Baronial Constitution

(As amended by Parliament on the 27th day of May, A.S.XXXVI)

Definitions
Coronet
Baronial Curia
Parliament
Cantons
Finances
Expenditures
Regalia/Gifts
Events
Awards
Precedence
Amending the Constitution
Residual Powers

Definitions:

Barony of Ruantallan: The geographical area which includes the Provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada. By the SCA Inc.'s definition, all areas that have Postal Codes beginning with B' and C'.

Citizen: A citizen is defined as an individual who resides in the Barony of Ruantallan, and is also a paid member of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

Resident: A resident is defined as an individual who resides in the Barony of Ruantallan, who is not a paid member of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

Major Officers: Those officers required by Corpora or Kingdom Law in order to meet the requirements for a Barony.

Minor Officers: All other officers appointed to Curia, including but not limited to: Canton Representatives, Company Captain of Archers, Minister of Fence, Dance Mistress, and Autocrats of Baronial Events.

1. Coronet

1.1 Election

The Coronet shall be elected in accordance with East Kingdom Law. Candidates for the Coronet may run either as individuals or as part of a couple, but not both.

1.2 Duties

The duties of the Coronet include, but are not limited to:

1.2.1 Attendance at Baronial Curia Meetings

1.2.2 Appointment of Ambassadors or other ceremonial positions.

1.2.3 Make brief written reports to each new Crown of the occasion of the coronation, concerning the state of the Barony, and make them available to the public.

1.2.4 Granting or revoking of charters for Baronial households and guilds.

1.2.5 Making every reasonable effort to attend a Royal Progress to swear fealty to the Crown.

1.2.6 Conduct foreign relations for the Barony.

1.3 Limits of Coronet's Activities

1.3.1 May not hold any major Baronial Curia offices.

1.3.2 May hold minor Baronial offices.

1.3.3 May head guilds.

1.3.4 May hold Canton offices except those of Seneschal or Chancellor.

1.3.5 May not perform any duty at a Baronial Event that would hamper the performance of their duties as Coronet.

1.4 Fealty

1.4.1 Must swear fealty to the Crown on behalf of Barony.

1.4.2 May not, as Coronet, swear fealty to any other individual.

1.4.3 May swear fealty as an individual to any other individual, household, etc., insofar as it does not conflict with the duties and dignity of the Coronet.

1.5 Terms of Office

1.5.1 For life unless:

Coronet resigns, moves permanently out of Barony, or SCA membership expires;

is removed by Kingdom/SCA; oris removed as a result of impeachment following non-reaffirmation.

1.6 Reaffirmation and Investigation Procedure

1.6.1 Every two years, at an official Baronial event, a voice vote will be called for the citizenry to reaffirm their approval of the conduct of the Coronet. If there seems to be a question about the results, a show of hands will be called for. The Herald will conduct the reaffirmation proceedings.

1.6.2 If the vote is against the Coronet, or a petition for impeachment is received from Parliament, a committee of inquiry will be convened by the Herald within three months, consisting of the Baronial Curia officers, to investigate the cause of the dissatisfaction. The committee must ensure that this is done in at the earliest possible time. If the committee determines that the poor performance of the Coronet can be remedied, then it will counsel the Coronet to so do. If it is found that the poor performance is not remediable, then the committee will ask Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings.

1.6.3 An individual may petition the Baronial Seneschal for an investigation to deal with problems with the Coronet(s). NOTE: All problems should be dealt with at the lowest possible level.

1.7 Impeachment

1.7.1 The Coronet may be impeached by Parliament for the following causes:

willful violation of mundane or SCA law to the prejudice of the Barony; or

poor performance of duties as judged by a committee of inquiry.

1.7.2 Parliament shall be summoned by the Seneschal to hear the charges against the Coronet. A secret ballot will be held to determine whether the Coronet should be removed from office. In such a vote, a simple majority of all eligible citizens shall suffice.

2. Baronial Curia

2.1 Composition

2.1.1 Baronial Curia shall consist of

Major Officers or their officially designated deputies;

Minor Officers or their officially designated deputies;

Special Officers as appointed by the Seneschal and ratified by Baronial Curia.

2.1.2 The Coronet should attend meetings, but is not a member of Baronial Curia.

2.1.3 All officers should have an official deputy to assist in official duties.

2.1.4 All Canton officers are, because of their office, deputies of the Baronial counterparts.

2.2 Meetings

2.2.1 Voting:

2.2.1.1 The Coronet may not vote, except if holding a minor office;

2.2.2 All Baronial citizens, residents and guests may attend Baronial Curia meetings and make presentations at the discretion of the Seneschal.

2.3 Authority:

2.3.1 All decisions of Baronial Curia affecting SCA/Kingdom activities and business shall be binding upon the Barony.

2.3.2 Expenditures for all approved activities and operations at the Baronial level must first be approved by Baronial Curia.

