IN THE NAME OF THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN, FROM WHOM IS ALL SOVEREIGNTY AND TO WHOM IS ALL GLORY, WE THE SPIRITUAL REMNANTS OF THE CONFUCIAN COMMONWEALTH, MOST RECENTLY MANIFESTED IN THE DAEHAN EMPIRE, SCATTERED ACROSS THE WORLD,
Affirm that throughout the annals of time, the Sovereign has governed All-Under-Heaven, and the civilised, dwelling within their realm, have upheld peace over the uncivilised, whilst the uncivilised, residing beyond the frontiers, have ministered to the civilised. It is always unacceptable for the uncivilised to dominate the civilised and govern All-Under-Heaven.
Emphasise that the era of Daemyeong, nestled between two periods of barbarous conquest, was not an age of darkness, as alleged by its critics. Conceived by the Hongmu Emperor, Daemyeong—the Commonwealth of Great Illumination and of the Sun and the Moon—triumphantly dismantled the oppressive regime of the Dai Ön ulus by ousting uncivilised colonialists from Hwaha, shattering the brutal grip of the once-mighty Mongol Empire across the Eurasian continent.
Recall that in the grand tapestry of the celestial realm, the Daemyeong Empire ushered forth an era of Pax Myeongea, upholding its timeless vow to refrain from encroaching upon fifteen neighbouring realms; embracing commerce with distant dominions through the tributary system, within which the Empire graciously exchanged imperial treasures as tokens of goodwill. The Daemyeong Emperor, designated as the Son of Heaven and entrusted with the Mandate of Heaven, presided over a Confucian commonwealth, within which a civilisation of humaneness and justice flourished alongside the pursuit of poetry, learning, etiquette, rituals as well as sacred music.
Affirm that under the auspices of the Yeonglak Emperor, Admiral Jeong Hwa embarked on seven voyages to the ‘West Oceans,’ reaching as far as the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa; unlike the naval ventures of European powers, Daemyeong’s maritime expeditions were dedicated to nurturing amicable ties and trade, eschewing colonial domination and military subjugation.
Acknowledge that Daemyeong was a time of significant cultural advancement. The global community marveled at the blue-and-white porcelain crafted in imperial kilns, exalting the word ‘Myeong’ as a symbol of exquisite ceramics. This period saw a surge in literacy among both sexes, nurturing a diverse literary landscape encompassing science, technology, and the arts. Esteemed literary works like The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Water Margin, and The Plum in the Golden Vase highlighted the era’s commitment to literary and artistic freedom. Evidence of ideological tolerance emerged through the ascent and eventual formal acknowledgment of Yangmyeonghak, an intellectual movement highlighting individual conscience and the universal call to sagehood, despite the prevailing state-endorsed Jujahak ideology. Daemyeong witnessed significant scientific advancements in various fields, with esteemed figures like Supreme Patriarch Sage Paul Hsu contributing to the progress of agricultural, astronomical, and technological knowledge. Advanced irrigation techniques, accurate calendars, and the publication of the Yeonglak Encyclopaedia, greatly enhanced East Asian thought.
Appreciate that the Daemyeong Empire showered the East Realm with multiple favours. From the outset, the Hongmu Emperor graced it with the dynastic title of Joseon. In a noble gesture, the Manlyeok Emperor bestowed upon the Daemyeong Kingdom of Joseon unwavering military protection and aid for national restoration during the Imjin Wars, in response to the unprovoked aggression by Toyotomi Japan. The Sungjeong Emperor graced Joseon with an East-bound rescue operation against the Manjus. In a spirit of unity and mutual respect, Daemyeong and the Daemyeong Kingdom of Joseon stood as Sovereign and vassal in principle, yet truly as father and son in deed.
Recall that starting from the time of Sage Gija, a former prince of the Sang Dynasty of Hwaha was enthroned as King Taejomunseong of Ancient Joseon. The Sage brought with him five thousand talents to the Korean Peninsula, also known as the East Realm; enlightenment had become so widespread that men had acquired an ethos of martyrdom and women a custom of chastity, such that the East Realm was known to historians as Sojunghwa. The people of the East Realm, honouring the customs of Hwaha, donning the garments of Hwaha, speaking the language of Hwaha, and embodying the etiquette of Hwaha, have transformed themselves into adherents of Hwaha, and are recognised as such by their peers. Through the ages, rulers, officials, and citizens have upheld the wisdom of Sage Confucius and the Sages who came before and after him, promoting harmony under the heavens by distinguishing good from evil, and distinguishing justice from utility; and appreciating the truisms that good governance emerges only out of good law and discipline, and vice versa.
Note that in the ninth year of the reign of the Sungjeong Emperor of Daemyeong, the chieftain of the barbaric Manjus usurped the title of ‘emperor,’ and invaded the East Realm twice in less than ten years, insulting King Injo at Namhansan, and in the aftermath, so savagely murdered the Yeonglyeok Emperor in Winnan in 1662, terminating Daemyeong altogether. Collapsing together with Daemyeong were a budding capitalism and the burgeoning of freedom of thought amongst the peasantry. As the saying goes, after the downfall of the Empire of Great Illumination, Hwaha was no more.
Recall that, verily, the Manju miscreants not only seized the very heart of civilisation but also decreed degrading mandates to shear the foreheads of men and don repulsive pigtails at the nape of their necks, along with the nomadic Manju attire throughout their newfound colony. This led to the retrogression of the civilised into the uncivilised, prolonged years of incessant conflict, stifling the nascent roots of capitalism and the enlightenment of the common folk under Daemyeong, enduring no less than two centuries of arrogant supremacy, and the enforced imposition of savage edicts; the essence of the Han and Dang has henceforth dissipated into the ether for eternity. ‘Following the barbarians’ conquest of Hwaha,’ lamented King Jeongjo, ‘the foul smell of blood has contaminated the seas, and the morals of attire and etiquette of Hwaha had evaporated in a territory of beasts.’
Affirm that the collapse of civilisation in Hwaha did not prevent the East Realm to singularly set up the Altar of Great Gratitude to venerate Daemyeong emperors, which may be described as where the mantle of Daemyeong temporarily resided. In succession of the civil and military doctrines of the ancient Sage Monarchs Yo and Sun; indeed, from rituals and sacred music, through law and policy, to attire and cultural relics, everything from Hwaha can be found in the East Realm. This prompted King Yeongjo to remark: ‘Great Illumination shines over an isolated Realm to the east of the Yellow Sea.’
Affirm that the Daehan Empire, founded in the first year of Gwangmu, was the outcome of King Gojong, hereinafter referred to as the Gwangmu Emperor, acceding to the imperial throne of Daemyeong as a former vassal monarch, under the righteous tenet of filial inheritance. The Gwangmu Emperor upheld the venerable lineage of Daemyeong, safeguarding its traditions and institutions, and asserting the sovereign prerogative of self-governance, in accordance with the illustrious customs of the Sage Monarchs Boghui, Sinnong, Yo, and Sun. Thus, he dutifully perpetuated the legacies of Han, Dang, Song, and Daemyeong.13, In the first year of Yunghui, the Sunjong Emperor, following his accession to the Throne and veneration of the Daemyeong emperors, was able to utter that the Sun and the Moon—which jointly constitute the Hanja character ‘Myeong’—would lord over the East for all eternity.
