The One More Step Towards Individual Freedom Act

[Lüc da Schir]

Dec 23, 2012 9:15:11 GMT -6 Ián B. Anglatzarâ said:

Dec 23, 2012 9:06:34 GMT -6 Lüc da Schir said:

I believe there is some confusion above the meaning of micronation and microstate. Both of them aren't micronations, as the Vatican is commonly recognized as a microstate (a small and not-so-much-populated nation). Talossa herself is a microstate, being only 15 sq. kms extended (GTA + Cez.).

No, we don't have control over our own territory (we don't even aspire to), so we're a micronation.

Yeah, but I said that because the Government's position about this topic is that we aren't a micronation.

[Sir C. M. Siervicül]

Dec 23, 2012 9:06:34 GMT -6 Lüc da Schir said:

I believe there is some confusion above the meaning of micronation and microstate. Both of them aren't micronations, as the Vatican is commonly recognized as a microstate (a small and not-so-much-populated nation).

There's no confusion about the normal meaning of the terms. The Vatican is a micronation only in a technical sense under Talossan law, and only because Talossa has never officially recognised the Vatican as a state. If we withdrew formal recognition of, say, the People's Republic of China, the PRC would technically be defined as a "micronation" under Talossan law, even though there's nothing micro about it at all.

It's kind of like how US federal law declares the tomato to be a vegetable, though any botanist will tell you it's a fruit.

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

[quote author=siervicul board=hopper thread=7725 post=88628 time=1356296969
It's kind of like how US federal law declares the tomato to be a vegetable, though any botanist will tell you it's a fruit. [/quote]

So is ketchup. Or Catsup.

[Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu]

Though Ketchup need not be defined as a tomato sauce. There is such a thing as mushroom ketchup... and it is wonderful.

Could we insert a clause stating how wonderful mushroom ketchup is?

[Eðo Grischun]

Dec 23, 2012 15:58:44 GMT -6 Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu said:

mushroom ketchup

I feel cheated that I have gone through my life so far without ever hearing of this until now.

[Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu]

It can be hard to come by... but it is really good stuff.

[Lüc da Schir]

Dec 23, 2012 15:09:29 GMT -6 Sir C. M. Siervicül said:

It's kind of like how US federal law declares the tomato to be a vegetable, though any botanist will tell you it's a fruit.

When you said it, I thought at

[Alèx Soleighlfred]

Co-sponsor added.

[Glüc da Dhi]

Btw, would this be an acceptable compromise between compromises:

WHEREAS no citizen of the Kingdom of Talossa currently may hold citizenship in what is legally defined as micronation and

WHEREAS there is a better way to defend Talossa from the needless relations with some micronations than such a harsh ban and

WHEREAS being a part of any productive and non-violent community of people is an essential part of human rights not subject to any governmental restriction, and

WHEREAS it is possible to see participating in a small “bug nation” as a hobby, and

WHEREAS we don’t want the government deciding what our hobbies are, unless it is harmful to other or the Talossan community, and

WHEREAS there may be micronations that are more serious than the average “bug nation”, and

WHEREAS majority of developed and democratic societies allow dual citizenship with such nations, and

WHEREAS Talossas own cultural identity is strong enough to prevent “bug nations” from becoming a thread, now

THEREFORE 37RZ2, The What’s The Difference Act, along with 23RZ35, 24RZ11, 25RZ2 and 29RZ10 are hereby repealed.

FUTHERMORE

1. The legal definition of micronation used for 25RZ50, The Semi-Permeable Wall Act shall be: "any society of persons (whether claiming territorial sovereignty or not) that

a. claims a governmental organization and citizenry and

b. is not a member of the United Nations and

c. is not a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization and

d. is not officially recognised by the Kingdom of Talossa.”

2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall keep a blacklist of micronations that are considered athreat to the Kingdom of Talossa or in any way interfere with the interests of the Kingdom.

