Thread by @NemianSlay

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The Commonwealth Constitution: A Model for Renewal
A proposed framework to restore unity, secure liberty, and establish accountable government in the United States.
#Constitution #CivicRenewal #AmericanCommonwealth #Democracy #Reform

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Preamble
We, the People of the United States, in order to restore unity, secure liberty, establish justice, and provide a government accountable to the will and welfare of all, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the American Commonwealth.

2/1 All authority derives from the People and remains forever subject to their consent.

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ARTICLE I – The Legislature
Section 1. Establishment
Legislative power resides in a bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate of Regions.

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Section 2. The National Assembly
The Assembly shall contain 650 Members, elected for four-year terms by Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMP):
325 elected from single-member districts by direct vote

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325 allocated by national party vote share, subject to a 4 percent threshold
No person shall serve more than two full terms.

4/2 The Assembly shall enact laws, budgets, and treaties; elect and remove the Prime Minister; and confirm senior appointments by two-thirds vote. The Assembly may compel testimony and records through subpoena.

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Section 3. The Senate of Regions
The Senate shall consist of 120 Senators, elected by multi-state regional blocs for six-year terms.
Its consent is required for interstate compacts, constitutional amendments, and federalism disputes.

5/1 A three-fifths vote of the Senate may delay or return legislation to the Assembly for reconsideration but not veto it permanently.

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Section 4. Procedure
Each chamber shall determine its rules and publish its proceedings.
A quorum shall consist of a majority of members.
All votes shall be recorded and publicly accessible through the National Civic Portal.

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Commentary – Legislature: From Faction to Representation
Problem: Two-party duopoly limited representation, creating safe districts and reducing the moderating center.
Solution: Mixed-Member Proportional Parliament restores majority rule while preserving local accountability.

7/1 Half district-based: citizens know their representative

Half proportional: every vote contributes to national balance

Term limits encourage renewal

Transparency: votes, sessions, and spending published in real time on the National Civic Portal

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The Senate of Regions replaces the current Senate to refocus on federal balance, not obstruction.
Its limited delaying power forces negotiation without endless stalemate.
Together, they encourage coalition, compromise, and reasoned debate—“deliberative dynamism.”

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ARTICLE II – The Executive
Section 1. The Prime Minister
Executive authority is vested in a Prime Minister, elected by an absolute majority of the National Assembly.
The Prime Minister directs administration, foreign relations, and defense, and may introduce legislation.

9/1 The Prime Minister may be removed only by a constructive vote of no confidence, naming a successor. A Deputy Prime Minister, drawn from a coalition partner, shall act during vacancy.

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Section 2. The President
The President of the Commonwealth is Head of State and guardian of the Constitution.
Elected by non-partisan national ballot for one seven-year term. Duties are ceremonial except:

10/1 To mediate deadlock exceeding sixty days between chambers
To certify laws duly enacted
To deliver an annual “State of the Commonwealth” address

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Commentary – Executive: Dividing Power to Unite Function
Problem: Presidency combined head of state and government, leading to polarization around individuals.
Solution: Dual executive: President as nonpartisan Head of State; Prime Minister as Head of Government.

11/1 The Prime Minister must maintain Assembly confidence—power tied to performance, not personality. The President serves a single long term, symbolizing unity and continuity, stabilizing Parliament only when needed.

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ARTICLE III – The Judiciary
Section 1. Supreme Constitutional Court
Fifteen Justices serve eighteen-year staggered terms; vacancies occur every fourteen months.

12/1 Justices nominated by Judicial Commission (5 legal experts, 5 Assembly members, 5 citizens by lot) and confirmed by two-thirds of Assembly.
The Court exercises judicial review, protects fundamental rights, and arbitrates state-federal disputes.

12/2 Three-fifths majority required to invalidate an Act of Parliament.

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Section 2. Lower Courts
Unified regional and district courts apply federal law subject to a binding Judicial Code of Ethics enforced by the Independent Elections and Anti-Corruption Commission (IEAC).
Commentary – Judiciary: Guarding Liberty, Not Partisanship

13/1 Problem: Lifetime appointments and ideological battles eroded public trust.
Solution: 18-year staggered terms ensure turnover and independence. Judicial Commission prevents domination by politicians or lawyers. Three-fifths requirement ensures humility in invalidating laws.

