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 document presents a complete replacement for the U.S. Constitution, designed to restore the founding principles of equality, Natural Rights, and government by consent of the governed.

What you'll find here:

• A full constitutional framework addressing modern challenges

• Clear, enforceable rights and government limitations

• Practical implementation guidelines

• Written in plain English for everyday Americans

This is a working draft meant to start serious discussion about constitutional renewal. It's longer than the original Constitution because it includes specific enforcement mechanisms and addresses issues the founders couldn't have anticipated.

How to read it:

• Jump to specific articles using the navigation sidebar

• Each section is designed to stand alone for easy reference

• Use the search function to find specific topics or provisions

For a more in-depth discussion,

you can use the sidebar to scroll down to the section labeled "Charter Commentary & Analysis." There you can find my reasoning and commentary on each part of the text. Please be advised, though, that this is still under construction.

The full text follows. Judge it on its merits.

No Right can be taken away or reduced unless this Charter clearly allows it. Any government exercise of power that weakens a protected Right is not valid.

All Rights guaranteed under this Charter apply equally at all levels of government, without exception.

No emergency can justify reduction, elimination, or suspension of Rights, even on a temporary basis.

All political power in the United States comes from the Citizens. Government only exists because the Citizens delegate power to it. They limit what it can do through this Charter. No Office, law, institution, or official is above the Citizens or the law. All government workers answer to them and can be held accountable through lawful means.

Only human beings are “Persons” under this Charter.

While moral and ethical views on the origins of life differ, this Charter is concerned solely with legal definitions and enforceable Rights. Before birth, no individual can claim or exercise the legal Rights reserved for Persons—such as the Rights to free expression, religious exercise, or habeas corpus. Therefore, under this Charter, legal Personhood begins at birth. Legally, prior to birth, bodily autonomy belongs to the mother.

The People of the United States are all the Persons in its territory and subject to its laws, as are those Persons in the sovereign territories of recognized Native Nations. The People include both Citizens and Noncitizens alike.

Every Person has the Right to travel freely within the country and to leave it. This Right may only be restricted following arrest or lawful conviction of a crime.

Everyone is equal under the law. No Person may be treated unequally under the law based on sex, race, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other distinction not grounded in legitimate constitutional purpose. This Charter assumes laws should protect Rights, not take them away. No Right may be restricted unless the Charter authorizes the restriction.

The Government may not enact a Bill of Attainder.

No Person may be prosecuted or punished for an act that was not a crime at the time it was committed.

Individual Persons possess Civil Rights. Individual Citizens possess Civil Rights, Civic Rights, and Civic Powers. Associations—whether corporations, unions, nonprofits, churches, PACs, or any other collective entity—possess none of these Rights or Powers in their own name, though the individuals who make up their membership retain all Rights and Powers they hold as Persons or Citizens.

Any association that is capable of materially controlling employment, housing, credit, communications, transportation, data, or any essential market access is deemed quasi‑governmental. A quasi‑governmental association must comply with every constitutional limit that binds Government itself.

Any single member, shareholder, or employee of an association has standing to sue or defend on that association’s behalf, though employees will require the authorization of their employer to do so.

When new evidence likely would have changed a verdict resulting in a conviction and incarceration, any official possessing it must notify the court. The court must review; if confidence in the verdict is undermined, the Person shall be released, the conviction vacated, and the record expunged.

Excessive bail or fines are forbidden. Punishments may not be cruel or unusual when measured against norms across the United States and other advanced nations. The penalty for abuse of Civic Standing in Article IV, Section 4 of this Charter is not considered a violation of this Right.

Citizens who have reached the age of eighteen may vote in Federal elections and referendums. The States shall administer voter registration and may establish procedural rules, provided those rules are consistent with this Charter and do not burden or restrict the exercise of the citizen’s Power to vote. Only this Charter may limit or suspend the Power to vote.

No Person may run for Congress if they have been convicted of a felony in any State or under federal law, or if their Civic Right to hold office is currently suspended under this Charter.

A Person running for Congress must live in the State or District that they are running to represent, and must maintain their primary residency in that State or District for the duration of their service.

