The Treaty of Minsk is the founding document of the Grand Federation of all the Russias. The Treaty governs its political makeup, system of government, and rights, obligations, and privileges of the constituents.
The Treaty[]
Section One: Sovereigns and Administrators[]
Article I: A Knyaz is the lowest rank of a sovereign of one of the constituent states. A Knyaz is subordinate(a vassal) to a Veliki Knyaz. A Knyaz is not a true sovereign, but more of an administrator. The Knyaz is the ruler of a (translated) Principality. The number of Principalities is boundless, and the Laws of succession and governing system are determined by the Superior State or by the Knyazhestvo is the Veliki Knyaz so allows. The Tsar and Grand Council can veto Any decision made by the Government. The Vote of the Veliki Knyaz to whom the State is vassalized voice counts as two votes, and is the deciding vote in the case of a tiebreaker.
- Article Ia: In translation it is acceptable to call a Knyaz either Prince or Duke in Legal Documents, but not in Personal address.
- Article Ib: the Style of Address of A Knyaz is (Name) (Number), Knyaz of (Principality). Duke and Prince are acceptable in the place of Knyaz in Documents if translated.
Article II: A Gospodin-Knyaz is the rank above a Knyaz. They are not subordinate to a Veliki Knyaz, and are the sovereign of their state. Suverniy-Knyaz are the rulers of (translation) Sovereign Principalities and are created by the wishes of any Veliki Knyaz by a release of a Knyaz from his service. The Number of Sovereign Principalities is boundless. Sovereign Principalities can choose their own system of government and laws of succession, but may not have Subordinate (Vassal) States. The Sovereign Principalities may send one representative to the Grand Council for every three Grand Princely Representatives. Any decision made by the Government may be Vetoed by a Grand Council majority.
- Article IIa: In translation it is acceptable to call a Suverniy-Knyaz either a Sovereign Prince or Sovereign Duke in Legal Documents, but not in address.
- Article IIb: the Style of Address of A Suverniy Knyaz is (Name) (Number), Suverniy Knyaz of (Principality). Sovereign Duke and Sovereign Prince are acceptable in the place of Suverniy Knyaz in Documents if translated.
Artilce III: A Veliki Kyaz is the Ruler of one of the Three Veliki Knyazhestvos. The Three Veliki Knyazhestvos (Grand Duchies/Principalities) constitute the following: the Grand Duchy of Moscow, The Grand Duchy of Poland, and the Grand Duchy of Novgorod. The Veliki Knyazes are members of the Grand Council of the Grand Federation of All the Russias, and the Tsar is chosen from their ranks. The Veliki Knyazes choose the System of Government and Laws of Succession for their specific state. A Veliki Knyaz may have Subordinate (Vassal) states. Their decisions may only be vetoed by a 70% majority vote in the Grand Council. The Grand Princes send three Representatives to the Grand Council for each one sent by a Sovereign Principality.
- Article IIIa: In translation it is acceptable to call a Veliki Knyaz either a Grand Prince or Grand Duke in Legal Documents, but not in address.
- Article IIIb: the Style of Address of A Veliki Knyaz is (Name) (Number), Veliki Knyaz of (Principality), Lord(or Gospodin) of (list of vassal principalities), followed by other titles he may have acquired. Grand Duke and Grand Prince are acceptable in the place of Knyaz in Documents if translated.
Article IV: There shall be only one Tsar in the Land, The Tsar of The Russian federation is the first amongst his Grand Princely equals, and shall be elected in a 70% vote in the Grand Council. The Tsar is only Tsar so long as he has the support of the Grand Council [from the Novgorodian tradition of inviting and dismissing their princes]. The Tsar is the Sovereign of all of Rus, and should be properly addressed as Tsar and First Amongst equals of the Grand Princes of All the Russias, (Grand Princely titles). The Rights and Privileges of the Tsar will be detailed in another section. Only the Rulers of the Veliki Knyazhestvos (Grand Principalities) may become Tsar, or Tsarina regent.
Article V: There may be other administrative titles for internal administrators of the member states, although the titles of their positions and responsibilities will be decided by the Sovereign responsible for the state.
Section Two: The Tsar[]
Article I: There must only be one Tsar in the Land, and he or she, if a woman be elected, the Tsarina, shall be the first amongst their Grand Princely equals.
Article II: To be a candidate for Tsar, you must be nominated by the Nominatory council, and hold a Grand Princely title
Article III: The Tsar or Tsarina holds the title until death. The Title is not hereditary. The Tsar must, however, keep the confidence of the Grand Council, and a 70% majority vote can prematurely end a reign.
Article IV: If an unmarried woman be elected, she shall keep the title even after marriage.
Article V: The Tsar must, after his coronation by the Patriarch (or Metropolitan) of Russia, or if he be Catholic, the Pope of Rome.
