The Constitution

Preamble

We, the people of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia, united by hope, peace, and enlightenment, do establish this Constitution to safeguard our land, honor our values, and guide our future as a sovereign nation.

Article I

The full and official name of this nation shall be Duffian Republic of Uhopia, commonly referred to as Uhopia. The Duffian Republic of Uhopia is a sovereign micronation, with area of 8.225 acres, surrounded by the United States of America. The flag contains horizontal stripes of colors yellow, blue, and green, as well as a dove of color black. The color yellow shall represent the fields of wheat and sun that surround us, as well as represent enlightenment for our nation. The color blue shall represent the ancient Duff’s Fork, as well as represent peace in our relations with foreign nations. The color green shall represent the noble Hope Forest, as well as represent hope for the future of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia. The dove shall represent hope and peace in our nation. The color black shall represent the mourning of the loss of George Stultz. The official motto of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia shall be “By Duff Swill, By Hope Slaw”. The official coat of arms of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia shall feature a shield of colors yellow and light green, with a dark green stalk of wheat and a dark blue paw print, and a black pine tree uniting the wheat and paw print. A maroon crown sits atop the shield, with light gray text reading “The Duff”. RuthOinge StultzBaumann lays atop the crown. George Stultz sits as a guardian on the left of the shield, and Trisha Stultz sits on the other side. The official currency of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia shall be the Duffin, issued in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. Subdivisions of Duffins are known as Fuddings, with 100 Fuddings equal to 1 Duffin. The designs of the Duffins feature notable liberal figures, as well as unique landmarks in and related to Uhopia.

Article II

A person will be considered a citizen if they either are born on the land of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia or are invited to become a citizen by the government. People may also apply for citizenship if they wish. The rights of said citizens are as follows: The freedom to express oneself as they wish, the freedom to worship as they wish, the right to decline a search, and the right to vote for members of government and on issues. Uhopian citizens also have responsibilities to their nation. These responsibilities are as follows: Respect the native foliage, remove any invasive plants, care for animals, and maintain peace upon the land.

Article III

The Duffian Republic of Uhopia is under a Selective Democracy. When a decision is being made, the leader can choose whether to have an Election of the People or make an executive decision. However, if the latest five decisions were made executively, there must be an Election of the People. The leader of Uhopia is known as The Duff, no matter their name or gender. When referring to The Duff directly, they are called Your Duffyness. There is no term limit for The Duff, however each term has a length of two months. The Duff’s powers shall now be stated: The power to create laws, the power to approve pardons, the power to declare war, the power to negotiate treaties, the power to officially recognise foreign nations, the power to represent our nation or send a representative to do so in foreign exchanges, and the power to appoint and remove Cabinet members and judges. Presidential Elections to decide The Duff will be held on the third Sunday of every other month. The newly elected Duff will begin term two days later. If a majority of citizens decide they dislike the current Duff, they may choose to hold a Surprise Election to vote in a new Duff. Elections that The Duff chooses to have on decisions are known as Elections of the People. They may be held at any time. To be eligible to vote, you must be a citizen. Non-humans may vote.

Article IV

The Duff may create and pass laws directly or hold an Election of the People. Citizens may propose and initiate new laws if a majority population agrees. They may also propose and initiate changes to laws if a majority of citizens support it. During floods, The Duff must demand evacuation of Duff’s Fork. During fires, evacuation of the area in immediate danger is required. In the event of a tornado, all citizens are required by law to flee to Duff’s Shelter of Hope, in the basement of Duff Manor, the building in which the government is located. In the events of any other disaster, The Duff may decide how to keep the people safe. Punishments differ in severity. The punishment for polluting Duff’s Fork is typically up to a year in prison, while the punishment for picking marigolds around Duff’s Delectable Dump is typically up to 1 month in prison.

Article V

The boundaries of Uhopia are as follows: The field of wheat to the east of Duff’s Manor  is the Eastern Border, the field of wheat on the northwest of Duff’s Manor is the Western Border, the road to the northeast of Duff’s Manor is the Northern Border, and the Southern Border is two and a half Duff’s Manors behind Duff’s Manor. Hope Forest is a large forest to the north of Duff’s Manor. It is approximately one and a half hectares large. It is a protected native area, and therefore removal of native plants is a high crime. Removal of invasive plants, however, is not a crime, and citizens may do so freely. Duff’s Fork is an ancient creek that runs through Hope Forest. It can be visited through Duff’s Landing and the surrounding area. It is a highly worshipped creek, and therefore water pollution or littering is a high crime. Duff’s Delectable Dump, also known as Hope’s Jardín, is the National Garden of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia. Picking vegetables before they have finished growing is a low crime. Picking marigolds surrounding the garden is a low crime as well. The firepit is near a path leading to Duff’s Fork. It holds the Great Fire of Duff. The ash in the firepit is sacred and illegal to steal. Many plants reside in Duff’s Manor. The defacing or uprooting of these plants is a high crime. All land is public, except for Duff’s Manor and all other houses. Many animals live in the Duffian Republic of Uhopia. They are considered as equivalent to humans, and harming one shall result in the same punishment as one would receive for assault.

Article VI

Independence Day in Uhopia is on May 15th every year. It is celebrated with a party around the Great Fire of Duff. Many also celebrate June 12th and 13th as Removal Day and Renewal Day, respectively. Together, they are known as the Days of Moving. July 24th is also celebrated by some. This holiday is known as Adoption Day. The official language of our nation is Saw, however English, Spanish, Russian, and German are recognized languages as well. The cultural values of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia are as follows: Peace, hope, enlightenment, creativity, smartness, and unity.

Article VII

The oath of office for The Duff, known as The Duffian Oath, shall now be recited: “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good, will protect and defend the Constitution of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia, I will execute the role as The Duff, and I will faithfully serve Uhopia.” The National Anthem of the Duffian Republic of Uhopia shall now be recited: “We rise with The Duff, where birds fly free, Hope and peace and unity, Duffian Republic of Uhopia, Uhopia, Hope Forest, Duff’s Fork, Fields of wheat, Grass, Is, An emerald sheet, Enlightenment, Creativity, By Duff’s will, by Hope’s law, We stand as one, without a flaw, Our marvelous flag, Independence day and, The Great Fire of Duff, We shall forever, Uphold Uhopia.”

Closing Statement

This Constitution shall guide Uhopia with wisdom and hope. May all future Uhopians uphold its spirit and safeguard the land we call home.