Your EU constitutions

We asked for your EU draft constitutions (of no more than 250 words) and we knew you wouldn't shirk the challenge. The future is safe in your hands...

Click here to read numbers 11-20

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Draft constitution number 001
Author: Newsnight viewer J U M Smith
Resident of: West Molesey, Surrey
Word count: 220

Article 1. Purpose.
This document establishes the basic rules of the Union and is legally binding on all member states.

Article 2. Membership
Membership of the Union is open to, but also limited to, the 25 current member states of the EU. Additional members may be permitted to join, but only with a change to the Constitution, see article 6 below.

Article 3. Scope
The Union shall only act where it can be shown that a better result can be obtained at the European level than at the national level.

Article 4. Institutions
The functioning of the Union shall be controlled by the following institutions.
a. An executive, headed by a directly elected President, who shall serve no more than two five year terms.
b. Two legislative chambers, a Lower House, directly elected for a five year term and an Upper House, appointed by member states.
c. A Supreme Court, acting as court of last appeal and to interpret the Constitution.

Article 5. Human Rights
Citizens shall have the right to due process, Habeas Corpus, trial by jury, freedom of speech and assembly, and privacy.

Article 6. Changes
Any change to this Constitution shall require a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament, or a two thirds majority in a Referendum in which over half the population have voted.

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Draft constitution number 002
Author: Newsnight viewer Philip Smedley
Resident of: Odiham, Hampshire
Word count: 237

We the people of the European Union, in order to promote greater economic, social and environmental prosperity for ourselves and the rest of the world's population, agree to this Constitution for the European Union.

1. All legislative powers shall be vested in the individual Nation States.

2. Each Nation State shall send three representatives to a meeting held at least once every six months.

3. The meetings shall be located and chaired by rotation.

4. The purpose of the meeting shall be to seek ways to promote:
a) a common defence against any aggressor Nation or organisation;
b) harmony between the Nation States;
c) an increase in the quality of life of its citizens;
d) free trade;
e) free movement of goods and citizens;
f) an improved health and safety culture;
g) investment in research;
h) cultural exchanges;
i) low unemployment;
j) welfare for those unable to help themselves;
k) equal opportunities for all its citizens;
l) free speech;
m) exchange of information and assistance in combating criminal activities;
n) reduction in polluting products
o) preservation of endangers flora, forna and wildlife;
p) preservation of cultural and heritage sites.

5. Each Nation State shall reasonably fund such objectives within the context of their economic standing at the time.

6. Each Nation State shall employ a maximum of one hundred technical and administrative staff to be based in Brussels or a Nation State to administer the European Union.

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Draft constitution number 003
Author: Newsnight viewer Iain Page
Resident of: Bristol
Word count: 24

Constitution of the United Free Peoples of Europe

We the people hereby declare our inalienable sovereignty and freedom.

1. There shall be no government.

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Draft constitution number 004
Author: Newsnight viewer Lauren
Resident of: Lancaster
Word count: 241

A Constitution for Europe

(1) This treaty establishes a "European Community" with legal personality, and which is the successor to the previous European Community, etc. Inhabitants of Europe will be considered members of the European Community. This places them under no obligation.

(2) The Councils, Commission and Parliament of the Community shall use qualified majority voting within areas of defined Community competence.

(3) Democracy within Member States
(a) Member states will have free elections with proportional representation.
(b) Larger Member States will have a significant degree of devolution.
(c) Regions of Member States have the right to secede.

(4) Enhancing freedom within the Community
(a) The measure of a society shall be defined as those things provided free to its members.
(b) The old notion of "freedom" as a single solution, chosen by election and imposed on an entire population, will be superseded by actual choices made by individual members of society. Governments will provide a mechanism to allow people the choice between various government "branches" offering different levels of taxation and services.
(c) All member states will move towards the creation of a national income.

(5) Competition and Trade Rules
(a) Any restrictions on government subsidies for services to their own inhabitants are illegal.
(b) Such subsidies should, wherever possible, be spent locally, as this is better for the local community, local economy, and the environment.
(c) Subsidies for exported produce are prohibited except in the case of local specialities.

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Draft constitution number 005
Author: Newsnight viewer Alan Romaine
Resident of: Stamford, Lincolnshire
Word count: 126

We Europeans will always endeavour to treat our neighbours as fairly as we treat our nationals. We commit to total support within Europe in times of crisis in all areas of humanitarian need. We will not enforce our will on others either by military or financial means. We will respect the individuality of all neighbour states in every aspect of their culture and always strive to understand their points of view in all matters. We will not nurture the ideals of a federal state but will, with experience and understanding, encourage free trade with the world markets. Our credo will be to encourage states to work closely together in every aspect of life's needs but not to wish to dictate to anyone. "Work together - live apart."

