Saving South Sudan
From SaveTheWorld - a project of The Partnership Machine, Inc. (Sponsor: Family Music Center)
The proposed Constitution of the United Tribes of South Sudan (UTSS)
The Forum | Offer to Politicos | Local Partners | Rules | Talk Tips | SaveTheWorld:FAQ | Getting Started
This is a proposed new Constitution for South Sudan, where you can discuss it, change it, and discuss your changes.
This is an adaption of the U.S. Constitution. After each paragraph there is a link to (1) the corresponding paragraph of the U.S. Constitution, so you can see how it was changed, (2) discussion of how much sense it makes for South Sudan, and (3) relevant Scripture.
The beginning section is a statement of intent that summarizes what government should do, and what it should not be allowed to do.
The last section explains what the residents of South Sudan need to do to make this Constitution the law of the land: Tribes need to hold public meetings to discuss and vote on the options in a new government, in their tribal councils, churches, and/or other large gatherings.
But since it is not safe to do that in South Sudan while a dictator cancels elections, closes newspapers, arrests if not murders reporters, and changes the Constitution that already made him a dictator, the last section also explains what Refugees need to do to create the safety necessary for South Sudan residents to hold meetings. Refugees need to discuss the options privately with their resident families as they meet with other refugees to pool information and unofficially confirm support for a new constitution. Refugees need to report these results to NGO's, investors, and other international authorities who have an interest in a stable South Sudan.
Your contribution is welcome. Sign your contribution with 4 tildes (~~~~). The simplest way to contribute is on the "Discussion" page, which is like a place to leave comments. Or you can clarify something on this page, from fixing typos to adding a paragraph, or a section, or a whole new article. For suggestions how, please see The Forum#Ways you can contribute. For sample verbiage and codes to help you do this, that you can copy, paste, and adapt, see Template.
Preview - Declaration of Intent
We the people, of the United Tribes of Sudan, create this Constitution and limit it to the following purposes:
(1) to create a framework of cooperation between tribes that is fair to all Tribes, without interfering with how tribes choose to manage issues and commerce between their own members, especially within their own borders.
(2) to set up courts and police to deal with crimes and injustice across tribal boundaries, but without jurisdiction over crimes between a tribe’s members.
(3) to provide armed forces ready to defend the UTSS from external military threats, and to mediate conflicts between tribes when asked, but without legal authority to invade any tribe, or to arrest or execute any individual.
(4) to support infrastructure like roads, utilities, currency, and communications which cross tribal boundaries and which are for the use of all tribes. (Including matters like managing water quality, or access to natural resources, but without robbing natural wealth to enrich leaders and employees of the federal government.)
(5) to protect small tribes from being overpowered by large tribes by giving a nearly equal voice to every tribe, regardless of size, in the Senate – while protecting large tribes from having their votes canceled by small tribes by allotting them representatives, in the House, proportionate to population – and requiring the agreement of both the House and the Senate before any law can pass. (This balance was explained in 1833.)
(6) To balance the interests of small and large tribes (or, small and large populations) by having the President elected, neither directly by the people (which would leave small populations no real voice), nor directly by Tribal Councils (which would give small populations a disproportionate voice), but by Electors designated from their tribes, equal in number to the number of their tribe’s Senators and Representatives.
(7) To give an equal vote to every adult regardless of education or political experience in selection of Representatives to the House, while tapping the best wisdom and political experience of Sudanese by having Tribal Councils, composed of the most involved, most concerned, citizens, select Senators.
(8) To give voters frequent opportunity to replace leaders not leading as voters desire, by letting voters completely replace Representatives in the House every 2 years, while allowing leaders to acquire experience, and to pursue projects whose benefits may not be immediately clear to the public, and to better survive popular but fickle passions, by giving Senators staggered 6 year terms so that every two years, the most that voters can remove of them is one third.
