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Act to Reaffirm the Galactic Constitution clauses on Slavery
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| Verence_Terrawin | Date: Tuesday, 04 March 14, 2:07 PM | Message # 1 |
 Major
Group: Users
Messages: 84
Status: Offline
| An Act that Reaffirms and Supplements the provisions of the Galactic Constitution on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery.
We Senate of the Galactic Republic,
Considering that freedom is the birthright of every sentient being,
Mindful that the peoples of the Galactic Republic reaffirmed the Constitution when joining the Republic, their faith in the dignity and worth of the sentient being
Considering that the Galactic Constitution, proclaimed by the Senate of the Galactic Republic as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all planets, systems that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude and that slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms within our space,
Noting that, since the conclusion of the Ruusan Reformation, which was designed, by re-affirming the Galactic Constitution's core values, to secure the abolition of slavery and of the slave trade, little further progress has been made towards this end,
Being aware, however, that slavery, the slave trade and institutions and practices similar to slavery have not yet been eliminated in all parts of the Galaxy, including certain affiliates and Members,
Having decided , therefore, that the Galactic Constitution, which remains operative, should now be augmented by the conclusion of a supplementary law designed to intensify Planetary and Sector as well as Galaxywide efforts towards the abolition of slavery, the slave trade and institutions and practices similar to slavery,
Agree to enact the following legislation into Galactic Law.
Section I. - Institutions and practices similar to slavery
Each of the Polities who are party to this law shall take all practicable and necessary legislative and other measures to bring about progressively and as soon as possible the complete abolition or abandonment of the following institutions and practices, where they still exist and whether or not they are covered by the definition of slavery contained in the Galactic Constitution.
(a) Debt bondage, that is to say, the status or condition arising from a pledge by a debtor of his personal services or of those of a person under his control as security for a debt, if the value of those services as reasonably assessed is not applied towards the liquidation of the debt or the length and nature of those services are not respectively limited and defined;
(b) Any institution or practice whereby (i) A being, without the right to refuse, is promised or given in marriage on payment of a consideration in money or in kind to its parents, guardian, family or any other person or group; or(ii) The spouse of a being, his family, or his clan, has the right to transfer her to another person for value received or otherwise; or(iii) A being on the death of its spouse is liable to be inherited by another person;
Any institution or practice whereby a child or young being under the age of 18 standard years (for a human, or the recognized age of maturity in other species), is delivered by either or both of its natural parents or by its guardian to another person, whether for reward or not, with a view to the exploitation of the child or young being or of his labour.
Article 2
With a view to bringing to an end the institutions and practices mentioned in article 1 (b) of this law, the polities party to this law undertake to prescribe, where appropriate, suitable minimum ages of marriage, to encourage the use of facilities whereby the consent of both parties to a marriage may be freely expressed in the presence of a competent civil or religious authority, and to encourage the registration of marriages.
Section II. - The slave trade
Article 3
1. The act of conveying or attempting to convey slaves from one world to another by whatever means of transport, or of being accessory thereto, shall be a criminal offence under the laws of the Members and Affiliate Polities of the Galactic Republic, and persons convicted thereof shall be liable to very severe penalties.
2. (a) All bound Polities shall take all effective measures to prevent ships and aircraft authorized to broadcast transponder codes from conveying slaves and to punish persons guilty of such acts or of using false transponder codes for that purpose.
(b) All bound Polities shall take all effective measures to ensure that their ports, space stations and moons are not used for the conveyance of slaves.
3. The polities bound by this law shall exchange information in order to ensure the practical co-ordination of the measures taken by them in combating the slave trade and shall inform each other of every case of the slave trade, and of every attempt to commit this criminal offence, which comes to their notice.
Article 4
Any slave who takes refuge on board any vessel of a Polity bound to this law shall ipso facto be free, inclusive of Republic federal craft.
