This is what the Constitution looks like in Y.45, after the passage of Amendments 1-4:

CONSTITUTION OF ALPHA

 

AMENDMENTS: 

First Amendment to the Constitution: 

(a) Delete Section 1 from Article 34 and substitute the following section: 

(1) The Commander shall be elected for a term of six years by the citizens of Alpha, the election to take place thirty days before the end of
the term of the Commander in office.

(b) Delete the second sentence from Section 1 of Article 39. 

Second Amendment to the Constitution: 

Add the words 'but only once' to the end of Section 2 of Article 35. 

Third Amendment to the Constitution: 

Delete the words 'Legislative Council' from the Articles mentioned in the Schedule below and substitute the word 'Senate'.

SCHEDULE: 

Articles: 36-49
51
54
57-58
60
62-63

Fourth Amendment to the Constitution: 

Delete the words 'Command Council' from Sections 5 and 6 of Article 33 and substitute the words 'Council of Ministers'.





PREAMBLE 

We, the people of Alpha, living on different worlds, remembering our struggle and sacrifices to be a free and independent nation, confident
in our future, and determined to secure freedom for ourselves and our descendants, do enact and give to ourselves this Constitution.

TITLE I: THE STATE 

Article 1. The name of the State is Alpha. 

Article 2. Alpha is a Republic, indivisible, sovereign, constitutional, democratic and social.

Article 3. All state authority derives from the people, who shall exercise it by means of elections and referenda and by the legislative,
executive and judicial institutions established by this Constitution.

Article 4. The acquisition and loss of Alphan citizenship shall be determined by law.

TITLE II: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS 

Article 5. All citizens are equal before the law. 

Article 6. All citizens have the right to life. 

Article 7.(1) All citizens over the age of eighteen, except for those convicted under the criminal law, have the right to vote in all elections and
referenda. (2) The voting in elections and referenda shall be universal, equal, secret, and compulsory.

Article 8. All citizens have the right to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion.

Article 9.(1) All citizens have the right to freely express their opinions. Freedom of all forms of media communication are guaranteed. (2)
These rights are limited by legal restrictions for the protection of youth, and the right of all citizens to their good name.

Article 10. All citizens have the right to assemble peacefully and without arms.

Article 11. All citizens have the right to form associations. 

Article 12. All citizens have the right to freely choose their occupation or profession, subject to limits laid down by law.

Article 13. All citizens have the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Article 14. All citizens are entitled to own, inherit and bequeath private property, subject to the principles of social justice and the public
good.

Article 15. The persons and homes of all citizens are inviolable, and are not to be searched, nor may any seizures be made, except in
accordance with law.

Article 16. All citizens have the right not to be tortured, and not to have cruel and unusual punishments inflicted on them.

Article 17. (1) All citizens arrested or detained have the right to be informed of the reason for their arrest or detention, and to be informed
of their right to consult with and to instruct a lawyer. (2) All citizens so arrested or detained have the right to have the lawfulness of their
arrest or detention decided by a court, which shall release the citizen if satisfied that the detention or arrest is unlawful.

Article 18. All citizens charged with an offence have the right to be read the following statement by the arresting officer, who will then ask if
they understand it:

You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can be taken down and used in evidence against you. You have the right to legal
representation. If you do not have a lawyer one will be assigned to you by a court.

Article 19. (1) All citizens have the right not to be punished for an act that was not an offence when the act was committed. (2) All citizens
have the right not to incriminate themselves in a criminal trial. (3) All citizens have the right, once acquitted, not to be prosecuted twice for
the same offence.

Article 20. All citizens have the right to freedom of information. 

Article 21. All citizens have the right to a minimum income. 

Article 22. All citizens have the right of access to proper health care. 

Article 23. All citizens have the right to have their living and working environment protected.

Article 24. (1) All citizens have the right to an agreed minimum standard of education. (2) Such education shall be provided by parents or
guardians, assisted by educational institutions, either independent or established by the State. (3) Independent educational institutions may
be subsidised by the State, provided that they maintain comprable standards to public educational institutions.

