Why Every Village Needs a Constitution
A constitution isn't bureaucracy. It's the agreement that makes community possible.
When you join a mainstream platform, you accept terms of service that can change without notice, that give the platform unlimited rights to your data, and that you have no voice in shaping. You're a user, not a member.
A Village constitution is different. It's a mutual agreement between the community and its members. It defines:
Shared Values
What does your community believe in? Privacy? Transparency? Democratic governance? Your constitution makes these explicit.
Member Rights
What protections do members have? Data portability? Right to delete? Right to appeal decisions? These are guaranteed, not granted.
Governance Rules
How are decisions made? Who can make them? How can rules be changed? Clear process prevents arbitrary power.
A constitution transforms users into citizens. It gives you rights, not just features.
The Base Constitution
Every village inherits a foundation. Some principles are universal.
When you create a new village, you don't start with a blank document. You inherit the Village Base Constitution - a set of fundamental principles that every village shares. This ensures baseline trust across the entire Village ecosystem.
What's in the Base Constitution?
Core data rights, privacy guarantees, consent requirements, and fundamental governance principles that protect members regardless of which village they join.
Immutable Principles
These cannot be changed or overridden by any village:
Immutable Data Ownership
Members own their data. Period. No village can claim ownership of member-created content.
Immutable Right to Leave
Members can leave any village at any time, taking their data with them. No lock-in.
Immutable Right to Delete
Members can request complete deletion of their data. Villages must comply.
Immutable Consent Required
Data cannot be shared externally without explicit member consent. No silent data sales.
Immutable AI Transparency
Members can see what AI knows about them and delete that knowledge at any time.
Immutable Appeal Rights
Members can appeal moderation decisions. No permanent action without due process.
The base constitution ensures that joining ANY village means your fundamental rights are protected. This is the foundation of trust in the Village ecosystem.
Adaptation: Making It Your Own
Every community is different. Your constitution should reflect that.
While the base constitution protects fundamental rights, many aspects can and should be customized. A family village has different needs than a business network or a community organization.
What Can Be Adapted?
| Area | Base Requirement | Adaptable Aspects |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | Members must consent to join | Invitation-only, application process, open enrollment |
| Governance | Decision process must be documented | Democratic voting, council model, consensus-based |
| Content Rules | Rules must be published and accessible | Community standards, topic restrictions, format requirements |
| Moderation | Appeals must be possible | Moderator selection, escalation process, response times |
| Sharing Defaults | Consent required for external sharing | Default visibility, subgroup permissions, federation policies |
How Adaptation Works
Start with Base
When you create a village, you automatically have the base constitution. All immutable protections are already in place.
Review Adaptable Sections
The constitution editor shows which sections can be customized. Each has clear guidance on what changes are valid.
Customize for Your Community
Add your values statement, governance model, membership criteria, and community guidelines.
Publish and Enforce
Your constitution becomes the binding agreement. New members see it before joining. It's always accessible.
The system prevents you from accidentally weakening member protections. You can add rights and protections, but you cannot remove the base guarantees.
Core Member Rights
What every member can expect, in every village, always.
These rights are not features that can be turned off. They are constitutional guarantees enforced by the platform itself.
🔒 Privacy by Default
Your content is visible only to your village unless you explicitly choose to share it wider. No algorithmic exposure to strangers.
🔍 Transparency
You can see exactly what data the village holds about you, who has accessed it, and what AI systems have learned.
📦 Portability
Export your data in standard formats at any time. Your stories, photos, documents - they're yours to take.
🗣 Voice
Participate in governance as defined by your village's constitution. Your membership gives you standing.
⚖ Due Process
No permanent consequences without explanation and appeal. Moderation follows documented procedures.
🚪 Exit
Leave any time, for any reason, with your data. No lock-in, no penalties, no questions asked.
Governance Models
Your village, your rules for making rules.
The base constitution requires that governance be documented and transparent. How you govern is up to you.
Democratic
Members vote on major decisions. Good for communities where shared ownership matters.
Council
Elected or appointed representatives make decisions. Balances participation with efficiency.
Founder-Led
Clear authority with defined limits. Common for family villages and small organizations.
Whatever model you choose, the constitution must specify: who can make decisions, what decisions require member input, and how authority can be challenged.
Constitutional Amendments
Communities evolve. Your constitution can too - within limits.
The base constitution's immutable protections cannot be changed. But the adaptable sections of your village constitution can be amended through whatever process your constitution defines.
Amendment Process Requirements
- Proposed changes must be published before taking effect
- Members must have opportunity to review and respond
- The approval process must follow your constitution's governance rules
- Changes cannot retroactively affect past member actions
- Members can choose to leave if they disagree with amendments
No surprises. No invisible changes. When the rules change, you'll know before they take effect.
Constitutions and Federation
How constitutions enable trust between villages.
When two villages consider federation, they're asking: "Can we trust each other?" The shared base constitution provides the answer.
Constitutional Trust
Because all villages share the same base constitution, you know that any village you federate with upholds the same fundamental rights. Your members will be protected even when interacting with another village.
How Constitutions Enable Federation
- Baseline Compatibility: All villages agree on fundamental protections, making federation possible.
- Agreement Boundaries: Federation agreements cannot violate either village's constitution.
- Member Protection: When you interact with another village, your home village's constitution still protects you.
- Conflict Resolution: If villages have conflicting adapted rules, the federation agreement specifies which applies.
Getting Started
You'll be guided through constitution setup during village creation. Start with the base, customize what matters to your community.
Go to Admin > Governance to view and edit your village's constitution. See what's adaptable and what's protected.
Your village's constitution is always accessible from Settings > Village Constitution. Know your rights.
Ready to Build Your Foundation?
See how Village enables sovereign communities with constitutional governance.