From: breinhar@access.digex.com (Robert B. Reinhardt)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai,soc.rights.human,alt.activism,talk.politics.theory
Subject: PAPER: An organizational guide to world government (world unity)
Date: 27 Aug 92 16:21:10 GMT
Followup-To: talk.politics.theory
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, Maryland USA

NOTE this is CROSSPOSTED to: (soc.religion.bahai, soc.rights.human,
alt.activism, and talk.politics.theory)

[Please note the FOLLLOWUP to talk.politics.theory.  As to why this is
being posted in soc.religion.bahai, I reproduce the note Robert has
made at the end of this paper:

    NOTE to BAHAI readers:  I specifically wanted to post this paper
    as is, straight from my mind without the additional research and
    discussion that will follow, because a friend of mine who is a
    BAHAI mentioned to me that these views of the future for world
    unity match very closely to existing BAHAI beliefs and goals.  I
    would very much like to hear from you to get your perspective on
    this. -- Thanks.

Therefore, if you would like to respond to this paper from a Baha'i
perspective, feel free to change the FOLLOWUP newsgroup to
soc.religion.bahai.--mmt]

This paper is approximately 10 pages long.  Read the abstract first
to see if this is of interest to you.  This is only version 1_b of
a paper that I hope will evolve into a quite mature proposal someday.

If you're interested and you would like me to incorporate some of
your ideas into this paper, please send those replys directly
to me via email (breinhar@access.digex.com).  If you just want
to make general comments in reply that you think other people might
be interested in, please post a followup.  Flames against me
personally will be ignored, of course.

=================================================================
[cut here]




           An organizational guide to world government
                                
            A plan to develop and nurture world unity
                                
                       Robert B. Reinhardt



                                
                           August 1992
                                
                           Version 1_b



                                
                            Abstract

The author believes that the next evolutionary step for human
civilization is to establish world unity.  While pondering this
visionary goal, one should also continue to consider the current
political reality's, so that a pragmatic plan can be designed by
which to accomplish it.  The proposal is essentially to form a
new world government, transitioned from the best world forum that
we currently have, the United Nations.  The new government should
be designed as a global democracy, wherein officials are elected
by majority popular vote, not only by appointment of their local
governments.  The new government must provide all of the
traditional services of government organization, maintain
separation of powers between branches of government, and interact
with, but not replace the existing local governments of the
world.  This new government will serve to bring all local
governments into one common forum, and serve as a vehicle by
which issues that concern the welfare of all humanity can be
resolved.  The methods discussed in this paper are presented as a
simple guide  as to how this type of government organization can
be structured in order to achieve the goal of world unity.

Copyright - 1992 by Robert B. Reinhardt.  Permission to copy is
granted provided each copy includes this notice and is provided in its
entirety without modification.
This paper, as stated in the abstract, is a proposal for an
organizational structure and some basic procedures, for developing a
world government.  This paper is not an attempt to solve all of the
world's problems, or all of humanity's problems.  However, it is hoped
that by taking this next step, that a foundation will be built upon
which together, we the people can begin to solve the world's problems
and the problems of humanity.

