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The Laws of Oz

The Laws of Oz which pertain to citizens, legal aliens, residents, and visiting entities:

  1. The Lands of Oz include Gillikin Country, Munchkin Country, Winkie Country, Quadling Country, and the Lands held by the Emerald City.
  2. Hierarchy of Laws
    1. Laws of the Land of Oz are paramount. All laws of the various countries, counties and towns must be legal within the laws of Oz.
    2. The Civil Authority is free to establish laws for the better governance and management of the many lands of Oz. These laws are to be enforced by the Civil Authority, and may contradict, supersede, or bypass normal Ozian laws, when deemed appropriate.
    3. The four countries within Oz may make their own laws for their own lands. These laws apply to all within those borders, unless otherwise denoted in these laws, the laws of the respective country, or the laws of the Civil Authority.
    4. Cities, towns and unincorporated communities may pass laws binding themselves and those within their borders. These laws must be congruent with the laws of Oz. These laws can be amended or suspended by the Civil Authority, when deemed appropriate.
  3. Citizenship
    1. Birth - Any being born within the borders of any of the lands of Oz, but not necessarily those born beneath or above the lands of Oz, to parents who are themselves citizens shall be considered a citizen of Oz.
    2. Sponsorship - Any being may be sponsored to citizenship by an adult citizen in good standing with the law and their community. It is the sponsor-s responsibility to educate their ward on the laws and traditions of Oz, its many countries and peoples, and all other things required to live happily and well in these lands.
      1. Duration - A sponsorship shall last no less than six months. A ward may apply to become a full citizen after that time has elapsed, but may also continue learning from their sponsor for as much as fifty years.
      2. Resolution - Once either the ward or the Sponsor feels that the ward has learned enough, they may submit the proper paperwork to their local Bureaucrat-s Guild representative. The paperwork, the process for submitting it, and the representative shall be determined by the Bureaucrat-s Guild or the Civil Authority.
      3. Military Exceptions - Non-citizen residents who voluntarily serve in the military can be sponsored by the Military as an organization, rather than an individual citizen. While actively serving in the military, they shall be treated as a full citizen unless otherwise noted in the law.
    3. Voting - Full citizens of human or immortal or similar stock receive a full vote. Changelings, property, non-citizen residents, and others receive partial votes in any and all elections.
    4. Loss - A citizen may lose their citizenship as an Ozian in several ways, including but not limited to the following:
      1. Crimes Against Oz - Defined and determined by courts empowered by the Crown, or by the Civil Authority, if no other official is available.
      2. Crimes Against the Civil Authority - Defined and determined by the Civil Authority.
      3. Malfeasance against Oz, its people, or its Magic.
  4. Taxes
    The rate of taxes paid to the Crown and the Civil authority is to be determined regularly, applied fairly, and collected locally. The recognized Guilds may be requested to inform the committee on various information to provide for a proper tax rate. The membership of the Committee shall be determined by a representative of the Civil Authority and a representative of the Crown.
    1. Countries, counties and townships may impose their own taxes, provided they do not create an undue burden which prevents their citizens and residents from paying their taxes to the Emerald City.
    2. Failure to pay taxes can result in fines or other punishments, to be determined and applied by the Civil Authority.
  5. Military
    1.  The Crown is free to establish and maintain a military based in the Emerald City, but free to operate throughout all Ozian lands. Any commands from an officer of the military are to be treated as if they bear the weight of the law, until such time as those commands can be reviewed by the appropriate authority.
    2. Officers of this military may sign conscription papers to bring a citizen or non-citizen resident into the military.
  6. Justice
    1. If a person is accused of a crime against the state, the crown or the civil authority, the official representatives of the wronged government or agency will determine which jurisdiction is best suited to try the case, including setting the location, the Judge, and the laws under which the accused will be tried.
    2. The methodology of the trial will be determined by the Judge appointed to the case, but a bare minimum for a legal trial is that a judge sits, hears the accusations brought (by the representative of the wronged government or agency) and hears the pleas of the accused. It is encouraged that the judge hear other testimony in court, that the judge use a visual method for determining the accused-s guilt, and that there be a court recorder (usually a bureaucrat or civil authority member).
    3. The punishment for a convicted criminal shall be determined by the judge who sits on the trial, unless that judge defers the right to another authority or unless the punishment is defined by the law in queston.
    4. Appeal - Full citizens have the right to appeal their conviction within 90 days of said conviction. Changelings, property, and non-citizen residents do not have the right to appeal. Those who own property or who have sponsored a non-citizen resident may appeal on behalf of their ward, but if they choose to do so, they will be required to accept the same punishment as their ward, if the appeal fails. If at all possible, the same judge who heard the original trial shall hear the appeal. If they are unavailable, or choose to recuse themselves, another may be appointed. If none can be found to hear the appeal, the appellant must go to the Emerald City to submit their appeal there.
  7. Civil Litigation and Tort Law
    1. The civil laws of Oz shall be kept by recording cases brought before a Judge, argued, heard and decided. Case law shall be the only acceptable form of argument, and all judgments are recorded and become law. Each jurisdiction, from Oz through unincorporated counties may determine their own case law.
    2. Appeals - If one feels that their civil trial was improperly decided, they may appeal to the Civil Authority for a review. The appellant may also request a review by the Crown.
  8. Food Laws
    1. With the coming of Winter and winter, the return of Death and death, and the sudden discovery of starvation, of paucity, and of lack, and widespread famine, it shall henceforth be illegal to:
      1. Hoard food - which is defined as holding more food or food-substances than can be consumed in one week. Families, towns, and Great Houses can collectively hold their food, provided that they account for each person's allotment.
      2. Destroy food - Destruction of food in any manner other than consuming it for its nutrition.
      3. Waste food - Preparing more than is necessary and then throwing it away.
      4. Steal food
    2. These laws shall be enforced by all governments and agencies. If anyone witnesses a violation, they may report it to the nearest authority, and it will be tried by the appropriate judicial authority.

 

Page last modified on Wednesday June 27, 2018 16:00:38 PDT