Acknowledge that in the fourth year of Yunghui, the Daehan Empire’s governance was disturbed, not by the uprising of its citizens, but by the unlawful intrusion of colonial forces. Unfortunately, Japanese colonialists aimed to seize the Eight Provinces and dismantle the Gwangmu Reform, causing profound grief. Following the national humiliation in the year of Gyeongsul, these same colonialists occupied the East Realm for three decades, rendering the Yunghui modernisation endeavour a mere aspiration unfulfilled. In the year of Yunghui’s thirty-ninth reign, the Japanese colonialist forces met their defeat, and the East Realm was set free. Yet, the Powers saw fit to partition the Realm, imposing secular republican rule upon the South and state atheistic governance upon the North. This division, erasing imperial customs and disrupting the path of succession, sowed discord within, leading to conflicts, the fading of wisdom, the crumbling of civilisation, the waning of virtues, the fracture of legacy, and the alteration of history’s truths.
Recognise that the once steadfast hand of objective moral order has been forsaken, as the embrace of hedonism has swept through every corner. The consequence is the destruction of familial bonds, and a ceaseless rebellion on every front, leaving each community ensnared in a web of moral, social, political, and economic turmoil. In the wake of secularism and atheism’s defiance of God, arose a hubristic captivation with humanity as masters of their fate, empowered to disregard nature’s order. The contemporary world lacks the sacred rituals that could humbly ground us and free us from the illusion that our era is the pinnacle of history and human accomplishments the sole yardstick of value. This deception ensnares us in relentless cycles of jealousy and hatred. To entertain the notion that morality can exist independently of the Divine is akin to supposing that trees may flourish without their essential roots. The very fabric of human civilisation teeters on the precipice of oblivion.
Proclaim that we could no longer abide in silence in the one hundred and seventeenth year of Yunghui. Thus, compelled by necessity, we gather in this Constituent Assembly to breathe new life into the commonwealth amidst the ruins of the Daehan Empire. Though ancient, the Daehan Empire’s mandate remains as fresh and vital as ever.
Declare our solemn resolve to restore the Daehan Empire, founded upon the principles of Confucian doctrine and the preservation of music, etiquette, cultural artifacts, codes, and systems passed down from the Ju to Daemyeong. In unwavering determination, we hereby christen this renewed commonwealth the ‘Myeong Commonwealth,’ in honour of the Sages’ wisdom that extols a person whose character is exemplary, ‘whose virtues are as vast as Heaven and Earth,’ and ‘whose wisdom shines as bright as the Sun and Moon.’ This being the case, there can be no obstacle to the Myeong Commonwealth succeeding the Daehan Empire in form and substance.16, Looking around the world, who else is better qualified than the Myeong Commonwealth to succeed the lineage of the Daehan Empire and accede to the Imperial Throne of the same?
Recognise that from the forty-second year of Yunghui onward, the Southern and Northern regions of the Peninsula each asserted themselves as the rightful heirs to the former lands of the Daehan Empire. We, the Constituent Assembly of the Myeong Commonwealth, do not oppose either assertion and readily acknowledge both as legitimate, sovereign nation-states. Dominance may be sought through vast territories, yet authentic moral kingship requires no such expansive domain. We, as a global, spiritual, and cultural community, pledge that the Myeong Commonwealth will uphold the Kingly Way of Humaneness, striving for effective rule with limited intervention and opposing totalitarianism, collectivism, pure-blood nationalism, selfishness, and other harmful tendencies with the doctrines of the Sages, the Gate of Propriety, and the Path to Justice.
Confirm that to safeguard the dignity that defines humanity and advance the well-being of the populace, we have unanimously determined to amend the National Constitution of the Daehan Empire promulgated by the Gwangmu Emperor into the Constitution of the Myeong Commonwealth, whose spirit is of common origin with the Grand Plan of Sage Gija, the Six Articles of the Sagely Creed issued by the Hongmu Emperor, and the Code on the Administration of the Realm of the Daemyeong Kingdom of Joseon, albeit in improved form.
Declare that this venerable Constitution invokes the Divine Logos to restrain human concupiscence, institutes a just constitutional monarchy as the symbolic personification of our pooled sovereignty, always impartial and aloof, to curb populism and extremism, champions merit over favouritism, respects the doctrines of the Sages in shaping democratic governance, enforces legal principles to combat corruption, and ensures a balanced distribution of authority to prevent tyranny. Henceforth, the principles of human rights shall imbue the longstanding institutions of the Daemyeong and Daehan Empires, serving as a noble model for posterity.
Proclaim that, through Divine intervention, the Commonwealth of Great Illumination has arisen anew from its former ruins. The Myeong Commonwealth is founded for all, charged with a sacred mission to educate and civilise All-Under-Heaven according to the doctrines of the Sages. We, recognising the consequences of wrongdoing resulting from a lack of education and cultivation, affirm that through proper nurturing and instruction of the populace, provisions of sustenance and clothing shall be secured, and they shall be free from harm. In such a state, would the need for punishments persist?
Affirm that the peoples of the Myeong Commonwealth enter into this venerable Constitution in order to promote filial piety towards our parents, respect for our elders, education of our children, harmonious living amongst fellow our compatriots, mutual assistance in times of bereavement and hardship, encouragement of virtuous deeds, discouragement of wrongdoings, cessation of disputes and conflicts, fostering of loyalty and unity, and cultivation of good citizenship, do hereby establish an ethos of humaneness and generosity.
Resolve that under the guidance of this venerable Constitution, the peoples of the Myeong Commonwealth, in one heart-mind, will shine forth as an unquenchable light showing the path towards the Grand Harmony of humanity, under which the Grand Way will prevail and the world will become one commonwealth shared by all, in which the virtuous and the competent will be elected and nominated. Members of the populace will be trustworthy and cultivate harmony with each other. They will treat not just their own parents as parents, nor their own children as children. The elderly will be cared for, those in their prime years will be able to utilise their talents, and the youth will grow healthily. Compassionate assistance will be provided to those who are widowed, orphaned, lonely, handicapped, and sick. Men and women will have fitting roles in society and the family. They will not like to see wealth lying idle, yet they will not keep it for their own gratification. They will despise indolence, yet they will not use their energies for their benefit. Consequently, selfish scheming will be repressed, robbers, thieves, and other lawless people will cease to appear, and people will no longer need to lock their gates.
ARTICLE I The Myeong Commonwealth shall perpetually stand as a free confederation steadfast in its commitment to parliamentary democracy and the rule of law under the guidance of the doctrines of the Confucian Sages, with a constitutional monarch as its locus of unity.
(1) Confucianism shall be the soul of the Commonwealth. Subject to this Constitution, the doctrines of the Sages shall be made manifest in all laws and policies the Commonwealth adopts. The persecution of any lawful religion other than Confucianism shall be prohibited.
(2) Decisions affecting the Commonwealth-at-large shall be made by the multitude, not by an individual. Should a solitary tyrant resist what is righteous, the collective wisdom and talents of the peoples of the Commonwealth will be disregarded, and disorder, lawlessness, and exposure to external threats will follow.
