This document is the most current version of the An Tir Kingdom Law as proclaimed in our Court and set by Our Hand this 21st Day of May, being Anno Societatis XL, or 2005 in the Common Era.
Skeggi, King An TIr Taisia, Queen An Tir, Ljotr, An Tir Kingdom Seneschal
Document which defines the medieval structure of the Society.
The Council of the Exchequer:
The Crown, Kingdom Seneschal, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or their designated representatives, acceptable to the Crown.
The Crier:
The Kingdom of An Tir Newsletter.
The Crown:
The King and Queen of An Tir, acting together.
Crown Principality:
A group of branches working toward Principality status.
Curia:
A council of officers and Crown advisors meeting to assist in administering the Kingdom.
Member:
Paid member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
Noble Estate:
A body comprised of the Royalty, the Royal Peers, and the Territorial Barons and Baronesses of An Tir, meeting to advise the Crown as needed.
Period:
The era used by the Society as a base for its activities, that is, Western culture prior to the beginning of the 17th Century - mainly the European Middle Ages and Renaissance
Principality:
A part of a kingdom which has the right to select a reigning Prince and Princess by combat.
Proclamation:
A directive of the Crown that shall have effect only during the reign of the Royalty making it.
Regent:
The person who administers the affairs of the Kingdom if the Crown is unable to reign
Region:
An administrative designation for a group of branches.
Royal Heirs:
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess, acting together.
Royalty:
The King, Queen, Crown Prince and Princess, Principality Princes and Princesses, and all Principality Heirs.
SCA:
The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
Society:
The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA)
Sovereign:
The victor in the Crown lists of An Tir who has been crowned with the title of King or Queen.
Subject:
A person who resides within the Kingdom of An Tir and is considered to be a denizen of An Tir, excluding the King and the Queen of An Tir.
The word of the Crown is law. The Crown acknowledges, and is subject to, modern law, the governing documents of the Society, and the written Laws of An Tir. The Crown takes cognizance of the rights and privileges of its vassals and subjects by tradition, custom and usage. ARTICLE I
All changes to these laws must be proclaimed at an event with complete copy published in The Crier. No provision of law shall be in effect, nor shall the subjects of a realm be responsible for such provision, until such proclama1Ation and publication have taken place. ARTICLE I
Principality Law:
Within any Principality of the Kingdom of An Tir, the word of the Coronet is Law subject to the same restrictions as Kingdom Law. Principality Law is subject to Kingdom Law and the approval of the Crown. ARTICLE I
Any changes to the Laws of a Principality must first be submitted to the Crown of An Tir in writing and receive the Crown's signatures before being proclaimed. They must then be published in The Crier, and the appropriate Principality newsletter, before they are fully in effect. ARTICLE I
This is the current edition of the Laws of An Tir, and all earlier versions are repealed. ARTICLE I
The Laws of An Tir will be published in full every two years and shall be mailed as a supplement to the Crier. ARTICLE I
The An Tir Order of Precedence shall be published in full every reign and shall be made available to the populace. ARTICLE I
The duties, responsibilities, and privileges of the Crown are detailed in Corpora. ARTICLE II
The Crown shall use their power to defend and protect An Tir and Their subjects. The Crown shall work to see that justice is done and that the glory that is An Tir is in no way diminished. The Crown agrees to allow personal access information to be published in applicable newsletters and on appropriate websites. ARTICLE II
Succession, Abdication, and Failure to Reign:
Crown Lists:
The Crown Lists shall be fought at two Crown Tournaments annually as detailed in Article VI, section A. ARTICLE II
All authorized fighters of An Tir who are acceptable to the Crown, have the right to compete in the Crown Lists of the Kingdom of An Tir unless they are in violation of the rules of the lists, the governing documents of the Society or the laws of the Kingdom. ARTICLE II
All combatants and prospective consorts must be presented to the Crown. The final decision as to the acceptability of any otherwise qualified participant in the Crown tournament shall rest with the Sovereign. ARTICLE II
By entering in the Crown Lists, a combatant declares that the combatant has a prospective consort of the opposite sex, who has agreed to reign with them should they win. During the invocation of the Crown Lists, all combatants and prospective consorts shall declare that they are loyal to the Crown and will uphold the laws of the Kingdom and will respect the customs and traditions of the Kingdom. They shall further declare that should they be victorious, that they will attend their Coronation, and shall preside over the activities of the following Crown Tournament, and the Coronation of their successors, for no one shall compete for the Crown without intending to reign should they win. ARTICLE II
Both the combatant and prospective consort shall be present at the Crown Tournament. Both the combatant and the prospective consort shall have been active subjects of An Tir for no less than one year prior to the Crown Tournament. The Sovereign may grant exceptions to these requirements, if requested in advance, and the Sovereign is satisfied that all obligations will be met by the combatant and consort. No person may have more than one combatant fighting for him or her in a given Crown List, and no combatant may fight for more than one prospective Consort. ARTICLE II
At each Crown Tournament the Kingdom Seneschal or a designated representative shall confirm the membership status of each combatant and prospective consort. Upon verification of memberships, the combatant's name may be entered in the Lists.
All combatants and prospective consorts entering the Crown Lists of An Tir must be a minimum 18 years of age. ARTICLE II
Neither the Sovereign nor the Consort may fight or be fought for in the Crown Lists. ARTICLE II
The King and the Queen:
Failure of either the King or Queen to attend a required Crown event constitutes a failure to reign of that person and shall be taken as an abdication of the Throne; unless the failure to attend was beyond the control of the King or Queen and they had intended to attend. ARTICLE II
If both the King and Queen are significantly late in arriving at a Crown Event, the Champion of An Tir shall assume the duties of Regent and commence the activities of the event. When the King or Queen arrives, They shall immediately assume Their duties and the Regent shall resume the duties of the Champion of An Tir. If it is a Crown Tournament, the Regent shall supervise the Crown Tournament and invest the victor and the consort as Crown Prince and Crown Princess. If it is a Coronation, the Regent shall invest the Crown Prince and Crown Princess as King and Queen. ARTICLE II
A letter from the King and/or Queen to the Kingdom Seneschal indicating intent to abdicate constitutes official abdication. ARTICLE II
Should either the Sovereign or Consort be unable to complete the reign, or elect to abdicate, the other shall assume the duties and privileges of both for the remainder of the reign. ARTICLE II
The Regent:
In the event that both the King and Queen are unable to conclude Their reign or have abdicated, the Champion of An Tir shall serve as Regent. ARTICLE II
If the Champion of An Tir cannot carry out the Regent's duties, the Kingdom Seneschal shall call a meeting of the Noble Estate. As a body, they shall select the most suitable person of Ducal or County rank to serve as Regent. ARTICLE II
Duties:
The Regent shall not have the authority to alter the Laws of An Tir or to give awards. ARTICLE II
If the Crown has officially abdicated without heirs, the Regent shall crown the victor and consort of the next Crown Tourney as King and Queen immediately. ARTICLE II
The Regent may not fight or be fought for in the Crown lists. ARTICLE II
If the Crown officially abdicates after Their Heirs have been chosen, the Regent shall crown the Heirs at the next scheduled Coronation event. ARTICLE II
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess:
Should the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, through no fault of Their own, be unable to attend Their coronation, such steps as are necessary and acceptable to Them and the Crown shall be taken that They may achieve Their Crown. An announcement of the change will be made as soon as possible in The Crier. ARTICLE II
If the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess elect to abdicate, or if the tournament is invalidated for any reason, a Crown Tournament shall be called at the beginning of the Coronation Event. This tournament shall be limited to all fighters who meet the requirements to enter the Crown Lists and who competed in the previous Crown Tournament. The previous victor and their consort shall be barred from the Tournament. The winner of the Crown Tournament and their consort shall be crowned at this event. ARTICLE II
If the prospective Consort cannot assume the Crown for any reason, the prospective Sovereign shall choose a new Consort acceptable to the Crown. The new consort must meet the requirements set forth in Article II section C, regarding who may be fought for in the Crown lists. ARTICLE II
The Principality Prince and Princess:
The Coronet will render an Oath of Fealty for Their lands at each coronation of the King and Queen of An Tir. This oath may be delivered by letter, but must be renewed in person at the first opportunity. ARTICLE II
The duties, responsibilities, and privileges of the Coronet are detailed in Corpora. ARTICLE II
Succession of the Coronet shall be conducted under the appropriate sections of Principality Law. ARTICLE II
The Coronet shall provide a report on the state of Their principality to the Crown of An Tir at the Crown's Coronation. Copies shall be sent to Their Principality Heirs and the Kingdom Seneschal. ARTICLE II
The Crown and Heirs shall be reimbursed for reasonable office, copying, postage, electronic mail and telephone expenses incurred in preparation for and in conjunction with Their reign. ARTICLE II
The Kingdom Champions shall be considered Officers of the Royal Court, but are selected through competition, rather than by appointment. Society membership is required to enter any championship competition, to meet qualification criteria of Corpora for all officers. The Champion of An Tir, the Champion of Rapier Combat, the Kingdom Protector, the Arts and Sciences Champion, and the Bardic Champion shall collectively be referred to herein as the Champions. The Champion's terms of service shall be for a period of approximately one year until the next championship tournament is held. If a Champion should become an Heir to the Crown or Coronet, that Champion shall surrender the championship, and in all cases the Crown shall choose a suitable replacement. Champions agree to allow personal access information in applicable publications and on appropriate websites.
