Preamble
We, the Prince Electors and Imperial Assembly of
the Holy Roman Empire, as an independent Micronation with limited
internal sovereignty, set forth this Constitution to establish the
structure of our governing institutions and national organization. We
hereby declare our Micronation to stand as an official successor
state to and spiritual heir of the ancient Holy Roman Empire
which was dissolved in 1806 AD. As a micronation the Holy
Roman Empire hereby sets this Constitution as the foundation of our
governing institutions and common society. The Holy Roman Empire shall
stand as an international community dedicated to restoring the
Spirit of the Western World. As a part of this mission we shall seek
to promote and study the ancient Roman Empire from the coronation of
King Charlemagne until the time of its historical dissolution.
As the spiritual heir to the ancient Holy Roman
Empire our micronation shall endeavor to exist, in all manners
practical and acceptable, as the modern restoration of the Holy
Roman Empire. Our culture, religion, and society shall be patterned
after those of the earlier ages of the Holy Roman Empire, generally from 800
to 1300 AD.
I.
Constitutional Basis
- A. This
Constitution shall be the basic authority for all
decision-making within The Holy Roman Empire, defining the
authority of all magistracies administrating bodies, and laws
passed by the Imperial Assembly. and shall limit the authority
of all magistrates and administrative bodies, and laws passed by
the Imperial Assembly.
- B. Legal
precedence. The Founding Covenant is the ultimate law of the
Holy Roman Empire. After that this Constitution shall be the highest legal
authority within the Holy Roman Empire. Nova Roma, apart from edicts issued by a
legally appointed dictator. It shall thereafter be
followed in legal authority by edicta issued by consuls
acting under the Senatus consulta ultima, laws properly
voted and passed by one of the comitia, decreta
passed by the collegium pontificum, decreta passed
by the collegium augurum, Senatus consulta, and
magisterial edicta (in order of descending authority as
described in section IV of this Constitution), in that order.
Should a lower authority conflict with a higher authority, the
higher authority shall take precedence. Should a law passed by
one of the comitia contradict one passed by another or
the same comitia without explicitly superseding that law,
the most recent law shall take precedence.
- C. This Constitution shall serve as the bylaws for
Nova Roma, a legally incorporated entity in the state of Maine,
USA (hereafter referred to as "the corporation"). The conduct
and procedures of the Board of Directors and the officers of the
corporation shall be according to the guidelines and strictures
set forth in this Constitution. The Board of Directors of the
corporation shall be composed of the Senate of Nova Roma (as
described in Section V of this Constitution), and the officers
of the corporation shall be composed of the magistrates of Nova
Roma (as described in Section IV of this Constitution), as
follows:
- 1. The co-presidents of the corporation shall be
the consuls of Nova Roma;
- 2. The co-vice-presidents of the corporation
shall be the praetors of Nova Roma;
- 3. The co-treasurers of the corporation shall be
the quaestors of Nova Roma;
- 4. The co-secretaries of the corporation shall be
the censors of Nova Roma.
- D. This Constitution may be altered by law passed by
the comitia centuriata; such alterations to this
Constitution must be ratified by a vote of two-thirds of the
entire Senate before they shall take effect. The edicta
of an appointed Dictator may also alter this Constitution,
subject to ratification by the Senate.
- E. The use of male pronouns and technical terms
within this Constitution is done solely for clarity, and shall
not be construed to imply any disparity between genders before
the law.
II.
Citizens and Gentes
- A. Citizenship
- 1. Any person 18 years old or older may apply for
Citizenship.
- 2. Citizens may apply for Citizenship on behalf
of their children or legal wards (as defined by relevant
macronational law) under the age of 18. Such Citizens shall
be known as impuberes.
- 3. Citizenship is open to anyone regardless of
ethnic heritage, gender, religious affiliation, or sexual
orientation.
- 4. Citizenship may be involuntarily revoked by
those means that shall be established by law, or may be
voluntarily relinquished by notification of the censors or
by public statement before three or more witnesses.
- 5. Impuberes may have their Citizenship
relinquished on their behalf by their parent or legal
guardian (as defined by relevant macronational law) by
notification of the censors or by public statement before
three or more witnesses.