Article 25. All citizens have the right to use their language and to participate in the cultural activities of their choice as long as they are not
inconsistent with the rights in this Title.

Article 26. The State and its institutions are pledged to protect all the above rights in this Title.

Article 27. All the above rights in this Title can only be reasonably restricted by laws consistent with a free and democratic society.

Article 28. The statement of certain rights in this Constitution does not deny or exclude other rights retained by the citizens.

TITLE III: FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES 

Article 29. Loyalty to the State is a fundamental political duty of all citizens.

Article 30. (1) All citizens shall be required to render one year's service to Alpha. (2) All citizens over the age of eighteen may be required
to serve in the Security Force, with exceptions for those who refuse on the grounds of conscience.

TITLE IV: MARRIAGE, CHILDREN, AND THE FAMILY 

Article 31. Due to the importance of marriage and the family to the well-being of the State, the formation and dissolution of marriage, the
duties resulting from marriage and relationships outside of marriage, and the rights and duties of families, shall be regulated by law.

Article 32. (1) Children are the greatest asset of the State, and shall deserve and enjoy its full protection. (2) Children shall be protected
against all exploitation and shall enjoy as many of the fundamental rights in Title II consistent with their level of maturity. (3) Parents are the
primary educators of their children, and shall be given the necessary support to fulfill this obligation.

TITLE V: THE COMMANDER 

Article 33. (1) All executive powers are vested in the Commander of Alpha. The Commander shall be the representative of the State, and
the protector of its independence. (2) The Commander shall be the head of the Security Force. (3) The Commander shall have the right of
pardon. (4) The Commander shall conduct the foreign affairs of Alpha. Such powers shall include the appointment of diplomatic
representatives to other States, as well as the power to negotiate and sign treaties. (5) The Commander shall make appointments to civil and
military offices, including members of the Council of Ministers. (6) The Commander shall preside over meetings of the Council of Ministers.

Article 34. (1) The Commander shall be elected for a term of six years by the citizens of Alpha, the election to take place thirty days before
the end of the term of the Commander in office. (2) The first Commander shall take office as soon as possible after being elected, and every
subsequent Commander shall take office on the day after the ending of the term of office of the previous Commander.

Article 35. (1) Every citizen over the age of thirty-five years shall be eligible for the office of Commander. (2) Former or serving
Commanders shall be eligible for re-election to that office, but only once.

Article 36. (1) The Commander shall not be a member of the Senate. (2) If a member of the Senate is elected Commander, the seat of that
person shall be deemed vacant. (3) The Commander shall not hold any other office. (4) The Commander shall receive an income that shall
not be lowered during that Commander's term of office.

Article 37. (1) The Commander shall take office by taking and subscribing the following oath or affirmation before the assembled members
of the Senate:

In the presence of God, I A.B. solemnly swear (affirm) to uphold the Constitution and laws of Alpha, to defend the independence of the
State, to carry out all my duties under the Constitution and the law, and to use all my powers to promote the welfare of the people of Alpha.
So help me God. (This I affirm.)

(2) This oath may be taken without any religious affirmation. 

Article 38. (1) The Commander may communicate with the Senate by message or address on any matter of national importance. If the
Senate is not in session, it shall assemble as soon as possible to hear the Commander's communication. (2) The Commander may address
the Nation on any such matter.

Article 39. (1) In the event of the office of Commander becoming vacant due to death, resignation or removal from office, the voting for the
election of a new Commander shall take place on the twentieth day after the start of the vacancy. In the interim, the President of the Senate
shall be Acting Commander. (2) The Commander shall be removed from office if a majority of the Supreme Court, after the petition of a
majority of the members of the Senate, establish to their satisfaction that the Commander is unable, due to permanent incapacity, to exercise
the powers and duties of that office.

