Cardano Constitution to Replace the Interim Constitution
341 DReps voted · 62 with a rationale · 9 re-voted unchanged
Open a row to read the rationale.
- Yes338.2K ₳No rationale
- Yes337.5K ₳No rationale
- Yes330.6K ₳No rationale
- Yes329.7K ₳No rationale
- Yes327.4K ₳Rationale
I am voting yes to ratify the Delegate-Approved Cardano Constitution. It is time to move on from the Interim Constitution and embrace a governance model that reflects where Cardano is today and where it’s headed. This is a big step forward for Cardano’s governance!
The Interim Constitution was always meant to be temporary. A starting point to guide us while we figured out a more solid framework. Over time, the Delegate-Approved Constitution has evolved into something much stronger, shaped by community input, and a clearer vision for the future.
This isn't just a small update. It provides better structure, clearer decision-making, and a governance model that truly fits Cardano’s long-term goals. By ratifying it, we are making sure the ecosystem has a solid foundation to grow in a decentralized and transparent way.
Cheers!
- No324.3K ₳No rationale
- Yes321.6K ₳No rationale
- Yes318.1K ₳Rationale
- Yes314.4K ₳Rationale
Rationale for Voting on the Cardano Constitution to Replace the Interim Constitution
After careful consideration, I have decided to vote YES on the proposed Cardano Constitution.
I have spent considerable time reading and studying the document and have also considered many other DReps’ comments, views, and voting rationales. I read other people’s rationales because no one knows everything, and I might be missing important context or an interesting viewpoint. I always try to broaden my perspectives and listen not only to those with whom I agree but, more importantly, to those with whom I disagree. Only with an open mind and a curious approach can someone form an educated opinion.
My rationale is based on the following points:
No Perceived Threats
I do not see how the proposed constitution poses any danger or threat to the community, the network, or individual ADA holders. Similarly, I cannot find a reason why not ratifying the constitution would leave us in a better position than after ratification.Perfect is the enemy of good
I recognize that this constitution is a living document. Whether we refer to its tenets, its articles, or its guardrails, we—the ADA holders—have the power to change, discard, or amend parts of it. As such, spending enormous amounts of time indefinitely debating whether it is the perfect constitution is out of scope. There will never be a perfect document that is unanimously accepted in its entirety by all stakeholders.Inclusivity Concerns
A lot of NO voters have expressed concerns about how inclusive the process was and how parts of the world are underrepresented or excluded. From my point of view, many delegates from various countries participated in the constitutional process. Would I want more people to take part? Yes. However, no matter how many delegates or countries are involved, it is impossible to include everyone. In good faith, I believe that the organizers tried to include as many as possible with the resources available at the time.Lack of Definitions Concerns
Another concern raised by NO voters—and one that I share—is the lack of definitions in this draft. Definitions could add additional clarity by minimizing ambiguity and vagueness in how we interpret the constitution. However, there are always two ways to interpret any law: one is based on the “letter of the law,” and the other on the “spirit of the law.” I have always favored the latter. Therefore, even without definitions at this stage, I believe we are capable of adequately interpreting the constitution, understanding its essence or gist, and making informed decisions based on its spirit.Liquid Democracy
We operate in a liquid democracy where it is easy to make changes when necessary. Thus, we are not bound by individuals acting on their own for long periods of time. The community has total control and can promptly take action to enforce changes if needed. If anything goes wrong, we have both technological capacity (e.g., liquid democracy mechanisms, social networks, communication tools) and community strength (a very strong international network) to enact and enforce changes at either the protocol level or in governance.Incentives
There are strong incentives for most of the community to act in good faith. These incentives are tied to monetary rewards and price appreciation that result from a healthy network and community.
Some Other Thoughts & Concerns
My current concerns are primarily around these areas:
Definitions
As discussed above, lack of definitions remains an issue but can be addressed through interpretation based on the “spirit of the law.” Definitions are expected to be amended at a later time.Poor Governance Tooling
The current official governance tool—“gov.tools”—leaves much to be desired. While there has been some progress, we are still far from what DReps would wish for in terms of features and ease of use. Personally, I have struggled with including rationales in previous votes and registering a complete DRep profile. Additionally, governance statistics (e.g., voting percentages) have been found to be inaccurate at times. Thankfully, alternative tools like Tempo Vote have been extremely helpful. I strongly believe that many of these issues with gov.tools will be addressed soon.Underrepresentation from Third-World Countries
People from third-world countries often have very low voting power and are vastly underrepresented in governance processes. For individuals in these communities, even registering as a DRep (which requires locking 500 ADA) can be prohibitively difficult. For example, Africa—a continent with a significant population—has less than 2% representation in governance processes despite Cardano’s stated goal of inclusivity and global representation. This stark contrast highlights a major challenge that we need to address collectively by developing solutions for better representation.
Closing Thoughts
In summary, while there are valid concerns about inclusivity, tooling issues, and definitions within this draft constitution, I believe these challenges can be addressed over time through amendments and improvements driven by our community’s collective efforts. The proposed constitution provides a strong foundation for the governance of Cardano, while remaining flexible enough to evolve as needed. Therefore, I am confident that ratifying it is a step forward for our ecosystem.
