immediate consideration. A constitutional committee headed by Ryan was empowered to draft a charter. Though several citizens wished to debate the social theory underpinning the charter, the majority proved more interested in limiting debate to immediate political and legal realities. Thus authorized, the constituent assembly worked through lunch while the citizenry enjoyed leisure on deck. The framers grouped like-minded proposals together, then simplified these to core principles and necessary issues. Afterwards, a political scientist and former writer of campaign speeches for several Democratic Senators and progressive advocacy groups penned a draft of the charter (which was debated and amended within the committee). Finally, the speechwriter rewrote the draft—to which Ryan contributed several stylistic changes. The revision was read before the re-assembled convocation at dinner. Everyone listened with undistracted attention and even the children were unusually quiet.
The Flower of the First of May Compact, as the document was called, was accepted almost without amendment. The only real controversy regarded guns. Several activists wanted the possession of firearms explicitly outlawed, but majority spokespersons pointed out the fifth and sixth provisions of the charter were clearly anti-NRA in concept and intent—forbidding militia membership, private gun ownership, and hunting with firearms. Besides, Ryan argued that because no such weapons were to be brought on the island there was very little danger of mischief with guns. He questioned whether the technological know-how even existed for arms production since not a single gunsmith had been selected for citizenship—unless, he quipped, Kit secretly had invited members of the Smith and Wesson families. After loud laughter, the objectors accepted his arguments and didn’t push a vote. Gun ownership was rendered a moot issue.
Of far more critical importance was a debate over Article I—which defined the members of state. Several women wanted confirmation that citizens needed to be born before inheriting political rights, thereby securing a woman’s right to an elective abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. Nearly everyone agreed with their judgment and the assembly voted by voice that the women’s interpretation of the clause was correct, though a few children of former Latino immigrants sought clarification regarding the rights of immigrants. Since the citizenship clause imitated the American Constitution in extending citizenship to the children of citizens and to soil-born immigrants, they feared a class of foreign-born immigrants might be excluded from citizenship on that basis—just as those born in Mexico or Haiti possessed no inherent right to vote in American elections. This modification was greeted with great celebration since it was the first time any government in human history had granted such comprehensive political rights: anyone living among them would be counted a citizen and anyone not living among them would not.
After this final amendment, the charter was voted upon. Everyone eligible to vote (only a few of the younger children were unable to exercise that right) ratified the charter. The constitution read:
The Flower of the First of May Compact
Being willingly gathered together to create a new society, we the undersigned declare that the citizens of the State of Paradise confirm the following principles to be our governing charter:
1. The political community is composed of nothing more and nothing less than free individuals. All persons living in our realm shall enjoy the privileges and exercise the responsibilities of citizenship. No restrictions shall be placed on the right of a woman to terminate pregnancy.
2. No person shall be restricted in the exercise of her or his own choices except to secure the freedom of others.
3. No distinction shall be made between persons before the law.
4. The right to freedom of conscience,
The Flower of the First of May Compact, as the document was called, was accepted almost without amendment. The only real controversy regarded guns. Several activists wanted the possession of firearms explicitly outlawed, but majority spokespersons pointed out the fifth and sixth provisions of the charter were clearly anti-NRA in concept and intent—forbidding militia membership, private gun ownership, and hunting with firearms. Besides, Ryan argued that because no such weapons were to be brought on the island there was very little danger of mischief with guns. He questioned whether the technological know-how even existed for arms production since not a single gunsmith had been selected for citizenship—unless, he quipped, Kit secretly had invited members of the Smith and Wesson families. After loud laughter, the objectors accepted his arguments and didn’t push a vote. Gun ownership was rendered a moot issue.
Of far more critical importance was a debate over Article I—which defined the members of state. Several women wanted confirmation that citizens needed to be born before inheriting political rights, thereby securing a woman’s right to an elective abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. Nearly everyone agreed with their judgment and the assembly voted by voice that the women’s interpretation of the clause was correct, though a few children of former Latino immigrants sought clarification regarding the rights of immigrants. Since the citizenship clause imitated the American Constitution in extending citizenship to the children of citizens and to soil-born immigrants, they feared a class of foreign-born immigrants might be excluded from citizenship on that basis—just as those born in Mexico or Haiti possessed no inherent right to vote in American elections. This modification was greeted with great celebration since it was the first time any government in human history had granted such comprehensive political rights: anyone living among them would be counted a citizen and anyone not living among them would not.
After this final amendment, the charter was voted upon. Everyone eligible to vote (only a few of the younger children were unable to exercise that right) ratified the charter. The constitution read:
The Flower of the First of May Compact
Being willingly gathered together to create a new society, we the undersigned declare that the citizens of the State of Paradise confirm the following principles to be our governing charter:
1. The political community is composed of nothing more and nothing less than free individuals. All persons living in our realm shall enjoy the privileges and exercise the responsibilities of citizenship. No restrictions shall be placed on the right of a woman to terminate pregnancy.
2. No person shall be restricted in the exercise of her or his own choices except to secure the freedom of others.
3. No distinction shall be made between persons before the law.
4. The right to freedom of conscience,
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