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ARTICLE IV – Federalism and Regional Autonomy
States retain authority over education, health, energy, policing, and local taxation.
Regional Councils may be formed voluntarily by two or more states to manage shared resources.

14/1 A Bill of Regional Rights guarantees free movement, trade, and environmental responsibility among states. No state shall impose undue environmental, economic, or migratory burdens upon another.

14/2 Commentary – Federalism Commonwealth preserves states as “laboratories of democracy” while allowing voluntary Regional Councils. Replaces coercive federalism with consensual coordination. Federalism becomes a network, not a hierarchy.

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ARTICLE V – Democratic Participation
Section 1. National Referendums
Citizens may propose binding referendums on statutory matters with petitions equaling 5% of voters within 180 days.
Passage requires 55% approval and 40% turnout.

15/1 Constitutional or rights-limiting issues are excluded. Government shall provide publicly funded, AI-assisted fact summaries in plain language.

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Section 2. Citizen Assembly
Every ten years, a 1,000-member Citizen Assembly selected by civic lottery shall review governance, ethics, and technology policy.
Top three recommendations must receive up-or-down parliamentary vote within six months.

16/1 Commentary – Democratic Participation National referendums refresh legitimacy directly from citizens while safeguarding against mob rule. Citizen Assemblies institutionalize Jefferson’s “ward republics,” feeding citizen insight into national governance.

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ARTICLE VI – Electoral Integrity and Anti-Corruption
Public Funding of Elections: private donations prohibited; equal grants issued upon verified citizen support.

17/1 Independent Elections and Anti-Corruption Commission (IEAC): empowered to investigate, indict, recover assets, and impose lifetime disqualifications.
National Civic Portal: real-time public access to bills, votes, lobbying records, and officials’ asset disclosures.

17/2 All lobbying meetings logged within 24 hours.
Commentary – Anti-Corruption & Transparency Money once bought access; now data buys influence. Nationalized campaign finance removes incentive to sell loyalty. IEAC unites oversight into one open-source, AI-audited agency.

17/3 Sunlight remains the best disinfectant.

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ARTICLE VII – Fundamental Rights
Section 1. Immutable Core
The first ten amendments to the Constitution of 1789 remain in full force.
Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition, due process, fair trial, home and personal security, limitation of government power.

18/1 Section 2. Modern Guarantees Right to Digital Privacy and Data Ownership: personal data cannot be collected or used without consent or lawful warrant Right to Environmental Health: clean air, water, sustainable stewardship Right to Transparent Governance:

18/2 algorithms publicly auditable Right to Education & Basic Healthcare Freedom from Discrimination: equality regardless of origin, belief, sex, or identity

18/3 Section 3. Civic Duty National or community service of one year before age 30 is voluntary, incentivized through taxes, education, and public employment.

18/4 Commentary – Fundamental Rights Bill of Rights retained; modern liberties expanded. Digital privacy, environmental protection, algorithmic accountability, basic healthcare and education, equality of dignity. Protects both public and private power.

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ARTICLE VIII – Fiscal and Technological Safeguards
Parliament shall maintain a balanced budget over each ten-year cycle; emergency deviations require three-fifths vote and review within two years.
All federal statutes shall sunset after twenty years unless re-enacted.

19/1 A permanent Technology and AI Ethics Commission oversees governmental AI, privacy, and surveillance; annual report public. Government algorithms affecting rights or benefits must be open-source or independently audited.

19/2 Commentary – Fiscal & Tech Safeguards Unchecked debt enslaves future generations; unchecked technology may enslave all. Balanced budgets prevent political bribery; sunset clauses force review. AI Ethics Commission ensures human dignity remains final algorithm.

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ARTICLE IX – Amendments and Review
Amendments may originate in Parliament or by citizen petition of 5% of voters.
Approval requires two-thirds of Assembly, three-fifths of Senate, and national referendum (55%).

20/1 Every 20 years, a Constitutional Convention automatically reviews amendments.
ARTICLE X – Transition and Continuity Upon ratification by 60% national referendum, this Constitution supersedes prior federal structures after 12-year transition.

20/2 Existing states and laws remain valid unless conflicting. Incumbent offices continue until successors are chosen under this Constitution.

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Declaration of Civic Unity
All sovereignty flows from the People.
No office shall be so powerful as to silence the citizen,
nor any citizen so powerless as to be unheard by government.
Thus is renewed the American experiment—in liberty, accountability, and enduring hope.

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