A core risk in peace frameworks is making commitments that cannot survive domestic law and politics. Freeze–Vote–Rebuild treats domestic approval requirements as a gate: some obligations and incentives should not activate until each relevant party has completed its internal legal/constitutional steps.
This chapter provides a template for designing that gate.
Objectives
Prevent “sign now, fail later” agreements.
Ensure commitments are credible and enforceable domestically.
Reduce the chance that domestic invalidation becomes an escalation trigger.
Make sequencing realistic for legislatures, courts, and executive authorities.
What Counts as “Domestic Approvals”?
Domestic approvals vary by jurisdiction, but often include:
Parliamentary approval or ratification.
Constitutional review or court validation.
Enabling legislation (funding, sanctions authority, election law changes).
Budget appropriations (especially for reconstruction funding).
Executive orders or regulatory actions (implementation details).
Why Treat Approvals as a Gate?
Because many key commitments depend on internal authority:
Sanctions adjustments may require specific legal steps.
Deployment of monitors or forces may require authorization.
Referendum/election frameworks may require law changes.
Reconstruction disbursements may require appropriations and audit mandates.
If approvals are not completed, the framework should not pretend otherwise.
Gate Design Template
Step 1: List Phase-Specific Domestic Requirements
For each phase, specify:
Who must approve: (Executive, legislature, court, regulator).
What instrument is required: (Law, decree, regulation, budget).
Timeline: What is realistically achievable.
Fail-state: What happens if approvals fail or are delayed.
Step 2: Define “Activation Clauses”
Use activation clauses such as:
“This obligation enters into force only upon certification that X approvals are completed.”
“This incentive tier is available only after Y legal authority exists.”
Step 3: Define Certification and Publication
Specify:
Who certifies completion: (Domestic authority + independent verification).
Evidence: Public documents, votes, legal filings.
Publication: Public summary and links to official records.
Step 4: Define Fallback and Rollback
If approvals fail:
Pause progression to the next phase.
Revert to prior incentive tier.
Trigger renegotiation or termination conditions.
Example: Approvals by Phase (Illustrative)
Freeze-Related Approvals
Authorization for monitoring mission access and operations.
Rules for military posture restrictions (where applicable).
Humanitarian corridor permissions and customs rules.
Vote-Related Approvals
Legal authority for referendum/election format.
Data privacy and identity rules (especially if cross-border participation).