- B. The following rights of the Citizens who have
reached the age of 18 shall be guaranteed, but this enumeration
shall not be taken to exclude other rights that citizens may
possess:
- 1. Complete authority over their own personal and
household rites, rituals, and beliefs, pagan or otherwise;
except where this Constitution mandates participation in the
rites of the Religio Romana, such as the case of
magistrates and Senators;
- 2. The right and obligation to remain subject to
the civil rights and laws of the countries in which they
reside and/or hold citizenship, regardless of their status
as dual citizens of Nova Roma;
- 3. The right to vote in elections as members of
their various comitia on matters brought before the
People in such manner as described in this Constitution;
- 4. The right to participate in all public fora
and discussions, and the right to reasonably expect such
fora to be supported by the State. Such communications,
regardless of their content, may not be restricted by the
State, except where they represent an imminent and clear
danger to the Republic. Such officially sponsored fora may
be expected to be reasonably moderated in the interests of
maintaining order and civility;
- 5. The right of provocatio; to appeal a
decision of a magistrate that has a direct negative impact
upon that citizen to the comitia populi tributa;
- 6. The right to privacy; security in one's home,
person, and property; and authority over one's home, person,
and property. Homes may not be searched, persons may not be
detained, and property may not be seized, except by judicial
ruling or by a special provision of law;
- 7. The right to seek and receive assistance and
advice from the State in matters of religious and social
disputes occurring both within and outside the direct
jurisdiction of Nova Roma; and,
- 8. The right to pursue business enterprises
within Nova Roma through the institution of the ordo
equester (equestrian order), and the right to receive
reasonable encouragement to build a strong economy through
Roman-oriented commerce; the only restrictions being those
informational and other materials copyrighted by the State,
which shall remain the property of the State.
- C. The Orders. Even though members of the three
orders are equal under the eyes of the law, the institution of
the orders is significant enough that it is perpetuated in Nova
Roma. There are three orders into which all Citizens fall:
- 1. Ordo Patricius (patrician order)
- a. The Ordo Patricius shall consist of
a minimum of 30 families.
- b. Should there be fewer than 30 patrician
families the Senate shall have the power to nominate a
plebeian family to the Comitia Curiata for
elevation to patrician status.
- c. The Senate shall have the power to
nominate additional families to the Comitia Curiata
for elevation to patrician status if this elevation does
not cause the Ordo Patricius to exceed 5% of the
population of Nova Roma.
- d. A patrician family may allow its members
to form new patrician families.
- 2. Ordo equester (equestrian order). The
Equestrian Order shall consist of high standing citizens who
excel in their service to the Res Publica. Equestrians shall
be enrolled into the Ordo Equester as specified by laws
approved by the Comitia. (1)
- 3. Ordo plebeius (plebeian order). The
plebeian order shall consist of individuals who do not
belong to either the patrician or equestrian orders.
- D. Gentes, Domus, and Familiae.
Familiae (households) being the backbone of Roman
society, the prerogatives and responsibilities of the familia
are of primary importance to Nova Roma. Except where
specifically dealt with in this constitution and the law, each
familia shall have the right to determine its own course
of action and parents shall have the undisputed right and
responsibility to see to the education and raising of their
children.
- 1. Each gens (clan) shall be registered
with the censors, who will maintain records of gens
membership and other relevant information.
- 2. No two gentes may have the same
nomen. The censors shall be responsible for ensuring
this rule is observed.
- 3. Each gens shall consist of a minimum of
one domus (lineage).
- 4. No two domus within a gens may
have the same cognomen (surname). The censors shall
be responsible for ensuring this rule is observed.
- 5. Each familia shall have a
paterfamilias and / or materfamilias who shall
act as the leader(s) of the family and speak for it when
necessary. The holder(s) of this position must be registered
as such with the censors. The paterfamilias and / or
materfamilias may, at his, her, or their discretion,
expel members of his, her, or their familia, accept
new members into it by adoption, or allow members to form
new familiae belonging to the same order.
- a. The paterfamilias and / or
materfamilias may, at his, her, or their discretion,
exercise the rights enumerated in paragraph II.B of this
Constitution on behalf of impuberes in his, her,
or their familia, with the exception of the right
to vote (paragraph II. B. 3.) and the right to join the
Ordo Equester (paragraph II. B. 8.). (2)
- E. Tribes and Centuries
- 1. There shall exist thirty-five tribes, into
which the censors shall divide all of the citizens.
