--- tags: misc author: plor purpose: just thinking about constitutions --- Constitution as Lore ==================== Links: https://bauhausmanifesto.com/ https://www.econtalk.org/michael-munger-on-constitutions/#delve-deeper What is a constitution? ----------------------- A constitution is the set of rules about rules. Rules that coerce individuals without following the agreed to process by which rules are to come into existance lack legitimacy. A constitution isn't a widespread declaration of values but a mechanism to limit what forms of coercion are tolerable and by which means they are allowable. We tell ourselves this story about ourselves to define the authority under which we live and under what conditions we move forward with legitimacy. In this way a constitution is the lore of governance. The roles within the community and governance process have a backstory, have a set of tasks assigned, and have a motivation to do so effectively. Just as a chaotic evil character wields power to destroy order and fulfill their self-interest, a DAO paladin works to maintain orderly operations of a DAO. Why does a constitution require consent? ---------------------------------------- The consent of the governed is a concept that gives legitimacy to the government in whatever form it takes. Ratification of a constitution is the process by which the governed concent to the structure of the government by which they are governed. It is critical to make this process clear and uncoerced. When consent has been acheived, the importance then falls to adhering to the agreement laid out in the document. Adherance is a key to lore as well. Retconning and out-of-character writing breaks the contract with the audience that the creative works is coherent with the rest of the character universe. The audience exists in a form of consent as they could put the book down or leave the movie, so they are there only as much as they consent to do so. In this way, retaining the community for a universe is a matter of building good lore and sticking to it.