Youth Assembly officially adopts Youth Constitution of the United States

In Youth Assembly, assembled on this 21st day of June, 2018:

PREAMBLE

We, the youth of the United States of America, in order to establish a more representative society, a legend of stability, a government by and for our youth, to provide for the general welfare and tranquility among our youth, keeping in mind the principles of equality and representation for all, we officially establish this Youth Constitution for the United States of America.

Article One

All Legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Youth Assembly of the United States of America, which shall consist of a Youth Senate and House of Youth Representatives.

The House of Youth Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every even year by the youth of the several states, and the electors of each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. No person shall be a Youth Representative who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be elected. Said person shall not be, when running or when elected, older than the age of 28.

The number of Youth Representatives shall be apportioned by the Youth Assembly, based on the youth population of the several states. When vacancies occur in the House, the Youth Governor of the state the vacancy has occurred in is granted the authority to either fill that vacancy with an appointment or issue writs of election to fill such vacancies in a speedy and timely manner. Appropriation shall not be established with the intent of giving an advantage to a state or destroying and depriving a state of seats and adequate representation in the Youth Assembly.

Members of the House of Youth Representatives shall choose a Speaker of the House to preside over the House and maintain order, other officers; and the House shall have the sole power to impeach the Youth President.

The Youth Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Youth Senators from each state, chosen by the Youth of that state, by popular vote, to a term of four years. Each Youth Senator shall have one vote. The Youth Senate shall have the sole power to convict all impeachments.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Youth Assembly after the first election, the Youth Senate shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the end of the sixth year so that one third may be chosen every second year.

No person shall be a Youth Senator who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen; nor shall that person be older than 28 when running or when elected. The Vice Youth President of the United States shall be President of the Youth Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. The Youth Senate shall choose their other officers, as well as a President Pro Tempore who, in the absence of the Vice Youth President, shall preside over the Senate. The Youth Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments for conviction. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the Youth President of the United States is tried, the Chief Youth Justice shall preside, and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than the removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States Youth Government, but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to our law. Public removal referendum by the youth is mandated to be taken, but shall have no effect.

The Youth Assembly shall assemble at least three times in every year. Such meetings shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall, by law appoint a different day or adopt a different calendar. They shall also assemble on the first Monday of January, to swear or affirm newly elected members of the Youth Assembly, and the last week of May to review information and legislation. They shall also assemble the first Monday of September for other acts of legislation. The terms of office for members elected to the Youth Assembly shall begin the first Tuesday in January, or the second Tuesday if the first Tuesday is new year’s day.

Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each house may provide.

Each house may determine its rules of order and proceedings, punish its members for disorderly conduct, and with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member who breaks said rules.

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, except such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of two fifth of those present, be entered on the Journal.

Neither house, during the session of Youth Assembly shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than in which the two houses shall be sitting.

Youth Representatives shall take the following oath or affirmation on the day they will assume office, to start their term:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Youth Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God (or I affirm).”

Youth Senators shall take the following oath of office before assuming the office:

The Youth Senators and Youth Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law and paid out of the Treasury of the Youth Government of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason or treachery, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place. No Youth Senator or Youth Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the Authority of the Youth Government of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any office under the United States Youth Government, shall be a member of either house during his continuance in office.

All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Youth Representatives; but the Youth Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills.

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Youth Representatives and the Youth Senate, shall before it become a law, be presented to the Youth President of the United States; if he approves it, he shall sign it. If he rejects it, he shall return it with his objections to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large into their journal. The Youth Assembly may reconsider the bill for override. If after such reconsideration, two thirds of the house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered. If approved by two thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all such cases, the votes of both chambers shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the Persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered into the journal of each chamber respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the Youth President within ten days, with the exception of Sundays, after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law in a manner as if he had signed it, unless the Youth Assembly by their adjournments prevent its return, in which case it shall not be turned into a law.

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Youth Senate and House of Youth Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the Youth President of the United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved or rejected by the Youth President.

SECTION B. The Youth Assembly shall have the sole power to lay policy and collect revenue in regards to the youth, or those younger than 29, or those who receive services from the United States Youth Government, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the Youth of the United States of America; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.

