Constitution of the Federative Republic of Matheuseland — 1984

We, the people of Matheuseland, united under the principles of popular sovereignty, freedom, equality, justice, and Totraendo, mindful of our history and determined to preserve democracy, hereby establish this Constitution as the supreme law of the Federative Republic of Matheuseland.

Article 1. The Federative Republic of Matheuseland is a democratic, sovereign, and federative State founded upon popular sovereignty, freedom, equality, justice, and Totraendo.

Article 2. All power emanates from the Mathler people, who exercise it directly or through representatives elected in accordance with this Constitution.

Article 3. The fundamental principles of the Republic are:

• I — democracy;

• II — freedom of expression and thought;

• III — equality before the law;

• IV — independence and harmony among the Powers of the Republic;

• V — the dignity of every Mathler;

• VI — Totraendo and national sovereignty;

• VII — the preservation of peace and constitutional order.
  

Article 4. The Powers of the Republic, independent and harmonious among themselves, are:

• I — the Executive Power;

• II — the Legislative Power;

• III — the Judicial Power.
  

Article 5. No Power of the Republic may abolish, subordinate, or usurp the constitutional powers of another.

Article 6. The Republic shall not recognize any government established through a coup d'état, armed insurrection, or illegitimate suspension of constitutional order.

Article 7. The capital of the Republic is Fzae.

Article 8. The federative units of Matheuseland are:

• I — the South Island;

• II — the Northern Islands;

• III — the Ephe-Tindivos Islands.
  

Article 9. Latin Creole is the official language of the Republic.

Article 10. The official currency of the Republic is the Nafelg.

Article 11. All Mathlers are equal before the law, without distinction based on origin, social condition, convictions, beliefs, gender, or any other personal condition.

Article 12. Life, liberty, dignity, privacy, and personal integrity are inviolable.

Article 13. Freedom of expression, thought, speech, press, artistic creation, and communication is guaranteed.

Article 14. Freedom of religion and conscience is guaranteed. No person shall be persecuted on the basis of their beliefs or lack thereof.

Article 15. The right to peaceful assembly and association is guaranteed.

Article 16. Every Mathler has the right to quality public education.

Article 17. Every Mathler has the right to universal healthcare.

Article 18. The State shall guarantee the rights to housing, work, transportation, and public security, in accordance with the law.

Article 19. The State shall protect the cultural, historical, and natural heritage of Matheuseland.

Article 20. The protection of the environment is a duty of the State and of all Mathlers.

Article 21. The right to private property is guaranteed, subject to its social function and the limitations established by law.

Article 22. No Mathler shall be deprived of their rights without due process of law.

Article 23. Every Mathler has the right to a fair trial, legal defense, and the presumption of innocence.

Article 24. The duties of Mathlers include:

• I — respecting the Constitution and the laws;

• II — respecting the rights and freedoms of others;

• III — preserving public and environmental heritage;

• IV — participating in democratic life;

• V — fulfilling the civil obligations established by law.
  

Article 25. Popular sovereignty shall be exercised through voting, elections, referendums, plebiscites, and other mechanisms established by law.

Article 26. Voting shall be secret, direct, and of equal value for every voter.

Article 27. Voting shall be optional for Mathlers between seventeen and twenty years of age.

Article 28. Voting shall be mandatory for Mathlers between twenty-one and seventy years of age.

Article 29. Voting shall be optional for Mathlers from the age of seventy-one onward.

Article 30. National elections shall ordinarily be held every four years, except in circumstances expressly provided for by this Constitution.

Article 31. Elections for President, Vice President, the People's Assembly, the governments of the federative units, and municipal governments shall be conducted in accordance with electoral law.

Article 32. The Legislative Power of the Republic shall be exercised by the People's Assembly — Æzymbly do Populœ.

Article 33. The People's Assembly shall consist of 200 members, each elected individually by popular vote.

Article 34. Members of the People's Assembly shall serve four-year terms.

Article 35. The People's Assembly represents the political sovereignty of the Mathler people.

Article 36. The People's Assembly shall:

• I — create, debate, amend, and approve laws;

• II — oversee and investigate the Executive Power;

• III — approve the national budget;

• IV — approve treaties and international agreements when required by law;

• V — authorize declarations of war;

• VI — consider accusations against the President and other public authorities;

• VII — exercise the other powers assigned to it by this Constitution.
  

Article 37. The member of the People's Assembly who receives at least ten percent more votes than the second-most-voted member shall become President of the People's Assembly.

