Amendments to the Charter of the Empire of Humanity

Amendment I
(proposed 2790, approved 2790) The Emperor has the discretion to waive the minimum Sentient requirement in Article I, Section 1 for full Membership. The Imperial Congress must confirm a Member that has this requirement waived by a majority vote before that Member receives full status.

Amendment II
(proposed 2790, approved 2791) No Imperial Law may restrict the practice of religion allowed by any member state, nor may any religious requirement be placed on Imperial Membership or Citizenship, as long as the member or Citizen accepts the Charter and Laws of the Empire.
A religion may perform any practice required by its tenets, even if such practices result in harm or death of the practitioner, as long as that practitioner is a voluntary adherent of the religion.
Outside a Member world with an established state religion, no religion may forcefully convert a Sentient being to that religion. Imperial authorities may not forcefully convert or remove an adherent from any religious practice.

Amendment III
(proposed 2792, approved 2794)
To clarify Article II, Section 7, the Emperor has full discretion to control the distribution of Imperial funds without regard to the economic status of the Member worlds contributing those funds.

Amendment IV
(proposed 2794, approved 2794)
The borders of a Member state will extend to the gravitationally bound domain of the Member state’s most massive body, or a sphere with a radius of one standard light year from that most massive body, whichever is smaller.

Amendment V
(proposed 2830, approved 2831)

All Imperial Citizens have the following rights under Imperial Law:

The right to protect one-self from self incrimination
The right to protection from infringement of privacy and seizure of evidence without a specific warrant
The right to remain free of imprisonment if not charged with a crime within one standard week of incarceration
The right to a trial within one standard year of a charge levied
The right to property except as confiscated through conviction
The right to protection from double jeopardy wherein the Citizen is charged with the same or essentially similar charge for the same crime
The right to protection from excessive penalties and cruel and unusual punishments.

Amendment VI
(proposed 2846, approved 2846)
The legitimately recognized government of a Member of the Empire may request Imperial intervention to support it in the event of an insurrection against that government. The Emperor as trustee of the Empire and of peace and security must address this request and take appropriate action to reestablish order and unity for the requesting Member.

Amendment VII
(proposed 2850, approved 2851)
For the purposes of the decadal Census enumeration, the Ministry of Commerce will count a world’s current residents and Imperial service personnel not otherwise enumerated. This resident count will include all living Imperial Citizens, all living resident Sapiens, all living residents of recognized sapient races, and all living fundamentally biological Constructs of acceptable sapient capabilities and a design lifespan of at least twenty-one standard years. The Census will not enumerate individuals in who have been in hibernation for over one standard year before the enumeration date, nor individuals declared physically dead, but whose sentience has been preserved artificially, including, but not limited to, members of the Mechanist movement, unless such members are returned to an essentially biological state by the time of the Census enumeration.

Amendment VIII
(proposed 2944, approved 2946)
Life Therapy as a nanomechanical alteration treatment intended to transform an individual into a Homo Nobilis genetic pattern will be restricted to those who have received a Noble patent from the Emperor and concurrent approval for such treatment. Unauthorized Life Therapy treatment is an Imperial capital crime and is punishable by death for the recipient of the treatment and for the provider of the treatment.

Amendment IX
(proposed 2995, approved 2995)
In addition to the terms and conditions of Article I, Section III, a Minor race may only be inducted into the Empire if it has achieved technology capable of space travel. For the purposes of this Amendment, space travel is defined as the demonstrated capability to place an individual of that species into orbit around its home world and to return that individual safely to its world.
No Ministry or any private party within the Empire may overly contact a race that has not achieved Minor status, except as allowed for military purposes during a state of war.
All sentient races that do not meet the required criteria for Minor Status will be considered Protected.
All protected systems are subject to monitoring and quarantine by elements of the Ministries of Science, Defense or Justice, as deemed appropriate by the Emperor.
If a Protected race achieves Minor status, as determined by the Ministry of Science, the Emperor has the discretion to authorize contact with the race and the Emperor has further discretion to authorize an offer of Minor Race status and membership in the Empire. The Emperor may also authorize continued Protected Status for the race in question.
Races already deemed Minor by previous arrangements are exempt from these provisions.