Understanding who we are

     Before we undertake this enormous effort we must first
understand who we  are.  We need to think beyond who we as an
individual are, to who we as humans are.  That famous phrase "We
the people ..." does not imply only to the people who immigrated
to North America in the past couple centuries.  It means everyone
in the world.  All of us can work and live together as a united
people, striving for the advance of all humanity, not only
competing against each other, but working together, striving
toward the next mutual goal.  When we design our new world
government, we should build in certain inalienable rights that
are endowed to everyone by virtue of being one of those people. 
We should also build into it, the principles of pure freedom of
will.  Meaning that all people in the world are treated equally
by this government, regardless of where they were born, to whom
they were born, what race they are, what color they are, what
gender they are, and what religious beliefs that they have.  To
this end, there must be a clear separation of church and state,
so that people who believe in the various different religions in
the world can be part of this world unity and still maintain
their beliefs.
     It is the opinion of the author, that whenever the laws that
define social order and the customs of personal religion come
into conflict, that the laws of social order prevail, in order to
provide a common social order that does not pick winners among
the people and beliefs of the world.  The concern here of course,
is whether or not everyone in the world can agree to this for the
greater good of all people and to maintain the social order. 
This point is debatable and  perhaps someone will devise a better
plan than mine to resolve this question.  Inevitably, whatever
the majority of the world's people are comfortable with, that is
what is right for the direction of this new government.
     To my point.  It is important to remember that people are
different.  There are the obvious differences that we have
developed stereotypes around such as race, gender, religious
beliefs, language, and goals of various scope.  Keep in mind that
the underlying reason for these differences is simply that we are
just different.  It sounds repetitive and trite, but we must all
agree that it is  natural to be different, and understand and
agree to disagree from time to time.  We must lay down some
fundamental principles of humanity such as fairness, common
sense, and equality, so that people can be different and still
live together in a peaceful and cooperative manner.  When we
gather in groups that  are called "we," remember that we are
different from "them," but not so much so that we are not all
human and equal in our mutual humanity.  We can live with them,
and they can live with us.  We are already doing this because, in
truth neither we or they have any choice in the matter.  We just
need to take this course of action so that we start doing it
better.  We are all bound to the same world by the same physics,
and by a same biology.  Characteristics vary from person to
person, race to race, or culture to culture.  Beneath those
surfaces, we  are all still part of the same humanity, one and
all.
     As individuals, we must come to terms with the reality that
all people of the  world are endowed with certain inalienable
rights and responsibilities, purely  by virtue of being one of
those people.  We may not like certain characteristics  that
other people from time to time exhibit, and we may not agree with
the beliefs that bring them to have a particular characteristic
or behavior, or we just might not like what other people say
about our beliefs and characteristics.  But, we must agree that
all people have the same rights and responsibilities as we do,
and that peaceful and respectful communication is the way to
interact with each other; not by posturing, positioning, and
violence.  This rule applies to  violence that a particular
majority group might intend to inflict on a minority  group. 
Even though the majority rules when it comes time to determine
the course of events via the ballot box; everyone, including
members of the majority, must respect and honor the inalienable
rights of all people.  To reiterate, inalienable rights and
responsibilities are endowed to every individual regardless of
any qualifying factor.  No-one has the power to  legislate that,
not the majority or the minority.  Because in fact, there is
nothing that we can do as humanity to change those things anyway;
we are all bound by those common physics and biology that are
given to us and enforced upon us by the great macrocosm,
regardless of whether you define this force as God or Nature. 
The step that we do need to take is to put those rights onto
paper so that the entire world can always look back to these
principles to ensure that these principles are upheld uniformly
for all people.  

Organizational concepts

     The new United Nations organization will provide a forum for
enacting legislation, administering justice, and executing the
policy's of the world government.  It will work with the local
governments and cultures throughout the world in order to
accomplish those missions, but will not replace the role of local
governments in our every day lives.  The roles and missions of
local government will most surely change as the new United
Nations matures and people the world over become to feel united
as one people, rather than groups of different and competing
peoples.
     The new United Nations will be empowered in part by the
existing framework of local government foreign policy and
ambassadorship, and for the first time ever, in part by electing
representatives to a world congress to legislate the policies of
the new world government.  The new United Nations will be
restricted in its power as defined by the scope of those founding
principles.  The Charter of the new United Nations will be
written with the following missions in mind:

     Unite the people of the world through an assembly of
representatives elected by a popular majority vote.  Voting
districts will be predetermined based upon a percentage of world
population.  Every adult without restriction, will have the 
right and responsibility to vote.

     Provide global peace and a forum through which disputes
between local governments and common treaties will be resolved
and enforced.  Local military forces will be reduced due to less
need and some of those will be "reflagged" to become part of the
new United Nations Armed Forces.

     Enforce strict empowerment of the world's people over the
world government, by ensuring that congressional representatives
and judges are elected directly by the people, not by
appointment.  This is described in greater detail in the sections
below.

     Strive for the common welfare of all the people of the
world, by ensuring that basic necessities are equally available
to all people throughout the world, such as basic food, shelter,
health, and education.

