Federal Crimes Act 2016
| The Federal Crimes Act 2016 2nd Congressional Session | |
 | |
| Created | 5th January, 2015 |
| Ratified | 6th January, 2015 |
| Location | Congress, RGS, D.B., Whestcorea |
| Authors | Horatio Eden |
| Signers | 5 Congressmen |
| Purpose | To standardize the definitions of criminal acts across the Republic |
The Federal Crimes Act 2016 is a piece of Whestcorean legislation proposed on the 5th of January, 2016, and passed the next day on the 6th, that intends to standardize the definitions of criminal acts nationwide, by separating different acts of criminality into different "levels" of severity. It was framed during the 2nd session of the Whestcorean Congress by Mememaster-General Horatio Eden.
Background
The Act was framed in a period of concern for Mememaster-General Eden; a recent poll indicated an overwhelming lack of support for the Party Party government, favouring instead a Generalate operated by the Birthday Party leader, AP OptiMegaCell. In an attempt to boost the activity of the flagging Congress, Eden framed a bill finally bringing about a standardization in the penal code, which was repeatedly talked about in the early days of the Republic's government but never specifically legislated upon.
Effects of the act
The Federal Crimes Act is divided into three Titles, Crime Definitions, Crimes Set Out By The Federal Crimes Act 2016, and Miscellany. The first Title sets out the severity of the different levels of criminality, with I being the most severe and V being the least. It also set out general guidelines for punishments courts should seek to exact should someone be found guilty of the different levels of crime:
- Those found guilty of a Level I crime should be banished from the Republic permanently;
- Those found guilty of a Level II crime should be temporarily banished from the Republic with a permanent ban on voting or holding political office;
- Those found guilty of a Level III crime should be temporarily banned from voting;
- Those found guilty of a Level IV crime should be made subject to a "prank gone wrong 2016", though what this entails is not made clear by the Act;
- Those found guilty of a Level V crime should feel ashamed of themselves, though how a court would enforce this isn't made clear by the Act.
The second Title describes what crimes initially qualify as falling under these specifications, noting that future Acts may append the list; acts such as high treason (which is defined as acts of disloyalty to the Crown of Whestcorea), forgery of national currency and electoral fraud are all considered crimes under the Act, among other things.
The third Title describes how a defendant convicted of a crime may appeal, with the route of an appeal being via an Appeals Court, then to the Supreme Court, and finally submitting a Nullus est qui Recogitet motion to the House of Patricians, which, if approved, may lead the House of Patricians to hear the case. The Title also gives the Mememaster-General the power to pardon people of crimes and blank criminal records, as well as places responsibility for maintaining criminal records on the Home Affairs Department.
Passage in brief
5 December 2015: Quorum of Congress called. Proposed by Mememaster-General Horatio Eden. 4 votes total are acquired. 6 December 2015: Quorum of Congress called. Reproposed by Mememaster-General Horatio Eden. Further one vote is acquired, causing the bill to be passed to the Mememaster-General's desk for signature, which he does. The bill passes.