Acts of War

The Benevolent Dictatorship of Baja LasVegastan engages in acts of war when necessary or convenient. In this respect it is no different from any other nation.

However, the Benevolent Dictator considers it unwise to initiate an act of war against another nation unless there is an intention to provoke a war. And it will not do to say, "This really isn't an act of war against that nation, since the appropriate authorities (well, we consider them to be the appropriate authorities) of that nation asked us to do so."

The Benevolent Dictator has therefore imposed the following limitations upon his front man, the President (and his front organization, the Congress), in the form of a section of his front document, the Constitution:

1. "Act of war by one nation against another nation," as used herein, means:

   1. the first nation's invasion, attack, occupation, annexation, bombardment, or blockade of any part of the second nation's territory;

   2. the first nation's attack on the land, sea or air forces, or marine and air fleets, of the second nation;

   3. if the first nation's has some of its armed forces within the territory of the second nation with the agreement of the second nation, its:

      1. use of such armed forces in contravention of the conditions provided for in the agreement; or

      2. extension of their presence in such territory beyond the termination of the agreement;

   4. the first nation's:

      1. allowing its territory, which it has placed at the disposal of a third nation, to be used by that third nation for perpetrating an act of war; or

      2. sending (or substantial involvement or allowing in sending) armed bands, groups, irregulars or mercenaries, which carry out acts of armed force,

      of such gravity as to amount to any of the acts listed above, against the second nation.

2. The President shall not order, nor permit, the Armed Forces of the Benevolent Dictator to engage in an act of war against any foreign nation, except:

   1. entirely within the territory of the Benevolent Dictator; or

   2. pursuant to a valid declaration of war by the Congress against that nation; or

   3. as is absolutely necessary to evacuate subjects of the Benevolent Dictator to a place of safety, provided that:

      1. such evacuation is coupled with a formal and public declaration that the Armed Forces are being used solely for that purpose; and that

      2. "subjects of the Benevolent Dictator" includes subjects and citizens of other nations whom the Benevolent Dictator is, by treaty, obligated to evacuate whenever he evacuates his own subjects.

3. A declaration of war is valid only if it:

   1. is formally denominated as such; and it is not sufficient if it is phrased as a "declaration of national emergency", or "authorization to use force", or such like;

   2. is made public;

   3. is made against a named foreign nation, provided that:

      1. a "foreign nation" is an entity which has (or has had, or has sought) diplomatic relations with the Benevolent Dictator (either directly or though an intermediate chain of diplomatic relations with other foreign nations), but does not include mere armed bands, groups, irregulars or mercenaries; and that

      2. a declaration or war is not sufficient if it is against "poverty", "cancer", "drugs", "terrorism", or such like; but

      3. nothing herein shall diminish the power otherwise granted to the Congress to spend money, or to declare certain conduct to be a crime, in an effort to reduce or eliminate such evils;

   4. includes a declaration that the foreign nation has either:

      1. engaged in an act of war against the Benevolent Dictator, naming the act; or

      2. failed to comply with an ultimatum issued by the Congress (and an ultimatum issued by the President, of by any other entity, is not sufficient) within the time limit stated therein, naming the ultimatum; and

   5. includes a declaration that the foreign nation may end the war by either:

      1. surrendering to the Benevolent Dictator, setting out the proposed terms of surrender in haec verba; or

      2. agreeing to a proposed peace treaty, setting out its terms in haec verba;

      and

      3. the Congress may from time to time formally and publicly alter or amend such terms; and

      4. the acceptance of such terms by such foreign nation shall be binding upon the Benevolent Dictator.

4. The President shall neither order nor permit the Armed Forces to do any of the following acts outside the territory of the Benevolent Dictator:

   1. enforce the laws of any foreign nation;

   2. suppress an insurrection or treason against any foreign nation; or

   3. repel, or defend against, an attack against any foreign nation;

   except pursuant to a treaty with that nation compelling such action.

5. If the President violates this section, and until he thereafter ceases the violation and formally and publicly apologizes for it, no person who joins in litigation attacking this violation shall be compelled to:

   1. pay taxes incurred during that period; and shall be deemed to have paid them;

   2. pay, during that period, taxes previously incurred; and subsequent payment shall relate back to the original due date if paid within 30 days after the apology;

   3. submit to involuntary entry into the Armed Forces; and shall be deemed to never have been ordered to enter the Armed Forces; nor

   4. continue to serve in the Armed Forces if he was conscripted, or enlisted or most recently re-enlisted, more than 48 months previously; and shall be deemed to have been honorably discharged.

6. During litigation to determine whether the President has violated this section:

   1. any taxpayer who is a party to any such litigation may pay his taxes into an escrow account in any foreign nation with which the Benevolent Dictator has or has had diplomatic relations, in accordance with the laws of that nation, and shall not be required to otherwise pay or escrow his taxes;

   2. any civilian who has been ordered to enter the Armed Forces, and who is a party to any such litigation, shall be entitled, on affirmative request, to defer entry into the Armed Forces until after the litigation has been finally concluded;

   3. any party to the litigation shall be entitled, on affirmative request, to:

      1. receive a certification from the Benevolent Dictator that he is being persecuted, within the meaning of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, for reasons of membership in a particular social group (persons subject to conscription) or political opinion (persons who believe that the President is violating this section); and

      2. leave the territory of the Benevolent Dictator, together with:

         1. his family, to the second degree of affinity or consanguinity; and

         2. his/their property, including the proceeds of property which has been sold, and such sale may be made before or after the owner leaves;

         but:

      3. if it is finally determined that the President did not violate this section, then:

         1. all unpaid veteran's benefits to every such serviceman shall be forfeited; and

         2. every person -- civil or military -- who left the territory of the Benevolent Dictator, pursuant to his aforesaid rights, shall been deemed to have renounced:

            1. his status (if any) as a subject of the Benevolent Dictator; and

            2. his rights (if any) to enter or remain in the territory of the Benevolent Dictator;

            and this renunciation shall be retroactive to his leaving.