Article 40. (1) The Commander shall not be held accountable for actions performed while in office, except in the cases of treason, bribery,
or serious misbehaviour. (2) An indictment on any of the above charges can only be brought against the Commander by two-thirds of the
Senate, the case being tried by the Supreme Court. (3) If the Supreme Court makes a finding in favour of the charge, the Commander shall
be removed from office, and barred from holding any office of the government of Alpha, which shall be the only penalty imposed. This does
not prevent the convicted party being liable to the laws of Alpha.

TITLE VI: THE LEGISLATURE 

Article 41. (1) All legislative powers are vested in the Senate. (2) The Senate is the supreme law making body of the State. (3) Subordinate
legislatures may be created or recognised, and their powers and functions perscribed.

Article 42. (1) The Senate shall be composed of members representing constituencies determined by law, and revised at least once in every
ten years. (2) The members of the Senate shall be elected by the citizens of Alpha every two years. (3) The number of members shall be
fixed by law. (4) Vacancies in the membership of the Senate shall be regulated by law.

Article 43. (1) Every citizen over twenty-one years of age and not disqualified by law shall be eligible for membership of the Senate. (2)
Members of the Senate shall be answerable only to their conscience.

Article 44. (1) The Senate shall hold at least two sessions per year, the first session beginning at noon on 4th January, unless it decides on a
different day. (2) The Senate shall, at the beginning of each session, elect from its members its President and Vice-President and shall
decide on their powers and duties. It shall also decide on its rules and proceedings. (3) Except where this Constitution provides, all
decisions of the Senate shall be determined by a majority of the votes present.

Article 45. (1) The proceedings of the Senate shall be public. (2) The public may be excluded if two-thirds of the members agree, at a
meeting not open to the public.

Article 46. (1) The Senate shall have the sole right to declare war. (2) Treaties with foreign states shall only be ratified by two-thirds of the
Senate. (3) The Senate shall have the sole right to maintain and raise armed forces in the State.

Article 47. (1) Bills may be introduced by the Commander, by any member of the Senate, or by the petition of ten percent of the citizens.
(2) Every Bill passed by the Senate shall be presented for signature to the Commander. If the Commander signs it within ten days of its
presentation, such a Bill shall become law. (3) The Commander may refuse to sign such a Bill, which shall then be returned to the Senate,
together with the Commander's objections, not later than ten days from its presentation. If the Bill is reconsidered and then passed by
two-thirds of the Senate, it shall become law. (4) If such a Bill has neither been signed by or returned by the Commander to the Senate after
ten days from its presentation, it shall become law as if it had been signed by the Commander.

Article 48. (1) If the Senate decides that a Bill contains a proposal of such importance that the will of the People should be ascertained, and
passes a resolution to that effect, the Bill shall not become law until ratified by the citizens in a Referendum in accordance with the provisions
of Article 62(2). (2) This proceedure shall apply to all Bills, with the exception of Money Bills and Bills to amend this Constitution.

Article 49. (1) Members of the Senate shall not be prosecuted in any court or subject to any action regarding any vote cast or any utterence
made in the Senate or any of its committees. (2) Members of the Senate shall not be arrested for any punishable offence in going to or
coming from, and within the precincts of the Senate, except with the consent of the Senate, unless it be for treason, a serious crime, or a
breach of the peace.

TITLE VII: THE JUDICIARY 

Article 50. (1) All judicial powers shall be vested in judges appointed in the manner provided for in this Constitution. (2) All judges shall be
independent, subject only to the Constitution and the law. (3) All judges shall retire at the age of eighty. (4) All judicial powers shall be
exercised by the Supreme Court, Planetary Courts, and other courts that may be established by law. (5) These courts shall exercise their
powers in public, subject to limited exceptions provided by law.

Article 51. (1) All judges shall be appointed by the Commander, except for the judges of the Supreme Court, who shall appointed by the
Commander with the consent of the Senate. (2) No judge shall be a member of the Senate, nor hold any other position. (3) A judge shall
receive an income that shall not be lowered during that judge's term of office.

