TO THE PEOPLE OF THE RYUKYU ISLANDS

WHEREAS it is deemed desirable to establish a Government of the Ryukyu Islands in order to further the economic, governmental and social well-being of the Ryukyuan people,

NOW THEREFORE, I, ROBERT S. BEIGHTLER, Major General, United States Army, Deputy Governor of the Ryukyu Islands, do hereby proclaim as follows:

Article I

There is hereby established the Government of the Ryukyu Islands, including legislative, executive and judicial organs.

Article II

The Government of the Ryukyu Islands may exercise all powers of government within the Ryukyu Islands, subject however, to the Proclamations, Ordinances, and Directives of the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands.

Article III

The legislative power of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands shall be vested in a Legislature elected by the People of the Ryukyu Islands. The Legislature, in the exercise of its legislative power, shall be independent of the Executive and Judicial organs of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands. The Legislature is authorized to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the powers of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands, including the power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, as well as make grant-in-aid authorizations to the other governmental units within the Ryukyu Islands. The First Session of the Legislature shall convene on the first day of April 1952 in Naha, Okinawa, and thereafter shall meet in regular session as prescribed by law.

Article IV

The executive power of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands shall be vested in the Chief Executive who is elected by the Legislature as provided by Executive Order 10713, as amended. He shall, from time to time, give to the Legislature information on the state of the Government, and shall recommend for its consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient. He shall have power to convene the Legislature in special session. He shall be responsible for the administration and functioning of the necessary administrative governmental departments as authorized by legislative action, and shall make appointments of necessary personnel to such departments, provided, however, that no one who advocates the overthrow of government by force or violence shall be permitted to serve as an official or employee of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands. The Deputy Chief Executive shall be appointed by the Chief Executive. In the event of absence or inability on the part of the Chief Executive to perform his duties, or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the Deputy Chief Executive shall perform such duties. (As amended by Ch 10/65 to CA Ordinance 68, 1952; Proc 24/65; Proc 17/52)

Article V

The judicial organs of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands shall be the Court of Appeals of the Ryukyus, the Circuit Courts, the Magistrate Courts, heretofore established and such other courts as may be established from time to time. Courts, in the exercise of their judicial power, shall be independent of the Executive and Legislative organs of government. The judges of the Court of Appeals shall be appointed by the Governor. The judges of the Circuit Courts and of the Magistrate Courts shall be appointed by the Chief Executive subject to the prior approval of the Deputy Governor. The Deputy Governor may, in his discretion, review, approve, remand, suspend, commute, remit or otherwise modify or set aside any decision, judgment or sentence of any court.

Article VI

The basic liberties of democratic countries, including freedom of religion, speech, assembly, petition and the press, and security from unreasonable search, seizure, and deprivation of life, liberty or property without due process of law, shall be guaranteed as far as is consistent with the public welfare.

Article VII

The Deputy Governor reserves the right, in the event of necessity, to veto, prohibit, or suspend the operation of any laws, ordinances or regulations enacted by the Government of the Ryukyu Islands or any civil government or agency of any such government; to order the promulgation of any law, ordinance or regulation he may deem advisable; and to resume, in whole or in part, the exercise of full authority, in the Ryukyu Islands.

Article VIII

Upon the effective date of this Proclamation, the Provisional Central Government heretofore appointed and instituted shall adjourn and dissolve, provided that all lawful legislative, executive and judicial acts performed by the Provisional Central Government shall remain in force and effect until amended, repealed or superseded by acts of the respective organs of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands established by this Proclamation. Provided, however, all appointments heretofore made to Executive and Judicial positions in the Provisional Central Government shall continue in full force and effect with regard to similar positions in the Government of the Ryukyu Islands.

Article IX

Subject to the provisions of the preceding Article, CA Proclamation No. 3 of 1 April 1951, "Establishment of Provisional Central Government," and the provisions of any other Proclamation, Ordinance and Directive in conflict herewith, are rescinded.

Article X

This Proclamation will become effective on the first day of April 1952.

Given under my hand this 29th day of February 1952.