The Edicts of Edlhus

A. The NationStates family is sovereign in Edlhus

B. Edlhus is Role Play focused, but does engage in Game Play

C. Residents of Edlhus are expected to conduct themselves in and out of character cordially and respectfully

D. While competition between families is expected in character, residents of Edlhus will remain civil with each other

E. A family’s own rules are paramount within that family, while The Edicts of Edlhus and The Code of Comport take precedence within Edlhus between families.

A. The Imperator

1. The Imperator is the monarch, executive, and World Assembly Delegate of Edlhus
2. The Imperator is elected every six months by a majority of those Great Houses that are voting
3. Each Great House may cast only one vote for Imperator
4. Only one member from each of the top three Great Houses by point total may stand for election to the office of Imperator
5. All elections for Imperator are conducted by the Patriarch
6. The Patriarch will also be the Imperator for the first six months after the founding of Edlhus. Thereafter, no member of the Patriarch’s House may become the Imperator, unless there is no member of a qualified Great House willing to become the Imperator
7. As the executive of Edlhus, the Imperator is responsible for conducting the military affairs, foreign affairs, internal affairs, and World Assembly affairs of the region
a. Regional policy and initiatives with regard to these are set by the Imperator
b. The Imperator may appoint officers to a Privy Council to assist in the execution of their duties
c. These officers serve at the pleasure of the Imperator

B. The Great Houses

1. The Great Houses are the legislature and electoral body of Edlhus
2. Any family which has at least one citizen in Edlhus, agrees to follow both The Edicts of Edlhus and The Code of Comport, and
has been in existence for at least six months is a Great House
a. The Patriarch may promote to Great House any house in existence for less than six months, provided it has at least one citizen
in Edlhus and agrees to follow both The Edicts of Edlhus and The Code of Comport
3. Each Great House may cast only one vote for Imperator
4. Periodically, the Great Houses shall choose one from among them, designated as the Chancellor, who will organize and lead the regional business of the Great Houses
5. As the legislature of Edlhus, the Great Houses shall have the duty and responsibility of creating laws for Edlhus
a. Proposals are made law by an affirmative vote of a simple majority of those Great Houses voting
b. Chancellors are also elected by simple majority vote of those Great Houses voting
c. On all proposals and in all elections, each Great House, including the House of the Patriarch and that of the Imperator, shall receive one and only one vote. This in no way takes away from any of the powers of these offices
d. No law may be enacted that contradicts the Edicts of Edlhus or the Code of Comport
e. The Imperator may veto any law enacted by the Great Houses
f. The Imperator’s veto may be overridden by an affirmative vote of ¾ rounded up of all of the Great Houses
6. Each Great house is entitled to appoint one of its members Bishop

C. The Patriarch

1. The Founder of Edlhus is the Patriarch
2. The Patriarch creates and maintains the Code of Comport, with the advice of the Bishops
3. Any change to the Code of Comport made by the Patriarch may be vetoed by a unanimous vote of all of the Bishops
4. The Patriarch, with the Bishops, is the judiciary of Edlhus, trying all cases and interpreting all laws, the Edict of Edlhus, and the Code of Comport
5. For any trial, the Patriarch may choose to either try the case or to assign it to be tried by one of the Bishops
6. If any House brings forth a question of interpretation of a law, the Edict of Edlhus or the Code of Comport, the Patriarch leads the whole body of Bishops in rendering a decision
a. The Patriarch receives one vote
b. Each Bishop receives one vote
7. The Patriarch awards and deducts House Points based on the Code of Comport
8. The Patriarch maintains a Ledger of House Points
9. When it comes time to elect a new Imperator, the Patriarch notifies the Great Houses of those eligible to stand for election
10. The Patriarch maintains The Order of Precedence and notifies the region of any changes
11. With the Bishops, the Patriarch conducts any ceremonial Role Play

A. The Code of Comport is the collection of the region’s rules of etiquette, behavior, and participation, which are the basis for awarding and deducting House Points

B. Although a separate founding document, the Code of Comport is of equal stature to the Edicts of Edlhus

An Amendment to the Edicts of Edlhus may be proposed by the Imperator, the Patriarch, or by any three of the Great Houses. To be enacted, the proposed Amendment must receive the affirmative vote of the Imperator, the Patriarch, and at least ¾ of the Great Houses