On Discoverian Citizenship

Excerpts from the Discoverian Citizenship Manual, Volume 1, published by the Office of National Heritage.

Introduction
So you've decided to become a Discoverian citizen? An excellent decision! This volume of the Discoverian Citizenship Manual (DCM) contains everything you need to learn to pass the Preliminary Citizenship Examination. For guidance on completing the remaining process of becoming a citizen of the Utopian Commonwealth, we strongly recommend purchasing volume 2 of the DCM. Good luck, prospective citizen!

Becoming a Discoverian Citizen
All applications for Discoverian citizenship are processed by the Office for Internal Stability: Population Division. Applicants are required to pass the Preliminary Citizenship Examination, a written examination on core aspects of the Utopian Commonwealth's principles, history and culture, to demonstrate their understanding of and commitment to living in Discoverian society. On passing the Preliminary Citizenship Examination, the Office for Internal Stability will consider your application and supporting documents further. A proportion of successful applicants will be randomly selected to undertake a Secondary Citizenship Examination. This ensures that the citizenship application process admits only those who truly deserve Discoverian citizenship.

Tip for prospective citizens #1: Ensure that you know the date and time that you will be sitting your Preliminary Citizenship Examination! Failure to attend may delay the processing of your application!

Tip for prospective citizens #2: Some groups of people (e.g. those with learning disabilities) are exempt from the usual citizenship application process. If you believe this applies to you, contact the Office of Internal Stability: Population Division for advice.

The Relationship Between Citizen and State
The Utopian Commonwealth of Discoveria recognises that state and citizen are bound by rights and duties to each other, and that the one cannot exist without the other. Citizens of the Utopian Commonwealth have a wide range of political rights - the right to life, the right to Philosophical Freedom, and broad rights to freedom from state interference. In turn, citizens have a general duty to dedicate themselves to the Utopian Commonwealth's principles of Science and Altruism - principles that have been scientifically demonstrated to underpin the success of the most effective forms of human government. Failure to carry out this overarching duty may result in the rights of the citizen being withheld until the situation can be corrected. Discoveria does not recognise any 'absolute' or 'human' rights: all rights are political rights, and the continued provision of goods claimed by right is contingent upon the effective functioning of the Utopian Commonwealth. The Utopian Commonwealth reserves the right to take measures that are required to sustain the rights of its citizens, and undertakes a duty to protect the rights of its citizens where such rights are duly deserved.

Tip for prospective citizens #3: You may be asked to identify how certain types of Regressive behaviour violate the principles of Science and Altruism!