A Person disqualified by felony conviction may ask a special panel of the Federal Judiciary—composed of judges drawn by lot from among the sitting judges of the Circuit Courts of Appeal and the Provincial Appellate Courts, excluding all others—to restore their eligibility by showing clear and convincing evidence that the conviction was wrongful, politically motivated, or that they have demonstrated a sustained pattern of civic responsibility since their conviction.

This provision does not replace or alter the separate process for restoring Civic powers suspended under Article I.

Each Chamber will elect its leadership following its rules. Upon electing their leadership, the respective leaders will assign committees and chairs for those committees and will appoint or extend the appointments of the various support offices.

A numbered Congress is a two years in length, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on January 2nd in odd-numbered years, and running until 12:00 a.m. on January 2nd of the next odd-numbered year. Each Congress is numbered.

Each numbered Congress consists of two annual sessions, each of which follows the legislative year. The legislative year begins at 12:01 a.m. on January 2nd and runs until 12:00 a.m. January 2nd of the following year.

Citizens have the Right to seek and hold Federal office, subject to the qualifications established by this Charter. No Federal office, whether elected or appointed, may impose a religious test of any kind as a condition of eligibility.

The maximum total allowable tenure in Congress is twenty years, counting all terms, full or partial, in both chambers combined.

Citizens are the Sovereigns of the United States. Anyone born or naturalized in the U.S., and under its laws, is a Citizen of the U.S. and their home State or Territory.

Members of federally recognized Tribes are also presumed to be Citizens of the United States unless they explicitly renounce that Citizenship. They can be dual Citizens of their Tribe and of the United States.

A child born outside the United States to at least one Citizen parent is a Citizen at birth.

Every Person controls their own body. Every Person has the Right to make personal decisions about their medical care, physical appearance, and self-identification. They are protected from abuse and can make reproductive choices.

B.2(b₁). State‑Intervention Standard. The government may intervene in personal decisions only when a Person is experiencing a mental crisis that renders them unable to make rational, self-directed choices. The mere fact that a decision is risky or may result in self-harm is not sufficient grounds for intervention, so long as the Person is capable of informed and rational judgment. Acts of protest, including hunger strikes or similar conduct, are expressions of autonomy and may not be interfered with. A Person’s decision to enter hospice care or make other permanent decisions about the course of their life shall be respected, provided they possess the capacity for rational self-determination.

B.2(b₂). Religious or Cultural Practices. When religious or cultural practices involve body modifications performed on others who are incapable of giving or withholding consent, such practices are only permissible when they do not cause permanent loss of physical function, capacity, or lasting trauma. Practices that permanently impair or remove bodily capacity, sexual pleasure, or autonomy are prohibited. This Charter distinguishes between cultural expression and irreversible harm.

B.2(b₃). Minors. Parents or legal guardians may make decisions for minors, including cultural or symbolic practices, provided those decisions do not cause permanent harm or suppress the minor’s future autonomy. As minors grow, their expressed views shall be given increasing weight. By age sixteen, a minor is presumed competent to make personal decisions unless proven otherwise through a lawful process.

Eminent domain is limited to genuine public use, not commercial development. Compensation must be equal to the higher of the inflation-adjusted original cost or average local market value, as averaged by obtaining three appraisals—one chosen by the owner, one chosen by the Person or entity seeking to seize the property, and one chosen by the Court.

Every Person has the Right to life and to be free from unlawful killing. This Right cannot be interpreted to override any other Right protected by this Charter. Lawful exceptions may include killing in military service, killing in self-defense, or killing in the defense of others. They also certainly include deaths occurring in the course of lawful military or civil service. Nothing in this section prevents accountability for unlawful conduct that causes death.

The Government shall not restrict any Person’s access to the digital sphere for any reason, except as punishment for a crime following conviction or during pre-trial detention. During pre-trial detention, the justification for a restriction must be grounded in the rights of other detainees and the prison or detention center staff. It may not be punitive or have the purpose of cowing or otherwise intimidating the detainee, who has not been proven guilty. That justification must be presented to the presiding judge at the initial hearing. The judge must review the requested restrictions individually and approve or deny them. The period between apprehension and arraignment is permissive in favor of the government. The exception to that permissiveness is that the detainee must be given whatever access is necessary to secure counsel. The digital sphere shall consist of, but is not limited to, access to the Internet, cellular telephone networks, satellite telephone networks, and comparable future technologies.

