Free Republic of Liberland

Free Republic of Liberland (hereinafter “Liberland”) is a sovereign state located between Croatia and Serbia on the west bank of the Danube river. The nearest towns are Zmajevac (Croatia) and Bački Monoštor (Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia). On some maps, this area is referred to as “Gornja Siga”.

Liberland came into existence due to a border dispute between Croatia and Serbia. This area along the west bank of the Danube river is not claimed by Croatia, Serbia or any other country. It was therefore terra nullius, a no man’s land, until Vít Jedlička seized the opportunity and on 13 April 2015 formed a new state in this territory – Liberland. The boundary was defined so as not to interfere with the territory of Croatia or Serbia. Its total area of approximately 7 km² is now the third smallest sovereign state, after the Vatican and Monaco. For more information regarding the border dispute between Croatia and Serbia see an article on Wikipedia.

The motto of Liberland is “To live and let live” because Liberland prides itself on personal and economic freedom of its people, which is guaranteed by the Constitution, which significantly limits the power of politicians so they could not interfere too much in the freedoms of the Liberland nation.

Do you want to become a citizen of Liberland? Liberland is currently accepting applications for citizenship, which will be processed in due time.

WHO IS NEEDED IN LIBERLAND?

Liberland currently needs people who:

HOW TO APPLY?

Please, find the citizenship application form here: Citizenship application form. 

Watch out for the Croatian police. They immediately arrest and charge you with illegally entering Croatia (even as Croatia admits that this land is not part of Croatia).

On July 5th Crom, a native of Brazil, was arrested for entering Liberland by boat from Serbia. He was abducted across the Croatian border and charged with an illegal border crossing. Crom was given 8 days of house arrest while awaiting trial. His passport was held and he was given firm instructions: do not leave Croatia. This is a familiar story that we have all heard before.

Crom saw this as an opportunity to make a point. On the last day of his house arrest he decided to take a walk to the area where he was arrested, the very place where he allegedly entered Croatia illegally. Along with his friend, Nicolai, he walked four hours to the edge of the Danube River, in the area we call Liberland, and sat on its sandy beaches to wait. The Croatian police eventually came and arrested them. The charge? Illegally exiting Croatia into Serbia!

This is the point that Liberlanders have been trying to make all along. If you go in by boat from Serbia, they arrest you and call the land Croatian. If you go in by foot from Croatia, they arrest you and call the land Serbia. It couldn’t be more clear: Croatian Police are breaking the law and making false arrests.

In what can only be described as a show trial, Crom was found guilty of the following:

1) Illegally entering Croatia (entering Liberland from Serbia via international waters)

2) Illegally exiting Croatia (going to the same spot from Croatia by foot)

3) Illegal staying in Croatia (they refused to explain why he was charged and convicted of this)

4) Violating terms of house arrest (by leaving Croatia)

5) Illegal use of flags (also currently unexplained)

Crom has been sentenced to 58 days in the notorious Osijek Prison, where hard criminals including murderers are held.

Worse yet, the judge did not allow Crom’s Croatian attorney to offer a defense. She was prohibited from introducing evidence of his innocence, including the videos of his arrests, cadastral maps of Croatia and statements from the Croatian government. The contradictions of the charges (the fact that he was on trial for two charges that contradict one another) were not entered into the record and were not considered by the judge.

Complaints of excessive use of force against Crom were also not heard. Crom has also accused the police of racism and hate-speech, stating that the police have referred to him as “the nigger”.

Niels “Yoshi” Harmsen, a member of the Liberland Red Cross who had entered Liberland to observe and offer emergency aid was also convicted of Illegally entering Croatia and illegal use of a flag. Yoshi was carrying a white flag with a red cross, an internationally protected symbol. Yoshi was sentenced to 10 days, also in Osijek Prison.

Under international law borders must be well defined. It is unfair, unjust and illegal for the police to use the Danube River (shown in blue below) as the border one day and the historical border (shown in red below) the next day.

One territory – 2 borders?

Adding to the confusion and hypocrisy, the police are allowing Croatian citizens, and apparently only Croatian citizens, to enter this land. The Croatian police told local media this week that Croatians may enter “Siga” (their name for Liberland) with no restrictions. Three civilians were captured swimming and playing in Liberland the day before Crom and Nicolai were arrested for walking to the same beach.

All of the above offers evidence that Croatia is behaving militantly towards this land despite not claiming it. Though they insist that the land belongs to Serbia, their police occupy the area constantly, and arrest all foreigners from the land while inviting Croatians to come onto the land. It is difficult how any of this is acceptable now that Croatia is a full member of the European Union. EU citizens are guaranteed equal access to all EU nations as well as equal application of the law in all member nations.

Basic laws of Free Republic of Liberland here.