Organizational structure

     When formulating a design for how to achieve world unity one
must consider the elements that are needed to hold the hundreds
of diverse cultures together.  In addition to the common
denominator of humanity itself, an efficient and fair government
must be implemented in order to maintain the underlying
principles and world order, to apply basic policies of human
rights and human welfare, equally around the globe.
     I propose a partially democratic model, based upon majority
rule that goes farther than the USA's system does to preserve
empowerment of and by the people and separation of powers, with
more effective checks and balances.  The only way to ensure that
government stays the course and operates effectively by the will
of the people, which empower it to begin with, is to ensure that
a popular vote of all people is used to determine who shall serve
in the highest offices in all branches of government.  The people
themselves will police the bureaucracy and the individuals that
they put into power by deciding whether or not those individuals
should remain in power.  The diverse base of people from which
the representatives around the world are drawn from, should in
itself serve to bring almost everyone's interests in one way or
another to the table of discussion when legislation is being
considered by the world congress.
     No branch of government will have the power to influence the
nomination, appointment, or election of officials in any other
branch of government.  One way that this plan differs from the
USA system is that we have defined really only two branches of
government;  legislative and judicial.  The reasoning is that we
never want to give any sort of absolute power to an individual
that would traditionally be called "president" or "prime
minister."  Instead, I modify the role of the "executive" branch
to a more subservient role that I will call "administrative" in
this context.  In other words, the only real responsibility that
the "administrative" branch has, is that it is charged with
carrying out the policies as legislated by the people's
representative body (the legislature).  The responsibility of the
other branch of the world government (judiciary) is to interpret
the Laws and Constitution of the United Nations as it applies to
the individual parties involved in legal dispute that pertain to
matters that the  United Nations has jurisdiction over.  This
jurisdiction may be narrow or broadly defined depending on the
outcome of any eventual United Nations Constitutional Convention. 
But, in this context, this would be defined by the founding
principles of this new government.                               

The legislative branch

     The two houses of the legislative branch are intended to
provide a means of internal checks and balances.  The electoral
constituency is divided into districts and subdivisions, which
are equal segments based solely upon logically and consistently
defined population districts.
     The electoral method for the lower house of representatives
is intended to  ensure that all people are represented equally
and with a broad enough base so that varying interests are
represented.  It is also intended to remain at a fixed number of
seats so that the organization is not in a constant state of
flux.
     The electoral method for the upper house of representatives
is intended to ensure that all local governments are represented
equally.  One representative is appointed by traditional means of
ambassadorship, while the other representative is elected by a
national popular vote.  Since these individuals must represent
the national interests of an entire country, it is best to have
two representatives per country; one chosen directly by the
people to represent grass roots interests, and one chosen by the
national government, cultivated  with traditional foreign affairs
experience.  It is intended that this type of representation will
provide more depth to the resolution of problems that affect the
world.  The two houses will have disparate primary missions, to
separate their work loads, while also maintaining that
legislation from either house must be approved by a majority of
both houses.
     Additionally, procedural rules that determine the day-to-day
operation of both legislative houses will be defined as narrowly
as possible in the United Nations Constitution, with specific
consideration given to the method by which the legislature may
effect changes to those procedures.  The intent of this action is
to hopefully prevent the elected representatives or the majority
>from usurping or misusing the power granted to them by their
constituents.

The lower house of representatives

     The lower house of representatives will consist of 5
representatives per voting district (5 per every 1% of world
population).  Each voting district will be separated into 5
subdivisions, each with one electing 1 representative per .2% of
world population.  The term of office will be 4 years, with a 3
term limit.
     For example, assuming a world population of 5 billion people
and full world participation, each district would consist of 50
million people, divided into 5 subdivisions of 10 million people
each.  A broad demographic breakdown of representation in the
lower house of representatives (based on 1978 population data)
would be:  Asia (285), Europe (91), Africa (52), North America
(43), South America (27), and Oceania (3).  The mission of the
lower house includes, but is not limited to the following:

     To review and approve the biannual budget submitted by the
Secretary-General.  In this capacity, the lower house is
responsible for drafting United Nations taxing and spending
legislation.

     To nominate one of it's members to serve as the
Secretary-General of the United Nations.  