To borrow money and make money on the credit of the Youth of the United States of America;

To establish welfare systems;

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Youth Supreme Court;

To define and legislate crimes and recommend just punishments for crime committed by youth;

To raise and support organizations and protective forces; no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;

To provide for the protective forces to assist the United States Youth Government in times of threats, security risks, or potential for harm to institutions, or to exercise power of enforcing its laws;

To discipline and confirm high officers of the protective and security forces established by the Youth Government;

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding twenty five miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Youth Assembly, become the seat of the Youth Government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of institutions and buildings, logistics, and other needful establishments; and to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution of the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Youth Constitution of the United States, or in any department or officer hired by the Youth Government thereof.

No state shall, without the consent of Youth Assembly establish militant or protective forces.

The Youth Assembly shall have the sole power to legislate on immigration of youth. The Youth President is permitted to exercise policy in protection and humanitarian causes.

ARTICLE 2

The Executive Power shall be invested in a Youth President of the United States, who shall be the Chief Executive over the Executive Branch of United States Youth Government, and the Commander in- Chief of all protective services.

The Youth President together with a Vice Youth President, shall be elected every four years, for a term of four years. Together they may only serve 2 terms.

With the advice and consent of the Youth Senate, the Youth President shall choose a cabinet of civil service executives to lead over the executive departments in the executive branch.

The Vice Youth President shall succeed the Youth President in cases of death, resignation, impeachment, or when he is unable to act.

The Youth President shall take the following Oath of Office before the start of his term, and it shall be administered by the Chief Youth Justice of the United States, on the 30th day of January, the following year of the election. It shall read:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of Youth President of the United States, and that I will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Youth Constitution of the United States. So help me God (or ‘I affirm’.)“

The Vice Youth President shall take the following Oath of Office before the start of his term, and it shall be administered by an Associate Youth Justice of the United States, on the 30th Day of January, the following year of the election. It shall read:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will preserve, protect, and defend the Youth Constitution of the United States; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully execute the office in which I am about to enter, so help me god (or I affirm).”

The Youth President Is granted the power to give a full pardon to youth for offenses committed, and give pardon to those who committed an offense and rights were violated by agents of law in procedure.

The Youth President and the Vice Youth President shall be elected by popular vote. The elections for the executive and legislative powers shall take place between September and November of every four years, pursuant to clause B, and to be set by law.

No person older than 28, at the time of the adoption of this Youth Constitution, shall be eligible for the Office of the Youth President of the United States or Vice Youth President of the United States. Neither shall any person be eligible to the office who has not maintained at least 3 years of residency or is a inhabitant of the United States.

The Youth President shall receive for his services, a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States Youth Government, or any of them for himself.

The Youth President shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Youth Senate, to make and entire treaties, provided two thirds of the Youth Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public officials, Judges of the Supreme Youth Court, and all other Officers of the United States Youth Government, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law; but the Youth Assembly may by Law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the Youth President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the heads of departments, only upon legitimate reason, which must be upon oath or affirmation. The Youth President shall have the power to fill all vacancies of civil service officers that may occur during the recess of the Youth Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of the vacancy’s term or the Youth Senate’s next session.

He shall from time to time give to the Youth Assembly Information of the State of the Youth and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement or crisis between them, with Respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public officers; he shall take care that the laws and policies of the Youth Government be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the Officers of the United States Youth Government.

The Youth President, Vice Youth President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from their Office on Impeachment by the House of Youth Representatives for, and Conviction by the Youth Senate of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors, and those offenses only.

No person shall be admitted unto the Office of the Youth President who upon taking the oath office, refuse to faithfully execute said duties of the office. The Youth President shall propose a budget of operation for the executive branch to the House of Youth Representatives every year, the direct timing to be established by law. The House of Youth Representatives shall have the power to accept or reject the budget. The Youth Senate shall have the power to accept or reject the budget following the House.

ARTICLE 3

The Judicial Power of the United States Youth, shall be vested in one Supreme Youth Court of the United States, and in such inferior courts as the Youth Assembly may from time to time ordain and establish.

Judges on both supreme and inferior courts, holding office in time of good behaviour shall be nominated by the Youth President, and approved by the Youth Senate with three-fifths of members.

The Judges, both of the Supreme and inferior youth courts, shall hold their Offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.

The Judicial Power shall extend to all cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Youth Constitution, the Laws of the United States Youth, or which shall be made, under their authority; — to all cases affecting Youth Ambassadors, other public officers; — to controversies to which the American Youth shall be a Party; — to controversies between two or more State Youth Governments; — between a State and Youth of another State; — between Youth of different States; — between Youth of the same State.