The Constitution of the Free Republic of Liberland We, the Citizens of the Free Republic of Liberland, in order to secure Life, Liberty and Property, for ourselves and future generations, do ordain and establish the Constitution of the Free Republic of Liberland, attempting a harmonious consensus for the benefit of all those willing to assume responsibility over the course of their lives. Being aware of a long and shameful list of governments’ trespasses to the Rights of the sovereign Individuals, we hereby declare that the Public Administration governing the Free Republic of Liberland shall first and foremost respect the Bill of Rights and exercise only such functions as have been delegated to it under this Constitution. Therefore, we declare that whenever the Public Administration becomes an obstacle to, rather than a guarantor of, our Rights, it shall be our duty to alter or abolish such government, and to institute a new government for the restoration of the Rights which we consider inherent in all human beings. Chapter 1: Fundamental PrinciplesThe Constitution of the Free Republic of Liberland shall lay the foundations of the legal system of the Free Republic of Liberland and shall determine the limits of power of the Public Administration. The Agents and Members of the Public Administration shall be held accountable to the Citizens of the Free Republic of Liberland.ARTICLE I: BASIC PROVISIONS§I.1. The Constitution of the Free Republic of Liberland shall be the supreme law of the Free Republic of Liberland and, as such, shall be directly enforceable before all Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland; all forms of law and all contracts between any legal and/or natural Persons, including all branches of the Public Administration, made under the jurisdiction of the Free Republic of Liberland, shall comply with the Constitution.§I.2. The Free Republic of Liberland shall be governed by the Public Administration and no concurrent or otherwise form of government shall be established; no special branch of the Public Administration which is not provided for in the Constitution shall come into existence; no municipal or district governing body shall be established unless for a new territory upon its incorporation to the Free Republic of Liberland.§I.3. Should the Public Administration abandon the Constitution and assume a despotic form of governance, and should no mechanism for peaceful transformation be available, the Citizens of the Free Republic of Liberland shall have the right and duty to abolish such government and restore the legal order envisaged by this Constitution.§I.4. The Powers of the Public Administration shall be derived solely from the provisions of this Constitution and neither the Public Administration, nor any Agent or Member thereof, shall possess any inherent authority; the Public Administration shall neither have nor exercise any power other than those expressly conferred upon it by this Constitution.§I.5. Customary international law shall form part of the legal system of the Free Republic of Liberland, and as such shall be directly enforceable before the Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland, insofar as it does not contravene the Constitution or any law passed in accordance therewith; where any party to any proceedings before any Court wishes to rely on any principle of customary international law or provision of any international treaty, its interpretation shall lie within competences of the Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland.§I.6. Any law creating an obligation vis-a-vis any Person, shall contain a precise definition of such obligation and all of its elements, a general scope of its application, available defences and the nature and minimum (if any) and maximum extent of punishment that may be imposed for its breach; all criminal offences shall be enumerated in a single Criminal Code.ARTICLE II: CORNERS OF POWERS OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION§II.1. No law shall prohibit any act or omission which does not directly harm any other Person or cause unwarranted suffering to an animal capable of conscious behaviour or harm to the environment beyond the boundaries of one’s property; nor shall any law prohibit any act or omission which has been validly consented to by another Individual; no Individual shall be considered a victim of one’s acts or omissions; nothing in this provision shall prevent the Assembly from criminalising conduct interfering with the constitutional functions of the Public Administration or attempting, preparing, threatening to commit, participating in, and benefiting from, a criminal offence.§II.2. No law shall retroactively change the legal consequences and/or status of actions that have been already committed, or relationships that already existed, before the enactment of said law.§II.3. No Person shall be threatened with, or subjected to, any punishment which has not been expressly provided for by an Act of the Assembly or the Constitution, nor shall any Person be punished for any act or omission which has not been expressly forbidden by an Act of the Assembly or the Constitution.§II.4. No branch of the Public Administration shall introduce any state of emergency or war, or any other special state in which one or more of the Rights guaranteed by this Constitution would be diminished or suspended or revoked; any purported such introduction shall of no effect.§II.5. No branch of the Public Administration shall take a loan, be it foreign or domestic, short or long term, special or commercial; no government bond shall be issued; no debt shall be incurred by any branch of the Public Administration for any purpose; only voluntary donations with no expectation of repayment or quid pro quo shall be allowed.§II.6. No branch of the Public Administration, nor any number of Citizens or other Residents of the Free Republic of Liberland, shall propose and/or consent to the incorporation of the Free Republic of Liberland, or any part thereof, to any other jurisdiction; a majority of two-thirds of the overall number of Assembly Representatives may assent to the incorporation of any new territory to the Free Republic of Liberland upon the request of its people or government with any status the Assembly may determine.§II.7. No branch of the Public Administration shall give any form of foreign aid to any state or entity, whether directly or via any international institution, be it a non-repayable grant, loan or any other financial support; nothing in this provision shall prevent the Public Administration from meeting its financial liabilities flowing from the membership in any intergovernmental organisation.§II.8. No branch of the Public Administration shall establish any standing army; nor shall it declare war and/or carry out military activities other than in defence of the border of the Free Republic of Liberland in reaction to an act of armed aggression against the Free Republic of Liberland which has already taken place or is imminent; nor shall any branch of the Public Administration invite any armed forces of any other state or organisation into the jurisdiction of the Free Republic of Liberland except for a reasonable number of security personnel accompanying a foreign visit.§II.9. No branch of the Public Administration shall finance, or partially finance, any private organisation, corporation or service contracted between any natural and/or legal Persons; no assets shall be transferred by any branch of the Public Administration, be it in the form of a loan, non-repayable grant or periodic payments, to any legal and/or natural Person unless as remuneration for contracted goods and/or services necessary for the functioning of the Public Administration as envisaged in the Constitution.§II.10. No branch of the Public Administration shall contract with any legal or natural Person, state or entity for the purposes of acquiring data it itself is not entitled to acquire under this Constitution or any laws passed in accordance therewith; nor shall any branch of the Public Administration be allowed to procure any legal or natural person to commit what it itself is not entitled to commit under this Constitution or any laws passed in accordance therewith.ARTICLE III: AGENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION§III.1. All candidates for any public office in the Free Republic of Liberland as well as all current Members of the Public Administration shall be under obligation to disclose their assets above certain value as prescribed by law, sources of income over certain proportion of his or her overall yearly income as prescribed by law and benefaction, both current and of the past five years, as prescribed by law, to the public; should a candidacy be submitted by any association, it shall be under equal obligation of disclosure.