Constitution Of The State Of Harren

Nothing in this Article, or in this Constitution, may be construed to diminish, limit, or fall below any right guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federated Republic. Where this Article is silent, the Republic's Constitution governs directly and of its own force. Where this Article speaks further than the Republic's Constitution, the greater protection applies within Harren. The Constitution of the Federated Republic establishes the minimum protection of rights within Harren; this Constitution may secure greater protection but never less.

All persons are by nature free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people, and they have the right at all times to alter or reform it when the public good requires.

No law of this State, and no act of any State or local officer, may discriminate against any person on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, age, or economic status, consistent with the equality guarantees of the Federated Republic Constitution. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their benefit.

Every person may freely speak, write, and publish on all subjects, and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. The people have the right peaceably to assemble for the common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances. The rights of conscience shall not be infringed, and no person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against their consent.

Every person holds the right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes including self-defense, consistent with the Federated Republic Constitution. The State may establish licensing and safety frameworks, provided that lawful ownership for self-defense remains available to every citizen and legal resident.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, effects, and data against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Every person has the right to a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries or wrongs which they may receive in their person, property, or character; and justice shall be administered freely and without denial, promptly and without delay, conformably to the laws.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused has the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury; to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against them; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in their favor; and to have the assistance of counsel for their defense. No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against themselves.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishments inflicted. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses when the proof is evident or the presumption great.

Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation, determined by a process independent of the taking authority, consistent with the Federated Republic Constitution. No person shall be deprived of their property except by the judgment of their peers or the law of the land.

The right to enter into lawful contracts, to engage in trade, and to pursue a lawful occupation is protected. The State may regulate commerce for the public health, safety, and welfare, but may not impose a burden on out-of-state goods, services, or persons greater than that imposed on its own, consistent with the Federated Republic Constitution.

Every worker in Harren holds the right to organize, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in peaceable collective action. No person shall be denied employment on account of membership or non-membership in any labor organization.

The people have the right to know how they are governed. All official acts of the State and its subdivisions shall be matters of public record, and no governmental action shall be concealed from the people except upon grounds narrowly defined by law and subject to judicial review. This right is the foundation of the State Record established in Article IX.

(a) A right guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federated Republic may be suspended, limited, or derogated only to the extent permitted by that Constitution and never below its non-derogable floor.

(b) A right guaranteed independently or more broadly by this Constitution may be limited only by law, for a legitimate constitutional purpose, and only to the extent reasonably necessary and consistent with this Constitution. No such limitation may reduce protection below the federal constitutional floor.

(c) The enumeration of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

(a) The executive power of the State of Harren is divided between two independent officers. The Governor provides democratic political leadership for the State. The State Administrator directs the operational administration of State government. Neither officer is subordinate to the other, and each exercises the powers assigned by this Constitution within their respective sphere.

(b) The Governor's sphere includes political representation, public priorities, constitutional political discretion, and those political powers expressly assigned by this Constitution. The State Administrator's sphere includes implementation of law, management of departments and the civil service, procurement and service delivery, regulatory administration within authority granted by law, and execution of the budget.

(c) The Legislature makes law and appropriates public money. Neither executive officer may use the division of executive power to exercise legislative authority or to assume powers constitutionally assigned to the other.

(a) The Governor is elected by the qualified electors of the State at large for a term of four years, by ranked-choice ballot administered consistent with National Voting System standards.

(b) No person may serve more than two consecutive terms as Governor. After sitting out one full term, a former Governor may again seek the office.

(c) To hold the office of Governor, a person must be a citizen of the Federated Republic, a resident of Harren for at least five years, and at least thirty years of age at the time of taking office.

The Governor shall:

(a) represent Harren in intergovernmental political relations with other States, Territories, Indigenous governments where applicable, the federal government, interstate bodies, and foreign delegations received through lawful federal channels;

(b) sign or return bills passed by the Legislature, as provided in §2.5;

(c) deliver to the Legislature, at the opening of each regular session, information on the state of the State and recommend such measures as the Governor considers necessary and expedient;

(d) publish political and fiscal priorities for the State, including a fiscal priorities statement for consideration in preparation and enactment of the State budget;

(e) grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons for offenses against the State, except in cases of impeachment, and subject to the prohibition on self-clemency established by the Federated Republic Constitution;

(f) convene the Legislature in special session upon extraordinary occasions;

(g) serve as the ceremonial head of state for Harren;

(h) nominate candidates for judicial office as provided in Article IV; and

(i) declare a State emergency as provided in §2.12.