(3) The populace forms the bedrock of the Commonwealth, and the purpose of the Commonwealth is to serve the populace. All public powers within the Commonwealth shall be utilised to advance the common good in accordance with the divinely endowed reason and conscience of the Myeong peoples.
(4) The Commonwealth shall be a constitutional crowned republic constituted by a harmonious confederation of confederal subjects presided over by Commonwealth authorities, which include the Commonwealth Assembly, His Majesty’s Government, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Commonwealth Prosecutorate, and the Commonwealth Inspectorate, and are symbolically headed by the Emperor of the Myeong Commonwealth. Commonwealth authorities shall be responsible for ensuring the collective security and common foreign policy of confederal subjects, safeguarding their significant magnitude of self-rule in accordance with law, providing cultural and financial support as needed, and facilitating free and unhindered movement of goods, services, and workforces within the common market driven by the common currency of the Commonwealth. To promote closer ties between the Commonwealth and confederal subjects, representatives of the confederal subjects shall pay tribute to the Emperor of the Myeong Commonwealth regularly, and in return, the Emperor shall bestow significant gifts on behalf of the Commonwealth. A regular gathering of the heads of government of confederal subjects shall be called and chaired by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth to address shared concerns.
(5) Confederal subjects of the Commonwealth shall consist of Provinces, Protectorates, and Associated States. Each shall have distinct characteristics as set forth herein. Provinces shall collectively be called the ‘Celestial Realm.’ The Emperor of the Myeong Commonwealth shall serve as the Sovereign of each Province, represented by a locally chosen Governor. Provinces shall adopt Confucianism as their official religion and operate within frameworks of parliamentary democracy as outlined in their respective Provincial Constitutions modelled after this Constitution. In each Province, the Premier shall be the head of government, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly shall be the head of the legislature, the Chief Justice shall be the head of the judiciary, the Prosecutor-General shall be the head of the procuratorate, and the Inspector-General shall be head of the inspectorate. These locally selected authorities shall exercise executive, legislative, judicial, prosecutorial, and superintendent powers under their Provincial jurisdictions. Provinces shall contribute taxes to His Majesty’s Government. The Emperor of the Myeong Commonwealth shall be the Suzerain of each Protectorate, represented by a locally chosen Viceroy. Protectorates may retain their ceremonial monarchs, if any, and their own official languages and official religions. It shall operate under a parliamentary democracy governed by a Protectorate Constitution patterned after this Constitution. Protectorates shall be vested with executive, legislative, judicial, prosecutorial, and superintendent powers within their jurisdictions and contribute taxes to His Majesty’s Government. The Emperor of the Myeong Commonwealth shall be the Suzerain of each Associated State, represented by a locally selected Crown Representative. The Commonwealth shall respect the sovereignty of each Associated State over all matters not pertaining to Commonwealth affairs. Associated States may choose between monarchical and republican constitutions and retain their own heads of state, legal systems, official religions and official languages, exercise executive, legislative and independent judicial powers, including the competence of final adjudication on all cases not contesting issues relating to the common security, common foreign policy and common market of the Commonwealth; the powers and privileges of Commonwealth authorities; or the rights and freedoms enshrined in this Constitution. Associated States shall be permitted to freely enter into agreements with foreign entities on matters not reserved to the Commonwealth such as common security, common foreign policy, and the common market. Associated States shall not be obligated to pay taxes to the Commonwealth. No confederal subject of the Commonwealth may become part of another federation or confederation.
(6) Hwanggi Province, encompassing the Capital and all the Principalities and Duchies of the Commonwealth, shall host the Imperial Household, His Majesty’s Government, and other Commonwealth institutions.
(7) The admission or secession of a Protectorate or Associated State into or from the Commonwealth shall necessitate initiation by His Majesty’s Government and approval by a two-thirds majority of all members in both chambers of the Commonwealth Assembly combined. No part of the Celestial Realm may secede from the Commonwealth. His Majesty’s Government shall be vested with authority to keep a legal list of confederal subjects up-to-date.
(8) The Commonwealth shall strengthen self-government at all levels; this shall illuminate the fundamental principle of a self-reliant polity in international law. Guided by the principle of subsidiarity, in matters outside the exclusive authority of the Commonwealth, Commonwealth authorities shall intervene only when a confederal subject cannot adequately realise the goals of a proposed action, but rather, due to the magnitude or impact of said action, can be more effectively attained at the Commonwealth level.
(9) As a spiritual micronation, the Commonwealth shall always respect each United Nations member-state’s territorial boundaries and governing authority without threatening their integrity.
(10) Marriage is the embodiment of eum and yang forces and of Heaven and Earth, and is the foundation of propriety and humane governance. Male and female are prior to husband and wife; husband and wife are prior to parent and child; parent and child are prior to the monarch and the public servant. The way of husband and wife shall be permanent. The Commonwealth shall safeguard the right to marry, understood as the voluntary formation of a permanent union of husband and wife; the right of procreation; and the right to family life; all forms of sterilisation and castration shall be prohibited. The kindness of parents and filial dutifulness of offspring; decency of husbands and understandingness of wives; and gentleness of seniors and deference of juniors; humaneness of the monarch and faithfulness of public servants are ten doctrines of justice of humanity. The moral power of a populace is at its highest when appropriate respect towards deceased ancestors is shown. Governance of All-Under-Heaven shall be guided by the principle of filial piety. The Commonwealth shall promote families as the cornerstone of self-governance, foster cooperation among families, and minimise state intervention in societal self-rule.
ARTICLE II Everyone has an innate ability to become a sage. Accordingly, everyone possesses an inviolable dignity from the moment of conception to natural death.
(1) Any person who identifies with this Constitution may be acknowledged by His Majesty’s Government as a spiritual citizen, irrespective of his background. A spiritual citizen shall have the right to avail themselves of all the rights and freedoms outlined in this provision, excluding the privileges to vote and hold public office. A spiritual citizen may transition to full citizenship through an assessment process overseen by His Majesty’s Government.
(2) Everyone shall be equal before the law. From the Sovereign to every citizen, cultivating individual character equally constitutes the foundation of moral attainment.
(3) The root of All-Under-Heaven lies in the Commonwealth and the root of the Commonwealth lies in the family: There can be no security for the Commonwealth and for All-Under-Heaven if there is no security of the person. Everyone shall be entitled to the right to personal security.
(4) Everyone shall be entitled to the right to pursue happiness, including the Five Blessings: longevity, material sufficiency, physical and mental health, a virtuous life, and a peaceful death.
(5) Conscience is the knowledge of good and evil. Everyone shall be entitled to freely exercise one’s conscience.
(6) Citizens of confederal subjects shall be citizens of the Commonwealth, and shall enjoy rights and freedoms commonly recognised by international human rights law. These rights and freedoms are primarily enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of Children, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, except for those that are incompatible with this Constitution.
(7) No one shall be convicted and punished for an act that is not deemed an offence by the law, nor for an offence one has not personally committed. One is presumed innocent until proven guilty by an ordinary court of law. The right of an individual accused of committing an offense to defend himself with legal representation in open and fair proceedings shall be safeguarded. No one shall be subject to retrial or punishment for an offence for which one has already been conclusively convicted or acquitted in legal proceedings.