§III.2. All Members and Agents of the Public Administration shall take the Oath of Office prior to assuming their office; the Oath of Office shall include the pledge of allegiance to the state of the Free Republic of Liberland, obligation to uphold and abide by the Constitution of the Free Republic of Liberland, and to perform one’s duties in a manner consistent with the liberty of others as far as possible.§III.3. All Members and Agents of the Public Administration knowingly or negligently acting in breach of the Constitution by failing to fulfil any obligation which may be directly imposed on them by the Constitution, or by denying any Person any right which may be bestowed on such a Person by the Constitution, shall be deemed to be committing a criminal offence punishable with incarceration for a term not exceeding three years and/or with any other punishment which the Assembly may determine in the Criminal Code.§III.4. For the purposes of the criminal offence of acting in breach of the Constitution, acting pursuant to an Act which has been approved as prima facie constitutional by the Supreme Court shall not be deemed as acting unconstitutionally until such time as the Act is declared unconstitutional at subsequent judicial proceedings; collective bodies of the Public Administration acting in breach of the Constitution shall incur individual criminal liability for all their members who have voted to pursue the relevant course of action.§III.5. All Members and Agents of the Public Administration convicted of the criminal offence of acting in breach of the Constitution or of any law relevant to the position held shall cease to hold their current positions and shall no longer be eligible to hold any public office or to be employed by the Public Administration.Chapter 2: Political InstitutionsThe Free Republic of Liberland shall be governed by the Public Administration in accordance with the Constitution. It shall observe the rule of law and exercise only such legislative, executive and judicial powers which have been conferred upon it by this Part of the Constitution and not restricted under the other Chapters of the Constitution.ARTICLE IV: THE LEGISLATIVE POWER§IV.1. The legislative power in the Free Republic of Liberland shall be vested in the Citizens of the Free Republic of Liberland, the Assembly of the Free Republic of Liberland and the Council of the Free Republic of Liberland which shall exercise it on behalf of the Citizens.§IV.1(1) The Assembly shall ordinarily be in session for one week of every month for nine months a year.§IV.1(2) The Assembly may extend or shorten its session with a simple majority vote of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.1(3) The Assembly may reconvene at any time whatsoever upon the call of the Assembly Speaker sua sponte or upon request of one-quarter of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.1(4) The Assembly shall not be dissolved, nor shall its session be interrupted, by any other body of the Public Administration.§IV.2. The Assembly shall consist of twenty Assembly Representatives.§IV.2(1) The Assembly Representatives shall not receive any remuneration for their service other than compensation for expenses incurred in their official capacity.§IV.2(2) No Person shall hold the office of an Assembly Representative whilst holding any other public office within the executive or judicial branch of the Public Administration concurrently.§IV.2(3) No Assembly Representative shall be precluded from taking part in any Assembly vote and/or debate by virtue of being detained unless his or her release would cause direct and grave danger to others, as certified by the Court on application by the Office of the Public Prosecutor or a medical practitioner where appropriate.§IV.2(4) No Assembly Representative shall hold the office for more than twelve years in total.§IV.3. The Assembly Representatives shall be elected by the Citizens in a General Election held every six years.§IV.3(1) Any Assembly Representative may be recalled by the Citizens with a simple majority vote in a referendum called by 5% of the overall number of Citizens registered to vote at the time of the last General Election.§IV.3(2) Should any Assembly Representative step down, a Supplementary Election shall be held within thirty days.§IV.3(3) No vote whatsoever shall take place unless all Assembly Representative are sworn in and eligible to participate.§IV.4. One-quarter of the overall number of Assembly Representatives shall have the right to propose a resolution dissolving the Assembly.§IV.4(1) The resolution shall be passed with a majority of two-thirds of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.4(2) Should the Assembly be dissolved, a General Election shall be held within sixty days.§IV.5. The Assembly shall elect an Assembly Speaker with a simple majority vote of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.5(1) The Assembly Speaker shall chair the business of the Assembly.§IV.5(2) The Assembly Speaker shall head the Bureau of the Assembly.§IV.6. The business of the Assembly shall be administered by the Bureau of the Assembly of the Free Republic of Liberland.§IV.6(1) The Bureau of the Assembly shall supervise all Agents of the legislative branch of the Public Administration.§IV.6(2) No Agent of Law Enforcement shall enter the premises of the Assembly unless with the express and informed consent of the Bureau of the Assembly or pursuant to a Warrant.§IV.7. The Assembly shall have the power to pass Bills for the following purposes only:§IV.7(1) to establish rules regarding peaceful coexistence of Persons, security of their Property and Rights, their enforcement and protection of Minors, Persons lacking mental capacity and the environment as provided for in ordinary Bills;§IV.7(2) to conduct the financial affairs of the Public Administration as provided in Financial Bills;§IV.7(3) to impose the Fee on land as provided for in Land Bills;§IV.7(4) to ratify international treaties signed by the Chancellor as provided in Treaty Bills.§IV.8. The Assembly shall have the power to pass Resolutions for the following purposes only:§IV.8(1) to assent to the incorporation of any new territories to the Free Republic of Liberland;§IV.8(2) to establish the Assembly Committee;§IV.8(3) to assent to the classification of information as a state secret for the purposes of national security as proposed by a Secretary of State;§IV.8(4) to appoint and impeach the Chancellor;§IV.8(5) to consent to the use of the Territorial Defence force within the ten kilometre radius from the borders of the Free Republic of Liberland;§IV.8(6) to request the Supreme Court to review the validity of any election or referendum held within the Free Republic of Liberland;§IV.8(7) to appoint and replace the Assembly Speaker;§IV.8(8) to regulate its sessions and dissolution;§IV.8(9) to accept or reject the remainder of a Bill that has been declared partially unconstitutional to proceed to the stage of potential veto by the Citizens.§IV.9. The Assembly Representatives shall have the power to debate on matters important to the well-being of the Republic and inquire into any aspect of work of the Chancellor or any Member of the Cabinet, who shall be under obligation to provide accurate and truthful information.§IV.9(1) One-quarter of the overall number of Assembly Representatives shall have the power to oblige the Cabinet to consider a draft of a Bill prepared by them, which may be rejected or accepted by the Cabinet as a future Bill.§IV.9(2) Should the Draft be rejected, the Cabinet shall publicly give detailed reasons behind its decision.§IV.10. The Assembly shall elect the Chancellor of the Free Republic of Liberland, who shall form the Cabinet of the Free Republic of Liberland, with a simple majority vote of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.10(1) Should no Chancellor be elected within thirty days of a General Election, a new General Election shall be held within sixty days.§IV.10(2) The Assembly shall have the power to impeach the Chancellor, or the Vice-Chancellor where applicable, along with the Cabinet by passing a Motion of No Confidence with a simple majority vote of the overall number of Assembly Representatives provided there is a simple majority for a prospective successor.§IV.11. One-quarter of the overall number of Assembly Representatives shall have the power to propose a resolution instituting the Assembly Committee.§IV.11(1) The resolution shall be passed with a simple majority of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.11(2) The Assembly Committee shall be composed of five Assembly Representatives as proposed in the resolution.§IV.11(3) The Assembly Committee shall be established upon a suspicion of misconduct or mismanagement of any Agent or Member of the Public Administration, other than Judges of any Court of the Free Republic of Liberland, in order to investigate the allegations.