Emperor adopts Imperial Cipher
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Jonathan I has adopted an Imperial Cipher for use as a personal emblem or seal where the Imperial Standard is inappropriate. The cipher consists of a double-headed eagle, holding a sword and a globus cruciger, and bearing the letters “J I I” – “Jonathan I Imperator”. When used in heraldry or as a flag, the cipher will have a background of imperial purple. It is planned for the cipher to mainly be used as a seal to authenticate papers. The cipher is based on that of the late medieval Roman emperors of the Palaialogos dynasty. Jonathan I is not the first Austenasian emperor to adopt an imperial cipher; Declan I did so in June 2012, and Esmond III used one in an unofficial capacity from August 2010 onwards.
National motto amended
In an Imperial Edict passed earlier today, Emperor Jonathan I made an amendment to the national motto of the Empire. Since July 2011, the national motto of Austenasia had been “Imperator et Populum Austenasiae” (Emperor and People of Austenasia), based on the emblematic “S.P.Q.R.” of the Roman Empire. However, it recently became known that the phrase was grammatically incorrect. “Populum” should instead have been “Populus”, and was changed to such earlier today. This change will require a new depiction of the national coat of arms to be published, on which the motto is displayed.
Two new Crown Dependencies join the Empire
An Act of Parliament was passed yesterday morning which saw two new Crown Dependencies join Austenasia. The first, Imperia, consists of a residential property bordering India. Imperia’s five residents – one of whom, Ketan Uzagi, has been appointed its Governing Commissioner – have raised the Austenasian population to eighty six people. With the annexation of Imperia, Austenasia now has land on every continent of the world except for Antarctica. The second Crown Dependency to have joined the Empire yesterday was Esmondia, named after the former Emperor Esmond III. This new addition is bordered by Argentina, and administered by Tarek Kârjasary. In December last year, Kârjasary established the Crown Dependency of Achem, but in August moved from his former home to Argentina, making government of Achem impossible. Esmondia has therefore been founded to replace it, with Achem dissolved yesterday.
Military reform act passed
Emperor Jonathan I yesterday gave Imperial Consent to the Armed Forces Act 2015. The Prime Minister, Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy – the author of the legislation – released a statement briefly describing the main points of the Act: “The Armed Forces Act 2015 has codified the rank structure of the Armed Forces in a code similar to that used by the United States Armed Forces, has completely reformed the ranks of the Imperial Air Force, and has established the Joint Administrative Chiefs for the overall administration of the Armed Forces during peacetime.” The Austenasian Armed Forces (AAF) are comprised of the Austenasian Army, the Imperial Navy, and the Imperial Air Force (IAF). The new legislation also adopted flags for the three branches of the AAF. The Austenasian Army currently has 27 personnel, the Imperial Navy has 18, and the Imperial Air Force has 6.
Independence weekend celebrated
This weekend saw the Empire celebrate seven years of independence. Independence Day took place on Saturday 19th as the third Saturday in September, but the actual seven year anniversary of Austenasia’s foundation was on Sunday 20th. A military parade was held in New Richmond, and celebrations also took place in Terentia and Thanasia. The occasion was also observed by many of Austenasia’s foreign ambassadors. Emperor Jonathan I travelled back to Wrythe for the weekend from Roehampton, where he recently started his third and final year of a university course. As is customary, an honours list was published by the Emperor on Independence Day. Recipients of honours included Queen Carolyn I of Ladonia, who was knighted into the Order of the Bullmastiff, and King Adam I of Überstadt, who was granted the title Duke of Washington. Meanwhile, Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy published a speech as Prime Minister, which can be read here. Sunday 20th also saw constitutional amendments, approved by a referendum and by Parliament, come into force at one second past midnight.
Parliament approves constitutional amendments
The First Amendment to the Austenasian Constitution of 2011 has now been approved by Parliament and will enter into force on 20 September. Several amendments to the constitution (explained here) were proposed last month by Emperor Jonathan I, the first time that any change to the constitution has been formally proposed since its adoption in September 2011. Constitutional amendments require approval in a referendum and the approval of over 80% of the Representatives in Parliament. The Monarch must also give their consent. A referendum held on 31 August had 89.47% of voters (with a turnout of 77.55%) support the amendments. An Act of Parliament was soon proposed to implement the amendments, to which nine out of the ten Representatives would have to support in order to reach the threshold of over 80%. As soon as the ninth Representative gave their support last night, the Emperor granted Imperial Consent to the Act, making it law. Now that Parliament has approved of the amendments, they will come into force at one second past midnight on the morning of Sunday 20th September. In other news, the Emperor has announced that 13 September was the first day of autumn 2015 in the Austenasian calendar.