The Champions may not be Kingdom Great Officers. They may hold other offices and titles, providing their kingdom office is not responsible for a championship tournament in which they are competing. ARTICLE III
Duties of all champions:
To swear an oath of fealty and service to the Crown. ARTICLE III
To defend the honor and prestige of the Crown and the Kingdom of An Tir, whenever such is challenged. ARTICLE III
To support the Crown in war. To take the field at the Crown's command. ARTICLE III
To attend all Crown Events, unless that champion receives permission from the Crown not to do so. ARTICLE III
To maintain membership in the Society during the champion's term of service. ARTICLE III
To speak or act in the Crown's name when delegated to do so. ARTICLE III
To further the interests of their area of endeavor. ARTICLE III
Rights and privileges of all champions:
To have a place at the high table for the champion and an escort. ARTICLE III
To stand armed near the Crown at all events. ARTICLE III
To bear and display the regalia of their position. ARTICLE III
To be exempt from site fees at Kingdom level events. ARTICLE III
The Champion of An Tir:
The Tournament to choose the Champion of An Tir will be held the weekend of July Coronation and shall end with the installation of the new Champion. ARTICLE III
Specific duties of the Champion of An Tir:
To become Regent in accordance with Article II., Section E. ARTICLE III
To act as Bearer of the Great Sword of State. ARTICLE III
To attend meeting of the Curia at Crown events. ARTICLE III
The Kingdom Champion of Rapier Combat:
The Tournament to choose the Champion of Rapier Combat will be held the weekend of Twelfth Night Coronation and shall end with the installation of the new Champion. The tournament format shall be acceptable to the Crown and the Provost Marshal for Rapier Combat. ARTICLE III
The Kingdom Protector:
The Tournament to choose the Kingdom Protector will be held the weekend of September Crown and shall end with the installation of the new Kingdom Protector. The tournament shall consist of single combat between armored light combatants in a format acceptable to the Crown and the Royal Archer. ARTICLE III
The Arts & Sciences Champion:
The Arts & Sciences Tournament to choose the Arts & Sciences Champion will be held on the first weekend of March and shall end with the installation of the new Arts & Sciences Champion. The tournament shall be conducted in a format acceptable to the Crown and the Arts & Sciences Minister. ARTICLE III
The Bardic Champion:
The competition to choose the Bardic Champion will be held on thefourth weekend in September, and shall end with the installation of the new Bardic Champion. The tournament shall be conducted in a format acceptable to the Crown and the Arts & Sciences Minister. ARTICLE III
All Officers of State of An Tir are responsible to the Crown for carrying out the laws and affairs of the Kingdom of An Tir. In addition, they are responsible to their corresponding Society Officer or their immediate superior officer in matters of the administration of their offices. They are the chief administrative officers of the Crown and shall follow the directives of the Crown that do not contravene modern law, Society governing documents, or Kingdom law. All officers agree to allow access information to be published in applicable newsletters and on appropriate websites.
Officers of State:
The Great Officers of State in the Kingdom of An Tir shall be: the Kingdom Seneschal, the Black Lion Principal Herald, the Earl Marshal, the Minister of Arts and Sciences, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Kingdom Chronicler, the Kingdom Constable, the Kingdom Chirurgeon, the Kingdom Chatelaine, the Kingdom Minister of Children, the Kingdom Scribe and the Royal Consul. ARTICLE IV
The Lesser Officers of State in the Kingdom of An Tir shall be: the Kingdom Calendar, the New and Incipient Branches Deputy, the Waiver Secretary, the Royal Archer, the Provost Marshal for Rapier Combat, the Warlord of An Tir, the Minister of the Lists, the Royal Equestrian, the Minister of Water Bearers, the Gamesmaster, the Bardic Deputy, the Minister of Accounts the Royal Chamberlain, , the Grete Boke, The Crier Editor, the Preceptor of the College of Pages, the Kingdom Pied Piper and the Royal Scribe. ARTICLE IV
Duties of All Officers:
To execute the lawful commands of the Crown and to abide by Kingdom Law. ARTICLE IV
At least one month prior to each coronation, each of the Kingdom Officers shall give a written report on the state of their Offices to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. A copy of this report shall be sent to the Crown and the Kingdom Seneschal. All officers shall also report to the Crown whenever the Crown makes a request for a report, and a copy shall be provided to the Kingdom Seneschal. Kingdom Officers shall also regularly report to the Crown in Curia on the status and activities of their Offices, with a written summary to the Kingdom Seneschal. Copies of all reports and correspondence to their Corporate or Kingdom superiors shall be provided to the Crown and the Kingdom Seneschal upon request. ARTICLE IV
All Kingdom Officers and all contingency deputies must be paid members of the Society and have access to the Crier in their place of residence. Kingdom Officers may not hold any other office, without express approval by the Crown. ARTICLE IV
All Kingdom Officers must be in fealty to the Crown. ARTICLE IV
Each Officer of State is responsible for encouraging and assisting their subordinate officers in the performance of their required duties to ensure the smooth functioning of the Realm. As part of this responsibility, each officer shall maintain regular communications with their subordinates. ARTICLE IV
In addition to their specific duties, each officer shall carry out additional duties as are appropriate to the office, or as directed by the Crown. ARTICLE IV
Officers may receive direction from their superiors. However, such directions may not be obeyed if they conflict with pertinent written laws, an order from the Crown or, if applicable, the Coronet. Such conflicts shall be reported immediately to the superior and, to the Crown and if applicable, the Coronet. ARTICLE IV
Where necessary for the running of an office, Kingdom Officers have the ability to create rules, regulations and policy relating to their specific office. Any such rules, regulations and policies are subject to the approval of and modification by the Crown. The following handbooks are incorporated by reference in the Laws of An Tir and shall be treated as though they are part of Kingdom Law. ARTICLE IV
The An Tir Book of Combat (The ABCs), covering the conduct of combat and other martial art forms as well as applicable equipment standards ARTICLE IV
All officers within the realm shall be appointed and warranted by means of a roster warrant which is signed by the Crown and the appropriate Kingdom Officer, or, in the case of Kingdom Great Officers, by the Crown and the Kingdom Great Officer's corresponding superior at the start of each reign. In the case of principality officers, The Coronet shall sign the warrants. ARTICLE IV
Attend the four Crown events each year, and attend and report at Curia meetings. The Crown may grant permission to be absent in extraordinary circumstances. In this case a primary deputy must attend in the officer's stead. ARTICLE IV
Have such deputies, assistants and subordinates, as are necessary to the functioning of their office. ARTICLE IV
Retain a contingency deputy who is acceptable to the Crown, to ensure an orderly transfer of office should the officer become unable to perform his or her duties. A current address and phone number for this person should be on file with the Kingdom Seneschal and the Crown and their name shall appear in The Crier. ARTICLE IV
Specific Duties of the Officers of State:
Here follows the listings of the Officers of State with the Lesser Officers following the Officer to whom they are a deputy.
