The Great Canon of Hashan

Introductions

The city-state of Hashan, known as the Court of Shadows, is an independent, sovereign entity. References to the "City" in this volume refer to Hashan.

The Divine Patron of Hashan is chosen by the Seneschal and the Council of Regents, and is to be respected by all citizens.

The Great Canon sets forth the basic laws of Hashan and is the final authority of law. If any other law is inconsistent with law as provided in the Canon, the Canon shall prevail and the other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be considered null and void, except as provided below.

Hierarchy

The Hierarchy is the order you are to follow and look to for official city decisions. The Seneschal is the final authority within the city, though he or she may be outvoted by the Council of Regents.

The Hierarchy of the city is as follows:

• Seneschal
• Regency
• Ministers
• Aides

For issues within City Houses, House Leaders have authority as long as they are acting within the laws. Within Ministries, the Minister and his or her aides acting in accordance with instruction have authority. When there is uncertainty, refer to city rank.

Freedom of Expression

No person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of expression.

These freedoms shall include the rights to hold opinions without interference, to receive information and ideas without interference, and to communicate information and ideas without interference, be it publicly or to any individual person or class.

This right shall not be deemed broken if it is transformed under authority of law, provided it meets one of the following clauses:

• Such law or action is reasonably required in the interests of defence, security, public safety and/or order.
• Such law or action is reasonably required for the purpose of affording protection to the rights, freedoms and privileges of other citizens.
• It has the effect of imposing such restrictions on government officials or public officers that they have unreasonable trouble performing their duties.

Such rights do not include any activities or communications that harm the rights and freedoms of other citizens, or the private lives of other citizens. They do not cover any act or communication disclosing information on the composition, equipment, or deployment of armed forces of the City, or its fortifications. Nor do they include any act or communication aimed at the violent overthrow of the government or directed against the territorial integrity of the City.

Freedom of Conscience and religion

Freedom of religion and conscience is not to be broken.

Enjoyment of rights and liberties are not dependent upon the individual's religious beliefs or lack thereof. The rites of worship of all known religions shall be under protection of the law; however, the practice of such rites is not permitted to offend public order.

No citizen may refuse to comply with the laws by reason of religious conviction.

No citizen will be permitted membership within religious Orders or clans which are actively aggressive to the City.

Protection under law

All citizens shall enjoy equal protection under the law without discrimination.

All citizens have the right to petition the government.

          INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN TREASONOUS ACTIVITIES AS DEFINED BY LAW HAVE NO RIGHTS.

The Government

The government of the city-state of Hashan is comprised of a ruling council of five individuals, titled Regents. One of the Regents is chosen by this council and is titled Seneschal.

General Responsibilities and Rights of the Government

The Government shall consist of the Seneschal, the Regency Council, the Ministers and their Aides along with any others appointed or elected who may be deemed necessary for efficient performance of governmental duties.

The Government:

• Determines and carries out state policy.
• Has at its disposal the administration of the armed force of the City.
• Has the right to respect in the responsible performance of its duties and shall not be subjected to wilful slander, libel, or impedance by citizens of the City, under penalty of law.

Government Terms

A twenty year maximum term applies from the beginning of a Regent or Seneschal's first appointment. Any citizen meeting the ten year citizenship requirement may contest a Regent as usual at any other time they feel is appropriate.

If a Regent reaches this twenty year term limit, the following process will take place.

One year before the term is up, the Regent will post a news post to the city announcing they are nearing the end of their term and what they are planning on doing at the end of it.

Next, one of three things will happen:

Either the Regent voluntarily steps down.

OR

Another citizen will contest the Regent and an election will begin. If the election is won by the standing Regent, it will be considered the beginning of a new term.

If neither of the above two takes place, the Seneschal will start a referendum succinctly and clearly stating the purpose and calling for votes on the Regent's performance. There will be three options in this referendum and they will be labelled as so:

• "I am happy with the Regent's performance and wish them to continue."
• "I am neutral or do not know enough to vote on whether the Regent should continue."
• "I am unhappy with the Regent's performance or wish them to be replaced."

If there are more votes wishing for the Regent to be replaced, the Regent will step down and not contest their vacant seat. A normal election will follow for the empty seat.

If there are less than one third of votes for those wishing for the Regent to continue, but less against it than for it, the Regent will step down and may contest their vacant seat. A normal election will follow.

Seneschal's Term

A Seneschal's term is considered to begin upon their appointment as Seneschal, not Regent. After their twenty year term is up, they may be unseated by a three Regent majority vote, instead of the usual four Regent majority required to select a new Seneschal. If they are voted out of office, they will then be required to immediately follow the above process to decide whether they retain their Regency seat.

Responsibilities of the Seneschal

The executive authority of the City shall be vested in the Seneschal, assisted and advised by a government directed by the Council of Regents and the Ministers.

The Seneschal:

• Is the Head of State, the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, and the head of the executive branch of the government.
• Shall be the guarantor of the territorial integrity and independence of the City.
• Is responsible for the execution of treaties.
• Watches over the regular functioning of the public powers vested by the Canon and assures the continuity of the city-state.
• Consults with and is advised by the Council of Regents and the Ministers.

