Collin Smith

Hello

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

Proposed Vision Statement for the Cardano Voltaire Constitutional Framework

We, the community of Cardano, in our pursuit of a decentralized, transparent, trustless, and immutable governance system, hereby establish this Constitutional Framework under the era of Voltaire. We are building a system defined in this Constitution with outcomes in mind. This document serves as the foundation upon which the Cardano blockchain ecosystem shall operate, ensuring that power is distributed equitably among its participants, and that the principles of Decentralization, Transparency, Immutability, and Trustlessness are upheld.

Decentralization: We recognize that the strength of Cardano lies in its decentralized nature. This framework is designed to distribute decision-making power across a global network of stakeholders, thereby preventing any single entity from exerting undue influence. Decentralization fosters a system where every participant has a voice, proportional to their stake, ensuring that governance reflects the will of the many, not the few.

Transparency: Transparency is the cornerstone of trust within our ecosystem. Every proposal, vote, and outcome will be openly accessible, allowing for scrutiny and accountability. By maintaining an open process, we ensure that all actions taken within the governance of Cardano can be reviewed by any member of the community, fostering an environment of trust and mutual respect. All budget proposals will refer to measurable on chain metrics. This system will allow more people to have more information in order to make more effective decisions.

Immutability: The core of Cardano's blockchain technology is its immutability, where once transactions or governance decisions are recorded, they cannot be altered. This ensures that the historical record of our community's decisions remains intact, providing a verifiable and unchangeable ledger of our collective actions and agreements. No midnight contracts. Everyone going into a contract knows in any situation what the results will be and no matter what resources an entity has they will not be able to abrogate the results.

Trustlessness: In the spirit of blockchain's original vision, this framework operates on the principle of trustlessness where participants do not need to trust each other or a central authority. Instead, trust is placed in the system's code and the consensus mechanisms that govern it. This approach minimizes the risk of fraud and manipulation, as the system itself ensures that all rules are followed without exception. People using the blockchain know they are being treated equally because we are using open source smart contracts and algorithms to make decisions and enforce them.

By adopting this Constitutional Framework, we commit to a future where Cardano not only evolves technologically but also governs itself in a manner that reflects the highest ideals of blockchain philosophy. We aim to create a self-sustaining, self-amending ecosystem where the community's voice is not just heard but is the driving force behind all developments and decisions. This vision statement sets the stage for a governance model that is resilient, forward-looking, and embodying the true potential of decentralized systems.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@Hornan7 @adamKDean @AdamRusch @Jennycitalinda @BeatriceAnihiri @_MrHunt_ @ADAFrog_Pool @blockjock2017 @bone_pool Just posting this to propose a modular iterative approach so these votes aren’t all or nothing and we can make progress.

https://t.co/hYGA0v1fBc

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@Cerkoryn @IOHK_Charles @Jane14457995 @Cardano_CF @IntersectMBO @ADAFrog_Pool @Orbital_Lexicon I would like to thank you for including me in this conversation and add a link to the full draft I started:
https://t.co/hYGA0v1fBc

My version is less about the words and more about the process of development and maintenance of the document.

Thanks for this opportunity.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

https://t.co/hYGA0v1fBc

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

Introduction and Apologia for this Constitutional Document.
The current process we are following for creating a Blockchain Constitution is obviously flawed and leading to failure. If you want to know the future and see the explanation of why the current path we are on is not going to work I attached that discussion at the end of this. It is so historically repetitive it is boring to repeat it.

This is a description of the thought process leading to the development of this constitution. The Constitution document starts at the preamble on page 2. Without further ado:

The Solution

Iterative Governance
Modular Governance
Forced Renewal of the Social Contract
Decentralized Governance through Federation

When you are building something new you must build in an iterative process and you must focus on the smallest possible steps forward to come up with a good solution. The Constitution being proposed here enshrines a modular and iterative approach to building a governance system. In order to get to 75% acceptance for ratification we must take small steps and make modular changes. The first step in ratifying our constitution is adopting this modular and iterative process.