2.4 Terms of Office:

2.4.1 All major or minor officers shall have a term of office as per Kingdom Law (where applicable). The Barony of Ruantallan imposes an additional requirement that these officers abide by a local policy of terms being two years duration, and that each officer should serve no more than two consecutive terms.

2.4.2 Special officers terms of office shall not exceed a maximum of two years.

3. Parliament

3.1 Composition:

3.1.1 Parliament is a meeting of Baronial citizens and residents to discuss common activities, problems and issues. It is to provide a forum for such discussion and a chance for all citizens and residents to participate.

3.1.2 The Baronial Seneschal (or officially designated deputy) shall be the Speaker of Parliament and shall not vote except in the case of a tie vote.

3.2 Frequency:

3.2.1 Parliament should have one major meeting a year, at a Baronial event, to be called by the Baronial Seneschal.

3.2.2 Additional parliamentary meetings may be called by the Baronial Seneschal or the Coronet, as necessary.

3.3 Membership:

3.3.1 All citizens and residents of the Barony may attend and speak at Parliament, although voting will be restricted to citizens, for those items of business for which SCA membership is required.

3.4 Quorum:

3.4.1 Quorum for meetings of Parliament shall consist of 15 Baronial citizens.

3.5 Powers of Parliament:

3.5.1 Votes on the removal from office of the Coronet.

3.5.2 Votes on Amendments to the Constitution of the Barony of Ruantallan.

3.6 Reporting:

3.6.1 The results of Parliament shall be reported by the Speaker in the Baronial Newsletter.

4. Cantons

4.1 Cantons may not operate as autonomous groups insofar as external relations with SCA groups outside of Ruantallan in matters concerning the security or interest of the Barony.

4.2 Canton officers must send copies of their reports to their Baronial counterparts.

5. Finances

5.1 Income:

5.1.1 All profits and losses are the responsibility of the group, either Barony or Canton, that incurred them.

6. Expenditures

6.1 Baronial Curia shall authorize all Baronial operational and activity related expenses.

7. Regalia/Gifts

7.1 The Herald shall maintain an inventory of all Baronial regalia.

7.2 The Coronet shall be responsible for the storage of the regalia and ensure its presence at all events at which it is required.

7.3 There shall be an annual physical inspection and inventory of the regalia by the Baronial Herald and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

7.4 Gifts may either be personal gifts to the Coronet or gifts to the Barony. In the latter case, they are to be considered regalia. The decision shall be made by the giver. If there is any uncertainty, the gift shall become regalia.

8. Events

8.1 Frequency:

8.1.1 There shall be at least three Baronial events per year which should include:

8.1.1.1 Twelfth Night Celebration; and

8.1.1.2 Baronial Investiture Anniversary.

8.1.2 Other Baronial events may be held as decided by Baronial Curia.

8.2 Baronial Court:

8.2.1 Baronial court should be held at all Baronial events.

8.2.2 Baronial court may be held at other events.

8.3 Canton Events:

8.3.1 Cantons may hold their own events but should notify the Baronial Curia of the dates of such events to avoid scheduling conflicts. In case of conflict, Baronial events shall have precedence.

9. Awards

9.1 Baronial Awards:

9.1.1 All Baronial level awards are granted by the Coronet at the Coronet's discretion.

9.2 Order of the Iceberg:

9.2.1 Description:
The Order of the Iceberg is a major Baronial Award which carries precedence. It is to be awarded to individuals who have benefited the Barony of Ruantallan, through their Excellence in the areas of:

Arts and Scients; or

Martial Activities; or

Service.

9.2.2 Structure:

This Order shall be limited to 26 active members.

The Order shall be headed by a Principal.

It shall be a polling order, advising the Coronet on prospective members, but the Coronet is under no obligation to follow the recommendation of the Order.

9.2.3 Regalia of the Order:

The regalia of the order shall be a single badge with the area of excellence designated by the colour of the ribbon from which the badge depends (as follows):
Blue - Arts and Sciences
Red - Martial Activities
Green - Service

Any member of the order may be given additional awards in other areas if deserving, in which case the ribbons would be intertwined.

10. Precedence

10.1 The Baronial Herald shall draw up and maintain an order of precedence for the Barony and Cantons in accordance with Kingdom procedures.

11. Amending the Constitution

11.1 The constitution of the Barony may be amended by a Parliamentary vote with a 2/3 majority of the citizens present.

11.2 Proposed amendments must be submitted to Baronial Curia, which shall be responsible for announcing such amendments at least one month before the Parliament at which they are to be voted on.

11.3 All constitutional amendments must be signed by the Seneschal in order to be enacted.

11.4 All constitutional amendments shall be reported in the Baronial Newsletter.

11.5 The constitution shall be amended, by the Baronial Seneschal without voting, to reflect any changes in mundane, East Kingdom or SCA law.

12. Residual Powers

12.1 Any powers or authority not contained in the constitution shall revert to the Baronial Seneschal, pending any constitutional amendment.

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