Description of Intent:
The Nevada County Citizens’ Bill of Rights will serve to define the rights of Nevada County’s citizens and instruct its elected and non-elected leaders in the proper formation and implementation of policies, ordinances and regulations.
Proposed Charter Text:
Pursuant to the inherent rights of the citizens of Nevada County to govern our own community, including, without limitation, the Declaration of Independence’s statement that governments are instituted to secure the rights of people, and the California Constitution’s recognition that “All people are by nature free and independent and have inalienable rights”, Nevada County establishes these rights for its citizens within its Charter.
The Right to Local Self-Government – The people residing in The County of Nevada have the right and authority to make binding decisions on issues that directly affect the County, its residents and environment. The County of Nevada is to play its role of interposition under the guiding principles of, in this order; the protection of the rights of self (privacy and health); the right to stewardship of our properties, our commons and our natural resources; the protection of our local economy.
The people as Sovereign – The County of Nevada shall be the governing authority responsible to and governed by, the residents of the County. Use of the “County of Nevada” municipal corporation by the sovereign people of the County to make law shall not be construed to limit or surrender their sovereign authority or immunities of the people to a municipal corporation, which is subordinate to us in all respects at all times. We the people, at all times, retain an inalienable and indefeasible right to self-governance in the community where we reside.
The Right to Govern Corporate Activities – Corporations are subordinate to the People and shall not assert rights or privileges that interfere with local self government; the people residing in Nevada County possess the right to limit or revoke privileges afforded to corporations that have been determined by the County to have infringed upon those rights, such revocation of privileges to include the blacklisting of infringing corporations from doing business with any County government entity.
The Right to Self – We the people possess a right to the integrity of our bodies, our property and our personal information; to be free from unwanted invasions of our bodies by any means, including trespass by manufactured chemicals and toxins; to be free from unwarranted surveillance and collection of our personal information or location.
The Right to Stewardship – We the people possess the right to stewardship of our properties and the commons; and are possessors of the knowledge to maintain conditions optimal to preserve our natural communities, preserving local species access to natural habitats and respecting all future generations.
The Right to a Healthy Environment – We the people possess a right to a healthy environment, including the right to unpolluted air, water, soil, flora, and fauna, and the right to protect our natural resources (such as the watershed).
The Right to Water – We the people possess a right to sustainably access, use, consume, and preserve water drawn from natural water cycles and sources.
The Right to Farm – We the people possess a right to establish agriculture and food policies and protect against activities including but not limited to soil depletion, use of genetically modified organisms, and the over spray of pesticides.
The Right to Sustainable Energy – We the people possess a right to establish sustainable energy production and use policies; we possess the right to prohibit unsustainable energy practices and to choose from available sustainable energy options without infringement or coercion whatsoever.
Links to all Charter pages:
Nevada County Charter – Introduction
How to establish a Nevada County Charter
Preamble to the Nevada County Charter
Preamble to Charter section establishing a public bank for Nevada County
The mission of the public Bank of Nevada County
The governance of the public Bank of Nevada County
The Citizens Bill of Rights
Nevada County Officers & Governance
Use of Instant Runoff Voting and establishing campaign finance limits
“Buy Local” preference for Nevada County purchases & contracts section
PDF of the full Nevada County Charter
Click here to be taken to the Nevada County Charter online survey page.