Thus we will introduce the concept of Constitutional Modules. Rather than try to gain acceptable for a 40 page blob we will focus on smaller Modules. These modules will have a defined and specific scope. These Modules will be immutable and will have built in sunset and renewal characteristics.

This Constitution will create a system that forces renewal and naturally decentralizes itself as the community grows. The Cardano Blockchain is a foundation on top of which anyone can build the systems they want to organize their activities and associations. At the highest level we must create an impersonal system that relies on algorithmic control methods and voluntary participation.

This Constitution will also introduce the concept of Budget Federations. A Budget Federation is an MBO that meets requirements of member participation levels, transaction volume totals, delegation and has clear and evenly applied rules for delegation and adheres to DRep and Direct voting activities. In order to have decentralized consensus at the Blockchain level power must be held as loosely as possible. Any rules or laws or codes of conduct must be relegated to the MBO Federation level. Budget Federations like Modules will automatically retire and membership in a new federation must be redelegated.

In addition to the concept of a Budget Federation we will introduce algorithmic distribution of the Cardano Treasury. The amount that the Treasury will disburse needs to be algorithmically controlled. This algorithm will be a derivative based function that uses past blockchain performance metrics as parameters. Additionally the distribution of Treasury funds will go to Budget Federations and this distribution will be determined algorithmically based on blockchain metrics within a Federation including delegation and transaction volume relative to other Budget Federations.
Preamble
The Cardano Blockchain gives everyone access to a decentralized consensus mechanism where they can participate in a trustless, transparent, and immutable environment. Anyone can participate. Anyone can become a Stake Pool Operator.

This document is our social contract. The way to maximize participation, trust, and acceptance of the social contract we build is to loosen the grip on power that is held by the entities in control. Our constitution will be designed to degrade any centralized power over time. The Constitution is designed to be modular, iterative and adaptive. We will not create permanent institutions that grow, consolidate and ossify. We will create a constitutional system that is constantly renewed and reinvigorated and is constantly adaptive to the time it lives in.

The fundamental mistakes made by every past social contract is the result of the desire to hold and maintain power. The Cardano Blockchain and this Community will break these patterns and make the transformational changes to social contracts that the blockchain was originally created to disrupt. We must address that technology is changing so fast now that we cannot foresee what the Constitution will need to address in the coming years. Cardano Governance will be decentralized at a fundamental level through this document and will resist the development of permanent bureaucratic structures that cannot adapt to change.

The only permanent part of this constitution is the definition of a Constitutional Module and place holders for the 4 required Modules. A Constitutional Module is going to address a single scope subject. Built into every Constitutional Module is an inherent Sunset Provision. Over a period of time in order to avoid bureaucratic ossification and featherbedding institutions must be retired and rebuilt. This blockchain constitution and social contract will always be the snake eating its tail.

There will be Four Required Constitutional Modules. This reflects the core operational characteristics of the blockchain and our goals for decentralizing governance. The SPOs are the foundation of the blockchain. They have responsibilities to the blockchain which require an adherence to duties that will be defined in this module. DReps and Direct Voters must be defined and rules for participation created. Rules for the distribution of Budget funds must be set. Definitions for Budget Federations will enshrine the decentralized model we say we want.

The four required Constitutional Modules represent the foundational entities and functions of Cardano Governance.
Module: Core Definition
To make this Constitution govern a blockchain we must apply blockchain principles to governance. Modules will be single scope subjects that deal with one well defined subject. Modules will have rules for adoption and removal. Modules will not be subject to State Based changes. They will be immutable. The only way to change a Constitutional Module is to remove it and replace it with a new Module. Modules will automatically be removed from the constitution after a period of X years with the exception of the 4 core modules.