The Kingdom Seneschal:
The Kingdom Seneschal is the chief administrative officer of the Crown. The Kingdom Seneschal shall also serve as the principal legal representative of the Society within this Kingdom. The responsibilities of the Seneschal shall include: assist the Crown in matters of Kingdom Law and Corpora; administer the local branches through local seneschals; receive copies of all reports to the Crown on the state of all other greater and lesser offices of state, principalities, and baronies; coordinate the formal recognition of new branches by the Crown; hold regularly scheduled meetings of the Curia and of branch seneschals; make written reports to the Crown on a monthly basis; be responsible for soliciting bids for all Crown events and have ultimate responsibility for planning and carrying out Kingdom level events; serving as a member of the Council of the Exchequer; and be an alternate signatory on all appropriate Kingdom bank accounts. ARTICLE IV
The Kingdom Calendar:
The responsibilities of the Kingdom Calendar shall include: maintain the Kingdom calendar of events; ensure that all events advertised in Kingdom and Principality newsletters are official events as outlined in Corpora; aid in the education of autocrats and seneschals in the policies and procedures of the office, and the facilitation of the process; and compile and maintain a current list of branch conflict areas. ARTICLE IV
New and Incipient Branches Deputy:
The responsibilities of the New and Incipient Branches Deputy shall include: act as the chief administrative advisor to the Kingdom Seneschal regarding new branch applications; maintain all files and correspondence records for incipient branches; work closely with the Herald's Incipient Branch Deputy; provide assistance and advice to the new and incipient branches; monitor incipient branch progress and report their status regularly to the Kingdom Seneschal; and advise the incipient branches of full status decision after it is approved by the Kingdom Seneschal. ARTICLE IV
Waiver Secretary:
The position of Waiver Secretary is required by Corpora as a deputy to the Kingdom Seneschal. The Waiver Secretary will ensure that all required waivers, rosters, and sign-in sheets for events are collected and safely stored in such a way as to be easily located as required. Adult waivers are to be kept on file for 7 years, minor waivers for 20 years. ARTICLE IV
The Black Lion Principal Herald:
The Black Lion Principal Herald is the chief heraldic officer of the Crown and the head of the An Tir College of Heralds. The Responsibilities of the Black Lion Herald shall include: act as the Crown's chief advisor in all heraldic matters; act as the voice of the Crown in coordination with the Royal Herald; facilitate the timely processing of registration of arms, devices and badges of the populace of the Kingdom; make and maintain the Order of Precedence and update the Awards Roster for An Tir; advise the Crown and populace on matters of ceremony and protocol; encourage the practice of heraldry within the Kingdom; and be responsible for official announcements at Kingdom events. ARTICLE IV
The Earl Marshal:
The Earl Marshal is the chief martial officer of the Crown. The responsibilities of the Earl Marshal shall include: representing the Crown in the Crown's absence in supervising the fighting on a field of honor; interpreting and maintaining the marshallate standards and regulations of the Kingdom; and facilitating the education of the populace in combat with the aim of encouraging authentic, safe, fair and chivalric combat to the greatest extent possible. ARTICLE IV
The Royal Archer:
The responsibilities of the Royal Archer shall include: encourage the development of period archery; maintain, publish, and enforce the rules for archery and other period missile weapons; and maintain, publish and enforce standards for archery and missile weapon equipment. ARTICLE IV
The Provost Marshal for Rapier Combat:
The responsibilities of the Provost Marshal for Rapier Combat shall include: maintain, publish and enforce the rules for period rapier combat; and maintain, publish and enforce standards for safety and equipment for period rapier combat. ARTICLE IV
The Warlord of An Tir:
Appointed by the incoming Crown at 12th Night, the term of office is one year renewable at the will of the Crown. The responsibilities of the Warlord of An Tir shall include: the development and coordination of the Army of An Tir; act as advisor to the Crown in all matters of war; and work with the Earl Marshal to establish Rules of War; and to organize and establish the An Tir War College. ARTICLE IV
The Minister of the Lists:
The responsibilities of the Minister of the Lists shall include: maintain a listing of all authorized fighters and marshals; organize and coordinate the Lists as directed by the Crown; and work in cooperation with the College of Heralds and the Marshallate. ARTICLE IV
The Royal Equestrian:
The responsibilities of the Royal Equestrian shall include: encourage the development and research into period animal activities including equestrian, canine and falconry; maintain, publish and enforce rules governing the use of animals at events; and establish and maintain an authorization system for Riders and Equestrian Marshals. ARTICLE IV
The Minister of the Water Bearers:
The responsibilities of the Minister of the Water Bearers shall include: establish guidelines and coordinate the activities of water bearers at all Kingdom and local events. ARTICLE IV
The Minister of Arts and Sciences:
The Minister of Arts and Sciences is the chief Artistic and Scientific Officer of the Crown. The responsibilities of the Minister of Arts and Sciences shall include: encourage the research and development of historically accurate period art forms, technologies, and philosophies; aid in the selection of the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Champion by organizing the competition, assisted by the current Champion; and serve on the Royal Regalia Commission. ARTICLE IV
The Gamesmaster:
The responsibilities of the Gamesmaster shall include: research, instruct, and encourage the practice of leisure arts, period games and pastimes. ARTICLE IV
The Bardic Deputy:
The responsibilities of the Bardic Deputy shall include: administrating the bardic arts throughout An Tir; organizing of the Kingdom Bardic championship; and maintaining a registry of Bards and other entertainers. ARTICLE IV
The Chancellor of the Exchequer:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the chief financial officer of the Crown. The responsibilities of The Chancellor of the Exchequer shall include: maintain the kingdom's financial records; receive, and verify the accuracy of reports from the branch exchequers and other entities; compile and submit a doomsday report to the Society as per Corpora; serve as a member of the Council of the Exchequer; advise the Crown on matters of finance; oversee the procedures of the branch exchequers; provide counsel to anyone needing advice on matters financial relating to the Society; and relate and enforce Kingdom and Society financial policy. ARTICLE IV
Minister of Accounts:
The responsibilities of the Minister of Accounts shall include: work in tandem with the Chancellor of the Exchequer; assist in the preparation of reports; coordination of reports from branches; enforcement of the Financial Policy; act as the Principle Administrative and Contingency Deputy to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and be an alternate signatory on the appropriate Kingdom bank accounts. ARTICLE IV
Royal Chamberlain:
The responsibilities of the Royal Chamberlain shall include: be directly responsible to the Crown to maintain and inventory the Royal Regalia; order and maintain a supply of the medallions and other tokens given by the Crown; maintain insurance on regalia items; solicit bids to replace existing regalia items, or create new ones; serve on the Royal Regalia commission; and maintain a storage facility for infrequently used and retired items of regalia. ARTICLE IV
The Kingdom Chronicler:
The Kingdom Chronicler is the chief record keeper for the Crown, and in charge of all official publications within the realm. The responsibilities of the Kingdom Chronicler shall include: keep the Laws of An Tir updated, as directed by the Crown, and provide each Crown Prince and Crown Princess with a current copy before Their Coronation; keep the minutes at Curia meetings, and for the timely distribution to Kingdom Officers and Royalty; maintain and oversee communication through the electronic media, such as web pages and e-mail; and encourage the publication of the results of research by any subject of the Crown. ARTICLE IV
The Grete Boke:
The responsibilities of the Grete Boke shall include: maintain the history of An Tir and make this history available to the populace. ARTICLE IV
The Crier Editor-In-Chief:
The responsibilities of theCrier Editor shall include: accept submissions for, compile, collate, publish and distribute copies of the Kingdom newsletter, within an acceptable time frame, and in accordance with Corpora; publish official announcements of the Crown; publish changes in Kingdom law; and financially manage the quarterly stipend. ARTICLE IV
The Kingdom Constable:
The Kingdom Constable is the chief safety officer of the Crown. The Kingdom Constable works in partnership with the Kingdom Seneschal to ensure the safety and security of the Kingdom. The responsibilities of the Kingdom Constable shall include: administer the constabulary; promote general safety and security at events; and work with modern legal authorities as needed. ARTICLE IV
The Kingdom Chirurgeon:
The Kingdom Chirurgeon is the chief first-aid officer for the Crown. The responsibilities of the Kingdom Chirurgeon shall include: administer the chirurgeonate to provide voluntary first aid at Society events including, but not limited to, tournament combat; and procedures for notifying attendees of health and safety concerns at Society events. ARTICLE IV
The Kingdom Chatelaine:
The Kingdom Chatelaine is the chief newcomers welcome officer for the Crown. The responsibilities of the Kingdom Chatelaine shall include: be responsible for the introduction of new and prospective members; providing education on the conventions of the current middle ages and this Kingdom; encourage active participation and period behaviors; coordinate with Gold Key, a deputy to the Chatelaine, to make period clothing accessible to new members; and represent the Society accurately and favorably. ARTICLE IV
The Kingdom Minister of Children
The Kingdom Minister of Children is the primary officer in charge of encouraging opportunities for entertainment and education of SCA participants under the age of 18. Duties include: assisting branches in developing activities specifically for children and teens, serving as an information officer for safety issues effecting children and teens at events, promoting the ideals of service and chivalry among the youth of An Tir. ARTICLE IV
The Preceptor of the College of Pages:
