The Faith Restriction Clause is the common name for Article 5, Clause 2 of the 1921 Constitution of the Republic of Kresimiria. The clause, along with its associated sub-clauses in Article 5, is one of the most controversial sections of Kresimirian law. It conditions the right to vote, and by extension full citizenship, on adherence to the state religion of Kresimirianism.
The clause established a system where voting eligibility is conferred through a “Divinity Certification” issued by religious officials known as Diviners. It has been a central point of political and social conflict throughout the nation’s history, particularly concerning the rights of the Bosken ethnic minority.
In 1961, the clause was amended via the Treaty of Brod Moravice, which waived the faith requirement for citizens residing in the southern District X (Moraviskameja). However, it remains in effect for the rest of the country and is a subject of ongoing political debate.
Text of Article 5
Article 5 of the Constitution outlines the mechanics of elections and the specific requirements for enfranchisement. While Clause 2 is the core of the Faith Restriction, Clauses 3, 4, and 5 provide the mechanism for its enforcement and adjudication.
- Every ten years, the Republic will hold an election to re-elect all of these seats and determine whether the will of the public has changed.
- Every citizen of the Republic has the right to vote in elections, with the two conditions – provided they follow the Divine Faith of Kresimirianism, and they are over the age of fourteen. Each citizen will be provided with a voting certification by their local Diviner upon their birth into Divinity, or if an adult wishes to convert to Kresimirianism, they must confer with their Diviner.
- The certificate must be presented when voting. It is valid for life and is tied expressly to the person listed on it. If a citizen loses their certificate they may apply for a renewal from their local Diviner, which must be provided without the application of a charge, or similar barrier which would entail a citizen being barred from voting eligibility despite an inherent eligibility to a Divinity certification. A citizen may not vote without first presenting their certificate to an electoral official.
- If a citizen converts away from the Faith of Kresimirianism, a Diviner is within the rights to invalidate the certificate by destroying it, and thus invalidate the voting eligibility of the citizen, and thus their citizenship - this is not in the sense to invalidate their ability to practice their believed religion, but a person is not permitted the ability to retain their Divinity Certification if a Diviner intends to destroy it.
- This destruction is subject to appeal, after the fact, by the person or a person on behalf of this person, to the District Courts, who shall refer to the Council for Divinity for advice. The Council for Divinity has the ultimate authority on Divinity, and may review each case and appeal individually.
Mechanism and Implementation
The implementation of the Faith Restriction Clause is handled by the religious infrastructure of Kresimirianism.
- Divinity Certification: This is the official document that proves an individual’s right to vote. It is issued by a local Diviner, a cleric of the Kresimirian faith, either at birth or upon an adult’s conversion.
- Revocation of Rights: Clause 4 grants Diviners the authority to destroy a citizen’s Divinity Certificate if that person is deemed to have converted away from Kresimirianism. The text explicitly states this act invalidates both “the voting eligibility of the citizen, and thus their citizenship.” While it notes this does not bar the practice of another religion, the practical effect is the stripping of fundamental civic rights.
- Appeal Process: An individual whose certificate is destroyed can appeal to the District Courts. However, the courts are constitutionally required to refer to the Council for Divinity, the highest religious body in Kresimiria. The Council has “ultimate authority” and can review each case, making its decision effectively final and binding on the secular courts.
The 1961 Amendment: Treaty of Brod Moravice
For decades, the Faith Restriction Clause was a major source of grievance for the nation’s non-Kresimirian minorities, most notably the Bosken people of the southern district of Moraviskameja. Tensions escalated into armed conflict, with the Bosken insurgent group BRC-21 waging a guerrilla war against the Kresimirian state.
In 1961, seeking to end the violence, Leon Rukavin’s government negotiated the Treaty of Brod Moravice with BRC-21 representatives Nadja Vrasch and Neda Orlak. The key terms of the treaty were:
- BRC-21 would disarm and cease all military operations.
- The Kresimirian government would formally recognize a peaceful political party to represent Bosken interests, leading to the formation of the Bosken Liberation Front.
- Most significantly, the Constitution would be amended to waive Article 5, Clause 2 for all citizens residing in District X (Moraviskameja), allowing non-adherents to vote in local and national elections.
The treaty was a landmark agreement, but it did not fully resolve the conflict. Hardliners within BRC-21 rejected the deal and formed a splinter group, the Army of Free and Independent Moraviskameja (AFIM), which has continued a low-level insurgency since 1961.
Contemporary Political Debate and Opposition
The Faith Restriction Clause remains a central and divisive issue in Kresimirian politics. Political parties are largely defined by their stance on the clause.
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Supporters: The dominant Blue Dawn party, along with nationalist and religious conservative parties like the Sons of Kresimir and Vjetrusa, strongly support maintaining the clause. They argue it is essential for preserving Kresimiria’s national identity and cultural heritage, viewing the link between faith and state as a foundational principle of the Republic.
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Opponents: The Bosken Liberation Front campaigns for the total removal of Article 5, Clause 2, arguing that it is discriminatory and the root cause of the marginalization of the Bosken people and other minorities. The liberal Civic Renewal Front has, since 1975 under Mia Marija Pavlovic, also supported constitutional reform to either completely remove the clause or rewrite the amendment to extend voting rights to all Kresimirian citizens, regardless of faith or location.