Since moving to the new forums, the idea of re-writting “The Charter” entirely has been thrown around. If annyone besides @anjo, remembers, I’ve already attempted that Here.
So, despite the lack of success to get people interested in it back then, I still feel like I went through a unique experience which gave me insight on it. In the off chance that anyone is actually thinking of doing a complete overhaul themselves, I’m writing this to give them a few “tips”.
- Charter or Constitution?
Going for the Charter option is easier. You’re overhauling any type of legal code that is granted to the people or a subject of the state (RL comparisons: Magna Carta; Dutch East Indies Trading Company). However, you can’t explore the common values and identity in the Charter (even if ours currently attempts doing so) as you are essentially granting someone a set of rules. Shorter, more practical and ultimately it seeks to guide/limit.
- Constitution pathway: RL inspiration
Two criteria: the values of that society are similar enough to TSP values; the spirit of the Constitution can actually be simulated fairly well. I ended up with France because the second criteria is was more in the front of my mind ATT, you’ll likely end up with the EU instead.
- Playerbase: realistic but ambitious
The Constitution should define players’ values and tendencies (legalism, arbitration, shame-based, rhetorics-over-substance, …) but should still be ambitious in trying to ultimately guide itself into a better product with the same presets.
- Institutions: grassgrown and forced.
You should include both “normal”, “usual” institutions such as an Assembly but aso a forced “BREAK” mechanism. IIRC, in my proposal, the LC was underneath the Global Mod and Admins which are beneath the CRS.
- IMPORTANT: Hard or soft branch divisions?
We currently don’t have this defined, we assume that it’s a soft division as the Assembly can theoretically recall every position.
- IMPORTANT: Parliamentary structure.
How many houses? Should one house be elected on a political party basis?
If you’re going for parties, are you allowing shadow governments and minority-seat ruling coalitions?