Lord Charles Clarke elected Speaker of the House of Representatives
Lord Charles Clarke, Duke of Grantabridge was yesterday elected as the first Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Act 2014 was passed in October last year, but specified that the first holder of this new office would be elected after the next local election. With the local election that took place on 31 August now over, the Representatives – newly confirmed in their mandate – chose Lord Charles as the first Speaker. The duties of the Speaker will be to preside over and maintain order of meetings of the House of Representatives, recognising motions and counting votes. To date, this function had been de facto performed by the Monarch or Prime Minister. Lord Charles Clarke has served as Representative of Lichtenstein since that Town’s foundation.
89% approve proposed constitutional amendments
A referendum held yesterday saw proposed amendments to the Austenasian Constitution of 2011 approved by a majority of 89.47%, while local elections held at the same time saw all incumbent Representatives re-elected. Out of the 49 subjects eligible to vote in the referendum, 38 did so, a turnout of 77.55%. Three votes (7.89%) were cast in abstention, and only one person (2.63%) voted against the proposed amendments. The main amendments which had been proposed were explained for the benefit of voters in a YouTube video which can be seen here. Now that the amendments have been approved by referendum, they must be approved by Parliament. A requirement of over 80% of Representatives to be in favour of any constitutional amendments means that if more than one of Austenasia’s ten Representatives opposes the changes, they will not be able to be passed. Should Parliament approve the amendments, they will come into force at one second past midnight on the morning of Sunday 20th September. Alongside the voting for the amendments was voting for Representatives, with local elections taking place at the same time. All the incumbents were re-elected, and under the provisions of an Act of Parliament passed in October last year, the Representatives will shortly choose from amongst themselves a Speaker to help moderate parliamentary proceedings.
Incumbents stand for local elections
Yesterday saw the end of the week-long period during which those wishing to stand for election as Representative at the end of the month could announce that they would be doing so. In each of the ten Towns of Austenasia, the incumbent Representative or Acting Representative was the only person who announced that they would be standing. This scenario was not unexpected. On Twitter, Emperor Jonathan I wrote that the nation-wide lack of competition for the office of Representative showed “local elections every five years makes far more sense than every two years”, referring to one of the constitutional amendments that will also be voted on at the end of the month. As only a single candidate is standing in each Town, voters will have the option to cast an Abstain vote under the terms of an Imperial Edict passed in 2013. Should there be more votes to abstain than for the candidate in any Town, a new vote will be called for that Town in which more people will be encouraged to stand. The candidates for each Town are as follows: Wrythe: HIM Emperor Jonathan I Zephyria: Lord Marshal William K., Baron of Zephyria Thanasia: HIH Eritoshi, Countess of Memphis Palasia: Lord John Gordon, Baron of Zephyria Lichtenstein: Lord Charles Clarke, Duke of Grantabridge Porthbokon: Lady Evren Filgert, Duchess of Dumnonia New Richmond: HIH Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, Count of Greater Richmond Shineshore: Lord Rear Admiral Alastair Cranston, Duke of New Virginia Terentia: Lord Vice Admiral Eren (formerly Jacob) Lewis, Baron of Terentia Harenfall: Lord Sivert MacLean, Duke of Redcaster
Referendum for constitutional amendments to coincide with local elections
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor yesterday promulgated an Imperial Decree which ordered a referendum to take place on 31 August in which all Austenasian subjects will be able to vote on proposed amendments to the Constitution. Local elections will also take place on 31 August, in which each Town will choose who to serve as its Representative in Parliament. Several of the proposed amendments are little more than corrections to mistakes in the spelling and grammar of the Constitution, which was adopted in September 2011. The main amendments which have been proposed are: Local elections shall take place at least once every five years instead of at least once every two years. Local elections will be able to take place in Towns individually. At present, all Towns have their local election at the same time. The structure of the judicial system will be able to be reorganised by Parliament (it currently being entrenched by the Constitution). Parliament will be able to make provision for whom the Throne should pass to should the Line of Succession come to an end. The Monarch will be able to temporarily suspend the Constitution should there be an emergency so severe (an “existential threat to the state”) that normal government becomes completely impossible. Subjects will have the option to vote Yes, No, or Abstain to the proposed changes. Should over half of all Austenasian subjects vote Yes, then an Act of Parliament will be proposed to put the amendments into effect, which will require the support of over 80% of Representatives to pass.