Constitution of Civitas Gaya

Preamble

In remembrance of the humans who, in the 1950s of the twentieth century, were forcibly taken from Earth and brought to the distant planet Gaya,
affirming the will of this first generation to build a free, self‑governing and solidaristic society under an alien sky,
in respect of all beings, worlds and cultures with whom we seek peaceful coexistence,
and conscious of our responsibility to protect the freedom and dignity of the citizens of Civitas Gaya across space and time,

we establish this Constitution.

Civitas Gaya understands itself as the state of a people originating in humankind on Earth and grown on Gaya, which, due to hostile actions of extraterrestrial powers, was forced to flee back to Earth and to continue its existence in exile.

Until a safe and dignified return to Gaya is possible, Civitas Gaya shall exist as a state in exile. Its citizens commit to respect the legal orders of their respective macronational host states, while upholding, developing and transmitting the principles of this Constitution to future generations.

Article 1 – Origin and People

1. Civitas Gaya is the political organisation of the people descended from those humans who were abducted from Earth in the 1950s and settled on the planet Gaya, and from all persons later admitted as citizens in continuity with this community.
2. The people of Civitas Gaya consists of all persons who are recognised as citizens under this Constitution and who uphold the continuity of the Gaya community.
3. The existence of Civitas Gaya does not depend on recognition by Earth‑based states or international organisations. It is founded on the continuing people, this Constitution and the maintained claim to the home planet Gaya.
4. Civitas Gaya acknowledges that its citizens may at the same time be nationals of other Earth‑based states. Such multiple affiliations do not affect the internal sovereignty of Civitas Gaya over its own affairs.

Article 2 – Home Planet and Exile Status

1. The original and indivisible territory of Civitas Gaya is the planet Gaya in the Helion System, on earth known as Epsilon Eridani, as defined at the time of the First People's Assembly on Gaya Prime. This territory forms the historical and legal reference point for all territorial claims of Civitas Gaya.
2. Due to repeated hostile attacks by extraterrestrial powers, continued residence on Gaya is, for the time being, impossible. Civitas Gaya therefore transfers its practical seat of government into exile on Earth and continues to exist as a state in exile.
3. Until return to Gaya becomes possible, Civitas Gaya maintains its institutions, law and identity through its citizens and symbolic exile territories on Earth.
4. Civitas Gaya does not claim exclusive international‑law sovereignty over any part of Earth. The territorial sovereignty of recognised Earth‑based states remains unaffected.
5. The territorial and institutional order of Civitas Gaya takes effect as an expression of the political, cultural and social self‑organisation of its citizens and is exercised solely within the framework of the applicable legal orders of the host states.

Article 3 – Territorial Categories in Exile

1. In exile, Civitas Gaya recognises the following territorial categories:

   1. the home planet Gaya Prime as core territory,
   2. ambulatory exile territories on Earth, linked to persons or objects.

2. The home planet Gaya Prime is the full and indivisible core territory of Civitas Gaya. Its internal geographic and political organisation shall be regulated by law.

3. Ambulatory exile territories on Earth are territorially mobile zones whose scope depends on the position of specific persons or objects. They include in particular:

   1. Gaya Foundation Stone
      a. The Gaya Foundation Stone is a physical object designated by decision of the competent council body as a symbolic territorial anchor of Civitas Gaya. It may be a relic originating from Gaya Prime or a carefully chosen Earth stone endowed with collective significance.
      b. The immediate radius of one metre around the current location of the Gaya Foundation Stone constitutes an ambulatory enclave of Civitas Gaya.
      c. The location of the Gaya Foundation Stone shall be documented internally; public disclosure may be limited or withheld for reasons of security or privacy.

   2. Personal ground of citizens
      a. Wherever citizens of Civitas Gaya are lawfully present and visibly express their citizenship, the ground immediately under their feet is, for the duration of such lawful presence, regarded as symbolic domain of Civitas Gaya.
      b. The detailed scope and limitations of this symbolic domain shall be regulated by law and shall explicitly require respect for the legal order of the respective host state.

4. Additional categories of ambulatory exile territories may be created, specified or abolished by law, provided that they comply with this Constitution and respect the territorial rights of other states.

5. No interpretation of this Article may be used to justify actions that infringe upon the territorial integrity, sovereignty or legal order of recognised Earth‑based states. The territorial order of Civitas Gaya serves the internal organisation and symbolic identity of the state and its citizens.

Article 4 – Membership and Citizenship

4.1 Visitors

1. Any person who registers an account on the official platform of Civitas Gaya and accepts the basic community rules becomes a Visitor.
2. Visitors may:
   • access and read public information,
   • observe debates and processes,
   • participate in non‑binding feedback mechanisms as determined by law.
3. Visitors have no voting rights in constitutional or legislative decisions.