Section III. - Slavery and institutions and practices similar to slavery
Article 5
In a polity where the abolition or abandonment of slavery, or of the institutions or practices mentioned in article 1 of this law, is not yet complete, the act of mutilating, branding or otherwise marking a slave or a person of servile status in order to indicate his status, or as a punishment, or for any other reason, or of being accessory thereto, shall be a criminal offence under the laws of the Polities bound to this law and persons convicted thereof shall be liable to punishment.
Article 6
1. The act of enslaving another person or of inducing another person to give himself or a person dependent upon him into slavery, or of attempting these acts, or being accessory thereto, or being a party to a conspiracy to accomplish any such acts, shall be a criminal offence under the laws of the groups bound by this law and persons convicted thereof shall be liable to punishment.2. Subject to the provisions of the introductory paragraph of article 1 of this law, the provisions of paragraph 1 of the present article shall also apply to the act of inducing another person to place himself or a person dependent upon him into the servile status resulting from any of the institutions or practices mentioned in article 1, to any attempt to perform such acts, to being accessory thereto, and to being a party to a conspiracy to accomplish any such acts.
Section IV. - Definitions
Article 7
For the purposes of the present lawa) "Slavery" means, as defined in the Galactic Constitution and Reaffirmed in the Ruusan Reformation, the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised, and "slave" means a person in such condition or status;
(b) "A person of servile status" means a person in the condition or status resulting from any of the institutions or practices mentioned in article 1 of this law;
© "Slave trade" means and includes all acts involved in the capture, acquisition or disposal of a person with intent to reduce him to slavery; all acts involved in the acquisition of a slave with a view to selling or exchanging him; all acts of disposal by sale or exchange of a person acquired with a view to being sold or exchanged; and, in general, every act of trade or transport in slaves by whatever means of conveyance.
(d) “Polities party” to the law means all worlds, systems, corporations, alliances, sectors and other groups who have some degree of Membership of the Republic, or who have voluntarily agreed to be bound by Republic law without being members.
Section V. - Cooperation between those bound by this law and communication of information
Article 8
1. The Polities Party to this law undertake to co-operate with each other and with the Republic Authorities to give effect to the foregoing provisions.
2. The Parties undertake to communicate to the General Ministry of the Galactic Republic copies of any laws, regulations and administrative measures enacted or put into effect to implement the provisions of this law.
3. The Supreme Chancellor shall communicate the information received under paragraph 2 of this article to the other Parties and to the Allied Regions as part of the documentation for any discussion which they might undertake with a view to making further recommendations for the abolition of slavery, the slave trade or the institutions and practices which are the subject of this law.
4. Full Member Worlds may interdict traffic on hyperlanes within their Sector and may carry out searches for slaves on behalf of the Judicial Forces. They should make their searches quick and courteous.
5. The great Trade Guilds that enjoy Senate Representation and in some cases voting powers, shall be especially vigilant to enforcement of this act and if a Captain from such a group has reason to believe a craft is carrying those in servitude or the profits of same he should report it immediately but may also interdict on behalf of his Corporation (which is bound by the law) and search the suspected vessel, when circumstances preclude waiting for law enforcement.
Section VI. - Final clauses
Article 9
1. No reservations may be made to this law. However, exemptions may be granted for alien species who do not follow the common humanoid system of society. Such an exemption must be made by the species’ senior diplomatic representation at the Galactic Republic, after which the Jedi Order’s Research Department (or their deputized choice of specialist) will produce a report on the merits of the petition. After the report is complete the Supreme Court will read the report and cross question the Experts and the Representative of the species involved and may grant either a time limited or an indefinite waiver.
2. Cultural tradition or religion shall not be a factor in the grant of waivers.
Article 10
Any dispute between Parties to this law relating to its interpretation or application, which is not settled by negotiation, shall be referred to the Galactic Republic Supreme Court at the request of any one of the parties to the dispute, unless the parties concerned agree on another mode of settlement.
Article 11
1. Independent states are urged to agree to be bound by this law and sign it into local law within one year of this law’s passage.
2. After the passage of this act, a requirement will be put immediately in place requiring the implementation of this act into the law of any polity which seeks formal membership, affiliation, alliance or any other form of inter-governmental relationship with the Galactic Republic.
