Rights and Responsibilities
A. Rights
SECTION 1
Access to information possessed by governmental agencies shall not be denied except in interest of national security; but communications among officials necessary to decision making shall be privileged.
Public communicators may decline to reveal sources of information, but shall be responsible for hurtful disclosures.
The privacy of individuals shall be respected; searches and seizures shall be made only on judicial warrant; persons shall be pursued or questioned only for the prevention of crime or the apprehension of suspected criminals, and only according to rules established under law.
There shall be no discrimination because of race, creed, color, origin, or sex. The Court of Rights and Responsibilities may determine whether selection for various occupations has been discriminatory.
All persons shall have equal protection of the laws, and in all electoral procedures the vote of every eligible citizen shall count equally with others.
It shall be public policy to promote discussion of public issues and to encourage peaceful public gatherings for this purpose. Permission to hold such gatherings shall not be denied, nor shall they be interrupted, except in declared emergency or on a showing of imminent danger to public order and on judicial warrant.
The practice of religion shall be privileged; but no religion shall be imposed by some on others, and none shall have public support.
Any citizen may purchase, sell, lease, hold, convey and inherit real and personal property, and shall benefit equally from all laws for security in such transactions.
Those who cannot contribute to productivity shall be entitled to a share of the national product; but distribution shall be fair and the total may not exceed the amount for this purpose held in the National Sharing Fund.
Education shall be provided at public expense for those who meet appropriate tests of eligibility.
No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. No property shall be taken without compensation.
Legislatures shall define crimes and conditions requiring restraint, but confinement shall not be for punishment; and when possible, there shall be preparation for return to freedom.
No person shall be placed twice in jeopardy for the same offense.
Writs of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in declared emergency.
Accused persons shall be informed of charges against them, shall have a speedy trial, shall have reasonable bail, shall be allowed to confront witnesses or to call others, and shall not be compelled to testify against themselves; at the time of arrest they shall be informed of their right to be silent and to have counsel, provided, if necessary, at public expense; and courts shall consider the contention that prosecution may be under an invalid or unjust statute.
SECTION 1
Each freedom of the citizen shall prescribe a corresponding responsibility not to diminish that of others: of speech, communication, assembly, and petition, to grant the same freedom to others; of religion, to respect that of others; of privacy, not to invade that of others; of the holding and disposal of property, the obligation to extend the same privilege to others.
Individuals and enterprises holding themselves out to serve the public shall serve all equally and without intention to misrepresent, conforming to such standards as may improve health and welfare.
Protection of the law shall be repaid by assistance in its enforcement; this shall include respect for the procedures of justice, apprehension of lawbreakers, and testimony at trial.
Each citizen shall participate in the processes of democracy, assisting in the selection of officials and in the monitoring of their conduct in office.
Each shall render such services to the nation as may be uniformly required by law, objection by reason of conscience being adjudicated as hereinafter provided; and none shall expect or may receive special privileges unless they be for a public purpose defined by law.
Each shall pay whatever share of governmental costs is consistent with fairness to all.
Each shall refuse awards or titles from other nations or their representatives except as they be authorized by law.
There shall be a responsibility to avoid violence and to keep the peace; for this reason the bearing of arms or the possession of lethal weapons shall be confined to the police, members of the armed forces, and those licensed under law.
Each shall assist in preserving the endowments of nature and enlarging the inheritance of future generations.
Those granted the use of public lands, the air, or waters shall have a responsibility for using these resources so that, if irreplaceable, they are conserved and, if replaceable, they are put back as they were.
Retired officers of the armed forces, of the senior civil service, and of the Senate shall regard their service as a permanent obligation and shall not engage in enterprise seeking profit from the government.
The devising or controlling of devices for management or technology shall establish responsibility for resulting costs.
All rights and responsibilities defined herein shall extend to such associations of citizens as may be authorized by law.