Talk:1985 Organic Law

XXV. A New Democracy. 5-7.1985.

The Talossan people spoke on several issues in the election of April, 1985. Referenda in the election called upon the Government to do two things: 66% of the voters demanded independence for Iceland (a Talossan colony since mid-1983), and the Government complied on the 1st of June. Also demanded by 60% of the voters was the printing in Støtanneu of a regular column, in the Talossan language. This began on the 10th of May.

The first act approved by the new Metáiriâ Government was a new 66-article "Organic Law," a constitutionish document designed to supplement the absolutist 1979 Constitution. Discussion of this project in the press began a month earlier. ("[The King is] taking democracy seriously. Oh my God," commented Støtanneu on 10 April.) It was in force from 10 May 1985 and (with many amendments) governed elections and parliamentary procedure for three years; the Organic Law, complicated, confusing and poorly-written by the King, nonetheless hung on as the official basis of government until 1988. The document was blatantly undemocratic. The Organic Law contained a nondescript preamble, a set of "General Principles" defining Talossan symbols and nationality (example: "Every nation no matter how small has the right under God to self-government. Talossa is a nation, tracing her history back in time seven thousand years, and is therefore rightfully thrusting her standards and emblems into the face of the world"), the rôle of the King ("He holds the Throne by Divine Fiat. His power is supreme and the Constitution and Organic Law, and any subsequent laws... hold sway only by His gracious suffrance." [sic]), the parliament, legislation, and a bill of rights (with holes in it to protect--who else?--the King). The Organic Law was approved by all parties in the Cosâ except the DDP, nwhich voted against it.

The National Lanugage, since 26 December 1984 officially "the first official language of the RT," was given prominence in the Organic Law. Article VII of the document, signed by Prime Minister Metáiriâ, read: "Talossan, as the national language, shall be the first official State language for all purposes. English is accepted as a second auxiliary language. All documents prepared by the Government of the Kingdom of Talossa must be in English and Talossan. In case of a discrepancy in the translation the Talossan shall be authoritative. No person shall be discriminated against for not knowing the Talossan language."

R. Ben Madison, A History of the Kingdom of Talossa, Vol. I, 1994 / 2021 Comprehensive Edition ONLINE, p. 176