The State of Jerusalem – Al Quds

Part of the Eretz-Ard Political Framework

Constitution and Governance Design:

This document is a continuation of the Eretz-Ard Political Framework for resolving the Israeli Palestinian Conflict by means of a Federal Political model that is meant to provide full equality for both the Jewish and Palestinian people on both an individual and collective level. In this document we go into the details of a particular state within the Federal Political Framework, in this case the State of Jerusalem-Al Quds.

We will show both the demographics of each District within the State and how that translates into political representation on the State and Federal levels as well as going into details of a model state constitution. This state constitution would be a similar model as we envision for all the states in the Federation. The governance of the state we envision to utilise a similar bicameral parliament as the Federation Government with representatives elected by Districts that serve as both Units of Local Government as well as Electoral Districts that makes each state function like a federation that represents its residents in a proportional manner while allowing for some level of local regional autonomy and regional representation. 

United Federation of Israel and Palestine 3C2

The State of Jerusalem – Al Quds is a Mixed State as it contains a mixed population of Jews and Palestinians with a current 62.64% Jewish Majority. 

Per the Constitution of the United Federation of Israel and Palestine it is allowed to regulate the number of New Immigrants accepted into the state such that they accept a similar number of New Immigrants from each National Group on an annual basis. 

To the west it borders the states of Tel Aviv – Dan and Ashdod. To the South it borders the state of Hebron – Yehuda. To the North it borders the states of Ramallah – Binyamin and Jericho – Jordan Valley and to the east it borders the Dead Sea and the country of Jordan.  

According to the constitution it receives 4 Senators in the Senate of the Federal Government as well as 17 Representatives in the House of Representatives based on its current total population of  approximately 1,694,859 citizens living in the state. 

The State of Jerusalem – Al Quds: Current population statistics

Area km2	Jewish Population	Palestinian Population	Non-Arab Christian Population
1,619.872	1,061,618	632,274	967

Total Population	population density	Jewish Population	Palestinian Population	Non-Arab Christian Population
1,694,859	1,046.29	62.64%	37.31%	0.06%

The State of Jerusalem – Al Quds is subdivided into 16 Districts, one of which is made up of two separate regions, The Holy Bain and Nabi Samwil. There is also a Mixed District on the coast of the Dead Sea that is currently uninhabited for the purpose of creating a new mixed city on the Dead Sea Coast. The State of Jerusalem – Al Quds also contains the Seat of Government of the Federation. 

Districts of United Federation of Israel and Palestine  3C2

The 16 Districts of the State of Jerusalem: Current Population Statistics

*Nabi Samwil is a component of the Holy Basin District

The State of Jerusalem – Al Quds will receive 17 Representatives in the Federal House of Representatives, per the constitution with its population of approximately 1,694,859 citizens living in the state. These will be distributed as shown in the following Table. This distribution of the Representatives to the Districts will be submitted in proposal by the Government of the State of Jerusalem – Al Quds and will need to be approved by the Federal Government in accordance with the Constitution of the United Federation of Israel and Palestine.

In addition, as will be described in this Constitution, each District will receive 2 State Senators for the State Senate as well as a minimum of 1 member of the State House of Representatives and one additional Representative for every 25,000 citizens lawfully residing in their District.

 

The 16 Districts of the State of Jerusalem: Distribution of Representatives and State Senators.

*Nabi Samwil is a component of the Holy Basin District total      

Likely Demographics of total Representatives of the Districts of the State of Jerusalem 

Federal Senate

Jewish Population	Palestinian Population	Non-Arab Christian Population	Likely Jewish Senators	Likely Palestinian Senators
1,061,618	632,274	967	3	1
62.64%	37.31%	0.06%	75%	25%

The city of Jerusalem serves both as the capital of the State of Jerusalem – Al Quds as well as the capital of the United Federation of Israel and Palestine. The city limits will be expanded to include a greater territory than previously as is befitting for the capital of the United Federation. The city comprises 7 of the Districts of the State of Jerusalem – Al Quds, we can refer to this as New Jerusalem – Al Quds Izjideh. Within the city is also the Seat of Government Federal District under direct federal jurisdiction, this will be located in what was the Israeli Government Quarter and will have the Parliament of the Federation as well as the Supreme court and the Federal Government Ministries. In addition a parliament and government quarter for the State of Jerusalem – Al Quds will need to be built within the city.

Statistics of the New Jerusalem – Al Quds Izjideh

*Nabi Samwil is a component of the Holy Basin District

Preamble:

We, the People of the State of Jerusalem – Al Quds, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors – in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual;

insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves and our posterity – do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Jerusalem – Al Quds.

Article 1 – the Government of the State

1. The Power of the government of the State of Jerusalem – Al Quds will rest in the 3 branches, the legislative, The executive and the Judicial. 
2. The legislative, executive and judicial branches are separate. No branch shall exercise powers properly belonging to another.

