The 1887 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a legal document prepared by anti-monarchists to strip the absolute Hawaiian monarchy of much of its authority, initiating a transfer of power to a coalition of American, European and native Hawaiian people. It became known as the Bayonet Constitution for the rising by the armed militia which forced King Kalākaua to sign it or be deposed.
31-664: On June 30, 1887, a meeting of residents including the armed militia of the Honolulu Rifles , a group of soldiers that were secretly the Hawaiian League 's military arm, and politicians who were members of the Reform Party of the Hawaiian Kingdom , demanded from King Kalākaua the dismissal of his Cabinet, headed by Walter M. Gibson . Their concerns about Gibson stemmed from the fact that he supported
62-500: A drill competition at Kalakaua's 50th birthday celebration. The Rifles were a part of the social community of Hawaii and in 1887 hosted an exhibition and dance for the community, attended by most of the political figures of the day, where the king presented them with the flag of the Kingdom. The ranks of the reorganization grew significantly after January 1887 when it adopted a resolution to become subject to an act of 1886 "To organize
93-654: A list of demands to the king. On the next morning, July 1, 1887, a shipment of arms was discovered from a neutral Australian ship (later found to be smooth-bore hunting guns used to scare birds from farmers' fields). The Honolulu Rifles took control and arrested and almost hanged Gibson. Kalākaua called in US Minister George W. Merrill , and the British, French, Portuguese, and Japanese representatives and requested help, but they all suggested that he should comply with any demands, which he did. Thurston then became
124-446: A noble or representative now came to include high property and income requirements as well, which stripped almost all of the native population of the ability to serve in the legislature until they met the requirements. The 1887 constitution had also attempted to limit profligate spending, which had become a problem under Kalākaua's reign, namely with the costly construction and maintenance of Iolani Palace. The constitution stipulated that
155-761: A visa on arrival according to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement . In 2020, in Love v Commonwealth , the High Court of Australia ruled that Aboriginal Australians (as defined in Mabo v Queensland (No 2) ) cannot be considered aliens under the Constitution of Australia , regardless of whether they were born in Australia or hold Australian citizenship. In Canada, the term "alien"
186-479: Is defined in the Australian nationality law . Non-citizens in Australia are permanent residents, temporary residents, or illegal residents (technically called "unlawful non-citizens"). Most non-citizens (including those who lack citizenship documents) traveling to Australia must obtain a visa prior to travel. The only exceptions to the rule are holders of New Zealand passports and citizenship, who may apply for
217-498: Is generally any person (including an organization ) who is not a citizen or a national of a specific country , although definitions and terminology differ across legal systems . The term "alien" is derived from the Latin alienus . The Latin later came to mean a stranger, a foreigner, or someone not related by blood. Similar terms to "alien" in this context include foreigner and lander . Different countries around
248-613: Is not a British citizen , a citizen of Ireland, a Commonwealth citizen , or a British protected person . The Aliens Act of 1905 , the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act of 1914 and the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act of 1919 were all products of the turbulence in the early part of the 20th century. In the United States, the term "alien" is as synonymous with foreign national . Under
279-766: Is not limited to natural humans because what are colloquially called foreign corporations are technically called alien corporations. Because corporations are creations of local state law, a foreign corporation is an out-of-state corporation. There are a multitude of unique and highly complex U.S. domestic tax laws and regulations affecting the U.S. tax residency of foreign nationals, both nonresident aliens and resident aliens, in addition to income tax and social security tax treaties and totalization agreements . "Alienage", i.e., citizenship status, has been prohibited since 1989 in New York City from being considered for employment, under that town's Human Rights legislation. In
310-544: Is not used in federal statutes. Instead, the term " foreign national " serves as its equivalent and is found in legal documents. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act defines "foreign national" as "a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, and includes a stateless person." In the United Kingdom , the British Nationality Act of 1981 defines an alien as a person who
341-613: The Hawaiian League , which had explicitly wanted the end of the kingdom and its annexation by the United States since its inception. It stripped the king of most of his personal authority, empowering the legislature and cabinet of the government. It has since become widely known as the "Bayonet Constitution" because of the threat of force used to gain Kalākaua's cooperation. While Thurston and Dole denied this use of coercion and threats, Queen Liliuokalani asserted that Kalākaua's life
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#1732765997154372-593: The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of the United States, "[t]he term 'alien' means any person not a citizen or national of the United States ." People born in American Samoa or on Swains Island are statutorily "non-citizen nationals." Others, such as natives of Palau and the Marshall Islands , are legal immigrants and aliens for INA purposes. Every refugee that is admitted to
403-535: The King was required to appoint a Minister of Finance to oversee government spending and submit an annual budget proposal to the legislature. The 1887 constitution made significant changes to voting requirements. It allowed foreign resident aliens to vote, not just naturalized citizens. Asians, including subjects who previously enjoyed the right to vote, were specifically denied suffrage. Hawaiian , American, and European men were granted full voting rights only if they met
434-457: The US code. Several provisions even mention the term "unauthorized alien". According to PolitiFact , the term "illegal alien" occurs in federal law, but does so scarcely, writing that, "where the term does appear, it's undefined or part of an introductory title or limited to apply to certain individuals convicted of felonies.” Since the U.S. law says that a corporation is a person , the term alien
465-512: The United States under 8 U.S.C. § 1157 automatically becomes an "immigrant" and then a "special immigrant" after receiving a green card . The usage of the term "alien" dates back to 1798, when it was used in the Alien and Sedition Acts . Although the INA provides no overarching explicit definition of the term "illegal alien", it is mentioned in a number of provisions under title 8 of