3. No Government or Ruler party to this law may enter into any form of trade or economic agreement with a polity that has not voluntarily signed this act into their law.
4. If a party not obliged to follow this law by virtue of being outside of Republic Jurisdiction will no longer be permitted trade in anything but food and medical supplies with any polity party to the law. Contracts with such supporters of slavery may be declared null by any Supreme Court Justice.
5. No hyperlanes through Galactic Republic space shall be permitted to be used by companies or ships participating in the slave trade, or carrying the profits of any form of illegal servitude. Furthermore any such vessel may be seized indefinitely. A list of proscribed companies, polities and individuals shall be drawn up by the Judicial Forces.
Article 12
1. This law shall enter into force on the date on which the Galactic Senate vote on this act closes and the polities its laws govern are bound.
2. It shall also enter force with immediate effect where the law is signed by non-Republic polities.
3. Any polity that re-legalizes or flagrantly allows any form of servitude covered by this act will be immediately suspended from the Galactic Senate while a Jedi investigation takes place.
4. Non-Republic lawbound Corporations must be fully aware of all Republic legislation and sign an affidavit to that effect, before being granted the ability to operate within the Galactic Republic.
5. The Supreme Chancellor or his delegated representative may deputize fleets and law enforcement from polities bound by this law to act as law enforcement with full Judicial Forces authority pertaining to investigating and preventing all forms of slavery. The head of such a deputized force would have authority in the sectors specified by the Chancellor or his appointed representative (for a period not exceeding 12 months, before a review of the situation by the Judicial Forces Command must validate any repeat of office holding) and would have the title of “Sector Marshal” for their tenure of duty.
Verence Terrawin
___________________
Senator of Alsakan
First Lord of the Foreign Office, Alsakan
Director of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence
Chairbeing of the Appropriations Committee
Head of the Republic Stellar Cartography Service.
Message edited by Verence_Terrawin - Sunday, 20 April 14, 10:15 PM |
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| Chancellor_Kruus | Date: Monday, 10 March 14, 5:34 AM | Message # 2 |
 Colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 200
Status: Offline
| Naturally, I vote in favour of any act to curtail unfree labour. A fair days work should equal a fair days pay.
Chancellor Luneray Kruus
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Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic
President of the Senate &c
Representative of the People of the Humbarine Sector
Trade Baron
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| Senator_Pryce | Date: Monday, 10 March 14, 12:28 PM | Message # 3 |
 Lieutenant colonel
Group: Moderators
Messages: 108
Status: Offline
| I think Senators would benefit from a legislative summary of your bill, Senator Terrawin.
Jaso Pryce
Senator of Metellos and Supreme Chancellor Emeritus
Chairman of the Internal Activities Committee
Esteemed Member of the Trade Commission
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| Verence_Terrawin | Date: Tuesday, 11 March 14, 0:23 AM | Message # 4 |
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Major
Group: Users
Messages: 84
Status: Offline
| Brief Summation
Slavery and unfree labour synonymous with slavery are defined and outlined with reference to the authority of the Galactic Constitution.
Members will (as they do now) have responsibility for eradicating slavery, certain additional provisions are enshrined in law; e.g. Cooperation in anti-slavery operations, regulating the forms of contract which may be legally enforced.
Groups Profiting from Slavery sanctioned. e.g. Embargoes against Governments who raise revenue from trade with slave-economies up to and including suspension of Member rights.
Groups Practicing Slavery have their historic sanctions re-affirmed and additionally find their craft banned from Republic Hyperlanes.
Local forces able to be deputized (with their consent) into anti-slavery taskforces, headed by a Judicial Committee selected Marshal.
Companies from outside the Republic must pledge to abstain from dealing with societies perpetrating slavery if the wish to work within the Republic.
Verence Terrawin
___________________
Senator of Alsakan
First Lord of the Foreign Office, Alsakan
Director of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence
Chairbeing of the Appropriations Committee
Head of the Republic Stellar Cartography Service.
