THE CONSTITUTION OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Preamble:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article 1

Section 1

1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section 2

1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of all members of Virtual Congress except those elected to higher office or are members of the Supreme Court. Higher office includes the President, Vice President, Senate and the Supreme Court. Cabinet members do not qualify as a higher office and may participate in house functions.

2. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section 3

1. The Senate of Virtual Congress shall be composed of two Senators from each district. The total number of Senators shall be 2 multiplied by the number of districts. As new members join they will be randomly placed into one of the five districts. Members are not able to choose or transfer between districts.

2. Districts shall only be added at the discretion of the Administration of Virtual Congress but may only be filled at the next Senatorial election.

   1. No district shall be dissolved without two-thirds of that district cosenting by vote and that process may only be initiated by the Administration of Virtual Congress..

3. Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided equally into two groups, class 1 and class 2. The class of Senator has no distinction except its election date.

4. Senators shall be elected to a term of two months beginning from their election into office.

5. The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Congress, but shall have no Vote, unless they are equally divided. The Vice President is not able to cast a tie breaking vote to end debate on a bill. The ending of debate requires a 60% majority vote.

6. The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

7. The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of 70% of the Members present.

8. Judgment in Cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Section 4

1. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators, shall be prescribed by the Administration of Virtual Congress; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations. The Administration of Virtual Congress shall be responsible for publicising a schedule, timetabling the time, place, and manner of all elections for the current calendar month.

2. The first election of Class 2 Senators shall be the 10th of April. Subsequent elections will be two months from the previous and coincide with that month’s presidential election on the 10th. Senators shall assume office two days after the election at noon Eastern Time

3. The first election of Class 1 Senators shall be the 10th of May. Subsequent elections will be two months from the previous and coincide with that month’s presidential election on the 10th. Senators shall assume office two days after the election at noon Eastern Time

4. In the event of a vacancy of either seat, a special election is to be held within seven days of that seat’s vacation.

Section 5

1. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

2. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate by simple majority, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within five Days after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it.

3. Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section 6

1. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.

2. To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

3. To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

4. To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

5. To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

6. To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

7. To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

8. To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

9. To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

10. To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

11. To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

12. To provide and maintain a Navy;

13. To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

14. To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section 7

1. The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

2. No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

3. No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid.

4. No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

5. No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

6. No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

7. No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States.

Article II

Section 1

1. The Executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of six weeks, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows.

2. The Times, Places and Manner of holding elections for the President, shall be prescribed by the Administration of Virtual Congress. but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations. The President shall assume office two days after the election at noon Eastern Time. The Administration of Virtual Congress shall be responsible for publicising a schedule, timetabling the time, place, and manner of all elections for the current calendar month.

3. All political parties, having been formally recognized by the Administration of Virtual Congress must hold a convention on the 5th of every month to choose a nominee to represent their party. The two nominees, Presidential and Vice-Presidential Nominees, of each party will be the only candidates on the ballot on election day, put forward by each party. Independents can run for election of the president but must receive pledged support from 6 independent members of congress to qualify for the ballot. An independent member of congress can only pledge to one person. A congressman who is a member of a party cannot pledge to an independent for the purpose of being placed on the presidential ballot. All pledges must be submitted by the candidate to the Administration of Virtual Congress by the 5th of the month.

4. In the case of the removal of the President, the Vice President will become President and can appoint another Vice President with the consent of the House of Representatives.

5. Whenever the President transmits to to President pro tempore and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as acting President.

6. Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:—“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

7. The President can only issue an Executive Order if they are exercising the power handed to them by this Constitution or by Congress.

Section 2

1. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment or in action taken by the Administration of Virtual Congress.

2. The President shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors and Judges of the Supreme Court and any lower courts.

3. The President shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the House of Representatives to appoint up to 6 cabinet positions of their choosing. No Senator or Justice of any Court may be appointed to a cabinet position for the duration of their office.

4. The President shall have Power, without the Advice and Consent of either body of Congress to appoint up to three political advisors.

Section 3

1. The President shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Section 4

1. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, Inactivity, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article III

Section 1

1. The Judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, consisting of 5 members. At the discretion of the Supreme Court, an inferior court, consisting of three members, may be created. No Justice shall serve concurrently in both Courts.

2. Those appointed as a Justice to the inferior Court shall be nominated by the President and confirmed by a simple majority of the Senate.

3. Justices in either court shall hold lifetime appointments unless they step down from the position or are tried and convicted of Impeachment by the House of Representatives and Senate, respectively, and as described herein.

Section 2

1. The Judicial Power of the Supreme Court shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution.

2. Unless a lower Court has been created, the Supreme Court shall enjoy original jurisdiction over all matters described here.

3. If a lower Court is created, the procedures to file and appeal lawsuits shall be mandated by the courts, together, and shall have the full weight of the law.

Section 3

1. Treason against the Virtual Congress, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

2. The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury.

Article IV

Section 1

1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each member of congress to the public Acts, Records, and Judicial Proceedings of every branch of government. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. This does not restrict private deliberative discussions regarding decision making, judicial reasoning or executive privilege.

Section 2

1. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

2. The admittance of a new state requires a 3/5th vote of the house and 2/3rds vote of the senate and the signature of the President.

3. The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Article V

1. The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the House of Representatives, Provided that no District, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Article VI

1. All elections will be held for 24 hours.

2. On the 11th of each month, each party will choose a leader from within their party to represent them in the new session of Congress. On the 12th, Congress will vote between the party leaders on who becomes Speaker in the new session of Congress. Once the election is over, the person that wins the majority, becomes Speaker and the second place party leader will become Minority Leader.

3. Members of Congress are able to change their party at any time except for the period between the 1st and 13th of the month.

4. In the event of a tie in the General Election, the Speaker of the House will become acting President and the House of Representatives shall convene to elect one of the presidential candidates to become President. This voting must be open 24 hours and certified by the principal officer of the House before being made official.

5. A member who is a President or Vice President must recuse themselves from Moderator, Admin, Top Admin, or any position not described herein that may execute the Administrative powers of the Virtual Congress.

6. Moderators, Administrators, and Top Administrators shall recuse themselves of their position during the presidential campaign if they are running.

7. All members of the server must register to vote by a date determined by Administrators every month. The registration period must be open no shorter than 72 hours and be completed by the 5th day of the month which the election occurs.

8. Any law impacting an election will be enacted on the 15th of the month.

9. The Administration of Virtual Congress can only act on server rules and Discord rules.

10. The Administration of Virtual Congress is delegated the responsibility of coordinating and organizing Virtual Congress and ensuring the rules as laid by administrators for appropriate behavior are followed. The role of Admin is to foster a strong Virtual Congress and to let as many issues be handled ‘in sim’ as possible.

11. The Administration of Virtual Congress reserves the right to temporarily or permanently ban members of Virtual Congress and will be as transparent as possible when dispensing punishment.

Bill of Rights

The first 16 amendments, 18th, 19th, 21st, and 24th amendment of the US Constitution will still apply in this Constitution. The amendments not included were related to elections which have been changed in this Constitution for Virtual Congress related reasons.

Unless otherwise specified, any law that has been passed by Congress and signed by the President of the United States of America as of 12/11/2019 already exists and has been passed by our virtual government.

27th amendment

1. All votes called in the house have a maximum length of 24 hours.

2. The result of a vote may be called after a minimum of 12 hours have elapsed from the time the voting started provided that:

   1. There is unanimous support either for or against the bill or resolution being voted upon.

   2. All debate on the vote has come to a conclusion in the opinion of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

3. The result of a vote can be called after 18 hours have elapsed since the start of the voting provided that:

   1. The difference between the number of Ayes and Nays is greater than 15 votes.

   2. All debate on the vote has come to a conclusion in the opinion of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

4. No early result can be called when either/or:

   1. The difference between the number of Ayes and Nays is less than 15 votes.

   2. All debate on the vote has not come to a conclusion.

5. The result cannot be called early if 22 hours of voting have elapsed.

6. Constitutional amendments are exempt from Section 2:I, Section 2:II, Section 2:III, Section 2:IV and Section 2:V of the 29th amendment and must be given the maximum of 24 hours of voting time.

7. The vote will be considered void and invalid is:

   1. The Speaker calls the vote early and does not fit within the guidelines of the 29th amendment.

   2. The speaker calls the result of a vote early when debate over the legislation in question is still ongoing.

   3. The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives must declare the result of a vote as quickly as they can after the 24 hours have elapsed. Failure to do this will require the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives to justify to the house at least one good reason, as specified in Section 3 of the 29th amendment, for their delay or absence.

   4. If one hour after the maximum time of 24 hours has elapsed and the result has not been called and the speaker does not have a valid reason for absence as stated in Section 3.

8. If a vote is considered void and invalid due to the Speaker violating any rules laid down in Section 2:VII of the 29th amendment then a revote must take place within 7 days of the original vote starting.

9. If the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is seen as continually and purposefully violating the provisions laid down in Section 2:VII of the 29th Amendment then the supreme court can rule on whether the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is fit for their office. This is only advisory and for the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives to be removed from office a formal impeachment case must be brought forward.

Section 3:

1. Good reasons for delayed declaration of the result of a vote include:

   1. Sickness

   2. Religious reasons

   3. Bereavement

   4. School work

   5. Paid work

   6. Voluntary work

2. If another reason other than those listed in Section 3:I is given, then the following occurs:

   1. The Supreme Court will rule on whether the reason for absence given by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is valid.

      1. If found as being valid then the Vote is valid and not void.

      2. If found as being invalid then the vote must be retaken along the rules stated in Section 2:VIII

3. If no reason is given than a revote is held along the lines of Section 2:VIII

28th Amendment

Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than one month of a term to which a different individual was elected President, shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. This Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2. This Article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of Congress Members within three months from the date of its submission to the states by the Congress.

Section 3. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

29th Amendment

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two months after the date of ratification.