§IV.11(4) The Assembly Committee shall have the right to subpoena Agents and Members of the Public Administration, other than Judges of any Court of the Free Republic of Liberland, to hear testimonies given under oath.§IV.11(5) The Assembly Committee shall prepare the Final Conclusions reporting evidence, if any, of said misconduct or mismanagement which shall be made public and passed to the Chief Public Prosecutor for consideration of potential criminal prosecution of relevant Persons as described by the Committee.§IV.11(6) Should any Agent or Member of the Public Administration be found by the Assembly Committee to be in breach of the rules of conduct binding him or her in the official capacity, the Committee shall have the power to punish him or her financially according to the relevant rules; testimonies given in breach of oath shall be prosecuted in a regular manner in the Criminal Court.§IV.11(7) The Assembly Committee shall only deal with the matter for which it was established and shall disband no later than one year after its creation.§IV.12. The power to initiate a legislative procedure shall lie with the Cabinet only.§IV.12(1) This power shall be exercised once a year only by submitting a Bill or Bills to the Assembly upon the State of the Republic Address on the thirteenth day of April.§IV.12(2) Should any provision of any Act of the Assembly be struck down by the Supreme Court following the declaration of constitutionality, the Cabinet shall have the power to initiate a legislative procedure to address any potential legal vacuum which might have been created by the verdict of the Supreme Court within sixty days.§IV.12(3) A legislative procedure shall involve the Assembly and Council debating on and passing or rejecting any Bill or Bills submitted by the Cabinet.§IV.12(4) The Assembly and the Council shall be under obligation to vote on each and every Bill submitted by the Cabinet until the next State of the Republic Address.§IV.12(5) Any Bill which is rejected by the Assembly or the Council shall be considered lost and shall not be revived unless by resubmission by the Cabinet upon another State of the Republic Address.§IV.13. Any Bill proposed to the Assembly by the Cabinet shall be debated and voted on once only.§IV.13(1) No vote whatsoever shall take place unless the Bureau of the Assembly has published in advance a schedule of the affairs of the Assembly, including the contents of any proposed Bill or Resolution, and made an official record of the Yeas and Nays of all Assembly Representatives taking part in the vote.§IV.13(2) Every Assembly Representative shall have the right to express his or her opinion on the proposed Bill or Resolution at least once before the vote takes place, without any time limit.§IV.14. Any Bill proposed to the Assembly shall pertain to one matter only as expressed in its title.§IV.14(1) The Bill shall state that which it is intended to procure and the means by which those objectives shall be procured including as precise an estimate as practicable of the direct effect of the Bill, if any, upon the Annual Budget.§IV.14(2) The Bill shall specify under which power delegated by this Constitution to the Assembly it is proposed.§IV.14(3) The Bill shall be read aloud in its entirety by the Assembly Speaker before it is voted on.§IV.15. The Cabinet shall have the power to propose five types of Bills:§IV.15(1) an ordinary Bill;§IV.15(2) a Constitutional Bill;§IV.15(3) a Land Bill;§IV.15(4) a Treaty Bill;§IV.15(5) a Financial Bill.§IV.16. An ordinary Bill shall pertain to any matter within the powers of the Assembly which is not reserved for any other type of Bill.§IV.16(1) All ordinary Bills shall be passed with a majority of two-thirds of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.16(2) All ordinary Bills shall be subject to the power of general veto by the Citizens as provided in §IV.24.§IV.17. A Constitutional Bill shall propose an Amendment to this Constitution.§IV.17(1) All Constitutional Bills shall be passed with a majority of three-quarters of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.17(2) All Constitutional Bills shall be subject to the power of general veto by the Citizens as provided in §II.25.§IV.18. A Land Bill shall propose to introduce, or to alter, the Fee on land of the Free Republic of Liberland.§IV.18(1) All Land Bills shall be passed with a majority of three-quarters of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.18(2) All Land Bills shall be subject to the power of general veto by the Citizens as provided in §IV25.§IV.18(3) The Fee on land may be abolished by an ordinary Bill.§IV.18(4) The Fee shall be fixed per square metre of land.§IV.18(5) The Fee shall be payable once a year by landowners, other than the Public Administration, as prescribed in the Act.§IV.18(6) The overall Fee revenue shall be calculated not to exceed 5% of the Gross Domestic Product of the Free Republic of Liberland of the preceding year.§IV.18(7) The Fee shall be levied for one or more of the following purposes only:§IV.18(7)(a) maintaining the infrastructure of the Public Administration;§IV.18(7)(b) providing for Law Enforcement;§IV.18(7)(c) providing for the Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland;§IV.18(7)(d) providing for Agents and Members of the Public Administration;§IV.18(7)(e) securing and promoting the interests of the Free Republic of Liberland worldwide.§IV.19. A Treaty Bill shall propose ratification of an international treaty signed by the Chancellor.§IV.19(1) All Treaty Bills shall be passed with a majority of two-thirds of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.19(2) All Treaty Bills shall be subject to the power of general veto by the Citizens as provided in §II.24.§IV.19(3) Should any international treaty be capable by virtue of its contents of bestowing rights upon, or creating obligations for, Persons, such rights and/or obligations shall be directly enforceable before the Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland.§IV.19(4) Where an international treaty ratified by the Assembly renders the Free Republic of Liberland a member of any international organisation which issues any form of legal document that purports to bestow rights upon, and/or create obligations for, Persons, directly enforceable in the domestic Courts, such legal documents shall be of no effect unless they are separately ratified each time by the Assembly in the form of a Treaty Bill.§IV.20. The Financial Bill shall contain the provisions of the Annual Budget.§IV.20(1) The Financial Bill shall be passed with a simple majority vote of the overall number of Assembly Representatives.§IV.20(2) The Financial Bill shall be subject to the power of general veto by the Citizens as provided in §II.24.§IV.20(3) The Financial Bill shall contain an Alteration Clause which shall enable the Cabinet to exercise delegated power in order to alter the provisions of the Annual Budget.§IV.20(4) The Alteration Clause shall be exercisable should it become apparent that the actual revenue will not meet the anticipated revenue as provided in the Annual Budget.§IV.20(5) The Executive Measure altering the provisions of the Annual Budget shall only be capable of reducing the spending of the Public Administration.§IV.20(6) Under no circumstances shall the Cabinet lower the remuneration of Judges and/or Assembly Representatives unless with the express and informed consent of the relevant bodies.§IV.21. The Annual Budget shall constitute the only source of financial provisions for the Public Administration.§IV.21(1) The Annual Budget shall be financed from the State Treasury maintained by the Department of Treasury.§IV.21(2) No provision of the Annual Budget shall provide for any spending which is not authorised by this Constitution.§IV.21(3) The Annual Budget shall be calculated using realistic assumptions as to the anticipated revenue so that the anticipated revenue does not exceed the actual revenue.§IV.21(4) The size of the Annual Budget shall not exceed the previous year’s actual revenue.§IV.21(5) Should the funds gathered in the State Treasury not be able to cover the deficit, all Assembly Representatives who voted in favour of the Financial Bill shall cover the remaining difference with their own personal assets, divided equally.§IV.22. All Bills which have been passed by the Assembly in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be considered by the Council.§IV.22(1) The Council shall be composed of Individuals who hold shares of the Fund of the Free Republic of Liberland.§IV.22(2) Should any Individual hold any public office whatsoever, he or she shall not have the right to participate in the business of the Council irrespective of any shareholding.§IV.22(3) The position of the Councillor shall not be considered to be public office.§IV.22(4) The Councillors shall not receive any remuneration for their service.