Rules For Modules:
A Module will have a single subject that is specifically scoped.
A Module will be retired from the Constitution automatically after X years.
A Module will be adopted when X% of SPOs and X% of DReps vote to adopt it.
If a new Module is Adopted with scope that overlaps a current Module then the older module will be retired and replaced by the new Module. The retirement date will be reset to 2 years.
Each Constitutional Module will have a word limit of 5000 words.
There will be 4 required Constitutional Modules:
Cardano Budget
Cardano Budget MBO Federations
DRep Definitions and Participation
SPO Definitions and Duties
The 4 Required Modules will not retire after X years. If they are not updated and renewed then the algorithm determining Total Budget for the fiscal year will have a -10% multiplier added to it for each year it is not addressed and replaced.
Each Module created will adhere to the Module Guardrails listed Here.

Module Guardrails:
There will be no unenforceable rules in the Constitution. This Constitution governs a Blockchain. If you want a rule make a CIP and a smart contract for it. First you must make a Module to define the adoption of CIPs.
There will be no selectively enforceable Rules in the Constitution. Every Rule made will be applied to everyone using a smart contract. No humans will make any decision about whether or not a rule is enforced and any rule that contains this ambiguity will be anathema to this community.
Absolute Right to Voluntary Participation. There will be no police force or legal entity made up of people that will enforce Rules on the blockchain. Render unto Caesar those that are Caesar’s. This Blockchain operates on a higher level to effectively support decentralization of power in our broader society. Additionally there will be no limit on partner chains and the rules they implement, nor on requirements or deterrents to participation in said entities.
Absolute Freedom of Association. There will never be any rules about who you can associate with and who you must accept. There will never be any rules about who can be a DRep, which federation a DRep joins, or who a federation is required to accept.
The only exception to Guardwails 3 and 4 will be with respect to SPO participation. SPOs will have responsibility to perform their duties to the blockchain. The Module delineating SPO participation will have consistent standards that will be automatically applied to any SPO that fails to meet those standards and remove them from participation in the functions of the Blockchain.

These are some of the proposed Modules.
Module: Stake Pool Operators
Anyone can be an SPO as long as they perform to standards.
Stake Pool Operators can have their keys removed and be removed by a vote of 51% of SOPs if:
They fail to produce 2 or more blocks blocks in a timely and effective manner as defined by
-[definitions here]
They participate in a scheme that allows 3rd party software to scan the mempool and build blocks with reordered transactions.
[other reasons that can be added]
3. Stake Pool Operators will vote on and maintain all critical blockchain parameters.

Module: Delegated Representatives and Direct Representation
Delegated Representatives are governed by these rules:
[Process to become a DRep:]
DReps shall be able to vote in only one region/group as defined by Section 2 Part 4 for treasury disbursements.
[expanded list…]

Module: Budget
The total Cardano Treasury Budget shall be determined algorithmically based on derivative calculations using previous blockchain volume and usage statistics. (I put a framework for this in ICC civics)
[algorithm for determining total budget here]
[Mechanic for splitting budget distributions to MBOs here]
The Cardano Treasury will be managed by MBO Federations. There will never be a centralized authority predetermined by any organization or entity. Federation Membership will be governed as Section 1 Part 4 stipulates.
Distribution of the treasury to various Federations will be determined Algorithmically based on delegation and on transaction volume of Federation members.
All MBO Federations will follow Voltaire Governance protocols for distribution of funds and voting proposals.

Module: Constitutional Committee
If you want this make a module for it.

Module: Cardano Budget Federations
A Federation is an MBO in the Cardano Community that meets specific requirements in Membership and legal status.

The Problem:

We are trying to solve a historically difficult problem. That means we need to take new approaches to organizing our community. The focus of this Constitution is to recognize patterns in Social Contracts and to use the Blockchain to break these patterns. Decentralized Consensus and trustless smart contracts and the natural transparency of the chain give us the tools to break these historical patterns. But we must do things differently than they have been done in the past in order to seize this opportunity.

It is blatantly obvious what is going to happen over the next few months. The Constitution will be developed by a star chamber committee with limited participation from the community and input will be accepted from the community based on the preconceptions of the people generating the document. The people generating the document are creating a bureaucracy that they see themselves leading and they will serve the interests of the controlling entities that put them in charge of creating the document.

