------ Humanx Commonwealth Constitution ------
( part 1 )
 

PREAMBLE

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE HUMANX COMMONWEALTH DETERMINED

• to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which in the past has brought untold sorrow to sentient life forms, and
• to reaffirm faith in fundamental Humanx rights, in the dignity and worth of the Humanx person, in the equal rights of sentient lifeforms and of planets large and small, and
• to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of interstellar law can be maintained, and
• to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS

• to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and
• to unite our strength to maintain interstellar peace and security, and
• to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
• to employ interstellar machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS
Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of Denpasar, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the Humanx Commonwealth and do hereby establish an interstellar organization to be known as the Humanx Commonwealth .

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANETS

The following is the Commonwealth standard system devised by the United Church Bureau of Supra-Commonwealth Registry for the protection of less developed worlds that may not be ready to join galactic civilization, to give them an opportunity to develop on their own, and for regulation of commercial purposes.

Class I     Full Commonwealth membership with all rights, privileges, and responsibilities, including a voice on the Commonwealth Council, unrestricted commerce and cultural exchange, and transfer of information.
This class is comprised of planets with native or imported population having high technology, and colony worlds that have achieved a specified level of development.

Class II     Associate Commonwealth membership. Population must have achieved a world government and an atomic or better level of technology. Population has some voice on the Council, and may send observers
off-planet. Exchange of goods and transfer of technology is regulated.

Class III     Wardship planet is under Commonwealth and United Church protection. Status similar to Class II, but a world government as such is not required.

Class IVa     Dominant native sentients live at pre-atomic level of technology. Trade and exchange of  information is restricted.

Class IVb     Dominant native sentients live at a pre-steam level of technology, or lower. Trade and exchange of information highly restricted. Feudal states often found at this level.

Class V     Pre-state culture(s). Clan to tribal society. Inhabited worlds not aligned with the Commonwealth, and newly contact inhabited planets of which little is known.

Class VI     Hardship planetary conditions restrict native development to the point where Commonwealth assistance is necessary for the species to survive.

Class VIIa     Potential colony. Registered and surveyed worlds about to be colonized.

Class VIIb     Potential colony. Registered but not surveyed.

Class VIII Frontier colony planet not developed enough in resources or population to qualify for Class I or II.

Class IXa     General colony planetary conditions and/or political situations make it unlikely higher status is likely to be granted. Commonwealth citizens on such worlds are represented via their respective home worlds.

Class IXb     As above, only with an appointed Resident Commissioner.

Class X     Commercial interests. In this class are worlds, moons, asteroids, and other bodies considered unsuitable for colonization, but presenting sufficient worth or characteristics deemed necessary for formal registry.

UNDER EDICT.     Stellar bodies on which a general or specific threat has been determined, or for other reasons that warrant a strict "hands off" policy. No communication made be made with any resident native
species, and no landing may be made. Under guard by automated or manned vessels.

General Addenda:

1-All habitable planets are to be reported to the Church Bureau of Supra-Commonwealth Registry. Application for development may be filed within the specified time period thereafter. Any outpost or proposed colony site must be inspected and approved by the Bureau.

2-All habitable worlds have at least one scientific outpost or trading center.

3-No advanced weaponry may be imported to planets of Class IV or V. Such imports are permitted on Class II worlds under specified conditions.

4-Under regulations for Class IV planets, exploration by Commonwealth representatives or citizens must be pre-approved by the native government.

• To maintain interstellar peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and interstellar law, adjustment or settlement of interstellar disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
• To develop friendly relations among planets based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of sentient life forms, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
• To achieve interstellar co-operation in solving interstellar problems of an economic, social, cultural, or Humanxitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for Humanx rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to species, race, sex, language, or religion; and
• To be a center for harmonizing the actions of planets in the attainment of these common ends.

The Commonwealth and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall act in accordance with the following Principles.
The Humanx Commonwealth is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members.