Article 2 – the Structure of the State

Article 2.1 – Municipalities and other Units of Local Government

1. Municipalities are cities, villages and incorporated towns. 
2. Units of local government are Districts, municipalities, townships, special Districts, and units, designated as units of local government by law, which exercise limited governmental powers or powers in respect to limited governmental subjects, but do not include school Districts.

Article 2.2 – Home Rule Units

1. A District which has a chief executive officer elected by the electors of the District and has a population greater than 5,000 and any municipality which has a population of more than 25,000 are Home Rule Units. Other municipalities may elect by referendum to become Home Rule Units. Except as limited by this Constitution, a Home Rule Unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs including, but not limited to, the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare; to license; to tax; and to incur debt
2. A Home Rule Unit by referendum may elect not to be a Home Rule Unit.
3. If a Home Rule District ordinance conflicts with an ordinance of a municipality, the municipal ordinance shall prevail within its jurisdiction.
4. A Home Rule Unit does not have the power to incur debt payable from ad valorem property tax receipts maturing more than 40 years from the time it is incurred or to define and provide for the punishment of a felony.
5. A Home Rule Unit shall have only the power that the State Government may provide by law; to punish by imprisonment for more than six months or to license for revenue or impose taxes upon or measured by income or earnings or upon occupations.
6. The State Government by a law approved by the vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house may deny or limit the power to tax and any other power or function of a home rule unit not exercised or performed by the State other than a power or function specified in subsection (11) of this section.
7. The State Government may provide specifically by law for the exclusive exercise by the State of any power or function of a home rule unit other than a taxing power or a power or function specified in subsection (11) of this Section.
8. Home rule units may exercise and perform concurrently with the State any power or function of a home rule unit to the extent that the State Government by law does not specifically limit the concurrent exercise or specifically declare the State’s exercise to be exclusive.
9. The State Government may limit by law the amount of debt which home rule counties may incur and may limit by law approved by three-fifths of the members elected to each house the amount of debt, other than debt payable from ad valorem property tax receipts, which home rule municipalities may incur.
10. The State Government may limit by law the amount and require referendum approval of debt to be incurred by home rule municipalities, payable from ad valorem property tax receipts, only in excess of the following percentages of the assessed value of its taxable property: (1) if its population is 500,000 or more, an aggregate of three percent; (2) if its population is more than 25,000 and less than 500,000, an aggregate of one percent; and (3) if its population is 25,000 or less, an aggregate of one-half percent. Indebtedness which is outstanding on the effective date of this Constitution or which is thereafter approved by referendum or assumed from another unit of local government shall not be included in the foregoing percentage amounts.
11. The State Government may not deny or limit the power of home rule units (1) to make local improvements by special assessment and to exercise this power jointly with other counties and municipalities, and other classes of units of local government having that power on the effective date of this Constitution unless that power is subsequently denied by law to any such other units of local government or (2) to levy or impose additional taxes upon areas within their boundaries in the manner provided by law for the provision of special services to those areas and for the payment of debt incurred in order to provide those special services.
12. Powers and functions of home rule units shall be construed liberally.

Article 2.3 – Districts

1. Districts are the main subunits of the State and Units of Local Government within the state. 
2. A District Shall be contiguous.
3. Exceptions to being contiguous can be made for places of historic and cultural significance such as the case of Nabi Samwil and these sites and areas around them can be considered part and parcel of a District that they are not contiguous with.  
4. The Districts serve as both electoral Districts for the Federal House of Representatives as well as the State Senate and House of Representatives.. 
5. Districts can contain within them Municipalities or other Units of Local Government
6. Major Municipalities, such as the city of Jerusalem can be composed of multiple Districts.
7. When a city is composed of multiple Districts that Municipality is the primary home Rule Unite and the authority of those Districts will be regulated by the government of that Municipality. 
8. Districts with a population of greater than 50,000 can become a Federal Electoral District for the Federal House of Representatives, smaller Districts can become a Federal Electoral District for the Federal House of Representatives in combination with another District or multiple Districts with a similar population makeup, such that combined these Districts have at least 50,000 residents and make up a Federal Electoral District for the Federal House of Representatives.  
9. Once a District population grows to become greater than 50,000 people, it can become an Federal Electoral District for the Federal House of Representatives on its own.
10. Districts with a population of greater than 5,000 can become Home Rule Units, such Districts vote independently for the  State House of Representatives and in the State Senate. 
11. Districts smaller than 5,000 residents can become Home Rule Unites in combination with another District that is already a Home Rule Unite, this District is called the Caretaker District.  
12. Two or more Districts that combine to form a Home Rule Unit will vote together for representatives in the House of Representative of the Federation and in the State House of Representatives and in the State Senate. 
13. Once a District grows to have a population greater than 5,000 it becomes a Home Rule Unit and votes independently for the State House of Representatives and the State Senate but remains in a Federal Electoral District for the Federal House of Representatives with its former Caretaker District until it has reached a population of above 50,000. 
14. The State Government shall provide by law for the formation, consolidation, merger, division, and dissolution of Districts, and for the transfer of territory between Districts.
15. District boundaries will not change unless there is an agreement between the representatives of each region affected or by referendum in each region affected and this needs to be approved by the State and  Federal Governments as this affects State and Federal Electoral Districts. 
16. distribution of the Representatives in the House of Representatives  to the Districts will be submitted in proposal by the Government of the State of Jerusalem – Al Quds and will need to be approved by the Federal Government
17. A District board shall be elected in each District. The number of members of the District board shall be fixed by ordinance in each District within limitations provided by law.
18. The State Government by law shall provide methods available to all counties for the election of District board members.