(9) To let voters be honest in their choice for leaders by using a secret ballot, in the selection of Representatives to the House, to eliminate fear of retaliation as a factor – while tapping the courage and convictions of those most willing to speak openly in Tribal Councils, regardless of cost, in selection of the Senate. (Wisdom shines brightest when people who disagree can reason together, face to face, not hiding behind anonymity. Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” But truth and honesty always cost.)
(10) to protect South Sudan from dictatorship by not allowing the President to write laws, judge violations of laws, appoint lawmakers, or remove lawmakers.
(11) to protect freedom of religion, which means there can be no federal law, passed by Congress, forcing anyone to attend, give to, agree with, or pay taxes to, any religious organization.
Nor any law that limits the free expression by any citizen or government official of any religious view, but especially these principles found exclusively in Christianity: abhorrence of slavery, of torture, of war (except in self defense), of less than equal protection of the laws for the most vulnerable (women, children, orphans, immigrants), of bribes, and of sexual violence.
However, federal laws may restrict speech – even religious speech – which persuasively calls people to commit crimes as defined by the laws of Congress, (which represent the majority of South Sudanese voters), on communication platforms which cross tribal boundaries.
(12) Examples of purposes and powers not held by the federal government, but that are left with states, churches, and individuals: welfare, marriage, divorce, education, general scientific research (on matters outside its jurisdiction).
Article 1: Congress
Section 1: The House
The Legislature of the United Tribes of Southern Sudan, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives, is the only body authorized by this Constitution to create laws.
Members of the House of Representatives will be elected every two years, from each tribe, by the adults of that tribe, by secret ballot. Candidates must be as qualified as leaders of their Tribal Council. The President has no legal power to appoint Representatives, remove Representatives, or to influence elections by any exercise of law.
Representatives must be at least 25 years old, a citizen of South Sudan at least 7 years, and must live in the Tribe where he was elected, at the time of the election.
The populations of the Tribes will determine how many Representatives they have in Congress, and how much tax each Tribe owes directly to the UTSS.
Refugees in the Bush and in refugee camps, who do not pay taxes to the Tribes, and do not participate in elections, will not be counted as part of the populations of the Tribes.
The Census, which shall record only the NUMBER of eligible voters – not names, addresses, or children – shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United Tribes, and every 10 years afterwards, as Congress directs by law.
There will be one Representative for every forty thousand population, using rounding to establish the number. Until the first census is conducted, the following chart shows the Representatives allowed each tribe. Representatives of tribes numbering less than 10,000 will have 1/2 vote and 3/4 the expense account of other representatives; representatives of tribes numbering less than 5,000 will have 1/4 vote and 1/2 the expense account. Their tribes may make up the differences, and their representative will have the same right to speak as others, or may combine with other small tribes to reach a total 10,000 population and elect someone to represent them.
| Tribe | Population | Representatives | Senators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acholi, Shuli | 66,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Ageer | 30,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Aja | 300 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Anuak, Yambo | 99,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Arab, Mongallese | 86,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Arab, Sudanese | 458,000 | 11 | 2 |
| Avukaya | 56,000 | 1 | 2 |
| Azande, Zande | 808,000 | 20 | 2 |
| Bai, Bari | 8,600 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Banda, Mid-Southern | 3,400 | 1/2 | 1/4 |
| Banda, Togbo-Vara | 2,800 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Banda, West Central | 7,500 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Banda-Banda | 4,900 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Banda-Mbres | 9,900 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Banda-Ndele | 2,300 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Bari | 575,000 | 14 | 2 |
| Baya, Gbaya | 15,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Belanda Bor | 19,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Beli, Jur Beli | 74,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Biykol | 700 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Bongo | 16,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Bug, Mangayat | 900 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Buldit | 6,000 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Chinese, general | 2,100 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Daanasach | 5,600 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Deaf | ? | ? | ? |
