Guideline for changes

Revision as of 17:40, 26 March 2014

This is a proposed checklist to use when making changes to the Uniting Amendment.

Substantive changes should follow the values and goals of the Amendment. Application, in priority order are:

1. Does the change increase liberty?
2. Does the change improve and preserve justice?
3. Will the change encourage compassion in society?
   1. Does it respect life?
   2. Does it promote peace?
4. Does the change promote happiness?
5. How does the change effect the democratic process?
   1. How does it effect suffage?
   2. Will it raise the level of integrity of governance?
   3. Does it increase transparancy?
   4. Will it increase participation?
   5. Will it help make people more informed?
6. Does the change keep us secure?
   1. Does it discourage concentration of power?
   2. Does it deter agressors?
   3. Does it enforce the preservation of rights?
7. Is the change future focused?
8. Does it improve clarity and reduce ambiguity?
9. Does it shorten the document?

Not all need to be satisfied with each change and occasionally a very small sacrifice of a higher priority criterion can be made if it makes a great contribution to a lower priority criterion. (For example, sacrificing a bit of liberty for those who hold public office in order to assure integrity and transparancy.)