4.2 Citizens

1. Any Visitor who:
   • formally endorses this Constitution and the core values of Civitas Gaya, and
   • completes the naturalisation process defined by law,
     may become a Citizen.
2. Citizens:
   • hold full political rights, including initiative, deliberation, voting and candidacy,
   • are eligible to hold council and moderation roles,
   • are bound by the duties defined in this Constitution.

4.3 Digital Identity

1. Each Citizen receives a unique Citizen ID issued by the competent body of Civitas Gaya.
2. The Citizen ID serves to:
   • identify the citizen within the system,
   • ensure one‑person‑one‑vote in all formal procedures,
   • log institutional actions for accountability.
3. The design, issuance and revocation of digital IDs shall be regulated by law, respecting privacy and security.

4.4 Loss and Suspension of Citizenship

1. A citizen may voluntarily renounce citizenship at any time.
2. Citizenship may be suspended or revoked only:
   • for serious, repeated violations of the Constitution or fundamental rights of others, and
   • following a due process defined by law, including the right to be heard and to appeal.

Article 5 – Rights and Freedoms

5.1 General

1. The rights set out in this Article bind all institutions and agents of Civitas Gaya.
2. No law, council decision or administrative act may infringe upon these rights except as expressly permitted under this Constitution.

5.2 Civil and political rights

Citizens enjoy, in particular, the rights to:

1. Freedom of expression and information

   • To express opinions, share information and participate in public discourse, subject only to narrowly defined limits aimed at protecting others from direct, severe harm.

2. Freedom of association and assembly

   • To form, join and leave groups, collectives and initiatives, including political and cultural organisations.

3. Democratic participation

   • To initiate proposals, participate in deliberation and vote in all processes for which they are eligible.
   • To stand for and hold council and other elected or selected positions, subject to rotation and term limits.

4. Due process and fair procedures

   • To be informed of allegations and decisions affecting their status or rights.
   • To a fair, transparent procedure and to appeal before an independent body.

5.3 Equality and non‑discrimination

1. All persons within Civitas Gaya are equal in dignity and rights.
2. Discrimination on the basis of origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, belief, political opinion or other personal characteristics is incompatible with this Constitution.
3. Institutions shall actively prevent and address discriminatory behaviour and systemic biases.

5.4 Privacy and data protection

1. Personal data shall be collected and processed only when necessary for democratic participation, security or legitimate community functioning.
2. Data processing shall follow principles of minimisation, purpose limitation, transparency and security.
3. Citizens have the right to access their data, to request correction, and, where compatible with democratic accountability, deletion or anonymisation.

5.5 Transparency and Public Accountability

1. All key actions in democratic and institutional processes shall be recorded and made accessible to citizens in a public audit trail, including:
   • submission and deliberation of proposals,
   • council and committee decisions with their reasoning,
   • voting records (aggregate results, not individual votes without consent),
   • significant policy or institutional changes.
2. The audit trail shall respect privacy protections for personal data while maintaining full institutional transparency.
3. Citizens have the right to inspect and verify institutional records necessary to understand governance processes.

Article 6 – Duties of Citizens

Citizens of Civitas Gaya are expected to:

1. respect this Constitution and the rights of others;
2. engage honestly and constructively in deliberation and decision‑making;
3. contribute to the maintenance and improvement of common institutions according to their abilities;
4. refrain from attempts to capture institutions for personal or factional domination.

Article 7 – Institutions and Structure

7.1 The Citizenry

1. The Citizenry is the ultimate source of authority in Civitas Gaya.
2. It exercises power through:
   • direct participation in democratic processes, and
   • the election or selection of delegates to councils and bodies defined by this Constitution.

7.2 Councils

1. Political authority is primarily exercised through Councils at different levels (units/communes and confederal level).
2. Councils:
   • are composed of recallable delegates,
   • operate with transparent procedures,
   • are bound by imperative mandates where defined by law.
3. The primary role of Councils is preparatory and coordinative:
   • to curate, merge and refine citizen proposals and initiatives,
   • to assess the coherence, feasibility and legality of proposals against the Constitution and existing laws,
   • to coordinate deliberation and synthesis, and
   • to prepare well-formed proposals for final decision by the Citizenry.
4. Councils do not exercise final legislative authority over general and binding norms. Final decisions on constitutional amendments, laws, policies and major institutional changes are reserved to the Citizenry through formal voting procedures.
5. The composition, election/selection, competences and procedures of councils shall be specified in an Organic Law on Councils consistent with this Constitution.