- Yes313.8K ₳No rationale
- Yes297K ₳Rationale
This constitution, the product of many conversations from around the world, enshrines our values and shall act as our Ulysses pact to constrain us in times of temptation. May we forever remember what came before, the mistakes that were made, and the lessons that were learned. Now that Cardano belongs to us, it is our duty to preserve it, enhance it, and, when the time comes, hand it down to our children.
- Yes291.8K ₳No rationale
- Yes288.1K ₳No rationale
- Yes285.2K ₳No rationale
- Yes272.2K ₳No rationale
- Yes263.3K ₳No rationale
- Yes258.2K ₳No rationale
- Yes252.7K ₳No rationale
- Yes240.7K ₳No rationale
- Yes236.8K ₳No rationale
- Yes236.8K ₳No rationale
- No222.9K ₳No rationale
- YesRevoted216.4K ₳Rationale
I believe that decentralization is best fostered by a constitution reflecting deep community collaboration. Embracing a robust framework for continuous improvement and on-chain governance aligns with my core principles of openness, transparency, and community-driven stewardship. The Constitution acknowledges that it is not the end point but the beginning, and it incorporates methods for future amendments. Therefore, I cast a Yes vote on the new Cardano Constitution.
Earlier votes
Yes1y agoSuperseded
- Yes202.8K ₳Rationale
I was a representative at the convention in Argentina, and I know that this constitution is a solid basis for moving the blockchain forward. Because ultimately that is what we all want, although we may differ in our views on how to get there,
It is my view that we need to build certain governance tools for voting , and once built, they accelerate the Cardano Blockchain Ecosystem to a whole new level.
As I write this, there is no community discussion about these tools, I don't know if anyone else in the ecosystem has even considered them, or realised just how revolutionary they will be to what Cardano can be, to what crypto is used for.
I'm posting these ideas here for posterity, I hope you enjoy...
I want to know if there are pyramids on Mars.
Imagine building a rocket ship to Mars. Its standing on the platform, and the countdown is ticking,
“3, 2, 1, lift off!” The control room erupts in celebration, photos are taken, drinks are poured, a drunk Irishman does a tango.
But the rocket ship remains sitting on the platform.
No-one seems remotely upset at this, quite the opposite, high-5’s and backslapping continue into the early hours.
In the following days, as the cheering slowly dies, pictures of the finished rocket ship sitting on the platform are broadcast around the world. Earnest conversations pop up about the formation of committees and working groups that will, in just a few more years, figure out how to carry the rocket ship to its final destination.None of those conversations are about putting fuel in the engines. Most don’t realise that rocket ships need fuel.
Many believe that using fuel would be dangerous.
Others believe that turning on the engines would be counter to the sacred principles of rocket ships.No-one knows what fuel makes a decentralised voting system work, because no-one has ever seen one before.
Right now, only governance actions about Cardano, using Ada, can be submitted. But soon we will build the tools so that any token on Cardano can hold their own votes.
And every token on Cardano will hold lots and lots and lots of votes:
Because the fuel that turns a quirky idea about governance into a global social phenomenon, is “Voting participation rewards”.We are going to build a set of tools that allows rewards to be given out to participants, selected at random, who take part in voting.
Voting rewards turn every vote into a community event.
Once every project and every meme-coin can host their own votes and give their own rewards based on participation in them, the questions they put up for a vote will range from the important to the, quite frankly, ridiculous.
And thats ok, because what projects building on blockchains really want, are ways to engage with their audience.
When ‘Voting rewards’ are combined with AdaMail, a way of sending email within your Cardano wallet, projects will have a unique set of community engagement tools unmatched in all of crypto. A set of tools that will keep people engaged with their Cardano wallet everyday.When put together, Cardano will be the go-to platform for new projects to launch, with a direct line to their community and an active, exciting reason to keep them engaged on a daily basis.
Once we build these voting reward tools for all projects on Cardano to use, every social and economic incentive is aligned for the ecosystem to come alive with renewed dynamism, transaction volume and excitement.
The rocket ship will take off.I see a future when every day in your Cardano wallet you will see dozens to hundreds of active votes taking place.
I see an incredible experimentation in reward structures, some votes will have one reward, and others multiple rewards, in tokens or NFT’s, RWA’s or event tickets.
This is a new tool, and there will be a massive variety of how projects choose to structure their votes and rewards.I see a future where ‘Flash-votes’ become a thing, a project announces a vote at short notice, and the voting window closes in a few hours, so only those who are quick enough to vote will be in the draw; driving attention and engagement.
I see a future where the launch of new tokens comes with the sale of ‘multiplier NFT’s’. These are NFT’s that 10x 100x your chances of winning in that projects’ votes. This will give projects launching on Cardano a whole new revenue stream that is not available on other chains. No longer will they have to sell their own tokens and crash their own price to get the funds for further development, they can now sell ‘multiplier NFT’s’, only on Cardano.
Imagine millions of new wallets being created.