Article 2.4 – Principles for distribution of Federal House of Representatives seats to the Districts.

1. Each National group must have at least one member of the Federal House of Representatives elected by a Federal Electoral District that it is a majority in. 
2. Seats in the House of Representatives should be distributed such that as close as possible to each Federal Electoral District getting one representative for each 100,000 persons residing in that Federal Electoral District. 
3. Federal Electoral Districts with between 50,000 and 150,000 residents will get 1 seat in the Federal House of Representatives. 
4. Federal Electoral Districts with above 150,000 residents will get the number of seats corresponding to the nearest multiple of 100,000 residents that they contain; assuming that this is possible given the total number of seats allotted to the State. 
5. In the event that there is one to few or one extra seat available, the last seat will go to the Federal Electoral District that is nearest to the next multiple of 100,000 residents.
   

Article 2.5 – Districts and Municipalities that are not home Rule Units

1. Districts and municipalities which are not home rule units shall have only powers granted to them by law
2. The power to make local improvements by special assessment and to exercise this power jointly with other Districts and municipalities, and other classes of units of local government having that power on the effective date of this Constitution unless that power is subsequently denied by law to any such other units of local government; 
3. by referendum, to adopt, alter or repeal their forms of government provided by law; 
4. in the case of municipalities, to provide by referendum for their officers, manner of selection and terms of office; 
5. in the case of District, to provide for their officers, manner of selection and terms of office as provided by the Article 2.3
6. to incur debt except as limited by law and except that debt payable from ad valorem property tax receipts shall mature within 40 years from the time it is incurred; and to levy or impose additional taxes upon areas within their boundaries in the manner provided by law for the provision of special services to those areas and for the payment of debt incurred in order to provide those special services.

Article 2.6 – District Officers and Boards

1. Any District may elect a chief executive officer as provided by law. He shall have those duties and powers provided by law and those provided by District ordinance.
2. Each District shall elect a sheriff, District clerk and treasurer and may elect or appoint a coroner, recorder, assessor, auditor and such other officers as provided by law or by District ordinance. Except as changed pursuant to this Section, elected District officers shall be elected for terms of four years at general elections as provided by law. Any office may be created or eliminated and the terms of office and manner of selection changed by District-wide referendum. Offices other than sheriff, District clerk and treasurer may be eliminated and the terms of office and manner of selection changed by law. Offices other than sheriff, District clerk,treasurer, coroner, recorder, assessor and auditor may be eliminated and the terms of office and manner of selection changed by District ordinance.
3. District officers shall have those duties, powers and functions provided by law and those provided by District ordinance. District officers shall have the duties, powers or functions derived from common law or historical precedent unless altered by law or District ordinance.
4. The District treasurer or the person designated to perform his functions may act as treasurer of any unit of local government and any school District in his District when requested by any such unit or school District and shall act when required to do so by law.
5. A District board shall be elected in each District. The number of members of the District Board shall be fixed by ordinance in each county within limitations provided by law.
6. The General Assembly by law shall provide methods available to all Districts for the election of county board members. No District may change its method of electing board members except as approved by District-wide referendum.
7. The number of members of a District board in a District which, as of the effective date of this Constitution, elects three members at large every four years may be changed only as approved by District-wide referendum.

Article 2.7 – Townships

1. A Township is a subdivision of a District with limited corporate powers. 
2. The State Government shall provide by law for the formation of townships in any District when approved by district-wide referendum. 
3. Townships may be consolidated or merged, and one or more townships may be dissolved or divided, when approved by referendum in each township affected. All townships in a county may be dissolved when approved by a referendum in the total area in which township officers are elected.

