The Senate has voted in favour of a referendum on March 1st in which the people of the Empire will vote on three proposals for constitutional amendments.
These proposals were put forward by the Prime Minister, Lord Andrew Creed, as part of a platform of constitutional reform.
Any of the three proposals which gain the necessary support in the upcoming referendum will be cumulatively known as the Fourth Amendment.
The first proposal would reform the position of Prime Minister. Although the current election cycle will be kept in place, if a Prime Minister resigns and their Deputy succeeds to the premiership, then the Deputy will no longer be titled as “Acting” Prime Minister; that role will be reserved for a Deputy Prime Minister temporarily taking power. Furthermore, should both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister’s offices fall vacant, the highest-ranking Government Minister would assume the premiership.
The second proposal would remove the requirement for the Monarch to be a practising baptised Christian, requiring only that they respect and uphold the state religion. At present, some members of the Line of Succession – including the Heir to the Throne himself, Crown Prince Shiro – would be unable to ascend the Throne should that choice fall to them due to not being practising Christians, despite being happy to respect the nation’s majority faith.
The third and final proposal would implement reform to the Senate. Briefly put, the position of Senator would be held for five-year terms instead of for life, and the office of Princeps Senatus would be elected by the Senators instead of automatically being held by the longest-serving one.
Austenasian voters will be contacted shortly regarding the referendum, with early voting able to take place from Saturday 22nd.
As a prospective constitutional amendment, the above-mentioned three proposals have also received the approval of the Monarch and of a near-unanimous vote of the House of Representatives (twelve in favour, two not voting). The approval of the People is the final step required by law to amend the Constitution.