Thirty-one of these tribes shall be designated the Rural
tribes, and shall be assigned by the censors as directed by
law passed by the comitia populi tributa. Four of
these tribes shall be designated the urban tribes, and shall
be made up of those citizens who fail to vote in the annual
magisterial elections. Should a member of an urban tribe
subsequently vote in an annual magisterial election, he or
she shall be reassigned to a rural tribe.
- 2. There shall exist a number of centuries, said
number to be set by law enacted by the Comitia Centuriata
and not to exceed one-hundred ninety-three, into which the
censors shall divide all of the citizens. Until such a law
is passed, the number of centuries shall be one-hundred
ninety-three. The exact composition of these centuries shall
be determined by law passed by the comitia centuriata,
but shall be weighted in favor of those citizens who have
shown the greatest commitment to Nova Roma.
III. Comitia
- A. The comitia curiata (Assembly of Curiae)
shall be made up of thirty lictores curiati (lictors of
the curia), appointed to their positions by the
collegium pontificum (college of pontiffs). It shall be
called to order by the Pontifex Maximus, and the
collegium pontificum shall set the rules by which the
comitia curiata shall operate internally. It shall have the
following responsibilities:
- 1. To invest elected and appointed magistrates
with Imperium (which is necessary to employ
coercitio [the power to compel obedience to their
edicts], interpret and execute law, and possess the honor of
being preceded by lictors as a symbol of office), without
right of refusal individually or as a body;
- 2. To witness the appointment of official priests
and priestesses of the Religio Romana, adoptions, and
the recording of wills.
- 3. To approve or reject the elevation of a
plebeian family to the Ordo Patricius;
- 4. To approve or reject an adoption that elevates
a plebeian to the Ordo Patricius or lowers a
patrician to the Ordo Plebeius;
- 5. To approve or reject an application from a
patrician who wishes to renounce his status and become a
member of the plebeian order.
- B. The Comitia Centuriata (Assembly of
Centuries) shall be made up of all of the citizens, grouped into
their respective centuries. While it shall be called to order by
either a consul or a praetor, only the comitia centuriata
shall pass laws governing the rules by which it shall operate
internally. It shall have the following powers:
- 1. To enact laws binding upon the entire
citizenry;
- 2. To elect the consuls, praetors, and censors;
- 3. To try legal cases in which the defendant is
subject to permanent removal of citizenship.
- C. The Comitia Plebis Tributa (Assembly of the
Plebeians) shall be made up of all non-patrician citizens,
grouped into their respective tribes. While it shall be called
to order by a tribune of the plebs, only the comitia
plebis tributa shall pass laws governing the rules by which
it shall operate internally. It shall have the following powers:
- 1. To enact plebiscites with the force of law,
binding upon the entire citizenry;
- 2. To elect the plebeian aediles and tribunes of
the plebs;
- 3. To try legal cases solely involving members of
the plebeian order that do not involve permanent removal of
citizenship.
- D. The Comitia Populi Tributa (Assembly of the
People) shall be made up of all citizens, grouped into their
respective tribes. While it shall be called to order by either a
consul or a praetor, only the comitia populi tributa
shall pass laws governing the rules by which it shall operate
internally. It shall have the following powers:
- 1. To enact laws binding upon the entire
citizenry;
- 2. To elect the quaestors and curule aediles;
- 3. To try legal cases that do not involve
permanent removal of citizenship.
IV. Magistrates
Magistrates are the elected and appointed officials responsible
for the maintenance and conduct of the affairs of state. There are
two categories of magistrates: ordinarii (those who are
ordinarily elected) and extraordinarii (those who are only
occasionally appointed or elected). Qualifications necessary to hold
these positions may be enacted by law properly passed by one of the
comitia.