§IV.23. The Council shall debate and vote on all Bills passed by the Assembly.§IV.23(1) The Council shall regulate its own voting procedures.§IV.23(2) The Council shall be in session in perpetuity and independently from the Assembly.§IV.23(3) Should a Bill be rejected by the Council, it shall be discarded.§IV.23(4) Should a Bill be approved by the Council, it shall proceed to the consideration by the Supreme Court.§IV.24. All ordinary Bills, Treaty Bills and Financial Bills passed by the Assembly and the Council and approved as constitutional by the Supreme Court shall be subject to the right of general veto by the Citizens as expressed in a referendum.§IV.24(1) Such referendum shall be triggered by the request of 5% of the overall number of Citizens registered to vote at the time of the last General Election, and shall be submitted within sixty days after the Bill was declared constitutional by the Supreme Court.§IV.24(2) The Bill shall be deemed vetoed unless a simple majority of all Citizens taking part in the referendum vote “Aye”.§IV.25. All Constitutional Bills and Land Bills passed by the Assembly and the Council and approved as constitutional by the Supreme Court shall be subject to a mandatory referendum.§IV.25(1) The mandatory referendum shall take place within sixty days after the Bill was declared constitutional by the Supreme Court.§IV.25(2) The Bill shall be deemed vetoed unless a majority of two-thirds of all Citizens taking part in the referendum vote “Aye”.§IV.26. Any Bill vetoed by the Citizens in the referendum shall be considered void.§IV.26(1) Should an ordinary Bill or a Treaty Bill be vetoed, neither it nor any substantially similar Bill shall be resubmitted to the Assembly for at least three years.§IV.26(2) Should a Constitutional Bill or Land Bill be vetoed, neither it nor any substantially similar Bill shall be resubmitted to the Assembly for at least ten years.§IV.26(3) Should a Financial Bill be vetoed, the provisions of the Annual Budget adopted the previous year shall apply.§IV.27. A Bill shall become “Passed” upon passage by the Assembly and the Council in accordance with the provisions of this Article pending the consideration by the Supreme Court.§IV.28. A Bill shall become “Under Consideration” upon the declaration of constitutionality by the Supreme Court in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article VI pending the consideration by the Citizens.§IV.29. A Bill shall become the law of the Free Republic of Liberland, and shall be known as “Act”, once it has become “Under Consideration” in accordance with §IV.28., and either sixty days have passed and no referendum has been called in accordance with §IV.24., or on the day the Bill obtained the assent of the Citizens in referendum under §IV.24. or §IV.25.§IV.30. An Act shall enter into force on a date prescribed therein but no sooner than after at least thirty days of vacatio legis from the date it became the law of the Free Republic of Liberland in accordane with §IV.29.ARTICLE V: THE EXECUTIVE POWER§V.1. The executive power in the Free Republic of Liberland shall be vested in the Cabinet of the Free Republic of Liberland.§V.2. The Cabinet shall be formed and presided over by the Chancellor, who shall be the Head of State.§V.2(1) The Cabinet shall be composed of the Chancellor, the five Secretaries of States, Under-Secretaries of State and any other Members the Chancellor may determine.§V.2(2) All Members of the Cabinet shall receive remuneration for their service as provided in the Annual Budget.§V.2(3) No Person shall hold the office of Member of the Cabinet whilst holding any other public office within the legislative or judicial branch of the Public Administration concurrently.§V.2(4) Should the Chancellor, or Vice-Chancellor where applicable, cease to hold his or her office, all other Members of the Cabinet shall immediately cease to hold their offices.§V.2(5) Should the Chancellor, or Vice-Chancellor where applicable, resign, the Assembly shall elect a new Chancellor in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.§V.3. Should the Chancellor become unable to perform one’s duties, the other Members of the Cabinet shall, amongst themselves, elect the Vice-Chancellor with a simple majority vote.§V.3(1) The inability of the Chancellor to perform one’s duties shall be declared by the Supreme Court upon request by a simple majority of all Members of the Cabinet.§V.3(2) The Vice-Chancellor shall perform the duties of the Chancellor until his or her return or resignation upon a Motion of No Confidence passed by the Assembly in accordance with Article IV.§V.3(3) Should the Chancellor's ability to return be in question, the Vice-Chancellor shall request the Supreme Court to rule on the issue.§V.4. The Cabinet shall fully, reasonably consistently and in good faith execute all laws passed by the Assembly in accordance with Article IV.§V.5. The Cabinet shall secure the borders of the Free Republic of Liberland and duly maintain an immigration system as prescribed by law; in foreign affairs, the Cabinet shall work towards the maintenance of international peace and seek political and economic cooperation with other Nations as far as possible.§V.6. The Chancellor, on behalf of the Cabinet, shall once a year, on the thirteenth day of April, publicly give to the Assembly information on the State of the Republic, and recommend to their consideration such measures as the Cabinet shall judge necessary thereby initiating a legislative procedure in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.§V.7. The powers of the Cabinet shall be restricted to the following only:§V.7(1) to run day-to-day state affairs;§V.7(2) to initiate a legislative procedure;§V.7(3) to protect and promote the interests of the Free Republic of Liberland worldwide;§V.7(4) to sign international treaties provided the Supreme Court confirms the constitutionality of such treaties;§V.7(5) to produce byelaws in the form of Executive Measures under the powers expressly granted by Acts of the Assembly;§V.7(6) to appoint the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court to be a new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;§V.7(7) to appoint a current or former Judge of the Civil Court or the Criminal Court for the position of Justice of the Supreme Court;§V.7(8) to maintain the State Treasury;§V.7(9) to appoint the Chief Public Prosecutor and the Chief Attorney of the Republic;§V.7(10) to supervise all Agents of the executive branch of the Public Administration;§V.7(11) to bestow honours and awards on Persons who have achieved a great deal in service of Liberland and/or the idea of liberty worldwide;§V.7(12) to appoint and remove the Chief Commissioner;§V.7(13) to be the Commander-in-Chief of the voluntary Territorial Defence force, should it be constituted;§V.7(14) to grant citizenship of the Free Republic of Liberland in accordance with this Constitution and any laws passed in accordance therewith.§V.8. The Cabinet shall consist of the following Departments only:§V.8(1) Department of Justice;§V.8(2) Department of Internal Affairs;§V.8(3) Department of Security;§V.8(4) Department of Foreign Affairs;§V.8(5) Department of Treasury.§V.9. No special Department shall be established, nor shall any Department operate outside its jurisdiction.§V.9(1) Departments may establish Agencies.§V.9(2) All Agencies shall be supervised by relevant Departments and no Agency shall operate outside its own jurisdiction or the jurisdiction of its Department.§V.10. Each Department shall be headed by the Secretary of State for the respective Department.§V.10(1) All Secretaries of State shall answer to the Chancellor and shall be removable from the office by the Chancellor at any time.§V.10(2) All Secretaries of State may appoint and remove up to five Under-Secretaries of State for their Departments who shall act as their deputies supervising a specific section of the work of the Department.§V.11. The Chief Attorney of the Republic shall be independent and shall head the Office of the Chief Attorney of the Republic.§V.11(1) The Chief Attorney of the Republic shall be appointed by the Chancellor for a term of six years.§V.11(2) The Chief Attorney of the Republic shall have the power to request the Supreme Court to issue a declaration as to the law and/or the Constitution of the Free Republic of Liberland.§V.11(3) The Office of the Chief Attorney of the Republic shall employ Attorneys of the Republic who shall represent all bodies of the Public Administration in all civil proceedings.§V.11(4) The Chief Attorney of the Republic shall have the power to apply to the Civil Court to issue Publication Orders preventing any natural or legal Person from publishing and/or sharing any information which would undermine the secrecy of any information classified as a state secret in accordance with this Constitution§V.11(5) The Chief Attorney of the Republic shall have the power to appoint Members of the Judicial Appointment Commission.