Article 2.8 – Powers and officers of School Districts and Units of Local Government other than Districts and Municipalities

1. Townships, school districts, Kibbutzim, Villages, Community Settlements and units, designated by law as units of local government, which exercise limited governmental powers or powers in respect to limited governmental subjects shall have only powers granted by law. 
2. No law shall grant the power to any of the foregoing units to incur debt payable from ad valorem property tax receipts maturing more than 40 years from the time it is incurred, or to make improvements by special assessments to any of the foregoing classes of units which do not have that power on the effective date of this Constitution. 
3. The State Government shall provide by law for the selection of officers of the foregoing units, but the officers shall not be appointed by any person in the Judicial Branch.

Article 2.9 – Moshavim, Villages and Community Settlements 

1. Villages and Community Settlements are units of local government, which exercise limited governmental powers
2. Any of the above that has a population below 500 residents may choose to have an acceptance committee which allows them to approve residents who may live in their community. 
3. Their rights to further development on public land will be subject to the approval of the Home Rule Unite in which they are contained and building of a new such unit will be subject to the approval of the State Government.

Article 2.10 – Kibbutzim

1. A Kibbutz is a units of local government, which exercise limited governmental powers and is build entirely on private land and is communally owned
2. A Kibbutz may have an acceptance committee regardless of population
3. Creation of any new Kibbutz is subject to approval of the local Home Rule Unite as well as the State Government and must purchase the land from the State.

Article 2.11 – New Mixed Cities

1. A New Mixed City is a unit of local government which may become a municipality or a unit of local government that exercises limited governmental powers
2. A New Mixed City will have an acceptance committee that will see to it that an even number of people from each National Group as described in the Constitution of the Federation are admitted to the New Mixed City
3. The acceptance committee will be disbanded once the New Mixed City has reached a population of 1,000 residents or other number as determined by state ordinance
4. The creation of a New Mixed City will be created with approval of the local Home Rule Unite as well as the State Government.
   

Article 2.12 – Property rights on property losses as result of the war of 1948

1. Any property that was owned legally under Ottoman or British law prior to 1948 that was lost as a result of the war that is located in a Municipality, Township, Community Settlement,Village or Moshav that is not private property, or in use in public service will be granted to the person who owns it or their descendants, unless they have already been compensated fully for the loss of property. Such property will be restored and if the buildings are no longer in existence on this property the respective unit of local government will grant rights to rebuild to at least the previous size of the property that stood there. 
2. Any property that was owned legally under Ottoman or British law prior to 1948 that was lost as a result of the war that is currently legally owned or occupied with respect to federation law, prior Israeli, Jordanian or Egyptian law, or used in public service, will be compensated for by either granting other land of equivalent value or financial compensation, the current tenants or owners will not be evicted. 
3. Property that  was owned legally under Ottoman or British law prior to 1948 that was lost as a result of the war and in currently not  located in a Municipality, Township, Community Settlement,Village, Moshav or Kibbutz, but was part of a village that is no longer in existence may be compensated for by either granting other land of equivalent value or financial compensation. Unless, there are 100 citizens of the federation, including spouses and children who either lived in the property or are descendants of those that lived there and are therefore entitled to the property, who may lawfully reside in the State, who wish to petition to have the village reconstructed and will therefore be granted property in the new reconstructed village. 
4. Reconstructing a village will be done by petition in the form of an application to a District that the village was in, by the citizens entitled to the property of the village as described in the previous clause. If the application is accepted by the District board then the village can be reconstructed in accordance with all applicable District and State regulations. If the application is not accepted then the petitioners may turn to the state legislature and request that this decision be overturned. The state legislature may approve of this reconstruction by a 2 thirds majority vote in both houses of the State Legislature.
5. The State legislature may by simple majority create a new district or move district boundaries to enable the village to be reconstructed as part of a new District, or if placed in another existing district the groups seeking to have the village rebuilt will have to petition the District that now contains the site of the village. This however will require the approval of the Federal Government for changing boundaries of districts within a state.  

Article 2.12 – Salaries and Fees

1. Compensation of officers and employees and the office expenses of units of local government shall not be paid from fees collected. Fees may be collected as provided by law and by ordinance and shall be deposited upon receipt with the treasurer of the unit. Fees shall not be based upon funds disbursed or collected, nor upon the levy or extension of taxes.
2. An increase or decrease in the salary of an elected officer of any unit of local government shall not take effect during the term for which that officer is elected.

Article 2.13 – Intergovernmental Cooperation

1. Units of local government and school districts may contract or otherwise associate among themselves, with the State, with other states and their units of local government and school districts, and with the Federation to obtain or share services and to exercise, combine, or transfer any power or function, in any manner not prohibited by law or by ordinance. Units of local government and school districts may contract and otherwise associate with individuals, associations, and corporations in any manner not prohibited by law or by ordinance. Participating units of government may use their credit, revenues, and other resources to pay costs and to service debt related to intergovernmental activities.
2. Officers and employees of units of local government and school districts may participate in intergovernmental activities authorized by their units of government without relinquishing their offices or positions.
3. The State shall encourage intergovernmental cooperation and use its technical and financial resources to assist intergovernmental activities.

