A.1. Personhood

Only human beings are “Persons” under this Charter.

While moral and ethical views on the origins of life differ, this Charter is concerned solely with legal definitions and enforceable Rights. Before birth, no individual can claim or exercise the legal Rights reserved for Persons—such as the Rights to free expression, religious exercise, or habeas corpus. Therefore, under this Charter, legal Personhood begins at birth. Legally, prior to birth, bodily autonomy belongs to the mother.

The People of the United States are all the Persons in its territory and subject to its laws, as are those Persons in the sovereign territories of recognized Native Nations. The People include both Citizens and Noncitizens alike.