The responsibilities of the Preceptor of the College of Pages shall include: educate children twelve to seventeen on age related aspects of both our historical period of study and of the Society; and establish guidelines and coordinate the activities for these children at Kingdom events. ARTICLE IV
The Kingdom Pied Piper:
The responsibilities of the Kingdom Pied Piper shall include: organize activities for children under twelve at Society events; promote the welfare of children at Society events; educate children on age related topics on aspects of the Society and our historical period of study; and share knowledge with interested persons on children's activities. ARTICLE IV
The Kingdom Scribe:
The responsibilities of the Kingdom Scribe shall include: serve as the administrative head of the College of Scribes; maintain the Great Seal of State and the Signet Rings of the Crown of An Tir, surrendering these items to the Crown in time of need and upon occasions of State; maintain and administer the Backlog Scroll Roster for the Kingdom and coordinate with the scribes of An Tir to ensure the timely completion of the Scrolls from the Roster; ensure, through coordination with Black Lion Principal Herald, the accuracy and suitability of original scrolls containing heraldry; ensure, in cooperation with the Royal Scribe, that all Charters and Scrolls for the reign they are serving are completed; report to the Kingdom Exchequer when award regalia needs replenishing;and maintain a supply of impressions of the Great Seal and Signet, and furnish these to the Crown as needed. ARTICLE IV
The Royal Scribe:
The Royal Scribe is appointed by the Crown, usually prior to Their Coronation. The Royal Scribe organizes the assembly of awards and production of award Charters and Scrolls for the reign. Duties include: maintain award regalia inventory in conjunction with the Kingdom Scribe; coordinate with the Kingdom Scribe's office to maintain supplies for Charters, seals, and the scribal boxes; monitor award notification to the Order of Precedence and The Crier; and report to the Kingdom Scribe on the status and administration of Original Scrolls commissioned and/or completed for the reign in which they serve. ARTICLE IV
The Royal Consul:
The Consul shall be appointed by the Crown and serve purely at Their pleasure. They will be primarily responsible for keeping Their Majesties informed of happenings at the Board level, and advising of possible implications of proposals. They would be responsible for disseminating information to the Kingdom and gathering opinion from the Kingdom's populace and peerages in regard to any proposed changes from the BoD. They shall keep in contact with their sovereigns and have regular correspondence with their counterparts in other kingdoms, to facilitate smooth, effective communication between the modern and medieval aspects of the Society, and ensure representation of Kingdom opinion to the corporation. ARTICLE IV
Appointment and Removal, Terms of Office:
Warrants for terms of office for Kingdom Officers of State shall be for two years and the expected end-of-term date shall appear with the officer listing in the Crier. ARTICLE IV
At the end of each Great Officer's term applications for the position will be accepted from all candidates. One term is the maximum allowed. However, at the discretion of the Crown, two one-year extensions may be granted. ARTICLE IV
At the end of each Lesser Officer's term applications for the position will be accepted from all candidates. An incumbent officer must reapply for the office if they wish to be considered for it. Two terms is the maximum allowed. ARTICLE IV
Notification of the opportunity to apply for a Kingdom Office must be published in The Crier at least three months in advance of the upcoming end-of-term for each Officer of State. ARTICLE IV
Applications to the Crown from candidates for the office shall also be copied to The Royal Heirs (if applicable), the Kingdom Officer, the officer's superior, and the Kingdom Seneschal in writing. Comments regarding a successor shall be provided to all of the above, in writing. ARTICLE IV
Great Officers of State are appointed by the Crown with the concurrence of the corresponding corporate officer, if any, of the Society. ARTICLE IV
Within a maximum of ninety days of assuming office, all officers shall select and warrant a contingency deputy who meets the approval of the Crown. This deputy shall be trained to take office in the case of an emergency. All pertinent contact information shall be provided to the Crown, the Kingdom Seneschal and the officer's immediate superior. ARTICLE IV
The Crown and Kingdom Seneschal shall review a new Kingdom officer's performance in the office after the first six months. ARTICLE IV
For the purposes of this article all officers, including administrative deputies not specifically named herein, serve at the pleasure of their immediate superior and the Crown. ARTICLE IV
Grounds for dismissal by the Crown and the officer's superior shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
The officer has demonstrated a substantial failure to perform the duties of the office after having been given notice of the nature of the duties neglected and having been given a reasonable opportunity to correct these failures. ARTICLE IV
The effectiveness of the officer has been impaired to a substantial degree due to personal reasons or a breakdown in the officer's ability to deal with the Crown, the officer's superior, the officer's deputies and subordinates or the populace with whom the officer must work. ARTICLE IV
The officer has wilfully abused the office by using it to hinder or annoy others, or to advance some purpose inconsistent with the trust of that office. ARTICLE IV
The officer has performed the office at an unacceptably low level for an unacceptably long period of time. ARTICLE IV
The officer has demonstrated a continuing inability to work with the Crown. ARTICLE IV
The officer has demonstrated a failure to abide by the Laws of An Tir. ARTICLE IV
Reporting:
Unless specifically directed otherwise by a Kingdom Officer, The reporting quarters will be defined as follows: First quarter (January, February, March), Second Quarter (April, May, June), Third Quarter (July, August, September), Fourth Quarter (October, November, December). ARTICLE IV
All branch officers are to report to their principality superior or designated reporting deputy by the fifteenth of the following months: January, April, July, and October. If there is no principality or designated reporting officer to report to, then they must report directly to their kingdom superior. A copy of each report shall be provided to the branch seneschal, and the Baron and Baroness, or the Royal Patron. A Kingdom Officer can require greater reporting frequency if the needs of the office dictate it.
Principality Officers and Reporting deputies are to report to their kingdom superiors by the first of the following months: February, May, August, and November. In the case of Principality officers, copies must be sent to the Coronet and Principality Seneschal. ARTICLE IV
Kingdom Lesser Officers report to their Great Officers by the fifteenth of the following months: January, April, July, and October. ARTICLE IV
Finances of Kingdom Officers:
All Kingdom Officers shall be reimbursed for reasonable office, postage, copying, and electronic mail access expenses incurred in conjunction with their office.Kingdom Greater Officers shall also be reimbursed for reasonable telephone and travel expenses incurred in conjunction with their offices. Expenses are subject to the limits of the Officer's budget and approval of the Financial Committee. ARTICLE IV
Kingdom Champions are defined as Officers of the Royal Court and as such are required to attend Kingdom Level events. Champions may be reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses to required events after consultation with the Financial Committee.
Reasonable travel expenses are defined as: the equivalent of mileage paid at $0.14 per mile, or current rate authorized by the US IRS, to and from an event for one vehicle. ARTICLE IV
The Council of the Exchequer shall be the financial committee for the Kingdom of An Tir.
The responsibilities of the Council of the Exchequer shall include: setting budgets for the operation of the Kingdom; approving extraordinary expenditures; and setting An Tir Financial Policy. ARTICLE IV
The Council of the Exchequer shall meet at Crown tournaments after the Royal Heirs have been chosen, at Coronations before the Investiture of the new Crown, and at other times as is necessary. ARTICLE IV
Two thirds of the members of the Council of the Exchequer shall be required for a quorum. Actions by the Council of the Exchequer shall require consent by a majority of the members, however no expenditures shall be authorized which inure for the benefit of individuals or that do not further the Society's non-profit purpose.
The Council of the Exchequer shall consist of the Crown, the Royal Heirs (when applicable), the Kingdom Seneschal, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or their designated representatives, acceptable to the Crown. The Crown is considered one member for a quorum, and a decision by either shall be considered the Crown's decision. (For Kingdoms and Principalities; Sovereigns, Consorts and the Heirs of Kingdoms and Principalities as defined in Corpora, are limited to one composite vote (SCA Financial Policy)). ARTICLE IV
The Order of Precedence in the Kingdom of An Tir shall be as follows:
Sovereign and Consort
Crown Prince and Crown Princess
Territorial Princes and Princesses
Tanists and Tanistas to Territorial Principalities
Kingdom Champions
Holders of the Lion of An Tir
Dukes and Duchesses
Counts and Countesses
Viscounts and Viscountesses
Territorial Barons and Baronesses
Members of the Orders of the Chivalry, Laurel and Pelican
Members of the Orders of the Jambe de Lion, Goutte de Sang, Gray Goose Shaft, White Scarf and Hasta Leonis
Holders of a Grant of Arms
Former Founding and Landed Barons and Baronesses
Barons and Baronesses of the Court
Holders of an Award of Arms
Awards and Orders
The power to bestow patents, grants, awards of arms, and all other awards flows from the Crown. Any subject may make recommendations to the Crown regarding any level of award, and it is the duty of those with administrative responsibilities to bring forward the names of individuals deserving of recognition. No branch or other entity below Baronial level may bestow awards. Shires and other branch entities may give scrolls of praise and recognition and other tokens. ARTICLE V
Principality Awards:
The Principality Coronets, with the permission of the Crown, may bestow Awards of Arms to subjects of Their Principality. The names of the Crown shall be incorporated into the text of the scroll or charter. The Coronet shall request permission at the commencement of each reign ARTICLE V
The Principality Coronet shall create such awards as are needed for the recognition of the subjects of Their Principality. ARTICLE V
The Crown of An Tir grants the Principality Coronets the privilege of offering a Patent of Arms by recognizing the attainment of Viscounty rank by those who have met the requirements as outlined in Corpora. ARTICLE V