(a) A Lieutenant Governor shall be elected jointly with the Governor, on the same ticket and for the same term.

(b) The Lieutenant Governor shall be President of the Senate and shall have no vote except to break a tie.

(c) Upon the death, resignation, removal, or permanent incapacity of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor for the remainder of the term.

(d) During the temporary incapacity of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor serves as Acting Governor until the Governor is able to resume the duties of office.

(e) While exercising the powers of Governor or Acting Governor, the Lieutenant Governor's powers as President of the Senate, including any presiding or tie-breaking authority, are suspended. The President Pro Tempore shall preside during that period.

(f) The Lieutenant Governor shall perform such other duties within the Governor's sphere as the Governor may assign.

(a) Every bill passed by both houses of the Legislature shall be presented to the Governor. The Governor may sign the bill, in which case it becomes law; or may return it, with written objections, to the house in which it originated within ten business days of presentment.

(b) A bill returned by the Governor may become law only upon passage by a two-thirds vote of the authorized membership of each house.

(c) If the Governor neither signs nor returns a bill within ten business days of presentment, it becomes law without the Governor's signature. If adjournment prevents physical return, the Governor may within the same period file the bill and written objections in the Harren State Record, and the bill shall be treated as returned to the house of origin for purposes of reconsideration.

(d) The Governor may not exercise a line-item veto on appropriation bills; the budget is the province of the State Administrator and the Legislature.

(a) The State Administrator is elected by a joint session of the Legislature for a term of eight years.

(b) Election requires an absolute majority of the authorized membership of the Legislature sitting jointly. If no candidate receives a majority on the first ballot, the two candidates receiving the most votes proceed to a runoff, and balloting shall continue between those candidates until one receives the required majority.

(c) No person may serve more than one term as State Administrator. The term is non-renewable to ensure both continuity and eventual rotation.

(d) To hold the office of State Administrator, a person must be a citizen of the Federated Republic, a resident of Harren for at least seven years, and at least thirty-five years of age at the time of taking office.

(e) The State Administrator may not hold or seek any other public office during their term.

The State Administrator shall:

(a) direct and supervise the administrative departments of the State;

(b) appoint the heads of administrative departments, with the advice and consent of the Senate;

(c) prepare and submit to the Legislature an annual proposed budget, taking account of the Governor's published fiscal priorities without being bound by them;

(d) execute the budget as enacted by the Legislature;

(e) ensure the faithful execution of the laws of Harren within the administrative sphere;

(f) maintain the civil service of the State on principles of merit and competence;

(g) direct procurement, service delivery, and administrative operations as provided by law;

(h) oversee administrative rulemaking within authority and standards established by law; and

(i) report to the Legislature annually on the administrative state of Harren, including the efficiency and integrity of State operations.

(a) Where this Constitution clearly assigns a function to the Governor or State Administrator, that officer acts without the concurrence of the other.

(b) Where this Constitution does not clearly assign an executive function, a function principally involving political representation, public political discretion, or relations with other governments belongs to the Governor; a function principally involving implementation, management, administration, or execution of law belongs to the State Administrator.

(c) Where the domain of a proposed action is disputed, the officers shall consult. If they cannot agree, either may petition the High Court for a determination, which the Court shall render within fourteen days.

(d) Pending resolution, neither officer may take the disputed action except to the extent reasonably necessary to preserve life or public safety, maintain essential operations, comply with existing law or legal obligations, or protect State property. Temporary action under this subsection may not materially alter policy or create new long-term obligations except as strictly necessary to address the immediate condition.

(a) If the State Administrator dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes permanently incapacitated, the Legislature shall elect a successor within sixty days to serve the remainder of the term.

(b) During a vacancy, and whenever a successor has not been elected by the expiration of an Administrator's term, the Secretary of Administration — or, if that office is vacant, the most senior principal department head by continuous service — shall exercise administrative functions in a caretaker capacity until a State Administrator has qualified.

