Pelasgia
Established Nation
CHRYSOBOULE OF THEDORE III LASKARIS RESPECTING THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMATION AND STATE SUCCESSION OF THE PELASGIAN EMPIRE
THEODORE III LASKARIS, by the Grace of God, Emperor and Autocrat of All Pelasgians, Augustus of the South, Lord and Master of Pelasgia, Memphis, Philistaea, Haydis, Perama, Lycaonia and the Archipelago, Sovereign of South Himyar, Sovereign of the Sovereign Base Areas of Cape Saint Nicholas and Dioskouridou Island, Custodian of the Holy City of Hierosolyma, Sole Representative of God on Europe and Defender of the Faith.
To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:
WHEREAS, We have convened a Constitutional Convention of all Provinces of Our Realm to the Reigning Metropolis of Propontis, pursuant to Article 110 of the current Constitution of the Pelasgian Empire, granted by Our Grandfather.
And whereas, the said Convention has met in Propontis in Our presence and with the Blessing of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch of Propontis and All Europe, being generally composed of three General Delegations, representing Pelasgia, Memphis, and Philistaea.
And whereas, the said General Delegations have come to an Understanding regarding the Constitution and the future of the Pelasgian Empire, so as to resolve the present domestic conflict, which has brought most grievous harm to Our Realm and Our True and Loyal Subjects.
THEREFORE, know ye that We, of Our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have willed, ordained, and granted, and do by these presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, will, ordain, and grant, as follows:
Article 1 – Philistaea
(1) The Lands represented by the General Delegation of Philistaea, namely Hieron and Makrinon Prefectures, are hereby granted independence from Our Empire as a Sovereign and Free State.
(2) The Lands represented by the General Delegation of Philistaea shall be partitioned as follows: all lands to the West of the Judaean Hills shall form the Republic of Philistaea; all lands to the East of the Judaean Hills, to the exception of the Holy City of Hierosolyma, shall form the Free State of Judaea; the Holy City of Hierosolyma shall form a distinct Autonomous Capital City Region.
(3) The Republic of Philistaea shall be administered by the Philistaean Urudoah through their elected representatives, according to a Constitution to be authored by them. The Free State of Judaea shall be administered by the Jews of the Pelasgian Empire through their elected representatives, according to a Constitution to be authored by them.
(4) The Republic of Philistaea, the Free State of Judaea and the Holy City of Hierosolyma together shall form a federal state known as the Commonwealth of Philistaea and Judaea, or Philistaea-Judaea in brief. Philistaea-Judaea shall possess a Federal Government solely concerned with all matters relating to foreign relations, defence, and currency, all other matters befalling the federal subjects' governments.
(5) The Federal Government of Philistaea-Judaea shall be governed based on the principle of equality of the Philistaean Urudoah, the Jews, and of respect for the local historic minorities, including the ethnic Pelasgian minority and the Catholic minorities. The Holy City of Hierosolyma shall be administered by its own autonomous government, along with its current traditional municipal institutions.
(6) The Head of State of Philistaea-Judaea shall be a Triumvirate composed of a Triumvir chosen by the Republic of Philistaea, a Triumvir selected by the Free State of Judaea, and the Pelasgian Orthodox Patriarch of Hierosolyma who shall hold the tie-breaking vote.
(7) The Patriarchate of Hierosolyma shall retain all its traditional rights and privileges, including its rights over the Temple Mount, the Church of the Nativity, the township of Nazareth, the Monasteries of Philistaea and Judaea, and other major sights of importance to Orthodox Christians.
(8) Philistaea-Judaea shall possess an independent and effective Supreme Court to enforce the rights and freedoms of all citizens of the Commonwealth, regardless of their religious affiliation or ethnic origin.
(9) We and all Our Heirs and Successors shall hereby renounce the titles of Lord and Master of Philistaea and Custodian of the Holy City of Hierosolyma in favour of the Commonwealth of Philistaea and Judaea.
(10) All Philistaean Urudoah and Jews currently residing anywhere in the Pelasgian Empire outside of the Lands represented by the General Delegation of Philistaea shall be transferred thereto within six (6) months of the ratification of the present document. All Pelasgian subjects who are not Philistaean Urudoah or Jews currently residing in the Lands represented by the General Delegation of Philistaea shall be transferred to the rest of the Pelasgian Empire within six (6) months of the ratification of the present document. This paragraph does not apply to the Holy City of Hierosolyma.
(11) All those relocated under paragraph (10) of this article shall be provided with adequate compensation for their lands and with new lands and housing. They shall be treated with dignity and respect and shall be aided in relocating. They shall renounce all legal and civil rights in the lands which they leave, both of public and private law.