This right does not exempt anyone from their responsibilities for the proper handling of classified information.

Every Person has the right to privacy and control over their body, home, digital and physical documents, communications, data, and property. Searches or seizures—whether physical or digital—require a judicial Warrant based on Probable Cause, explicitly describing the place, device, data category, or item to be examined or taken.

Every free country should have a fair and clear way for people to become Citizens. Congress must establish and maintain a simple and fair process for Noncitizens to become Citizens.

Every Person has the Right to challenge their detention before a judge. Anyone held by the government must be brought before a judge within seventy-two (72) hours. The Right to a lawyer begins at the time of detention. This Right may not be suspended.

This Charter recognizes three categories of Rights: Natural Rights, Civil Rights, and Civic Rights.

Natural Rights are the basic freedoms that every human being has simply by being alive. No government grants these Rights, and it is illegitimate for any government to deny them.

Civil Rights are legal protections that apply to all Persons under the law. Civil Rights give force to Natural Rights and guarantee fair and equal treatment under the law. They also protect Persons from abuse of power by the government.

Civic Rights are the exclusive Rights of Citizens.

Slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited except as punishment for a crime, and even then may not violate the Rights to Life or Bodily Autonomy or produce commercial gain. Conscription for military or civil service in preparation for, or in time of, war is not considered enslavement or involuntary servitude.

Incarcerated Labor Compensation.  Any value generated by incarcerated labor must be placed in a secure, interest‑bearing trust for the incarcerated Person, disbursed upon release or to a beneficiary upon death. If the prison includes a paid commissary, all income must be made available for use in that commissary during the Person’s incarceration. The Government may not profit.

Every Person has the Right to protest peacefully and to petition the government for change. 'Peacefully' means not initiating violence, but protesters may not be punished if someone else starts a conflict. Protesters may defend themselves if they are attacked, and may not be called 'violent' or required to answer charges of violence for doing so.

The government cannot seize any property prior to conviction, except physical items necessary to conduct a good-faith prosecution, such as evidence including weapons, documents, or contaminated clothing. Seizure of any other assets may occur only after conviction and must be accompanied by a separate judicial hearing for each asset to establish a direct connection to the offense.

Property belonging to a person other than the convicted defendant may only be seized if it is material evidence of a crime. If original ownership of property can be clearly established, that property must be returned to its rightful owner. If not, any proceeds from the sale of seized assets must be distributed to the victims of the crime or donated to established victims' rights organizations. The cost of seizure, cataloging, or sale cannot be deducted from those proceeds. No jurisdiction, agency, or governmental body may retain or benefit from the sale or disposal of seized property.

Government officials and agents can be charged with crimes or sued—unless this Charter clearly protects them. The President, Vice President, and Members of Congress are presumed to have Civil Immunity for actions taken in good faith while doing their jobs. But the Supreme Court can remove that protection if their actions are extreme.

They do not have Criminal Immunity—not even for actions taken as part of their official duties.

Police and law enforcement officers cannot use "Qualified Immunity" as an excuse for doing things a properly trained officer would know they do not have the legal authority to do. The Government must train officers in the Rights of the People before letting them work with the public. Not knowing the law is not an excuse.

Every Person has the Right to Personal security and lawful self‑defense.. This right includes the right to bear arms. Congress may make laws allowing for the suspension or regulation of this Right, but only in carefully and narrowly defined circumstances. Those circumstances cannot include religious or political beliefs. Such regulation must exist solely to protect the Natural Rights of others—particularly the Rights to Life and Bodily Autonomy—and must use the least restrictive means available, with its scope, application, and purpose clearly defined.

The absence of a Right in this list does not deny its existence unless expressly reserved for Citizens.

All Citizens have the unqualified Right to claim the United States as their nationality.

No person may be prosecuted more than once for the same conduct.