Article 2.14 – Initiative and Referendum

1. Proposals for actions which are authorized by this Article or by law and which require approval by referendum may be initiated and submitted to the electors by resolution of the governing board of a unit of local government or by petition of electors in the manner provided by law.
2. Referendums required by this Article shall be held at general elections, except as otherwise provided by law. Questions submitted to referendum shall be adopted if approved by a majority of those voting on the question unless a different requirement is specified in this Article.

Article 2.15 – Implementation of Government Changes

1. The State Government shall provide by law for the transfer of assets, powers and functions, and for the payment of outstanding debt in connection with the formation, consolidation, merger, division, dissolution and change in the boundaries of units of local government.

Article 3 – The State Legislature

The legislative power is vested in a General Assembly consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives, elected by the electors from the Districts.

Article 3.1 – Legislative Composition

1. Two Senators shall be elected from each District with over 5,000 persons residing there and a Home Rule Unit following the formation of the state. The Districts will be divided as equally as possible into three groups. Senators from one group shall be elected for terms of six years, four years and two years. Following this; elections for State senators will be held every second year for each group at the expiration of their first term and following this for terms of six year each for each term moving forward. 
2. The members of the House of Representatives will be elected from each District with over 5,000 persons residing there and a Home Rule Unit following the formation of the state. Each of these districts will receive one Representative at a minimum and an additional representative for each 25,000 people living in that District.  Elections will be held for new Representatives every two years following. 
3. To be eligible to serve as a member of the General Assembly, a person must be a citizen of the Federation, at least 21 years old, and for the two years preceding his election or appointment a resident of the district which he is to represent. 
4. In the general election following a redistricting, a candidate for the General Assembly may be elected from any district which contains a part of the district in which he resided at the time of and redistricting (as described in Article 2.3 as either an exchange or territory between Districts or the creation of a new District out the territory of one or more Districts) and reelected if a resident of the new district he represents for 18 months prior to reelection.
5. Within thirty days after a vacancy occurs, it shall be filled by appointment as provided by law. If the vacancy is in a Senatorial office with more than twenty-eight months remaining in the term, the appointed Senator shall serve until the next general election, at which time a Senator shall be elected to serve for the remainder of the term. If the vacancy is in a Representative office or in any other Senatorial office, the appointment shall be for the remainder of the term. An appointee to fill a vacancy shall be a member of the same political party as the person he succeeds.
6. No member of the General Assembly shall receive compensation as a public officer or employee from any other governmental entity for time during which he is in attendance as a member of the General Assembly.
7. No member of the General Assembly during the term for which he was elected or appointed shall be appointed to a public office which shall have been created or the compensation for which shall have been increased by the General Assembly during that term.

Article 3.2 – Sessions of the General Assembly

1. The General Assembly shall be a continuous body during the term for which members of the House of Representatives are elected.
2. The Governor may convene the General Assembly or the Senate alone in a special session by a proclamation stating the purpose of the session; and only business encompassed by such purpose, together with any impeachments or confirmation of appointments shall be transacted. Special sessions of the General Assembly may also be convened by joint proclamation of the presiding officers of both houses, issued as provided by law.
3. Sessions of each house of the General Assembly and meetings of committees, joint committees and legislative commissions shall be open to the public. Sessions and committee meetings of a house may be closed to the public if two-thirds of the members elected to that house determine that the public interest so requires; and meetings of joint committees and legislative commissions may be so closed if two-thirds of the members elected to each house so determine.

Article 3.3 – Organization of the General Assembly

1. A majority of the members elected to each house constitutes a quorum.
2. In the first session of the General Assembly following an election, the Secretary of State shall convene the House of Representatives to elect from its membership a Speaker of the House of Representatives as presiding officer, and the Governor shall convene the Senate to elect from its membership a President of the Senate as presiding officer.
3. For purposes of powers of appointment conferred by this Constitution, the Minority Leader of either house is a member of the numerically strongest political party other than the party to which the Speaker or the President belongs, as the case may be.
4. Each house shall determine the rules of its proceedings, judge the elections, returns and qualifications of its members and choose its officers. No member shall be expelled by either house, except by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to that house. A member may be expelled only once for the same offense. Each house may punish by imprisonment any person, not a member, guilty of disrespect to the house by disorderly or contemptuous behavior in its presence. Imprisonment shall not extend beyond twenty-four hours at one.

Article 3.4 Transactions of Business

1. Committees of each house, joint committees of the two houses and legislative commissions shall give reasonable public notice of meetings, including a statement of subjects to be considered.
2. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings and a transcript of its debates. The journal shall be published and the transcript shall be available to the public.
3. Either house or any committee thereof as provided by law may compel by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, records and papers.

