Constitution. By this signature of the Sovereign, this Constitution is confirmed by affirmation under oath.
AMENDMENTS
•Amendment I : Currency Reform
Section 1: Change of Currency
1.1) The official currency of the Kingdom of Mattonia shall be changed from the Mattonian Dollar (M$) to the Mattonian Timber (MT).
1.2)The Mattonian Timber shall be introduced in denominations of 1 MT, 5 MT, 10 MT, and 20 MT.
Section 2: Basis of Value
2.1) The value of the Mattonian Timber shall be based upon the value of pinewood. The formula of value will be managed by the Ministry of Economics and Finances.
2.2) The Central Bank of Mattonia shall establish and publish the exchange rate of the Mattonian Timber in relation to pinewood and foreign currencies on a quarterly basis.
2.3)The beginning of the first quarter will start on the day the transition period ends and the Mattonian Timber becomes the official currency.
Section 3: Transition Period
3.1) A transition period of 1 month from the date of ratification of this amendment shall be provided for the exchange of Mattonian Dollars to Mattonian Timbers.
3.2) During the transition period, both currencies shall be accepted as legal tender within the Kingdom of Mattonia.
Section 4: Implementation and Oversight
4.1) The Ministry of Economics and Finances shall oversee the implementation of this currency reform.
4.2) The National Bank of Mattonia shall be responsible for the issuance and regulation of the new currency.
Section 5: Legal Provisions
5.1) All existing contracts, debts, and financial obligations denominated in Mattonian Dollars shall be converted to Mattonian Timbers at the established exchange rate at the end of the transition period.
5.2) Any laws or regulations in conflict with this amendment shall be deemed null and void.
•Amendment II: Mattonian National Animal Revision
Preamble:
In recognition of the cultural and environmental significance of the American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) to the nation of Mattonia, and acknowledging the need to reflect this importance within our national symbols, I hereby amend the Mattonian Constitution as follows:
•Article 1: Change of National Animal
Section 1: The current national animal of Mattonia, the American Staffordshire Terrier ( Canis Lupus Familiaris), is hereby replaced.
Section 2: The American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) is hereby designated and adopted as the official national animal of Mattonia.
Section 3: This amendment shall take effect immediately upon ratification by H.R.M. King Joshua I of the Kingdom of Mattonia.
The Kingdom of Mattonia 