§V.11(6) The Chief Attorney of the Republic shall be under obligation to take all available measures to ensure the Cabinet is provided with precise and impartial advice as its powers and obligations under the Constitution, international law and current domestic law of the Free Republic of Liberland.§V.12. The Chief Public Prosecutor shall be independent and shall head the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor.§V.12(1) The Chief Public Prosecutor shall be appointed by the Chancellor for a term of six years.§V.12(2) The Chief Public Prosecutor shall be removable from the office by the Citizens with a majority of two-thirds vote in a referendum called by 10% of the overall number of Citizens registered to vote at the time of the last General Election.§V.12(3) The Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor shall employ Public Prosecutors acting in accordance with Article IV.§V.12(4) The Chief Public Prosecutor shall be under obligation to take all available measures to ensure all public prosecutions are undertaken in good faith and in the interest of a Victim or the Citizens of the Free Republic of Liberland where applicable.§V.13. The Chief Commissioner shall supervise the work of Law Enforcement.§V.13(1) The Chief Commissioner shall be appointed by the Chancellor for a term not exceeding six years and shall answer to the Chancellor and shall be removable from the office by the Chancellor at any time.§V.13(2) The Chief Commissioner shall be removable from the office by the Citizens with a majority of two-thirds vote in a referendum called by 10% of the overall number of Citizens registered to vote at the time of the last General Election.§V.13(3) The Chief Commissioner shall have the power to apply to the Civil Court to issue Publication Orders preventing any natural or legal Person from publishing and/or sharing any information which would jeopardise any Agent of Law Enforcement operating undercover pursuant to a Warrant.§V.13(4) The Chief Commissioner shall be under obligation to take all available measures to ensure the enforcement of law in the Free Republic of Liberland by Law Enforcement is conducted in the least intrusive and most peaceful manner possible.§V.14. The Chief Public Prosecutor, Chief Attorney of the Republic and the Chief Commissioner shall not be deemed Members of the Cabinet.§V.14(1) No Person shall hold the office of the Chief Public Prosecutor, Chief Attorney of the Republic or the Chief Commissioner whilst holding any other public office concurrently.ARTICLE VI: THE JUDICIAL POWER§VI.1. The judicial power of the Free Republic of Liberland shall be vested in the Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland.§VI.2. The Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland shall consist of the Civil Court, Criminal Court and the Supreme Court.§VI.3. The Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland shall first and foremost protect the Rights of Citizens and other Residents of the Free Republic of Liebrland by upholding the Constitution and any laws passed in accordance therewith.§VI.4. The Judges of the Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland shall regulate their own affairs within the Secretariat of the Judiciary of the Free Republic of Liberland.§VI.4(1) The Secretariat of the Judiciary shall be headed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.§VI.4(2) The Secretariat of the Judiciary shall supervise all Agents of the judicial branch of the Public Administration.§VI.4(3) No Agent of Law Enforcement shall enter the premises of any Court of the Free Republic of Liberland unless with the express and informed consent of the Secretariat of the Judiciary or pursuant to the Supreme Warrant.§VI.5. The Judges of the Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland shall be independent and shall not be removable by any other branch of the Public Administration.§VI.5(1) The remuneration of the Judges shall not be lowered without the express and informed consent of the Secretariat of the Judiciary of the Free Republic of Liberland.§VI.5(2) No Judge of any Court of the Free Republic of Liberland shall be arrested for any period whatsoever unless pursuant to the Supreme Warrant or under exigent circumstances where there is a direct threat to others or where vital evidence may be destroyed.§VI.5(3) Where a Judge is placed under arrest without the Supreme Warrant, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall be immediately notified about the detainment and shall have the power to order immediate release of the detained Judge.§VI.5(4) Should the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court be the Judge arrested, the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court shall have the power to order the immediate release of him or her.§VI.5(5) The Supreme Warrant shall be issued by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or by at least three Justices of the Supreme Court acting together, upon request by the Office of the Public Prosecutor supported by clear and convincing evidence of an alleged offence.§VI.6. The Judicial Appointment Commission shall appoint qualified lawyers for the positions of Judges of the Civil Court and the Criminal Court.§VI.6(1) The Judicial Appointment Commission shall be composed of nine members appointed or elected for a term of six years:§VI.6(1)(a) three members appointed by the Chief Justice of Supreme Court;§VI.6(1)(b) three members appointed by the Chief Attorney of the Republic;§VI.6(1)(c) three members elected by the Citizens of the Free Republic of Liberland.§VI.6(2) The Judicial Appointment Commission shall sit en banc and it shall reach its decisions with no fewer than seven votes.§VI.6(3) No Person shall hold the office of any Judge of any Court of the Free Republic of Liberland whilst holding any other public office within the legislative or executive branch of the Public Administration concurrently.§VI.7. The Judicial Appointment Commission shall have the power to inquire into alleged misconduct of any Judge of the Civil Court or the Criminal Court.§VI.7(1) The Judicial Appointment Commission shall have the power to subpoena Judges of the Civil Court and the Criminal Court and Agents of the Public Administration to hear testimonies given under oath.§VI.7(2) The Judicial Appointment Commission may remove any Judge of the Civil Court or the Criminal Court from the office upon a proven case of gross misconduct or intentional procurement of the miscarriage of justice.§IV.7(3) Should there be suspicion that any Judge of the Civil Court or the Criminal Court issues Warrants or Orders too leniently, the Judicial Appointment Commission shall have the power to inquire into the justifiability of such Warrants or Orders, and may remove such a Judge from his or her office upon proving that is the case.§VI.7(4) Should the Judicial Appointment Commission find evidence of any criminal conduct, it shall be passed to the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor; testimonies given in breach of oath shall be prosecuted in a regular manner in the Criminal Court.§VI.7(5) The Judicial Appointment Commission shall have the power to declare any Judge of any Court of the Free Republic of Liberland to be unable to continue to hold his or her office due to very poor health or old age but not before the age of seventy-five.§VI.8. The Supreme Court shall be composed of four Justices of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who shall preside over the Court.§VI.8(1) The Supreme Court shall at all times give hearing en banc and reach its decisions with a simple majority unless required otherwise in this Constitution.§VI.8(2) All verdicts of the Supreme Court shall be binding upon the parties to the proceedings and the Civil Court and the Criminal Court on the point of law in all future proceedings where applicable.§VI.8(3) Should the office of any of the Justices of the Supreme Court become vacant, the Chancellor shall appoint a current or former Judge of the Criminal Court or the Civil Court for the position for life.§VI.8(4) Should the office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court become vacant, the Chancellor shall appoint the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court for the position for life.§VI.8(5) The Chief Justice or any Justice of the Supreme Court shall nevertheless be removable from their position by the Citizens of the Free Republic of Liberland with a majority of two-thirds vote in a referendum called by 10% of the overall number of Citizens registered to vote at the time of the last General Election or by the Judicial Appointment Commission as described in this Constitution.