Royal Peers:
All Royal Peers (Duke, Duchess, Count, Countess, Viscount and Viscountess, or their equivalent), carry with them arms by letters patent and shall be known as the Royal Peers of An Tir. ARTICLE V
Membership in the Order of the Rose is offered by the reigning Consort to those who have completed serving a term as Consort to the Sovereign. Members of this order are charged with encouraging chivalric and courteous behavior among all members of the Society. ARTICLE V
Membership in the Order of the Lords and Ladies of Valorous Estate is given by the reigning Coronet Consort to those who have completed serving a term as a Principality Consort. Members of this order are charged with encouraging chivalric and courteous behaviour among all members of the Society. ARTICLE V
All those of Ducal rank (Duke or Duchess) may create for themselves a Ducal retinue (personal herald, guard, ladies in waiting, etc.), which will be recognized by the Crown and may hold Ducal Audiences or Courts. They may not grant any awards, but they may give tokens and scrolls of praise and recognition. ARTICLE V
Royal Patrons:
Royal Peers are encouraged at act as advisors to branches who do not have direct access to the Landed Nobility or the Crown. These Royal Peers, hereinafter referred to as Royal Patrons, will act in this capacity upon the mutual request of the branch and the Royal Peer, and upon the consent of the Crown. This relationship may be terminated at any time by the branch, the Royal Patron or the Crown. The responsibilities of Royal Patrons shall include: the requirement to swear fealty to the Crown; hold courts as Patron, but only within, or at events sponsored by, the branch for which they are Patron; raise War bands from within the group; receive copies of reports from branch officers; report to the Crown and Heirs on the state of the Branch one month before Coronation; act as an advocate for the Branch; and represent the branch in meetings of the Noble Estate and in all ways act in the best interest of the branch. This does not include giving awards not designated by the Crown. ARTICLE V
Peerage:
The award of membership in any of the Orders described in this section elevates the recipient to the peerage and confers the right to bear arms by letters patent. All these patents of arms are considered equal in rank and honor. Although the primary qualifications for each order vary, aspirants and members of all these orders should be exemplars of chivalry and courtesy, and should be acquainted with a wide range of the arts and skills valued in the Society for Creative Anachronism. All members of each order have the right and responsibility to advise the Crown regarding selection of members for their respective orders, and no member may be excluded from a conclave convened for that purpose. Corpora has detailed criteria on Peerage. ARTICLE V
Membership in the Order of the Pelican may be offered to individuals who meet the general criteria for the peerage and who have provided great and long-sustained service to the Kingdom at least equal to the level commonly found among existing members of the order. ARTICLE V
Membership in the Order of the Laurel may be offered to individuals who meet the general criteria for the peerage and who have demonstrated great skill in one or more of the arts and sciences at least equal to the level commonly found among existing members of the order. ARTICLE V
Membership in the Order of Chivalry (Knighthood or Mastery-at-Arms) may be offered to individuals who meet the general criteria for peerage and who have displayed skill at arms at least equal to the level commonly found among existing members of the order. Prospective members accepted by the Crown may choose either Knighthood, if they are willing to place themselves in fealty to the Crown of An Tir, or Mastery-at-Arms, if they are not. ARTICLE V
Other Armigerous Awards:
The Order of the Goutte de Sang (Drop of Blood) may be offered to those the Crown finds especially deserving of honor for substantial service to the Kingdom. Membership in the order confers a Grant of Arms. ARTICLE V
The Order of the Jambe de Lion (Arm of the Lion) may be offered to those the Crown finds especially deserving of honor for skill in the arts and sciences and willingness to share their skill with others. Membership in the order confers a Grant of Arms. ARTICLE V
The Order of the Gray Goose Shaft may be offered by the Crown, on the advice of the members of the Order, for excellence in archery. Membership in the Order confers a Grant of Arms. ARTICLE V
The Order of the White Scarf may be offered by the Crown, on the advice of the members of the Order, for skill in rapier combat. Membership in the order confers a Grant of Arms. ARTICLE V
The Order of the Hasta Leonis (Spear of the Lion) may be offered by the Crown, for excellence and chivalry in the pursuit and practice of the art of War. Membership in the Order confers a Grant of Arms. ARTICLE V
The title of Court Baron and Court Baroness may be offered by the Crown for outstanding efforts to the kingdom. It is considered the second highest award the Crown can grant. Unless otherwise indicated, Court Baron and Court Baroness carry an Award of Arms, if the person has not already received one. ARTICLE V
The Belated Rose is a token of personal favor given, with the permission of the Queen, by the members of the Order of the Rose and the Valorous Estate for courteous and courtly behavior. ARTICLE V
An Award of Arms may be offered to individuals or groups at the pleasure of the Crown. ARTICLE V
Other Awards, Orders and Honors:
In addition to the armigerous orders, the Crown may create and bestow orders and awards, which are non-armigerous. Non-armigerous awards will not determine ranking on the An Tir Order of Precedence, with the exception of the Honor of the Lion of An Tir. The An Tir Handbook contains detailed descriptions of all the honors of this Kingdom. ARTICLE V
A Unique Augmentation of Arms is considered the highest honor a person can be given for sustained service to Crown and Kingdom. ARTICLE V
The Throne's Favor is considered the highest award the Crown can grant to a subject or group for a significant contribution to the Kingdom through conspicuous service. ARTICLE V
The Iron Chain is given by the Crown upon the recommendation of the previous recipients for deeds of true courage and bravery in the face of personal and real danger. ARTICLE V
The Honor of the Lion of An Tir is given with the recommendation of the previous recipients and may be bestowed once per reign by the Crown. It is given to honor those who emulate the ideals and embody the essence of An Tir and the Laurel Kingdoms. The Crown shall only present this award at Kingdom level events at which the recipient is present. ARTICLE V
The Forget-me-not is a token of personal favor given by the Queen. ARTICLE V
The King's Favor is a token of personal favor given by the King. ARTICLE V
The Belated Rose is a token of personal favor given by the Queen on the recommendation of the Orders of the Rose and of the Valorous Estate for courteous and courtly behavior. ARTICLE V
The Honor of the Lion's Cub is given by the Crown to children who have shown noble merit. ARTICLE V
The Mano d' Oro may be given by the Crown on the recommendation of the Minister of Arts and Sciences for excellence in and service to the arts and sciences of An Tir. ARTICLE V
The Honor of the Carp is given by the Queen for excellence in period dress, thought, speech, behavior and encampment. ARTICLE V
The Silver Rose is given by the Queen to the person who finishes second in the Crown Tournament. ARTICLE V
The Muckin' Tall Maul is given upon recommendation of the previous recipient for ferocity on the field during the Crown Tournament lists. ARTICLE V
The Old Shattered Shield is presented for valor and authentic death in the Crown lists by the previous recipient. ARTICLE V
The Lion's Torse is given by the King for armor worn on the field that is period, functional and aesthetically pleasing. ARTICLE V
The Lion's Sword is given by the King upon an individual's completion of a term as Champion of An Tir, either by holding the position until the next Champion's Tournament or by ascending the throne during their tenure as champion. ARTICLE V
The Lion's Rapier is given by the Queen upon an individual's completion of a term as The Champion of Rapier Combat. ARTICLE V
The Lion's Arrow is given by the Crown upon an individual's completion of a term as Kingdom Protector. ARTICLE V
The Lion's Heart is given by the Crown upon an individual's completion of a term as Kingdom Arts & Sciences Champion. ARTICLE V
The honor and title Troubador of the Lion is given by the Crown upon an individual's completion of a term as The Kingdom Bardic Champion ARTICLE V
Courtier in the Kingdom of An Tir shall be bestowed and administered by the Landed Barons and Baronesses of this Kingdom. ARTICLE V
The Sable Chime is a non-armiguous award bestowed by the Crown for a specific excellent and/or inspirational performance, or continuing performance throughout the Kingdom. ARTICLE V
The Fury of the Lion is given for ferocity and chivalry on the field of battle. ARTICLE V
The Kingdom of An Tir recognizes the Arms and Orders awarded by other Kingdoms of the Society. Armigers permanently moving to An Tir will be placed in the An Tir Order of Precedence by the College of Heralds as though they had received the equivalent An Tirian awards. ARTICLE V
Royal Commissions:
The Crown may grant unto any artisan a royal commission carrying with it the right to include in their correspondence and on their signs and banners the phrases: "By Royal Appointment" and "type of artisan to (or of) Kings (or Queens, or the Crown)." Upon the commencement of each new reign, any artisan holding a royal commission shall offer it up to the new Crown. It shall be the prerogative of each new Crown to determine whether or not the artisan shall continue to hold the royal commission ARTICLE V
Finances of Awards:
All requests for tokens, medallions, and award regalia of any kind must be pre-approved by the Financial Committee. The Kingdom Scribe will report to the Financial Committee when award tokens given by the Crown need replenishing. The Financial Committee will assist in finding suitable vendors. ARTICLE V
Crown and Kingdom Events:
The Crown Events shall be the two Crown Tournaments, and two Coronations. No event or activity may conflict with a Crown Event without the prior written consent of the Crown. There shall be a meeting of Curia at all Crown Events. ARTICLE VI
The Kingdom Events shall be: Inter-Kingdom Wars; Kingdom Arts & Sciences Championship, Kingdom Bardic Championship; and Crown Councils. No other event may conflict with a Kingdom Event within the Region or Principality where the Kingdom Event is being held. No Principality event may conflict with a Kingdom event. ARTICLE VI
The Crown and Kingdom Events will be held on the most practical weekends closest to these dates: ARTICLE VI
Twelfth Night Coronation - The Second Weekend of January
Kingdom Arts & Sciences Championship - First Weekend of March
Crown Council - As proclaimed by the Crown.
