Bill of Rights

The Benevolent Dictatorship of Baja LasVegastan grants many rights to its subjects. In this respect it is no different from any other nation. After all, a subject who believes that he has rights which the government cannot infringe is less likely to rebel.

However, the Benevolent Dictator considers it unwise that his front men (the President, the Congress, the judges of the courts, etc.) will actually enforce these right in a way which would restrict the freedom of action of the Benevolent Dictator. The Bill of Rights is therefore phrased both so that the subjects will believe that they have rights, and so that the Benevolent Dictator will have freedom of action.

1. Liberty of Person
   The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, nor shall any Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law be passed, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
2. Taxation
   No capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
3. Contracts
   No law shall be made impairing the Obligation of Contracts, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
4. Crimes, Jury
   The Trial of all Crimes shall be by Jury, unless otherwise provided by law.
5. Crimes, Place of Trial
   The Trial of all Crimes shall be held in the place where the said Crimes shall have been committed, unless otherwise provided by law.
6. Treason, Definition
   Treason against the Benevolent Dictatorship shall consist only in levying War against it, or in adhering to its Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort, unless otherwise provided by law.
7. Treason, Procedure
   No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court, unless otherwise provided by law.
8. Treason, Punishment
   Punishment of Treason shall be provided by law, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted, unless otherwise provided by law.
9. Privileges and Immunities
   The Subjects of each Province shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Subjects in the several Provinces, as determined by the Congress; and to that end the law established by the Congress shall control over the law established by any of the several Provinces.
10. Freedom of Religion
    The people shall have freedom or religion, but cults and other forms of wrongful religion may be defined and suppressed, and rightful religion defined and supported, as may be determined by law.
11. Freedom of Speech and of the Press
    The people shall have freedom of speech and of the press in all regards, but libel, slander, sedition, flag desecration, and other wrongful communication may be defined and suppressed, and flag salutes, pledges, and other rightful communication defined and mandated, as may be determined by law.
12. Grievances
    No law shall be made abridging the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances, but such assembly may by law be required to be in a private place, such petition to be in writing, and both such assembly and such petition to be free of sedition and seditious tendencies; and the Congress shall have power to define and suppress sedition and seditious tendencies.
13. Militia
    A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free Nation, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed; but the discipline of the Militia shall be prescribed by law, and Arms which are not kept or borne by the Militia may be regulated by law.
14. Quartering of Soldiers
    No Soldier shall be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
15. Search and Seizure
    The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
16. Warrants
    No warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
17. Grand Jury
    No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury; and the number and composition of the member or members of the Grand Jury shall be determined by law.
18. Double Jeopardy
    No person shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb unless the second (or further subsequent) trial shall determine him to be guilty of the offense.
19. Self Incrimination
    No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
20. Due Process
    No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
21. Compensation for Takings
    Private property shall not be taken for public or other use without just compensation, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
22. Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses
    In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the Province and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense; unless it is just or necessary to do otherwise, as may be determined by law.
23. Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
    In Suits at common law the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the Benevolent Dictatorship, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
24. Cruel and Unusual Punishment
    Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted, unless it is just or necessary, as may be determined by law.
25. Construction of Constitution
    The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people, and the rules of construction shall be determined by law.
26. Powers of the People
    The powers not delegated to the Benevolent Dictatorship by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the Provinces, are reserved to the Provinces respectively, or to the people, as may be determined by law.
27. Slavery Forbidden
    Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the Benevolent Dictatorship, or any place subject to the Benevolent Dictator's jurisdiction; and the definition of such crimes shall be determined by law.
28. Subjects
    All persons born or naturalized in the Benevolent Dictatorship, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are subjects of the Benevolent Dictatorship and of the Province wherein they reside, with such exceptions and additions as may be determined by law.
29. Equal Protection
    No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws, but different laws may be established for differently situated persons, as may be determined by law.
30. Non-Discrimination in Voting Rights
    The right of subjects of the Benevolent Dictatorship to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race, color, previous condition of servitude, sex, non-payment of taxes, or age, with such exceptions as may be determined by law.
31. Laws
    All laws shall be made by the Congress, but the Congress may delegate law-making power over any area or subject to such Officers, Provincial Assemblies, or other persons and bodies, as it deems expedient, and may revoke any such delegation.