| Dhr Thuri, Wada | 8,900 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Di'dinga, Xaroxa | 76,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Dinka, Central | 66,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Dinka, Northeastern | 906,000 | 23 | 2 |
| Dinka, Northwestern | 95,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Dinka, South Central | 797,000 | 20 | 2 |
| Dinka, Southeastern | 286,000 | 7 | 2 |
| Dinka, Western | 3,205,000 | 80 | 2 |
| Dongotono | 5,700 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Gweri, Mo'da | 1,700 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Homa | 5,500 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Indri, Yanderika | 1,500 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Ingessana, Gaam | 33,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Jumjum | 8,100 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Jur Modo | 135,000 | 4 | 2 |
| Kakwa, Bari Kakwa | 112,000 | 3 | 2 |
| Kaligi, Feroge | 20,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Kaliko | 12,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Koguru | 600 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Koma | 4,600 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Kresh, Kparla | 4,000 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Kuku, Bari | 39,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Lafon, Pari | 60,000 | 1 | 2 |
| Langgo | 48,000 | 1 | 2 |
| Lokoya, Owoi | 64,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Lopid, Lafit | 88,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Lotuho, Latuka | 234,000 | 6 | 2 |
| Luo | 193,000 | 5 | 2 |
| Ma'adi | 26,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Maaban | 2 | 2 | |
| Mondari, Chir | 80,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Morokodo, Ma'di | 57,000 | 1 | 2 |
| Moru, Kala Moru | 173,000 | 4 | 2 |
| Mundu | 57,000 | 1 | 2 |
| Murle | 148,000 | 4 | 2 |
| Narim, Lariminit | 8,800 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Ndogo | 23,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Njalgulgule | 2,600 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Nuer, Naath | 2,060,000 | 51 | 2 |
| Nyamusa-Molo | 1,900 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Nyangatom | 15,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Olubogo, Ondoe Luloba | 25,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Opuuo, Shita | 4,000 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Reel, Atwot | 87,000 | 2 | 2 |
| Shilluk, Dhocolo | 432,000 | 11 | 2 |
| Suri, Kacipo-Balesi | 5,700 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Taposa | 234,000 | 6 | 2 |
| Tara Baaka, Mbaka | 46,000 | 1 | 2 |
| Tennet | 11,000 | 1 | 1 |
| Uduk | 5,300 | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Viri, Belanda Viri | 55,000 | 1 | 2 |
| Yulu | 3,400 | 1/4 | 1/4 |
When Representatives die or quit, the Chiefs of their tribes shall call an election to replace them. No part of the federal government shall have any authority over their selection.
The House of Representatives shall choose its own officers. Only the House has authority to initiate an “impeachment”, which means to charge the President, a federal judge, a Senator, a Representative, or a department head, for noncriminal offenses. The House cannot convict, but only “impeach”; it is the Senate which must then hold trial, with the power to convict and remove from office.
Section 3, Senate
The Senate of the United Tribes shall be composed of two Senators from each tribe with a population of at least 40,000, one senator from tribes with a population of between 10,000 and 40,000, and just as for the House, 1/2 vote for tribes between 5,000 and 10,000, and 1/4 vote for tribes less than 5,000.
Senators shall be chosen by the Tribal Councils of the tribes they represent, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. No part of the federal government has any legal authority over any part of the selection of any Senator.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election [by the tribal councils], they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the Council of any Tribe, the leader thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Council, which shall then fill such vacancies.
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United Tribes and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that Tribe for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the United Tribes shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United Tribes.
The Senate shall have the sole power to try (conduct the trial of) all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation (they shall swear to tell the truth). When the President of the United Tribes is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present.
Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United Tribes: but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.
Section 4 Elections
For the first election, each Tribal Council may choose when, where, and how to hold the first elections for Representatives, and the selection of Senators. After Congress has gathered, it may later pass laws so that all federal elections are held at the same time and in the same way, although each tribe will still decide where to hold elections and selections.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the _________, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
Section 5. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence (vote) of two thirds, expel a member.