A case must begin in the lowest level of government that has a law against the conduct, in the place where it happened. If that level chooses not to prosecute, the next level of government may do so, but only if the conduct is illegal at that level. This process may continue upward, but once any court has held a trial, no other level of government may prosecute the same conduct, even under a different law.

If a trial ends without a verdict—such as through a mistrial—it may be tried again. But if a verdict is reached, the case is final. A judge may not order a new trial simply because they disagree with the jury’s conclusion. Prosecutors must bring all charges they intend to pursue before the trial begins. If they choose not to include certain charges, or if they lose, they do not get a second chance with different charges based on the same conduct.

If the same conduct may violate both civil and criminal law, both types of cases may proceed. However, civil courts may not award punitive damages in such cases. Punishment is reserved for the criminal process.

No Person may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, which includes, at a minimum, notice of charges against them, a fair hearing, and a chance to review and answer all testimony and evidence, and sufficient time to respond. It must also include the right to competent legal representation, an unbiased judge, and, if applicable, an impartial jury. Finally, all hearings must be held within a reasonable proximity to the place where the alleged unlawful activity occurred.

The Government shall not establish any religion, nor prohibit any free exercise of religion that does not infringe the rights of others. Public officials may express personal faith, provided it does not reasonably imply official endorsement by the Government. Public officials may express personal faith, provided it does not reasonably imply official endorsement by the Government.

No Person shall be compelled to provide lodging, sustenance, or other domestic resources to any officer, agent, or member of the Government. Voluntary hospitality remains a protected expression of personal choice and may not be presumed, imposed, or coerced.

A person may not be compelled to speak or testify against themselves. This protection applies in all settings where the Government may compel testimony, including criminal, civil, administrative, and legislative proceedings. A Person is not required to state that they are invoking this Right, and no adverse inference may be drawn from their silence. Refusal to provide records following a subpoena is not automatically protected. Such activity is the normal gathering of evidence, but it requires the same warrant and probable cause as any other search or seizure.

The Government cannot deny a Citizen a passport or the Right to return to the United States, except under a lawful extradition process.

All extraditions must meet the following requirements:

• A valid treaty in force at the time of the alleged offense;

• A formal written request from the foreign Government;

• Probable cause evidence acceptable under United States law;

• Judicial review of the evidence, treaty language, and written request; and

• Final approval and certification by the Secretary of State.

No Citizen can be deported for any reason, except as constitutionally allowed for extradition. A Citizen has the Right to leave or return to the United States.

The Citizens retain the Civic Power to revoke, reform, or reassign the delegation of specific Powers through the Constitutional means defined in this Charter. Nothing in this Charter shall be construed to deny the inherent Sovereign Power of the People to act when no legal remedy remains and the constitutional order has failed in its duty to protect the Rights of the People. This clause does not abrogate the rule of law, but affirms that lawful government endures only through the continuing consent and authority of the People. However, to be legitimate, the Citizens, in the exercise of their Sovereignty, must establish Consent by recording the decisive will of the People.

Members of Congress shall be limited to four full terms in the House of Representatives and two full terms in the Senate.. If elected to a partial term lasting less than half of a full term, the partial term does not count as a full term; however, anything longer than that is considered a full term. If a Member resigns their seat within ninety days of taking office, that short term does not count toward their term limits.

The government may act without a Warrant only briefly and only to prevent serious harm to another’s rights; actions must be strictly limited and promptly reviewed by a court within seventy-two (72) hours. Officials acting in good faith within Charter-consistent training are not automatically liable even if a court later finds the action unlawful.

In a democratic system, governance relies on the participation of the governed. In addition to their Civil and Civic Rights, Citizens enjoy the Civic Power to shape and direct the government, but only if they share the burdens required to make the government function.

Civic Powers represent authority over government earned through civic responsibility. Civic Rights represent personal freedoms that belong to all Citizens regardless of civic participation.

When Congress is in session, Members must work a full day of at least eight hours. Each chamber may set reasonable schedules, but the standard workday must be met.

Citizens, collectively, have the Civic Right to revoke, reform, or reassign the delegation of Power to Government institutions in any manner they deem necessary, provided that three-fifths (3/5) of them act together to do so.

