The Constitution of Ladonia
Approved by Popular Vote and Ratified by the Cabinet in 1997We, the people of Ladonia, hereby declare ourselves free and independent citizens of the democratic Royal Republic, The Remony of Ladonia, and hereby lay forth the rules for government and our democratic institutions.
Article I. The State of Ladonia.
Section 1. The official name shall be The Royal Republic (The Remony) of Ladonia.
Section 2. The form of government shall be constitutionally a Subanarchistic Royal Presidency Unlimited, governed by Decrees from the president, the Queen or the State Secretary on suggestions by Cabinet Ministers.
Section 3. The geographical limits of Ladonia might be changing, but will always be the real life home of Arx, Nimis and Omfalos on the west coast of the Swedish province Scania or the ones stated from time to time by Presidential, Royal or Secretarial decrees.
Section 4. The capital of Ladonia shall be Wotan City, Ladonia.
Section 5. The official language is Ladonian, consisting of two words. One word, that covers all other words in all other languages (for easy translation) this word is “waaaaaaaaaaaaaallll” (which can be spelt in different ways but always with more “a” than “l”.
There is however one other word – the official word “ÿp” used when speaking solemnly. This word is mostly used in the cabinet concerning more serious matters and not a word to be used for everyday matters.
Section 6. Missing
Section 7. The National Flag shall be a green cross on a field of the same green.
Section 8. The National Anthem shall be the sound of a rock thrown into the water.
Section 9. The official currency is the Oertug. The equivalent value of an Oertug is roughly about the same as 1 US Dollar, about 10 Swedish Crowns (SEK) or slightly more than 1 euro. (A.D. June 2002)
Article II. Citizenship
Section 1. All people, male, female, or other, who solemnly swear to be loyal or partly loyal to Art, Freedom of Expression, the State Secretary, the Queen, the President, and willing to endure any oppression by its Ministries are eligible for citizenship
Section 2. Citizenship may be acquired by arguing one’s cause before the State Secretary on whom it befalls to issue a citizenship and register the applicant in the National Register of Citizens if he feels like doing so. Bribes and donations are allowed and encouraged albeit not necessary.
Section 3. Ladonia is a Tax Exempt State for its citizens and relies on taxing foreign visitors hard and Swedes, who are used to it and deserve it, extra hard.
Section 4. All citizens are entitled to near total idleness, the right to free speech and silence, the right to throw small pebble stones defensively, the right to cybervote, and the right to fair and unfair trials to the discretion of the High Court. Citizens are free to say no to arms as an act of loyalty to the Ladonian cause.
Section 5. All visitors or temporary residents; Swedes in particular, shall shut up whenever a citizen speaks or they may be expelled from the country on the whim of its government bodies or as a way of avoiding being lynched. (a) About the order in Ladonia: A Swede always has to give place for a Ladonian.
Article III. Trojka Rule
Section 1. (a) The Queen, the State Secretary and the President have the legislative power by approval of Royal Decrees, Secretarial Decrees and Presidential Decrees with a simple majority in the Cabinet. (b) Any differences between decrees shall be resolved by rock throwing contests or fist fighting (if the Queen approves). (c) The Presidential Office is held by individuals elected by the people. (d) Each Citizen shall receive one vote, which may be cast in any way desired. If a Citizen fails to vote, nobody really cares.
Section 2. Political parties are registered automatically on anyone’s suggestion and should, but is not required to, be published in a major paper, which means The Ladonia Herald.
Section 3. (a) The President is elected by the citizens of Ladonia, each 3 years through general virtual voting procedures. (b) The candidate receiving most votes will become the President, the one in the second place will become the Vice President. (c) The elections shall be supervised by the State Secretary and made official by him.
Section 4. (a) The Queen, once elected, will remain at her own wish. (b) The throne will be succeeded to her eldest daughter, the Crown Princess. (c) If there is no Princess for the succession, the oldest son of the Queen will take the title of “Seneschal of Ladonia”. (d) The eldest daughter of the Seneschal of Ladonia will be automatically crowned as Queen of Ladonia when she reaches the age of majority (18) and will be approved by the Cabinet, but only the approval of the Cabinet is needed. During the period of immaturity of the future Queen, the Seneschal of Ladonia will continue with his role. (f) If there are no eligible heirs, either female or male, the people of Ladonia will elect a new Queen in a general election. (g) In the event of a general election for Queen, all Ladonian females are eligible.
Section 5. The State Secretary will be charged with entering into the record the election results. The Secretary shall make this record public.
Section 6. All citizens have the right to apply as minister and may start a ministry of anything as long as it doesn’t interfere with existing ministries. The new minister will have to apply to the State Secretary who will inform the cabinet which then will decide and rule about the new would-be ministry. The new minister/ministry must win approval from the Cabinet.
Section 7. A minister in the cabinet may change its name, business, operation and activity of his/her accepted ministry after usual and customary judgement by the cabinet.
Article IV. The State Secretary and The Remony
Section 1. The ultimate executive power shall be invested in the Secretary of State or any citizen delegated by him. He shall also appoint ambassadors, bestow titles of nobility, and fill vacancies in any ministerial position by appointment and judgement of the cabinet.
Section 2. All decrees and appointments must be made official through publication on Internet, either, or preferably through both of, citizen mailing lists (CML) and/or in The Ladonian Herald.
Section 3. The appointed Ministers shall through their Ministries propose legislation, which shall have the force of law at the moment they are ratified by the State Secretary or the Queen or the President.
Section 4. A President or a Queen may be forced to abdicate only after a supermajority vote for it within the Cabinet. (a) A new President may be elected upon a simple majority vote of “No Confidence” by the Cabinet, or when the sitting President calls for a snap election.
Section 5. The Secretary, Queen, the President, and all Ministers must be citizens of Ladonia.
Section 6. In the cabinet, all ministers as well as Queen and President and also the State Secretary have one vote each. Nobody is forced to vote but it’s nice if they do.
Section 7. Three Wise Persons (Men or women) can be appointed to represent the wisdom of Ladonia, and act as a source of “elders” and/or inspiration. They will be appointed by the cabinet, but only if the cabinet is capable of finding objects worthy enough.
Section 8. All decision in Ladonia shall, if possible, to be announced in Ladonia Herald, and/or through the mailing list for our esteemed Cabinet.
Article V. The Supreme Court
Section 1. The Supreme Court will consist of the unknown bartender in Chez Le Screemin’ Bass. When the bartender finds it necessary he or she will rise a yellow card and shout a double ÿP. The act will mean that a probable transgression of Ladonian law is suspected. If this is taken place it will be confirmed by anyone in the cabinet. The cabinet can give their votes for or against acceptance. Punishment will be discussed in each case. However there will never be introduced written laws.
Section 2. The Supreme Court shall consist of the worthy cabinet of Ladonia. When necessary the cabinet makes itself The Supreme Court and takes problems under consideration. The Queen will serve as the Chief Justice when the Supreme Court is convened.
Article VI. Ratification
The constitution is ratified when it is presented in the Cabinet and no vote is given against it. Officially authorized members of the Cabinet shall have a period of fourteen (14) days to consider ratification of the constitution. Upon the conclusion of the consideration period, voting shall close and a lack of a vote or silence shall be construed as consent.
The original Ladonian Constitution, while unique and reflective of Ladonia’s cultural and artistic identity, does omit several elements that are commonly found in constitutions of functional constitutional monarchies. These elements are important for establishing a stable and effective governance framework and are addressed through the creation of amendments to the original text.