As people new to crypto will finally be able to take part and do something, without the barriers of learning about ‘crypto-farming’, ‘impermanent loss’, or trusting their life savings to an unknown de-fi start up.Imagine millions using Cardano for voting every day.
So when it comes time to run national infrastructure we are already trusted, with a verifiable track record of millions of provably secure governance votes, and rewards.Imagine millions opening their wallet every day.
So when it comes time to integrate decentralised AI and social media we already have our target audience, in the place we need them to be.
The Cardano wallet will be their new internet browser.Voting rewards on Cardano is a behavioural incentive system.
that can remove the traditional barriers to participation in crypto, and this is what turns governance from a quirky ugly duckling into the fuel for a rocket ship.
Voting rewards are the fuel, and I say we fire up this rocket ship,
because I want to know if there are pyramids on Mars.
ps. In the future, when we hold a governance vote, we could do quite a large reward structure, and use it as the basis for a huge ecosystem marketing push...
- Yes202.8K ₳No rationale
- Yes201.5K ₳No rationale
- Yes189.8K ₳No rationale
- Yes185K ₳No rationale
- Yes182.7K ₳No rationale
- Yes175K ₳No rationale
- No171.6K ₳Rationale
Why I voted No as an African!! See at cardano forum
https://forum.cardano.org/t/why-i-vote-no-to-the-constitution-as-an-african/142789
- Yes166.5K ₳No rationale
- Yes164.8K ₳No rationale
- Yes163K ₳No rationale
- Yes161K ₳Rationale
As the Chair of Proceedings from Buenos Aires, a member of the Civics Committee, and a workshop host, I am very happy to vote yes on this action.
It is our responsibility moving forward to participate in future work streams to continue to refine this Constitution and the processes that will surround it. To my fellow DReps, please vote yes, and then commit yourself to participation in these new processes so that we can continue to further improve our most critical principle document.
- Yes157.8K ₳No rationale
- Yes151.8K ₳No rationale
- Yes149.8K ₳Rationale
I'm hereby voting to ratify the Cardano Constitution. A lot of work by the Cardano Community precedes this moment: CIP-1694, Chang Hard Fork, Plomin Hard Fork and all of the CRWG group efforts.
Its my understanding that the Cardano Constitution offers:
- Clarity and Stability: It provides clear guidelines for governance actions, reducing ambiguity and potential for misuse of authority.
- Community Empowerment: It strengthens the role of ADA holders, DReps, and Stake Pool Operators in decision-making processes, promoting a truly decentralized governance model.
- Adaptability: The constitution allows for amendments, ensuring that governance can evolve with the ecosystem's needs and feedback from the community.
Our time is now to lead by example so voting yes for ratification.
- Yes144.4K ₳No rationale
- Yes138.6K ₳Rationale
As an active leader in the Cardano Ghana community and a key contributor to Cardano’s decentralized governance, I have been deeply engaged in the development of CIP-1694 and the broader governance framework of the ecosystem.
Over the past 24 months, I have dedicated my efforts to fostering awareness, education, and participation in governance, from organizing DReps awareness events across Ghana to drafting the DReps Code of Conduct. I have also played a direct role in shaping this Constitution through my contributions to the working groups, the constitutional workshop, and the constitutional convention itself.
By voting YES, I affirm my belief that this Constitution provides a robust and inclusive foundation for the decentralized governance of Cardano. It is the product of extensive deliberation, diverse input, and a shared vision for the sustainability and resilience of our ecosystem. This document enshrines the principles of transparency, accountability, and community-driven decision-making—values that I have actively worked to uphold in my leadership and governance efforts.
A YES vote reflects my confidence that this Constitution will empower our communities, enable a functional Voltaire governance era, and set Cardano on a path toward long-term success. I urge all stakeholders to support its ratification and actively engage in building a decentralized future.
- Yes136.8K ₳No rationale
- Yes129.3K ₳No rationale
- Yes127K ₳No rationale
- Yes126.5K ₳No rationale
- Yes126.4K ₳No rationale
- Yes124.6K ₳No rationale
- YesRevoted122.8K ₳Rationale
I’m voting YES on the Cardano Constitution because, while not perfect, it represents a significant step forward in decentralized governance and is good enough to move us past the Interim Constitution. Having participated in the 1694 workshops, hosted Constitutional Workshops, and actively engaged in governance discussions, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication of this community in shaping a governance framework that reflects our shared values.
I do have concerns—particularly with the section on ADA ownership, which moves away from the fundamental principle of ‘not your keys, not your crypto.’ However, governance is an ongoing process, and this document is designed to evolve. What gives me confidence is the strength of the Cardano community and the commitment we’ve shown to improving governance through open debate and collaboration. This Constitution is not the final destination, but it is the necessary next step. By ratifying it, we ensure that governance remains in the hands of ADA holders and that we can continue refining and strengthening our system over time. It’s time to move forward and build upon the work we’ve all contributed to.
Earlier votes
Yes1y agoSuperseded
- Yes115.6K ₳No rationale
- Yes112.3K ₳No rationale
- Yes110.6K ₳No rationale