Stjórnlagaráð

Bill of Rights

[Equality of Men; Origin and Object of Government.] All men are born equally free and independent; therefore, all government of right originates from the people, is founded in consent, and instituted for the general good.

[Natural Rights.] All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights - among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting, property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness. And where as the complexity of human life is reducable to individual variation, a decent respect for entails, the greatest degree of freedom and expression of the individual, tempered only by the preservation of the natural rights of others.

[Society, its Organization and Purposes.] When men enter into a state of society, they surrender up some of their natural rights to that society, in order to ensure the protection of others; and, without such an equivalent, the surrender is void.

[Powers Oragnic Repository.] All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness. For the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper.

[Construction of the Bill of Rights.]

The rights enumerated and secured in this Bill of Rights shall not be construed to limit other rights of the people not therein expressed.

[Qualities necessary to preservation of free government.]

That no free government, nor the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to natural law, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles; and by the recognition by all citizens that they have duties as well as rights, and that such rights cannot be enjoyed save in a society where law is respected and due process is observed.

That free government rests, as does all progress, upon the broadest possible diffusion of knowledge, and that Iceland should avail itself of those talents which nature has sown so liberally among its people by assuring the opportunity for the freedom of accredited educators to organise and administer, tax free, accredited courses in regards to higher education  throughout the Iceland.