Polkadot Human Rights Definitions - Second draft
Preamble
This document is intended to provide clear explanations, definitions, and principles of basic human rights that are not granted by one human or non-human entity, but rather by your human nature alone. This list is not exhaustive and can be expanded upon or extended later through voting action.
Article I: Definitions
All word definitions below are stated as is, unless stated otherwise in each section.
Section 1: Key Terms
- Entity: A structured group of people working together towards a common goal or purpose; a singular person; a person, place, or thing.
- Papers: Documents or written materials.
- Absolute right: A right that is unconditional and cannot be taken away.
- Probable Cause: A reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed, which is required to obtain a warrant.
- Warrants: Legal documents issued by a judge or magistrate that authorize the police to conduct a search, seizure, or arrest.
- Oath: A solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future action or behavior.
- Entity for Equality: A structured group of people working together towards a common goal or purpose.
Article II: Governance Principles
Section 1: Voting Rights and Representation
Current Polkadot voting is weighed by one $DOT token equals one vote. Without one vote assigned to one individual human citizen in Polkadot, the governance mechanism is more likely to fall into traps of injustice. This is because decisions will be ruled by those that are extremely wealthy, or otherwise known as a plutocracy.
Note: citizenship may be in progress or implemented in the future.
Section 2: Balanced Representation
If there is a one citizen vote for one person and it operates as a pure democracy, you will also have issues. This is because you fall into the pitfall of a potential mob rule. An ideal situation would be delegated pools of voting where either citizens would elect to put their vote in a pool of collective citizens where you have a smaller community vote, or an operational worldwide automatic electoral college.
Voting representation and weight would be represented by the population size of that pool or an electoral section (also based on population size). This would benefit from smaller separated sectors of human people where the votes of the per sector collective minority can potentially outweigh an echo chamber majority. This protects the minority from potential indignities, injustices, and allows for more equal representation.
Article III: Fundamental Rights
Section 1: Freedom of Speech and Expression
No human or non-human entity shall restrict or prohibit the individual human right to freedom of speech, right to peaceful assembly, right of free press, and right to petition to an entity.
Section 2: Right to Keep and Bear Arms
No human or non-human entity shall infringe on the individual human right of the people to keep and bear arms.
Section 3: Freedom of Religion
There should be no governing body that shall require any law respecting a religious establishment or prohibiting free exercise of a religious establishment.
Section 4: Equality
No public or private organization, institution, or any entity can discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religious beliefs, or any other physical characteristics. Abiding by the respect and safety of others, this does not include, in reasonable or extreme situations, mental or physical characteristics in positions that could harm others (ex. Someone with Alzheimer's flying a passenger airplane).
Article IV: Judicial Rights
Section 1: Criminal and Civil Protections
Every human has the right to a public and speedy trial, by an impartial judge or jury. Every Human has the right to know the jury or judge, to be confronted with witness against the accused, to be informed the nature and cause of the accusation, the right to compel witness to appear and testify on their behalf, to have assistance of a counsel for their defense.
Section 2: Due Process
The following text is taken from the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article V: Privacy and Security
Section 1: Personal Security
There is an absolute right of a human person to be secure in their houses, of their person's, papers, and effects. Every individual human persons is protected against unreasonable searches and seizures. This shall not be violated. Warrants shall be required and only upon probable cause, supported by an oath and in particular detail describing the place that to be searched, the person or things to be seized.
Section 2: Privacy Rights
There is an absolute right of a human to privacy without any form of surveillance. This shall not be infringed upon without notifying the person first and probable cause, supported by an oath and in particular detail describing the place that to be searched, and the person or things to be surveilled.
Article VI: Version Control
Section 1: Document Version History
These human rights definitions are versioned to track changes and improvements over time:
| Version | Date | Author | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v0.1 | 28th September 2024 | Timothy McMasters | First draft | https://hackmd.io/@cF7m5eD2RMu-UaRGBhPbOQ/By-8f3lCR |
| v0.2 | 4th August 2025 | Luke Schoen | Second draft | https://gist.github.com/ltfschoen/76addc970e8ae7b95a43d5d523404f2b |