Article 3.5 Passage of Bills

1.  The enacting clause of the laws of this State shall be: “Be it enacted by the People of the State of Jerusalem – Al Quds, represented in the General Assembly.”
2. The General Assembly shall enact laws only by bill. Bills may originate in either house, but may be amended or rejected by the other.
3. No bill shall become a law without the concurrence of a majority of the members elected to each house. Final passage of a bill shall be by record vote. In the Senate at the request of two members, and in the House at the request of five members, a record vote may be taken on any other occasion. A record vote is a vote by yeas and nays entered in the journal.
4. A bill shall be read by title on three different days in each house. A bill and each amendment thereto shall be reproduced and placed on the desk of each member before final passage.
5. Bills, except bills for appropriations and for the codification, revision or rearrangement of laws, shall be confined to one subject. Appropriation bills shall be limited to the subject of appropriations.
6. A bill expressly amending a law shall set forth completely the sections amended.
7. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall sign each bill that passes both houses to certify that the procedural requirements for passage have been met.

Article 3.6 Veto Procedure

1. Every bill passed by the General Assembly shall be presented to the Governor within 30 calendar days after its passage. The foregoing requirement shall be judicially enforceable. If the Governor approves the bill, he shall sign it and it shall become law.
2. If the Governor does not approve the bill, he shall veto it by returning it with his objections to the house in which it originated. Any bill not so returned by the Governor within 60 calendar days after it is presented to him shall become law. If recess or adjournment of the General Assembly prevents the return of a bill, the bill and the Governor’s objections shall be filed with the Secretary of State within such 60 calendar days. The Secretary of State shall return the bill and objections to the originating house promptly upon the next meeting of the same General Assembly at which the bill can be considered.
3. The house to which a bill is returned shall immediately enter the Governor’s objections upon its journal. If within 15 calendar days after such entry that house by a record vote of three-fifths of the members elected passes the bill, it shall be delivered immediately to the second house. If within 15 calendar days after such delivery the second house by a record vote of three-fifths of the members elected passes the bill, it shall become law.
4. The Governor may reduce or veto any item of appropriations in a bill presented to him. Portions of a bill not reduced or vetoed shall become law. An item vetoed shal be returned to the house in which it originated and may become law in the same manner as a vetoed bill. An item reduced in amount shall be returned to the house in which it originated and may be restored to its original amount in the same manner as a vetoed bill except that the required record vote shall be a majority of the members elected to each house. If a reduced item is not so restored, it shall become law in the reduced amount.
5. The Governor may return a bill together with specific recommendations for change to the house in which it originated. The bill shall be considered in the same manner as a vetoed bill but the specific recommendations may be accepted by a record vote of a majority of the members elected to each house. Such bill shall be presented again to the Governor and if he certifies that such acceptance conforms to his specific recommendations, the bill shall become law. If he does not so certify, he shall return it as a vetoed bill to the house in which it originated.

Article 3.7 Effective Dates of Laws

1. The General Assembly shall provide by law for a uniform effective date for laws passed.

Article 3.8 Compensation and Allowances 

1. A member shall receive a salary and allowances as provided by law, but changes in the salary of a member shall not take effect during the term for which he has been elected.

Article 3.9 Legislative Immunity

1. Except in cases of treason, felony or breach of peace, a member shall be privileged from arrest going to, during, and returning from sessions of the General Assembly. A member shall not be held to answer before any other tribunal for any speech or debate, written or oral, in either house. These immunities shall apply to committee and legislative commission proceedings.

Article 3.10 Special Legislation

1. The General Assembly shall pass no special or local law when a general law is or can be made applicable. Whether a general law is or can be made applicable shall be a matter for judicial determination.

Article 3.11 Impeachment

1. The House of Representatives has the sole power to conduct legislative investigations to determine the existence of cause for impeachment and, by the vote of a majority of the members elected, to impeach Executive and Judicial officers. Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When sitting for that purpose, Senators shall be upon oath, or affirmation, to do justice according to law. If the Governor is tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators elected. Judgment shall not extend beyond removal from office and disqualification to hold any public office of this State. An impeached officer, whether convicted or acquitted, shall be liable to prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.

Article 3.12 Adjournments

1. When the General Assembly is in session, neither house without the consent of the other shall adjourn for more than three days or to a place other than where the two houses are sitting.
2. If either house certifies that a disagreement exists between the houses as to the time for adjourning a session, the Governor may adjourn the General Assembly to a time not
3. later than the first day of the next annual session. 