Every Person has the Right to believe what they choose and cannot be forced to act against those beliefs, except where doing so would infringe the Rights of another Person, and no pathway exists to allow action without harm. Every Person has the Right to change their beliefs.

When Congress is in recess, Members must still perform official duties. They must maintain a daily schedule focused on district service, constituent outreach, public meetings, or official oversight. The eight-hour minimum workday still applies during recess, except for approved leave. Travel to or from the Member’s district, or to official meetings or delegations, counts as part of the workday. Commuting to or from their regular office does not.

Members of Congress shall maintain a furnished official residence in the Nation’s Capital whenever they are not serving their mandated district recess periods. Congress must provide each Member with a uniform residence suitable for family habitation, including no fewer than three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and living quarters. The government shall cover maintenance, furnishings, and utilities. These residences ensure Members can perform their duties in the Capital without undue hardship, while preserving their home district living arrangements. Congress may prescribe by law detailed regulations governing these residences, including eligibility, allocation procedures, and oversight mechanisms.

Congress must maintain an office of experts in legislative drafting and statutory interpretation. It shall prepare bills, amendments, and legal opinions at the request of any Member or committee.

Citizens may petition the Federal District Court for the area where they currently reside to restore Rights suspended due to a federal conviction or adjudication, but only after completing all terms of incarceration and post-release supervision, and after at least eight (8) years have passed since the final conviction or adjudication.

Any government statute, executive order, agency rule, or court ruling—by Congress, the Executive, the Judiciary, or a federal agency—that directly affects the Rights of Persons or the Powers of the States may be challenged by a Citizen Review Petition.

If at least one percent (1%) of eligbile voters sign the petition within one hundred eighty (180) days of the action taking effect, and the petition is submitted to the Speaker of the House, the action shall be suspended if injunctive relief is requested and necessary to prevent immediate or irreversible harm. Otherwise, the action may proceed but must be reversed if rejected by the People in the ensuing referendum.

The challenged action must be publicly defended by the originating authority, which must provide a formal written justification in clear and accessible language explaining the measure and its effects. The written justification must be easily accessed by all Citizens and must be made available at least ninety (90) days before the next national election, failing which, the referendum shall be deferred to the next scheduled national election.

The referendum shall be binding. If three-fifths (⅗) of Citizens voting reject the action, it must be reversed in full within ninety (90) days unless reversal is impossible, in which case a public remedy must be enacted by law.

The oath of office in both chambers is the same:

“I, (full legal name), solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will uphold the Rights of the Sovereign People of the United States, who have entrusted me with this office and delegated to me the various powers that go with it. To that end, I will do my best to faithfully execute the National Charter of the United States and uphold its laws.”

Each Chamber will elect its leadership following its rules. Upon electing their leadership, the respective leaders will assign committees and chairs for those committees and will appoint or extend the appointments of the various support offices.

Congress shall establish and fund an independent, nonpartisan Government Accountability Office.

A legislative day begins at 12:01 a.m. and ends at 12:00 a.m. the following day. Congress may remain in session continuously, but must recess for at least one minute between legislative days to preserve the calendar and record.

The Congressional Budget Office shall provide independent, nonpartisan cost estimates, revenue projections, and budgetary analyses. All CBO reports and data shall be published in full and publicly available, with no external review or amendment before release.

To maintain Civic powers, every Citizen must:

• Serve on local and federal juries when summoned;

• Serve on federal boards, authorities, and commissions when selected, as provided for in this Charter;

• Serve as an election worker when randomly selected (no more than once every eight years).

Willful, repeated failure constitutes the Failure to Fulfill a Civic Duty as outlined in Article IV, subject to lawful penalties and suspension of Civic powers until duties are restored.

Biometric data with a proven history, such as fingerprints and DNA, may be used as evidence. Other technologies—such as facial recognition or gait analysis—may not be used until and unless they are affirmatively proven in blind studies to be both accurate and non‑prejudicial.