Crown Tournament - Canadian Victoria Day Weekend (the first Monday before May 25th)
An Tir / West War - July 4th weekend
Coronation - The Third weekend of July
Crown Tournament - Labor Day
Kingdom Bardic Championship - Fourth Weekend in September
Crown Council - Veteran's Day/Remembrance Day
The Kingdom Seneschal and the Crown shall determine the location of the Crown and Kingdom Events through bids from subordinate branches. Actual dates shall be published by or as soon after Twelfth Night as is possible for the upcoming year. ARTICLE VI
Any Society branch within An Tir may bid on any An Tir Crown or Kingdom Event. Seasonal changes in weather and travel conditions shall be valid considerations in reviewing all bids. All An Tir Crown Events shall be a minimum of two full days in duration. ARTICLE VI
Twenty-five percent of any profit made on a Crown or Kingdom Event may be kept by the host group provided all final reports, receipts and the remaining Seventy-five percent have been sent to the Kingdom Exchequer within thirty days after the event; If the final report and all funds are returned after thirty days; then only ten percent of the profit may be retained by the hosting group, and the remaining ninety percent is to be sent to the Kingdom Exchequer. All final reports for Crown or Kingdom Events must be sent to the Kingdom Exchequer within 60 days after the close of the event. If it is the wish of the host group, they may donate some portion of their share to the Kingdom. ARTICLE VI
Due to obligations set forth in these laws, Royalty, the Champions of An Tir, and the Greater Kingdom Officers are exempt from paying site fees at all Events within the borders of An Tir. ARTICLE VI
Coronet Events:
Coronet Tournaments and Investitures shall have appropriate copy placed in the Kingdom and Principality Newsletters. See appropriate Principality Law. ARTICLE VI
Events in General
All events must be sponsored by a full status branch of the Kingdom, registered with the seneschal of the sponsoring branch and publicized to the membership of that branch and conducted according to Society rules and Kingdom Law. ARTICLE VI
All events must be registered with the Kingdom Calendar by using the most current Event Information form. ARTICLE VI
Formal actions and announcements with long-term impact on the Kingdom may only occur at events which have had copy published in The Crier. This includes: Crown and Coronet lists; Coronations and Investitures; appointment of Officers at the Principality level and up; the presentation of awards and titles; proclamation of law; and the establishment or advancement of branches. ARTICLE VI
It is traditionally encouraged, but not required, that branches donate ten percent of the profits of their events to a specific Kingdom fund of their choice, with the general fund being the default. ARTICLE VI
All branches shall place at least one event per calendar year on the Kingdom Calendar with complete copy appearing in The Crier. ARTICLE VI
Dates for events shall be assigned after conflict issued are resolved. ARTICLE VI
Branches within An Tir shall be: Principalities, Baronies, Shires, Cantons, Colleges, Ports, and Strongholds.
Principalities
Principalities shall meet all requirements as laid out in Corpora for the status of a Territorial Principality and shall meet such other requirements as shall be defined by the Crown and Officers of An Tir. ARTICLE VII
Principalities shall enjoy the right of a Prince and Princess, as vassals of the Crown of An Tir, selected by combat according to the practices laid out in principality law. ARTICLE VII
The principality Great Officers shall be: Seneschal, Herald, Exchequer, Chronicler, Arts & Sciences, Marshal, Constable, and Chatelaine. Others may be added as the Coronet sees fit. The warrants for Principality officers are signed by the Coronet and the appropriate Kingdom officer. ARTICLE VII
Baronies
Baronies must have at least: the minimum number of members as defined by Corpora, a set of officers acceptable to the Crown, a name and device registered with the College Arms, and, at least one person to accept the title of Baron or Baroness as appropriate to their sex. ARTICLE VII
The Territorial Baron and Baroness shall: fulfill their duties as outlined in Corpora; execute the lawful commands of the Crown and abide by Kingdom Law; be, for the people of the Barony, the chief examples of chivalry, courtesy, and virtue, and shall encourage those virtues in their populace; be the representative(s) of the Crown to the people of the Barony in the Crown's absence; represent the Barony to the Crown and at meetings of the Noble Estate; have the prerogative to establish and make awards specific to the Barony to acknowledge skill, service and other merits; receive copies of reports from baronial officers; encourage the officers of the Barony and give input on replacements to the Crown and Kingdom officers when such need arises; approve all expenditures of Baronial funds; maintain membership in the Society and receive The Crier at their place of residence; give written reports on the state of their barony. ARTICLE VII
Baronies within Principalities: At least one month prior to Coronet investiture, the Barons and Baronesses shall give a written report on the state of their Barony to the Coronet Heirs. A copy of this report shall also be given to the Crown, the Crown Prince and Princess, the Coronet, and the Kingdom Seneschal and the Principality Seneschal. ARTICLE VII
Baronies outside of Principalities: At least one month prior to each Coronation, the Barons and Baronesses shall give a written report on the state of their Barony to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. A copy of this report shall be given to the Crown and the Kingdom Seneschal. ARTICLE VII
Baronies shall place at least one event per calendar year on the Kingdom calendar and with complete copy appearing in The Crier. ARTICLE VII
A Barony is required to have a warrantable Seneschal, Herald, Marshal, Minister of A&S, Chatelaine, Exchequer, and Constable. ARTICLE VII
An opinion poll shall be performed at least every three years to evaluate the relationship between the Baronial Coronets and their populace. This poll shall be similar to the selection polling but without the addition of candidates. ARTICLE VII
In the Event of Baronial Polling:
The Crown or a representative chosen by the Crown shall be responsible for the polling of the populace. ARTICLE VII
The Kingdom Seneschal or a representative thereof shall be present also. ARTICLE VII
Both of the persons conducting the polling shall be from outside the barony ARTICLE VII
The scheduling of the baronial polling is subject to approval of the Crown. The polling should be completed within 90 days of the official announcement at a Baronial meeting. Notification of the polling is to appear in the next available issue of The Crier. Ideally, the process should begin and end within a single reign. ARTICLE VII
Before the polling is conducted nominees shall present themselves before the Crown and populace for the purpose of discussing their intentions should they be chosen as Baron and/or Baroness. ARTICLE VII
A baronial officer should serve as fair witness to the distribution and collection of polling forms. ARTICLE VII
A standardized polling form shall be used (See Appendix A). ARTICLE VII
Polling forms will be distributed only to members within the baronies zip code range. Officers, Sergeants, Courtiers, Gallants, Yeomen and Lancers who live outside the zip code range of the branch, and are members, will be included in the polling. ARTICLE VII
Other input may be submitted in writing via email, postal mail or in person. ARTICLE VII
The results of the polling shall be delivered directly to the Crown for their consideration. ARTICLE VII
The final decision and appointment of the new Baron and/or Baroness rests solely with the Crown. ARTICLE VII
Baronial Term Limits
Landed Barons and Baronesses shall be limited to not more than two consecutive terms of three years. ARTICLE VII
A polling shall be conducted at the end of the first three year term, with the results made known directly to the Crown. ARTICLE VII
As of the effective date of this law, Barons and Baronesses who have served for six or more consecutive years shall have one year to conduct a polling which will help enable the Crown to determine their successors. ARTICLE VII
Other Branches:
All other official SCA br7anches must meet the requirements as defined by Corpora. The branch must have a warrantable Seneschal, a warrantable Exchequer (in order to handle any Society funds), and, if martial activities are to take place within the branch, a warrantable Marshal. If there are no martial activities in the branch, the third officer shall be a warrantable Arts & Sciences Officer or a warrantable Herald. A large majority of an existing branch's officers must reside within the territorial area of the branch. ARTICLE VII
Cantons are under the jurisdiction of a Barony. Colleges, Ports, and Strongholds are institutional branches who shall report to the local branch with which they coexist-exist, or otherwise to the Regional or Principality Seneschal. ARTICLE VII
All branches shall place at least one event per calendar year on the Kingdom Calendar and with complete copy appearing in The Crier. ARTICLE VII
Crown Principalities and Regions:
Crown Principalities:
The Crown, in consultation with the Kingdom Seneschal, may grant recognition of a Region working toward Principality status the name "Crown Principality" and the Crown shall assume, upon recognition thereof; the title "Prince and Princess" of the new Crown Principality. Principality status is defined in and regulated by Corpora. The Crown, in consultation with the Kingdom Seneschal, may revoke the right of a "Crown Principality" to use that name. ARTICLE VII
Regions:
Regions are a group of geographically contiguous branches, which are grouped together for ease of Kingdom administration. They are not official branches in their own right. Therefore, regions may not have champions; sponsor events; or maintain separate funds or bank accounts. Any funds held in such a separate account must be divided among the branches of that region. Any funds remaining in such accounts after January 1, 2002 shall be placed in the An Tir General Fund. ARTICLE VII
Change of Status:
To be considered for a change to a different status, the branch must meet the requirements of that status as required by Corpora and Kingdom Law, and present a petition to the Kingdom Seneschal, with copies to the Crown. It is highly desirable and suggested that a branch making such application be well above the minimum requirements before making their application. After assuring that all requirements are met, the Kingdom Seneschal shall make a recommendation to the Crown, and if necessary, to the Board of Directors. The branch should allow sufficient time for this process in planning for the event at which they would like to become official. Upon approval, the members of the branch shall present a calligraphed petition in open court to the Crown. ARTICLE VII
New Branches