Amendment X
(proposed 3015, approved 3015)

The Empire of Humanity will establish an Imperial High Council:

The Imperial High Council will be composed of all Member worlds that have a Census Office certified population of over one million qualifying residents (as specified by Amendment VII) and that have been occupied for at least one hundred standard years. The Census of 3020 will determine the initial composition of this body, and subsequently qualifying Members will join the Imperial High Council on the first day of the year following the Census of their qualification.
The Imperial High Council must convene at least one session each calendar year on the Imperial capital world of Terra. Each Member state is responsible for the assignment of its Representative and delegation. The Imperial High Council is responsible for determining its own rules of order and internal processes. Unless otherwise specified in this Amendment, one-half of the total Membership will constitute a quorum.
Superceding Article II, Section 1, both the Imperial High Council and the Imperial Congress must confirm an Imperial Heir or Regent by a simple majority vote.
Superceding Article II, Section 2, if the succession of the Emperor is in doubt, the Imperial High Council may appoint a new Emperor by a vote of two-thirds of the Membership present, provided that the voters for the new Emperor equal at least one half of the total Membership of that body. The Imperial High Council must continue to vote until a claimant receives the necessary votes and is qualified for the office as specified in Article II, Section 1. The choice of the Imperial High Council must be confirmed by a simple majority of the Imperial Congress.
Superceding Article II, Section 3, a vote for impeachment remains the prerogative of the Imperial Congress, which will retains the responsibility of forming an investigating committee to determine the validity of the charges as outlined in the Imperial Charter under Article II, Section 3. The trial of the Emperor will be conducted before the Imperial High Council, with the Imperial Congress Investigating Committee prosecuting and the President of the Imperial High Council adjudicating. The full body of the Imperial High Council will stand as jury, requiring a vote of three-quarters of present members and two-thirds of the total Membership of the Imperial High Council for removal. The Imperial High Council will appoint a new Emperor as specified in Section 4 of this Amendment.
A duly appointed Representative of the Imperial High Council, but not the delegation, is subject only to the laws of the Empire and the laws of the High Councilor’s Member state.
Amendments to the Imperial Charter must be proposed by the Emperor and approved by a two-thirds vote of the entire Membership of the Imperial Congress and two-thirds vote of the entire Membership of the Imperial High Council.

Amendment XI
(proposed 3117, approved 3119)

Human Citizens of the Empire should not be of Artificial origin:

Homo Nobilis and Homo Sapiens residents of Imperial worlds or within Imperial jurisdiction will not be conceived by artificial means outside a female womb, nor grown to infancy or beyond outside a female womb, nor genetically modified after conception except to correct medically recognized defects. All Humans conceived or modified in violation of this Amendment after its ratification will not have the rights or privileges of Imperial Citizenship and will not be considered residents of the Empire by the Census Office. The Emperor may personally grant dispensation and Citizenship to an artificially created Human on an individual basis.
Artificially created mechanical or biological physical entities will not have the rights or privileges of Imperial Citizenship. Only substantially Human capable, mostly biological Constructs of a design lifespan of at least twenty-one standard years will be considered residents for the purpose of Census Office enumeration. The Emperor may personally grant Citizenship to a Construct on an individual basis.
Artificially created virtual, non-localized or transferable Entities will have no rights or privileges under Imperial law. The Census Office will not count such Entities in any enumeration, nor can the Emperor grant citizenship to such Entities.
All Artificially conceived Homo Nobilis or Homo Sapiens Humans existing prior to the enactment of this Amendment retain all preexisting rights, privileges and Citizenships, including the right or opportunity to inherit wealth or position. All Construct Sentients previously granted Citizenship by Imperial decree will retain such Citizenship.
All non-Human Imperial races may establish culturally appropriate restrictions on reproduction and legal status, though no Imperial rights or enumeration will be granted to Entities that fall under Section 3 of this Amendment.