(c) A caretaker shall maintain existing operations; execute existing law, appropriations, contracts, and legal obligations; protect public safety and State property; and take actions reasonably necessary for continuity. A caretaker may not undertake major departmental reorganizations, create substantial new long-term policy, or make discretionary commitments intended to bind the succeeding Administrator except where immediately required by law or emergency necessity.

(a) The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Administrator may be removed from office through impeachment for cause. The Assembly has the sole power of impeachment by majority vote of its authorized membership. The Senate has the sole power to try impeachments; conviction requires a two-thirds vote of its authorized membership.

(b) The State Administrator may also be removed by a two-thirds vote of the authorized membership of the Legislature sitting jointly, upon grounds of malfeasance, neglect of duty, or demonstrated incapacity. Such removal is not an impeachment and does not require Assembly initiation.

(c) Before a vote under subsection (b), the State Administrator is entitled to written notice stating the grounds, a reasonable opportunity to respond and present evidence, representation by counsel, and a public proceeding except to the narrow extent closure is required by law to protect a compelling interest.

(d) Judgment upon conviction or removal extends only to removal from office and, where expressly imposed, disqualification from holding an office of honor, trust, or profit under this State; the party removed remains liable to prosecution and punishment according to law.

(a) The Legislature shall organize the administrative branch into departments. The principal officer of each department shall be appointed by the State Administrator with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the State Administrator unless otherwise provided by law.

(b) Law shall provide for temporary administration of a department during a vacancy or pending confirmation. Temporary service does not confer a right or preference to permanent appointment and may not be used to evade Senate confirmation.

(c) The Legislature may organize, consolidate, or alter administrative departments by law but may not materially extinguish or transfer away the core operational functions constitutionally assigned to the State Administrator.

(a) The Governor may declare a State emergency in the manner and for the duration provided by law. A declaration shall identify the nature and scope of the emergency and shall be published promptly to the Harren State Record.

(b) The State Administrator shall direct the operational and administrative response through the departments of State government, subject to this Constitution, existing law, lawful emergency authority, and appropriations.

(c) An emergency does not subordinate either executive officer to the other, transfer the ordinary constitutional powers of one to the other, suspend the Legislature or courts, or authorize suspension of constitutional rights except to the extent lawfully permitted by the Federated Republic Constitution and this Constitution.

(a) Harren participates in the immigration system of the Federated Republic through the State sponsorship stage established by the federal Constitution. State sponsorship does not itself confer legal residency, which requires federal certification.

(b) The Legislature shall establish by law public, lawful, and nondiscriminatory criteria and procedures governing State sponsorship, consistent with federal equality guarantees and the federal prohibitions on ideological screening and nationality-based quotas.

(c) The State Administrator shall administer State sponsorship through the administrative departments of the State. Individual sponsorship determinations are administrative acts governed by law and may not be directed or overridden by the Governor on political or personal grounds.

(d) The Governor may publicly recommend sponsorship priorities to the Legislature and may communicate the State's political or demographic priorities in the same manner as other policy recommendations, but such recommendations do not bind the State Administrator absent law.

(e) A denial of sponsorship shall state the precise legal ground in writing. State courts may review sponsorship decisions for constitutional or procedural illegality but shall not substitute their policy judgment for lawful State discretion.

(f) Federal certification, removal, deportation, and asylum remain within federal authority as provided by the Constitution of the Federated Republic.

(g) Emergency shelter, medical care, disaster assistance, or other humanitarian aid provided by Harren or its subdivisions does not itself constitute State sponsorship, federal certification, or legal residency.

(a) The legislative power of the State of Harren is vested in a Legislature consisting of two houses: a Senate and an Assembly.

(b) For purposes of this Constitution, the "authorized membership" of a house or of the Legislature sitting jointly means the number of seats legally established for that body, whether filled or vacant. Unless this Constitution expressly provides otherwise, every constitutional majority, fraction, quorum, or supermajority is calculated from authorized membership, and absence, vacancy, recusal, suspension, or disqualification does not reduce the required number.