Each house shall publish a public record of everything said and done, except for what they think requires secrecy; a record showing the votes of each member shall be kept whenever at least 1/5 of the members request it.
Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section 6. Senators and Representatives shall be paid the amount they set for themselves by passing a law, paid out of the UTSS treasury. During sessions, and while traveling to and from sessions, they shall be immune from arrest for any crime except disturbing the peace, or any felony [serious crime]. (While at home they may be arrested and prosecuted for minor as well as for major crimes, just like anyone else.) They may not be interrogated, by any other government official, for any position they take during a session. They may be arrested for treason (for fighting, helping, or encouraging enemies of all the Tribes) but must be released if the House does not vote within 10 days to pursue impeachment proceedings.
No lawmaker may take any additional government job. Nor may he later take any government job that was created, or whose salary was increased, while he was a lawmaker.
Section 7. Bills they pass, and we pay! (A “bill” means a proposed law being considered by lawmakers) Only the House of Representatives may create a Revenue Bill. (A law that requires spending taxpayers’ money.) But once the House passes a Revenue Bill, and sends it to the Senate, the Senate can amend it just like any other bill. (Of course, if the House refuses to approve the amendment, the bill will die.)
When a bill is passed by both House and Senate (and both pass the same version, including any amendments), the bill will go to the President. If he approves he will sign it and it will be law.
If the President doesn’t sign the bill into law, and Congress has adjourned, the bill will not be law.
But if Congress is still in session, then if the President doesn’t sign the bill into law, and doesn’t respond to it within 10 days (excluding Sunday), it will still become law, just as if he had signed it.
If the President objects to the bill, he may return it with his objections within 10 days. This is called a “veto”. The chamber where the bill began will then enter the President's objections in its record, and will reconsider the bill. If that chamber approves the bill by a 2/3 vote, it will send the bill to the other chamber. If the second chamber also approves it by a 2/3 vote, the bill will become law.
A complete vote record will be kept in the public record.
Every other matter requiring approval of both Senate and House shall go before the President in the same manner as bills. The only exception is adjournment of Congress. The President will decide when the two chambers will adjourn, only when the two chambers can’t agree.
Section 8. The Congress (the House & the Senate) shall have power to tax factories, natural resources, imports, and Tribal Councils in proportion to their tribal population. (Councils will administer collecting the tax from their tribe; the federal government will have no authority to collect a Personal Income Tax – PIN – from individual citizens.)
The only lawful purpose for collecting taxes will be: to pay federal debts, to supply military forces during war, and to help tribes do together what they cannot do alone.
All tax rates shall be uniform throughout the United Tribes, including the tax per person levied against tribes, which pay proportionate to their population but the rate per person is uniform. Taxes shall not be “graduated” according to income.
Specifically, the power of Congress is limited to the following:
1. To borrow money, using, for collateral, its ability to collect future taxes.
2. To negotiate uniform standards governing trade with foreign nations, trade that crosses Tribal borders, and trade with refugees in Refugee Camps and in the Bush (although Congress will have no jurisdiction over trade, or transportation, or any other commerce that takes place within a Tribe’s borders). The only legitimate purpose for regulations is to encourage technology, and make it available to all, with simple, uniform standards that make it easier for providers to provide it, for users to use it, and harder for monopolies to drive out competitors. Unnecessary, complicated, inconsistent, confusing regulations only strangle technology. A petition from half the Tribal Councils are sufficient to create a regulation, or to repeal one, unless that is then overcome by a vote of 3/4 of Congress.
3. To establish security measures to identify and expel terrorists, and uniform laws about how soon, and under what conditions, immigrants may vote (as opposed to each tribe having different laws);
4. to establish uniform bankruptcy laws throughout the United Tribes;
5. To mint metal money, regulate the value of money, fix the rate of exchange with foreign money, and standardize measurements of weight and distance so these may be uniform for all tribes;
6. To punish counterfeiting;
7. To establish roads that link tribes;
8. To establish a Copyright Office that gives inventors and authors a monopoly on the use of their own creations, for a limited time;
9. To create and govern federal courts below the Supreme Court, to enforce federal laws.
War!