All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter.
All Members shall settle their interstellar disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that interstellar peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
All Members shall refrain in their interstellar relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any planet, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Church and the Humanx Commonwealth .
All Members shall give the United Church and the Humanx Commonwealth every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to any planet against which the United Church or the Humanx Commonwealth is taking preventive or enforcement action.
The Commonwealth shall ensure that planets which are not Members of the Humanx Commonwealth act in accordance with these Principles so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of interstellar peace and security.
Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the Humanx Commonwealth to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any planet or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter Vll.

Article 3

The original Members of the Humanx Commonwealth shall be the planets which, having participated in the United Church Conference on interstellar Commonwealth at Denpasar, sign the present Charter and ratify it in accordance with Article 110. Article 4

1. Membership in the Humanx Commonwealth is open to all other peace loving planets which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Commonwealth, are able and willing to carry out these obligations.

2. The admission of any such planet to membership in the Humanx Commonwealth will be effected by a decision of the Commonwealth Council upon the recommendation of the United Church Council.

A Member of the Humanx Commonwealth against which preventive or enforcement action has been taken by the United Church Council may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and privileges of membership by the Commonwealth Council upon the recommendation of the United Church Council. The exercise of these rights and privileges may be restored by the United Church Council.

A Member of the Humanx Commonwealth which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Commonwealth by the Commonwealth Council upon the recommendation of the United Church Council. Article 7

There are established as the principal organs of the Humanx Commonwealth :
a Commonwealth Council ,presided over by the Commonwealth President ( aka the Humanx President ).
a Custom and Trade Council
an Economic and Social Council
a Trusteeship Council
and a Secretariat.
Such subsidiary organs as may be found necessary may be established in accordance with the present Charter.

There are established as the principal organs of the United Church:

• a United Church Council, presided over by the Last Resort.
• a Church Bureau of Supra-Commonwealth Registry.
• a Peace Keeping Force Committee.
• a Science Department.
• and a Chancellery.
• Such subsidiary Departments as may be found necessary may be established in accordance with the present Charter.

The Humanx Commonwealth shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of sentient life forms to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs.
Only the United Church can propose expulsion of a Member from the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Council shall consist of all the Members of the Humanx Commonwealth.
Each Class I Member shall have not more than three representatives in the Commonwealth Council.
Each Class II Member shall have one  representative in the Commonwealth Council.

CHAPTER II

FUNCTIONS and POWERS

Article 10

The Commonwealth Council may discuss any questions or any matters within the scope of the present Charter or relating to the powers and functions of any organs provided for in the present Charter, and, except as provided in Article 12, may make recommendations to the Members of the Humanx Commonwealth or to the United Church Council or to both on any such questions or matters. Article 11 The Commonwealth Council may consider the general principles of co-operation in the maintenance of interstellar peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments, and may make recommendations with regard to such principles to the Members or to the United Church Council or to both.
The Commonwealth Council may discuss any questions relating to the maintenance of interstellar peace and security brought before it by any Member of the Humanx Commonwealth , or by the United Church Council, or by a planet which is not a Member of the Humanx Commonwealth  in accordance with Article 35, paragraph 2, and, except as provided in Article 12, may make recommendations with regard to any such questions to the planet or planets concerned or to the United Church Council or to both. Any such question on which action is necessary shall be referred to the United Church Council by the Commonwealth Council either before or after discussion.
The Commonwealth Council may call the attention of the United Church Council to situations which are likely to endanger interstellar peace and security.

The powers of the Commonwealth Council set forth in this Article shall not limit the general scope of Article 10.

Article 12 While the United Church Council is exercising in respect of any dispute or situation the functions assigned to it in the present Charter, the Commonwealth Council shall not make any recommendation with regard to that dispute or situation unless the United Church Council so requests.
The Last Resort, with the consent of the United Church Council, shall notify the Commonwealth Council at each session of any matters relative to the maintenance of interstellar peace and security which are being dealt with by the United Church Council and shall similarly notify the Commonwealth Council, or the Members of the Humanx Commonwealth if the Commonwealth Council is not in session, immediately the United Church Council ceases to deal with such matters. Article 13 The Commonwealth Council shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of:
a. promoting interstellar co-operation in the political field and encouraging the progressive development of interstellar law and its codification;
b. promoting interstellar co-operation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and assisting in the realization of Humanx rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to species, race, sex, language, or religion.
The further responsibilities, functions and powers of the Commonwealth Council with respect to matters mentioned in paragraph 1 (b) above are set forth in Chapters IX and X.

