Government of Women Act

1. This Act may be cited as the Government of Women Act of 20__.
2. The effective date of this act is ____________, 20__.
3. This Act is intended to provide a comprehensive rule for the treatment, control and government of women in the United States and its possessions and territories.  It is the intent of Congress to occupy this field, to supersede prior Acts of Congress and federal regulations, and to preëmpt all contrary state laws and regulations except as otherwise specified.
4. Every girl and woman in the United States is subject to this Act.
5. Definitions.
   1. “Certificate” means the “Certificate of Guardianship” referred to in section 10 below.
   2. “Court” means the state court of general jurisdiction, or the family court, of the jurisdiction where the woman resides.
   3. “Dollar” and “$” mean United States dollars valued as of the effective date of this Act.  Thus a term in this Act such as “$999” must be converted into current dollars before being given effect at any future time.
   4. “Guardian” and “Guardianship” refers to the person to whom responsibility for a girl or woman has been confided under the provisions of Part B below.
   5. “State” includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
   6. “Women” includes girls. 
6. If any provision of this Act be declared unconstitutional, all other provisions will continue in effect.

B. Guardianship

1. All girls and women in the United States are to be subject to a male guardian.
   1. A married woman will be guarded by her husband if possible, otherwise by her father or an adult son if possible, and otherwise by another adult male relative.
   2. A girl or unmarried woman will be guarded by her father if possible, otherwise by another adult male relative.
   3. A widowed or divorced woman will be guarded by an adult son if possible, otherwise by her father if possible, and otherwise by another adult male relative.
2. The choice of a guardian will be made in the first instance by consensus among the closest adult male relatives of the girl or woman.  If these relatives cannot agree on a guardian who is willing and able to serve, and an unrelated male guardian cannot be appointed by family consensus, the state court of general jurisdiction, or family court, in the jurisdiction where the girl or woman resides shall appoint a male guardian who need not be a relative.
3. If a guardianship becomes vacant, through death, incapacity, resignation, or other means, or if a girl or woman has no adult male relatives in the United States, it shall be filled by order of the court.
4. If no suitable guardian can be found for a girl or woman subject to this Act, the court of general jurisdiction or family court shall itself act as her guardian.  The court may delegate this duty to an officer of its choosing.  No charge or fee shall be levied for this service.
5. A guardian residing outside the United States may not be appointed for a woman or girl.  The permanent removal of a guardian from the United States vacates his guardianship.
6. The guardian of a girl or woman may remove her from the United States at his discretion, subject to approval by the court if demanded by a male member of her family, or by the woman through a male next friend.
7. A girl or woman not lawfully residing in the United States will not be admitted to the United States unless a resident male guardian is specified for her on her visa application.  If the guardianship of a non-resident woman becomes vacant, the Regional Director of the U. S. Citizenship and Naturalization Service having responsibility for the area in which the woman temporarily resides will act as her guardian until the guardianship can be filled.  If it is not filled in a reasonable time the Regional Director will take the woman into custody and deport her forthwith.  No unguarded girl or woman may enter or remain in the United States.
8. Within 30 days of the effective date of this Act, every girl and woman in the United States must be registered with the Chief of Police or County Sheriff, or equivalent officer, and her guardian and domicile identified.  This officer shall thereupon issue a Certificate of Guardianship to the girl or woman.  After that time the Certificate must be carried at all times and produced to any official, or to any man over 50, who demands it.  Any girl or woman not in possession of a Certificate of  Guardianship, or failing to comply with a production demand as specified in this section, may be arrested and detained until such a Certificate is issued or produced.  Willful failure to possess, carry or produce a Certificate of Guardianship is a misdemeanor and may be punished by up to a year’s confinement.  Such failure is a continuing offense and each occurrence may be separately charged and punished.
9. A woman must obey her guardian in all matters.  Willful disobedience is a misdemeanor and each occurrence may be punished by up to a year’s confinement.
10. A woman’s religious belief and practice shall be determined and regulated by her guardian, and her adherence to them may be required.  Willful disobedience is a misdemeanor and each occurrence may be punished by up to a year’s confinement.
11. A woman may not lie to or mislead her guardian, or refuse a truthful answer to any question he may put to her.  Willful disobedience of this rule is a misdemeanor and each occurrence may be punished by up to a year’s confinement.
12. In cases of alleged abuse a woman may apply to the Court, by a male as next friend, for exchange of guardians.  A court may appoint a guardian or a next friend outside the woman’s family if necessary to prevent abuse or overreaching.
13. No principle of confidentiality may be invoked by a woman against her guardian.  All officials, licensed professionals, schools, clergy, and other institutions and persons, public and private, must provide all information they possess concerning a girl or woman to her guardian on his demand.
14. No guardian may marry or have sexual relations with a girl or woman while she is under his guardianship, or for two years thereafter.

