@part(articles, root = "/mit/abstract/Characters/sheet.format")

@b(Game Item)

@MajorHeading(Articles of the Realm, Abridged Edition)

@i(Editor's Note: This is merely a sampling of the important Articles,
condensed and edited for easy understanding.  If the reader wishes
further information, it is suggested he seek out a copy of the
Unabridged Edition.  It is further suggested that he bring along a
trained Counsel if he wishes to understand it.)

@section(Article I:    Legislative and judicial authority.)

@subsection(Judges)

Any Peer of the Realm shall be considered an authorized Realm judicial
representative for the duration of his Peerhood.  Any Peer of the
Realm shall be empowered to authorize any other Citizen of the Realm
as a judicial representative of the Realm for a period of one year.

@subsection(Trials)

Any authorized Realm judicial representative shall be empowered to
preside as judge over a legal trial, which shall require the following
participants to be present: the accused, the accuser, and a presiding
judge.  The accused or the accuser may choose to be represented by a
lawyer or other legal counsel.  Failure to be present at the trial,
which must be publicly announced at least 24 hours before its
scheduled time, by the accused shall be construed as an admission of
guilt.  Failure to be present by the accuser shall result in a
dismissal of charges.  

The judge or judges shall decide guilt or innocence of the accused,
and shall authorize punishment, on the basis of evidence provided in
the trial, in accordance with the Articles of the Realm and with legal
precedent.

@subsection(Non-Citizens)

@i(passed 11/25/930)

In the case of a crime being committed within the Realm by a
non-Citizen, he shall be tried in accordance with @i(Article I,
Section 2: Trials) of the Articles of the Realm.

@section(Article II:  Peacekeeping authority.)

@subsection(Arrests)

Any appointed Peacekeeper of the Realm shall be empowered to arrest
any Realm citizen observed breaking any of the Laws of the Realm.  Any
appointed Peacekeeper of the Realm shall be empowered to arrest any
Realm citizen upon obtaining an arrest warrant from an authorized
Realm judicial representative.  Arrested citizens may be detained for
questioning until their trial, which shall be held no later than 48
hours after the arrest.  If no guilt is shown, neither the arresting
officer nor the judicial authority issuing the warrant, if any was so
issued, shall be considered liable for injuries resulting to the
arrested Citizen, save when those injuries were sustained as a result
of the officer's breaking of the Laws of the Realm.

@subsection(Internal Security Act)

@i(passed 3/4/939)

  Any appointed Peacekeeper of the Realm shall be empowered to call in
for questioning any non-Citizen of the Realm, or any Citizen of Clan
descent, for no longer than a reasonable time, in any case where
reasonable suspicion exists of engaging in illegal or treasonous
activities within the Realm.  The arrested non-Citizen shall be
released from custody upon the production of evidence clearing the
suspect of suspicion.  If no guilt is shown, neither the arresting
officer nor the judicial authority issuing a warrant, if any was so
issued, shall be considered liable for injuries resulting to the
arrested non-Citizen, save when those injuries were sustained as a
result of the officer's breaking of the Laws of the Realm.

@section(Article III:   Crime and punishment.)

The following are instructions for sentencing convicted criminals.
Disregard of this Section by presiding judges shall be grounds for
appeal of the decision to a higher court.

@subsection(Theft.)

  The convicted thief shall return the stolen goods to his victim, and
shall make restitution for any damages incurred by the theft.  Where
return of the stolen goods is impossible, the convicted thief shall
provide goods or services of equal value, to be determined by the
presiding judge.  In either case, the thief shall provide an equal
worth of goods or services to the Realm, through public service, the
payment of fines, or some other mechanism to be determined by the
presiding judge.

@subsection(Assault.)

  The convict shall make recompense to his victim, in goods or
services, of an amount determined as follows: it shall suffice to
restore whatever damage was incurred by the victim in the commission
of the crime, as well as recompense him for time lost from normal
daily activities due to injury.  Emotional and psychic trauma shall be
considered grounds for recompense, as well.  Where restoration is
impossible, the victim shall be recompensed for earning capacity lost
through injury, an amount to be determined by the presiding judge.  In
either case, the convict shall provide an equal worth of goods or
services to the Realm, through public service, the payment of fines,
or some other mechanism to be determined by the presiding judge.

@subsection(Homicide.)

  The penalty for murder is death or permanent exile.  The accuser
shall be considered the victim's next of kin, or the Realm.

@subsection(Treason.)

  The penalty for treason is death or permanent exile.   The accuser
shall be considered the Realm.

@subsection(Repeal of capital punishment)

@i(passed 5/7/135)
  
The office of Realm Executioner shall be disbanded.  Under no
circumstances shall any Realm judicial representative impose a
sentence of death upon a convicted criminal.

@section(Article IV:    Immigration, emigration and trade.)

@subsection(Licensing of Crafts.)

The House of Guilds, under the direction of the Guildmaster, shall be
solely responsible for the teaching and managing of licensed
professions.  Any licensed profession may be practiced in the Realm
only by individuals belonging to the Guild through which that
profession is governed.

@section(Some notes on common legal precedents)

Unlicensed traders are commonly considered thieves of potential
business and sentenced accordingly.  In such cases the Master of the
Guild is considered the victim and the accuser, although the
Guildmaster may take his place if he is unavailable.

If it is determined, or seems likely, that the crime occured through
negligence, the accused is required only to recompense the victim, not
make subsidiary recompense to the Realm.  If it is determined, or
seems likely, that the crime occured through accident, he is required
to make only half the appropriate recompense.  If it is determined
that the crime occured through accident and that the accused accrued
no benefit from it, the accused is not required to make repayment.

An individual who is found guilty of aiding and abetting in the
commission of a crime is subject to half the penalties which would be
incurred by the commission of the crime.