- A. Should an office in mid-term become vacant and
suitable candidates be at hand, an election shall be held in the
appropriate comitia to elect a successor to serve out the
remainder of the term within thirty days of the vacancy. Should
one of the ordinarii be found to be derelict in his duties, that
magistrate may be removed by a law originating in the comitia
that elected him. Elections of the ordinarii shall take place
every civil year no later than November 20th for the plebeian
offices and no later than December 15th for the curule
magistracies and other elected officials. Newly elected
Quaestores will assume office on December 5th, the tribuni
plebis and aediles plebis shall enter their offices on December
10, all other officials shall enter their offices on the
following Kalends of January. Anyone currently serving in an
elected or appointed office may complete their term and enter
their newly elected office on or after January 1. Exceptions to
these provisions regarding elections may be found in section V
of this Constitution. The ordinarii, in decreasing order of
authority, are as follows: (3)
- 1. Censor. Two censors shall be elected by
the comitia centuriata to serve a term lasting two
years, to be elected in alternate years so as to have a
one-year overlap of terms. They shall have the following
honors, powers, and obligations:
- a. To issue those edicta (edicts)
necessary to carry out those tasks in which they are
mandated by this Constitution and the law to engage
(such edicts being binding upon themselves as well as
others);
- b. To maintain the album civium (list
of citizens), including the tribe and century to which
they are assigned as described by law, and other
appropriate information regarding them;
- c. To maintain the album gentium (list
of gentes) and appropriate information regarding
them;
- d. To maintain the album senatorum
(list of Senators), including the power to add and
remove names on that list according to qualifications
set by law;
- e. To maintain the album equestrium
(lists of members of the equestrian order), including
the power to add and remove names on that list;
- f. To safeguard the public morality and honor
through the collegial administering of notae;
- 1. A nota against an ordinary
individual is sufficient to deprive that individual
of the right to vote until such time as it is
removed;
- 2. A nota against a member of the
Senate is sufficient to remove that individual from
the Senate until such time as it is removed.
- g. To appoint scribae (clerks) to
assist with administrative and other tasks, as they
shall see fit.
- 2. Consul. Two consuls shall be elected
annually by the comitia centuriata to serve a term
lasting one year. They shall have the following honors,
powers, and obligations:
- a. To hold Imperium and have the honor
of being preceded by twelve lictors;
- b. To issue those edicta (edicts)
necessary to engage in those tasks which advance the
mission and function of Nova Roma (such edicts being
binding upon themselves as well as others);
- c. To call the Senate, the comitia
centuriata, and the comitia populi tributa to
order;
- d. To pronounce intercessio
(intercession; a veto) against another consul or
magistrate of lesser authority;
- e. To appoint accensi (personal
assistants) to assist with administrative and other
tasks, as they shall see fit.
- 3. Praetor. Two praetors shall be elected
by the Comitia Centuriata to serve a term lasting one
year. They shall have the following honors, powers, and
obligations:
- a. To hold Imperium and have the honor
of being preceded by six lictors;
- b. To issue those edicta (edicts)
necessary to engage in those tasks which advance the
mission and function of Nova Roma and to administer the
law (such edicts being binding upon themselves as well
as others);
- c. To call the Senate, the comitia
centuriata, and the comitia populi tributa to
order when the Consuls are unavailable;
- d. To pronounce intercessio against
another praetor or magistrate of lesser authority;
- e. To appoint scribae (clerks) to
assist with administrative and other tasks, as they
shall see fit.
- 4. Aediles Curules (Curule Aediles). Two
curule aediles shall be elected by the comitia populi
tributa to serve a term lasting one year. They shall
have the following honors, powers, and obligations:
- a. To hold Imperium;
- b. To issue those edicta (edicts)
necessary to see to the conduct of public games and
other festivals and gatherings, to ensure order at
public religious events, to see to the maintenance of
any real public facilities that the State should
acquire, and to administer the law (such edicts being
binding upon themselves as well as others);
- c. To pronounce intercessio against
another aedile (curule or plebeian) or magistrate of
lesser authority;
- d. To appoint scribae (clerks) to
assist with administrative and other tasks, as they
shall see fit.
- e. To maintain the venues where the Ordo
Equester is engaged in commerce within Nova Roma
property. It is the responsibility of the Curule Aediles
to report any changes of the Ordo Equester to the
Censors.