New branches will be styled 'incipient' until they are granted official status by the Crown. To establish a new branch the group shall supply the Kingdom Seneschal with: proof of five sustaining or international memberships; the names and addressees of the required officers and the tentative name of the group. All of an incipient branch's officers must reside within the territorial area of the branch and all will be expected to establish and maintain a working relationship with Kingdom, principality, or regional officers. If this is satisfactory, the Kingdom Seneschal shall grant incipient status. The Kingdom Seneschal shall report this to the next Curia meeting. Incipient branches will be evaluated for stability, growth, activity levels, and compliance with requirements. Based on the evaluation, they may be recommended for official status or continued incipient status. Incipient branches will be re-evaluated within two years of their inception. Branches, which are unable to advance to official status after three years of incipient status, will be dissolved and the territory will revert to its original status. Exceptions will be granted to incipient branches that have been functioning well but can't yet satisfy all requirements, through no fault of their own, e.g. name approval. ARTICLE VII
Kingdom Guilds and Other Entities
Kingdom Guilds exist in order to serve the Crown and Kingdom by promoting some field of endeavor for the benefit of all. No group may call itself a Kingdom group, guild or company unless it has been recognized as such by the Crown. No group or other entity may use the words 'An Tir' in its name unless it has been recognized by the Crown. No group may refer to itself as 'Royal' unless it exists primarily to serve the Crown and has been recognized by the Crown. ARTICLE VII
In order to be recognized by the Crown as a full Kingdom guild, a group of at least five sustaining members from a least three different branches must submit a proposal to the Crown and Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences. The proposal must delineate the purposes, structure, officers, activities, and limits of the proposed guild. The Guild must go through an incipiency period of not less than one year, and not more than three years. Once the incipiency is completed to the satisfaction of the Crown and the Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences, a charter shall be approved by the Crown. ARTICLE VII
Recognized guilds may have sub-units on the branch level of the Kingdom. ARTICLE VII
Guilds shall report to the Arts & Sciences Minister on the schedule set by that officer. ARTICLE VII
The Crown has the authority to revoke the status of any guild or company for just cause at any time. ARTICLE VII
All branches or guilds that publish a newsletter shall provide a complimentary copy to the King, Queen, Crown Prince, Crown Princess, Kingdom Seneschal, and Kingdom Chronicler. The Principality Newsletters will provide a complimentary copy to the Kingdom Calendar. It is encouraged that complimentary copies also be sent to the Grete Boke and the local Regional or Principality Seneschal. ARTICLE VII
No person may be a branch officer in more than one branch at a time, nor can a person hold a branch office and a regional, principality, or Kingdom office at the same time. Exceptions may be granted by the Crown and the relevant Kingdom Officer in writing on a case-by-case basis. ARTICLE VII
No one shall be warranted as a branch officer at any level who has not attained the age of 18 years. ARTICLE VII
Branches shall establish and maintain a branch library and shall obtain, through gift or purchase, current copies of the Known World Handbook, the Organizational Handbook, the An Tir Handbook, the Laws of An Tir, the An Tir Seneschal's Handbook, the An Tir Book of Combat, the An Tir Book of Target, theAn Tir Book of Fence, the An Tir Financial Policy, and the An Tir Kingdom Publication Policy, together with whatever other resources the branch deems appropriate including the handbooks and manuals for all offices. Branches are encouraged to also obtain a roster from the College of Heralds, and to have the An Tir Book of Horse. These resources must be available to everyone participating in a branch upon request. Branch funds may be used to purchase the resources specifically mentioned above. ARTICLE VII
All subjects of An Tir will have the right to pledge allegiance and support to the Crown of An Tir. Additionally some subjects of An Tir have the right or requirement to swear 'Fealty' directly to the Crown.
Direct Vassals of the Crown:
All those who have sworn direct fealty to the Crown are Direct Crown Vassals. Vassals of the Crown have the following privileges and duties: they may wear and display the lion-headed fealty bracelet; Crown Vassals may raise armies under their banners, in support of the Kingdom; direct vassals of the Crown may display the armory of the vassals and retainers of the Crown; they shall have the right to enter the Royal Presence armed; they shall counsel the Crown on theirs and their own vassals behalf when appropriate; execute the lawful commands of the Crown and abide by Kingdom Law; be Loyal to the Crown and Kingdom; and treat courteously those of every degree. ARTICLE VIII
The following shall pledge fealty to the reigning King and Queen: the Crown Prince and Crown Princess; the Kingdom Champions; Territorial Princes and Princesses; Kingdom Officers of State. ARTICLE VIII
The following shall also pledge fealty to the reigning King and Queen: Royal Patrons, Territorial Barons and Baronesses, and Knights. Although if they reside within a Principality, they may pledge this fealty through the Territorial Prince and Princess. ARTICLE VIII
All Peers of the Realm and those who have achieved the Honor of the Lion of An Tir have the right to offer fealty to the King and Queen, or may, if they choose, offer fealty to the current King and Queen through a Coronet, Territorial Baron and Baroness, or Royal Patron. ARTICLE VIII
All other subjects, with good reason, may petition the Crown for the right to pledge direct fealty.
All combatants entering onto a war battlefield must be pledged in fealty to the Crown or be, by oath or contract, allied with a vassal in a chain of fealty to the Crown. All persons shall be responsible for the conduct of those under them. ARTICLE VIII
For any who may have religious conflicts with the swearing of fealty to the Crown, a promise of service and obedience may be substituted, with the Crown's approval. This should be communicated to and acknowledged by the Crown prior to entering into any competition or making application for any position that requires an oath of fealty. ARTICLE VIII
Conduct of Persons in An Tir:
In order that the Kingdom and its goals be further enhanced, it shall be the responsibility of all subjects of An Tir to willingly maintain and increase the authenticity of their accouterment, speech, and conduct, thus elevating the spirit that should be fostered in these Current Middle Ages. Courtesy, consideration, honor, and chivalric behavior are essential in all subjects of An Tir, at all times. ARTICLE IX
It is the duty of the populace to be familiar with, and abide by the Laws, customs, and traditions of An Tir. Violation of these Laws will result in the appropriate consequences, and may be grounds for expulsion from an event, banishment, dismissal from office or other sanctions. ARTICLE IX
The populace is reminded that modern law is always in effect and the violation of modern law will be grounds for expulsion from the event, banishment, or arrest by civil authorities. ARTICLE IX
Smoking is not permitted indoors at events. Smoking at outdoor events is only permitted in designated areas with appropriate receptacles. Smoking is permitted in individual encampments and paved parking areas. Fire restrictions always apply. Smoking is not permitted in or near the Eric or Court. Smokers are expected to clean up after themselves, leaving an area as clean or cleaner than they found it. ARTICLE IX
The allowance for admission and control of pets shall be determined by the autocrat of an event. If no determination is made, all animals shall be leashed or otherwise physically secured at all times. All pet owners are responsible for the cleanup and removal of their pet's waste. ARTICLE IX
Controlled Substances - An Tir is intolerant of the illegal use or distribution of drugs and/or alcohol. Mundane law enforcement may be called to the site to deal with any unlawful activity. ARTICLE IX
Firearms - Non-period firearms shall not be borne upon the site of any SCA event, except by those required or licensed by mundane law, to bear such weapons. Period firearms must not be loaded, except as part of a segregated and approved target shooting competition. ARTICLE IX
Noble Estate:
The Noble Estate consists of the Royalty of An Tir, the Royal Peers, and the Territorial Barons and Baronesses. The Noble Estate meets when requested by the Crown so that the Crown may hear its advice. The Noble Estate has traditionally met at Crown Events and at Crown Council. The Noble Estate is responsible for assisting the Kingdom Seneschal in choosing a suitable Regent should the Champion of An Tir be unable to serve in that capacity. The person highest in the order of precedence presides at meetings. A quorum shall be comprised of at least two Royalty, four Royal Peers, and four Territorial Barons or Baronesses. ARTICLE IX
Grievance Procedure:
Anyone having a personal dispute with any other person within the Kingdom shall settle the matter using the following procedure:
Speak to the person in private and face-to-face. Most disputes can be resolved on this level. If the dispute is still unresolved, write a letter to the person. State what the problem is, what you feel will fix the problem, and request that they respond to you within 10 to 14 days. Keep a copy of the letter. Respond to each other until you reach a resolution. ARTICLE IX
If the dispute is unresolved seek a neutral third party to act as mediator. The mediator will attempt to find a lawful compromise to the dispute, which is agreeable to both parties. ARTICLE IX
If the dispute continues, write directly to the officer responsible for overseeing the area in question asking them to help resolve the dispute. Ask for specific help and include copies of all correspondence about the problem. Work with that officer until a resolution is found. ARTICLE IX
Repeat step 3 moving up the organization and including everyone you've involved on your copy list. Follow your correspondents' advice as to whether or not anyone else at or below their level needs to be consulted. Eventually, you run out of levels. ARTICLE IX
If the dispute continues, and you have gone through all the steps set forth above, you may appeal to the Crown. The Crown will find a resolution and Their decision may be appealed only to the SCA Board of Directors. ARTICLE IX
The Grievance Procedure is intended to address personal disputes between individuals and not disputes on official matters. For further guidance, please refer to the Organizational Handbook, Channels for Complaint and Appeal. ARTICLE IX
The Regalia Commission:
There shall be a Royal Regalia Commission, consisting of the King and Queen, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess (when applicable), the Royal Chamberlain and the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Minister. ARTICLE IX
The Commission shall be responsible for approving of additions to Kingdom Regalia. This commission is encouraged to seek the advice of the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Champion, and members of the Ladies of the Rose and Valorous Estate on these matters.