Article VI: If the Tsar be Catholic, he must appoint an Orthodox Posadnik, and vice versa.
Article VII: The Rights of the Tsar Include:
- With the Approval of the Grand Council declare war on behalf of the Federation
- Appoint himself or another man to be Voivode (Commander-in-Chief) of the Russian Armies
- Represent Russia as a whole in Foreign Relations.
- To be the Judge of the Federation's Highest Court.
- Veto a 2/3 motion in the Grand council with the condition of his abdication and his Nation's exclusion from elections from 20 years after his death.
- Apply Religious Taxes on Non-Christians.
Article VII: Responsibilities of the Tsar Include:
- Signing Laws approved by the Grand Council.
- Appoint the Posadnik of the Grand Council.
- Maintain Religious peace between Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians.
- Maintain the Confidence of the Grand Council.
- Be an advisor to all of Russia.
Article VIII: The Tsar's Family shall be, like the tsar, first amongst the equal Grand Princely families, but hold special titles for their tenure as the Tsar's family.
- The sons of the Tsar will hold the title Tsarevich.
- The daughters of the Tsar and wives of Tsareviches will hold the title Tsaritsa.
- The wife of a Tsar will hold the title Tsaritsa.
- The husband of a Tsarina regent will hold the title Tsarevich.
Section Three: The Posadnik[]
Article I: The Posadnik will be an official appointed by the Tsar, and approved by the Grand Council and the Zemsky Sobor
Article II: During Interim Periods between Tsars, the Posadnik will rule as a Tsar.
Article III: The Posadnik shall maintain his position until death.
Article IV: If a Tsar dies while there is no Posadnik in office, each Grand Principality shall appoint a Posadnik to rule together until the Tsar is elected. At this point, a new Posadnik, which may not be any of the Interim Posadniks, will be elected.
Section Four: The Grand Council of the Russian Federation[]
Article I: The Grand Council will be composed of an undetermined amount of members, as long as the Ratio of representatives from the Veliki Knyazhestvos to representatives from Suvernoe Knyazhestvos is 3:1.
Article II: The Grand Council will be presided by the Posadnik. An official that appointed by the Tsar and approved by the Council.
Article III:
Section Five: The Zemsky Sobor[]
Article I: The Zemsky sobor is an assembly of representatives from across the Russian Federation
Article II: At no time shall the Zemsky Sobor have less, or more, than 450 members.
Article III: Of these, 150 shall be appointed from the Grand Principalities. 50 from each the remaining 300 shall be appointed through free and unbiased elections.
Article IV: The Zemsky Sobor may propose laws to the Grand Council, and act as the voice of public opinion in the Empire.
Article V: The Zemsky Sobor will be presided by over the Same Posadnik as the Grand council.
Article VI: All important ministers and diplomats must be members of the Sobor if it is in session.
*Note: they don't have to be elected as 150 members are appointed.
Section Six: General Rights of the Citizens[]
Article I: Each Member state may add onto the general rights, but not abolish them within their borders.
Article II: All Landowners may sell or lease their land for whatever price they choose. Landowners may not hold Serfs, but may hold Indentured Workers (Kholops).
Article III: Agricultures may move freely from Landowner to Landowner, and may claim Land as their own as long as it was not owned beforehand.
Article IV: All Citizens may buy, claim or sell land.
Article V: No man may be bound to land except in years of Census. No man shall change their place of living from the beginning to the end of the Census.
Article VI:
Section Seven: The Rights of the Principalities[]
Article I: No state shall secede from the Russian Federation. Any state which attempts so will be met by full military force by all other nations.
Article II: If the Grand Council declares war, all states must send at least military aid; Grand Principalities must fully declare war.
- Article IIa: If any state refuses to send aid, it must raise the issue in the Grand Council; if the Grand Council rules an exemption, it need not- if the Grand Council does not rule so, the state must declare war.
Article III: If only one state declares war, all states must send at least supplies; Grand Principalities must send military aid.
- Article IIIa: If a Gran Principality refuses to send aid, it must raise the issue in the Grand Council; if it's refusal is denied, then it must send aid.
Article IV: The Laws of the Grand Council are the Laws of the Federation.
Article V: Those Laws not claimed by the Grand Council may be changed by the individual states.
Article VI: No State shall declare war or otherwise initiate hostilities against another. Any state attempting to do so will be met by the full force of the Federation.
Article VII: All states may maintain their own standing armies; all states may draw their own drafts.
Article VIII: All Grand Principalities shall maintain a standing army of at least 50,000 men at all times; All Grand Principalities must draw up a draft of all men between 16 and 50 during wartime.
Article IX: No state shall demand Tariff or Tax on the goods or services of another other state; no state shall demand a Tax on peoples of another state; no state shall deny passage to a citizen of another state, if purely because he is from another state.
Article X: No state shall violate the laws of the Grand Council; all those that do will be met with the full force of the Federation.