10. To define and punish aggression against the UTSS outside its borders, or in the air.
11. To declare war against foreign nations. To commission citizens or agents to satisfy wrongs committed by citizens of another nation (examples: to retrieve stolen property, arrest a spy, or defend a disputed border). To make rules defining how such actions should be conducted.
12. To raise and supply armies (only when war is declared) consisting of full time soldiers; but no appropriation of money for the army shall supply them longer than two years.
13. To provide and maintain an air force;
14. To regulate land and air forces;
15. To provide for deputizing and arming a citizen militia, (consisting of part-time soldiers who prepare for emergencies), to enforce laws, stop rebellions (of UTSS citizens), and repel invasions (of foreign troops).
16. To provide rules for organizing, arming, and disciplining a part-time citizen militia, and for commanding those serving the United Tribes. But the individual Tribes retain all authority to appoint officers of their own troops, and to train their own troops, by standards ordered by Congress, using weapons supplied by Congress;
17. To enact all laws governing all UTSS land: including (1) whatever area may become the seat of the government of the UTSS (not exceeding two square miles) with the approval of Congress and the Tribe(s) providing the land; (2) other lands purchased by Congress, with the approval of the Tribes providing the land, for military bases, munitions factories, airports, and other needed buildings.
18. Natural Resources. To develop and protect South Sudan’s natural resources.
Intent: The future wealth of South Sudan will depend largely on how it administers its immense and varied resources, encouraging the development of its resources by making them available for maximum use consistent with the public interest.
The UTSS shall regulate the use of South Sudan’s natural resources from animals to minerals to water, sharing profits between the tribal stewards of the resources, all Sudanese, and investors, so as to maximize the incentives of everyone to encourage their development, without endangering their preservation (especially in the case of animals and water), with only such fees and taxes extracted by the federal government as the people’s elected representatives establish by law.
In setting prices, charging fees, and enacting regulations, Congress shall consider:
(a) prices must be low enough that the market will pay them, yet high enough to cover the costs of making the resources available.
(b) the regional stewards of a resource – the tribe in whose land a resource is – must be justly compensated for any harm to their usual use of the land, including any costs of protection from any increased violence, so that they will not resist development but instead will be motivated to maintain cooperative, friendly relations with the developers; they must be paid in addition for any development – roads, wells, buildings, utilities – they are willing to provide that will pay for itself in future development profits. Laws must well reward those who discovered the resource, and their tribe which encouraged its early development, so that other South Sudanese and other tribes will be highly motivated to make discoveries of their own.
(c) infrastructure across South Sudan – roads, electricity, cell towers – will enable development of more resources, and must be funded from the profits. Manufacturing, so that South Sudan will export not just raw products but also finished products, will be encouraged by friendly, simple, minimal regulations.
(d) All South Sudanese must see benefits from development, whether through use of improved infrastructure, reduction of taxes, and/or direct cash payments, so that they will elect Congressmen who will continue to encourage development.
(e) The Federal UTSS government will encourage development by getting out of its way, by keeping regulations effective, but few, and simple. The first duty of the Federal UTSS government is peace: to forever end the wars that have strangled development in South Sudan for generations. Peace will come sooner when no government leader or employee can take more, from his involvement in development, than his salary set by law, without being prosecuted; and when no government job is created that will not benefit all South Sudanese.
Congress shall issue leases and permits that specify their duration, how exclusive a developer’s right is to an area of a land, how much development must occur to hold that right, accommodation required for developers of other resources on the same land, responsibility for any damage to neighboring land, transferability of licenses to other parties, fees, rents, and royalties.
Surface uses of land by a mineral claimant shall be limited to those necessary for the extraction or basic processing of the mineral deposits, or for both. Any additional use of land must be negotiated with the tribe holding such land.
