Constitution

A Universal Constitution

The Constitution proposed here is devised for, and intended to be used universally by, all adopting societies.
To operate effectively, the excentric and interrelated structure for representative government that is at the heart of the Standards of LIFE, requires that a common Constitution be accepted by all layers of the democracy.
The univeral adoption of a common Constitution allows the practice of Variable Law to operate within a coherent and continuous plane of legal certitude.
The universality of the Constitution requires that it restricts its remit as closely as possible to only the core elements necessary to enable the function of democracy and the protection of universal rights.

Also, by using a standard template for all Constitutions, the process of determining how LIFE-like each constituency is, and where modifications have been made to the rights, freedoms and structures contained in it, is more easily determined. This is important for determining trade relations, political partnerships and migration choices.

A LIFE Constitution

Within the context of the Standards of LIFE a “constitution” is a set of laws established at every level within the multilayer structure that applies to all of the constituencies that it incorporates. As such, it effectively requires the relinquishment by all contained constituencies of those aspects of law over which the Constitution seeks jurisdiction.
Having been established, the process by which it is subject to revision is incorporated in the Standards of LIFE Constitution itself: it will require the consent and ratification of at least a majority of the contained constituencies. To preserve the function of the constitution in the face of changing opinions and aspirations and yet enable its modification over time, the initial establishment and any subsequent changes should be subject to ratification by two serially elected governments at the layer it is implemented.

Based on the Standards, any proposed constitution must effectively be provisional until such time as a complete round of elections has been completed in each of the contained constituencies, such that those constituencies can legitimately make relinquishment orders for the relevant aspects of law.
Given the coherent and interrelated nature of the Standards of LIFE and the consequences of their use as a measure in determining inter-constituency relationships, it is important that any constitution incorporates all of the core Standards and is written in the spirit of the Principles.

The current constitution template framework is available here.

Constitutional Content

The practical implementation of the Standards of LIFE requires significant review and replenishment of the legal coda of any adopting society. In light of the extent of the changes that are likely to result, it is worth distinguishing between the core Standards and the resulting policies that are appropriate in a given situation. While nothing should be so sacrosanct as to be beyond review, especially by future generations, there are elements of the Standards of LIFE that are so essential to the nature and practice of the philosophy, that they should be reasonably enshrined as part of the fundamental groundwork on which the political system and resulting policies are based.
The core elements of the Standards of LIFE that can be appropriately incorporated into the society’s basic legal framework are:

• the ascendancy of human rights and the ratification of the limited ability of any external entity to lawfully intrude into the personal space of any individual
• the principles of a multi-layered structure with voluntary membership in the next layer by each constituency, subject to geography and as described in Representation
  the establishment of a Boundaries Commission charged with the documentation of constituency boundaries
• the principles of Variable Law and its mechanisms for the passage of responsibility of aspects of law between layers
• the principles of proportional voting as laid out in Elections
• the principles of conduct for political campaigns, contributions and participation
• the establishment of a nonpartisan Elections Commission for the administration and oversight of all elections and charged with the faithful execution of elections according to the Constitution
• the ascendancy of the Constitution over all other legal frameworks operating informally or formally
• the universal eligibility of all to the rights and responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution

Monarchies and Extra-Constitutional Entities

There are places and situations around the world where people feel a strong sense of allegiance to historical or nonsecular authorities and there is nothing in the Standards of LIFE that disenfranchises anyone from their personal choices of loyalty or allegiance. The Standards of LIFE, and the Constitution that enshrines them, must be the supreme law of the land and provide the ultimate refuge and reference point for all citizens. Within this context the continuation or adherence to traditions or traditional processes is not specifically encumbered, so they can continue so long as they do not contravene the Standards.