5 ms·

Previous discussion (less ideologic hyperbole): http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4683804 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4683804 Draft text: http://st

by uvdiv 14y ago

Previous discussion (less ideologic hyperbole): http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4683804 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4683804 Draft text: http://stjornlagarad.is/other_files/stjornlagarad/Frumvarp-enska.pdf http://stjornlagarad.is/other_files/stjornlagarad/Frumvarp-e... Interesting excerpts: (14) "All are free to have their opinions and convictions and shall have the right to express their thoughts. Censorship and other comparable impediments to the freedom of opinion must never be enacted into law. Limits on the expression of opinion may, however, be stipulated by law to protect children, security, health, the rights or reputation of others, as necessary in a democratic society." (18) "All shall be free to pursue their religion, individually or in association with others, publicly or privately. The freedom to pursue religion or personal convictions shall only be limited by law as necessary in a democratic society." (20) "No one may be obligated to be a member of an association. Such obligation may be imposed by law if it proves necessary for an association to perform its lawful role due to the public interest or the rights of others."

walshemj 14y ago
so you have these rights but the govenment can over rule it for "public interest" or "as necessary in a democratic society" I am sure that the Chinese leaders would say that the labour camps are "as necessary in a democratic society" Oh and that old chestnut its for the children
- Drakim 14y ago
  There isn't a nation on earth that doesn't have some workaround, be it martial law or these special clauses. Adding that it is only for things that are necessary in a democratic society is a good touch, because it makes it harder to make arbitrary restrictions because it's for the "general public good".
  - walshemj 14y ago
    oh I agree but who defines what is "necessary" and looking at the nordic states (iclelands constitution is based on the danish constitution) they can be very communitarian and the down side of those systems sis they can be very unforgiving of outsiders and those that do not fit in.
    - deleted 14y ago
      [deleted]
    - saraid216 14y ago
      I didn't do more than read the first page or two, but there appears to be a Supreme Court. Presumably, it's their job. That's generally how these things work.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- jessaustin 14y ago
  It would not be possible to draft a law that did away with these natural tensions in an easy and robust way. The lines must be drawn piecemeal, with deference to but not bound by precedent. At least in this the tensions are made explicit in a way that even unsophisticated citizens can understand. (Not that any particular citizen will understand it, cf. the many Americans who completely elide "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times" from the Copyright Clause.) Eventually the nation will have the legal system the citizens demand (or is that deserve?), the laws on the books be damned. The rule of law is a tradition more than it is a text.
aegirth 14y ago
would be great if we actually get that far. These constitutional changes require that the majority vote in parliament is yes, then it's put to a referendum for the people, and has to be accepted by the next convened parliament. And the parties that were once in power but were ousted by the people are vehemently against any constitutional changes and will fight it. And they will probably come back into power this spring and kill any hopes of this new constitution. Sad but true.
rmc 14y ago
Fun fact: the new constitution reaffirms (and they people voted for this), the established Church of Iceland.

by uvdiv 14y ago

walshemj 14y ago

so you have these rights but the govenment can over rule it for "public interest" or "as necessary in a democratic society" I am sure that the Chinese leaders would say that the labour camps are "as necessary in a democratic society" Oh and that old chestnut its for the children

Drakim 14y ago
There isn't a nation on earth that doesn't have some workaround, be it martial law or these special clauses. Adding that it is only for things that are necessary in a democratic society is a good touch, because it makes it harder to make arbitrary restrictions because it's for the "general public good".
- walshemj 14y ago
  oh I agree but who defines what is "necessary" and looking at the nordic states (iclelands constitution is based on the danish constitution) they can be very communitarian and the down side of those systems sis they can be very unforgiving of outsiders and those that do not fit in.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - saraid216 14y ago
    I didn't do more than read the first page or two, but there appears to be a Supreme Court. Presumably, it's their job. That's generally how these things work.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
jessaustin 14y ago
It would not be possible to draft a law that did away with these natural tensions in an easy and robust way. The lines must be drawn piecemeal, with deference to but not bound by precedent. At least in this the tensions are made explicit in a way that even unsophisticated citizens can understand. (Not that any particular citizen will understand it, cf. the many Americans who completely elide "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times" from the Copyright Clause.) Eventually the nation will have the legal system the citizens demand (or is that deserve?), the laws on the books be damned. The rule of law is a tradition more than it is a text.

aegirth 14y ago

would be great if we actually get that far. These constitutional changes require that the majority vote in parliament is yes, then it's put to a referendum for the people, and has to be accepted by the next convened parliament. And the parties that were once in power but were ousted by the people are vehemently against any constitutional changes and will fight it. And they will probably come back into power this spring and kill any hopes of this new constitution. Sad but true.

rmc 14y ago

Fun fact: the new constitution reaffirms (and they people voted for this), the established Church of Iceland.