- 5. Aediles plebis (Plebeian Aedile). Two
plebeian aediles shall be elected by the comitia plebis
tributa to serve a term lasting one year. They must both
be of the plebeian order and shall have the following
honors, powers, and obligations:
- a. To issue those edicta (edicts)
necessary to see to the conduct of public games and
other festivals and gatherings, to ensure order at
public religious events, to see to the maintenance of
any real public facilities that the State should
acquire, and to administer the law (such edicts being
binding upon themselves as well as others);
- b. To pronounce intercessio against
another plebeian aedile or magistrate of lesser
authority;
- c. To appoint scribae (clerks) to
assist with administrative and other tasks, as they
shall see fit.
- 6. Quaestor. A number of quaestors shall
be elected by the comitia populi tributa equal to the
number of consuls, praetors, and aediles to serve a term
lasting one year. One quaestor shall be assigned to each of
these magistrates by mutual agreement or, if such cannot be
made, by decision of the newly-elected consuls. They shall
have the power and obligation to administer those funds that
shall be allocated to them by the Senate in its annual
budget under the supervision of that magistrate to whom they
are assigned. Those quaestors assigned directly to the
consuls shall supervise the whole of the aerarium
(treasury), but no funds may be spent without the prior
approval of the Senate.
- 7. Tribuni Plebis (Tribune of the Plebs).
Five tribunes of the plebs shall be elected by the
comitia plebis tributa to serve a term lasting one year.
They must all be of the plebeian order, and shall have the
following honors, powers, and obligations:
- a. To pronounce intercessio
(intercession; a veto) against the actions of any other
magistrate (with the exception of the dictator
and the interrex), Senatus consulta,
magisterial edicta, religious decreta, and
leges passed by the comitia when the
spirit and / or letter of this Constitution or
legally-enacted edicta or decreta,
Senatus Consulta or leges are being violated
thereby; once a pronouncement of intercessio has
been made, the other Tribunes may, at their discretion,
state either their support for or their disagreement
with that intercessio.
- 1. Each Tribune may issue only one such
declaration of support or disagreement, but may
change their declaration from one to the other,
should they wish to do so.
- 2. The initial pronouncement of
intercessio by a Tribune shall count as that
Tribune's declaration of agreement.
- 3. Should the number or the Tribunes who
choose to disagree with an intercessio equal
or exceed the number of Tribunes who choose to
support it, the intercessio shall be revoked.
- a Intercessio may not be
imposed against statements of support for or
disagreement with a use of intercessio
that are issued pursuant to the preceding
paragraph.
- b The issuance and function of
intercessio shall be defined according to
procedures described by legislation passed by
Comitia.
- b. To pronounce intercessio
(intercession; a veto) against another Tribune using the
same mechanism as described in paragraph IV. A. 7. a.
above;
- c. To be immune from intercessio
pronounced by other magistrates, except as described in
paragraphs IV. A. 7 .a. and IV. A. 7. b. above;
- d. To be privy to the debates of the Senate,
and keep the citizens informed as to the subjects and
results thereof, in such manner and subject to such
restrictions as may be defined by law;
- 1 To call the Senate to order;
- 2. To call the comitia plebis tributa
to order, except when the Patrician order shall
constitute more than ten percent (10%) of the total
population, in which case the power shall be altered
to calling the comitia populi tributa to
order;
- 3. To administer the law;
- 4. To appoint scribae (clerks) to
assist with administrative and other tasks, as they
shall see fit.
- 8. Vigintisexviri (The Twenty-Six).
Collectively, the Twenty-Six shall be minor magistrates
elected to fulfill those necessary functions as shall be
assigned to them by law enacted by one of the comitia.
- 9. Apparitores (Attendants). Collectively,
the apparitores shall not be considered magistrates,
but rather shall be appointed into various decuriae
(corporations) to fulfill those necessary functions as shall
be assigned to them by law enacted by one of the comitia.
They shall include the lictores, lictores curiati,
scribae, and accensi.
- B. The extraordinarii are as follows:
- 1. Dictator. In times of emergency, the
Senate may appoint a dictator to serve a term not to
exceed six months. At the time of such appointment, the
Senate may prescribe a given task or boundaries within which
the dictator is obliged to remain. The edicts of the
dictator are absolute within his sphere of influence,
and subject to neither intercessio or provocatio.
