The Empire of Septempontia

Shawn by the grace of God Emperor of Septempontia, count of Hesperia, Protector of the People and Defender of their Faiths, Lord of the Rivers and Bridges, to all his loyal subjects alike noble and common, greetings.

Know ye that, having regard for our Empire and our people, and being humbly grateful for the trust and confidence lately reposed in us by our good subjects by the articles of the Fundamental Law, and earnestly desiring to fulfill our duty under it, namely, the safeguarding of their lives and rights, we have therefore granted as underwritten by advice of the illustrious men and women Alan, prince of Grønbjerg, Louis Raymond, duke of Houston, Jennifer, margravine of Dwakenhäm, Greg Gollinger, Jacqueline Cipa, Christina Napolitano, Matthew Kehrt, and others, our liegemen.

1. In the first place we have granted to our subjects, and confirmed for us and our heirs forever, that every citizen is entitled to hold whatever religious convictions his conscience may dictate, or none whatsoever, without fear of reprisal; and no one shall be compelled by law to participate in or profess any religious ritual which is contrary to his convictions.
2. The city of Pittsburgh shall have all its ancient liberties and free customs, as well by land as by water; furthermore, we decree and grant that all other cities, boroughs, towns, and ports shall have all their liberties and free customs.
3. Every citizen is entitled to publish his thoughts in speech and in writing, and in the press, without fear of reprisal, except for those expressions which are both false and defamatory.
4. No village or individual shall be compelled to make bridges at river banks, except those who from of old were legally bound to do so.
5. Citizens shall be permitted to peacefully assemble without prior permission; however, officers of the law may be present at any meeting in a public place to ensure that the peace is kept, and to ensure that the assembly does not disrupt traffic or legitimate commercial activities.
6. No constable or other bailiff of ours shall take corn or other provisions from anyone without immediately tendering therefor money, or other commodity agreeable to the seller, unless he can have postponement thereof by permission of the seller.
7. No sheriff or bailiff of ours, or other person, shall take the horses or carts, or the automobile, of any freeman for transport duty, against the will of the said freeman.
8. The right of citizens to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall be issued without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
9. All kydells shall be removed from the Allegheny and the Monongahela, and throughout all Septempontia, except upon the seashore.
10. No citizen shall be subject to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb for the same offense; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
11. To no one will we sell, and to no one will we refuse or delay, right or justice.
12. Let there be one measure of wine throughout our whole realm; and one measure of ale; and one measure of corn; and one width of cloth; of weights, also, let it be as of measures.
13. Every citizen accused of an offense shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, and to be confronted with the witnesses against him, and to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his defense, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
14. All merchants shall have safe and secure exit from the Empire, and entry to the Empire, with the right to tarry there and to move about as well by land as by water, for buying and selling by the ancient and right customs, quit from all evil tolls; the tolls of our Turnpike being right and proper, and enforced for merchants of Septempontia and foreign realms alike.
15. The ancient Tunnels of Laurel Hill, Ray's Hill, and Sideling Hill, and what measure of ancient and disused Turnpike passes through them and between them, including the Service Plaza of Cove Valley, are sovereign property of the Crown and shall not be molested, nor entered into or upon for any purpose, save that of recreating peaceably therein, and preserving them harmless for posterity.
16. It shall be lawful in future for anyone (excepting always those imprisoned or outlawed in accordance with the law of the Empire, and natives of any country at war with us) to leave our Empire and to return, safe and secure by land and water.
17. No one shall be held accountable for an action which was not illegal at the time of its commission; nor shall excessive fines be required, or cruel and unusual punishments be inflicted, against anyone convicted of a crime.
18. We will appoint as justices, constables, sheriffs, or bailiffs only those who know the law of the realm and mean to observe it well.
19. Those forests which were established before our reign we shall guarantee and protect, and not disafforest any, nor suffer any infringement or trespass upon the same; provided always, that we shall permit our subjects to recreate peaceably therein, with no harm to the forest or its creatures.
20. All Septempontians are entitled to the rights and freedoms set forth in this our Charter, without distinction, regardless of their sex, or ethnicity, or religious affiliation, or sexual preference or identity, or political or any other opinions.
21. And we give and grant to our subjects the underwritten security, namely that if we, or any one of our officers, shall be at fault towards anyone respecting this our charter, and the offense be notified to two of our peers, or four commoners, or one peer and two commoners, the said persons shall repair to us or our chancellor, and petition to have that transgression redressed without delay. And if we shall have not resolved the matter within thirty days, reckoning from the time it has been intimated to us or our chancellor, the persons aforesaid shall refer that matter to the rest of our peers and our subjects, and they shall, together with the community of the whole empire, distrain and distress us in all ways possible within our micronation, saving harmless our own person, and the persons of our empress and children, and of our mother; and when redress has been obtained, they shall resume their old relations toward us.

[Enacted by Imperial Edict No. 11 of 2004, 5 Sep 2004]