ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS REGARDING THE COMPOSITION OF A WORLD GOVERNMENT (cont.)

STATUTES IN A UNIFIED WORLD

Subjects that should be covered, and ends that ought be pursued, by a new set of worldwide statutory enactments might include the following:

(The subjects of that which follows are set forth in an alphabetical order--which does  not mean to represent an order of importance thereof)



1.  Alcoholic Beverages and other substances that require control

It is widely known that certain substances are permitted, or allowed to go unnoticed, in certain parts of the world.  Meanwhile, some or all are forbidden in other places.  This would have to be dealt with as necessary on a place-by-place basis--keeping in mind that which has been stated earlier that religions as well as cultures ought neither be interfered with nor promoted in any place or in any manner--with the hopeful end in view of eventually abolishing the use of harmful substances everywhere.



2.  Banks and banking

With a universal economy and universal currency as ambitions set forth earlier, it would be hoped and anticipated that the banking institutions of the world would work together, and perhaps join together, so as to provide uniform standards, service and requirements to people and commerce everywhere.  It is also likely that present instrumentalities, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, would be resorted to, and/or possibly integratet into the entity that would emerge as a consequence thereof.



3.  Building and construction codes

Uniform standards and safeguards for the building trades and construction personnel, as well as subsequent occupants and users of buildings and other such facilities, should be enacted, applied, and enforced the world over, for the safety and comfort of everyone.



4.  Business, not-forp-profit, and other sorts of corporations and entities

In a unified world, corporations would be entitled to do business as such worldwide.  Perhaps corporations doing similar things in different places might wish to merge together, resulting in  possession of increased assets, and ability to provide goods and/or services more efficiently in more markets.

In addition, a separate related body of law should be included to govern and regulate partnerships, limited liability companies, and all other such entities.



5.  Rules governing business in general

It is also commonly known that business customs and practices vary from place to place.  It is hoped that that which is objectively most beneficial and advantageous from among this variety of customs and practices--for the participants, and for the public who are served theereby--will be adopted and enacted to constitute a single worldwide set of business rules, and consequent statutes.

These should include a set of enactments similar to America's Uniform Commercial Code, governing business transactions and security for the participants therein, that would be applicable worldwide.



6.  Civil Practice rules

A uniform system of courts, for the conduct and defense of lawsuits, as well as for the pursuit of arbitration and mediation (which are recommended as being preferred modes for alternative resolution of disputes) should be instituted.  Rules pertaining to jurisdiction, procedure, etc., should be fair, simple, and uniform, worldwide.



7.  Civil rights

Statutes should be enacted which will echo and reinforce the declared social policies of the new guiding body (as well as those that will hopefully be set forth in a World Constitution, that should be enacted as soon as reasonably possible after the commencement of World Unity).  All human beings must be treated fairly and impartially; and everyone must have thae same standing before the law and its tribunals. 

Further, there must be no discrimination based upon gender, race, religion, original national or geographic origin, or any other lawful particular.  Moreover, there should be no special interests, and no "special" treatment--good or bad--afforded to anyone.



8.  Civil Service

As I have stated in the past, it is expected that a new world government would require many and varied sorts of personnel--just as national governments and their subdivisions require today.  In a unified world, with uniform rules and a universal economy, all who are in the service of the government would receive similar fair and equal benefits and treatment everywhere.



9.  Criminal (Penal) code

A worldwide code setting forth the acts and omissions that constitute crime, as well as punishments therefor, should be enacted.

It is understood that different behaviors are viewede differently in different places--some being considered criminal in one, and less so, or not so, in another.  While interference with religious beliefs and social customs is to be avoided, some minimum--but reasonable--standards concerning what constitutes a crime must nevertheless be formulated.  Hopefully this can be accomplished by a body consisting of legal experts, religious and social leaders, and other such appropriate persons from around the world. 

A universal code relating to punishments should also be enacted--so that a similar crime will receive similar punishment wherever it be committed.

As an instance of special concern, issues will be found to likely arise when we consider that there will be some who are wanted for, or serving prior sentences for:
a.  offenses that are no longer considered crimes under a new universal criminal code; and, particularly,
b.  offenses that were related to the fact that our world used to be composed of a group of independent nations (e.g., treason, espionage, etc.).
Should such persons continue to be sought, or to serve their sentences--even if the acts for which they are wanted or were convicted did not in any cureent way constitute criminal behavior?  Or should they be freed, on the basis of the fact that the offended nation-state is no longer independently in existence?  An assemblage of legal experts would need to sort matters such as this out. 

Conversely, the concept of ex post facto would probably need to be applied in the case of individuals or entities who are known to be guilty of certain acts or omissions that were not criminal under the law of their place when they were committed/omitted--but are now considered crimes pursuant to the new universal criminal code.

Fortunately, this will all likely eventually resolve itself, as the years pass, and a single unified world, governed by a single guiding entity, becomes the accepted norm.




10.  Criminal procedure

In the same fashion as for criminal practice as set forth above, a uniform system of courts, and such other alternative facilities as might be instituted, would need to be established.  Rules and procedures pertaining to these tribunals must also be fair, simple, and uniform, always and everywhere.

It would also be necessary to establish a uniform and humane prison system, wherein all prisoners will be treated as human beings.  this worldwide system of penal institutions should existing prisons that meet certain minimum standards, as determined by a worldwide board of penal experts.  New facilities should begin to be erected to replace those that are found to be deficient.  Such a new prison system should be governed by a code containing uniform standardsand procedures for the treatment of inmates.

Movement away from corporal punishment, and toward psychological and economic pressure, to prevent crime--as well as toward re-educationand deprivations for those who are convicted of crimes--should be considered and effectuated as appropriate, pursuant to the recommendations of experts in the fields of penology and sociology.

(to be continued)