The dictator shall hold Imperium and have the
honor of being preceded by twenty-four lictors. At the end
of his term the actions of the dictator shall be
subject to final confirmation by the Senate.
- 2. Interrex. Should both consular
positions be vacant at the same time, the Senate shall
appoint an Interrex to serve a term lasting no more
than five days. The Interrex must be a member of the
patrician order, and shall have all the powers and
responsibilities of a normally elected consul. The
Interrex shall organize new elections in the comitia
centuriata to elect two new consuls to serve out the
remainder of the previous consuls' term of office.
V. The Senate
The supreme policy-making authority for Nova Roma shall be
embodied in its Senate. The album Senatorum (list of
Senators) shall be maintained by the censors according to
qualifications set by law. The Senate shall have the following
honors, powers, and obligations:
- A. As the repository of experience and wisdom in the
affairs of State, the Senate shall have the authority to issue
Senatus consulta (advice of the Senate) on those topics
upon which it shall see fit to comment.
- B. The Senate shall exercise control over the
aerarium (treasury) and shall oversee the financial
endeavors, health, and policy of the state.
- 1. No later than the last day of November of each
year, the Senate shall prepare a budget for the following
year. This budget shall deal with the disbursement of funds
from the aerarium to the quaestors for various
purposes. Even though the quaestors assigned to the consuls
shall be responsible for the maintenance of the entire
treasury, no funds from it may be disbursed without the
prior approval of the Senate. The Senate may, as required by
changing circumstances, pass supplemental Senatus
consulta to modify the annual budget.
- 2. The Senate may, by Senatus consultum,
impose taxes, fees, or other financial requirements on the
citizens in order to maintain the financial welfare of the
state.
- C. The Senate may, by Senatus Consultum,
create provinciae for administrative purposes and appoint
provincial governors therefor, who shall bear such titles as the
Senate may deem appropriate. The Senate may review each governor
on a yearly basis and it remains in the discretion of the Senate
whether or not to prorogue such governors, although this review
shall not constitute a ban on the authority of the Senate to
remove governors from office as its discretion. Governors shall
have the following honors, powers, and obligations:
- 1. To hold imperium and have the honor of
being preceded by six lictors solely within the jurisdiction
of their respective provinciae;
- 2. To proclaim those edicta (edicts)
necessary to engage in those tasks which advance the mission
and function of Nova Roma, solely within the jurisdiction of
their provinciae (such edicts being binding upon
themselves as well as others);
- 3. To manage the day-to-day organization and
administration of their provinciae;
- 4. To appoint officers to whom authority may be
delegated, subject to those restrictions and standards as
the Senate shall deem appropriate;
- 5. To remove officers whom they have appointed,
or make changes to their titles and/or delegated authority,
subject to those restrictions and standards as the Senate
shall deem appropriate.
- D. Should a magistrate's office become vacant during
the course of his term, the Senate may appoint a replacement to
serve out the remainder of the term should there be less than
three months remaining therein.
- E. The Senate shall have the power to issue the
Senatus consultum ultimum (the ultimate decree of the
Senate). When in effect, this decree will supersede all other
governmental bodies and authorities (with the exception of the
dictator) and allow the Senate to invest the consuls with
absolute powers to deal with a specific situation, subject only
to their collegial veto and review by the Senate. Even under the
authority of the Senatus consultum ultimum, the consuls
may only temporarily suspend this Constitution; they may not
enact any permanent changes hereto.
- F. The Senate may, by Senatus consultum, enact
rules governing its own internal procedures (such Senatus
consulta may not be overruled by laws passed in the
comitia).
VI.
Public Religious Institutions
- A. The Religio Romana, the worship of the Gods
and Goddesses of Rome, shall be the official religion of Nova
Roma. All magistrates and Senators, as officers of the State,
shall be required to publicly show respect for the Religio
Romana and the Gods and Goddesses that made Rome great.
Magistrates, Senators, and citizens need not be practitioners of
the Religio Romana, but may not engage in any activity
that intentionally blasphemes or defames the Gods, the
Religio Romana, or its practitioners.
- B. The priesthoods of the Gods of Rome shall be
organized as closely as practical on the ancient Roman model.
