The Freeman State

Article 2: Rights of Suffrage and Citizenship

 

 

A portion of the fruits of the commonwealth naturally belong to those native and natural-born citizens by virtue of their birthright, and to those common-law and martial citizens by virtue of their steadfast loyalty and devotion to [COUNTRY], which claim remains unalienable except by expatriation or treason.

 

Anyone born within the territorial bounds of [COUNTRY] is a native citizen.

 

Anyone born outside the territorial bounds of [COUNTRY] is a foreigner, unless at least one of their parents is a citizen of [COUNTRY] at the time of the birth, in which case they are a natural-born citizen.

 

Any foreigner who has lived in [COUNTRY] for a period of at least eighteen years, on good behavior, with the intent to make [COUNTRY] their domicile, is a common-law citizen.

 

Any foreigner who has lived in [COUNTRY] for a period of at least five years, on good behavior, with the intent to make [COUNTRY] their domicile, and who shall have served in the Armed Forces of [COUNTRY] for a period of at least eight years in good standing, is a martial citizen.

 

A special committee, appointed by the Senate for such purposes, shall establish rules regarding the naturalization of foreigners to comprise a class of citizenship subordinate to these, provided that nothing in said rules of naturalization conflict with the guarantees provided by the Bill of Rights.

 

All citizens who are native, natural-born, common-law, or martial citizens are Free Citizens, and all other citizens are naturalized citizens; and no oath of allegiance shall be required of any Free Citizen, for the same may more easily be proved by their continued desire to live a peaceful existence.

 

Any Free Citizen, who shall have reached the age of eighteen years, is eligible to vote for a candidate of their choosing in any election for public office.

 

Any Free Citizen, who shall have reached the age of thirty, is eligible to hold any office of Senator, President, or Vice-President and may be nominated to the same.

 

The rights of Free Citizens to suffrage and to be nominated to public office shall not be infringed, except in the case of mental illness or felony conviction where the public good may require it; but no such suspension shall occur without prior review by a competent tribunal; and no suspension may be made on the basis of race, color, sex, or financial status; or on the basis of political or religious affiliation unless that person shall also have been duly convicted of treason.

 

No non-citizen shall be entitled to any civil benefit or privilege specifically intended for citizens, or paid for solely by citizens.  This provision shall not be construed so as to prejudice the right to receive or use those things that are a matter of right under the Bill of Rights.

 

[COUNTRY] may not grant any title of nobility; and no person holding any office of profit or trust under it may, without the consent of the Senate, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.

 

If any citizen of [COUNTRY] accepts any title of nobility; or, without the consent of the Senate, accepts and retains any present, pension, office, or emolument of any kind whatever, from any emperor, king, prince, or foreign power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of [COUNTRY], and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust or profit under [COUNTRY], or of voting in any public election; and reasonable time shall be granted to renounce or return such presentments, so as to avoid any unjust loss of right.

 

So as to ensure justice for all citizens, the Senate shall, by law, establish and maintain a public trust to relieve the victims of offenses at common law wherein:

 

• money damages have been awarded by the court under due process;

• the victim has petitioned for such relief;

• the needs of the victim are substantive and require immediate relief; and

• just compensation is unlikely to be received in a reasonable time.

 

In each case, the courts shall have discretion to accept or reject the application of any citizen for such relief; and the Executive shall enforce against the offender over time the recovery of losses to the public trust.