(a) The Assembly consists of members elected from single-member districts of substantially equal population, apportioned following each federal census.

(b) Members of the Assembly serve two-year terms.

(c) The number of Assembly members shall be not fewer than eighty nor more than one hundred twenty, as the Legislature provides by law. The number established shall permit the Senate district structure required by §3.3.

(d) To be eligible for the Assembly, a person must be a qualified elector of the district, at least twenty-one years of age, and a resident of the district for at least one year prior to election.

(a) The Senate consists of members elected from single-member districts, each Senate district comprising two contiguous Assembly districts.

(b) Members of the Senate serve four-year staggered terms, with approximately half elected every two years.

(c) To be eligible for the Senate, a person must be a qualified elector of the district, at least twenty-five years of age, and a resident of the district for at least one year prior to election.

(a) Following each federal census, an independent redistricting commission established by law shall reapportion and adopt the Assembly and Senate districts to reflect population changes.

(b) Districts shall comply with the Federated Republic Constitution and with neutral criteria established by this Constitution and law, including population equality within reasonable tolerance, geographic contiguity, non-discrimination, no intentional dilution of minority voting power, and reasonable compactness.

(c) Political affiliation, voting history, incumbent residence, or racial composition may not be used as a primary criterion except to the extent consideration is required to comply with constitutional or federal legal obligations.

(d) The commission shall operate independently of the Legislature and Governor in drawing and adopting maps. Its procedures and proposed maps shall be public, and final plans are subject to judicial review.

(a) The Legislature shall meet in regular session annually at such time as provided by law.

(b) The Governor may convene the Legislature in special session by proclamation, specifying the purpose of the session. No business other than that specified may be transacted in a special session.

(c) Either house may be convened by its presiding officer upon written request of a majority of its authorized membership.

(a) The Assembly shall choose a Speaker from among its members and such other officers as it deems necessary.

(b) The Lieutenant Governor is President of the Senate, subject to Article II §2.4. The Senate shall choose a President Pro Tempore from among its members to preside in the absence or suspension of the Lieutenant Governor's Senate authority, and such other officers as it deems necessary.

(a) A majority of the authorized membership of each house constitutes a quorum to do business.

(b) Each house shall determine its own rules of procedure, may compel the attendance of absent members, and may punish its members for disorderly conduct.

(c) Each house may, with the concurrence of two-thirds of its authorized membership, expel a member.

(a) Every bill must address a single subject, which shall be expressed in its title.

(b) No bill may become law until it has been printed and available to members and the public for at least five days before final passage, except in cases of emergency declared by a two-thirds vote of the authorized membership of each house.

(c) Bills may originate in either house and may be amended by the other.

(d) No law shall be enacted except by bill, and no bill shall become law unless it receives a majority vote of the authorized membership of each house, unless this Constitution requires a higher threshold.

(e) Every enacted law shall be published to the Harren State Record.

(a) The Legislature sitting jointly shall elect the State Administrator as provided in Article II §2.6.

(b) The election shall be held not later than sixty days before the expiration of the incumbent's term, or within sixty days of a vacancy.

(c) The Speaker of the Assembly shall preside over the joint session for this purpose.

(d) Failure to elect a successor before expiration of a term or within the vacancy period does not extend the incumbent's term. Caretaker administration shall continue under Article II §2.9 until a successor is elected and qualified.

Members of the Legislature shall receive such compensation as provided by law. No increase in compensation shall take effect until after the next general election following its enactment.

(a) For any speech, debate, or vote in either house, a member shall not be questioned in any other place, except as necessary to adjudicate bribery, corruption, or another offense independent of the legislative position expressed.

(b) No member is immune from criminal law. Law may protect members from civil detention or process deliberately used to obstruct attendance at a legislative session.

(a) A member who holds a direct and material personal financial interest in a matter shall disclose that interest. Recusal is required where law determines that the interest substantially impairs impartial legislative judgment. A broad interest shared with a substantial class of the public does not by itself require recusal.

(b) The Legislature shall establish by law an independent ethics body with authority to investigate and sanction members, subject to due process and judicial review as provided by law.