In all cases affecting Youth Ambassadors, other public officers, and those in which a State shall be Party, the Supreme Youth Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the Supreme Youth Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Youth Assembly shall make.

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment; shall be by Jury; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Youth Assembly may by law have directed. Treason against the United States or it’s youth entity, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason by a Youth Court of Law unless on the testimony of three witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. The Youth Assembly shall have power to declare the punishment of that treason, which shall be declared on grounds of the constitution, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attained.

There shall be thirteen Youth Justices on the United States Supreme Youth Court, who are nominated by the Youth President of the United States, with the advice and consent of the Youth Senate, to serve for a single term of seven years, only upon good behavior.

One of the thirteen youth justices shall serve as the Chief Youth Justice of the United States. They shall hear cases, interpret the Youth Constitution, make rulings, interpret law, and may declare acts committed or made by the Legislative or Executive Branch of Youth Government or the US Government and state governments in general as unconstitutional.

A Youth Justice may be impeached by the Youth Assembly for bad acts and high crimes, but may not serve a punishment. The impeachment may only be upon oath or affirmation, and the Youth President shall be the Presiding Officer over the trial. Impeachment requires two-thirds of both houses in concurrence.

The Chief Youth Justice administers the Oath of Office for the Youth President and Vice Youth President on the 30th day of January following the election, or at the start of their respective terms. The Speaker of the House of Youth Representatives shall administer the Oath of Office for the House of Youth Representatives, and The Vice Youth President, on every year, except years in which he has not been sworn in himself, administers the oath for the Youth Senate. Youth Justices and all other civil officers are sworn in by the Youth President or Vice Youth President. Here is the oath that shall be taken by Youth Justices upon entering office:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will preserve, protect, and defend the Youth Constitution of the United States; I will act with good behavior, and faithfully assume my duties as a Supreme Youth Justice of the United States, and will not discriminate against, violate youth rights or individual freedoms; and I will promote equality. I will serve the Youth of the United States in the best way I can, so help me god.”

Civil service officers nominated by the Youth President, and confirmed by the Youth Senate shall take the following oath of office:

The Supreme Youth Court shall have the right to, after giving six months or up to a year of opportunity for the Youth Assembly, Youth President, or entity of the youth governments of the several states to cooperate, may strike down any policies, laws, or orders only upon grounds of unconstitutionality.

ARTICLE 4

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State Youth Government to the public Acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State. And the Youth Assembly may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.

The Youth of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of Youth in the several states.

The Youth Government of the United States shall guarantee to all American youth of the several states in this union a democratic form of Youth Government, and shall protect each of them against tyranny, oppression, and mistreatment; and on application of the legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.

The Youth Government of the United States shall ensure to all young people access to healthcare, educational opportunities, and comfort of living, by enforcing upon state youth governments, with adequate tools, the responsibility of doing such.

All young people who have not reached the age of 30 shall have the right to vote in all elections of the Youth President and Vice Youth President, the Youth Assembly, and all state youth elections.

ARTICLE 5

The Youth Assembly, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Youth Constitution, or, on the application of the Youth Legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all Intents and purposes, as part of this Youth Constitution, when ratified by the Youth Legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Youth Assembly.

ARTICLE 6

The Youth Senators and Youth Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State youth legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Youth Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any office or public trust under the United States Youth Government or the Youth Government of the several states. The Youth Constitution is the supreme law and policy for youth governments, and all states, youth courts, and youth government entities must abide by it. The United States Constitution is valid, and applies in conjunction with this Youth Constitution.

ARTICLE 7

No state, or form of youth government may misinterpret this Youth Constitution as being the only respective rights of youth. The United States Constitution is still an upheld enforced law, that will be enforced, and no youth government of a state shall deprive youth of those said rights in the United States Constitution, as it is still valid and binding.

The ratification of the conventions of three-fourths, or two-thirds of states participating in its upbringing, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Youth Constitution between the state youth legislatures so ratifying the same. The Youth Constitution shall be made referendum for ratification immediately upon being passed by the Youth Assembly. The Youth Constitution shall take immediate effect upon successful ratification and elections shall be held.

Elijah Manley is the CEO of Holt Press, a youth rights organizer, black lives matter organizer and member of the Green Party of Florida. He resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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