Whoever first discovers a resource will have the first right to the permits needed to develop it.
No citizen shall be involuntarily divested of his right to the use of waters, his interests in lands, or improvements affecting either, except for a superior beneficial use or public purpose and then only with just compensation and by operation of law [which applies equally to everybody]. Free access to the navigable or public waters of the UTSS, as defined by the legislature, shall not be denied any citizen of the UTSS, except that the legislature may by general law regulate and limit such access for other beneficial uses or public purposes.
19. To make whatever laws are required to carry out the preceding responsibilities, and all other responsibilities created, by this Constitution, for the UTSS Government, or any department of the government, or any bureaucrat of the government.
The right of every person to a fair and speedy trial, before he may be held in prison for longer than necessary to process his trial, shall not be suspended, except when rebellion or invasion makes the calling of witnesses, and the assembling of jurors, unsafe.
Laws of Congress shall never punish anyone who hasn’t been found guilty in a fair trial, and Congress shall not pass any law which punishes actions before the law was passed.
The only tax collected directly from all individual citizens will be a fixed amount per person, to be paid in each tribe by its voters who are gathered by their tribal leaders to pay and to be counted on the same day. Each person, whether rich or poor, will pay the same amount. A UTSS representative will be present to count the money, whose total will double as a census, but not to keep a record of names, addresses, photos, or any other identifying information.
Tribal leaders are the only ones who need to know all their people. They will be motivated to get all the young men to report for the census, because the census will be the basis for how many Congressmen they will get. There will be no “graduated” federal taxes based on a tribe’s wealth or on any person’s wealth. No tribe shall pay more, or less, per person, than any other tribe.
The UTSS does not need to see in everyone’s wallet. Neither does it need a national database to help track everyone. It does not need everyone’s name and address so it can go confiscate weapons, or call up troops to battle directly, without going through tribal leaders.
No tariff (tax on imported products) shall be taxed on products exported from any Tribe.
No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the airports of one state over those of another: nor shall vehicles bound to, or from, one state, be obliged to enter, clear or pay duties in another.
No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time.
No title of nobility [ie. king, queen, knight, ayatollah] shall be granted by the United Tribes: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any foreign leader.
Section 10. No Tribe shall sign a treaty, or become an ally, with a foreign nation. No Tribe shall commission citizens or agents to satisfy wrongs committed by citizens of another nation. [Although they may do so to negotiate with other tribes.]
No Tribe shall print paper or mint metal money, go into debt, allow debts to be paid by paper money unbacked by silver, gold, or cows...pass a law that cancels contracts, or give anyone privileges beyond what all men have the potential to earn as a reward for their service.
No tribe shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or duties [tariffs] on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it’s inspection laws: and the net produce of [profit from] all duties and imposts, laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the United Tribes; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress.
No tribe shall, without the consent of Congress, ...keep troops, ... enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.
Unconstitutional laws [Provisions not in the U.S. Constitution:] When one third of either the Representatives or the Senators who are considering a bill state by petition, giving their reasons, that the bill is clearly unconstitutional, that bill shall be ruled unconstitutional and shall not pass.
When 1/3 of the Tribal Councils pass a resolution giving clear reasons, documented by constitutional authorities, why any federal law is unconstitutional, then enforcement of the law challenged shall be suspended for two years. After two years, the law shall be permanently revoked, unless before that time 2/3 of the members of the House and Senate approve a resolution to overturn the tribes’ finding, that gives clear reasons documented by constitutional authorities. Either the tribes or Congress may, during those two years, hold a hearing, and compel the attendance of the other, where the constitutional issues may be debated, and a public record made.
Article 2: President
Section 1. The President of the UTSS, and a vice president, shall be elected to a four year term, not by voters directly, but by electors elected by voters, in this way:
Each Tribal Council shall be allotted the number of “Electors” as the number the Tribe has of UTSS Senators plus Representatives.
No UTSS elected official or employee or officer may be an Elector.
