DeclarationoftheRightsofManandCitizen1789

ApprovedbytheNationalAssemblyofFrance,August26,1789

TherepresentativesoftheFrenchpeople,organizedasaNationalAssembly,believingthat
theignorance,neglect,orcontemptoftherightsofmanarethesolecauseofpublic
calamitiesandofthecorruptionofgovernments,havedeterminedtosetforthinasolemn
declarationthenatural,unalienable,andsacredrightsofman,inorderthatthisdeclaration,
beingconstantlybeforeallthemembersoftheSocialbody,shallremindthemcontinuallyof
theirrightsanddutiesinorderthattheactsofthelegislativepower,aswellasthoseofthe
executivepower,maybecomparedatanymomentwiththeobjectsandpurposesofall
politicalinstitutionsandmaythusbemorerespected,and,lastly,inorderthatthegrievances
ofthecitizens,basedhereafteruponsimpleandincontestableprinciples,shalltendtothe
maintenanceoftheconstitutionandredoundtothehappinessofall.ThereforetheNational
Assemblyrecognizesandproclaims,inthepresenceandundertheauspicesoftheSupreme
Being,thefollowingrightsofmanandofthecitizen:

Articles:
1.
Menarebornandremainfreeandequalinrights.Socialdistinctionsmaybefoundedonly
uponthegeneralgood.
2.
Theaimofallpoliticalassociationisthepreservationofthenaturalandimprescriptible
rightsofman.Theserightsareliberty,property,security,andresistancetooppression.
3.
Theprincipleofallsovereigntyresidesessentiallyinthenation.Nobodynorindividualmay
exerciseanyauthoritywhichdoesnotproceeddirectlyfromthenation.
4.
Libertyconsistsinthefreedomtodoeverythingwhichinjuresnooneelsehencethe
exerciseofthenaturalrightsofeachmanhasnolimitsexceptthosewhichassuretotheother
membersofthesocietytheenjoymentofthesamerights.Theselimitscanonlybe
determinedbylaw.
5.
Lawcanonlyprohibitsuchactionsasarehurtfultosociety.Nothingmaybeprevented
whichisnotforbiddenbylaw,andnoonemaybeforcedtodoanythingnotprovidedforby
law.
6.
Lawistheexpressionofthegeneralwill.Everycitizenhasarighttoparticipatepersonally,
orthroughhisrepresentative,initsfoundation.Itmustbethesameforall,whetheritprotects
orpunishes.Allcitizens,beingequalintheeyesofthelaw,areequallyeligibletoalldignities
andtoallpublicpositionsandoccupations,accordingtotheirabilities,andwithoutdistinction
exceptthatoftheirvirtuesandtalents.
7.
Nopersonshallbeaccused,arrested,orimprisonedexceptinthecasesandaccordingto
theformsprescribedbylaw.Anyonesoliciting,transmitting,executing,orcausingtobe
executed,anyarbitraryorder,shallbepunished.Butanycitizensummonedorarrestedin
virtueofthelawshallsubmitwithoutdelay,asresistanceconstitutesanoffense.
8.
Thelawshallprovideforsuchpunishmentsonlyasarestrictlyandobviouslynecessary,
andnooneshallsufferpunishmentexceptitbelegallyinflictedinvirtueofalawpassedand
promulgatedbeforethecommissionoftheoffense.

9.
Asallpersonsareheldinnocentuntiltheyshallhavebeendeclaredguilty,ifarrestshallbe
deemedindispensable,allharshnessnotessentialtothesecuringoftheprisoner'sperson
shallbeseverelyrepressedbylaw.
10.
Nooneshallbedisquietedonaccountofhisopinions,includinghisreligiousviews,
providedtheirmanifestationdoesnotdisturbthepublicorderestablishedbylaw.
11.
Thefreecommunicationofideasandopinionsisoneofthemostpreciousoftherightsof
man.Everycitizenmay,accordingly,speak,write,andprintwithfreedom,butshallbe
responsibleforsuchabusesofthisfreedomasshallbedefinedbylaw.
12.
Thesecurityoftherightsofmanandofthecitizenrequirespublicmilitaryforces.These
forcesare,therefore,establishedforthegoodofallandnotforthepersonaladvantageof
thosetowhomtheyshallbeintrusted.
13.
Acommoncontributionisessentialforthemaintenanceofthepublicforcesandforthe
costofadministration.Thisshouldbeequitablydistributedamongallthecitizensinproportion
totheirmeans.
14.
Allthecitizenshavearighttodecide,eitherpersonallyorbytheirrepresentatives,asto
thenecessityofthepubliccontributiontograntthisfreelytoknowtowhatusesitisputand
tofixtheproportion,themodeofassessmentandofcollectionandthedurationofthetaxes.
15.
Societyhastherighttorequireofeverypublicagentanaccountofhisadministration.
16.
Asocietyinwhichtheobservanceofthelawisnotassured,northeseparationofpowers
defined,hasnoconstitutionatall.
17.
Sincepropertyisaninviolableandsacredright,nooneshallbedeprivedthereofexcept
wherepublicnecessity,legallydetermined,shallclearlydemandit,andthenonlyoncondition
thattheownershallhavebeenpreviouslyandequitablyindemnified.