Amendment XII
(proposed 4155, approved 4155)
The Established Imperial Orders of Knighthood will consist of non-Nobilis Imperial Citizens appointed to this exalted position by the Emperor. Such appointment can only be rescinded by the Emperor for conviction of Imperial crimes or for gross dishonor to the office or to the Empire. The Orders may determine their internal governance as they see fit, but the Commander of each order is subject to Imperial approval in selection and retention in that position.
The Order of the Emperor's Sword rewards members of the Imperial Military for exceptional service and is expected to provide the Emperor and Minister of Defense guidance in the selection of Officers to High Regional and Sector Command.
The Order of the Golden Seal rewards members of the civilian Ministries for exceptional service and is expected to provide the Emperor and his Ministers guidance in the selection of trusted Imperial officials and ambassadors.
The Order of the Imperial Sun rewards scholars and philosophers for exceptional contributions to Imperial society and is expected to provide the Emperor and his Ministers guidance of matters of science and philosophy.
The Order of the Emperor's Banner rewards those whose service to the Empire in any capacity is exceptional; they receive the Emperor' gratitude and are expected to serve as examples for others.
The Order of the Gryphon rewards the bravery of those who heroically risk their lives to fight for the Empire; they receive the Emperor's gratitude and are expected to serve as examples for others.

Amendment XIII
(proposed 4155, approved 4155)
The Emperor will appoint an individual to the permanent position of Chair of the Cabinet. The Emperor may hold this position, or may appoint any Imperial Citizen to serve at the Emperor's discretion.
The Chair is responsible for holding at least one full meeting of the Cabinet per year to formalize budget and policy decision for the coming year.
The Chair will assume the duties formerly performed by the Offices of Prime Minister and Chief of Staff and will be responsible for the smooth functioning of the top levels of the Imperial government.
The Chair will report the State of the Empire to the Imperial Congress and High Council annually.

Amendment XIV
(proposed 4155, approved 4156)
Modifying Article I, Section 1, a Member world of the Empire of Humanity will have a minimum population of one million Sentients. This change is effective as of the 4160 census for new Members and as of the 4250 census for existing Members, though the Emperor retains the right to grant Membership to worlds with smaller Sentient populations as specified in Amendment I.
Modifying Amendment X, Section 1, a new Member World of the Imperial High Council must have a population of fifty million Sentients effective as of the 4160 census and have been settled for at least two hundred years. This change is effective as of the 4250 census for existing Members of the Imperial High Council.

Amendment XV
(proposed 4155, approved 4156)

The Empire will be divided into seven Regions, as defined by Imperial Edict 3413-0102:

The Central Region will remain under the bureaucratic control of the Office of the Empire through the Chair of the Cabinet.
The six Frontier Regions will be under the bureaucratic control of a Viceroy appointed by the Emperor and confirmed by the majority of a Regional Council composed of the qualifying Member worlds of that region.
Each Frontier world will have a Capital world, nominated by the Emperor and confirmed by the majority of that Region's Council.
The Emperor will retain full fiscal control of the regional bureaucracies and may remove a Viceroy at his discretion at any time.
A Viceroy may be impeached for gross misconduct by a two-thirds vote of the Regional Council.

Amendment XVI
(proposed 4155, approved 4157)
Neither the Imperial Ministry of Justice, nor the the Emperor or the Ministry of Defense during times of peace may impose capital punishment for any crime on any legal Imperial Citizen or Resident Sentient. No Member government or Regional body may impose capital punishment for any crime on any legal Imperial Citizen or Resident Sentient. Punishments which have the likelihood of death as their direct result are likewise banned by this Amendment.

Amendment XVII
(proposed 4155, approved 4157)
Expanding on Amendment V, any Imperial Citizen has the right to request trial by officials of the Ministry of Justice and under the accepted practices of Imperial Law for any crime which a Member jurisdiction considers felonious or punishable by greater than five years imprisonment or the confiscation or entanglement of more than one tenth of the Citizens' wealth.

Amendment XVIII
(proposed 4155, approved 4157)
Members of races or foreign governments recognized by the Ministry of State and legally traveling or residing with the Empire of Humanity will have the same legal status as Residents of the Empire and may become citizens of the Member worlds or the Empire itself regardless of racial or Artificial origin. The Ministry of Colonization may deny permission to colonize worlds within the Empire to members or organizations comprised substantially of individuals who are not members of recognized Imperial Major Races.