(12) Following relocation, all those mentioned in paragraphs (10) and (11) shall lose their original citizenship and gain that of their new state of relocation, if it differs. Those families possessing members which must be relocated and others which must not may choose to either relocate or not within six (6) months and will be assigned citizenship based on their choice at the lapse of the said period.
(13) The Union Government of Pelasgia and Memphis shall retain the right to intervene in the Commownealth, by force if necessary, to safeguard the rights of the Patriarchate of Hierosolyma and of the ethnic minorities of the Commonwealth, including the Pelasgian ethnic minority.
Article 2 – Memphis
(1) The Throne of the Lands represented by the General Delegation of Memphis, namely Rhakotaion and Souchoton Prefectures, shall be separated from the Throne of the Pelasgian Empire as the Throne of the Kingdom of Memphis, which shall henceforth by a Sovereign State headed by Us and Our Heirs and Successors in Our capacity as Lord and Master of Memphis and, henceforth, King of Memphis.
(2) The Kingdom of Memphis shall possess a Constitution substantially alike the current Constitution of the Pelasgian Empire, as adopted by Decree of Our Grandfather, and shall not be affected by any changes to the Constitution of the Pelasgian Empire envisaged in the last article of this Chrysoboule unless it so wills.
(3) The Kingdom of Memphis shall possess a distinct and separate citizenship, and shall have sole capacity over all matters in its territory except those relating to foreign relations, defence, and currency.
(4) The lands under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Cassandris shall be granted autocephaly. All living elsewhere in the Pelasgian Empire baptized under the Patriarchate of Cassandris or reporting themselves as Kyphts or Memphians in the census shall be relocated to the Lands represented by the General Delegation of Memphis within six (6) months of the ratification of the present document. All those living in the Lands represented by the General Delegation of Memphis who are ethnically Pelasgian, or who have been baptised under the jurisdiction of a Patriarchate within the lands represented by the General Delegation of Pelasgia, and wish to relocate to Pelasgia within six (6) months may do so.
(5) All those relocated under paragraph (4) of this article shall be provided with adequate compensation for their lands and with new lands and housing. They shall be treated with dignity and respect and shall be aided in relocating. They shall renounce all legal and civil rights in the lands which they leave, both of public and private law.
(6) Following relocation, all those mentioned in paragraphs (4) and (5) shall lose their original citizenship and gain that of their new state of relocation, if it differs. Those families possessing members which must be relocated and others which must not may choose to either relocate or not within six (6) months and will be assigned citizenship based on their choice at the lapse of the said period.
Article 3 – Pelasgia
(1) The Lands represented by the General Delegation of Pelasgia shall continue as the Empire of Pelasgia, the legal successor to the Pelasgian Empire, and shall adopt a new Constitution, subject to the principles of responsible government, separation of powers, and the rule of law, as outlined in the last article of this Chrysoboule.
(2) The Empire of Pelasgia shall have a distinct and separate citizenship, and it shall have sole power over all matters in its territory except foreign relations, defence, and currency.
Article 4 – State Union of Pelasgia and Memphis
(1) The Empire of Pelasgia and the Kingdom of Memphis shall be bound by a State Union through their common Monarchy and shared Sovereign, to be referred to as the “State Union of Pelasgia and Memphis” or the “United Realms of Pelasgia and Memphis.”
(2) The State Union of Pelasgia and Memphis shall possess a Union Government.
(3) The Union Government shall deal with all matters relating to foreign relations, defence, and currency. The Union Government shall have a common financial policy for these matters.
(4) The Union Government shall inherit the current Imperial Pelasgian Armed Forces as the Imperial and Royal Armed Forces.
(5) The Union Government shall inherit all current diplomatic missions, foreign assets and debts, rights and privileges, treaties and understandings, and other international obligations and assets of the Pelasgian Empire, subject to the provisions of Article 7.
(6) The Union Government shall be bound by the Constitution found in Annex I. Its basic principles shall be: (i) equality between Pelasgia and Memphis; (ii) respect for the distinct character and traditions of each Member of the State Union; and (iii) mutual cooperation between Pelasgia and Memphis in pursuit of their common interest.
(7) The currency of the State Union shall continue to be the Pelasgian Hyperpyron, the be henceforth known as the Pelasgo-Memphian Hyperpyron. The Central Bank of the State Union shall be the Bank of Pelasgia, to be henceforth known as the Bank of Pelasgia and Memphis.
(8) The Union Government shall possess a Parliament, to be known as the Common Parliament, which shall be bicameral. The lower chamber, known as the Union Boule, shall be elected by all net tax-paying citizens of Pelasgia and Memphis. The upper chamber, known as the Union Council, shall be staffed by sixty (60) members chosen by the Government of each Member of the State Union. All laws shall need the approval of both chambers to pass. Elections to each chamber shall take place according to the modalities determined by each Member for its respective delegates.