The Legislature may not:

(a) enact any law that conflicts with or diminishes any right guaranteed by the Federated Republic Constitution;

(b) grant any title of nobility;

(c) pass any bill of attainder or ex post facto law;

(d) impair the obligation of contracts;

(e) transfer its essential legislative power to another person or body, but it may authorize executive, administrative, local, or independent bodies to adopt rules within authority and intelligible standards established by law; or

(f) by ordinary law materially extinguish or transfer away the core executive functions assigned by this Constitution to the Governor or the State Administrator.

The judicial power of the State of Harren is vested in a High Court, District Courts, and such other courts as the Legislature may establish by law, subject to the Constitution and lawful jurisdiction of the Federated Republic.

(a) The High Court of Harren consists of seven justices elected by the qualified electors of the State at large.

(b) Justices serve ten-year terms and may be re-elected.

(c) The justice with the longest continuous service on the Court serves as Chief Justice, unless the justices by majority vote select another from among their number.

(d) The High Court has appellate jurisdiction over all courts of the State and original jurisdiction in such cases as provided by law, including domain disputes between the Governor and State Administrator under Article II §2.8.

(a) District Courts are courts of general jurisdiction, with original jurisdiction in all civil and criminal matters except as otherwise provided by law.

(b) District Court judges are elected from districts as provided by law and serve six-year terms.

(c) The Legislature shall organize the State into judicial districts and may create, consolidate, or abolish districts by general law. Judicial districts may not be altered for the purpose of affecting the tenure or election of a particular judge, the disposition of a pending case, or a particular electoral outcome.

(a) A candidate for judicial office must be a citizen of the Federated Republic, a resident of Harren, a member in good standing of the bar or otherwise legally authorized to practice law in Harren, and possess substantial legal or judicial experience as provided by law. Qualification standards shall be objective, generally applicable, and may not be altered to favor or exclude a particular candidate or political viewpoint.

(b) For each judicial vacancy or expiring term, the Governor shall nominate at least two qualified candidates. Each Governor-nominated candidate shall receive automatic ballot access.

(c) Any other qualified person may petition to appear on the judicial ballot upon securing signatures equal to five percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election within the relevant jurisdiction. The petition route is available whether or not the Governor has made nominations.

(d) Judicial candidacy may not be conditioned on party loyalty or ideological commitment. Law shall provide for transparent judicial campaign financing and meaningful recusal standards where a direct financial, campaign, personal, or other interest creates a substantial question of impartiality.

(a) A vacancy in any judicial office shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(b) A judge so appointed shall serve until a successor is elected at the next general election occurring more than ninety days after the vacancy and has qualified.

(c) If vacancies, incapacity, or recusal prevent the High Court from forming a quorum, eligible judges of the highest inferior court shall serve temporarily in order of longest continuous judicial service, with age breaking equal-service ties, until enough acting justices have been designated to restore a quorum. Each acting justice serves only for the period necessary to resolve the quorum deficiency. Temporary service creates no right or preference to permanent appointment or election.

(a) No public official may direct, threaten, or seek to influence the decision of any judge in a pending matter.

(b) Judicial compensation may not be reduced during a judge's term.

(c) High Court justices may be removed for cause through impeachment. Law may establish an additional independent judicial conduct tribunal for removal or discipline of a High Court justice for serious misconduct or incapacity, provided that the tribunal is independent of the High Court and affords due process and judicial review consistent with this Constitution.

(d) District Court and inferior judges may be removed or disciplined for misconduct, incapacity, or conviction of a disqualifying offense through impeachment or through an independent judicial discipline process established by law. Such process shall provide notice, opportunity to respond, impartial adjudication, and appropriate judicial review.

Judgments of Harren's courts are entitled to recognition throughout the Republic, and Harren recognizes the judgments of every other State and Territory, consistent with the Federated Republic Constitution.

(a) The State of Harren is divided into counties, which are bodies corporate and politic.

(b) The Legislature shall provide by law for the organization, powers, and duties of counties.

(c) Each county shall have a county board elected by the qualified electors of the county, which shall be the legislative body of the county.

(a) Cities, villages, and towns are municipal corporations with the powers granted by law and such additional powers as are consistent with this Constitution.

(b) The Legislature shall provide by law for the incorporation, organization, and classification of municipalities.