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| Aine_Ciaran | Date: Thursday, 20 March 14, 4:28 PM | Message # 5 |
 Lieutenant
Group: Users
Messages: 49
Status: Offline
| Chandrilans have always been against slavery, so naturally, I vote in favor.
Do you have a timeline in which all of these sanctions should be enforced?
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| Verence_Terrawin | Date: Saturday, 22 March 14, 3:51 AM | Message # 6 |
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Major
Group: Users
Messages: 84
Status: Offline
| The motion is simply a reinforcement and strengthening of current law. I believe the Chancellor would list sanctioned regions as soon as he he ready to do so.
Verence Terrawin
___________________
Senator of Alsakan
First Lord of the Foreign Office, Alsakan
Director of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence
Chairbeing of the Appropriations Committee
Head of the Republic Stellar Cartography Service.
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| Lomen_Ryuun | Date: Saturday, 22 March 14, 10:39 AM | Message # 7 |
 Lieutenant
Group: Users
Messages: 78
Status: Offline
| It's a fine bill you've written here, Senator Terrawin, but this seems rather... redundant. My own personal stance on slavery aside, I fear I disagree with this motion and I will have to vote against it.
Lomen Ryuun
Senator, Druckenwell (103 BBY - 93 BBY)
Minister of Economics
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| Verence_Terrawin | Date: Saturday, 22 March 14, 10:49 AM | Message # 8 |
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Major
Group: Users
Messages: 84
Status: Offline
| Redundant? How so?
Verence Terrawin
___________________
Senator of Alsakan
First Lord of the Foreign Office, Alsakan
Director of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence
Chairbeing of the Appropriations Committee
Head of the Republic Stellar Cartography Service.
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| Draken_Turot | Date: Saturday, 05 April 14, 10:35 PM | Message # 9 |
 Lieutenant
Group: Users
Messages: 40
Status: Offline
| Slavery is UN-constituational!!!!!! Any sentient born into this galaxy shall have the right to be free as intended by the GREAT GALACTIC REPUBLIC!!!!!!! Lantillies votes in favor of this bill!
Senator of Lantillies
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| Senator_Finbar | Date: Thursday, 10 April 14, 5:25 PM | Message # 10 |
 Sergeant
Group: Users
Messages: 39
Status: Offline
| I do not question the need for this bill. But the problem with any comprehensive bill, such as this one, is that the longer and more involved it is, the more there is to agree with, yes, but also to disagree with. It's rather like serving Elomin gumbo at a Perlemian Trade Worlds conference; it smells good, but there are going to be things in it that not everyone can swallow. I think this is what doomed the Vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Pryce, which I supported and which I think should have passed. In this case, I'm 90% in agreement with this bill, but I find that I too have misgivings.
My strongest objection is to Article 13, Section 5. I'm already on the record on this subject. I did not then, nor do I now feel that Judicial Forces, or in this case planetary defense forces, should be made political instruments of the Judiciary Committee. Nowhere in the charter of the Judiciary Committee is it empowered to command military forces, nor should it. Anti-slavery task forces are a good idea, but they must be apolitical in order to be seen as legitimate.
Article 13, Section 4 is also problematic. Investigated by who? And for what? The entirety of Article 12 is incomprehensible to me. I would appreciate it if Senator Ciaran or Senator Tu'rot would explain it to me, since they voted in favor. Article 11, Sections 4 and 6 strip the authority of the Supreme Court and instead vest this authority in "any Supreme Court justice," with no critera for how this authority should be used other than any Supreme Court justice's personal opinion, with which any other justice could easily disagree. There being no mechanism to resolve contradictory rulings of multiple Supreme Court justices, these sections are problematic indeed.
The abolition of slavery should not only be theory in this Republic, it should be practice. That is what Senator Terrawin's bill is attempting to do, and I support that effort. But I won't vote for a bad bill simply because its goal is a noble one. If anything, those of us who consider ourselves strong opponents of slavery should insist on the best bill possible. And I think this bill can be better, though I personally would prefer an incremental approach to this issue rather than a single comprehensive bill.
Finbar
Senator of Mon Calamari Space
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