Article 4 – The Executive

1. The Executive Branch shall include a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer elected by the electors of the State. They shall keep the public records and maintain a residence at the seat of government during their terms of office.
2. These elected officers of the Executive Branch shall hold office for four years beginning on the second Monday of January after their election and, except in the case of the Lieutenant Governor, until their successors are qualified. They shall be elected at the general election in 1978 and every four years thereafter.
3. To be eligible to hold the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer, a person must be a  citizen of the Federation, at least 25 years old, and a resident of this State for the three years preceding his election.
4. The election returns for executive offices shall be sealed and transmitted to the Secretary of State, or other person or body provided by law, who shall examine and consolidate the returns. The person having the highest number of votes for an office shall be declared elected. If two or more persons have an equal and the highest number of votes for an office, they shall draw lots to determine which of them shall be declared elected. Election contests shall be decided by the courts in a manner provided by law.
5. If the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer fails to qualify or if his office becomes vacant, the Governor shall fill the office by appointment. The appointee shall hold office until the elected officer qualifies or until a successor is elected and qualified as may be provided by law and shall not be subject to removal by the Governor. If the Lieutenant Governor fails to qualify or if his office becomes vacant, it shall remain vacant until the end of the term.

Article 4.1 – The Governor and Lieutenant Governor

1. In the general election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, one vote shall be cast jointly for the candidates nominated by the same political party or petition. The General Assembly may provide by law for the joint nomination of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
2. In the event of a vacancy, the order of succession to the office of Governor or to the position of Acting Governor shall be the Lieutenant Governor, the elected Attorney General, the elected Secretary of State, and then as provided by law.
3. If the Governor is unable to serve because of death, conviction on impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation or other disability, the office of Governor shall be filled by the officer next in line of succession for the remainder of the term or until the disability is removed.
4. Whenever the Governor determines that he may be seriously impeded in the exercise of his powers, he shall notify the Secretary of State and the officer next in line of succession. The latter shall thereafter become Acting Governor with the duties and powers of Governor. When the Governor is prepared to resume office, he shall do so by notifying the Secretary of State and the Acting Governor.
5. The General Assembly by law shall specify by whom and by what procedures the ability of the Governor to serve or to resume office may be questioned and determined. The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to review such a law and any such determination and, in the absence of such a law, shall make the determination under such rules as it may adopt.
6. The Governor shall have the supreme executive power, and shall be responsible for the faithful execution of the laws.
7. The Governor shall nominate and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a majority of the members elected concurring by record vote, shall appoint all officers whose election or appointment is not otherwise provided for. Any nomination not acted upon by the Senate within 60 session days after the receipt thereof shall be deemed to have received the advice and consent of the Senate. The General Assembly shall have no power to elect or appoint officers of the Executive Branch.
8. If, during a recess of the Senate, there is a vacancy in an office filled by appointment by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, the Governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate, when he shall make a nomination to fill such office.
9. No person rejected by the Senate for an office shall, except at the Senate’s request, be nominated again for that office at the same session or be appointed to that office during a recess of that Senate.
10. The Governor may remove for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office any officer who may be appointed by the Governor.
11. The Governor, by Executive Order, may reassign functions among or reorganize executive agencies which are directly responsible to him. If such a reassignment or reorganization would contravene a statute, the Executive Order shall be delivered to the General Assembly. If the General Assembly is in its annual session and if the Executive Order is delivered on or before April 1, the General Assembly shall consider the Executive Order at that annual session. If the General Assembly is not in annual session or if the Executive Order is delivered after April 1, the General Assembly shall consider the Executive Order at its next annual session, in which case the Executive Order shall be deemed to have been delivered on the first day of that annual session. Such an Executive Order shall not become effective if, within 60 calendar days after its delivery to the General Assembly, either house disapproves the Executive Order by the record vote of a majority of the members elected. An Executive Order not so disapproved shall become effective by its terms but not less than 60 calendar days after its delivery to the General Assembly.
12. The Governor may grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, after conviction, for all offenses on such terms as he thinks proper. The manner of applying therefore may be regulated by law.
13. The Governor, at the beginning of each annual session of the General Assembly and at the close of his term of office, shall report to the General Assembly on the condition of the State and recommend such measures as he deems desirable.
14. The Lieutenant Governor shall perform the duties and exercise the powers in the Executive Branch that may be delegated to him by the Governor and that may be prescribed by law.

Article 4.2 – Other Executive Officers

1. The Secretary of State shall maintain the official records of the acts of the General Assembly and such official records of the Executive Branch as provided by law. Such official records shall be available for inspection by the public. He shall perform other duties that may be prescribed by law.
2. The Comptroller, in accordance with law, shall maintain the State’s central fiscal accounts, and order payments into and out of the funds held by the Treasurer.
3. The Treasurer, in accordance with law, shall be responsible for the safekeeping and investment of monies and securities deposited with him, and for their disbursement upon order of the Comptroller.