The upper house of representatives

     The upper house of representatives will consist of 2
representatives from each member country.  1 elected by national
popular vote, and 1 appointed to serve by the local national
government.  The term of office will be 4 years, with a 3 term
limit.  The mission of the upper house includes, but is not
limited to:

     As a representative body specifically consisting of equal
representation of each member country, the upper house will
develop legislation regarding matters of international treaty and
cooperation.

     To approve of the Secretary-General and Minister nominees,
by a 2/3 majority vote.

The judicial branch

     Judges will not be nominated, approved, or disapproved by,
any other branch  of government.  They will be put into office
and removed from office only by a majority vote of their
constituency, using the same districts and subdivisions defined
for the legislative branch.  This is intended to completely
insulate the judicial branch from other branches of government. 
Judges of course, are not immune to the law, and may be
prosecuted and summarily removed from office in accordance with
the conviction of a crime.
     There may be a total of 500 subdivisions and 100 districts
in accordance with the electoral policy previously stated, but
their may be as many justices as needed per subdivision or
district, as determined by the lower house of representatives.
     The term of office for lower court justices is 10 years,
with no term limit.  The term of office for upper court justices
is life.  Both lower and upper court justices, once they accept
the position, cannot resign to take another government post until
a 2 year waiting period is completed.  This is intended to reduce
the likelihood of conflict of interest regarding separation of
powers or other political motives.  These justices may be
impeached by a referendum of their electoral constituency.  This
will ensure that the final interpretation of the law remains in
the right and responsibility of a the people.

The administrative branch

     The Secretary-General of the United Nations will be
nominated from among and by the lower house of representatives,
and voted into office by a 2/3 majority vote of the upper house
of representatives.  Essentially, this is merely the legislative
branch choosing one from among themselves to be chairperson and
spokesperson for the government, with some policy making
authority in order to effectively manage the day-to-day operation
of the government ministries.  The term of office is 6 years,
with a 1 term limit.  The primary mission of the
Secretary-General includes, but is not limited to the following:

     To act as the chief operating officer of the government. 
This person does not have the power to veto any legislation, but
is charged with ensuring that the policies and services set forth
in legislation is implemented.  The only veto-like power that
this office holds is to disapprove of actions that are prohibited
by the Constitution, such as legislation that dictates deficit
spending or racial discrimination, etc.  In those cases, the
Secretary-General has the authority and the responsibility to
take those matters directly to the people, to be decided by a
popular majority vote, until which time the legislation is held
in abeyance.  There is no other veto authority granted to any
official in this government.  The people are the only ones who
can develop, enact, and veto legislation, and they do so through
their proxies, the members of the lower and upper house of 
representatives.

     Is responsible for the day to day operation of the
government ministries, and as such has individual control of
administrative policy that is not specifically dictated by
legislation.  The Secretary-General will be responsible for
submitting an annual budget to the lower house, to be approved
and enacted by tax and spend legislation.  The budget must be
balanced, with no planned deficit spending.

     To command the United Nations Armed Forces and use those
forces to preserve global security, with subsequent approval or
disapproval required of an emergency assembly of the upper house
of representatives.

The administrative ministries

     The Minister of any particular administrative department
will be nominated for the position by the Secretary-General
and/or the lower house of representatives, and approved to serve
by a 2/3 majority vote of the upper house of representatives. 
The term of office will be 6 years, with no term limitation.  The
administrative ministries will be created by legislation to
perform certain functions.  These organizations will serve as the
major working arms of the government to implement and enforce
global policies and services.

