The national Frijstaater parliament passed the "No Treason Act" in a 45-5 vote.  The 5 nays came from 3 Bergenländer and 2 Nordheimer representatives. 

The bill affirms that;

• The term 'treason' shall refer to beliefs, speech, and/or acts  intended to bring about the abolition of the Frijstaater state through peaceful and/or violent means.
• No person may be charged with or convicted of the crime of 'treason', as this is a crime of conscience and all Frijstaaters have the right to a free conscience.
• Persons having actively initiated acts of violence against others shall not be protected by this law and shall be tried in the courts of the land for their respective crimes against other parties.

Effects of this bill:

• As treason was the last crime calling for capital punishment under Frijstaater law, this law effectively outlaws capital punishment.
• Persons who would otherwise be charged with treason may only be charged for the crimes they have actually carried out, not those they espouse support for.

This bill was hailed by many as a positive step towards effective limitation of national government power in Frijstaat, as well as a solid protection of those who advocate radical change through nonviolent means.  Polling leading up to the vote in parliament showed 74% public support for the bill with only 14% opposed and 12% having no opinion on the matter.

Aye

OOC: I understand who this is directed towards, but...
IC: "The wording of this bill appears as if it would too generally prohibit sports teams from also trading players to one another.  Is this to be so?  More importantly however, allowing for wartime exceptions to these rules sets a dangerous precedent for perpetual war as a pretext for infringement of basic human rights."

Weren't those taken by Frijstaat in its expansion?  (Also, interesting that Frijstaat and Freeland would want the same territory, since their names are basically the same)

The Frijstaat government sends its heartfelt condolences to the victims of this senseless act of violence.  Unconfirmed reports suggest that two Frijstaater tourists are among the presumed dead.

Europa Universalis 4 (a computer game that's mildly Civilization-esque, but way more in depth)

Agreed.  Instead of enumerating the rights that every state must recognize, it might be best to enumerate those over which the confederal government has no authority.

Rep. Oskar von Fallersleben: "While the benevolent intent behind this bill is clear, wholesale passage of this so-called 'Bill of Rights' would be an egregious overreach of confederal power, with the effect of forced homogenization of the NCSA's constituent states.  As Frijstaat's representative, I would like to offer some initial thoughts on the proposed legislation, whereby the errors of its creation may become evident to all. 

Article 16
1. Citizens of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled
to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the
intending spouses.
3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is
entitled to protection by society and the State.

Art. 16, sec. 3 presupposes that there is but one single idealized society in which the family is at the center.  Letting aside the problem of defining what it means to be a family, this bill has the audacity to presuppose that it is the confederal government's responsibility to dictate social norms and policies thereto pertaining.

Article 21
1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country,
directly or through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government;
this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall
be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by
equivalent free voting procedures.

While the people of Frijstaat whole-heartedly support this on a state-level, the confederal government has no right to dictate the form of a member state's government.  While Frijstaaters have advocated for direct, limited rule since our founding, we would never be so bold as to believe that we have any right to force our beliefs and convictions on those who have chosen a different path.  While the confederal government may dictate that's its own form be democratic, it has no right to require that constituent states give up their own monarchies, oligarchies, collectives, etc.  It would be equally absurd for the confederal government to announce that all states must henceforth institute hereditary monarchies.

Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled
to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in
accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic,
social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development
of his personality.

The concept of 'social security' is highly ambiguous here, although I believe it to refer to state-funded welfare schemes.  Frijstaat has rejected the socialist model and has functioned well without the kleptocracy required to 'fund' such programs.  States ought to have the right to address social policy as they see fit, without mandates from busy-bodies at the capitol.

Article 23
1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and
favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal
work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration
ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity,
and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of
his interests

While the right to work and the right to the fruits of one's labor are viewed as sacred and inalienable in Frijstaat, requiring states to institute unemployment programs is yet another attkmpt to micromanage social policy in each state.  The NCSA was founded to protect the rights of states to work together peacefully, but also to allow them to follow their own paths.  This is just one more example of the confederal government overreaching and attempting to control that to which it has no rightful claim.

Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of
working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

This is patently absurd.  I doubt this is even necessary, but on principle alone, this is overreach.  Again, social engineering from above via forced homogenization. 

Article 25
1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and
well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing
and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security
in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or
other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All
children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social
protection.

Again, this presupposes the right of the confederal government to dictate who social policy is managed within the confines of individual, constituent states.  While perhaps not the intended reading, this article could pave the way for forcing states to institute massive, unsustainable, sprawling welfare programs, even if they are antithetical to very core of a state's national identity.

Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the
elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be
compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made
generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all
on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human
personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and
friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be
given to their children.

Again, while the thought behind this is clearly virtuous, the confederal government has absolutely no right to dictate to states the manner in which they educate their citizens.  Frijstaat has neither free nor compulsory education, and has yet to collapse beneath uneducated masses.  Private schools abound, and the number of schools drives the price downwards.  Frijstaaters are well-educated and well-read without government interference.  This article would strip states like Frijstaat of their right to manage their own educational systems as they see fit.

Article 31
1. All human beings are considered to have the rights of free speech, press, religion.
2. All humans also have the right to assemble peacefully as well as petition the government.

This is redundant, having already been explicitly stated in previous articles."