Article 52. (1) The highest court of the State shall be the Supreme Court, consisting of the Chief Justice of Alpha and as many Associate
Justices as shall be regulated by law. (2) The Chief Justice shall preside over the Supreme Court. (3) The Supreme Court shall decide: (a)
On the validity of any law or action regarding the provisions of this Constitution. (b) Appeals from decisions of the Planetary Courts. (c)
Any other cases assigned to it by law. (4) In all cases, the Supreme Court's decision shall be final, and shall bind all the citizens and bodies
of the State.

Article 53. (1) The State shall have as many Planetary Courts as shall be regulated by law. (2) The Planetary Courts shall have jurisdiction
over such civil and criminal cases assigned to it by law. (3) All the decisions of the Planetary Courts may be appealed to the Supreme
Court.

Article 54. (1) All judges shall not be removed from office except for cases of treason, bribery, incapacity, or serious misbehaviour. (2) In
the case of a judge of a court other than the Supreme Court, such a removal from office shall only take place after a trial by the Supreme
Court, following a resolution passed by the Senate calling for that judge's removal. (3) In the case of a judge of the Supreme Court, such a
removal from office shall only take place following a resolution passed by two-thirds of the Senate calling for that judge's removal.

Article 55. Subject to the previous provisions of this Constitution, all aspects of the judges and the courts of the State shall be regulated by
law.

Article 56. Treason shall consist only of making war on the State or adhering to its enemies, by giving them aid and comfort, or conspiring
with or inciting them to make war on the State.

TITLE VIII: STATE OF EMERGENCY 

Article 57. (1) If a state of war or rebellion exists, or if the territory or institutions of the State are under attack or the threat of imminent
attack, the Senate shall declare that a state of emergency exists. (2) While such a state of emergency exists, the Senate shall authorise the
Commander to take the measures necessary for the protection of the people and of the State.

Article 58. (1) If the Senate is not in session and immediate action is necessary, the Commander shall declare that a state of emergency
exists and shall take the measures necessary for the protection of the people and of the State. (2) The Senate shall assemble as soon as
possible to confirm the state of emergency declared by the Commander and the measures taken under it.

Article 59. (1) The status and exercise of the functions of the Supreme Court shall not be impaired. (2) The Supreme Court may take what
measures are necessary to enable it to exercise its functions.

Article 60. The state of emergency shall be ended by the Senate when the circumstances causing it no longer exist.

TITLE IX: THE SECURITY FORCE 

Article 61. (1) The Security Force shall be the police and defence force of Alpha. It shall have the responsibility of eliminating crime and
violence, as well as defending the sovereignty, territory and people of Alpha. (2) No member of the Security Force may serve concurrently
in any elected or appointed office of the government of Alpha, nor shall any member of the Security Force serve in such an office within four
years of the ending of that member's term of service. (3) All members of the Security Force shall, during their term of service, be bound by
a code of conduct which may restrict the fundamental rights guaranteed in the first sentence of Article 9(1), Article 10 and Article 13. (4)
When entering their term of service, all members of the Security Force shall bind themselves by oath or affirmation to uphold this
Constitution and the law, as well as to serve and protect the people of Alpha.

TITLE X: AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION 

Article 62. (1) Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by the Commander, by any two members of the Senate, or by the
petition of ten percent of the citizens. (2) Every proposed amendment shall, after being passed by the Senate, be submitted by Referendum
to the decision of the citizens. The amendment shall be deemed ratified if approved of by a majority of the votes cast. (3) Subject to the
provisions of this Article, the Referendum shall be regulated by law.

TITLE XI: CONTINUANCE OF LAWS 

Article 63. Except where they are in violation of this Constitution, all laws in force before the coming into operation of this Constitution shall
continue to be valid until repealed or amended by the Senate.

Murray Smith, 
May 2000

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