C. Rights and Disabilities of Women

1. Women may not vote or hold public office.  All women holding public office on the effective date of this Act are deposed by this Act, and their offices declared vacant. 
2. Women may not give speeches in public; nor may they publish any writing, in print or on the Internet, except that they may use e-mail and similar messaging systems to the extent and for the purposes their guardians permit.  Women may not speak in public at all if their guardian or responsible male accompanying them forbids it.  Willful disobedience of this section is a misdemeanor and each occurrence may be punished by up to a year’s confinement. 
3. Women may not be educated beyond the sixth grade.  All certificates, diplomas and degrees held by women for education above this level are cancelled and revoked as of the effective date of this Act.
4. No woman may marry without written permission of her guardian.  Willful disobedience of this section is a misdemeanor and each occurrence may be punished by up to a year’s confinement.  A marriage entered into without permission is voidable at the option of the woman’s guardian.
5. No woman may work, or travel more than 20 miles from her registered domicile, or drive a motor vehicle, without written permission of her guardian.  This permission must be carried on her person and produced to any official, or to any man over 50, who demands it.  It may be revoked at will.  Willful disobedience of this section is a misdemeanor and each occurrence may be punished by up to a year’s confinement. 
6. A woman’s guardian may confine her to her home, or otherwise restrict her liberty, associations, and freedom of action, as he may deem in her best interest, and he may chastise or punish her as he deems necessary, including corporally; provided, that in case of abuse she may apply to the Court for relief, by a male next friend.  
7. Women may not directly acquire, hold, manage or dispose of real property, or personal property (except jewelry) worth more than $999.  They may hold beneficial ownership of property, but it must be managed for them in trust by their guardians.  Individual items of jewelry worth more than $99 may be sold by their guardians in case of need, but the proceeds must be applied to their benefit.  Willful disobedience of this section by a woman is a misdemeanor and each occurrence may be punished by up to a year’s confinement, plus confiscation of all assets in excess of the limit. 
8. A woman must deliver to her guardian on his demand every key, lock combination, computer password, or other device that might shield her affairs from his scrutiny.  Willful disobedience of this section is a misdemeanor and each occurrence may be punished by up to a year’s confinement. 
9. A woman may not possess or handle a firearm under any circumstances, and no court or guardian may grant her permission to do so.  Any disobedience of this section is a felony of the second class.

D. Employment of Women

1. Women may not hold any professional licenses; except that they may be licensed as midwives, caretakers for unmarried girls and for boys under eight years old, practical nurses, hairdressers, masseuses and (where permitted by state law) prostitutes. 
   1. All other state professional licenses held by women will lapse as prescribed by state law, but in no event to continue in force for more than two months after the effective date of this Act.
   2. All federal professional licenses held by women will lapse as prescribed by regulation, but in no event to continue in force for more than two months after the effective date of this Act.
2. Women may not serve in the armed forces or in any police force, or in any other capacity in which they might be called on to exercise authority over men.  Any such appointments or commissions in force at the effective date of this Act are cancelled and revoked. 
3. No woman may ever exercise any authority over any adult man under any circumstances, and no court or guardian may grant her permission to do so.

E. Women in the Judicial System

1. Women may not enter into contracts, except by their guardians, and no contract signed by a woman will be enforced. 
2. Women may not sue directly, but only by a guardian.  Where a guardian may have a conflict of interest, or improperly refuses to sue, a woman may sue by another male as next friend.  Disputes about the woman’s representative will be decided by the court where suit is filed.
3. Women may not serve on juries. 
4. Women may testify in court, but their testimony may be ignored or discounted because of their gender, or that of a man given more weight, and juries hearing testimony from women shall be so instructed.
5. Women may not divorce, although they may be divorced.  In all cases of separation or divorce the father may at his option retain custody of any children.  Children not under the custody of their father shall be under the custody of their mother’s guardian unless some other male custodian shall be appointed by the court.