The Atlantean Charter is the document from which the government of the United States of Atlantis derives its legitimacy. It was written around 1781 by members of the Atlantean Senate, meeting in the cathedral of New Hastings, the oldest human settlement in Atlantis. Upon ratification, it went into effect immediately.
The Charter was modeled primarily on the governing conventions of the Roman Republic.
Literary comment[]
Very little about the Charter is revealed in-universe. The following is a list of Charter items that are summarized by characters in the novels, reported as completely as possible.
Provisions of the Charter[]
Structure of Government[]
The Charter called for a Federal government consisting of a Senate and two Consuls.
The Senators represented each state, with the size of a state's delegation in proportion to its population in relation to the entire nation's. Slave populations did not factor into this calculation at the time the Charter was drafted. Senators were not elected directly, but were chosen periodically by their state's Burgesses, who were elected directly.
The Consuls were chosen for a two-year term. They could serve up to three terms consecutively and up to five terms overall. Each Consul had veto power over the other, the Senate, and the bureaucracies of the federal government. The Consuls also presided over the Senate when it was in session.
In the event of the death in office of one Consul, the surviving one had sole consular power until the next consular election.
In the event of the deaths of both Consuls, the Senate chose a single interrex to hold power until the next consular election. The interrex was chosen by a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
Anyone who laid hands upon the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate will be barred from the Senate chamber, even if they were a Senator or a Consul.
Military[]
In time of war, both Consuls were required to authorize the Atlantean Army to take the field. The Consuls were required to leave the capital and take the field with the Army, where each Consul had overall command of field operations on alternate days. A senior Army officer advised the consuls, and issued supporting orders that operationalized the Consul's orders without contradicting them. Field command does not rest with the military.
The Charter made no provision for a two-front war, nor for a executive authority in the political operation of the government while both Consuls were away from the capital.
The Atlantean Army exercised the prerogative to quarter soldiers in the homes of private citizens without their permission, even in peacetime.
Civil Liberties[]
Both the United States of Atlantis and the several state governments were permitted to levy taxes on private citizens and their entities.
Unlimited freedom of worship was guaranteed by the Basic Law of the Atlantean Charter.
The freedom of the press was guaranteed by the Atlantean Charter.
Private citizens had the right to petition government officials for redress of grievances. Everyone but convicted felons had the right to carry firearms.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
