Act 135 (State of Emergency December 2010)

[This Act has been changed – see Act 143, Law 1]

1. In response to the regional instability caused by the ongoing conflict between the Tsardom of Orly and the Midget Nation-in-Exile against the Kingdom of Rushymia, and the threatening actions undertaken by the Midget Nation-in-Exile against the Empire of Austenasia, the Empire of Austenasia hereby declares a state of war upon the Tsardom of Orly and the Midget Nation-in-Exile. The Ministry of Defence and Austenasian Armed Forces are hereby ordered to defend the Empire of Austenasia to the best of their ability. As a declaration of war, this Act has been passed in accordance with Act 1, Law 11, Paragraph F.

2. It is hereby recognised that, due to the declaration of war made by Law 1 of this same Act, the Empire has been placed on DEFCON 2 by the Prime Minister.

3. In accordance with Act 35, Law 3, Paragraph A, and with Law 2 of this same Act, a State of Emergency is hereby declared in the Empire of Austenasia.

4. In regards to Act 35, Law 2, the meeting of Parliament in which this Act was passed is hereby designated as an Emergency Meeting of Parliament.

5. In accordance with Act 35, Law 5, Paragraph E, and with Law 4 of this same Act, temporary Emergency Powers are hereby granted to the Monarch, in order to ensure efficient and effective governance during this State of Emergency. The Monarch shall hold these powers until the end of the State of Emergency. [This law has been changed – see Act 143, Law 2]

   1. Imperial Edicts (see Act 127, Laws 2 and 3) shall apply to the whole Empire.

   2. In regards to Act 85, Law 9, arrested persons may now be kept at a police station indefinitely with the authorisation of the Monarch. The Monarch is hereby granted the powers of a Police Inspector (see Act 49, Law 9), and the Monarch shall have the power to pardon arrested persons so that they will not be tried or punished for their crime.

   3. The Monarch is hereby granted all powers held by the Home Secretary and Minister of Defence, and all non-legislative powers held by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, Home Secretary, and Minister of Defence shall retain all their powers, but they can now also be exercised by the Monarch.

   4. All imperial powers, duties, and responsibilities exercised by the Counsellors of State shall only require a majority vote of three out of five.

6. The Counsellors of State are hereby appointed until the end of this present State of Emergency. In accordance with Act 126, Law 9, the Counsellors of State are hereby declared to be:

   1. HIH Crown Prince Jonathan

   2. Lord William Kingsnorth, 2^nd Baron of Zephyria

   3. HIH Princess Caroline

   4. Vicereine Margaret, 1^st Baroness of Glencrannog, DHJ, DOR, DPP

   5. Lord Timothy, KOM, KPP

7. In regards to Laws 5 and 6 of this same Act, the State of Emergency declared by Law 3 of this same Act will last until 19 December 2010, when another Emergency Meeting of Parliament shall be convened and it shall be decided whether to continue or to end the State of Emergency. [This law has been changed – see Act 137, Law 1]