(c) An existing municipality may not be dissolved or forcibly consolidated except pursuant to general law and with approval of the affected electorate. Law may provide a court-supervised exception where a municipality is unable to perform its legal duties because of sustained fiscal or legal incapacity, with affected-community participation and protection of democratic representation.

(a) Any county or municipality may adopt a home-rule charter by majority vote of its qualified electors, establishing its own form of local government, provided the charter maintains democratic accountability and does not conflict with this Constitution or the Federated Republic Constitution.

(b) A home-rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs. Such power may be limited by this Constitution or expressly by general State law where uniform State regulation is reasonably necessary to address a substantial statewide interest.

(c) Subject to State and federal constitutional requirements, a home-rule charter may establish the local executive and legislative form, administrative organization, local electoral arrangements, and procedures of local self-government.

(a) Local governments are the primary points of contact between the people and their government. The State shall not systematically defund or disempower local governments to achieve centralization of State functions.

(b) This principle, first established in Harren and later reflected in the constitutional structure of the Federated Republic, shall be construed to preserve meaningful local self-government while permitting State action on genuine statewide concerns.

All local elections shall be conducted consistent with the election standards established in Article VI of this Constitution. Final results and certifications shall be published to the Harren State Record and are subject to judicial review.

Counties, municipalities, and other governmental units may contract with one another and with the State to provide services and exercise powers, as provided by law.

(a) Every citizen of the Federated Republic who is eighteen years of age or older and a resident of Harren is a qualified elector of this State.

(b) The Legislature may by law establish reasonable residency requirements for voting in State and local elections, not to exceed thirty days.

(c) No law, rule, or practice of this State may impose an unreasonable burden on voting, materially reduce accessibility, or compromise the security or integrity of elections.

(a) State elections shall be conducted using ranked-choice or majority-vote methods as the Legislature provides by law, consistent with the Federated Republic Constitution and National Voting System standards.

(b) General elections shall be held in even-numbered years at such time as provided by law.

(c) The Legislature shall provide by law for registration of electors, conduct of elections, recounts, certification, and orderly resolution of election disputes.

(a) There shall be an independent State Election Commission to administer State and local elections within applicable federal standards.

(b) The Legislature shall provide by law for the Commission's composition and appointment. Commissioners or the chief election administrator shall serve fixed terms and may be removed only for cause. The Commission shall be independent of direction by the Governor, State Administrator, or Legislature in the administration, counting, recounting, and certification of elections.

(c) Election rules, final results, certifications, and material recount determinations shall be published to the Harren State Record. Final certification decisions are subject to prompt judicial review.

The Legislature shall provide by law for reasonable and non-discriminatory procedures for candidates and political parties to access the ballot, subject to the specific judicial ballot provisions of Article IV.

(a) The Legislature has the exclusive authority to levy State taxes.

(b) No tax may discriminate against goods, services, or persons of another State or Territory.

(c) The rule of uniform taxation shall apply to all taxes, except as otherwise provided by this Constitution.

All public money received by the State shall be deposited into the State Treasury and may be withdrawn only by appropriation made by law or by the limited continuity authority of §7.3(e).

(a) The Governor may publish a fiscal priorities statement identifying political and programmatic priorities for the ensuing fiscal year.

(b) The State Administrator shall submit to the Legislature, at such time as provided by law, a proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal year. The budget shall contain a complete plan of proposed expenditures and anticipated revenues and shall identify material departures from the Governor's published fiscal priorities.

(c) The Legislature shall enact appropriations by law. No money shall be paid out of the State Treasury except pursuant to lawful appropriation or the continuity authority of subsection (e).

(d) The State Administrator shall execute the budget as enacted; the Governor has no line-item veto over appropriations.

(e) If appropriations for a fiscal year are not enacted before the prior appropriations expire, essential operations and existing legal obligations may continue temporarily at no more than the corresponding lawful rate of the preceding fiscal year, subject to further limits established by law. Continuity authority may not be used to create a new program or materially expand an existing one.

(a) The State may contract debt only as authorized by law, for a public purpose, and in amounts approved by the Legislature.