Rights and Powers of the Seneschal

The Seneschal:

• Has the right to appoint and remove Ministers for reasonable cause.
• Has the right to be informed by and to consult with the Council of Regents and the Ministers on any matter related to the government of Hashan.
• Has the right of pardon.
• Has the right of veto on legislation, however such veto may be overridden by a three Regent majority agreement from the rest of the council.
• Has the right of veto on laws or decisions concerning foreign affairs, security or defence, however such veto may be overridden by a three Regent majority agreement from the rest of the council.
• Has the right, in case of temporary disability, to appoint an acting Chief Executive from the Council of Regents. Such interim Executive shall relinquish his or her powers upon request of the elected Seneschal.

Removal of the Seneschal from Power

The Seneschal may be removed from office for any of the following:

• Wilful violation of any provision of the Canon.
• Behaving in a manner that endangers or compromises the security of the City.
• Behaving in such a manner as to bring the office of Seneschal or the government into hatred, ridicule or contempt.
• A three Regent majority vote for another Regent at the end of the Seneschal's twenty year term. If the Seneschal is voted out at the end of his or her term in this way, a referendum will be held as to whether he or she remains a Regent like any other.
• A four Regent majority vote in favour of another Regent at any other time.

The Council of Regents

The Council of Regents is the supreme governing agency of the City.

The Council of Regents:

-Has the general direction and control of the government of the City, and is collectively responsible to the citizens.

-Keeps the Seneschal fully informed concerning the general conduct of the government of the City and shares with the Seneschal such information as he or she may request with respect to any particular matter relating to the Government of Hashan.

-Has the right to initiate laws.

-Has the right and responsibility to advise and consult with the Seneschal.

-Has the right to initiate and call for votes within the council on matters of City government or policy where such matter or policy is not provided for by the Canon.

All candidates for the Council of Regents should be citizens in good standing. They are required to have retained citizenship for at least ten consecutive years before contesting.

Removal of the regency from Power

A member of the Council of Regents, not including the Seneschal, may be removed from office for any of the following:

-Wilful violation of any provision of the Canon.

• Behaving in a manner that endangers or compromises the security of the City.

• Behaving in such a manner as to bring the Council of Regents or any office of the government into hatred, ridicule or contempt.

• For neglect of duties due to apathy or occasioned by an unexcused absence of more than one year. In the event of an absence exceeding this time limit, the Seneschal shall solicit contest and election from the populace for the seat of that Regent.

• A Regent may be contested at any time up until the end of their twenty year term at which point a referendum will be held if they are not stepping down or contested.

The Ministers

The Ministers shall be responsible for the efficient functioning of their respective spheres of influence.

Ministers:

• Serve at the will of the Seneschal.
• Report to the Council of Regents.
• Keep the Seneschal fully informed concerning the general conduct of the government of the City and provide the Seneschal with such information as he or she may request with respect to any particular matter relating to the Government of Hashan.

Declaration of War

The decision to participate in armed hostilities (war) shall be decided at the request of the Seneschal, after a vote of the members of the Council of Regents.

Upon declaration and approval of the state of war, authority for coordinating the war effort shall reside in the person of the Minister of War, who shall consult with and act under the approval of the Seneschal.

A declaration of war is valid only upon official, public proclamation by the Seneschal, or by his or her appointed acting Chief Executive.

The state of war is ended upon official and public declaration by the Seneschal, or by his or her appointed acting Chief Executive.

Any members of organizations, Divine Orders, Houses or cities upon which war has been declared shall be categorically branded enemies of the City by the Minister of Security regardless of their direct involvement or their individual strength. In addition, all their property in the City, including shops and houses, are to be confiscated by the Ministries in the name of the city government.

Citizens of Hashan who are members of an organization upon whom war has been declared are required to contact the Regency to declare their status and seek resolution. If this is not done within a reasonable amount of time, citizenship will be stripped and the individual concerned will be branded an enemy of the city.

Ammendments

The process for the ratification of amendments to the Great Canon of Hashan is as follows:

1. An imminent need to alter the existing laws shall be determined by the people of Hashan.

2. An amendment to/for the law in question shall be drafted for the consideration by the people of Hashan.

3. The draft in question shall be posted to the public forum via the Hashan news board.

4. A referendum shall be held to determine the implementation of the amendment.

A. If half or more of the voters choose to implement the amendment, the referendum shall close and the amendment shall be written into law. B. If fewer than half of the voters choose to implement the amendment, the referendum shall close and the amendment will either

* Be revised and resubmitted to referendum
   OR
* Be tabled indefinitely

Should the need arise, a tabled amendment may be brought back into consideration. In this event, the amendment shall undergo the process for ratification as usual. An amendment may be tabled twice, after which it shall be removed from consideration entirely.

No amendment may be introduced that will remove a law, right or responsibility set forth in the Canon unless said law, right or responsibility is rendered obsolete due to the changing nature of the world.