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Draft constitution number 006
Author: Newsnight viewer Julian Vincent
Resident of: Milton Keynes
Word count: 53

1. Individual countries have sovereign rule.
2. Cancel all EU subsidies and grants.
3. Scrap the fishing and agricultural policies.
4. Free trade between all European continent countries, including those not currently in the EU.
5. Keep the freedom of employment between countries, but people must have a valid job offer before moving.

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Draft constitution number 007
Author: Newsnight viewer Kevin Soraghan
Resident of: London
Word count: 55

This constitution recognises that the EU is a world leading economic block, with a vital bureaucracy setting the gold standard of efficiency, propriety and accountability. As such its annual budget must be agreed by auditors before any other grand designs are considered. It's called run your own budget before trying to run other sovereign states.

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Draft constitution number 008
Author: Newsnight viewer Tony Pace
Resident of: Northampton
Word count: 172

The primary purpose of the European Union is to develop and sustain peaceful relations between its member nations and peoples whilst welcoming, encouraging and supporting the diversity of cultures, priorities and social systems.

The activities of the Union should include:

Encouraging the development of coordinated foreign and defence polices and external trade agreements so as to better represent the interests of the members in the wider world. Ensuring free, fair and open trade and commercial arrangements throughout the Union. Protecting and supporting the individual rights and freedoms of all the citizens of the Union regardless of race or creed. Supporting the member nations and regions in the development and operation of their individual legal, fiscal and social structures, organisations and services whilst encouraging the coordination and sharing of these services across the member nations for the benefit of all citizens of the Union.

The government of the Union shall be divided between the nations and the people and the officers of the Union shall, at all times, be subservient to that government.

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Draft constitution number 009
Author: Newsnight viewer Clare Harwood
Resident of: Grantham
Word count: 243

1. The EU will exist as a trading zone only.

2. All Commissioners will be democratically elected by the country they represent.

3. All countries will retain the right to make their own decisions on issues such as immigration and asylum, foreign policy, social policy and any other domestic issues. The EU will not regulate or implement directives on the size of bananas, how many hours citizens of respective countries choose to work, or what their individual currency will be.

4. There will be no freedom of movement to the new accession members from the Eastern bloc. Former members will be able to work or holiday in the country of their choice, but the newer members must have attained the same standards of education, financial prosperity and democracy before they are extended this right.

5. Before any new countries join, each country must have a referendum to approve it. A "no" vote from any country will be the end of that country's membership application.

6. MEPs, Commissioners and any other person employed by the EU should be on a salary proportional to the mean average of their countrymen so that only those with a genuine interest in democracy and the will of the people will work for the EU.

7. Countries will only pay the salaries of their MEPs and Commissioners plus a flat fee of no more than £1 million pounds or equivalent to cover administration costs etc. as their annual contribution.

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Draft constitution number 010
Author: Newsnight viewer Damian Hutchinson
Resident of: Lincoln
Word count: 264 (and thus disqualified!)

The Marie Antionette Constitution

All countries that help in baking it, will receive an equal piece of the resulting cake! With the following exceptions:-

i. France, as a salute to her hard working dairy farmers, reserves the right to supply any cream used in the making of the cake.

ii. Germany will accept any sort of cake as long as it is a Black Forest Gateaux.

iii. France, as a salute to her grain farmers, reserves the right to supply any flour used in the making of the cake.

iv. Great Britain will get the icing and the cherry on the top, being the only bits she likes.

v. Ireland reserves the right to eat a slice, refuse a slice and then eat another slice.

vi. Holland reserves the right to add Hash to its slice of cake.

vii. Spain will agree to the type of cake and the size of its slice before either the recipe has been decided or the oven turned on.

viii. France, as a salute to her bakers, reserves the right to bake the cake.

ix. Britain reserves the right, once a fruit cake has been baked, to demand it be chocolate!

x. All other member countries will receive an equal slice of the remaining cake. The size of each particular equal slice to be decided by France, Germany and Britain, as a salute to the original constitution.

xi. Turkey may sit under the table and receive any crumbs that fall from it.

xii. France reserves the right to decapitate the whole thing! As a salute to Marie Antoinette!

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