Each Tribal Council shall decide how its electors are to be selected – whether in an open council meeting or by secret ballot of all the voters in the tribe.
Intent: The same concern applies to selecting a president that guides the makeup of the House and Senate: it is despotism, to let majorities snuff out the voice of minorities; yet it is unjust for minorities to have an equal voice with majorities.
This concern is perfectly addressed with the House and Senate, since no law can be passed without the support of both minorities and majorities. But with only one President, this concern can only be addressed by compromise between the needs of majorities and minorities.
This concern is addressed, in the selection of the President, by giving each tribe Electors – who will elect the federal President – equal in number to the number of its Senator(s) and Representative(s).
Electors serve the additional purpose of choosing a president by the wisdom of very politically informed observers who themselves hold no political office that would color their judgment, if their tribe lets them, rather than binding their vote to the popular vote results.
Yet another purpose of people being electors, versus a formula, is the ability to vote for someone else, if something happens too late for voters to take into account. Such as a candidate’s helicopter crashing on the night of the election.
Each tribe shall select its Electors as it chooses. For example:
- through a public discussion in a Tribal Council.
- by letting all voters in the tribe vote in a secret ballot.
- by designating a formula, rather than by selecting persons, by which, as in the U.S. system, the tribe’s electoral votes are determined by the “popular vote” (the majority of the votes of all voters)
Each Elector shall vote for both President and Vice President. He may not cast both his votes for a candidate from his own tribe. He may cast his vote for president and vice president candidates running as teams, as in the current U.S. system, or he may vote for two candidates who are not necessarily allies, as in the original U.S. system.
If one candidate has a majority (over 50%) of the votes, he shall be President.
If no candidate for President wins a majority, the House shall select which of the three highest vote-getters shall be president, but without giving large tribes an advantage over small tribes, because each Tribe’s representatives, all together, will cast only one vote.
If no candidate for Vice President wins a majority, the Senate shall select which of the two highest vote-getters shall be vice-president, with each tribe’s senators having, together, one vote.
The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United Tribes.
No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United Tribes, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen Years a resident within the United States.
If the President dies, resigns, or cannot serve for any reason, the Vice President shall take over until the President can resume his duties or a replacement is elected. If the Vice President becomes unable to serve, Congress may designate a replacement until he can resume his duties or a replacement is elected. Congress may enact laws providing for such situations.
The President's salary shall not be increased or decreased during his time in office. Besides his salary and legitimate office expenses, he shall receive no other gifts from the UTSS, or from any Tribe.
Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation:--”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United Tribes, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United Tribes.”
Section 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army, the Air Force, and the citizen militia of all of the Tribes, but only when either of these are called by Congress into actual fighting for the UTSS.
The President may require the heads of executive departments to submit written reports on any aspect of their responsibility.
The President shall have power to pardon people convicted of federal crimes, although he may not pardon someone who is impeached by Congress.
The President may make treaties with other nations, which will not have force until they are ratified by 2/3 of the Senate. Ambassadors, Supreme Court Judges, Federal Department Heads, and any additional offices which Congress by law requires to be selected in the same manner, will be nominated by the President and approved by 2/3 of the Senate. Congress may by Law, as it thinks proper, delegate appointment of lesser officers, in courts of law, or in the heads of Departments, in the President alone.
When a vacancy requiring Senate confirmation occurs while the Senate is in recess, the President may temporarily fill the position with an appointment that expires at the end of the next session of the Senate, or until the Senate acts on the nomination.
Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and [when the House and Senate can’t agree when to adjourn] he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all UTSS officers.
Section 4.The President, Vice President, and any other top federal officer, shall be removed from office after being impeached (charged, or indicted) by Congress and convicted by the Senate of anything from treason to bribery to crime.
Impeachment is appropriate also for political offenses such as personal misconduct, gross neglect, usurpation of authority (acting beyond one’s authority), or habitual disregard of the public interests.
=Article 3: Courts=