Tuesday, June 01, 2004
An International Bill of Rights (Geocities Rescue)
The rights delineated here are declared for all jurisdictions and levels of government in the Alliance.
Section 1. As God is not honored by forced worship, religious freedom shall not be abridged. The establishment of religion in any jurisdiction shall not be exclusive, nor shall state power in the Alliance be used to enforce dictates on public morals which the citizen or religionist has no voice in applying to law. Members may enact cultural holidays or customs which the individual shall be free to celebrate or ignore as his conscience dictates.
Section 2. No law or edict shall be passed or enforced which abridges the freedoms of speech, voluntary association, privacy, peaceable assembly, expression, press, petition for redress of grievances, or dissent. Further, no one may be compelled to join any organization. The consumption of marijuana shall not be interfered with by any government within the Alliance.
Section 3. None shall be deprived of life, liberty, property or entitled opportunity without due process of law, nor denied equal protection under the law. Life is recognized to begin in the Alliance at gastrulation. However, no law criminalizing abortion may be enacted prior to assisted viability.
Section 4. No slavery or involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime duly convicted, shall exist in the Alliance. As people are children of God human exploitation in other forms shall not be allowed. No contracts may be enforced which put the lesser party at a permanent disadvantage or permanently increasing debt, with the exception of pension arrangements which bind employers and religious vows. The rights to work, rest, join trade unions, receive just and equitable compensation for labor, attain education and literacy, and enjoy procreation are reaffirmed.
Section 5. Property seized by the government shall be compensated justly. Rights of compensation shall remain with descendants until compensation is received, and all debts against the Alliance or any of its jurisdictions shall remain in force against the Alliance and its members.
Section 6. The right to vote shall not be abridged to any adult citizen, excepting those under a prison sentence for a felony and those judged to be mentally incompetent. Persons may be recognized as adults as early as their fifteenth birthday, and not later than their twentieth, according to their ability to maintain themselves in society.
Section 7. No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. The right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury (or an unbiased judge if such option is taken by the accused) shall not be denied, nor shall the presumption of innocence. No person shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense, and civil and criminal proceedings shall occur concurrently for the same offense. Victims of crime shall be represented in all criminal actions, as shall the state. No attainder of treason or crime shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the accused. Further, no cruel or unusual punishment shall be inflicted or excessive fines or seizures imposed. Torture for information or intimidation shall not be used for either criminal or military purposes. No person may be executed unless failure to do so would result in greater loss of human life.
Section 8. None shall be required to incriminate himself in open court or in the investigation of crime, whether the case be criminal or administrative. Unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be permitted against persons, property, papers and effects, agents or electronic assets. All warrants for search and arrest shall be upon probable cause and supported by oath or affirmation. Recourse shall be available to those unreasonably searched or searched due to false witness, and malicious and unreasonable searches shall not yield evidence. No person may be convicted of a crime solely upon the testimony of a witness granted immunity without the corroboration of a second witness without such a grant or supporting physical or documentary evidence.
Section 9. Indictments for all felonies shall be by grand jury, and all indictments shall be reviewable before trial so that the particulars alleged by the state shall match the offense as delineated in law, and the accused shall be informed of the nature and cause of the indictment. The rights to confront hostile witnesses, have compulsory access to friendly witnesses, and to secure an attorney at the same level of funding as the opposition shall not be denied. Excessive bail shall not be required, except in the interest of public safety.
Section 10. The privilege of writ of habeas corpus shall not be abridged except in time of civil or international conflict. Treason shall consist only of acts of war against the Alliance, or in giving aid and comfort to the enemy in time of war. The testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or a confession in open court, shall be necessary for a conviction of treason. Troops shall not be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner. The right to keep and bear arms for personal protection, participation in the militia or lawful hunting and recreation shall not be unreasonably infringed.
Section 1. As God is not honored by forced worship, religious freedom shall not be abridged. The establishment of religion in any jurisdiction shall not be exclusive, nor shall state power in the Alliance be used to enforce dictates on public morals which the citizen or religionist has no voice in applying to law. Members may enact cultural holidays or customs which the individual shall be free to celebrate or ignore as his conscience dictates.
Section 2. No law or edict shall be passed or enforced which abridges the freedoms of speech, voluntary association, privacy, peaceable assembly, expression, press, petition for redress of grievances, or dissent. Further, no one may be compelled to join any organization. The consumption of marijuana shall not be interfered with by any government within the Alliance.
Section 3. None shall be deprived of life, liberty, property or entitled opportunity without due process of law, nor denied equal protection under the law. Life is recognized to begin in the Alliance at gastrulation. However, no law criminalizing abortion may be enacted prior to assisted viability.
Section 4. No slavery or involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime duly convicted, shall exist in the Alliance. As people are children of God human exploitation in other forms shall not be allowed. No contracts may be enforced which put the lesser party at a permanent disadvantage or permanently increasing debt, with the exception of pension arrangements which bind employers and religious vows. The rights to work, rest, join trade unions, receive just and equitable compensation for labor, attain education and literacy, and enjoy procreation are reaffirmed.
Section 5. Property seized by the government shall be compensated justly. Rights of compensation shall remain with descendants until compensation is received, and all debts against the Alliance or any of its jurisdictions shall remain in force against the Alliance and its members.
Section 6. The right to vote shall not be abridged to any adult citizen, excepting those under a prison sentence for a felony and those judged to be mentally incompetent. Persons may be recognized as adults as early as their fifteenth birthday, and not later than their twentieth, according to their ability to maintain themselves in society.
Section 7. No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. The right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury (or an unbiased judge if such option is taken by the accused) shall not be denied, nor shall the presumption of innocence. No person shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense, and civil and criminal proceedings shall occur concurrently for the same offense. Victims of crime shall be represented in all criminal actions, as shall the state. No attainder of treason or crime shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the accused. Further, no cruel or unusual punishment shall be inflicted or excessive fines or seizures imposed. Torture for information or intimidation shall not be used for either criminal or military purposes. No person may be executed unless failure to do so would result in greater loss of human life.
Section 8. None shall be required to incriminate himself in open court or in the investigation of crime, whether the case be criminal or administrative. Unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be permitted against persons, property, papers and effects, agents or electronic assets. All warrants for search and arrest shall be upon probable cause and supported by oath or affirmation. Recourse shall be available to those unreasonably searched or searched due to false witness, and malicious and unreasonable searches shall not yield evidence. No person may be convicted of a crime solely upon the testimony of a witness granted immunity without the corroboration of a second witness without such a grant or supporting physical or documentary evidence.
Section 9. Indictments for all felonies shall be by grand jury, and all indictments shall be reviewable before trial so that the particulars alleged by the state shall match the offense as delineated in law, and the accused shall be informed of the nature and cause of the indictment. The rights to confront hostile witnesses, have compulsory access to friendly witnesses, and to secure an attorney at the same level of funding as the opposition shall not be denied. Excessive bail shall not be required, except in the interest of public safety.
Section 10. The privilege of writ of habeas corpus shall not be abridged except in time of civil or international conflict. Treason shall consist only of acts of war against the Alliance, or in giving aid and comfort to the enemy in time of war. The testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or a confession in open court, shall be necessary for a conviction of treason. Troops shall not be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner. The right to keep and bear arms for personal protection, participation in the militia or lawful hunting and recreation shall not be unreasonably infringed.