No Person may be held for trial on any felony-level charge without the approval of a Grand Jury Indictment, except for active-duty military personnel during wartime, and only for service-related offenses. Grand juries must be randomly assembled, and an independent counsel must be appointed to refute the prosecution's claims before the grand jury. Nothing in this clause should be construed as requiring the possible defendant to be informed or present at this hearing, as it does not confer guilt; it only allows for indictment. The government must prove that probable cause exists for believing a crime has been committed and that the person to be indicted has committed it, either in whole or in part.

When a grand jury returns an indictment, the transcript of the hearing must immediately become part of the public court transcript. The names of victims or witnesses may be redacted to protect their safety or prevent substantial harm to victims of violent or exploitative crime. Classified information and other information this Charter protects from disclosure may also be redacted. The deliberations of the grand jury are not a matter of record and will not be disclosed.

A finding for Failure to Fulfill a Civic Duty or Failure to Fulfill Oath of Office will result in suspension of the powers to vote and hold federal office.

Conviction for Treason or Terrorism Against the United States will result in suspension of the power to vote and hold federal office. It will also include seizure of the Citizen’s passport when the Citizen is within U.S. jurisdiction.

Powers suspended following this Charter cannot be restored by statute.

All Citizens have the unqualified Right to live in the United States.

The People have a Right to a free and independent media. The role of the media is to seek and report the facts and opinion. Presenting a “both sides” balance is not required.

Except as outlined in Article I, Section 2.B.2(ab), the government can’t censor media content. It may only force reporters or media outlets to disclose their sources when there is an imminent threat to life and no other reasonable means exist to discover that source.

This Right protects both professional journalists and independent media creators engaged in gathering and disseminating information to the public.

Every Person has the Right to an impartial jury and to a verdict that courts may not override on factual grounds. Juries are the sole judges of fact in both civil and criminal trials. Judicial review on appeal can only consider the application of law and procedure, not the jury's findings. Judgments as a Matter of Law or Judgments Notwithstanding the Verdict are invalid, as they overturn the principle of fact-finding by jury.

Every Person has the Right to freely associate with others. No Person may face legal or civil penalties solely because of their associations.

The accused and the public both have the Right to a speedy trial. If there are delays, they must help the accused unless the court finds that the accused acted in bad faith. A trial is considered speedy if it starts within twenty-four (24) months of arraignment. In complicated cases, more time may be given, but only if counsel explains to the judge, with clear proof, why it’s needed. Discovery and pre-trial should never take more than three (3) years for any reason.

The Citizens delegate specific Powers to Government institutions through this Charter. No institution may exercise authority that is not explicitly or implicitly granted.

No agency or official may use implied powers to create programs or practices that are likely to suppress, discourage, or chill the free exercise of any Right listed in this Charter.

No employer may terminate or otherwise retaliate against a Citizen for taking time off to Fulfill a Civic Duty. Whenever possible, it is advisable for a Citizen to give notice of such a duty to an employer in advance. Still, merely failing to provide notice cannot, on its own, constitute grounds for termination or other adverse action against the Citizen.

A Citizen who is required to perform Civic Duty shall be paid no less than one-third the salary of a Representative. This amount shall be prorated based on the number of days, full or partial, during which the Citizen is required to report and fulfill their Civic Duty obligations. The time during which a Citizen is empaneled but released pending future dates or actions shall not be counted as active service. No statute may be written or enforced to withhold, reduce, or deny this just compensation.

Every Person has the Right to assemble peacefully in public spaces. No permit or license shall be required to exercise this Right, and the Government may not prohibit peaceful assembly in any location where the public is otherwise permitted to be. Safety and health regulations may apply, but must be narrowly defined and not used to suppress expression. Public safety may only justify restricting assembly where there is a demonstrable risk of imminent violence, not merely because others may be offended, disagree, or respond with hostility.

Citizens may be excused from Civic Duty only for the following reasons:

1. Severe physical or mental disability that prevents them from serving, as confirmed by their personal doctor and a court-appointed doctor. If the two doctors disagree, the Citizen is excused.