(b) Every authorization of long-term State debt shall disclose its principal terms, repayment source, and material fiscal obligations. Law shall provide for management and limits of State indebtedness.

(c) Long-term debt may not be used as a device to conceal or indefinitely finance ordinary recurring operating deficits.

Counties and municipalities retain independent taxing authority within their jurisdictions, as provided by law and subject to the non-discrimination requirements of this Constitution. State law may regulate local taxation but shall preserve sufficient lawful revenue authority for local governments to perform functions assigned to them and to maintain the meaningful local self-government protected by Article V.

The accounts, revenues, expenditures, debt, and material financial operations of the State shall be subject to regular independent financial and performance audit by an officer or body established by law and protected from direction by the officers whose conduct is being audited. Audit reports shall be published to the Harren State Record.

(a) The State shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of a system of free public schools sufficient to give every child an education adequate to enable full civic participation, consistent with the Federated Republic Constitution.

(b) The public school system shall provide substantially equitable access to educational opportunity throughout the State. This requirement does not mandate identical institutions, programs, or per-pupil expenditures where differing means satisfy the constitutional educational floor.

(c) The Legislature shall provide by law for the organization and governance of public schools.

There shall be a Superintendent of Public Instruction, appointed by the State Administrator with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall supervise public instruction as provided by law. Education is an administrative function and falls within the State Administrator's sphere. Law shall prescribe objective professional qualifications for the office.

The State recognizes and supports its public institutions of higher learning and may provide funding, land, or other support to such institutions by law. Public institutions of higher learning shall enjoy reasonable academic and institutional independence consistent with law, public accountability, equal access, and the Federated Republic Constitution.

The State shall maintain the Harren State Record as the permanent public record of governmental action in Harren. The Record shall be freely accessible to every inhabitant at no cost and shall maintain permanence, accessibility, and interoperability consistent with the National Registry System of the Federated Republic.

(a) Official acts of legal or public consequence shall be published to the Record as permanent entries. The Record shall include at minimum enacted laws; executive orders, proclamations, veto objections, emergency declarations, and other formal executive acts; judicial opinions and dispositive orders; administrative rules and significant final administrative determinations; appropriations and adopted budgets; legislative proceedings and recorded votes; election results and certifications; independent audit reports; and significant decisions of constitutional, independent, State, and local governmental bodies.

(b) Underlying files, evidence, personnel materials, individual service records, and other records not themselves official acts of legal or public consequence remain governed by public-records, privacy, confidentiality, and records-retention law consistent with §1.13.

(c) A published entry may not be silently deleted, overwritten, or altered. Corrections, amendments, technical migrations, or format changes must preserve the original content and a permanent auditable history of the change.

(d) An official act may be withheld from public display only on narrow and specific grounds established by law to protect a legitimate interest, including personal privacy, an active investigation, legally protected confidential information, or public security. Any withholding must be no broader or longer than reasonably necessary and is subject to judicial review.

The Harren State Record shall maintain protocols compatible with the National Registry System so that federally required records and disclosures are available to authorized federal oversight, audit, and registry functions without unreasonable delay or reformatting burden.

An amendment to this Constitution may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of the authorized membership of each house of the Legislature.

A proposed amendment takes effect upon ratification by a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question at the next general election.

(a) The Legislature may, by a two-thirds vote of the authorized membership of each house, submit to the electors the question of whether a constitutional convention shall be called.

(b) If a majority of electors voting on the question approve, the Legislature shall provide by law for the election of delegates and the convening of the convention.

(c) Any revision proposed by a convention shall take effect only upon ratification by a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question.

(a) The people may propose amendments to this Constitution by petition. A petition must be signed by qualified electors equal in number to ten percent of the votes cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial election.

(b) A proposed amendment qualifying by petition shall be submitted to the electors at the next general election and takes effect upon ratification by sixty percent of those voting on the question.

(a) No institution, office, or structural arrangement established by this Constitution is immune from amendment or repeal by the people through the procedures of this Article. No such institution may be abolished, suspended, or materially displaced by ordinary law where this Constitution assigns it a constitutional function.

(b) No amendment may take effect to the extent that it conflicts with the Constitution of the Federated Republic or with any binding federal constitutional requirement applicable to the States.