The Constitution will be accepted by the delegates in Argentina. The acceptance standard is 51% and most of the delegates will bow to the pressure to have a positive outcome at the event. Everyone will want to be in the Group Photo at the end with their name and signature on a historical document. There will probably be an oversized depiction of the document on a wall with a place for delegates to sign their name. The pressure to be a part of the event will be overwhelming.

And the Governance of the Cardano Blockchain will continue to tread the repetitive and ultimately self destructive path followed by every entity forming a social contract in history. And there is no way that this document will get 75% of DRep votes. It is festooned with rules that permanently entrench current entities in power by giving them unenforceable rules they can abuse and rules they can selectively enforce to remove rivals.

Every Social Contract in history follows a similar path.
Leaders gain consensus to govern by some means.
Leaders create institutions to organize society.
These institutions consolidate power and live off the energy of the whole.
These institutions attract people in the group who want power and wealth.
The institutions insulate themselves and increase their size and scope and power.
Institutions invariably create more and more rules and these rules are selectively enforced to maintain the power of the institutions.
The community pulls the institutions down or the society collapses from the inside.

We are currently on step 3. The constitution as proposed would be virtually impossible to change and entrenches current institutions in power in a way that insulates the system against change. A single entity is applying for control of the 2025 budget. Despite the good intentions of people involved we still treat the same path. No Centralized Power can have the ability to apply a Code of Conduct to everyone in the community nor should one entity retain control over the Treasury. This should just be repulsive on its face in light of the Historical Record. The results of such activity are easily predictable. It will inevitably lead to the blockchain losing a critical mass of participation in governance activities and eventually it will lead to forks and clones of the blockchain.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@danogo_2023 @Cerkoryn @MadOrkestra https://t.co/hYGA0v1fBc

[Rod @rod_drmz]

https://t.co/A9AIMJj4Yk

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

Rules For Modules:
A Module will have a single subject that is specifically scoped.
A Module will be retired from the Constitution automatically after X years.
A Module will be adopted when X% of SPOs and X% of DReps vote to adopt it.
If a new Module is Adopted with scope that overlaps a current Module then the older module will be retired and replaced by the new Module. The retirement date will be reset to 2 years.
Each Constitutional Module will have a word limit of 5000 words.
There will be 4 required Constitutional Modules:
Cardano Budget
Cardano Budget MBO Federations
DRep Definitions and Participation
SPO Definitions and Duties
The 4 Required Modules will not retire after X years. If they are not updated and renewed then the algorithm determining Total Budget for the fiscal year will have a -10% multiplier added to it for each year it is not addressed and replaced.
Each Module created will adhere to the Module Guardrails listed Here.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

Module: Core Definition
To make this Constitution govern a blockchain we must apply blockchain principles to governance. Modules will be single scope subjects that deal with one well defined subject. Modules will have rules for adoption and removal. Modules will not be subject to State Based changes. They will be immutable. The only way to change a Constitutional Module is to remove it and replace it with a new Module. Modules will automatically be removed from the constitution after a period of X years with the exception of the 4 core modules.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@Cerkoryn @IOHK_Charles @Jane14457995 @Cardano_CF @IntersectMBO @ADAFrog_Pool @Orbital_Lexicon I would like to introduce the idea of Modularity into our constitution. We are doing something new and we need to build this Constitution in a better way. Focusing on smaller parts allows more attention to detail. We will have a better chance to get 75% approval this way.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@albert__clb @cardano_whale Try to reason out what is happening.

My hypothesis is as people enter the crypto space and capital starts flowing in they are going to look for real world value. They are going to choose UTxO chains.

Over the long-term, the highest upside is on the Cardano Blockchain.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@astroboysoup MV100

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

We cannot have anything that is either Unenforceable or Selectively Enforceable in the constitution.

We should never give something like the Constitutional Committee power to selectively apply rules.

At a fundamental level that will be corrosive any social contract we build.

[Johnny Kelly ($intertreejk) @intertreeJK]

For the public record, here was my argument made:

Compelling pseudo anonymous 'Direct Voter' DReps to have Codes of Conduct, by stating in the Constitution that they're 'expected' to have one as a Registered DRep is a no-go.