2. Age seventy or older.

3. Legal custody of a child under twelve years old, and serving would leave the child without supervision.

4. High school students currently attending classes.

5. Employees of state or federal legislatures.

6. Primary caretakers of someone who cannot care for themselves, as determined by a federal judge.

7. Cannot understand English well enough to participate.

8. Active duty military service.

A federal judge must review all excusal requests. Depending on how complex the request is, that review may be administrative, or it may require a hearing, or both. The judge will decide whether the Citizen meets the requirements. Citizens who are excused for temporary reasons may be called again when their situation changes.

No other reasons for excusal are allowed. Work obligations, business needs, or personal convenience are not grounds for excusal.

C.3(a₁). Tracking Unexcused Civic Non-Participation. Within three months of ratification of this Charter, Congress must appoint a federal agency to develop an accessible database of Citizens who have unexcused absences from Civic Duties.

In every instance of unexcused absence, the overseeing agency (county elections office for election workers, etc.) must report the absence for entry into the database.

C.3(a₂). Enforcement of Civic Duty. At any time that a Person has at least two unexcused absences from Civic Duty, they may be charged with Failure to Fulfill a Civic Duty. If they reach four such absences, they must be so charged.

Legal action cannot be brought against property; in rem jurisdiction is invalid.

Congress gets its power from the Citizens, who remain the ultimate authority. That power exists only to protect the Rights of the People through laws made with their consent.

The Citizens delegate legislative power to a Congress made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Serving in Congress is a high trust and Civic responsibility. Only those who have shown the ability to meet that responsibility should be eligible to hold office.

Congress will adopt and enforce a Code of Ethics that applies to all Members and staff. Each chamber must establish a permanent Ethics Panel with power to investigate and sanction violations. The Code must prohibit bribery, financial self-dealing, abuse of power, deliberate deception, and any failure to disclose conflicts of interest. It must require public financial disclosures and recusal from official actions where a conflict exists. This Code has the force of law under this Charter and may not be waived or weakened by ordinary chamber rules.

A criminal or civil defendant is presumed to be not guilty or not liable unless proven otherwise in Court. The standard for conviction in a criminal trial is beyond a reasonable doubt, and the standard for liability in a civil trial is preponderance of the evidence.

No predictive algorithms may be used in law-enforcement.

Congress will establish and fund a Clerk’s Office for the House of Representatives and a Secretary’s Office for the Senate to manage legislative records, floor proceedings, and official journals.

Beginning in 2040, and every twenty years thereafter, a national referendum must be held to determine whether the People reaffirm the delegation of their Sovereign Power to the government under this Charter. The referendum shall occur during the regularly scheduled federal election of that year.

The ballot shall present the following question:

“Do you wish to continue delegating your Sovereign Power to the government as outlined in the National Charter?”

Voters shall respond either “Yes” or “No.” If “No” receives three-fifths or more of the votes cast, Consent shall be deemed In Question.

Congress must convene a Demi-Congress no later than January 31 of the odd-numbered year immediately following the referendum. The Demi-Congress shall be composed of one Citizen selected at random from each State and Territory. This panel shall be vested with the authority to investigate the causes of public dissatisfaction with the Charter and recommend potential remedies, including reforms, amendments, or structural changes.

The Demi-Congress must complete its investigation and submit a public report, including findings and any recommendations, by December 31 of the same odd-numbered year.

The Vice President of the United States shall preside over the Demi-Congress. In this role, the Vice President shall serve solely as a neutral arbiter of parliamentary procedure and may not participate in deliberation or influence outcomes.

The Demi-Congress must be fully funded by Congress and shall have the power to commission public opinion research, conduct hearings, request testimony, and consult expert advisors as it deems necessary.

If recommendations are made, a period of public education shall begin on January 1 of the next even-numbered year. All such recommendations must be submitted to a binding national referendum held during the next regularly scheduled federal election in that year. The result of that referendum shall close the Question until the next scheduled review.

The results of any referenda conducted under this Section shall be binding. The outcome of the vote shall close the Question until the next scheduled twenty-year review or until the People initiate a new review through lawful procedures.

Nothing in this Section limits the People’s Right to initiate Charter revision or replacement through the procedures defined in Article VI, Section 5.

No branch or official of government may obstruct, delay, interfere with, or refuse to administer the referendum or processes described in this Section. Any such act constitutes a breach of this Charter and may be challenged by any Citizen, including under Civic Standing as defined in Article IV.