§VI.8(6) Should any Justice or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court have any personal interest in a case before the Court, he or she shall recuse him or herself from the proceedings, in which case, his place shall be temporary taken by the most senior of Judges of the Civil Court and the Criminal Court who has not been involved in the case before it is heard by the Supreme Court.§VI.9. The Supreme Court shall have compulsory appellate and inherent jurisdiction as prescribed in this Constitution and powers to issue warrants, injunctions and other orders as prescribed by law.§VI.9(1) The Supreme Court shall hear appeals from the Civil Court and the Criminal Court on the point of law, material procedural irregularity or severity of sentence.§VI.9(2) The Supreme Court shall have inherent jurisdiction to issue declarations as to the law and Constitution of the Free Republic of Liberland upon request by the Chief Attorney of the Republic.§VI.9(3) The Supreme Court shall have inherent jurisdiction to review the prima facie constitutionality of all Bills passed in accordance with Article II which shall take place within ninety days and no Bill shall become the law of the Free Republic of Liberland unless the Supreme Court, unanimously, declares the Bill to be constitutional.§VI.9(4) Upon reviewing the prima facie constitutionality of a Bill, the Supreme Court shall hear submissions, which are of relevance for the outcome of the determination, from the Cabinet and any association composed of no fewer than thirty Citizens in the form of amicus curiae briefs.§VI.9(5) Should a Bill be declared unconstitutional by reason only of parts of the Bill which may reasonably be excised from the whole, the Supreme Court shall send the remainder of such Bill to the Assembly which may pass a resolution authorising the remainder of the Bill proceed for consideration of Citizens as provided in Article IV.§VI.9(6) The Supreme Court shall retain the power to strike down any provision of any Act passed in accordance with Article II as unconstitutional at any criminal or civil proceedings notwithstanding the declaration of the prima facie constitutionality; such provision shall be disapplied on the appeal in question and shall be deemed no longer in force at the time the verdict is given.§VI.9(7) The Supreme Court shall have inherent jurisdiction to review the constitutionality of all international treaties the Cabinet intends to sign and no international treaty shall be signed unless the Supreme Court, unanimously, declares the treaty to be constitutional.§VI.9(8) The Supreme Court shall have inherent jurisdiction to review the validity of any election or referendum upon the request of one-quarter of the overall number of Assembly Representatives or 3% of the overall number of Citizens registered to vote at the time of the last General Election.§VI.9(9) The Supreme Court shall have inherent jurisdiction to rule on the Chancellor's ability to perform his or her duties upon request by a simple majority of all Members of the Cabinet or the Vice-Chancellor.§VI.10. The Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate all disputes concerning contracts which were made under, and civil wrongs which took place within, the jurisdiction of the Free Republic of Liberland.§VI.10(1) The jurisdiction of the Civil Court shall not be ousted by any contract unless fair arbitration proceedings are envisaged in case of dispute.§VI.10(2) The fairness of arbitration proceedings shall be judged in reference to proceedings taking place before the Civil Court and, if questioned, may be subject to a challenge in this Court.§VI.10(3) Contracts may require parties to attempt mediation before the jurisdiction of the Court becomes exercisable.§VI.10(4) The Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate all disputes between Citizens or other Residents of the Free Republic of Liberland and any body of the Public Administration.§VI.10(5) The Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate all disputes between two or more bodies of the Public Administration.§VI.10(6) The Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to hear cases concerned with the well-being of Minors and Persons lacking mental capacity.§VI.10(7) The Civil Court may adjudicate civil disputes concerning contracts made outside the jurisdiction of the Free Republic of Liberland provided such jurisdiction has been conferred upon it by law.§VI.10(8) All disputes concerning subject matter of small value as prescribed by law shall be adjudicated by one Judge whereas all other disputes shall be adjudicated by a panel of three Judges reaching a decision with a simple majority.§VI.10(9) The Civil Court shall have the power to issue Publication Orders and other Orders in accordance with this Constitution and warrants, injunctions and other orders as prescribed by law.§VI.11. All administrative decisions of any branch of the Public Administration, and actions undertaken by its Agents, which are capable of directly affecting any Person, may be subject to challenge in the Civil Court by such a Person.§VI.11(1) All Executive Measures issued by the Cabinet may be subject to challenge in the Civil Court by a Person affected thereby or, in the absence of such a Person, by any association composed of no fewer than thirty Citizens.§VI.11(2) Without prejudice to the appeal procedures, such challenge shall be admissible once only unless the original challenge was not genuine but brought in order to shield the defendant from liability or where a new challenge raises a different point of law.§VI.11(3) The right described in this provision shall be exercisable once all administrative appeals have been exhausted.§VI.12. The Victim of an alleged criminal offence shall have the inherent right to institute a Private Prosecution of an accused Person.§VI.12(1) The Private Prosecution may be instituted by the Victim in person or by appointed Proxy on her or his behalf.§VI.12(2) Proxy may be any legal or natural Person expressly appointed by the Victim, whether inter vivos or in a last will, to be in charge of the prosecution in question.§VI.12(3) Should the Victim be a Minor or a Person lacking mental capacity, his or her Guardian shall be deemed to be a Proxy unless he or she is involved in the commission of the relevant offence in which case a Public Prosecution may be instituted.§VI.12(4) The Victim or appointed Proxy may request the Office of the Public Prosecutor to institute a Public Prosecution free of charge on her or his behalf in which case the Office of the Public Prosecutor shall be under obligation to institute such prosecution where evidence is sufficient.§VI.12(5) Where a Public Prosecution is instituted on behalf of the Victim or the Proxy, he or she shall have the right:§VI.12(5)(a) to be notified about the schedule of the judicial proceedings;§VI.12(5)(b) to address the Criminal Court before the sentence is determined;§VI.12(5)(c) to be advised of release from custody or escape of the defendant.§VI.13. Should an alleged criminal offence leave no Victim or Proxy capable of instituting a Private Prosecution, the Office of the Public Prosecutor shall have the power to institute a Public Prosecution on behalf of the Citizens of the Free Republic of Liberland.§VI.13(1) Should a criminal offence be allegedly committed by a Member or Agent of the Public Administration in the course of his or her official duties, and no Public Prosecution has been brought within a reasonable period of time, a Private Prosecution may be brought by any association composed of no fewer than thirty Citizens.§VI.13(2) Where a Private Prosecution is instituted in place of a Public Prosecution, the Office of the Public Prosecutor shall fully cooperate with the association in charge of the proceedings.§VI.14. All criminal offences shall be tried in the Criminal Court before a Judge with a panel of Jury to give a verdict of “Guilty” or “Not guilty”.§VI.14(1) The Jury shall be composed of twelve impartial Citizens drawn randomly from the Electoral Register.§VI.14(2) The Jury shall determine the facts and render the verdict according to the law under the direction of the Judge.§VI.14(3) The Jury shall deliberate in camera and shall not be required to disclose reasons behind the verdict or be reprimanded for it.§VI.14(4) The Jury shall, under all circumstances, retain the unequivocal right to acquit and shall be informed of this right; such acquittal shall be final.§VI.14(5) The Jury shall reach its decisions with no fewer than eleven votes.§VI.14(6) Should the Jury not be able to render a verdict with eleven votes within reasonable time, the Judge shall order retrial with a newly appointed Jury; such retrial shall be considered to be a continuation of the original proceedings.§VI.14(7) The Jury shall render the verdict free from any form of coercion; the Judge may order sequestration of the Jurors should it be required for the independence of the Jury.