Article 14

Subject to the provisions of Article 12, the Commonwealth Council may recommend measures for the peaceful adjustment of any situation, regardless of origin, which it deems likely to impair the general welfare or friendly relations among planets, including situations resulting from a violation of the provisions of the present Charter setting forth the Purposes and Principles of the United Church.

Article 15

The Commonwealth Council shall receive and consider annual and special reports from the United Church Council; these reports shall include an account of the measures that the United Church Council has decided upon or taken to maintain interstellar peace and security.
The Commonwealth Council shall receive and consider reports from the other organs of the United Church and of the Humanx Commonwealth. Article 16 The Commonwealth Council shall perform such functions with respect to the interstellar trusteeship system as are assigned to it under Chapters XII and XIII, including the approval of the trusteeship agreements for areas not designated as strategic. Article 17 The Commonwealth Council shall consider and approve the budget of the Commonwealth.
The expenses of the Commonwealth shall be borne by the Members as apportioned by the Commonwealth Council.
The Commonwealth Council shall consider and approve any financial and budgetary arrangements with specialized agencies referred to in Article 57 and shall examine the administrative budgets of such specialized agencies with a view to making recommendations to the agencies concerned.

CHAPTER III

VOTING

Article 18

Each representative of a Member of the Commonwealth Council shall have one vote.
Decisions of the Commonwealth Council on important questions shall be made by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. These questions shall include: recommendations with respect to the maintenance of interstellar peace and security, the election of the non-permanent members of the United Church Peace Keeping Force Committee, the election of the members of the Economic and Social Council, the election of members of the Trusteeship Council in accordance with paragraph 1 (c) of Article 86, the admission of new Members to the United Church, the suspension of the rights and privileges of membership, the expulsion of Members, questions relating to the operation of the trusteeship system, and budgetary questions.
Decisions on other questions, including the determination of additional categories of questions to be decided by a two-thirds majority, shall be made by a majority of the members present and voting.

Article 19

A Member of the Humanx Commonwealth  which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Commonwealth shall have no vote in the Commonwealth Council if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years. The Commonwealth Council may, nevertheless, permit such a Member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member.

CHAPTER IV

PROCEDURE

Article 20

The Commonwealth Council shall meet in regular annual sessions and in such special sessions as occasion may require. Special sessions shall be convoked by the Humanx President at the request of the United Church Council or of a majority of the Members of the Humanx Commonwealth.

Article 21

The Commonwealth Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure. It shall elect its Mediator for each session.

Article 22

The Commonwealth Council may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.

CHAPTER V

The United Church Peace Keeping Committee

COMPOSITION

Article 23

The United Church Peace Keeping Committee shall consist of fifteen Members of the Humanx Commonwealth. The planets  Terra, Hivehom, Willowane , Centaurus and the United Church shall be permanent members of the United Church Peace Keeping Committee . The Commonwealth Council shall elect ten other Members of the Humanx Commonwealth to be non-permanent members of the United Church Peace Keeping Comitee , due regard being specially paid, in the first instance to the contribution of Members of the Humanx Commonwealth to the maintenance of interstellar peace and security and to the other purposes of the Commonwealth, and also to equitable geographical distribution.
The non-permanent members of the United Church Peace Keeping Committee shall be elected for a term of three years. In the first election of the non-permanent members after the increase of the membership of the United Church Peace Keeping Committee from eleven to fifteen, two of the four additional members shall be chosen for a term of one year. A retiring member shall not be eligible for immediate re-election.
Each Member of the Humanx Commonwealth  Peace Keeping Committee shall have one representative.

