Signed in 1215, the original Magna Carta was one of the first Western legal documents to protect the rights of the individual against the power of a despotic ruler. The rights it offered--such as the right to a swift and fair trial--seem rather basic to us today, but in 1215 they were radical. A 2016 Magna Carta would hopefully preserve the radical spirit of the original and present a robust protection of the liberties of...
Signed in 1215, the original Magna Carta was one of the first Western legal documents to protect the rights of the individual against the power of a despotic ruler. The rights it offered--such as the right to a swift and fair trial--seem rather basic to us today, but in 1215 they were radical. A 2016 Magna Carta would hopefully preserve the radical spirit of the original and present a robust protection of the liberties of the individual. Here are some ways a new Magna Carta might seek to do this:
- Prohibit forced service in the armed forces (conscription, more commonly known as "the draft")
- Prohibit government surveillance of citizens without a warrant
- Prohibit civil asset forfeiture, which allows the government to confiscate a person's property without convicting him or her of a crime
- Prohibit official government discrimination against individuals for any reason, such as belonging to an unpopular or anti-government group
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