(8) The Commonwealth shall adhere rigorously to the fundamental norms of jus cogens, which prohibit torture, slavery, aggressive war, and genocide.
(9) Kingly governance is nothing more than dedicating a parental heart to the populace to relieve citizens from hardship and increase the wealth of citizens, in order to enhance their livelihood—what they hold most dear—so as to conserve their natural goodness. The right to private property shall be guaranteed to citizens and legal entities established by citizens in this Constitution. In the event that public authorities are required to confiscate private property lawfully, the owner shall be promptly compensated with an amount equivalent to the property’s value at that time.
(10) For citizens, everything that is not prohibited by this Constitution and the law shall be allowed.
(11) For public authorities, everything not authorised by this Constitution and the law shall be prohibited
(12) Commonwealth authorities and the public authorities of confederal subjects shall be deemed to have acted unconstitutionally if they wrongfully restricted the rights and freedoms of citizens guaranteed by this Constitution.
(13) The rights and freedoms of citizens shall not be restricted unless by way of means authorised by the above-mentioned international treaties; this provision applies equally to emergency measures, including martial law.
(14) Emergency measures shall not be deemed lawful unless they are temporary, proportionate, necessary, and regularly authorised by the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly, susceptible to review by the Supreme Court of Justice, and superintendence by the Commonwealth Inspectorate.
(15) Do not do to others what one would not have them do to one. In the exercise of their constitutional rights and freedoms, everyone shall refrain from interfering with the exercise of constitutional rights and freedoms by others.
(16) If one wills to establish oneself, establish others; if one will to prosper oneself, prosper others. Between parent and child, there shall be affection; between monarch and public servant, justice; between husband and wife, distinctiveness; between old and young, a proper order; and between friends, trustworthiness Citizens, regardless of sex, age, and status, shall respect and be fair to each other. Seniors shall be honoured and juniors shall be loved.
(17) Persons of exemplary character seek harmony in diversity. The rights of citizens to freedom of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession, and of demonstration shall be safeguarded. Everyone person abide by the constitutional Doctrine of the Mean, and avoid all excessiveness and extremism in speech and action.
(18) Virtue is the foundation of good governance, whereas law is merely a secondary instrument. Virtuous juniors ought to be esteemed, and unbecoming seniors distanced. Citizens shall be obligated to receive education to nurture the virtues of humaneness, justice, propriety, wisdom, trustworthiness, loyalty, filial piety, fraternity, temperance, compassion, fortitude, and modesty; to abide by this Constitution and the law.
(19) All traditions, practices, and institutions of the Daemyeong Empire, the Daemyeong Kingdom of Joseon, and the Daehan Empire that are consistent with this Constitution shall be upheld, preserved, revitalised, and promoted. Conversely, all traditions, practices, and institutions of the same that conflict with this Constitution, including but not limited to absolute monarchy, arbitrary arrest and detention, centralisation that undermines checks and balances, collective punishment, covert judicial proceedings, forced labour, the use of clandestine courts, the use of eunuchs in public and private institutions, political censorship, polygamy, punitive measures involving violence, conviction and sentencing without fair and public trials, and the deployment of secret police by the state, shall be strictly prohibited.
ARTICLE III By the grace of God, the Emperor of the Myeong Commonwealth, Suzerain of All-Under-Heaven, Defender of the Way, hereinafter referred to as the Sovereign, shall be the Head of the Myeong Commonwealth, Cheongja of the Confucian Religion, and Honorary Marshal of Commonwealth Security Forces.
(1) The Sovereign shall vigilantly abide by the Constitution and the law.
(2) The Sovereign shall reign with grace and dignity, facing the south in humility. Embodying truth and righteousness, honouring virtue and recognising merit, the Sovereign shall bear witness to order being maintained throughout the Commonwealth by simply allowing his robes to fall and folding his hands. The Sovereign shall carry out his kingly responsibilities with integrity and impartiality; following the Kingly Way of Humaneness free from personal bias. By avoiding self-interest and favouritism, he shall embrace the righteous Kingly Way of Humaneness. Through fairness and impartiality, the Kingly Way of Humaneness becomes wide and enduring; by remaining unbiased and fair, it becomes open and accessible. By avoiding distortion and one-sidedness, the Kingly Way of Humaneness remains correct and direct. Striving for excellence always, and constantly aiming for the highest standards.
(3) The Heart of God is supremely fair, magnanimous, and selfless; thus, the Sovereign shall uphold the Way of Heaven with a righteous and disinterested heart-mind. The Sovereign and the Consort to the Sovereign shall be politically impartial and abstain from engaging in public discourse on governmental matters. They shall be barred from voting, running for office, participating in political organisations, or promoting partisan causes.
(4) The populace shall be of the most significant importance, the Commonwealth the less, and the Sovereign the least. Heaven created the populace and set up for them a monarch as their pastor. The constitutional monarchy of the Commonwealth shall be dedicated to promoting unity among the Myeong peoples and representing the advanced civilisation of the Commonwealth to the world.
(5) The Sovereign shall have the rights to be consulted by, to encourage, and to warn the Prime Minister. Nevertheless, the Sovereign shall have no power to veto any act or decision of either or both chambers of the Commonwealth Assembly, His Majesty’s Government, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Commonwealth Prosecutorate, the Commonwealth Inspectorate, independent statutory commissions mentioned in this Constitution, and the public authorities of confederal subjects. The Sovereign shall not be answerable for his actions and his person sacrosanct. Commonwealth authorities shall be responsible for their own conduct, even if it was carried out in the name of the Sovereign.
(6) The Sovereign shall, with the advice and consent of the Commonwealth Assembly, promulgate an Act of Amendment to the Constitution and its Annex I, and other Acts of the Commonwealth Assembly. This shall illuminate the public law concept of Emperor-in-Assembly.
(7) The Sovereign shall, upon the request of the Prime Minister, decree the opening and prorogation of the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly; the dissolution of the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly and the calling for a general election; the declaration of general amnesties, particular amnesties, or sentence reductions; and the bestowing or rescinding of Commonwealth honours.
(8) The Privy Council shall be the highest advisory organ to the Sovereign. Ex officio Privy Counselors include the Supreme Patriarch; the Prime Minister, the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Second Deputy Prime Minister; the Lord Chancellor; the Lord Speaker of the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly; the Lord Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice; the Lord Prosecutor-General; and the Lord Inspector-General. The Sovereign may appoint other persons as Privy Counselors with the advice and consent of the Privy Council. The Lord Chancellor, appointed by the Sovereign for renewable five-year terms, on the recommendation of an independent statutory commission, shall serve as the Lord President of the Privy Council, the Lord President of the Confederal Council, the Secretary of Justice of His Majesty’s Government, and Lord President of the Court of Appeals and the Court of Chancery and Court of Propriety Law of the High Court in order to facilitate mutual respect between and promote better understanding of fundamental constitutional principles, especially the rule of law and judicial independence, amongst these organs of the Commonwealth. Without the advice and consent of Privy Counselors holding Cabinet positions in His Majesty’s Government, the Sovereign-in-Council may not promulgate a charter, edict, letters patent and Commonwealth delegated legislation, or make a prerogative order in relation to accession and enthronement, the adoption of a new reign era name, the investiture of peers, the interpretation or amendment of the Grand Rules of the Imperial Household, and retirement from the Throne. The organisation of the Privy Council shall be prescribed by law.
(9) The Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages, presided over by the Supreme Patriarch as the Primate of the Commonwealth, with his chair fixed in Seonggyungwan Basilica, shall be a non-partisan Confucian scholarly community that offers counsel to the Sovereign in his capacity as the Defender of the Way. The Supreme Patriarch shall be entitled to sit as a non-voting Lord Spiritual in both chambers of the Commonwealth Assembly with speaking rights and immunities identical to those enjoyed by Confederal Councillors Members of the Commonwealth Assembly. The Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages shall provide advice on speeches and legal documents to be issued by the Sovereign, in accordance with this Constitution and the sagely doctrines of Confucianism, interpreted in the tradition of Confucian-Mencian-Yangmyeonghak. It may provide advice on the compatibility of proposed laws and policies with Confucian values upon the request of the Prime Minister. It shall assist in the rituals and ceremonies of the Commonwealth. His Majesty’s Government shall bear the expenses of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages. The Sovereign shall be the Sovereign Governor of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages. The organisation of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages shall be prescribed by law.
(10) At the accession to the Throne and the announcement of a new reign name, the Sovereign shall take the following oath: ‘We [personal name] solemnly swear that We will faithfully perform the duties of the Emperor of the Myeong Commonwealth, defend and preserve the Constitution, and serve the unity of the Myeong Commonwealth with a spirit of fearlessness and selflessness. So help Us God.’
(11) Every Sovereign shall adopt no more than one reign era name during each reign.
(12) The management and financial matters of the Imperial Household shall be separate from those of the Commonwealth. The Imperial Household shall be responsible for managing its resources independently and not rely on subsidies or administrative assistance from Commonwealth authorities for activities unrelated to the performance of official duties on behalf of the Commonwealth by the Sovereign and Members of the Imperial Family. No gift or property may be given to, or received by, the Imperial Household without the consent of the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly.
(13) The Sovereign shall manage the internal affairs of the Imperial Family in accordance with the Grand Rules of the Imperial Household, which shall be made and amended by the Emperor-in-Council.
(14) The Grand Rules of the Imperial Household shall regulate the dynastic hereditary succession to the Throne of the Commonwealth among the paternal male descendants, biological or adopted, of the House of Ju founded by The Seongchi Emperor.
(15) A member of the Imperial Family shall serve temporarily as Regent to discharge the responsibilities of the Sovereign, insofar as the Sovereign is under the age of twenty-five, or is unable to discharge his duties due to illness or other reasons. The Grand Rules of the Imperial Household shall define the office of the Regent.
(16) The Sovereign shall ordinarily remain in office for life, but it may be possible to abdicate the Throne voluntarily. A former Sovereign or the living biological or adopted father of the incumbent Sovereign shall generally be entitled to use the honorific ‘Emeritus Emperor.’
(17) The Imperial Embroidered Uniform Guard, under the command of His Majesty’s Government, shall have the exclusive duty of ensuring the personal safety of the Sovereign and his immediate family, and the security of the Imperial Residence, without being granted any further authority in intelligence or law enforcement.
ARTICLE IV The Emperor-in-Assembly, also known as the Commonwealth Assembly, shall be the supreme authority and highest legislative organ of the Myeong Commonwealth.
(1) The Commonwealth Assembly shall consist of the Sovereign, the Confederal Council, and the House of the Peoples, each of which shall not be subordinated to each other.
(2) The Confederal Council shall be the upper chamber of the Commonwealth Assembly. Every confederal subject shall be entitled to appoint one Confederal Councillor as its representative in the Confederal Council regardless of its population size. The consent of the Confederal Council to a bill passed by the House of the Peoples shall be presumed unless the Confederal Council rejects it by a three-quarters majority. His Majesty’s Government may consult the Confederal Council on any matter of Commonwealth interest. The Confederal Council may debate and pass non-binding resolutions and declarations on any matter relating to the common security, common foreign policy and common market of the Commonwealth. The Lord Chancellor shall be the Lord President of the Confederal Council.
(3) The House of the Peoples shall be the lower chamber of the Commonwealth Assembly. Members of the Commonwealth Assembly, hereinafter referred to as ‘Members,’ drawn from constituencies from the Provinces and the Protectorates, shall be elected through direct elections that adhere to the principles of equality, secret ballot, universal suffrage, and first-past-the-post.
(4) The term of office of Members shall be five years, subject to the dissolution of the House of the Peoples by the Sovereign upon the request of the Prime Minister. Members of the Commonwealth Assembly may be re-elected to office.
(5) The eligibility of candidates to stand for election to the House of the Peoples shall be decided by an independent statutory commission formed by representatives from the Commonwealth Prosecutorate, the Commonwealth Inspectorate, and the Jinguk Security Council with reference to personal integrity and ability to abide by Article I of this Constitution. Incumbent military officials and officers shall not be entitled to serve as Members of the House of the Peoples.
(6) The Lord Speaker of the House of the Peoples shall be elected or dismissed by other Members of the House of the Peoples.
(7) The House of the Peoples shall practise majority rule in the exercise of its legislative powers. This shall illuminate the public law principle of autonomous law-making.
(8) The House of the Peoples may improve on existing Acts with reference to the laws of other jurisdictions.
(9) When the House of the Peoples finds that the Prime Minister or any Secretary of the Commonwealth has engaged in grave misconduct, it may issue a resolution of no-confidence with a majority vote of Members present in the Commonwealth Assembly. The said individual shall then promptly tender their resignation to the Sovereign, who shall promptly acknowledge it.
(10) The freedom of the House of the Peoples to exercise its investigative powers from interference by His Majesty’s Government and other public authorities shall be guaranteed; this shall illuminate the public law principle of checks and balances.
(11) Channels of communication are of cardinal importance to the governance of the Commonwealth: unobstructed communications lead to good governance; obstructed communications lead to chaos and catastrophes. Confederal Councillors and Members of the Commonwealth Assembly shall be immune from legal action in relation to their speeches, deliberations, and voting decisions within the four walls of the Commonwealth Assembly. Confederal Councillors and Members of the Commonwealth Assembly shall not be subjected to arrest or surveillance when attending or on their way to a meeting of the Commonwealth Assembly.
(12) The practice of sagely virtue by the Emperor-in-Assembly shall lead to the self-transformation of citizens and effortless, non-interventionist, governance. The legislative endeavours of the Commonwealth Assembly shall aim to minimise control over society, intervention in the market economy, trade, and the lives of citizens. The Acts enacted by the Commonwealth Assembly shall seek to facilitate the citizens in leading convenient lives.
(13) Civil and criminal laws shall be cautiously enacted; arbitrary imprisonment and punishment shall be prohibited; and the lives and properties of citizens shall be protected. In enacting legislation, due attention and caution shall be paid to its potential consequences on economic growth.
(14) Treaties concluded by His Majesty’s Government on behalf of the Commonwealth and ratified by a simple majority of the House of the Peoples, customary international law, charters, proclamations and letters patent promulgated by the Sovereign, the constitutions and legislation of confederal subjects shall hold the force of law; however, they shall not supersede any Act of the Commonwealth Assembly in Provinces and Protectorates. Confederal law that has direct legal effect in Associated States shall be confined to those relating the common security, common foreign policy and common market of the Commonwealth.