3. Every citizen can freely and with no restrictions participate in other micronations, unless they are listed in the aforementioned Black List.

4. Micronations can be removed from the Black List by a vote receiving a majority in both houses of the Ziu. Micronations can be added to the Black List by a vote receiving a two-thirds supermajority in at least one of the houses of the Ziu or a vote receiving a majority in both houses of the ziu.

5. It is a criminal act for any Talossan citizen to seek, accept, or hold citizenship in a blacklisted micronation. The penalty for committing such a crime shall be the revocation of Talossan citizenship. The Attorney-General, on being informed of any alleged violation of this act, and upon verifying the same to his personal and legal satisfaction, shall immediately notify the accused that the government has determined that valid cause exists for a criminal case to be brought against the citizen in the Uppermost Cort. After providing this notification, the Attorney-General shall allow ten days for the accused to dissolve any and all allegiance to the micronation, or to organize a defence against the charge. If, after this ten day period, the Attorney-General determines that the criminal act yet continues, he shall immediately file criminal charges against the accused with the Uppermost Cort and there shall seek the prescribed penalty for the violation of this act. If after this ten day period, the Attorney-General determines that the criminal activity has permanently ceased, or the micronation was legally deleted from the Black List, he shall not file the considered charges, and the accused shall continue as a fully privileged citizen of the Kingdom.

6. If it becomes evident that a prospective citizen does hold a citizenship in a blacklisted micronation, then either he should renounce this forbidden citizenship before being granted the Talossan citizenship or his application would be terminated.

7. All members of the Ziu, the Cabinet, the Uppermost Court, the
Magistrate's Court, the Chancery or the Royal Treasury and the Chancellor of the Royal Talossan Bar must report the following information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
a) All micronations of which he/she is a member.
b) All national public offices he/she holds in these micronations.

8. Every person holding any of the offices named in clause 2 of this act who join a micronation
or get appointed to a national public office in a micronation during their time in office must provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with this information within 15 days of the event.

9. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for maintaining a public list of all the information mentioned in clauses 7 and 8 of this act.

10. It is a criminal act for anyone holding an office mentioned in clause 7 of this act to provide false information about his/her micronational involvement. The penalty for such a crime may, depending on the seriousness of the mistake be impeachment from any office mentioned in clause 7.

11. It is a criminal act for the Minister of Foreign affairs or the Minister of Defence to seek, accept, or hold citizenship in a micronation. The penalty for such a crime shall be impeachment from office.

12. "Citizenship" in a micronation, as mentioned in clauses 5 and 11 of this act, shall not include "honourary citizenship," where the honourary citizenship:
-does not entitle the honouree to vote in the micronation's elections,
-does not entitle the honouree to hold political, governmental, or administrative office in the micronation,
-does not obligate the honouree, after the grant of honourary citizenship to pay taxes, fees resembling taxes, or membership dues, and
-does not create any continuing obligation or bond of allegiance to the micronation.

[Dr. Txec dal Nordselvă]

Ok that is a bill I can get behind! If the original bill were changed into this form, I would co-sponsor it. Nice work Glüc!

[Ián B. Anglatzarâ]

I'd be honoured to co-sponsor this version.

[Alèx Soleighlfred]

I'm about to modify the original post to fit the changes made by Glüc.
Changes applied, co-sponsors added.

[Lüc da Schir]

Dec 27, 2012 7:39:07 GMT -6 Glüc da Dhi said:

12. "Citizenship" in a micronation, as mentioned in clauses 5 and 11 of this act, shall not include "honourary citizenship," where the honourary citizenship:
-does not entitle the honouree to vote in the micronation's elections,
-does not entitle the honouree to hold political, governmental, or administrative office in the micronation,
-does not obligate the honouree, after the grant of honourary citizenship to pay taxes, fees resembling taxes, or membership dues, and
-does not create any continuing obligation or bond of allegiance to the micronation.

AH AH AH