The institutions of the Religio Romana shall have
authority over religious matters on the level of the state and
nation only, maintaining the religious rites of the State and
providing resources pertaining to the Religio Romana
which Citizens may make use of if they choose. Nova Roma shall
approach all other religions with a syncretistic outlook,
offering friendship to all paths which acknowledge the right of
those who practice and honor the Religio Romana to do so
and respect the beliefs thereof. Only Citizens of Nova Roma may
be members of the public institutions of the Religio Romana,
which shall be organized, and have their responsibilities
divided, as follows:
- 1. The collegium pontificum (college of
pontiffs) shall be the highest of the priestly collegia.
It shall consist of the Pontifex Maximus, fourteen
Pontifices, twelve flamines, six Sacerdotes
Vestales, and the Rex and Regina Sacrorum.
The collegium pontificum shall appoint its own
members. The collegium pontificum shall have the
following honors, powers, and responsibilities:
- a. To control the calendar, and determine
when the festivals and dies fasti and dies
nefasti shall occur, and what their effects shall
be, within the boundaries of the example of ancient
Rome;
- b. To have ritual responsibilities within the
Religio Romana; and general authority over the
institutions, rites, rituals, and priesthoods of the
public Religio Romana;
- c. To issue decreta (decrees) on
matters relevant to the Religio Romana and its
own internal procedures (such decreta may not be
overruled by laws passed in the comitia or
Senatus consultum).
-
- 2. The Collegium Augurum (College of
Augurs) shall be the second-highest ranked of the priestly
Collegia. The eldest member of the Collegium
shall be the Magister Collegii. The Collegium
Augurum shall consist of nine Augurs, five from the
Plebeian order and four from the Patrician order. They shall
be appointed by the Collegium Pontificum, and shall
hold their offices for life, excepting in cases of
resignation of office, resignation of citizenship, or loss
of Assiduus citizenship by process of law.
Resignation of office or citizenship by an Augur must be
made in writing to the Pontifex Maximus and the
Magister Collegii; the Pontifex Maximus and
Magister Collegii shall be informed in writing of any
process of law by which such an Augur has lost
citizenship. Augurs who have resigned their office, resigned
their citizenship, or have lost their citizenship by process
of law shall remain sacri in their persons but may
exercise no augural powers or functions, nor shall they be
accounted members of the Collegium Augurum.
- a. The collegium augurum shall have
the following honors, powers, and responsibilities:
- 1. To research, practice, and uphold the
ars auguria (the art of interpreting divine
signs and omens, solicited or otherwise);
- 2. To issue decreta (decrees) on
matters of the ars auguria and its own
internal procedures (such decreta may not be
overruled by laws passed in the comitia or
Senatus consultum).
- b. Individual augurs shall have the following
honors, powers, and responsibilities:
- 1. To define templum (sacred
space) and celebrate auguria (the rites of
augury);
- 2. To declare obnuntiatio (a
declaration that unfavorable and unsolicited omens
have been observed that justify a delay of a meeting
of one of the comitia or the Senate).
- 3. Other institutions and priesthoods may be
instituted, and the rules for such set, by the collegium
pontificum, in accordance with the ancient models of the
Religio Romana as practiced by our spiritual
ancestors.
As a historically based Micronation
with a structure modeled on the period of 600 to 1200 AD, the
Holy Roman Empire works to manifest explore and revive the various
aspects of Western Culture from those periods. We believe that
some of the Western Spirit has been lost as various aspects of
Western Culture have been abandoned in favor of technology and
consumer based society. Cultural activities that once enriched
the Western World are now all but lost, and can only be regained
through active participation.
The government of the Holy Roman
Empire encourages the formation of cultural groups and functional
Guilds that can bring to life the activities that built Western
Civilization and enriched the Western Spirit.
Our
cultural interests include:
Religious activity
Philosophy
Astrology
Alchemy
Literature and Writing
Arts and Sciences
(including painting, sculpture, fiber arts, woodworking and
metal working, etc.)
Architecture and Engineering
Agriculture
Herbology and Folk Medicine
Civic History and Reenacting
Military History and Reenacting
Genealogy
Heraldry
Music
Culinary arts
We are happy to associate and
partner with historical groups, organizations and societies which
explore the cultural heritage of the Medieval Western World, please
send inquiries to
sacrumimperiumromanum@gmail.com . |