As they would have to breach their desire to only be identified by their DRep ID. Which they shouldn't be compelled to have to do.

Having Codes of Conduct as an 'expectation' potentially allows the CC to take coercive control over *any* Governance Action.

They could exercise this control by pointing to a DRep who's voted on an Action without the 'expected' Code of Conduct attached to their ID, and saying that the Vote itself is rendered 'Unconstitutional' due to that Voter's lack of compliance with Constitutional *expectations*.

Changing the wording to 'encouraged' fixes this potential political trick.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

I’m going to @Sudo_Scientist’s upcoming Space. Will you join too? https://t.co/NqNQjhwPet

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

This process is following repetitive historical patterns.

A centralized bureaucracy is writing a set of rules that firmly entrenches a group in power with access to the energy produced by others and insulates itself from outside input.

Cardano is just doing the same old thing

[Mike Hornan ⚜️🇨🇦|ABLE| pool SPO @Hornan7]

@Jennycitalinda @MadOrkestra @IntersectMBO What's so difficult about just posting it? It seems like such a complicated task that requires approval from multiple entities and must pass through endless layers of bureaucracy.

Could you please go ahead and post it so we can move forward?

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

I think the constitution needs to be minimal and it should promote core values. I have to go to work but this issue needs to be spread about. I am going to drop an alternate draft I just threw together here.

Preamble
The Cardano Blockchain gives everyone access to a decentralized consensus mechanism where they can participate in a trustless, transparent, and immutable environment if they so choose. Anyone can participate. Anyone can be a Stake Pool Operator.

Section 1 General Rules
There will be no unenforceable rules in the Constitution. If something cannot be controlled and settled by a smart contract in a trustless manner it must be handled by an MBO. This Constitution governs a Blockchain. If you want a rule make a CIP.
<Process for making a CIP>

Section 2 Budget
The total Cardano Budget shall be determined algorithmically. (I put a framework for this in ICC civics)
[algorithm for determining total budget here]
[Mechanic for splitting budget distributions to MBOs here]

Distributions from the treasury require Onchain voting by DReps with voting power determined by delegated stake. Different Actions can have different voting rules and stake calculations if defined by a CIP. [Expand…]
[Algorithms that change voting power/weight go here]
Cardano Treasury Distributions must be routed through and governed by a Members Based Organization that meets the following requirements:
[requirements]

Cardano Treasury actions and distributions are meant to become more decentralized over time. When a region/group meets these requirements it can choose to become it’s own MBO and will be algorithmically appropriated a portion of the treasury
a specified percentage of transaction volume
a set level of SPO delegation to associated Stake Pools
An MBO meeting the requirements delineated in Section 2
[Other requirements]

Stake Pool Operators
Anyone can be an SPO as long as they perform to standards.
Stake Pool Operators can have their keys removed and be removed by a vote of 51% of SOPs if:
They fail to produce 2 or more blocks blocks in a timely and effective manner as defined by
- [definitions here]
They participate in a scheme that allows 3rd party software to scan the mempool and build blocks with reordered transactions.
[other reasons that can be added]

Delegated Representatives
Delegated Representatives are governed by these rules:
[Process to become a DRep:]
DReps shall be able to vote in only one region/group as defined by Section 2 Part 4 for treasury disbursements.
[expanded list…]

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@USDMOfficial RIP. Matt will be remembered for what he has built here. Condolences to his family and loved ones.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@XLegus @Million_IQ It is an interesting discussion talking to hte people who built the code for those rockets and machines. They almost had more tests for the code than lines of code.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@invalid_eutxo Eventually all of the UTxOs will be doing most of their activity on the cardano blockchain.

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

I would like to know what actually happened as well.

[ALEX DAMSKER @AlexDamsker]

FBI raided Shayne Coplan’s apartment yesterday am.

He’s the founder of Polymarket.

Any info on what happened or why?

@CryptoRocky @circle_crypto

[Collin Smith @Attonasi]

@AlexDamsker @CryptoRocky @circle_crypto The FBI better have good reasons for this.