The Royal Chamberlain shall maintain a current inventory of regalia, and shall maintain a secured storage facility for regalia not currently being used. The Chamberlain and both sets of Royalty shall sign a completed inventory form, which will document this accounting and transference, which shall be inventoried at the Coronation event. Disposal of regalia will be by majority decision of the Commission. ARTICLE IX
By way of their duty to uphold and enforce the laws of the Realm and the Society, The Crown of An Tir hereby establishes a procedure for Courts of Inquiry and Courts of Chivalry.
These courts shall only consider infractions of the rules of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., or any of its subdivisions, and then only when they occur within a Society context. ARTICLE X
Those who make false accusations that lead to the convening of a court, may find themselves the subject of a court and subject to appropriate sanction. ARTICLE X
No court shall be held to consider individual behavior that falls within the jurisdiction of a civil or criminal court maintained by a modern world government. However, a given incident may have implications both in modern law and the rules of the Society. A court which restricts itself to the investigation of violations of the Society's rules, only, may be held. ARTICLE X
Ordinarily, attendance at these courts will be open to all subjects of the realm. However, where an alleged incident may be a violation of modern law, as well as the rules of the Society, attendance at the court may be restricted. ARTICLE X
Personal disputes should continue to utilize the Grievance Procedure (IX.C.). If a personal grievance also involves an alleged violation of Society rules, then, a court may be requested to be convened, provided that the grievance procedure has not produced a satisfactory solution. ARTICLE X
Disputes or incidents of allegedly inappropriate behavior that involve combat-related activities should be handled through the Grievances and Sanctions (XXXVIII) section of the An Tir Book of Combat. If the procedures outlined there fail to produce a solution, a court may be requested to be convened. ARTICLE X
These courts will provide conclusions and recommendations only. The determination of verdict and the imposition of any sanctions or penalties rests with the Crown of An Tir. The only appeal is to the Board of Directors of the SCA, Inc. ARTICLE X
Investigations of serious infractions that could result in Greater Royal Sanctions, degradation from the peerage, or the sanction of a Prince or Princess, must be heard by a Court of Chivalry. ARTICLE X
Requests to convene a court shall be sent to the Kingdom Seneschal who will determine whether it should be assigned to a Court of Inquiry, a Court of Chivalry, or whether resolution should be pursued through a Grievance Procedure. If the Kingdom Seneschal is the proposed subject, the request should be sent directly to the Crown, who will determine the assignment of the case. In either case, the parties involved will be notified of the assignment of the case, by registered mail, no later than two weeks after receipt of the request. ARTICLE X
Any officer, who in order to enforce the rules of the Society, has to remove an individual, or group of individuals, from an event or denies their participation at an event, must send a written report to the Kingdom Seneschal, within one week of the event, describing the situation and requesting that a court be convened to investigate the matter. ARTICLE X
To ensure that the courts have a fair representation of the facts, the principals to the dispute have the right to cross-examine witnesses, introduce evidence, and in general, present their cases. They also have the right to request from the court an advocate to advise and represent them who is knowledgeable about the rules of the SCA, Inc., is a peer of the realm, and is acceptable tothem. ARTICLE X
Courts of Inquiry will be convened to investigate less serious violations of the rules of the Society.
Courts of Inquiry are convened in the name of the Crown of An Tir, and presided over by their representatives (i.e. Territorial Prince and Princess, Baron and/or Baroness, or Royal Patron(s)) having jurisdiction over the case. Where a branch has no royal representative, the case may be assigned to the nearest branch that has a royal representative, as determined by the Kingdom Seneschal. ARTICLE X
The presiding noble(s) may appoint such counsellors to advise them as they deem necessary to determine the facts involving the case, and to render a recommendation to the Crown. ARTICLE X
Within one week of receiving notification of assignment, any party involved in the proposed Court of Inquiry may request of the Kingdom Seneschal that the Court be re-assigned to different presiding noble(s), if they have reason to believe that the original presiding noble(s) may be incapable of convening an impartial court. ARTICLE X
Within two weeks of receiving notification from the Kingdom Seneschal (or Crown), the presiding noble(s) shall arrange a time and place for the Court to be held which is agreeable to the parties involved. Such time and place must be no later than 30 days after receipt of the case from the Kingdom Seneschal. ARTICLE X
If agreement cannot be reached with the parties involved, the presiding noble(s) will choose a time and place that fits within the 30-day window. ARTICLE X
Should any person who has been specifically summoned to stand before a court, fail to do so, through no fault of their own, after having made a reasonable effort, arrangements shall be made to re-schedule the court at another time and place convenient to the parties involved. ARTICLE X
Should any person who has been specifically summoned to stand before a court, fail to appear without sufficient cause, the presiding noble(s) shall accept this absence as a plea of no-contest to any and all charges against them, and make appropriate recommendations to the Crown. ARTICLE X
After all evidence and testimony has been presented, and the court is closed, the presiding noble(s) shall send, by registered mail, a written report describing their conclusions and recommendations for sanctions, if any, to the Crown, within two weeks of the conclusion of the Court. Copies shall be sent, also by registered mail, to the Kingdom Seneschal, Territorial Prince and Princess (if applicable), and to the parties involved. ARTICLE X
The presiding noble(s) may recommend that the case be reassigned to a Court of Chivalry, if it is believed that the alleged violations could be grounds for a serious sanction as noted above. ARTICLE X
Within two weeks of receiving the recommendation of the court, the Crown will notify, by registered mail, the parties involved, the presiding noble(s), and the Kingdom Seneschal of their determination of the case and any sanctions imposed. Sanctions will be announced at the next Royal Court and printed in the next issue of The Crier. Sanctions are effective from the moment announced in Royal Court. ARTICLE X
A Court of Chivalry is the Kingdoms highest court. It is the only court that may recommend Greater Royal Sanctions, degradation from the peerage, or the sanction of a Prince and/or Princess.
Courts of Chivalry are presided over by the Crown of An Tir. ARTICLE X
Courts of Chivalry shall have nine judges who are members of the SCA, including the Kingdom Seneschal, Earl Marshal, and the secretaries of the Orders of the Chivalry, Laurel, and Pelican. If any of the above judges cannot attend, the Crown will choose replacements from within their offices or orders to represent them. The Crown shall appoint four armigerous representatives to complete the court. No principal involved in the dispute may sit on the court. ARTICLE X
The Black Lion Principal Herald or a representative shall act as the recording officer of the court. ARTICLE X
A Court of Chivalry shall not be convened until all parties to the dispute, all members of the court and the Board of Directors have been notified of the upcoming Court of Chivalry and its cause. Date and location will be decided by the Crown after considering the convenience of all concerned. ARTICLE X
All Courts of Chivalry shall be announced in The Crier as a published event. ARTICLE X
Should any person, who has been specifically summoned to stand before court, fail to do so through no fault of their own, after having made a reasonable effort, arrangements shall be made to re-schedule the court at another time and place convenient to the parties involved. ARTICLE X
Should any person, who has been specifically summoned to stand before a court, fail to appear without sufficient cause, the Crown shall banish this person from all SCA functions and offices until suitable arrangements shall be made to re-schedule the court at another time and place convenient to the parties involved. Sufficient cause shall be determined by the members of the court. ARTICLE X
After all evidence and testimony has been presented, the court will recess and the nine judges will confer to reach a conclusion on their belief of the facts in the matter, and to recommend any sanctions to the Crown. Conclusions and recommendations require a simple majority vote. ARTICLE X
When the nine judges have reached their conclusions and decided upon their recommendations, the court shall reconvene. The Kingdom Seneschal shall announce the conclusion of the judges, noting the number of votes. The Kingdom Seneschal shall also announce the recommendations for sanction, again noting the number of votes for each sanction. ARTICLE X
Having presided over the court and heard the council of the nine judges, the Crown will announce their verdict and impose sanctions, as they deem appropriate, and close the Court of Chivalry. Any sanctions announced are effective from the moment of announcement. ARTICLE X
The Black Lion Principal Herald, acting as the court reporter, shall send, by registered mail, a written notice of the Crowns verdict and sanctions, if any, to the parties involved, within two weeks of the conclusion of the Court. Copies shall be sent, also by registered mail, to the Kingdom Seneschal, the Society Seneschal, and the Board of Directors. Notice of the sanction shall appear in the next issue of The Crier. ARTICLE X
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