496-589: The adoption of the Bayonet Constitution, the Native Hawaiian population of the Hawaiian Kingdom sought to restore King Kalākaua's power and authority. A committee of Hawaiians met with Kalākaua to discuss dismantling the constitution because the king signed it under duress. According to Thurston, Kalākaua even defended the constitution to protesting natives. Queen Liliuokalani affirmed that he was threatened with violence should he attempt to undo
527-459: The authority to imprison those that disrespected, published false reports or comments about or threatened or assaulted any of its members. The constitution also removed the monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles (the upper house of the legislature), instead making it a body elected by the wealthy landowners to six-year terms and enlarging it to 40 members. Qualifications to serve as
558-494: The consent of his cabinet and gave the legislature the power to dismiss the cabinet instead of the king. It also removed language from the 1864 constitution implying that the king was above the law, replacing it with language that the king was required to obey his laws to the level of his subjects. The cabinet was now allowed to vote in the legislature, but to reduce the king's influence, he was not allowed to appoint legislators to any other government post. The legislature also gained
589-489: The economic and literacy thresholds. The 1864 constitution required that voters generate annual income of at least US$ 75 (equivalent to US$ 1461 in 2024) or own private property worth at least US$ 150 (equivalent to $ 2922 in 2024). The wealth requirements were removed during the short reign of Lunalilo in 1874. That change extended voter eligibility to many more Hawaiians and was kept for the lower house. The legislature still had little power, however, this being concentrated in
620-540: The government's power to the Cabinet and then promptly appointing their members to the Cabinet, and securing the disenfranchisement of their opposition, the Hawaiian League seized complete control over the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Bayonet Constitution was the first great implement in the decline of the monarchy. Though it did not depose the King, it did place considerable limitations on his power. Immediately after
651-539: The king's authority. The meeting was called to order by Sanford B. Dole (cousin of then 9-year-old James Dole ) and chaired by Peter Cushman Jones , the president of the largest sugarcane plantation agency in Hawaii. The Hawaiian League and Americans had developed a vast majority of the Hawaiian Kingdom's wealth. Lorrin A. Thurston , the main instigator of the subsequent overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, prepared
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#1732765997154682-715: The legislature took control of the country. Honolulu Rifles The Honolulu Rifles were the name of two volunteer military companies of the Hawaiian Kingdom . In 1857, the First Hawaiian Cavalry, an artillery and infantry company which was originally established in 1852, was renamed the Honolulu Rifles and changed to solely an infantry unit. The unit was first commanded by Captain R. Coady , and later by Captain Charles T. Gulick . It
713-427: The military forces of the kingdom" . By March of that year it split into two companies, A and B, forming a battalion. The following month, Portuguese residents formed another company that became company C by May 25. The act of 1886 required a Commander-in-Chief of the rank of lieutenant general to oversee the military forces of the Kingdom. John O. Dominis was given this position while the King himself, under this act,
744-419: The monarch. The 1887 constitution required an income of $ 600 (equivalent to US$ 20347 in 2024) or taxable property of US$ 3000 (equivalent to $ 101733 in 2024) to vote for the upper house (or serve in it). That excluded an estimated two-thirds of the Hawaiian population. Disproportionately, it was white male residents, wealthy from the sugar industry, who retained suffrage with the Bayonet Constitution. Allocating
775-477: The new constitution. She also said there were several petitions from natives that asked for a new constitution to restore her absolute rule. Out of 9,500 registered voters, 6,500 signed the petitions. Based on this Queen Liliuokalani proposed the removal of power from the legislature in January 1893, by a new constitution that would restore absolute monarchy. In response, the Hawaiian League overthrew her monarchy and
806-471: The powerful interior minister although Englishman William Lowthian Green was nominally head of the Cabinet as Minister of Finance. Gibson was later exiled to San Francisco. Over less than a week, the new constitution was drafted by a group of lawyers, including Thurston, Dole, William Ansel Kinney , William Owen Smith , George Norton Wilcox , and Edward Griffin Hitchcock . All were also associated with
837-533: The world use varying terms for aliens. The following are several types of aliens: An "alien" in English law denoted any person born outside of the monarch's dominions and who did not owe allegiance to the monarch. Aliens were not allowed to own land and were subject to different taxes to subjects . This idea was passed on in the Commonwealth to other common law jurisdictions. In Australia , citizenship
868-486: Was disbanded in 1874 after failing to respond during the Honolulu Courthouse riot , although their founding constitution stipulated that only the government could call on them and no command was ever received at the time of the insurrection. The second company was reorganized in the spring of 1884 with the approval of the cabinet and King Kalakaua who gave the group its name. The organizations first use
899-588: Was on April 26, 1885 at the death of the Dowager Queen Emma , to stand guard at her residence after her passing. The reorganization held little prominence until after 1886 when the company came into the leadership of Volney V. Ashford , who had extensive military experience with the United States during the Civil war and later with the Canadian Militia . The company began its rise when it won
930-627: Was the Supreme Commander, referred to as Generalissimo. Eventually the act of 1886 would be deemed unconstitutional. The Honolulu Rifles were disbanded on August 23, 1890. At what point the Rifles became part of the Hawaiian League known as the Committee of Safety is still somewhat unclear. More than likely the expansion of the company coincided with the formation of the Hawaiian league. Resident alien In law , an alien
961-415: Was threatened: "He signed that constitution under absolute compulsion." The new constitution was never ratified in the Hawaiian Kingdom's legislature. The 1887 constitution followed modern liberal principles. It replaced the previous absolute veto, allowed to the king, to one that two-thirds of the legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom could override. It also took away the power of the king to act without