FUNCTIONS and POWERS

Article 24

In order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Church Peace Keeping Force ,its Members confer on the United Church Peace Keeping Committee primary responsibility for the maintenance of interstellar peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the United Church Peace Keeping Committee acts on their behalf.
In discharging these duties the United Church Peace Keeping Committee shall act in accordance with the Purposes and Principles of the United Church. The specific powers granted to the United Church Council for the discharge of these duties are laid down in Chapters VI, VII, VIII, and XII.
The United Church Peace Keeping Committee shall submit annual and, when necessary, special reports to the Commonwealth Council for its consideration. Article 25 The Members of the Humanx Commonwealth agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the United Church Council in accordance with the present Charter.

Article 26

In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of interstellar peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's Humanx and economic resources, the United Church Council shall be responsible for formulating, with the assistance of the United Church Peace Keeping Committee referred to in Article 47, plans to be submitted to the Members of the Humanx Commonwealth for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments.

VOTING

Article 27

Each Member of the Humanx Commonwealth  Peace Keeping Committee shall have one vote.
Decisions of the United Church Peace Keeping Committee on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members.
Decisions of the United Church Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members; provided that, in decisions under Chapter VI, and under paragraph 3 of Article 52, a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting.

PROCEDURE

Article 28

The United Church Peace Keeping Committee shall be so organized as to be able to function continuously. Each Member of the Humanx Commonwealth  Peace Keeping Committee shall for this purpose be represented at all times at the seat of the Commonwealth.
The United Church Peace Keeping Committee shall hold periodic meetings at which each of its members may, if it so desires, be represented by a member of the government or by some other specially designated representative.
The United Church Peace Keeping Committee may hold meetings at such places other than the seat of the Commonwealth as in its judgment will best facilitate its work.

Article 29

The United Church Peace Keeping Committee may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.

Article 30

The United Church Peace Keeping Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including the method of selecting its President.

Article 31

Any Member of the Humanx Commonwealth which is not a member of the United Church Peace Keeping Committee may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the United Church Peace Keeping Committee whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected.

Article 32

Any Member of the Humanx Commonwealth which is not a member of the United Church Peace Keeping Committee or any planet which is not a Member of the United Church, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the United Church Council, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in the discussion relating to the dispute. The United Church Peace Keeping Committee shall lay down such conditions as it deems just for the participation of a planet which is not a Member of the United Church.

CHAPTER VI

PACIFIC SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

Article 33

The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of interstellar peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.
The United Church Council shall, when it deems necessary, call upon the parties to settle their dispute by such means. Article 34 The United Church Peace Keeping Committee may investigate any dispute, or any situation which might lead to interstellar friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the maintenance of interstellar peace and security.

Article 35

Any Member of the Humanx Commonwealth  may bring any dispute, or any situation of the nature referred to in Article 34, to the attention of the United Church Council or of the Commonwealth Council.
A planet which is not a Member of the Humanx Commonwealth  may bring to the attention of the United Church Council or of the Commonwealth Council any dispute to which it is a party if it accepts in advance, for the purposes of the dispute, the obligations of pacific settlement provided in the present Charter.
The proceedings of the Commonwealth Council in respect of matters brought to its attention under this Article will be subject to the provisions of Articles 11 and 12.

Article 36

The United Church Council may, at any stage of a dispute of the nature referred to in Article 33 or of a situation of like nature, recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment.
The United Church Council should take into consideration any procedures for the settlement of the dispute which have already been adopted by the parties.
In making recommendations under this Article the United Church Council should also take into consideration that legal disputes should as a general rule be referred by the parties to the interstellar Court of Justice in accordance with the provisions of the Statute of the Court.

Article 37

Should the parties to a dispute of the nature referred to in Article 33 fail to settle it by the means indicated in that Article, they shall refer it to the United Church Council.
If the United Church Council deems that the continuance of the dispute is in fact likely to endanger the maintenance of interstellar peace and security, it shall decide whether to take action under Article 36 or to recommend such terms of settlement as it may consider appropriate.

Article 38

Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 33 to 37, the United Church Council may, if all the parties to any dispute so request, make recommendations to the parties with a view to a pacific settlement of the dispute.