Article 38. If the most-voted member does not obtain a margin of at least ten percent over the second-most-voted member, the People's Assembly shall elect its President from among its members.

Article 39. The President of the People's Assembly shall be the first constitutional successor to the Presidency of the Republic in the event of a permanent vacancy.

Article 40. The Executive Power shall be exercised by the President of the Republic, assisted by the Vice President and the Ministers of State.

Article 41. The President and Vice President shall be elected directly by the people as a single electoral ticket.

Article 42. The presidential term shall last four years.

Article 43. A President may be reelected twice consecutively.

Article 44. A candidate for President of the Republic must:

• I — be at least thirty years of age;

• II — have been a Mathler citizen for at least twenty years;

• III — possess full political rights;

• IV — have no criminal conviction;

• V — not be, and never have been, a member of the Armed Forces.
  

Article 45. A presidential candidate is not required to have been born in Matheuseland.

Article 46. The President shall serve simultaneously as Head of State and Head of Government.

Article 47. There shall be no office of Prime Minister in the Federative Republic of Matheuseland.

Article 48. The President shall:

• I — represent the Republic;

• II — appoint and dismiss Ministers;

• III — enforce the laws;

• IV — direct the Federal Administration;

• V — conduct foreign relations;

• VI — exercise civilian command over the Armed Forces;

• VII — sign or veto legislation;

• VIII — exercise the other powers established by this Constitution.
  

Article 49. The candidate who obtains the majority of valid votes shall be elected President, subject to the special provisions of this Title.

Article 50. A second round shall be held when all candidates receive less than thirty percent of the valid votes in the first round and the difference between the first- and second-place candidates is at least ten percentage points.

Article 51. The second round shall be contested by the two candidates who received the highest number of votes in the first round.

Article 52. The candidate who obtains the majority of valid votes in the second round shall be elected President.

Article 53. A President seeking a third consecutive term must obtain more than fifty percent of the valid votes.

Article 54. A candidate seeking a third consecutive term who obtains fifty percent or less of the valid votes shall be disqualified from assuming the Presidency, even if they receive the highest number of votes.

Article 55. In the event of the disqualification established in the preceding Article, the electoral process shall proceed to a second round in accordance with this Constitution and electoral law.

Article 56. The Vice President shall be elected together with the President as part of the same electoral ticket.

Article 57. The Vice President shall assist the President and exercise the duties assigned by this Constitution and by law.

Article 58. In the event of a permanent vacancy in the Presidency, the President of the People's Assembly shall assume the Presidency of the Republic.

Article 59. If the President of the People's Assembly is unable or unwilling to assume the Presidency, the next eligible member of the People's Assembly according to the order of individual votes received shall assume the office.

Article 60. The succession shall proceed in descending order of votes received by the members of the People's Assembly until an eligible citizen is found.

Article 61. A person who assumes the Presidency under this Title shall serve as interim President until a new presidential election is held in accordance with the law.

Article 62. The Judicial Power shall be independent from the other Powers of the Republic.

Article 63. The highest judicial authority of the Republic shall be the Supreme Constitutional Court.

Article 64. The Supreme Constitutional Court shall consist of twenty members, elected directly by the people.

Article 65. Members of the Supreme Constitutional Court shall serve two-year terms.

Article 66. The Supreme Constitutional Court shall:

• I — interpret this Constitution;

• II — declare laws and governmental acts unconstitutional;

• III — guarantee the supremacy of the Constitution;

• IV — adjudicate constitutional matters established by law;

• V — protect fundamental rights and freedoms;

• VI — exercise the other powers assigned to it by this Constitution.
  

Article 67. No Power of the Republic may improperly interfere with the judicial functions of the Supreme Constitutional Court.

Article 68. The Federative Republic of Matheuseland consists of:

• I — the South Island;

• II — the Northern Islands;

• III — the Ephe-Tindivos Islands.
  

Article 69. The federative units possess political, administrative, and financial autonomy within the limits established by this Constitution.

Article 70. Each federative unit shall possess:

• I — an Island Government;

• II — an Island Assembly;

• III — a Governor elected directly by the people;

• IV — its own administrative institutions.
  

Article 71. Governors shall be elected directly by the population of their respective federative units for four-year terms.

Article 72. The federative units shall administer their internal affairs while respecting the powers reserved for the Federal Government and the principles of this Constitution.

Article 73. No federative unit may declare independence or unilaterally withdraw from the Federation.

