The Decentralist Papers · Paper IX of XX
Immutable Laws
If You Pass It, You Own It Forever
Current laws sunset, expire, get amended endlessly. “Temporary” measures become permanent. Nobody takes responsibility.
Decentralist principle: Laws are immutable.
If you pass a law, it stands until explicitly repealed by a new law.
Why this works:
- Forces serious deliberation before passing
- No “temporary” measures that quietly become permanent
- Want to change it? Pass a repeal. On the record. Accountable.
- Representatives own their votes forever
The effect:
- Fewer laws passed (the bar is high)
- Better laws (you have to get it right)
- Only what matters (no symbolic nonsense)
The goal is not to pass laws. The goal is to have few, good laws.
The first job of a 30,000-to-1 legislature is not to write new law. It is to review and repeal most of the 180,000 pages that already exist.