The raising of revenues and spending authority

     Each member nation will allocate a percentage of its gross
national product to the budget of the United Nations.  This
percentage will have to be determined only after careful research
and budgetary planning for the new government.  There will also
have to be consideration given to local governments that cannot 
contribute due to their already impoverished state.
     Since the percentage of GNP will be set by the elected
representatives to the world congress, this should not be
anything that is unbearable to the people.  Since countries that
enjoy a higher GNP will contribute more than those that have very
low GNP's, this method will help to redistribute the wealth of
more successful and wealthier nations to those that need the
assistance.
     To reiterate, this form of taxation and spending will be
enacted by the people's elected representatives, and will be
restricted to a balanced budget.  There should never be a
deficit, and if there is a surplus, then the subsequent year's
taxation or spending can be adjusted.
     An editorial note:  Before you balk at this plan, try to
keep in mind the spirit of what we are trying to do here. 
Helping those that are in need of help is largely the reason for
having world unity, and the reason for doing all this.  It may
seem painful, but it is better for the overall well being and
advancement of humanity at large.  Once the needier countries
become more self sufficient (a goal we must build into our
programs), your personal contribution will be lower relative to
the increased amount that those people can then contribute.

How do we get there from here?

Phase 1

     Start building a grass roots movement and support for this
sort of global cooperation and world unity, and more specifically
for the formation of this type of world government.  Break down
the racial, religious, and cultural barriers that we have built
around ourselves.  THIS PHASE HAS ALREADY BEGUN thanks to the
grass roots efforts of many different people and organizations
around the world.  Remember that grass roots efforts start small,
and eventually become bigger, until there is actual
implementation.  That is why we call it grass roots.  Not much of
any good has ever happened in human history without the
foundation having been built upon the words and deeds of ordinary 
people.  Those people who are famous for doing something great
were just ordinary people that happened to be in the right place
at the right time, with the vision to do what needed to be done.

Phase 2

     Put the blueprint for the new United Nations onto paper,
call for a United Nations Constitutional Convention, using this
or a similar outline as a starting point.  Negotiate, draft, and
re-draft until there is enough of a consensus for this convention
to call for an international referendum to approve it.  This
would constitute a majority popular vote in every ratifying
country that chooses to participate in the initial chartering of
the organization.

Phase 3

     From the result of phase two, proceed to build this new
organization from the member countries that voted yes to
participate and bind themselves to this New World Order.  We can
continue to persuade other countries to join as we grow and start
effecting real change for world unity.  The implementation at
this phase will consist of actually holding the necessary
elections and building the major branches of government,
consisting of the legislative/administrative and judicial
branches.

Phase 4

     Once the foundation is layed, begin one-by-one to implement
the various administrative ministries that will provide the
services and implement the policies.  Begin with those most
related to human infrastructure and organizational
infrastructure.  What will follow is that people we will begin to
feel united, and with that this global program of unity will take
on a new meaning that I'm not sure that we can comprehend at this
point.  The United Nations will grow, more people will come to
know and accept the government and begin to think from a global
perspective, which will serve as a catalyst for even more change
to improve humanity.
     The administrative ministries can be formed and transitioned
>from existing UN council's into their new roles, and expand into
even newer ones.  New ministries will be added as the need is
seen and legislated by the world congress.

Phase 5

     Keep working on making the world a better place for
everyone.  Ensure that all people have equal access to the basic
necessities of life such as food, shelter, health, and education,
so that people can concentrate on their personal growth and
fulfillment.  At this point people of the world should be
competing intellectually, not for basic survival.  World peace
should take care of itself most of the time.
     Actually, it is impossible to give any specifics on how the
world order will look at this point in the future, but I am sure
that this plan is the foundation from which good things will
happen.  We will certainly be a lot closer to world unity, if not
in fact there, we will be headed in that direction.

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================================================================

Additional background on this paper.  This paper reflects ideas
I have based mostly on observations I've made and personal
conviction.  I fully intend to begin a comprehensive study of
the actual framework of the existing UN and to fill in the holes
in this proposal.   When it is ready, I plan a full distribution
to as many officials as I can afford on my own, from my
representatives, to an open letter to the UN General Assembly,
and to various grass roots organizations...

NOTE to BAHAI readers:  I specifically wanted to post this paper
as is, straight from my mind without the additional research and
discussion that will follow, because a friend of mine who is a
BAHAI mentioned to me that these views of the future for world
unity match very closely to existing BAHAI beliefs and goals.  I
would very much like to hear from you to get your perspective on
this. -- Thanks.

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                                 Robert B. Reinhardt
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 /__,_  _  o ____  /_  __.  __   breinhar@access.digex.com
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-- 

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                                 Robert B. Reinhardt
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