Article V – Members

Section 1. - Rights of Members.

1. The enumeration in this Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage other rights retained by the Members;

2. The powers not delegated to the Community government by this Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the Members, are reserved to the Members;

3. Members shall be secure in their control of Community owned property and economic interests from acquisition, control, possession, damage, diminution or unreasonable searches by any governmental branch or officer of the Community;

4. A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free people, the right of the Members to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed;

5. Once vested, and subject to Article V Section 3, every Member has the right, either individually or in combination with others, to use trusted funds to purchase, acquire, rent, control, use, mortgage, sell, lease, or transfer private property, or any part or portion thereof;

6. Once vested, and subject to Article V Section 3, every Member has the right, either individually or in combination with others, to freely practice the occupation, profession, or trade of his or her choice, to establish, maintain, and operate a commercial enterprise, and freely to produce and distribute goods and services;

7. Once vested, and subject to Article V Section 3, every Member has the right, either individually or in combination with others, to enter into binding agreements containing any and only provisions of their choice;

8. In all judicial prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and open trial, by an impartial jury of the Group wherein the alleged violation shall have been committed, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses; to have a compulsory process for obtaining witnesses both for and against the accused; and to have the assistance of counsel for his or her defense;

9. Once vested, no Member shall be deprived of any Member rights except as a punishment for violations whereof the party shall have been duly convicted;

10. Vested Members are considered citizens of the Community and of the Group wherein they are a Member;

11. The right of vested Members to vote in any election shall not be denied or abridged by reason of a failure to pay Community or Group assessments.

Section 2. - Duties of Members. Upon receiving vested status, all Members shall sign an agreement delegating to the duly formed Community and Group governments, those rights necessary to administer the proper functions of their respective governments and declaring his or her willingness to be bound by the provisions of this Constitution, amendments to it, policies passed by the Community legislature, and decisions of the Community judiciary.

Each Member is responsible for challenging those actions of the Community and Group governments which are outside of the legitimate functions delegated by them to such governments.

Section 3. - Limitations of Members. Members shall not—

1. Use Community owned property or information for purposes which are solely self benefiting;

2. Mix trusted Community funds with personal funds;

3. Take possession of Community owned property, or remove such from Community controlled premises, unless for a specific purpose beneficial to the Community;

4. Remove, take possession, or take control of Community owned property under the control of another Member for purposes benefiting another Member, without a proper exchange taking place; 

Last updated 572 days ago by Tom Gordon