Article 4.3 – Reporting

1. All officers of the Executive Branch shall keep accounts and shall make such reports as may be required by law. They shall provide the Governor with information relating to their respective offices, either in writing under oath, or otherwise, as the Governor may require.

Article 4.4 – Compensation

1. Officers of the Executive Branch shall be paid salaries established by law and shall receive no other compensation for their services. Changes in the salaries of these officers elected or appointed for stated terms shall not take effect during the stated terms.

Article 5 – The Judiciary

1. The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court, an Appellate Court and Circuit Courts.
2. The State is divided into 7 Judicial Districts for the selection of Supreme Court judges and for the organization of the Appellate Court Judges. 
3. The Districts of Ma’ale Adumim and Tekoa are one Judicial district, NW Jerusalem, SW Jerusalem and West Jerusalem are one Judicial district, Gilo-Beit Safafa, the Holy Basin and Qumran are one Judicial district, Gush Etzion and Neve Shalom are one Judicial district, East Jerusalem and Al-Ram are one Judicial district and Bethlehem and Abu Gosh is one Judicial district. 
4. There will be a total of 23 Supreme Court Judges elected proportionately by the Judicial Districts. 
5. Supreme Court Judges shall select a Chief Justice from their number to serve for a term of three years.
6. The Supreme Court Judges shall each serve for a term of 10 years.
7. The entire body of Supreme Court Judges sitting constitutes a quorum and the majority of them is required for a decision. 
8. The Appellate Court will be filled by elected judges, 7 Judges from each of the Judicial Districts. 
9. The Appellate Court Judges from each of the 7 Judicial districts constitute a quorum and the majority of them is required for a decision.  
10. The Appellate Court Judges shall each serve a term of 10 years and they shall sit at a time and place prescribed by the rules of the Supreme Court. 
11. The Circuit Court Judges will be elected from each District that is a Home Rule Unit, 3 Judges from each District.
12. The Circuit Court Judges from each of the Districts constitute a quorum and the majority of them is required for a decision.  
13. The Circuit Court Judges shall each serve a term of 6 years and they shall sit at a time and place prescribed by the rules of the Supreme Court. 

Distribution of Court Judges

District Type	District	Total Pop	Jewish Pop	Palestinian Population	Non-Arab Christian Pop	Number of Supreme Court Judges			Number of Appellate Court Judges	Number of Circuit Court Judges
Jewish	Tekoa	6976	100.00%	0.00%	0.00%	1			7	3
Jewish	Ma’aleh Adumim	59965	99.70%	0.30%	0.00%	3
Jewish	N.W. Jerusalem	266151	99.74%	0.26%	0.00%	8			7	3
Jewish	West Jerusalem	121340	100.00%	0.00%	0.00%	3
Jewish	S.W. Jerusalem	198723	100.00%	0.00%	0.00%	3
Jewish	Beit Shemesh	116101	100.00%	0.00%	0.00%	3			7	3
Jewish	Modin	126052	100.00%	0.00%	0.00%	3
Mixed	Holy Basin	122053	12.39%	86.93%	0.68%	3			7	3
Mixed	Nabi Samwil*	220	0.00%	100.00%	0.00%
Mixed	Gilo-Beit Safafa	65352	86.87%	13.13%	0.00%	3
Mixed	Qumran	0	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0	0
Mixed Jewish Majority	Gush Etzion	89970	91.42%	8.58%	0.00%	1			7	3
Mixed Jewish Majority	Neve Shalom	13350	97.77%	1.21%	1.03%	3
Palestinian	East Jerusalem	226317	0.00%	100.00%	0.00%	4			7	3
Palestinian	Al Ram	106166	0.00%	100.00%	0.00%	3
Palestinian	Bethlehem	116565	0.00%	100.00%	0.00%	3			7	3
Palestinian	Abu Gosh	59556	0.00%	100.00%	0.00%	3
total						23			49	45

*Nabi Samwil is a component of the Holy Basin District total                            

Supreme Court Judges			Appellate Court Judges				Circuit Court Judges
Likely Jewish		Likely Palestinian	Likely Jewish			Likely Palestinian	Likely Jewish	Likely Palestinian
14		9	31			18	30	15
60.87%		39.13%	63.33%			36.67%	66.67%	33.33%

Article 5.2  – Supreme Court Jurisdiction

1. The Supreme Court may exercise original jurisdiction in cases relating to revenue, mandamus, prohibition or habeas corpus and as may be necessary to the complete determination of any case on review.
2. Appeals from the Appellate Court to the Supreme Court are a matter of right if a question under the Constitution of the Federation or of this State arises for the first time in and as a result of the action of the Appellate Court, or if a division of the Appellate Court certifies that a case decided by it involves a question of such importance that the case should be decided by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court may provide by rule for appeals from the Appellate Court in other cases.

too be continued…….