CHAPTER VII

ACTION WITH RESPECT TO THREATS TO THE PEACE, BREACHES OF THE PEACE, AND ACTS OF AGGRESSION

Article 39

The United Church Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations, or decide what measures shall be taken in accordance with Articles 41 and 42, to maintain or restore interstellar peace and security.

Article 40

In order to prevent an aggravation of the situation, the United Church Council may, before making the recommendations or deciding upon the measures provided for in Article 39, call upon the parties concerned to comply with such provisional measures as it deems necessary or desirable. Such provisional measures shall be without prejudice to the rights, claims, or position of the parties concerned. The United Church Council shall duly take account of failure to comply with such provisional measures.

Article 41

The United Church Council may decide what measures not involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call upon the Members of the Humanx Commonwealth to apply such measures. These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of surface comm., intrasystem comm., interstellar comm. , and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations.

Article 42

Should the United Church Council consider that measures provided for in Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by space, air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore interstellar peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by space, air, sea, or land  forces of Members of the Humanx Commonwealth.

Article 43

All Members of the Humanx Commonwealth, in order to contribute to the maintenance of interstellar peace and security, undertake to make available to the United Church Council, on its call and in accordance with a special agreement or agreements, armed forces, assistance, and facilities, including rights of passage, necessary for the purpose of maintaining interstellar peace and security.
Such agreement or agreements shall govern the numbers and types of forces, their degree of readiness and general location, and the nature of the facilities and assistance to be provided.
The agreement or agreements shall be negotiated as soon as possible on the initiative of the United Church Council. They shall be concluded between the United Church Council and Members or between the United Church Council and groups of Members and shall be subject to ratification by the signatory planets in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. Article 44 When the United Church Council has decided to use force it shall, before calling upon a Member not represented on it to provide armed forces in fulfillment of the obligations assumed under Article 43, invite that Member, if the Member so desires, to participate in the decisions of the United Church Council concerning the employment of contingents of that Member's armed forces. Article 45 In order to enable the United Church to take urgent military measures, Members shall hold immediately available national starship force contingents for combined interstellar enforcement action. The strength and degree of readiness of these contingents and plans for their combined action shall be determined within the limits laid down in the special agreement or agreements referred to in Article 43, by the United Church Council with the assistance of the Peace Keeping Force Committee. Article 46 Plans for the application of armed force shall be made by the United Church Council with the assistance of the Peace Keeping Force Committee. Article 47 There shall be established a Peace Keeping Force Committee to advise and assist the United Church Council on all questions relating to the United Church Council's military requirements for the maintenance of interstellar peace and security, the employment and command of forces placed at its disposal, the regulation of armaments, and possible disarmament.
The Peace Keeping Force Committee shall consist of the Chiefs of Staff of the permanent members of the United Church Council or their representatives. Any Member of the Humanx Commonwealth  not permanently represented on the Committee shall be invited by the Committee to be associated with it when the efficient discharge of the Committee's responsibilities requires the participation of that Member in its work.
The Peace Keeping Force Committee shall be responsible under the United Church Council for the strategic direction of any armed forces placed at the disposal of the United Church Council. Questions relating to the command of such forces shall be worked out subsequently.
The Peace Keeping Force Committee, with the authorization of the United Church Council and after consultation with appropriate regional agencies, may establish regional sub-committees.

Article 48

The action required to carry out the decisions of the United Church Council for the maintenance of interstellar peace and security shall be taken by all the Members of the Humanx Commonwealth or by some of them, as the United Church Council may determine.
Such decisions shall be carried out by the Members of the Humanx Commonwealth directly and through their action in the appropriate interstellar agencies of which they remembers.

Article 49

The Members of the Humanx Commonwealth shall join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the United Church Council.

Article 50

If preventive or enforcement measures against any planet are taken by the United Church Council, any other planet, whether a Member of the Humanx Commonwealth  or not, which finds itself confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of those measures shall have the right to consult the United Church Council with regard to a solution of those problems.

Article 51

Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Church, until the United Church Council has taken measures necessary to maintain interstellar peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defense shall be immediately reported to the United Church Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the United Church Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore interstellar peace and security.

GO TO PART 2 ------->

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