Constitution of Babylon

by Lea Celik Sommerseth Shaw

Motto:
“There is no friend like God, and in God we trust.”

Preamble

From the banks of the Euphrates, where the first cities arose, humanity learned that law could transform chaos into civilization. In Babylon, the world’s first code of justice declared that the strong must not oppress the weak, and that rulers were guardians of order, not masters of men.

We, heirs of that legacy, affirm that government in the modern era must remain faithful to those first principles: justice before power, knowledge before ignorance, and community before tyranny.

Stability does not arise from fear, but from wise government, clear rules, and the shared trust of the people. True strength lies in granting all individuals equal rights and opportunities, and in forming a government with the people, not above them.

Just as the first civilization gave humanity its first constitution, the Government of Babylon renews that ancient covenant: to govern with transparency, justice, and lasting respect for the natural order of life and the dignity of all peoples.

Articles of Government

Article I – Justice as the Eternal Foundation
As Hammurabi inscribed: “to make justice prevail in the land” is the first duty of rulers.
No citizen shall be deprived of dignity, equality, or protection under the law.
Courts shall serve the people with impartiality, as the first tablets of judgment once did.
Corruption shall be named as injustice — the gravest betrayal of civilization.

Article II – Law Above Power
In ancient Babylon, kings carved laws in stone so that no one could alter them.
No ruler, office, or institution shall stand above the law.
Power exists only to serve justice, not to escape it.
Leaders who betray this principle shall be judged as enemies of the people.

Article III – Order Through Wisdom
Babylon endured because knowledge, not fear, guided its government.
Government shall be guided by wisdom, counsel, and the collective voice of the people.
Records and archives — once clay tablets, now digital — shall preserve transparency and accountability.
Order must be sustained by trust, not by terror.

Article IV – Freedom Through Order
The first cities learned that freedom cannot flourish in chaos.
Freedom is the right to live without oppression, poverty, or unjust restraints.
Freedom shall not be twisted to justify violence or exploitation.
True freedom exists only where justice and order prevail together.

Article V – Knowledge as Sovereignty
In Mesopotamia, scribes preserved humanity’s memory — knowledge was power.
Truth, scholarship, and openness in records shall remain the lifeblood of government.
Education is the right of all citizens and the shield of civilization.
Deception by the State shall be forbidden, for lies erode sovereignty.

Article VI – Cultural Unity and Diversity
Babylon was a crossroads where many peoples thrived under one law.
Government shall protect cultural diversity as a source of strength.
Unity shall be achieved through justice, never through forced assimilation.
Dialogue among peoples and nations shall be a permanent practice of governance.

Article VII – Custodianship of the Future
The ancient canals of Mesopotamia sustained life for generations.
Resources, knowledge, and heritage must be preserved for the unborn as well as the living.
The care of the environment is a sacred duty of government.
All decisions must honor the long horizon of humanity.

Article VIII – Transparency and Integrity
The first laws were carved in stone so that all could see them.
The Constitution is the immutable foundation of the Government of Babylon, safeguarding its eternal principles.
Government shall be conducted openly, with records accessible to the people.
Lobbying, secret influence, and the purchase of power are prohibited.

Article IX – Respect for the Natural Order
The ancients aligned their cities with the stars, respecting cosmic balance.
Government shall not forcibly alter the natural structure of society, but shall honor organic order and human evolution.
Progress must harmonize with natural law, not oppose it.
Civilizations endure only when they advance with, and not against, the rhythms of nature.

Article X – Equality of Opportunity and Trust in the People
Babylon’s ziggurats were built by many hands — civilization is the work of all.
Every citizen shall have equal rights and a fair foundation to grow, learn, and prosper.
Government shall trust in the wisdom and creativity of the people as the true strength of the State.
Policies must empower individuals and communities, never weaken or control them.

Closing Declaration

Just as the first civilization gave law to humanity, so the Government of Babylon renews that promise in the modern era: to govern not through domination, but through justice; not through secrecy, but through transparency; not for rulers alone, but for all peoples.

Righteousness is our first law.
Order is our strength.
Freedom is our promise.