Guarantees of Sophont Rights

The representatives of the people of the United Federation of Planets, organized as a Supreme Assembly, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of all sophonts, in order that the acts of the legislative power, as well as those of the executive power, may be based hereafter upon simple and incontestable principles, shall tend to the maintenance of the Articles of Federation and redound to the liberty and happiness of all. Therefore the Supreme Assembly recognizes and proclaims, in the presence and under the auspices of the Supreme Being, the following rights of sophonts and of the citizenry the following guarantees:

1.  All persons born or naturalized in the United Federation of Planets or any of its member states and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United Federation of Planets and of the member state where they reside. No member state of the United Federation of Planets shall make or enforce any law that shall abridge the privileges, rights or immunities of any citizen of the United Federation of Planets nor shall they deprive any such citizen of life, liberty or property without due process of law nor shall they deny any such citizen within their respective jurisdictions the equal protection of the laws.

2.  Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime where the the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United Federation of Planets or in any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof. 

3.  The rights of individuals to be secure in their persons, papers effects and domiciles shall not be infringed except upon presentation of a warrant, obtained for probable cause supported by oath or affirmation, describing the premises to be searched, the items or persons to be seized.

4.  No law may place limits on the the exercise of the natural rights of each sophont except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law, duly enacted, by a legislature of competent jurisdiction.

5.  All laws enacted within the United Federation of Planets or in any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof may prevent that which is not forbidden by law, nor may they force one to do anything not provided for by law.

6.  In all Criminal proceedings, the accused shall be accorded the right of a speedy and public trial before an impartial jury of the jurisdiction where the crime shall have occurred. The accused shall be informed of the nature and cause of the charges against him and shall have the right to confront the witnesses against him, to compel witnesses for his defense and to have the assistance of counsel at trial. In civil suits at common law where the value in dispute shall be more than 1000 credits, the right of jury trial shall be preserved and no fact tried by a jury shall be re-examined by any court in the United Federation of Planets other than according to the common law.

7.  No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.

8.  The law shall provide for such punishments only as are strictly and obviously necessary, and no one shall suffer punishment except it be legally inflicted in virtue of a law passed and promulgated before the commission of the offense. Excessive bail shall not be required nor excessive fines imposed nor cruel and unusual punishments be inflicted.

9.  As all persons are held innocent until they shall have been declared guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, if arrest shall be deemed indispensable, all harshness not essential to the securing of the prisoner's person shall be severely repressed by law.

10.  The United Federation of Planets shall enact no law respecting an establishment of religion nor prohibiting the free practice thereof.

11.  The United Federation of Planets shall enact no law abridging the freedom of speech, press or peaceable association. The right of the people to peaceably assemble to petition the government for redress of grievances shall not be infringed.

12.  The security of the rights of the citizen requires public military forces. These forces are, therefore, established for the good of all and not for the personal advantage of those to whom they shall be entrusted. No military personnel, in time of peace, shall be quartered in any private home without the consent of the owner nor in time of war except as prescribed by law.

13.  A common contribution is essential for the maintenance of the public infrastructure and for the cost of its administration. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means.  All the citizens have a right to decide, either personally or by their representatives, as to the necessity of the public contribution; to grant this freely; to know to what uses it is put; and to fix the proportion, the mode of assessment and of collection and the duration of the taxes.

14.  The judicial power of the United Federation of Planets shall not extend to any suit prosecuted or commenced against any of its member states by citizens of another member state or citizens of any foreign state except as provided for by relevant treaty.

15.  The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

16.  The enumeration of rights in the Articles of Federation shall not be construed to disparage or deny other common law rights retained by the people. Powers not expressly granted to the United Federation of Planets nor denied to its member states shall be reserved to the member states or to the people.