Each calendar year, Members of Congress shall spend between ninety (90) and one hundred twenty (120) days in their home districts or States, engaged in public service and constituent outreach. These periods shall be scheduled in multiple recesses throughout the year, as determined by each chamber’s rules. The House and Senate must coordinate their calendars to ensure these recesses occur at the same time. Recess periods may be shortened if Members are summoned back to the Capitol by the leadership of their chamber in response to an emergency or urgent national need. All remaining weekdays—excluding designated national holidays—shall be official workdays during which Congress is in session. Reasonable exceptions for the exigencies of weather and similar events can be made, if agreed to by the combined leadership of both chambers. Saturdays and Sundays are not considered workdays unless Congress is called into special session.

In addition to the civil Rights listed above that apply to all Persons, Citizens are also entitled to the following civic Rights.

Members of Congress must attend all official duties unless excused for good cause by the leadership of their chamber. Each chamber shall set fair rules for reporting and verifying such absences. Members who follow these rules in good faith are not considered in violation.

These rules ensure that Members of Congress meet the same basic expectations that apply to working Americans across the country.

In a free Republic, the power to vote, hold office, and shape Government belongs to the Citizens. But with that power comes responsibility. Civic powers are linked to Civic Duties because self-government depends on participation, not just opinion.

Civic powers are extended to those who carry out the Civic Duties necessary to maintain democratic self-government, such as jury service and participation in public processes like redistricting. Access to Civic powers may be limited if Civic Duties are not fulfilled.

This connection protects the fairness and strength of the Republic. Those who help carry it are the ones most trusted to help guide it.

Citizens have the following powers, provided they have not been suspended under this Charter:

On the first day of each Congress, at 8:00 a.m. the Chief Justice will administer the congressional oath of office to a single Representative, chosen randomly by lot. That Representative will act as Acting Speaker of the House until a new Speaker is elected.

The Acting Speaker of the House will then administer the oath of office to each Representative. Similarly, the most senior Senator, determined by date of election, then birthdate, and finally alphabetical order of first, last, and other names, if necessary, will administer the oath of office to each newly elected Senator.

To ensure Congress can fulfill its constitutional duties, the following independent offices are established by this Charter, with specifics regarding their funding and structure provided by law:

Everyone has the Right to speak freely, including through art, religion, and politics. The government may not punish or censor expression—except in the narrow instances listed here:

Unprotected Categories:

1. Speech intended and likely to incite imminent lawless action or panic;

2. Deliberate falsehoods causing demonstrable harm, including reckless disregard for truth in contexts where accuracy is legally required, including political speech during the one hundred eighty (180) day period before an election;

3. Lying under oath;

4. Deliberate misinformation about voting procedures, candidate eligibility, or official endorsements intended to mislead voters;

5. Commercial fraud, as defined by law;

6. True threats, including statements meant to instill fear of violence or unlawful harm;

7. Harassment, which is defined as targeting a Person or group in a sustained manner intended to intimidate, silence, or cause emotional harm;

8. Financial or in-kind expression by groups or corporations, because the wealth inequality between two groups or between a group and an individual crowds out the other's voice. Verbal, whether spoken, transmitted, or written, remains permissible.

Obscenity

Offensive or obscene speech is protected. The sole exception is graphic sexual or violent content reasonably likely to be seen or heard by minors without parental consent. Reasonable limits to protect children are allowed, as long as they don't unduly burden adults.

Private Autonomy

Private individuals and groups cannot be compelled to host or support speech with which they disagree. In that spirit, but respecting the influence algorithms have on the rights of other individuals, algorithms used to distribute or prioritize publicly available information on private platforms may remain proprietary, but the general principles, inputs, and effects of their design must be made transparent to the public.

Congress must establish and fund a Parliamentarian’s Office in each chamber to provide nonpartisan procedural advice, interpret rules, and maintain official precedents. The specific appointment process and internal staffing structure shall be determined by law.

All Persons within the United States are guaranteed Civil Rights under this Charter. These Civil Rights give legal force to their Natural Rights. Those Rights include: