Imperial Act of 1872 (Principia Moderni III Map Game)

The Imperial Act of 1872 was a piece of reform legislation designed to counter the causes of the Italian Civil War should they spread to other parts of the Roman Empire or return in Italy. The Act mandated that each individual state of the Empire had its own legislative branch of elected officials rather than rely solely on officials appointed from either the native monarchy or from the Imperial government in Constantinople.

While successful in reforming the Empire and accomplishing what it set out to do, the Act is noticable for its language, particularly towards Reme and the Holy Roman Empire. At the time of the Act's drafting, a Fascist government ruled the Imperial Senate, and having fought the Italian Civil War, the Fascists wanted to ensure that such things never happen again and that the Empire's claim over its former colony was codified as law. It proved to be irrelevant, as the Fascist government was voted out en masse in 1875 and the following Illuminati government voted to recognize Reme as an independent nation in 1878.

State Legislatures
Upon the passage of this document, all of the esteemed and noble states of the Roman Empire will adopt a legislative form of representative government alongside the existing form of constitutional monarchy present in each of the various states. These legislatures will hold elections at a similar time as those of the Imperial government.

Creation of the Metropolis Administrative Unit
Upon the passage of this document, the cities of Constantinople, Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Reme will be seperated from the states of Greece, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Israel, and Chowanoke, respectively. The capitals of Greece, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Israel, and Chowanoke will be moved to Athens, Florence, Cairo, Damascus, Jaffa, and Pomeiock, repectively. Each city will be under the direct authority of the Imperial government, much in the way that the Exarchates are. However, each former state will also have a say in who is selected to manage the city. As a result, both the Imperial Senate and the local state legislature must approve of the candidate before the candidate may assume office.

Creation of the Council of the Patriarchs
Upon the passage of this document, a third branch of government will be created composed of the five patriarchs of the original pentarchy of Constantinople, Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. Furthermore, the Bishop of Reme will be raised to the status of Patriarch when this is deemed applicable.

This council will serve as a court of law as well as a court of mediation, deeming what each law means as and how each law relates to the constitution and whether the law is constitutional or defies the constitution. In addition, the council will serve as a mediating agent when disputes between the monarchy and senate or between the states and the imperial government and deciding who is acting most in line with the constitution.

Latin as an Official Language
To help expand the feeling of mutual cooperation and remember the two great languages that once dominated the world, Latin will be made an official language alongside Greek following the passage of this document. This will be instituted in the Imperial government and departments thereof.

Passage
Upon approval of both houses of the Imperial Senate and the approval of the Emperor, the Imperial Act of 1872 will become official law as an addendum to the Imperial Roman Constitution. From thenceforth it will be treated as a part of the constitution and have supremacy over all Imperial and state law as well as being subject to the same provisions for amendment or removal.