Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

Put forth by National Assembly of France, August 26, 1789

1. All men are born equal, social distinctions can only be founded upon general good.
2. The state exists to protect the following rights of man: liberty, property, security, resistance to oppression
3. Sovereignty resides in the nation
4. Liberty is the freedom to do anything that injures no one else
5. Law can only prevent that which hurts society
6. Law is the expression of the general will
7. No one can be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except according to the law
8. Law can only set forth punishments that are obviously necessary
9. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty
10. No one can be persecuted due to his opinions, unless those opinions are harmful to society
11. Freedom of speech is a natural right
12. The security of these rights requires public military forces
13. Taxes should be based on one's economic situation
14. All the citizens have a right to decide, either personally or by their representatives, as to the necessity of taxes
15. Society has the right to require of every public agent an account of his administration.
16. A society with no separation of powers or assured law has no constitution
17. No one shall be deprived of the right of property unless demanded by public necessity

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