Constitution for Scotland Public Consultation Hub

Menu
Constitution for Scotland logo
Go back

Article 1: Supreme Authority, Sovereign Territories, Citizenship, Immigrants

Description

Summary

This Constitution asserts the right of the people of Scotland to govern themselves as a constitutional democracy whereby members of Parliament remain at all times primarily accountable to the electorate and the terms of this Constitution; specifies the sovereignty of the people over the territories and natural resources of Scotland; details the qualifications for citizenship and residency visas; qualifications for voting in elections.

Debate

Section 1.1. We, the people of the free sovereign and inalienable nation of Scotland do hereby express and enact our collective will through this written Constitution.

13 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.2. This Constitution is the supreme and fundamental law of Scotland which holds that the founding principles of Scotland are based on Constitutional Democracy. The people are the supreme source of authority of the government which derives the right to govern from their consent.

21 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.3. This Constitution and its provisions will have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout Scotland. All Acts of Parliament, treaties, regulations and other laws, whether enacted past, present or future, to the extent that they are incompatible with this Constitution, will be void and without effect.

7 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.4. The territory of Scotland comprises all land and air space to the north of the land border, running as in place prior to 1999, between the Solway Firth and the then mouth of the River Tweed, and the surrounding seas and air space to a limit of 200 nautical miles or the relevant median lines with other states, including the line running due east from the mouth of the River Tweed, or to such limits as set by international law.

12 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.5. On and below all of the land, including all mineral and extraction right, all inland water bodies and territorial seas and the airspace of Scotland are an inseparable and indivisible whole, belonging to the people of Scotland collectively as a nation, as communities and as individuals.

22 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.6. Citizenship: All persons, including adopted children, who were UK citizens immediately prior to independence, and were born in Scotland, or were legally resident in Scotland at independence, will become citizens of Scotland.

24 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.7. All persons with a grandparent of Scots nationality have the right to be citizens of Scotland.

11 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.8. Parliament will enact laws to regulate the acquisition of Scottish citizenship by adoption, marriage, descent, or naturalisation, and to specify the manner in which citizenship may be lost or renounced.

11 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.9. Laws concerning the conditions under which dual citizenship with other states may be held and the acquisition or renunciation of citizenship must not unfairly discriminate in terms of sections 2.1 to 2.3.

2 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.10. Residency visas will be made available to immigrants in the interests of national requirements at the time as prescribed by law. Residency visa holders will be eligible, subject to Government consideration, for Scottish citizenship after five years of continuous residency within the country and such further requirements as to residence as may be prescribed by law.

11 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.11. All immigrants will be issued with an Entry Pass. The category of Entry Pass issued will vary according to status as prescribed by law.

5 comments · 15 Aug 2020
Debate

Section 1.12. Citizens, resident, and on the electoral register, are entitled to vote in all national elections and referendums upon reaching the Age of Legal Capacity, except for persons under guardianship due to severe mental incapacity as defined by a specific medical or judicial certification.

17 comments · 15 Aug 2020

Participate in the debate