Codex of Terms

Federal (when capitalized, for example in 28 USC 3002(15)(A))
Meaning in between the corporate States, all of which are located in the District of Columbia.

State (when capitalized, for example in 28 USC 3002(14))
A corporation that is physically located in the District of Columbia. All the corporate States are located only and exclusively in the District of Columbia.

state (when lowercase such as that used in 8 USC 1101(a)(21))
In its largest sense, a "state" is a body politic or a society of men. -Black's Law 6th Edition

Private Membership Association (PMA)
A Private Membership Association (PMA) is a collective of individuals who voluntarily enter into a private contract to create a governed community under common principles, values, and objectives. This form of association is bolstered by the legal framework provided by 15 USC 1, which asserts that no entity, including government bodies, may interfere with the freedom of individuals to enter into contractual agreements. Further strengthening this autonomy, Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution explicitly prohibits states from passing any law that impairs the obligation of contracts. This ensures that PMAs operate within a protected legal space, standing apart from public jurisdiction and oversight. Governed by the foundational tenets of Common Law and Canon Law, PMAs are sanctuaries of unalienable rights, including privacy, autonomy, and freedom of association. They provide a framework for members to engage, collaborate, and share within a sovereign space, safeguarded by the inherent rights of natural persons. The legal recognition of private contracts, as underscored by 15 USC 1 and the Constitutional protection against the impairment of contractual obligations, empowers PMAs like the OEO to uphold the sanctity of personal sovereignty and privacy. This legal backdrop facilitates the creation of exclusive realms of innovation, community, and digital exploration, where members can flourish free from unwarranted external interference. For a deeper insight into the values, principles, and advantages of joining our Private Membership Association, and how these are supported by legal protections that honor the integrity of private contracts and the inviolable right to association, please visit here.

United States
A Federal corporation - 28 USC 3002(15)(A). *Additional note: “The United States is located in the District of Columbia.” as per UCC 9-307(h)

US citizen
A natural person, corporation, trust, partnership, or association who has naturalized, as per 8 USC 1101(a)(23) into the District of Columbia as an employee or officer of the “Federal corporation.”

Ens Legis
A creature of the law; an artificial being, as contrasted with a natural person. Applied to corporations, considered as deriving their existence entirely from the law. -Black’s Law 4th Edition

Public corporation
A public corporation is one created by the state for political purposes and to act as an agency in the administration of civil government. -Black’s Law 4th edition

Trade or Business
The term "trade or business" includes the performance of the functions of a public office. -26 USC 7701(a)(26)

Person
The term “person” shall be construed to mean and include an individual, a trust, estate, partnership, association, company or corporation. -26 USC 7701

Nation
“An Independent body politic; a society of men united together for the purpose of promoting their mutual safety and advantage by the joint efforts of their combined strength. But every combination of men who govern themselves independently of all others will not be considered a nation. A body of pirates, for example, who govern themselves, are not a nation. To constitute a nation, another ingredient is required. The body thus formed must respect other nations in general, and each of their members in particular. Such a society has her affairs and her interests; she deliberates and takes resolutions in common, thus becoming a moral person, who possesses an understanding and will peculiar to herself, and is susceptible of obligations and rights.” -Vattel, Prelim. Ill, 2; 5 Pet. (U. S.) 52. See 1 Idaho (N. S.) 612.

Amnesty
Amnesty is the abolition and forgetfulness of the offense. -Black's Law 4th Edition

Coalition
a temporary alliance of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action. -Merriam-Webster's dictionary

Contract
An agreement, upon sufficient consideration, to do or not to do a particular thing. -Black’s Law 4th Edition

Consideration
1. Consideration is not to be confounded with motive. Consideration means something which is of value in the eye of the law, moving from the plaintiff, either of benefit to the plaintiff or of detriment to the defendant. -Black’s Law 4th Edition

2. Nothing is consideration that is not regarded as such by both parties. Schlecht v. Schlecht, 168 Minn. 168, 209 N.W. 883, 887

Sovereignty
Sovereignty refers to the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources or bodies. In the context of a Private Membership Association (PMA), sovereignty emphasizes the autonomy of the association to govern its own affairs, in accordance with its established rules and principles, free from external control.

Mutual Consent
Mutual Consent is a foundational principle whereby all parties involved agree to the terms of an engagement or agreement, signifying their voluntary and informed agreement to those terms. Within a PMA, mutual consent underpins the legitimacy of its governance, ensuring that all memberships and participations are willingly and knowingly entered into by each member.

Common Law
Common Law, a body of legal principles derived from the judgments and decrees of the courts rather than statutes, underscores many of the governance practices within PMAs. It emphasizes precedent and judicial decisions as a primary source of law, allowing PMAs to operate within a framework of established legal principles, particularly those relating to contracts and associations.

Canon Law
Canon Law comprises the body of laws and regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. For PMAs that align with spiritual or religious principles, Canon Law may provide a guiding framework for internal governance, conflict resolution, and the moral and ethical standards upheld by the association.

Natural Rights
Natural Rights are rights that individuals are born with, not granted by a government or institution. They include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. PMAs recognize and protect these inherent rights, ensuring that the association's operations and interactions respect and do not infringe upon the natural rights of its members.

Autonomy
Autonomy in the context of a PMA refers to the self-governing capability of the association and its members to make decisions independently of external entities. It emphasizes the importance of self-determination, freedom of association, and the right to privacy within the collective operation of the PMA.

Unalienable Rights
Unalienable Rights are rights that cannot be surrendered, sold, or transferred to someone else - the government or otherwise. These include the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. PMAs are designed to safeguard these rights for all members, reinforcing the association’s commitment to the inherent dignity and freedom of each individual.

Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction refers to the official power to make legal decisions and judgments. PMAs operate within their own jurisdiction in terms of governance and internal affairs but recognize the importance of navigating the broader legal landscape with respect to external jurisdictional claims and statutory requirements.