§VI.14(8) All defendants who have been convicted by the Jury shall be sentenced by the Judge as prescribed by law.§VI.14(9) The Criminal Court may exercise jurisdiction over international crimes provided it has been conferred upon it by law and only if the accused is within the jurisdiction of the Free Republic of Liberland.§VI.14(10) The Criminal Court shall have the power to issue Warrants as prescribed by this Constitution and injunctions and other orders as prescribed by law.§VI.15. Any civil and criminal proceedings shall be preceded by a Preliminary Hearing held by one Judge of the relevant Court.§VI.15(1) A defendant at a Preliminary Hearing shall enter his or her positions in relation to the claim or prosecution brought against him or her.§VI.15(2) The Judge at a Preliminary Hearing shall have the power to issue preliminary Warrants and Orders within the powers of the relevant Court which shall be reviewable at a full trial.§VI.15(3) The Judge at a Preliminary Hearing shall review the prima facie validity of the claim or prosecution and shall dismiss the case before it proceeds to a full trial where:§VI.15(3)(a) no probable cause has been proven to the satisfaction of the Court;§VI.15(3)(b) he or she is satisfied that the claim or prosecution would be contrary to the Constitution;§VI.15(3)(c) defendant's procedural rights as laid down in the Constitution and/or any laws passed in accordance therewith have been violated and such a violation has prejudiced his or her case.§VI.15(4) Should a claim or a prosecution be dismissed as frivolous at a Preliminary Hearing, the plaintiff or the prosecutor shall ordinarily be ordered to cover all reasonable expenses of the defendant connected to his or her legal defence as well as all court fees unless there is compelling reason otherwise.§VI.16. No Person shall have his or her physical liberty restricted unless pursuant to a decision of the Courts of the Free Republic of Liberland in the following circumstances:§VI.16(1) Upon a conviction in the Criminal Court by the Jury;§VI.16(2) Upon an Order of the Civil Court committing a Person lacking mental capacity to a mental health institution;§VI.16(3) Upon an Order of the Civil Court providing for medical isolation of a Person suspected of being infected with any highly contagious and deadly disease;§IVI.16(4) Upon an Order of the Civil Court committing a Minor to an in-house care;§VI.16(5) Upon an Order of the Civil Court providing for further detention of a Resident pending deportation proceedings;§VI.16(6) Upon a decision of any Court to commit any Person to prison for no more than seven days for a contempt of court committed either by disruption of judicial proceedings or by disobeying a Court order.§VI.16(7) Should such Person disobey the same order of a Court more than once, he or she shall be tried in a regular manner for a criminal offence as regulated by law and not limited to a seven-day imprisonment.§VI.16(8) Nothing in this provision shall affect the powers of arrest, short-term detention of a Resident pending deportation proceedings or sequestration of Jurors as enumerated in this Constitution.§VI.17. No special commission, tribunal or court not recognised by this Constitution shall be established by the Public Administration.§VI.18. All powers, and restrictions placed thereon, of the Civil Court and the Criminal Court shall equally apply to the Supreme Court upon appeals from such Courts.§VI.19. All parties to any trial before any Court of the Free Republic of Liberland shall be given a fair hearing in accordance with the rules of natural justice before a verdict is rendered.§VI.20. Access to any Court of the Free Republic of Liberland shall not be impeded by any excessive formal, financial or other requirements.Chapter 3: Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights shall constitute an integral part of the Constitution and shall be binding upon all branches of the Public Administration and its Members and Agents both within and outside the jurisdiction of the Free Republic of Liberland.ARTICLE VII: CIVIL RIGHTSTHE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENRY SHALL BE SECURED§VII.1. Any Person who fulfills relevant requirements, as prescribed by law, shall be eligible to obtain citizenship of the Free Republic of Liberland; should a Person be born to parents of whom more than one is a Citizen of the Free Republic of Liberland, he or she shall automatically be entitled to citizenship thereof; multiple citizenship shall be allowed; no Citizen shall be deprived of his or her citizenship unless by the Criminal Court upon conviction for a criminal offence and as a part of punishment as prescribed by law; no Person shall be rendered stateless in any event.§VII.2. All Individuals who hold citizenship of the Free Republic of Liberland shall have the right to private registration and confidential ballots in all elections and referendums in the Free Republic of Liberland; such registration shall be executed by entering one’s name into the Electoral Register; keeping one’s name in the Electoral Register may entail certain obligations as prescribed by law; taking part in all elections and referendums shall be voluntary; no Person shall be compelled to vote in a specific manner, nor shall any Person be reprimanded for the manner in which the vote was cast; all elections and referendums shall be valid only if free from any coercion and fraud.§VII.3. Only Individuals above the age of twenty-one who hold citizenship of the Free Republic of Liberland and have never been convicted of a breach of law or the Constitution related to his or her previous official position shall have the right to submit his or her candidacy for a public office.§VII.4. The 3% of the overall number of Citizens registered to vote at the time of the last General Election shall have the right to, within seven days of the publication of the results, request the Supreme Court to review the validity of any election or referendum held in the Free Republic of Liberland; such right shall also be vested in one-quarter of the overall number of Assembly Representatives; should the Supreme Court find any evidence of erroneous and/or fraudulent conduct, it shall have the power to declare such election or referendum invalid and order it anew.ARTICLE VIII: FREEDOM OF SPEECHTHE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION SHALL BE SECURED§VIII.1. No law shall regulate any printed materials, radio, television, the Internet or any other medium of exchange of information; no law shall regulate the rules concerning uploading, transmitting, displaying, accessing and/or publishing such information; nor shall any law introduce licensing and/or registration to infringe upon these rights; nothing in this provision shall prevent the Assembly from protecting the interests of Minors and/or those lacking mental capacity; publishing and/or sharing information classified as state secret or related to the work of Agents of Law Enforcement operating undercover pursuant to a Warrant shall be subject to control as described in this Constitution.§VIII.2. No law shall abridge the freedom of thought and expression thereof; no Person shall be convicted of any criminal offence for any statement of opinion, whether offensive or otherwise; free expression shall be allowed in all public areas within the Free Republic of Liberland.§VIII.3. All Individuals shall have the right to assemble peaceably; no law shall interfere with any voluntary relations or cooperative ventures formed by Individuals.§VIII.4. No law shall prohibit video and/or audio recording where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, including Agents of the Public Administration; nothing in this provision shall be construed as to allow for general surveillance by the Public Administration.§VIII.5. The Public Administration shall conduct its business openly by, where applicable, recording, transmitting, archiving, rendering available to the general public to attend and publishing planned and completed (a) all affairs of the Assembly other than the debate and vote on the classification of information as a state secret, (b) all proceedings before the Courts other than those concerned with Warrants and (c) all documents officially produced by the Cabinet; nothing in this provision shall prevent the Public Administration from protecting information classified as a state secret.§VIII.6. All Citizens of the Free Republic of Liberland shall have the right of free-of-charge access to information which relates to any aspect of the functioning of the Public Administration which is not classified as a state secret and in so far as it does not contain any private personal information; information shall be classified as a state secret by a responsible Secretary of State with the express and informed consent of two-thirds of the overall number of Assembly Representatives as discussed in camera, and for the purpo