1999 Ordrish Constitution

The 1999 Sovereign People's Constitution of the Collective Commonwealth of Ordrey is the basis for all law in Ordrey, replacing the 1978 Constitution which was established at the close of the post-revolutionary reconstruction period. It was drafted between the months of July, August, and September by the Special Committee for Reform and Renewal, a committee of the Federal Assembly {CCP) and approved by a national referendum on 28 September 1999, before going into effect on 21 December of that year. It is the current, and fifth constitution of Ordrey, with prior iterations being established in 1855, 1901, 1929, and 1978, respectively.

While it preserves many aspects of the 1978 Constitution, primarily its assertion of and Noyonism as central principles of the government and society at large, it also adopted a number of changes which were seen as "irreconcilable with the original (1978) constitution". Nameably, these included the restoration of a elections structure on the national level, a more empowered First Commissar with the Council of Commissars being reconfigured in a style more similar to a  in other democracies, and clearer delineations of what economic activity and industries would be owned nationally, by provincial and municipal authorities, and by worker self-organized enterprises.

The Constitution has undergone a handful of amendments since its adoption in 1999, with a total of five amendments having been passed. Unlike many constitutions, changes can only be approved by referendum, and are voted for on a line-by-line basis. Additionally, it is one of the few constitutions which outlines the process for the expiration and replacement of the constitution if deemed appropriate by the general public.

Preamble
The text of the 1999 Constitution's Preamble is as follows: "PREAMBLE OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION In the name of independence, true liberty, and dignity of all nations and all peoples; To build the foundations to which future generations of humanity may construct a world free from foreign and domestic aggression, occupation, exploitation, and any other form of coercive hierarchy; In gracious and solemn reverence for the heroes of the Revolution of 1975, their antecedents and those who have followed; To better realize the dream of a federation of equals living in prosperous harmony as outlined by Acoul Noyon; Pursuant to the goal of achieving, protecting, and advancing such lofty aims for the peoples of Ordrey; Do establish, this September 20th, in the year 1999 of the Common Era, with the full consent and approval of her citizens; A constitution for the Collective Commonwealth of Ordrey, built from the principles of horizontal governance, economic democracy, federalism, and the recognition and protection of human dignity in all its forms."

Chapter 1: Assertion of Popular Sovereignty and Societal Foundations
"(1.0.1.) All authority to govern is ultimately vested in the citizens of the Collective Commonwealth of Ordrey, whom shall express their right to self-governance directly through means outlined in this Constitution and those inherent in their rights as human beings. This constitution is the primary expression of these principles, and as such, shall serve as the supreme and incontravenable law of the land in Ordrey. (1.0.2.) No one individual or subset of the population, be it a political party, any institution of government, or non-state entity, shall interfere with or usurp the expression of popular sovereignty of the Ordrish populace. (1.0.3.) The Collective Commonwealth of Ordrey shall be a organized as a with a . (1.0.4.) All Ordrish governance will be guided by the ideals of Acoul Noyon, and the social, political, and economic theories of Marx and Engels. (1.0.5.) The Collective Commonwealth of Ordrey will be organized, with the powers of governance held as closely to the general public as is possible and practical. (1.0.6.) No special autonomous privilege will be afforded to any one group or constituent area of the Collective Commonwealth, as all Provinces which compose the nation will be free, equal, and capable of local self-governance sufficient to not necessitate such additional devolution. (1.0.7.) The territorial integrity of Ordrey will be inviolable, and will be protected by the Workers' Defense Force, which shall serve as the nation's military. (1.0.8.) in the nation will be, as with governance, derived from the recognition and understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the citizen as outlined in Chapters 9 and 10 of this Constitution, with the methods and aims of the nation's judicial and legal systems being outlined in Chapter 4. (1.0.9.) The Ordrish people and the Collective Commonwealth reject the falsehoods and exploitation of capitalism, and of imperialism in all its forms, and shall never be party to to propagation of either, and will work to foster and construct the foundations of self-liberation and the Slow Revolution wherever possible to challenge these forces."

Chapter 2: The Legislature - The Federal Assembly
"(2.0.1.) The Federal Assembly of Ordrey (hereby appreviated CCPO) will serve as the exclusive national legislative organ of the Collective Commonwealth. (2.0.2.) The CCPO will have an independent budget. (2.0.3.) The CCPO will have regular sessions twice quarterly. (2.0.4.) The CCPO may be called to additional sessions or have extensions placed on regular sessions by the Committee of Representatives. (2.0.5.) As the national legislative body, the CCPO will be responsible for: (2.1.1.) The CCPO will be composed of representatives from multiple-member districts, with each district being composed of a single Province or Union District. (2.1.2.) Seats in the CCPO will be allocated to each district at 1 seat per 375,000 citizens and residents. (2.1.3.) Seats in the CCPO allocated to each district will be reassessed and redistributed in the first set of national elections following a primary census.` (2.1.4.) Members of and candidates for the CCPO must be: (2.1.5.) Each individual sitting member of the assembly will sit for a term of six years in length, with the possibility of renewal for up to four times. (2.1.6.) Sitting Members of the CCPO must suspend their activities in their profession and/or municipal or provincial office during sessions of the CCPO, with a deputy appointed with the consent of the appropriate constituency operating in their stead for the duration. (2.1.7.) Members of the Assembly may be recalled at any time by way of referendum by their constituents, and will be duly replaced by the current deputy until such time as a new election may be held, which must take place no more than 90 days following a motion to recall. (2.1.8.) The Federal Assembly will be overseen by a First Representative, who shall act as the for the Collective Commonwealth. (2.1.9.) The First Representative be elected by their peers in the Federal Assembly at the beginning of each standard term."
 * Passage, supplementation, amendment, and repeal of laws;
 * Passage of the national budget and reports on it;
 * Establishment and amendment of taxes and tax policy;
 * Pass resolutions on the holding of national referenda;
 * Elect and remove the First Representative
 * Create, provision for, modify, and dismantle government agencies on motions of the First Representative;
 * A citizen of Ordrey;
 * A current resident of the district they represent;
 * At or over the age of franchise (17);
 * A member of the governing apparatus of a municipality, province, or Union District;
 * Not currently undergoing rehabilitation for a violent crime of any variety, or within a year of release from a rehabilitation program;
 * Of sound mind and good health;
 * And not currently in the employ of a foreign-owned business enterprise, organization, or government, or of any foreign individual.

Article 2A: The Committee of Representatives
"(2A.1.1.) A Committee of Representatives (hereby abbreviated CIO) shall serve as the permanent legislators of each federal constituency between sessions of the Federal Assembly proper. (2A.1.2.) The CIO shall be composed of the senior standing CCPO member of each single-member district within the Collective Commonwealth. (2A.1.3.) Members of the CIO will receive no additional term extensions to their office, with the limit enacted in Article 2.1.5. serving as the absolute maximum a person may serve in both the CCPO and CIO. (2A.1.4.) The CIO will hold regular sessions at least once weekly. (2A.1.5.) The CIO will be overseen by the First Representative of Ordrey, whom shall thus serve as the nation's."