Article 74. Municipalities constitute administrative units within their respective federative units.

Article 75. Each municipality shall possess its own administration, in accordance with federal and island law.

Article 76. Mayors shall be elected directly by the population of their respective municipalities.

Article 77. Municipalities shall exercise the administrative powers assigned to them by this Constitution and by law.

Article 78. Public Administration shall observe the principles of legality, impartiality, transparency, efficiency, accountability, and public interest.

Article 79. Public officials shall be held accountable for acts committed in violation of the Constitution or the laws.

Article 80. Public Administration shall guarantee equal access to public services.

Article 81. Public property belongs to the people of Matheuseland and shall be administered for their benefit.

Article 82. The Republic shall maintain a mixed economy in which private enterprises, public enterprises, and cooperatives may coexist.

Article 83. The State shall protect free enterprise and fair competition and shall prevent abuses of economic power.

Article 84. The Nafelg is the official currency of the Republic.

Article 85. The Republic shall promote sustainable economic development and the responsible use of natural resources.

Article 86. The exploitation of natural resources shall respect environmental preservation and the public interest.

Article 87. The State shall promote policies aimed at reducing poverty, protecting workers, and improving the quality of life of the population.

Article 88. The Armed Forces of Matheuseland exist for the defense of national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order.

Article 89. Military service shall be entirely voluntary.

Article 90. The Armed Forces shall be subordinate to civilian authority and to this Constitution.

Article 91. The President of the Republic shall exercise supreme civilian authority over the Armed Forces.

Article 92. The highest military authority shall be exercised by a General, in accordance with the law.

Article 93. The Armed Forces shall not interfere in the political process or assume control of the Government.

Article 94. Members of the Armed Forces may not hold elected political office.

Article 95. The prohibition established in the preceding Article shall also apply to former members of the Armed Forces.

Article 96. Any attempt to use the Armed Forces to overthrow, replace, or coerce the constituted Powers shall constitute an attack against the constitutional order.

Article 97. A state of emergency may be declared only in the event of a grave threat to national security, the population, or the continuity of constitutional order.

Article 98. The declaration of a state of emergency shall be subject to oversight by the People's Assembly and the Supreme Constitutional Court.

Article 99. A state of emergency may not be used to abolish the Constitution, indefinitely cancel elections, or dissolve the Powers of the Republic.

Article 100. Even during a state of emergency, fundamental rights whose suspension is prohibited by this Constitution shall remain protected.

Article 101. No state of emergency may grant the President unlimited powers.

Article 102. The President of the Republic may be removed from office for criminal conduct, serious violation of the Constitution, or abuse of power.

Article 103. The removal of the President shall require the approval of at least 150 of the 200 members of the People's Assembly.

Article 104. The Supreme Constitutional Court may review the constitutionality of the removal proceedings.

Article 105. No President shall stand above the Constitution or the laws.

Article 106. This Constitution may be amended through a proposal submitted in accordance with the law.

Article 107. Every constitutional amendment shall require the approval of at least 110 of the 200 members of the People's Assembly.

Article 108. No constitutional amendment may abolish:

• I — the democratic form of government;

• II — popular sovereignty;

• III — the independence of the Powers;

• IV — free and periodic elections;

• V — fundamental rights and freedoms;

• VI — federative autonomy;

• VII — the subordination of the Armed Forces to civilian authority.
  

Article 109. Any attempt to use a constitutional amendment to establish an authoritarian regime or indefinitely suspend democratic order shall be null and void.

Article 110. This Constitution is the supreme law of the Federative Republic of Matheuseland.

Article 111. Any law, decree, regulation, or governmental act contrary to this Constitution shall be considered invalid.

Article 112. No public authority may invoke superior orders, a state of emergency, or political necessity to justify a deliberate violation of this Constitution.

Article 113. The defense of the Constitution is the duty of all Powers and the right of every Mathler.

Article 114. This Constitution represents the constitutional reorganization of the Federative Republic of Matheuseland carried out in 1984, preserving the continuity of the State and adapting its institutions to the governmental administration established in Fzae.

Article 115. The democratic principles established during the restoration of the Republic are hereby recognized as fundamental to the constitutional order and are declared incompatible with any form of dictatorial government.

Article 116. No provision of this Constitution shall be interpreted in a manner that permits the restoration of a regime that suppresses popular sovereignty.

Article 117. This Constitution shall enter into force upon its promulgation.