7.3 Separation and balance of powers

1. Civitas Gaya recognises the need to prevent concentration of power.
2. Legislative, adjudicative and coordinative functions shall be distributed among institutions in such a way that:
   • no single body can unilaterally control all decision‑making,
   • the Citizenry retains ultimate decision authority on general norms,
   • each function is subject to checks and democratic oversight.

7.4 Constitutional Council (Constitutional Oversight)

1. A Constitutional Council shall be established by law to:
   • review the conformity of laws, council decisions and major platform rules with this Constitution,
   • adjudicate constitutional disputes and hear complaints brought by citizens or institutions,
   • interpret the Constitution in cases of ambiguity,
   • can annul acts that violate fundamental rights or the core structure of this Constitution.
2. The Constitutional Council shall function in a genuinely independent and impartial manner, insulated from pressure by political bodies.
3. Decisions of the Constitutional Council shall be publicly reasoned and subject to scrutiny through the audit trail.

Article 8 – Participatory Processes and Digital Democracy

8.1 Proposals and initiatives

1. Citizens have the right to submit proposals on constitutional, legislative, policy and budgetary matters.
2. A proposal shall enter formal deliberation if it reaches clearly defined support thresholds.
3. The thresholds and timelines shall be set by law in a manner that balances openness with manageability.

8.2 Deliberation

1. Before any binding vote, there shall be a period of public deliberation, during which:
   • arguments for and against are presented,
   • amendments can be proposed,
   • experts and affected groups can be consulted.
2. Platforms used for deliberation must be accessible, documented and designed to encourage respectful, evidence‑based discourse.

8.3 Citizen Review and Verification of Legislative Acts

1. Any significant legislative act, general norm or council decision shall be subject to citizen-initiated review if a defined threshold of citizens petition for it.
2. Upon such a petition, the act may be submitted to a popular vote, allowing the Citizenry to confirm, amend or reject it.
3. This mechanism ensures that the Citizenry retains permanent power to validate or overturn decisions made by councils or designated bodies.

8.4 Voting

1. Binding decisions shall be taken through votes that respect:
   • one‑person‑one‑vote,
   • clear procedures for quorums and majorities,
   • secrecy of individual choices where necessary to protect citizens.
2. The design of voting systems shall be auditable and, as far as possible, verifiable by the citizenry.

8.5 Liquid democracy and delegation

1. Citizens may delegate their voting power on specific topics or categories to other citizens.
2. Delegations:
   • are revocable at any time,
   • must be transparently recorded,
   • cannot be transferred further unless explicitly allowed by law.
3. No citizen may accumulate excessive delegated power beyond limits set by law, in order to prevent the emergence of de facto political elites.

Article 9 – Economic Principles and Participatory Budgeting

9.1 Economic foundations

1. Within Civitas Gaya's sphere of influence, key infrastructures and shared resources shall be governed as commons or public goods.
2. Economic arrangements shall seek:
   • equitable distribution of burdens and benefits,
   • prevention of domination through wealth,
   • ecological and social sustainability.

9.2 Participatory budgeting

1. A participatory budget shall be organised regularly, at least once per year.
2. Citizens may propose projects and priorities for the allocation of common resources.
3. The budgeting process must be:
   • transparent,
   • inclusive,
   • binding within the scope defined by law.

Article 10 – Anti‑concentration of Power

1. Offices of high responsibility are subject to:
   • term limits,
   • rotation, and
   • cooling‑off periods before re‑election to the same role.
2. Balanced task structures shall be promoted to avoid the emergence of permanent "manager" classes.
3. All institutions shall publish information on their composition and decision‑making to enable public scrutiny.
4. Mechanisms for recall and vote of no confidence shall be provided for key roles and councils.

Article 11 – Amendments

1. This Constitution may be amended only:
   • by a qualified majority of the Citizenry in a formal constitutional referendum, and
   • after an extended period of public deliberation.
2. Constitutional amendments affecting foundational principles (one‑person‑one‑vote, democratic equality, fundamental rights) may require unanimity or supermajority as defined by law.
3. Amendments that abolish the democratic, egalitarian and rights‑based core of this Constitution are inadmissible.
4. Procedures for constitutional change shall themselves reflect high standards of participation, transparency and protection of minorities.

Article 12 – Transitional and Final Provisions

1. Upon adoption of this Version 0.3, provisional institutions may be established to:
   • implement this Constitution,
   • organise the first full elections or selections for councils and oversight bodies,
   • refine procedures in line with the principles set out here.
2. In case of conflict between this Constitution and lower‑level rules or platform policies, this Constitution prevails within Civitas Gaya's domain.
3. This Constitution enters into force upon approval by the founding citizens according to the initial ratification procedure.

Adopted in digital assembly by the founding citizens of Civitas Gaya, Year 1 of the Civitas.