Preamble

The Citizens of the United States affirm that every person born, though unique, is equal to every other.

All people, just by being alive, have Natural Rights. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson named some of those Rights - Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

He claimed, and we agree, that defense of those rights is the reason that governments exist. He also said, and we also agree, that governments derive their legitimacy solely through the Consent of the Governed. A government is only legitimate for as long as the people it governs collectively agree it is legitimate.

So we the Citizens of the United States declare a new government, established by our acceptance of it, as outlined in this Charter.

This passage is the philosophical foundation of the Charter.

It roots itself in Enlightenment political theory, explicitly tying itself to Jefferson (and, by extension, Locke) via the Declaration of Independence. This linkage positions the Charter not as a radical departure but as a return to foundational American principles. The refrain "He claimed, and we agree" creates continuity with 1776 while asserting contemporary validation.

This brief passage asserts firmly that rights exist "just by being alive." This establishes an inherent foundation for rights. The government does not grant them; instead, they are recognized by it. This differs from positivist approaches to rights. Legal rights flow from the rights one has by existence, rather than as a grant from the government.

The statement that "Every person born, though unique, is equal to every other" recognizes individual distinctiveness and fundamental equality.

By declaring "we...declare a new government," this preamble claims revolutionary authority. Still, the emphasis on continuous consent lends legitimacy to the revolutionary spirit. And, it should be noted, it does so only after invoking the Declaration's assertion that the legitimacy of a government is solely dependent on the Consent of the Governed.

Overall, this preamble establishes a connection to history, a moral and philosophical foundation for government, and a fundamental claim to legitimacy.