“Declaration of Rights of Man & Citizen” (1789)

• The Representatives of France in a National Assembly
  • Because of past ignorance, neglect & contempt of human rights are the cause of public misfortune & corruption of government
  • Trying to make natural & inalienable rights always in the mind of the public so that they protect them
  • Acts of government (legislative & executive) respect them
  • Constitution is maintained based on them
• Sacred Rights:
  1. Men are born & continue to be free & equal in rights. Civil distinctions based on public utility
  2. Purpose of politics is to preserve rights – liberty, property, security & resistance of oppression
  3. Nation is the source of all sovereignty – no one can have authority not derived from it
  4. Political liberty – doing whatever doesn’t injure others, otherwise no limits – only for free exercise of rights. Limits to be determined by the law
  5. Law only to prohibit actions hurtful to society
  6. Law is an expression of the will of the community, based on elections
  7. No one can be accused, arrest or held except determined by law
  8. Law only to impose penalties necessary
  9. Presumption of innocence until guilt is proven
  10. No molestation based on opinions, even religion, only in a case of public disturbance
  11. Unrestrained communication of thoughts & opinions – free to speak, write & publish freely
  12. Public force necessary for benefit of community to enforce rights
  13. Government roles & funds to be divided equally among communities according to abilities
  14. Every citizen has the right to a free voice in necessity of public contributions, appropriates, amount, assessment & duration
  15. Community has the right to demand all agents to accountable of conduct
  16. Each community without powers & security of rights not provided needs constitution
  17. No one is to be deprived of property, except out of public necessity, legally ascertained with just indemnity