(9) The Cabinet of the Union Government shall be appointed by the Sovereign at the advice of the Union Council and shall by responsible to the Union Council.
(10) The Union Government shall possess a High Court of Judicature to resolve all disputes regarding its competences, as well as any disputes regarding the State Union between the Members. The High Court shall be equally staffed by three (3) Justices from each Member, as well as a Chief Justice of rotating origin. The first Chief Justice shall be the current President of the Senate Court of the Pelasgian Empire. The Justices of the Court, including the Chief Justice, shall be chosen by the Sovereign at the recommendation of the Cabinet and with the approval of the Union Council.
(11) The Union Government shall possess a diplomatic service, to be known as the Imperial and Royal Diplomatic Service. The Union Government shall possess sole treaty-making power for matters within its jurisdiction. All treaties shall require the approval of the Common Parliament to be ratified.
(12) The State Union shall be represented by the following symbols:
(i) a flag consisting of a Memphian blue-green cross atop a white cross on a Pelasgian cyan field;
(ii) a golden double-headed Pelasgian eagle bearing a cross to the left and a globus cruciger to the right, and crowned by a Pelasgian crown, as its coat of arms;
(iii) a seal of the Union Government bearing the coat of arms with the inscription “GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED REALMS,” to be used for all official documents and communications; and
(iv) the Great Seal of State of the United Realms’ common Sovereign.
Article 5 – Division of Assets
(1) All assets of the Pelasgian Empire currently in Philistaea-Judaea or Memphis at the time of the ratification of the present document shall pass to the ownership of the state in which they are. Excepted from this article are all strategic assets designated in Annex II, which shall pass to Pelasgia and be transferred thereto, or which shall be otherwise disposed of as per Annex II.
(2) Pelasgia shall allow Philistaea-Judaea and its citizens continued use of Pelasgia’s overseas assets and of the diplomatic services of the Union Government until Philistaea-Judaea establishes its own equivalent overseas representation or assets, or one (1) year passes from the ratification of the present document, whichever occurs first.
(3) Assets pertaining to foreign relations, defence, or currency, regardless of their presence in Pelasgia or Memphis, are subject to the jurisdiction of the Union Government.
(4) All holdings, funds, properties and assets of the Pelasgian Empire abroad shall pass to Pelasgia.
Article 6 – Division of Public Servants
(1) All employees and servants of the Pelasgian Imperial State shall transfer their loyalties to their new state as designated by their residence or assignment at the time of the ratification of the present document. All those who are to be relocated as per Articles 1(11)-(12) and 2(4)-(6) shall transfer their loyalties to their new state of residence and citizenship, if it differs.
(2) All employees and servants of the Pelasgian Imperial State abroad shall transfer their loyalty to Pelasgia or Memphis, depending on their individual choice. All employees and servants of the Pelasgian Imperial State abroad who are Jewish or Philistaean Urudoah shall transfer their loyalty to Philistaea-Judaea.
(3) All employees and servants of the Pelasgian Imperial State abroad serving in a capacity related to foreign relations, defence, or currency shall become employees of the Union Government.
Article 7 – Division of Debts and Liabilities
(1) The Union Government shall inherit all debts and liabilities of the Pelasgian Empire, which shall be divided among Pelasgia and Memphis based on population.
(2) All debts and liabilities incurred solely for the benefit of Philistaea or burdening Philistaea alone shall be borne by Philistaea-Judaea.
Article 8 – Constitution of Pelasgia
(1) Pelasgia hereby avails itself of Article 110 of the current Constitution of the Pelasgian Empire to abrogate the said Constitution in favour of a new one. The new Constitution shall be based on the principles of responsible government, national sovereignty, equality before the law, divine right, the rule of law, clericalism and State Christianity, social harmony and of the cooperation of all social classes for the common good.
(2) The new Constitution of Pelasgia shall include a Bill of Rights at least as expansive as that envisaged by Section II of the current Constitution of the Pelasgian Empire, based on the provisions found in Annex II. It shall provide for freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom from unreasonable search or seizure, freedom of religion and conscience, freedom from cruel and unusual punishment and freedom from unreasonable discrimination. It shall also provide for the right to keep and bear arms, the right to hold property, the right to vote and general civil rights. All rights and freedoms shall be subject to reasonable limits.
