These principles describe how civic institutions should be designed and operated to remain legitimate, effective, and resistant to abuse.
1. Service-first design
Institutions exist to serve the public. Prioritize measurable public outcomes over internal convenience or prestige.
- Define the public purpose explicitly.
- Measure outcomes that matter (wellbeing, safety, access, fairness).
- Remove incentives that reward bureaucracy over results.
2. Checks and balances
Distribute power to prevent capture and abuse. Oversight must be independent and empowered.
- Separate roles (execute, audit, adjudicate).
- Require multi-party approval for high-impact decisions.
- Ensure independent review and meaningful appeal paths.
3. Integrity and anti-corruption
Corruption destroys legitimacy. Build systems that reduce temptation and raise the cost of abuse.
- Clear conflict-of-interest rules and disclosure.
- Procurement transparency and competitive processes.
- Whistleblower protections and strong audit trails.
4. Transparency by default
Public power must be inspectable. Secrecy is exceptional, justified, and time-limited.
- Open records and public decision rationales.
- Accessible reporting and plain-language summaries.
- Clear rules for classified or private information with audits.
5. Due process and equal access
People must have predictable rules, fair hearings, and equal access to remedies.
- Publish rules and procedures.
- Provide notice, reasons, and appeal mechanisms.
- Reduce barriers: language, disability access, affordability.
6. Competence and professionalism
Institutions must be staffed and trained to do the job well. Competence is an ethical requirement.
- Merit-based hiring and transparent promotion.
- Continuous training and clear standards.
- Accountability for negligence and preventable failure.
7. Resilience and continuity
Systems should handle shocks without collapsing or concentrating power in permanent “emergency mode.”
- Defined emergency powers with sunset clauses.
- Redundancy for critical services.
- Post-incident reviews and corrective action.
8. Participation and feedback loops
Legitimacy improves when people can participate, be heard, and see corrections happen.
- Public consultation with real impact.
- Complaint channels with response guarantees.
- Publish what changed and why.