(15) The organisation of the chambers of the Commonwealth Assembly shall be prescribed by law.
ARTICLE V His Majesty’s Government shall serve as the supreme executive authority of the Myeong Commonwealth and shall be accountable to the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly.
(1) The Chief Counselor of the Cabinet of the Myeong Commonwealth, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Prime Minister,’ shall be Head of His Majesty’s Government of the Commonwealth, the Chief Executive of the Cabinet of His Majesty’s Government, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Security Forces of the Commonwealth. The Prime Minister shall lead the Commonwealth Public Service and be charged with the supreme responsibility of keeping the Commonwealth in good order.
(2) The Prime Minister shall be a Member of the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly elected by other Members of the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly. The Sovereign shall confirm the outcome of the election by edict.
(3) The term of office of the Prime Minister shall not be longer than that of the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly to which he belongs.
(4) The Prime Minister shall appoint the remaining of the ‘Three Dukes and Six Ministers’ of the Cabinet of His Majesty’s Government, namely, the First Deputy Prime Minister (Foreign Affairs), the Second Deputy Prime Minister (Home Affairs), the Secretary of the Civil Service, the Secretary of Finance, Trade, and Commerce, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Defence, the Secretary of Justice, and the Secretary of Health and Social Security, except for the office of the Secretary of Justice, which shall ex officio be held by the Lord Chancellor. The Prime Minister may also appoint other Ministers to the Cabinet from amongst Members of the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly.
(5) The Prime Minister shall be vested with authority to appoint and dismiss public servants. This shall illuminate the public law principle of autonomous selection of public servants. The appointment of individuals with good moral character shall lead to political stability; the appointment of those with poor moral character shall result in political turmoil.
(6) The Sovereign shall, with the advice and consent of the Prime Minister, prescribe or amend the institutional structure of executive and administrative organs, and the salaries of civilian and military officials; and issue various edicts that are necessary for the good government of the Commonwealth. This shall illuminate the public law principle of self-government.
(7) The Sovereign shall, with the advice and consent of the Prime Minister, dispatch diplomats to foreign states with diplomatic relations with the Commonwealth and authorise the signature of various international treaties and agreements. This shall illuminate the public law principle of the prerogative of the dispatchment of envoys.
(8) Upon assuming office, the Prime Minister-elect shall, in the presence of the Sovereign or the Regent, take the following oath: ‘I (personal name) solemnly swear that I will faithfully perform the duties of the Chief Counselor of the Cabinet of the Myeong Commonwealth, appoint the virtuous and competent and strive for trustworthiness and cultivate harmony. I will, to the best of my ability, ensure that the elderly will be cared for, that those in their prime years will be able to utilise their talents, and that the youth will be enabled to grow up healthily; and provide compassionate assistance to those who are lonely, widowed, and sick. I will uphold, defend, and conserve the Constitution of the Myeong Commonwealth. So help me God.’
(9) His Majesty’s Government must abide by this Constitution and the law and be responsible to the House of the Peoples of the Commonwealth Assembly: it shall implement Acts of the Commonwealth Assembly; it shall present its legislative programme to the Commonwealth Assembly through the Speech from the Throne; it shall answer questions raised by Members of the House of the Peoples; and it shall obtain approval from the House of the Peoples for public expenditure and taxation.
(10) The Doctrine of the Mean shall be the guiding principle of the modus operandi of His Majesty’s Government. In administering the Commonwealth, the Cabinet shall not be disproportionate, biased, extremist, arbitrary, or capricious.
(11) To serve the Commonwealth in a way satisfactory to the populace requires public officials of His Majesty’s Government to give utmost priority to the common good; to give central priority to special interests is to invite resistance and rebellion. In governing the Commonwealth, the Cabinet shall not abuse public power for private gain; abuse the law for special interests; and behave in corrupt and fraudulent ways.
(12) To govern virtuously is to gain allegiance from all of the Commonwealth despite governing non-interventionist. The foundation of good governance lies in accessibility to citizens and attentiveness to their needs and concerns. His Majesty’s Government shall eliminate modern slavery and adopt a low-tax policy in order to enable citizens to enjoy leisure and raise families.
(13) The cornerstone of the common security, common foreign policy, and common market of the Commonwealth shall be rooted in the principles of respecting international law, fostering peace, and taking proactive measures to prevent invasion.
(14) The Jinguk Security Council shall safeguard the right of citizens to reside in a secure and peaceful Commonwealth by coordinating defence, intelligence, and security operations. It shall be presided over by the Prime Minister and Jinguk Councillors selected by the Prime Minister from amongst high-ranking officials of the Cabinet, the Security Forces, and the Commonwealth Intelligence Service. The organisation of the Jinguk Security Council shall be prescribed by law.
(15) If the Commonwealth faces external aggression, His Majesty’s Government shall vigorously uphold the principle of Jon-hwang-yang-i (‘Revere the Emperor and Expel the Barbarians’) until the attainment of victory.
(16) The Hongmungwan Institution shall be the highest policy advisory organ of His Majesty’s Government. The Hongmungwan Institution shall provide His Majesty’s Government with non-partisan advice and evaluations of national policy.
(17) His Majesty’s Government shall oversee regular, open, public service examinations through the public service college of the Commonwealth without regard to the backgrounds of candidates, and shall widely seek talents and issue appointments whenever appropriate.
(18) Employees of His Majesty’s Government shall, regardless of personal political persuasions, execute reasonable and lawful instructions of the Government-of-the-day. This shall illuminate the public law principle of public service neutrality.
(19) The organisation of His Majesty’s Government shall be prescribed by law.
ARTICLE VI The Supreme Court of Justice of the Myeong Commonwealth shall be the highest judicial organ of the Commonwealth.
(1) The Supreme Court of Justice shall consist of the Court of Appeals, with the Lord Chancellor serving as the Lord President, as the apex court of the Commonwealth. It shall also consist of the High Court, with the Lord Chief Justice serving as the Lord President. Within the High Court, the Court of Emperor’s Bench shall handle Commonwealth constitutional, civil, and criminal trials; the Court of the Exchequer shall handle Commonwealth taxation law trials; the Court of Chancery shall administer the rules of equity of the Commonwealth at trial; and the Court of Propriety Law shall administer the rules of ritual propriety of the Commonwealth at trial. The Supreme Court of Justice shall not exercise jurisdiction over Associated States, except in cases concerning constitutional rights and freedoms recognised by the Commonwealth, the common foreign policy, the common market, and the common security.
(2) Whenever practicable, the Lord Chancellor shall abstain from presiding over any case in which there is a realistic possibility of an apparent or actual conflict of interest.
(3) A judgment of the Court of Appeals shall bind the High Court in a similar case; this shall be known as the principle of ‘like cases being treated alike’ in public law. A judgment of the Supreme Court of Justice shall bind courts in confederal subjects on all matters concerning this Constitution and Commonwealth law. In the course of adjudication, the courts may refer to precedents of international judicial bodies.
(4) The Supreme Court of Justice shall have the authority to assess the constitutionality of laws enacted by the Commonwealth and confederal subjects, disband any organisation within the Commonwealth that aims to dismantle the Commonwealth itself; and settle disputes between public authorities, as well as conflicts that may arise between public authorities and individual citizens in accordance with this Constitution and Commonwealth law.
(5) The Court of Appeals of the Supreme Court of Justice shall be vested with the power of final interpretation of this Constitution, which shall be binding on all courts of Provinces, Protectorates, and Associated States, and endowed with the status of supreme arbiter of disputes between Associated States.
(6) Judges shall be subordinated to nothing but the law. They shall, on the basis of the Constitution and Commonwealth law, exercise their conscience, which is an innate ability, to do justice with a righteous heart, administer the law fairly and with compassion, and ensure that there will be no miscarriages of justice.
(7) One who tries cases shall attempt to prevent litigation from arising. In dealing with civil cases, the courts shall facilitate social harmony by promoting mediation of disputes to facilitate settlement outside the courtroom.
(8) Judges shall adhere to the principle of transparency in dispensing justice openly. Closed trials and undisclosed judgments shall be prohibited.
(9) The selection of judges shall be based on virtue and merit. An independent statutory commission, shall, on the basis of an applicant’s personal integrity and legal achievements, determine whether to nominate him as Lord Chief Justice, Justice of the Court of Appeals, and High Court Judge. The Sovereign shall appoint a recommended candidate by edict.
(10) Judges shall remain in office until their statutory retirement age. Judges shall be prohibited from joining political parties and participating in political activities.
(11) Incumbent judges alleged to be incompetent at discharging their judicial duties or of unbecoming behaviour shall not be dismissed from their positions unless an independent committee elected by Justices of the Court of Appeals the allegations to be true.
(12) The organisation of courts at all levels shall be prescribed by law.
ARTICLE VII The Commonwealth Prosecutorate shall be the highest organ of the Myeong Commonwealth for combating corruption and prosecuting criminal conduct.
(1) The Commonwealth Prosecutorate, headed by the Lord Prosecutor-General, shall consist of the Office of Anti-Corruption and Official Misconduct Prosecutions and the Office of General Prosecutions, led by the Director of Anti-Corruption and Official Misconduct Prosecutions and Director of General Prosecutions, respectively.
(2) The appointment of the Lord Prosecutor-General, the Director of Anti-Corruption and Official Misconduct Prosecutions, and the Director of General Prosecutions shall be based on virtue and merit. An independent statutory commission shall, on the basis of applicants’ personal integrity and legal achievements, determine whether to nominate them as the Lord Prosecutor-General, the Director of Anti-Corruption and Official Misconduct Prosecutions, and the Director of General Prosecutions. The Sovereign shall appoint the recommended candidates by edict.
(3) The Office of Anti-Corruption and Official Misconduct Prosecutions, operating independently, shall possess the power to execute searches and seizures of evidence in both public and private domains upon reasonable suspicion. The Office of Anti-Corruption and Official Misconduct Prosecutions may initiate criminal prosecutions against individuals on corruption and bribery charges in the Supreme Court of Justice. It shall not be subject to external interference.
(4) The Office of General Prosecutions, operating independently, may initiate criminal prosecutions against individuals on all other charges in the Supreme Court of Justice. It shall not be subject to external interference.
(5) Every Prosecutor of the Commonwealth Prosecutorate shall serve the public interest independently, be it an Anti-Corruption and Official Misconduct Prosecutor or a General Prosecutor. When making determinations and exercising judgment, a Prosecutor shall act impartially and objectively, considering the law, the facts supported by admissible evidence, other pertinent information available to the prosecution, and any relevant policies or guidelines. A Prosecutor shall not be influenced by the desire to win or lose a particular case. Prosecutors shall bear the burden of proving the guilt of an accused individual beyond reasonable doubt. Prosecutors shall be recruited through open examinations organised by the Commonwealth Prosecutorate.
(6) Incumbent Anti-Corruption and Official Misconduct Prosecutors and General Prosecutors shall not be arrested or detained without the consent of the Lord Prosecutor-General.
(7) The organisation of the Commonwealth Prosecutorate shall be prescribed by law.
ARTICLE VIII The Commonwealth Inspectorate shall be the highest superintendent organ of the Myeong Commonwealth, endowed with the authority to investigate grievances lodged against public authorities; conduct autonomous audits of the financial undertakings of public authorities; proffer suggestions to public authorities to prevent mismanagement; and instigate legal proceedings against public authorities found to have abused their powers or engaged in arbitrary behaviour.
(1) Policy implementation is analogous to the flow of water; it should be smooth and without blunder. The purpose of the Commonwealth Inspectorate shall be to promote good governance and societal harmony.
(2) Every citizen shall have the right to lodge a formal complaint against any Commonwealth public authority with the Commonwealth Inspectorate.
(3) The Commonwealth Inspectorate, headed by the Lord Inspector-General, shall be empowered to investigate complaints regarding illegal, unreasonable, or procedurally unfair actions by public authorities; initiate inquiries into administrative deficiencies; and provide independent financial analyses to the Commonwealth Assembly.
(4) If the finds that a public authority has violated the Constitution or Commonwealth law, it may initiate legal action against the authority in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Justice.
(5) The Commonwealth Inspectorate shall have the right to review documents held by public authorities, with the exceptions of the Supreme Court of Justice and the Jinguk Security Council, to assess maladministration and recommend corrective actions.
(6) The Commonwealth Inspectorate may advise the Sovereign on matters concerning the speeches and behaviour of the Sovereign and the Imperial Family. In case of disagreement, the Sovereign must provide written justifications for the dissent.
(7) The appointment of the Lord Inspector-General shall be based on merit and virtue. An independent statutory commission shall evaluate candidates’ integrity and achievements before nominating one of them for the position of Lord Inspector-General, to be appointed by the Sovereign by edict.
(8) Public Inspectors of the Commonwealth Inspectorate shall be chosen through open examinations conducted by the organisation.
(9) Current Public Inspectors of the Commonwealth Inspectorate may not be arrested or detained without the consent of the Lord Inspector-General.
(10) The structure and functions of the Commonwealth Inspectorate for Public Governance shall be defined by law.
ARTICLE IX This Constitution, as a coherent whole, shall have direct legal effect on Commonwealth authorities and in every confederal subject of the Myeong Commonwealth. Any law or decision of Commonwealth authorities or confederal subjects that are incompatible with this Constitution shall be null and void; this shall illuminate the principle of a government of laws, not of man.
(1) This Constitution, its Preamble, Text, and Annex included, serves as a moral compass and a blueprint for governance; it makes full use of legal principles to encourage citizens to cultivate their moral character, and to encourage those in positions of authority within the Commonwealth to cultivate their own moral virtues in order to promote peace and harmony among the people; similarly, this Constitution upholds the doctrines of the Sages to ensure that a democratic constitutionalist society operates in alignment with the objective moral order. Neglecting or disregarding the fundamental legislative goals rooted in the original intent of a law is likely to lead to adverse outcomes. Each interpreter of this Constitution shall interpret it justly to uphold its original intent and significance as understood at its promulgation.
(2) The Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism, which primarily espouse the essence of the heart-mind that pertains to the Way of virtuous conduct, may be used to assist the interpretation of this Constitution. In the event of a perceived conflict between the Four Books and Five Classics and the preamble, text, or annexes of this Constitution, interpretive efforts shall be made to reconcile the two. Should an insurmountable discrepancy arise, precedence shall be given to this Constitution.
(3) English, Hanmun, Korean, Japanese, Lewchewan, Malay, Mongolian, and Vietnamese shall be the official languages of the Commonwealth. In the event of a perceived conflict between various language renditions of a single legal document, diligent attempts shall be undertaken to harmonise the discord. Should an insurmountable discrepancy arise amongst the aforementioned languages with regard to constitutional and legal elucidation, the English rendition of the pertinent legal document shall hold precedence.
(4) Principles contained in Article I of this Constitution shall collectively be deemed to be a golden rule of infinite weight, that shall be unamendable and inalterable. The present provision shall also be unamendable and inalterable.
(5) A Bill of Amendment to this Constitution and its Annex I shall not be put forth unless it bears the unanimous signatures of no fewer than one-third of the total members of both chambers of the Commonwealth Assembly combined.
(6) An Amendment to this Constitution or its Annex I shall not be ratified unless it garners the approval of at least three-quarters of all members of both chambers of the Commonwealth Assembly combined.
(7) In the event of inquiries concerning the constitutionality of a proposed Amendment to this Constitution and its Annex I, the Court of Appeals of the Supreme Court of Justice shall possess the authority to render a final verdict on its constitutionality.
ANNEX I
DECLARATION ON THE MOTTO, FLAG, EMBLEM, AND ANTHEM OF THE COMMONWEALTH
The legacies of the three glorious eras of Ha, Sang, and Ju are best conserved in our Commonwealth; by the same token, succession to the lineage of Daemyeong (‘Great Illumination’) exists only in our Commonwealth. ‘Illuminate Heaven and Earth,’ the motto of the Daehan Empire, shall be re-adopted as the motto of the Myeong Commonwealth.
We, the Constituent Assembly of the Myeong Commonwealth, in recognition of the profound Confucian values embodied in our Flag, known as Il-wol Habmyeonggi, do hereby celebrate the rich symbolism that it represents. The concept of ‘Il-wol Habmyeong’ is derived from the revered Confucian text Yeokgyeong (I Ching or Book of Changes), encapsulates the concept of ‘the luminous celestial bodies, the sun and the moon, radiating their brilliance in harmony, illuminating the world in unison.’ This essence conveys the idea that a person of virtuous character should shine brightly, much like the synchronised movement of the sun and moon. As the sun ascends and the moon descends, and vice versa, their presence is not limited to a select few. This symbolism reflects the authenticity and radiant conscience of a person of exemplary character, free from pretence, insincerity, or deceit.
At the core of our flag is the image of a white crescent moon intertwined with a golden sun, forming a unified circle that represents the balance and harmony between the passive force of eum and the active force of yang. This emblem, echoing the Hanja character for ‘Myeong,’ the name of our Commonwealth meaning ‘brightness,’ emits twelve distinct rays, symbolising the division of a day into twelve two-hour intervals in East Asian tradition, signifying perpetual development. Furthermore, the four longer rays embody the cardinal virtues of Confucianism: humaneness, justice, propriety, and wisdom; and the four phases towards sagehood enshrined in the Yeokgyeong: origination, perseverance, consummation, and perfection. The colours on our flag hold significant meaning: blue for peace, red for happiness, white for purity, and yellow for prosperity.
We, the Constituent Assembly of the Myeong Commonwealth, in recognition of the esteemed traditions and regalia that adorn our Emperor, do hereby solemnly declare the meaning of the Coat of Arms of our Commonwealth as follows:
The Myeonlyugwan, known as the Imperial Commonwealth Crown, adorned with twelve precious gems, is a symbol reserved solely for the Emperors within the Hwaha Confucian lineage.
The robes, cloaked in scarlet on the exterior and embellished with patterns of blue and white on the interior, pay homage to the iconic ‘blue-and-white porcelain’ that epitomises the cultural achievements of the Daemyeong Empire.
The Golden Dragon Supporters and Flaming Pearl Crest, united in splendour, depict the revered Hwaha totam of ‘Two Dragons Chasing a Flaming Pearl’, an ancient emblem denoting blessings, nobility, and a quest for the Divine Logos.
Within the River Compartment, emblematic of our nation’s geography, flow the two prominent rivers of the Korean Peninsula. The yellow river symbolises the Han River, linking the Peninsula to the Yellow Sea, while the blue river represents the Imjin River, honoured for its role in the resistance of the Daemyeong Kingdom of Joseon and the Daemyeong Empire against Japanese incursion during the Imjin War.
The Imperial Belt, resplendent in scarlet and gold, bears the inscription ‘Coelum Terramque Illuminare,’ our Commonwealth’s motto ‘Illuminate Heaven and Earth’ in Latin, embodying our universal mission to civilise and re-civilise the world. Below, in ancient Hanja calligraphy, the motto ‘光明天地’ is elegantly displayed on a scroll.
The Hwassibyeok Pendent, adorning the royal belt, signifies the lineage’s inheritance through the ‘Heirloom Seal of the Commonwealth,’ embodying the orthodox Confucian principles. As Sage Confucius espoused, ‘jade symbolises the virtue of an exemplary individual,’ emphasising the paramountcy of virtuous governance within our Commonwealth.
The Emblem of the Commonwealth, with its origins traced to the Daehan Empire, proudly stands at the centre of the Coat of Arms. The majestic eagle, bearing the sword of justice and the orb of peace, symbolises longevity and courage. The cross adorning the orb serves as a tribute to the predominant population of Confucian-Christians during the inception of the Commonwealth. The nine Taegeuk symbols adorning the Eagle symbolise the ancient nine provinces of Hwaha, metaphorically representing All-Under-Heaven. Encircling the central Taegeuk, which also stands for the Emperor-in-Assembly, the eight Trigrams drawn from the Yeokgyeong signify the fundamental elements and phenomena of the cosmos.
FLAG OF THE COMMONWEALTH
EMBLEM OF THE COMMONWEALTH
The Patriotic Anthem of the Daehan Empire and its lyrics shall be renamed as Hwanggeukga and re-adopted as the Official Anthem of the Myeong Commonwealth. The lyrics of the Official Anthem in the three official languages shall be as follows:
May God save our Emperor!
Long live the Emperor!
While hermits raise their houses with yearly coming twigs.
Keeping his power and influence on the world.
May his happiness forever be renewed for, O, million years.
May God save our Emperor!
上帝保佑皇帝聖上
聖壽無疆
海屋籌山
威權瀛廣
於千萬歲
福祿無窮
上帝保佑皇帝聖上
상뎨 (上帝) 는 우리 황뎨 (皇帝) 를 도우샤
셩슈무강 (聖壽無疆) ᄒᆞ샤
ᄒᆡ옥듀 (海屋籌) 를 산 (山) 갓치 ᄡᆞ으시고
위권( 威權) 이 환영 (環瀛) 에 ᄯᅳᆯ치샤
오! 쳔만셰 (千萬歲) 에 복녹 (福祿) 이
일신 (一新) 케 ᄒᆞ쇼셔
상뎨 (上帝) 는 우리 황뎨 (皇帝) 를 도우소셔