(3) Pelasgia shall have a bicameral legislature, known as the Parliament of Pelasgia or Boule. The lower house of the Parliament of Pelasgia shall be the Chamber of Deputies, which shall be elected by all adult Pelasgian citizens based on universal suffrage and the modalities provided for by the electoral law every five years. The system of first-past-the-post shall be maintained for rural districts but be replaced with proportional representation for urban centres. The upper house of the Parliament of Pelasgia shall be the Senate, which shall be composed of one hundred and twenty (120) members elected for nine (9) years, with one third (1/3) renewed every three years with elections, to be elected by land-owning net taxpayers, and another one hundred and twenty (120) members to be appointed for life by the Sovereign at the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Any bill shall need the approval of both houses to be made into law. The Parliament of Pelasgia shall meet at least twice every calendar year in plenary session.
(4) The Government of Pelasgia shall be headed by a Cabinet, which shall be responsible to the Chamber of Deputies. Its leader shall be the Prime Minister, who shall be appointed by the Sovereign as the leader of the party with the most seats in the Chamber of Deputies following a general election. The Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers shall need to hold and retain the confidence of the Chamber of Deputies.
(5) Pelasgia shall have an independent system of courts based on its current Civil Law tradition, maintaining the division between Civil, Criminal and Administrative Courts of Law. A unified Supreme Court of Cassation for all Civil, Criminal and Administrative matters shall be established to replace the Senate Court. This Court shall be composed of fifteen (15) Justices, including one Chief Justice, to be appointed by the Sovereign at the recommendation of the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, with the approval of the Cabinet. All Justices shall retire at the age of seventy (70) and shall only be impeachable by the Sovereign at the advice of two thirds (2/3) of the Senate.
(6) The Constitution shall only be amendable following the recommendation of the Cabinet and with the approval of two thirds (2/3) of both houses of the Parliament of Pelasgia, or following the successful passage of a referendum in which at least sixty percent (60%) of electors validate the proposed amendment.
(7) The Constitution shall explicitly list the prerogative powers of the Sovereign, who shall be the Symbol of the Unity of the Nation and of the historical continuity of the State. These powers, which shall be exercised in accordance with the law, shall include the appointment of the Prime Minister and other Cabinet members, the granting of mandates to Deputies to form a government, the dismissal of the Government, the convocation of Parliamentary sessions, the prorogation or dissolution of Parliament and the proclamation of elections, the assent to and publication of bills approved by Parliament so that they become laws of the State, the publication of Decrees and Legislative Acts, the proclamation of referenda, making addresses to the Pelasgian People, and the granting of pardons, clemencies or penalty modifications for sentences and penalties imposed by courts. These powers shall be exercised in coordination with the Cabinet and/or Privy Council of Pelasgia.
(8) Citizenship and nationality in Pelasgia shall be based on the principle of jus sanguinis. It may only be acquired subject to the modalities designated by Pelasgian nationality law.
(9) Pelasgia shall respect the principles of judicial independence, judicial review, appeal as of right (except in the supreme instance where appeal by leave shall prevail), judicial impartiality, security of tenure, the presumption of innocence, equal access to the courts and constitutionalism.
(10) The Pelasgian Orthodox Church, headed by the Holy Synod and the Ecumenical Patriarch, shall remain the Established Church of Pelasgia, and shall retain all its rights, privileges, duties, and obligations. Proselytism, blasphemy and the translation of the Holy Bible without the sanction of the Ecumenical Throne shall be prohibited. The Church shall retain its role in the education, healthcare and social solidarity of Pelasgians.
(11) All Pelasgians shall be obligated to serve the Nation through conscription. National service shall be incumbent upon men and women alike. Women may absolve themselves of this obligation by bearing a legitimate child in marriage. Men must serve in the Armed Forces. Members of the security forces or the clergy are exempt from conscription.
(12) The Pelasgian Nation shall be one and indivisible.
In witness whereof We have signed this decree in red and caused our Great Seal of State to be affixed to it in gold.
Witness Ourself at Our Laskarides Palace in Chrysoupolis, this twenty-first day of July, in the second year of Our Reign. (MMXX.)
ϴΕΟΔѠΡΟϹ Αʹ ΛΑϹΚΑΡΙϹ ΒΑϹΙΛΕϒϹ ΠΙϹΤΟϹ ΕΝ ΧΡΙϹΤѠΙ
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For the General Delegation of Pelasgia
Ioannes Kravatas-Apostolakis, Delegate of Therisus
Philippos Merkoures, Delegate of Thoricus
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For the General Delegation of Memphis
Ptolemaios Patrinos, Delegate of Cassandris
Tiverios Homeriakos, Delegate of Berenice Arsinoica
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For the General Delegation of Philistaea
Michael Bushareh, Delegate of Azotos
Theodosios Vasilikos, Delegate of Hierosolyma
Mardochaios Levitis, Delegate of Tiberias
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