These principles define the civic ethic: how power should be justified, constrained, and exercised in ways that protect dignity, rights, and the public good.
Treat every person as intrinsically worthy. Systems must avoid dehumanization, humiliation, and cruelty.
Power requires justification: fair process, public reasoning, and mechanisms for participation and peaceful change.
Equal protection under the rules. Avoid discriminatory outcomes and ensure remedies when harms occur.
Rules must be public, stable, and consistently applied. Due process and appeal paths are mandatory.
Rights protect freedom and dignity; duties protect the commons. Balance liberty with responsibility.
Prefer policies and institutions that reduce suffering and prevent avoidable harm, especially for the vulnerable.
Public power must be inspectable. Secret governance is a last resort and must be tightly constrained.
There must be traceable responsibility for decisions, and real consequences for abuse, corruption, and negligence.
Interventions must be no more restrictive than necessary. Use the least coercive effective means.
Distribute power to prevent capture and abuse. Independent oversight and separation of functions are required.
Institutions exist to serve the public, not themselves. Measure outcomes that matter, not internal convenience.
Protect plural belief and expression while maintaining limits against direct harm, coercion, or rights violations.
