Sentient Civil Rights Act

The Original Act

"Sentient Civil Rights Act

Witnessing the cruel oppression of sentient beings the galaxy(s) over, by varying degrees by certain nations, The Commonwealth Congress has recognized the need for a definition of what qualifies (and what disqualifies) a creature from possessing sentience, and by consequence, the civil rights available to the Citizen of Arizona Nova.

An Act Recognizing the Fundamental Civil Rights of all Sentient Creatures and Constructs, defined forthwith as this:

• 1. Possessing the capacity for intelligence, defined as the ability to solve problems and learn.
• 2. Possessing self-awareness, and the capacity to think independently*; to be able to act against instinct/programmed laws or not be bound to act only upon instinct/programmed laws.

The Fundamental Civil Rights of all Sentient Creatures and Constructs are recognized as thus:

• 1. The Right to Life
• 2. The Right to Freedom from Slavery In Any Capacity
• 3. The Right to the Pursuit of Property, Free Trade, and Commerce
• 4. The Right to Free Speech
• 5. The Right to Due Process of Law and Justice
• 6. The Right to Full Equality and Integration

All Sentient Creatures and Constructs are likewise bound by all Arizonan law, and violations of the civil rights of Other Sentients as listed herein this law will be punished to the full extent of the law, without discrimination.

*Hive Minds are a noted exception to the rule – an amendment specifically dealing with hive minds or “networked” AI/DSs shall be crafted at a later time.

The Act remains open to Amendments as long as the State endures, binding that those amendments do not oppose or limit the Original Statutes of the Sentient Rights Act.

This Act was penned by Tellenius Ryltar, Representative of the World of Ondataru, in the Arizonan Common Era Year of 472. It was Approved by the Commonwealth Congress, The Imperial Cabinet, and by the Hand of Anithraldur I, Servant of God, Emperor of Arizona Nova, and Lord Protector of Nominor. From the Fifteenth of the First Month of the Common Era Year of 472, this act is recognized as law in the entirety of the Sovereign State of Arizona Nova, and all affiliated territories. Approved by the Nominorian High Council, the Lebowan Commune, and other Free State Organizations within Imperial boundaries."

The success of the initial act was astounding, the full import of which cannot be grasped merely by reading it. The fact that it was approved (thus made law) by the radically radical Nominor, rebellious Lebowa, and the irascible Free State Organizations (one of these three is always either hostile or in active rebellion) is ground-breaking, as getting even one of these three to cooperate has historically been hard, if not impossible. That and the brevity, but concreteness embodied by the act was ingenius.

The First Amendment

"Additional Civil Rights - First Amendment Added Arizonan Common Era Year 473

• 7. Right to an Education
• 8. Right of the Use of Governmental Facilities
• 9. Right to Protection
• 10. Freedom of and from Religion
• 11. Right to Free Assembly

Additional Rights Suggested by: The Unified Worlds of Siesatia Diplomacy and Treaty Department"

The First Amendment, penned right on the heels of the actual act, wasn't totally groundbreaking in relation to the actual act - it just expanded the fundamental civil rights - but it was innovative in that it was done in partnership with another nation, the Unified Worlds of Siesetia. While the suggestions are essentially the same as those originally made by UWOS, some were split in the final draft to be less cumbersome. Also to note, originally Right Number 10 was only "Freedom of Religion." To be totally fair, Arizonan legislators (a good number of Christian and conservative stock) realized this didn't extend total protection to atheistic sentients. It was edited to read "Freedom of and from Religion" instead, and so it stand today.

The Second Amendment

"Additional Sentient "Prerequisites"- Second Amendment Added Arizonan Common Era Year 478

• 3. The capacity to communicate."

This amendment was a good deal less innovative, and much more to shoring up the definition of sentience. It's existence was, and still is, controversial as far as actually being vital to the act, but it stands nonetheless.